Kathmandu Valley Tour

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport, a representative from Naata Trek and Tours will be waiting for you at the airport, displaying a playing card imprinted with your name. He/she will then transfer you to the designated hotel. In the evening, we can enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by Naata Trek and Tours. We can enjoy Nepalese cuisine during dinner, which introduces us to the country’s food culture.

After breakfast, we will have a pre-trip meeting to introduce you to your Guide. During the meeting, you can provide yourself with any queries regarding the trip.
We will start our tour by visiting Boudhanath Stupa, one of the most significant Buddhist shrines in the world, where we observe Buddhist monks praying in the monasteries surrounding the stupa.

After Boudhanath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath Temple, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here, we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing, and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We will also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a collection of pagoda and shikhara–style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood.

The attractions of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate, the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows, art galleries, and the Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla.

Early in the morning, a representative from Naata will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to the airport for the Mountain Flight. During this spectacular Everest Mountain Flight, you will fly over the world’s most extensive mountain range, providing an unforgettable scenic experience for an hour. You will witness Mount Everest (8848m), Mount Lhotse (the 4th highest), Mount Makalu (the 5th highest), and many other peaks. Among these, Gauri-Shankar is particularly clear during the mountain flight. We also get a glimpse of the Tibetan Plateau.

In the afternoon, we will visit Patan, Khokana, and Bungmati. Patan Durbar Square: Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is rich in ancient arts and architecture. Bungmati: Essentially a Newari settlement, Bungmati seems unmarred by time. It is also famous for cycling trips. Here, we can see locals drying red chilies and garlic from the windows of their old-fashioned houses. Khokana: Renowned for its mustard oil seed production and its functional and industrial heritage, Khokana is splendid in its own right.

Today, we start our trip by driving to Thimi, about 10 kilometers east of Kathmandu. Thimi is renowned for its puppets, hand-woven clothes, masks, earthenware, and other handicrafts. It is also known for its sweet, beaten rice grown in traditional fields.

Our next destination is Bhaktapur, an alluring city where the local lifestyle and traditions have been preserved over centuries of isolation from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. While in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, we immerse ourselves in the sights of the Nyata-Pola Temple, the Golden Gate, water spouts, and the 55 Window Palace, which together create an aura of a magical outdoor theater for visitors.

The delicious local food, especially the famous ‘Juju Dhau’ curd, is mouthwatering. Changu Narayan is the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley and is the oldest pagoda-style building in Nepal.

Nagarkot, a renowned hill station, sits at 7,200 feet and is famed for its spectacular Himalayan vistas. It is well known for its sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas. As per your preference, we will visit Nagarkot for sunrise or sunset.

Today, after breakfast, we head towards the southern part of Kathmandu, reaching Dakshinkali Temple.

Dakshinkali Temple: Devoted to the Goddess Kali, it is one of the well-known Hindu enshrinements. Located 22 kilometers from Kathmandu and about a kilometer from the village of Pharping, Dakshinkali Temple is a place of absolute devotion for Hindus. A Malla King constructed the temple after Goddess Kali appeared in his dream and instructed him to do so. It is strongly believed that Dakshinkali Temple has the power to fulfill the wishes of its devotees. Furthermore, cockerels, male goats, hens, ducks, and other animals are sacrificed as wishes are made in front of the temple.

Chobhar Gorge is the major attraction of Chobhar. It is believed that the gorge was carved out by a mighty blow of the sword by Manjushree, who wanted to drain the lake that filled Kathmandu Valley centuries ago. Even today, this is where the valley’s water surges. Alongside is the Jal Vinayak Temple, a pivotal pilgrimage site for the valley.

Pharping has several Buddhist and Hindu monuments, monasteries, and temples. Kirtipur is an ancient town with a brave history, situated atop a hill in the valley. Tribhuvan University, one of Nepal’s largest and oldest universities, is here. It is an important learning center in Nepal. The historic town has many fascinating sights, shrines, old houses, and temples. We will spend the night in Kirtipur.

Today, we drive north to Budhanilkantha, a major pilgrimage site for the Hindus, where a giant statue of Lord Vishnu rests on a bed of snakes in a small pond. Further north from Budhanilkantha is a popular trekking trail in the Shivapuri National Park. It is the go-to destination for people who want a short trekking session around the Kathmandu Valley. The dirt road takes us to a monastery and through the village of Dandagaon, Gurje Bhanjyang, and finally uncovers panoramic views of the mountains from the hilltop.

Our trip ends today. A Naata Trek and Tours representative will drop you off at the international airport for your departure.