06 Days Temples & Nature walking Tours06 Days Temples & Nature walking Tours

Temples & Nature walking Tours

1 review
  • Duration6 Days
  • Route Grade Exploratory Travel
  • Trip Style Walking Tours
  • Starting City Bhaktapur
  • Ending City Kathmandu
Price fromUS$325US$475
Group Price
  
1 paxUS$325
2 - 6 paxUS$320
7 - 12 paxUS$310
13 - 16 paxUS$299
Temples & Nature walking Tours map

Kathmandu Valley

  • Seven UNESCO sites walking sightseeing
  • Observation of Buddhist & hindu tangible & intangible heritages
  • Day hike to 2780m high Shivapuri Peak

Transfers

  • Individual arrival & departure transfers
  • Sights to sights Private Van transfers

Kathmandu Valley is home to seven UNESCO sites and amazing Himalayan viewpoints in the surroundings, along with great hiking trails. Shivapuri Peak is the most pleasant hiking destination for a day in Kathmandu. Exploring the UNESCO-recognized temples and a day hike as a weeklong holiday trip or even as part of a month-long traveling trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For a smooth and decently paced exploratory trip of Kathmandu Valley and its surroundings, the 6-Day Kathmandu Valley Temples and Nature Walking Tour is undoubtedly the best decision.

Kathmandu Valley Temples and Nature Walking Tour is a six-day sightseeing tour of seven UNESCO Cultural sites and a day hike to Shivapuri Peak. The tour includes four days of cultural sightseeing trips and a day of hiking to the Shivapuri hilltop (2780 m). Optionally, you could also add an Everest sightseeing flight to the trip. Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath, Old Kathmandu, Patan Durbar Square, and Swayambhunath temples are the UNESCO sites and main cultural sightseeing attractions in Kathmandu. Apart from the UNESCO sites, a guided visit to Pharping Buddhist village, Dakshinkali goddess temple, and Kirtipur ethnic town is also included. The trip includes activities of a regular nature, such as guided walks, short hikes, and private transfers as scheduled. It is truly a relaxing, exploratory, lovely, inclusive, and insightful trip.

Kathmandu Valley Tour Itinerary in Brief

Day 1: Arrival—O/N Bhaktapur

Day 2: Nagarkot Sunrise and Changu Temple, Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, and Bouddhanah

Day 3: Patan, Pharping, Dakshinkali, and Kirtipur, Kathmandu

Day 4: Shivapuri Peak Hiking, Kathmandu

Day 5: Swayambhunath Temple and Chandragiri Cable Car, Old Kathmandu, Kathmandu

Day 6: Fly back home.

Trip Hotels
  • Hotel Mulberry

    Hotel Mulberry

    Location: KathmanduFirst Class 4 Star Hotel
  • Peacock Guest House

    Peacock Guest House

    Location: BhaktapurBoutique Hotel
  • Sunny guest House

    Sunny guest House

    Location: Bhaktapurboutique hotel
Cost Includes

Flights & Transfers

  • 2 individual airport transfers by private van
  • Sights to sights private Van transfers 

Guides & Entry Permits

  • One Trek Leader for the group
  • Heritage Sites & National park entrance fees

Accommodations & Meals

  • 5 nights (1 night Boutique & 4 nights 4 sar hotel) accommodation
  • 5 breakfasts
Itinerary

Arrive in Kathmandu airport. It will take about 30min time to clear the immigration. Upon arrival, we meet you at the airport and transfer to Bhaktapur Durbar Square - 30min drive. Each guest will get an individual arrival transfers according to their flight time! Check in at the hotel and free and easy rest time. If you arrive earlier in the day - explore Bhaktapur Durbar Square free & easy! Entry tickets will be given upon arrival! 
 

    Early morning Nagarkot excursion - 30min drive - to view the Himalayas & the sunrise over Himalayas! Please wear wind breaker even in summer! From Nagarkot - drive to Changu temple 20min drive. Changunayaran temple is home to ancient period stone statues and scripts on stone. This is also the oldest script found readable in Kathmandu Valley (early 5th century) which tells us about the erection of Changunarayan temple by king Manadev. Thus the temple is oldest standing in Kathmandu Valley. The temple complex also houses some stone statues from ancient mainly of the gods related to lord Vishnu (narayan) and his various reincarnations. It will be a precious moment to visit the archeologically very important temple complex. From Changu temple - drive back to your hotel, 20min drive. 

    Breakfast & a walking tour through Bhaktapur Durbar Squares. 

    Bhaktapur literally means the city of devitees (Bhaktas) and the people of Bhaktapur until now have fully lived to their traditions. This is also the place which celebrates most festivals over the years. The main attractions for tourists  to explore in Bhaktapur are the traditional Newari lifestyles, Newari architectural buildings including dozens of temples and houses, pottery works, and walk through narrow allies. We will walk and explore through Golden Gate, 55 window main Palace, Taleju temple, medieval water tap, Shiva temples, the famous Nyatopola (5 storied) Temple, Pottery square and Duttatraya Square among dozens of other small temple. Beside visiting temples small coffee time on one of the rooftop restaurant which will offer great view of the whole city area, is great fun. It takes about 3 hours in Bhaktapur. Our car will wait us where we end the tour - at Duttatraya Square. Overnight in Bhaktapur. 

    From Bhaktapur - drive to Pashupatinath temple - 45min drive. 

    Pashupatinath temple is a Hindu shrine and most visited temple in the country. It is a Lord Shiva (Shiva literally means that god which is not: formless) temple. Shiva is also the greatest guru for all the yogis (who traditionally believe on yoga and meditation and live an ascetic life). So we see a lot of colorful Yogis here. At the Bagmati River bank we also get to see the Hindu death rituals. Everyday and every moment, many dead bodies are being burnt on open air. Tourists basically see them across the holy river (just small steam). Pashupatinath temple is associated earliest human settlement in Kathmandu Valley. Pashupatinath literally means lord (Pati/Nath) of all the living beings (Pashu). Yogis normally explain it as the consciousness which guides us every moment and prevailing in all the beings. Some interesting activities will include taking photographs with yogis, observing death rituals (before burins there are some rituals family members do), walk through deer park and temple park on other side hill and observe the main two storied Pashupatinath temple from view point across river. We enter from the Southern side and walk through temple complex and end the tour at northern gate where our car will pick up. And from here, we drive to Bouddhanath Stupa, 15min drive. 

    Bouddhanath Stupa: Here we come to the number one tourist attractions in Kathmandu!! Bouddhanath Stupa is the biggest and tallest Buddhist stupa in South Asia. And the best way to observe the magnificent stupa is a coffee break at one of the rooftop restaurant in the temple complex (its about noon or 1pm and  I suppose its already a break time as we started at 830am in the morning). The Stupa is surrounded by human settlement with tourist shops and restaurants and roof top restaurants offers great views of the stupa. After the coffee break, circumambulate the stupa clockwise walking and probably spinning the prayers wheels. We will also visit some of the Tibetan monasteries in the temple complex and observe their everyday rituals or stay in meditation for some minutes in silence. 

    From Bouddhanath - drive to Hotel at Thamel. Enjoy the neighborhood of main tourist hub bazaars & restaurant in Kathmandu. Overnight at Thamel in Kathmandu.

      Explore Southern Kathmandu Valley. Morning Breakfast and at 830am drive to Patan Durbar Square. Enjoy coffee and views of the Patan Durbar Square from one of the rooftop restaurant. After the break, we will visit and explore the Patan Durbar, Palace courtyards, temples and a golden water tap inside Palace, a fine art museum, Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple. All these temples are within the Palace Square and within small area. We will also visit the Golden temple. From Patan, drive to Pharping - 45min drive. 

      Pharping is a buddhist village and very sacred destination for buddhist community from Tibet. Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated at different caves in Pharping and ever since the village has been a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Now Pharping also is the home to world’s tallest Guru Rinpoche statue! 

      From Pharping - drive to Dakshinkali temple - 20min drive. Dakshinkali (literally the Goddess Kali at South) is in this route however, tomorrow 8th Jan Saturday is more special day to visit the temple as hundreds of people visit the temple on Tuesday and Saturday and offer animal sacrifices to the goddess. 

      From Dakshinkali - drive to Kirtipur town- 30min drive. Visit the Bagbhairav Temple and walk through old town of Kirtipur. Kirtipur is one of the main Newari town in Kathmandu Valley. Any rooftop restaurant in Kirtipur is likely to be your lunch spot for today. 

        Breakfast at Hotel & Shivapuri National Park hiking day! Breakfast at the Hotel & at 8am take a 30min drive towards the north from Hotel at 8am in the morning. Shivapuri top is 2700m high & offers great views of Langtang and Ganesh Himal Views. It will be a long trekking day of 6hrs - 15km in total. Shivapuri national park is the home for rare red pandas as well as many species of birds and mountain tigers. It will be a beautiful day. Please do not forget to bring your water bottle, some nuts to chew while sweating on an uphill hike.

        Return back to the hotel about 3pm. Rest, relax & Overnight at the Hotel. 

          Morning breakfast & drive to Swayambhunath temple - 20min drive. Swayambhunath Temple - the Visit Monkey temple - 30min drive. As we arrive at the bottom of the temple (Bhagwan Pau = feet of the God), It will be a great experience to walk to the top of the temple hill, as it also offers great views of the Kathmandu Valley on a clear day. And normally Kathmandu is. very clear in winter as Kathmandu is located at 1350 meters altitude. Monkey temple is a Buddha temple, some 20min drive away from the hotel and about 10min walk to the top. It is an ancient Buddha period temple in north-western Kathmandu. We will pay a visit to the main Stupa and other temples in the temple complexes. Four of many stupas are dated from the ancient period. Alongside, also enjoy the panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley and Himalayas in the northern side. The tour will be about 1and half hour to explore the temples and visiting monasteries (where children monks live and study). After the Monkey temple tour, drive to Chandragiri bottom station. 

          Take a 10min cable car ride to the top of Chandragiri hill. Chandragiri is a great spot to view the Himalayas & Kathmandu Valley. After a short snack break on the top, take the cable car down & drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square - 30min drive.

          Kathmandu Durbar Square is the medieval Palace square and home to dozens of temples including living goddess Kumari Temple, an Old Nepali style Palace and a classical palace. It has been the main center of cultural and financial activities in Nepal since ancient times. At Kathmandu Durbar Square also called Basantapur Durbar Square we will visit Kasthamandap Temple (temple of wood and recently restored after 2015 earthquake), Maru Ganesh, Kumari Temple, Shiva and Vishnu temple (under renovation after earthquake), Classical Palace, Kalbhairav Statue and Akash Vairab Statue, Hanuman Dhaka Palace courtyards (main palace with Newari wooden architectures), Taleju Temple (distant sight since it very sacred temple and open only one day in a year), a small museum portraying earthquake devastations and other temples. Kathmandu Durbar Square also offers great Coffee places. It will be about 2-3 hours of walking around the Palace square. 

          From Kathmandu Durbar Square, a new tour experience will start - that is a rickshaw tour to the oldest part of town in Kathmandu from the Hotel through the oldest markets of Ason and IndraChowk. The iconic rickshaw tour (the main means of transport for tourists around Kathmandu Durbar Square and Thamel since the 1960s) will take about 30min and will go through the old market. Ason and Indrachowk are the places where Nepalis find everything they need from Noon to Soon (literally salt to gold).Overnight at same Hotel. 

          Free & easy late afternoon and evening. Overnight at same hotel in Kathmandu. 

            Breakfast & drive to the airport 3 hrs before your flight time. Each guests will get an individual airport drive depending on their flight time. 

              Trip Preparations
              • What is the best season for Kathmandu temples & nature walking Tour?

                Throughout from the fall to the ending of Spring are the best travel season for Kathmandu Valley - Temples & nature walking tour. However for Kathmandu Valley - Temples & Hiking 6 days Tour, Monsoon is equally enjoyable & feasible. The best time for this trip is beginning mid September till early June. 

              • The trip style & activities include sightseeing of regular nature - a guided walks, guided short hikes & private transfers as scheduled.

              • 7 UNESCO sites of Kathmandu valley & Shivapuri peak are the main destinations. The seven UNESCO sites in Kathmandu valley are Changu Narayan temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Sqaure, Patan Durbar Sqaure, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath - the monkey temple.

              • Taking an exciting and lifetime Everest sightseeing flight is the best optional activity for Kathmandu valley temples and nature tour. It is an expensive but totally worth thing to do. 

              • No specific physical fitness is required for this trip. The tour inlolves regular sightseeing activities, transfers by private car. So basically any person of any age can do the trip. Depending on the month of the year you are visiting Kathmandu - the packing lists may vary slightly. Apart from everyday clothes, windproof and jackets, trousers, gloves, skin creams are more useful in winter times. Similary, rain cover or umbrella will be more useful for monsoon season. 

              • October, November, December, March, April, & May are considered the best months Kathmandu valley sightseeing & hiking tour. In these months, you can travel very light with no extra preparations.  

                From mid december till End of February is the main winter months in Nepal. Warm clothes are very important for winter. Similarly, from Last week of June till mid September is the monsoon. So apart from regular clothes, an umbrella or rain cover, water proof shoes are very important.

              • It all depends on what are included on your paid trip. Normally you will need to consider budgets for lunch & dinners, personal expenses & tips to guide and driver. A proper lunch or dinner may cost between $5 - $20 depending on type of food, restaurant.  

              • The must to do tourist attractions for a short trip to Kathmandu are Sunrise from Nagarkot, Everest sightseeing flight, 7 UNESCO sites and a day hike to Shivapuri national Park. 

              • The best hiking trail near Kathmandu is the hiking to Shivapuri 2780m high Peak. The hiking startng point is 12KM north of Kathmandu at Muhanpokhari. 

              • Five days are perfect and good enough days to explore the Kathmandu Valley - Temples & surrounding nature. You will cover all 7 UNESCO cultural sites & a day hike to Shivapuri national park. 

              Trip Reviews
              • Best guided Tour/Trek in Nepal

                Excellent!

                The Owners are really hands-on. The services are exceptional. Organized and flexible travel plans. Communication is not a problem. Well-guided tours, the owners/ guides are well versed on the tourist site. Transportation was not an issue. My team felt secure and safe on our 3week long Travel under this agency. Ighly recommended.

                F
                Franz ReizGermanyMay 29, 2023
                TripAdvisor
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