Kathmandu Heritage Short Break
A compact, well-priced introduction to the Kathmandu valley for anyone with a long weekend.
- Duration 3 days
- Region Kathmandu Valley
- From ₹9,999 per person
- Max altitude approx. 1,400 m
- Group size 2 - 20 travellers
- Best time Oct - Apr
- Pickup Kathmandu airport, or Gorakhpur by road
Overview
Three days is enough for the valley if the days are planned properly. This trip covers all three medieval royal squares, both of the great Buddhist stupas and the Pashupatinath temple complex, without any of them feeling rushed.
We start early each morning, because Patan and Bhaktapur belong to their residents for the first hour and to the tour groups afterwards. Lunches are long and in the old city, not at a highway restaurant on the way somewhere.
It is our cheapest package and the one we recommend for a first trip, or as an add-on either side of a trek.
Destinations covered
- Kathmandu
- Patan
- Bhaktapur
Highlights
- Three durbar squares Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - each a royal city in its own right.
- Boudhanath at dusk The kora, the lamps and the largest stupa in the country.
- Swayambhunath Three hundred-odd steps and the best single view over the whole valley.
- Pashupatinath aarti The evening ceremony on the far bank of the Bagmati.
Day by day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive and old Kathmandu
Airport pickup, then Kathmandu Durbar Square and the lanes of Ason and Indra Chowk on foot. Evening aarti at Pashupatinath.
Day 2 – Patan and Bhaktapur
Patan Durbar Square early for the metalworkers courtyards, then Bhaktapur for the afternoon and its pottery square at golden hour.
Day 3 – Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and departure
The hilltop stupa in the morning, an hour at Boudhanath, then shopping in Thamel before the transfer out.
What is included
- Two nights hotel in Kathmandu on twin sharing with breakfast
- All transfers and sightseeing in a private vehicle
- English or Hindi speaking city guide for two full days
- All monument and heritage entry fees in the itinerary
- All applicable taxes
What is not included
- Airfare or bus fare to Kathmandu
- Lunch and dinner other than where stated
- Camera fees at some temple sites
- Personal expenses, tips and travel insurance
Photos
Frequently asked questions
- Is three days really enough?
- For the headline sites, yes. For the valley as a whole, no - and most people finish this trip wishing they had another day, which is why we offer a Nagarkot night as an easy extension.
- How much walking is there?
- Two to three hours a day on uneven stone, plus the Swayambhunath stairs. We can drive to the upper gate there if the steps are a problem.
- Can we start from Gorakhpur?
- Yes. Add a day each way for the road journey through Sunauli, or fly from Lucknow or Varanasi.