Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour

The Kathmandu sightseeing tour is one of the best day tours in Nepal, and it takes tourists to many amazing places in Kathmandu. Before returning to the hotel, the tour begins early morning, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

8:30 am – Our Driver and Tour Guide will meet you at your hotel and take you sightseeing.

The tour begins early in the morning with breakfast in the hotel in Kathmandu. Around 8 AM, you will be ready to pack and start the tour the day ahead. Half an hour later, around 8:30 AM, you will meet your driver and tour guide. You will briefly describe the tour and prepare for what you will see. They will also provide basic methods of courtesy, along with do’s and don’ts of the tour. Now, you are all set for the fantastic day of the Kathmandu Sightseeing tour.

The tour begins with the hotel, as your first destination of this tour is the impressive Swayambhunath Temple. Also known as the Monkey Temple, Swayambhunath Temple is the prime destination for the Buddhist Pilgrims in Nepal. You will start the tour quite early, visiting several places daily. Hence, your tour must begin around 8 AM. After reaching Swayambhu, you will see plenty of stupas and shrines.  There are two ways to get the stupa.

You can take the long staircase on the east side or use the road around the hill to the south. You will take the road to the southwest entrance. This place is popular with both tourists and locals. You can see a beautiful view of the city from the top of the hill. It tends to be crowded early morning and evening because many locals come here for walks. However, you will have the chance to enjoy the views without much disturbance.

After visiting Swayambhunath, you will move towards Patan to visit Patan Durbar Square, which is highly popular among Nepali and foreign visitors. The bridge over the Bagmati River divides two districts in the south-central valley of Nepal. Patan, the third-largest city, is primarily inhabited by the Newari people and is known for its rich cultural heritage, traditions, and crafts.

The main attraction is Patan Durbar Square, the royal palace of the Malla kings, and features remarkable architecture by Newari artists. The square has several important temples, including Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, Taleju Bhawani Temple, and Vishwanath Temple. After Patan Durbar Square, it’s time to move to Kathmandu Durbar Square.

It takes about one hour from Patan to reach the place, which is always packed with local and international tourists. Another name for Kathmandu Durbar Square is Basantapur Durbar Square. The square was once a popular palace for the Shah and Malla kings. One of the significant reasons to visit Kathmandu Durbar Square is to see different types of temples, cultural places, etc.

Kathmandu Durbar Square also has a highly popular museum, and now it’s time to visit the most famous temples in Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.

After visiting some fantastic Durbar squares and museums of Kathmandu and Patan, it’s time to visit the primary place for the pilgrims who worship Lord Shiva. This Kathmandu Valley tour is now in full swing, and if you choose the half-day sightseeing tour, you will reach your final destination. It takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to reach Pashupatinath temple. Pashupatinath is a sacred Hindu temple and a UNESCO heritage site. It is located about 5 km from the eastern valley, along the banks of the Bagmati River.

The main temple, the holy shrine of Lord Shiva, is surrounded by many other temples and ashrams. Many Shiva devotees visit this site, which is often very crowded. Visitors must not wear shoes or take pictures inside the main temple, but they can do so outside the main gate. The main temple features pagoda-style architecture with four doors, one in each direction. A large bronze statue of Nandi stands in front of the western door. Overall, there are 518 temples and monuments on the grounds.

Now it’s time to move to Boudhanath Stupa, far from Pashupatinath. You will pass through Gaushala and reach Chabahil; the destination is just half an hour ahead. Boudhanath stupa, also known as Boudha, is an essential site for Tibetan Buddhists. It is located about 11 km from the northeast edge of Kathmandu. This stupa is one of Nepal’s largest spherical stupas shaped like a massive mandala. It stands along the old trade route from Tibet to Kathmandu, passing through Sankhu village.

Boudhanath is one of the most popular attractions in the Kathmandu Valley, and there is an entry fee for tourists. Houses with shops and restaurants surround the stupa. As you enter, you feel a sense of peace. You can hear holy chants from the nearby shops. You can buy souvenirs for your loved ones at the shops. The ground and first floors are open for walking, so you can explore the sidewalks. After your visit, you can enjoy breakfast with a great view from the terrace of the shops, restaurants, or surrounding monasteries.

Now that it’s about 5 p.m., we’ll drive back to the hotel, concluding our full-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. We hope your tour made you realize how beautiful Kathmandu is in terms of views, culture, and traditions. We also hope you learned new things about Kathmandu and will return in the future.