Explore The Kathmandu Valley- 6 Days

You’ll enjoy stunning views of the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below as you take off for Kathmandu. After clearing customs, a representative will be there to help you check into your hotel and navigate the initial cultural shock of Kathmandu’s twisting, winding streets. After you’ve settled in, go explore one of Kathmandu’s cultural attractions. The evening is a nice time to eat, and Thamel, a popular tourist destination, offers a wide selection of eateries serving both Western and regional Nepali cuisine.

When the city is gently waking up in the morning hours and isn’t yet too chaotic, Kathmandu offers a unique aura. It’s a perfect time to stroll and explore the neighborhood, or to enjoy a chai while gazing out over one of the durbar squares or neighborhood courtyards. Given the numerous breathtaking vistas in and around the Kathmandu Valley, there are numerous ways you might spend the day. Later in the evening, go out to eat at one of the city’s top restaurants, or your specialist can set up a supper at a local family’s house.

The best time to walk Kathmandu’s streets is first thing in the morning since it is quieter and less crowded, and you can see people completing their daily rituals at temples andshrines. Walk from Thamel to IndraChowk before breakfast to seethe impressive temples that are located there. IndraChowk was once a cloth market.

Later, visit Pashupatinath, which is Nepal’s holiest Hindu site. The area consists of a number of Shiva temples as well as ghats on the Bagmati River, which are steps where people can bathe and have their dead cremated.

Travel to Nagarkot from Pashupatinath, which is about a two-hour drive from Kathmandu. Northeast of Bhaktapur, atop a ridge, is where this settlement is located. An overnight stay is recommended because it is a well-known location for viewing the Himalaya at sunrise and sunset, particularly the Langtang range. The Nagarkot Farmhouse is a renovated Newari ranch nestled in large gardens away from the bustle, despite the fact that the main stretch of hotels in town is extremely crowded.

Try one of these places if you’re searching for somewhere a little less crowded (though still in the same general area as Nagarkot), with comparable panoramic views of the Himalaya and nearby trekking opportunities:

Dhulikhel. Despite being a thriving contemporary town today, Dhulikhel nevertheless has a core of buildings that were constructed by the Newari people. Along with several less expensive options, it is also home to Dwarika’sDhulikhel, one of Nepal’s finest boutique hotels.

Namobuddha One of the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal is a monastery with a golden roof and brightly painted buildings at the end of a ridge. The cozy Namobuddha Resort uses its organic garden to produce all of its meals.

If the weather wasn’t cooperative, you might have missed the sunset view of the mountains from Nagarkot the previous evening, but you’re more likely to have views in the bright early morning light.

After breakfast, you have a choice between taking a one-hour drive from Nagarkot to Bhaktapuror hiking there. It is a four-hour, downhill hike that passes through Changu Narayan. The temple in this tiny village is one of the least frequented World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The temple, which is thought to be the oldest in Nepal, was built in the thirteenth century.

If you traveled by car to Bhaktapur, you would have plenty of time in the afternoon to see this Newari old city. The town is renowned for producing high-quality Newari crafts, particularly pottery, which can be seen drying in the broad town squares.

You’ll have the chance to tour Bhaktapur this morning if you chose the hiking option the day before. The majority of the town’s remarkable religious structures, notably the five-story Nyatapola Temple, the highest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, are still surviving despite the town suffering significant damage from the 2015 earthquake.

After that, drive an hour to Patan. Patan was formerly a separate kingdom that competed with Kathmandu, much like Bhaktapur. This significance is still seen in its beautiful Durbar Square, which is made up of a number of temples and royal structures. The magnificent Patan Museum, built with Austrian assistance, is located in one of the palace’s wings and features examples of the Kathmandu Valley’s religious art and architecture.

There are several other noteworthy locations near the Patan Durbar Square, including the Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, sometimes known as the Golden Temple despite not being fashioned of gold (the golden-colored metal is actually brass!) or a temple (it is actually a monastery!).

If you want to buy souvenirs, Patan is an excellent place to do it. There are many traditional Newari artisans in the area, thus you can find stores offering jewelry of all kinds, metal statues, Buddhist thangka paintings, and brass and copper cookware.

The fact that Patan has fewer hotels than the heart of Kathmandu is to the benefit of the discerning traveler. Several charming boutique guesthouses have been created from local historic buildings.

Time to say farewell to Nepal. Enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It’s good to be at the airport at least two hours prior to departure.