Kathmandu Day Tour

Kathmandu Tour - Full Day Tour in Kathmandu - Full Day Kathmandu Tour - 1 Day
Kathmandu Day Tour
What to see & doSpecific information about Kathmandu Day Tour
  • Duration1 Days
  • Trip Grade Easy
  • Max Altitude 1350m
  • Starts at Kathmandu
  • Ends at Kathmandu
  • Trip Style City Tour
  • Group Size 1-12
  • Transportation Private Vehicles
  • Best Season All Time of the Year

Kathmandu Day Tour is a day full of excursions to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Sites of Kathmandu Valley. This single-day tour is appropriate for all age groups and involves sightseeing the tourist spots and driving around the city in a private vehicle. On the tour day, a certified tour guide will lead you to 4 major historical and religious sites of Kathmandu, including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple.

Kathmandu is more than a capital city; it is a cultural hub with people of different ethnicities and backgrounds from all over Nepal residing harmoniously. Due to centralization, Kathmandu is slightly overpopulated, so it's not ideal for solitude seekers. However, there's calmness within the chaos. Several historical monuments, religious sites (of both Hinduism and Buddhism), and cultural elements decorate the city so well and provide you with a sense of internal serenity that you don't have to seek external quietness. In this 1-Day Kathmandu Tour, we'll explore some of those serene sights. 

The three districts, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur, make up the Kathmandu Valley, situated in central Nepal's high plateaus at an altitude of 1400 meters. Although the cities are crowded, the Shivapuri, Nagarjuna, and other forests on the valley's outskirts give Kathmandu a natural touch. If you need to get away from the crowded concrete jungle for a breath of fresh air, several beautiful hikes are just a 30-minute driveway from the city center. 

Newari people are the native inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley and the nearby areas. These genuine keepers of Nepal's religion, culture, and civilization take pride in maintaining their ancient customs and traditions. The Newar people's cultural, literary, artistic, commercial, agricultural, and culinary accomplishments are well known. According to the yearly Human Development Index released by UNDP, they continuously rank as Nepal's most economically and socially advanced community.

If you have 1 leisure day to spend in Kathmandu, this trip is a good opportunity to explore the city and learn about its art, culture, history, and people. Our experienced tour guide will not only escort you to these places but also give you valuable insights that you can't get on your own. Come join us on Outfitter Nepal's Kathmandu Day Tour to experience Kathmandu to the fullest in a single day.

Best Features of the Kathmandu Day Tour

  • Sightseeing tour of 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Learn about Nepal's art, history, culture and religion
  • Enjoy a 360-degree view of Kathmandu city from a hilltop
  • Get a close-up look at the capital city's lifestyle
  • Try mouth-watering traditional Nepali food
  • Shop Nepalese handicrafts as souvenirs for your loved ones

What is the best time for Kathmandu Day Tour?

The Kathmandu Day Tour can be taken at any time of the year. Due to Kathmandu's geographical location, it experiences a moderate climate. It's neither too hot nor too cold in Kathmandu at any given time. However, if you'd like to have the best experience, we advise you to book the tour in spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November). Spring and autumn days are pleasant, with mild temperatures and clear skies. 

Summer/monsoon (June to August) and winter (December to February) are alright too. The maximum temperature in summer/monsoon reaches 35 degrees Celsius, and the minimum temperature in winter falls to 0 degrees Celcius, which is bearable with appropriate clothing. Days are warm in winter anyways. If you're worried about the sun in summer, you can apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses. However, the rain may interrupt your outing.

ItineraryTrip day to day detail itinerary

Since it is a 1-day tour, the Kathmandu Day Tour starts in the morning at around 9:00 am and ends in the evening at around 5:00 pm. Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel at 8:30 and brief you about the tour. Make sure to have your breakfast and get ready by that time

Tour of Swayambhunath Temple/Stupa

The Kathmandu Day Tour begins with a drive from your hotel to Swayambhunath Temple in a private vehicle. The type of vehicle will depend on the number of travelers. It's a brief 15-minute drive to reach the temple premises. You'll then walk in an uphill stairway to the main stupa. Swayambhunath Stupa, commonly known as Swayambhu, is located on a hilltop towards the northwest corner of the Kathmandu valley. As it is situated on a small hilltop, you can see a 360-degree view of the entire city from here.

Swayambhu is one of the oldest and holiest Buddhist shrines in Nepal that Hindus equally revere. The temple consists of a big stupa in the middle. The stupa is made out of a dome at the bottom and a cube construction with Buddha eyes painted on it from all four directions. The biggest picture of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal sits on a pedestal on the western limit of Swayambhu. Behind the ridge is a temple committed to Manjusri or Saraswati - the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues, and holy places of Buddhist and Hindu divinities fill the stupa complex. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 

Swayambhunath is also known as Monkey Temple, as many monkeys reside in the forest surrounding the temple. Don't carry any loose food items in your hand or in your bag where it's visible. The monkeys tend to attack for food. 

Tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square

Next on the day tour is Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Basantapur Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka. The name "Hanuman Dhoka Durbar" originated from the Hanuman statue set up by King Pratap Malla at the passage of the regal royal residence in 1672 A.D. It is one of the 3 durbar squares built in Kathmandu Valley along with Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It was also enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Both tourists and locals are found to be roaming this historic site with enthusiasm. There are several temples, shrines, courtyards, and a palace inside the durbar square that reflect the art and architecture of medieval times. If you're keen on Nepalese history, you can visit the museum present at the site. Small shops in the area sell Nepalese handicrafts that make good souvenirs to take back home. 

You'll find some good restaurants in the area if you want to have lunch here. Or you can drive to Bouddhanath Stupa and have lunch in some rooftop cafes with a view of the grand Bouddhanath. Lunch is not included in our package, so you're free to have anything anywhere.

Tour of Bouddhanath Stupa

The tour then proceeds to Bouddhanath Stupa, which is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 8 km toward the east of downtown Kathmandu, Boudhanath is a standout amongst the most imposing tourist spots in Kathmandu. Boudhanath's 36-meter-tall structure is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. Surrounded by countless religious groups, Boudhanath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

Boudhanath Stupa suffered significant damage from the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, severely cracking the spire. The entire structure above the dome had to be dismantled. After the reconstruction, the stupa was opened again in November 2016. One of the biggest Buddhist festivals, Buddha Purnima (the birthday of Lord Buddha), is celebrated with great devotion in the Bouddhanath premises.

The stupa is encircled by compact buildings housing shops and restaurants. You'll find multi-cuisine restaurants in the area serving delicious meals. In the shops, you can purchase handicrafts ranging from jewelry to bags, mostly related to Buddhism. 

Tour of Pashupatinath Temple

The last place to visit on our Kathmandu Day Tour for today is Pashupatinath Temple. The Pashupatinath Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built in the fifth century and later redesigned by the Malla rulers, the site itself is said to have existed from the earliest starting point of the thousand years when a Shiva lingam was found here. 

Extending both sides of the holy Bagmati River, Pashupatinath Temple makes Nepal's largest temple complex. The main pagoda-style shrine contains exquisite wood carvings, a gold-plated roof, and doors on four sides that are covered in silver. The main temple is surrounded by several smaller temples dedicated to countless other Hindu and Buddhist deities. 

A large number of Hindus from Nepal and India pay a visit to Pashupatinath every year. Non-Hindus aren't allowed to enter the main temple but can visit the premises. Shivaratri and Teej are the two main festivals celebrated in the temple.

After visiting Pashupatinath temple, the Kathmandu Day Tour is complete, and our guide will drop you at your hotel in Kathmandu. We hope you had a great day with us.

    Since it is a 1-day tour, the Kathmandu Day Tour starts in the morning at around 9:00 am and ends in the evening at around 5:00 pm. Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel at 8:30 and brief you about the tour. Make sure to have your breakfast and get ready by that time

    Customize Trip
    Cost DetailsGood to know before trip booking
    What's Included
    • Private tourist vehicle.
    • Professional licensed tourist guide.
    What's not Included
    • Lunch and tips for guide and driver.
    • Entrance fees to visit the Monuments ( Approx-2600.00 NPR) per person.
    Client ReviewsTravelers talk about Outfitter Nepal
    • O
      Oldham MarkUnited Kingdom,March 10, 2023
      rating star

      Excellent Full Day Kathmandu Tour

      We did the full day city tour and were lucky enough to get Birodh as our guide.

      • The tour was very interesting and visited all the major sights in Kathmandu including the monkey temple, Stupa, crematorium and Durbar Sq. 
      • It was very well organized and we had a car to take us round. It was made, however, by the guidance of Birodh who was very knowledgeable and friendly.
      • He even sent us the photos that he had taken during the day. I would highly recommend this tour and Birodh.
      TripAdvisor
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