Carved Newari brick and timber facade in Tansen

Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour

Seven World Heritage sites in two unhurried days.

The Kathmandu Valley holds one of the densest concentrations of living heritage anywhere: three medieval royal cities, the great stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, and the riverside temples of Pashupatinath, all within an hour of each other.

Taken over two days with a guide who knows the stories, it is a world away from the mountains, and the natural bookend to a trek that starts or ends in Kathmandu.

Highlights

Bhaktapur and Patan durbar squares
Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world
Swayambhunath, the hilltop monkey temple
Pashupatinath on the sacred Bagmati river

A typical 2-day shape

A typical 2-day shape. Squeeze the highlights into one full day, or spread it over three with a day trip to Nagarkot or Dhulikhel for the sunrise on the range.

Day 1By road + On foot
Kathmandu and Swayambhunath
Kathmandu Durbar Square and its old palace, then up to the hilltop stupa of Swayambhunath for the view over the city.
Time
Half day
Stay
Hotel, Kathmandu
Day 1By road + On foot
Boudhanath and Pashupatinath
The great white dome of Boudhanath and the Tibetan quarter, then the riverside temples and cremation ghats of Pashupatinath.
Time
Half day
Stay
Hotel, Kathmandu
Day 2By road + On foot
Patan
The finest durbar square in the valley, and the metalworkers' and woodcarvers' courtyards of the old city of Patan.
Time
Half day
Stay
Hotel, Kathmandu
Day 2By road + On foot
Bhaktapur
The best-preserved medieval city in Nepal, a car-free warren of temples, potters' squares, and carved facades.
Time
Half day

Ways to do it

The 2-day heritage tour2 days
All seven valley sites at an unhurried pace, with time to sit in the squares rather than rush them.
One-day express1 day
The four unmissable sites in a single full day, for travellers with a tight connection.
Add it to a trek
Bolt it onto the start or end of any Everest or Langtang trek, or fly it in from Pokhara for a day.

Getting there

Based in Kathmandu, door to door from your hotel in a private vehicle with a heritage guide. We can add the short flight or the drive from Pokhara at either end.