2 days Kathmandu City Tour
The abundance of timeless ancient architecture and traditional Newari culture in Kathmandu Valley makes it a true haven for day tours. Whether you’re on a family tour in Nepal or a couple for a honeymoon, the city has everything to offer. The tour of marvelous crafts and iconic sites in the valley with underrated wonders isn’t possible in just a day. Hence, to amuse yourself with the ancient wonders and beauty of the city, two days are a must. Our two-day complete Kathmandu City Tour takes you to ancient royal palaces, museums, and three prominent pilgrimage sites full of ancient culture, enriched heritage, and architecture.
Before we explore this tour package in-depth, here’s our blog on the Ten best places to visit in Kathmandu in 2024. Please go through this blog to learn more about multiple places you might be interested in visiting. You can write us at mailtoneptrek@gmail.com to plan this tour exquisitely.
Kaathmandu City Tour- Tour Highlights
- Guided tour to UNESCO heritage sites, museums, and vantage points in Kathmandu Valley.
- Visit Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swyambhu, and Boudhanath Stupa.
- Picturesque view of Kathmandu Valley from vantage points like Chandragiri Hills.
- Private vehicle transfer (car) from the hotel to tour sites and to the hotel.
- Walk along the centuries-old alleys and courtyards of traditional Newari settlements.
- Two amazing tour days with the taste of local foods and souvenirs.
Kathmandu City Tour Cost in 2024
|
Pax |
Cost Per Day (USD) | Availability |
Want to Book? |
|
1 |
$70 | Available | Book Now! |
| 2-3 | $65 | Available | |
|
4-5 |
$60 | Available |
Note: Above-listed cost is per day per person.
Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour Cost Details
Here’s a breakdown of the tour cost. We’ve highlighted what you’ll get after paying the tour fee to us. However, the Kathmandu City Tour cost increases if you want a full-board service during the tour. And if you have any requests to customize the cost and itinerary, you can write to us at mailtoneptrek@gmail.com.
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Cost Includes |
Cost Excludes |
| Private transportation (pickup and drop) |
Heritage site entry permits Chandragiri Hills Cable Car Fare |
|
An experienced city tour guide |
Meals and personal expenses |
| Required paperwork |
Tipping for the tour guide |
Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour Itinerary- Detailed Breakdown
Day 1: Whole day sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley (Phase 1)
Places you’ll visit on day-1:
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square
- Patan Durbar Square
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Pashupatinath Aarti
You’ll start the morning with breakfast and coffee at the hotel in Kathmandu. While you have breakfast, your tour guide and a private vehicle will wait for you in the hotel’s lobby.
You’ll first drive to Bhaktapur Durbar Square to kick off the two-day tour. Before entering the site, you must purchase the entry permit. Your tour guide assists with this.
You’ll visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square for two hours. You’ll visit the museum, five-storied temple, potter’s square, and more. When in Bhaktapur, you should try Juju, a popular local yogurt.
After Bhaktapur, you’ll drive to Patan Durbar Square. Here, you’ll visit the beautiful Patan Museum, Krishna Mandir, the royal palace courtyard, and the alleys around the site.
There are many rooftop restaurants around the site where you can grab lunch before driving to Boudhanath Stupa.
After lunch, you’ll drive to Boudhanath Stupa. It’s the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. And a popular site to visit during the Kathmandu City Tour. Clockwise circumambulation around the stupa is a popular activity you can do. Moreover, many Thanka Painting shops around Boudhanath Stupa are worth the visit and buy as souvenirs.
The rooftop cafes around the stupa are the best to spend evening hours. With a sip of coffee, you can enjoy the serenity of the hymns, prayers, and candlelights.
During the evening, you’ll visit Pashupatinath Temple. You’ll visit the temple premises on the east side. You’ll take a tour around the open cremation site. And at 6:30 pm, you’ll attend the aarti, a pious ritual with prayers and oil lamps.
After Aarti, you’ll drive to the hotel.
Day 2: Whole day sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley (Phase 2)
Places you’ll visit on day-2:
- Chandragiri Hills
- Swyambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)
- Kathmandu Durbar Square
During the morning, around 7 am, your tour guide will pick you up from the hotel. The 40-minute drive from the hotel takes you to Thankot. Here, you’ll board a cable car and visit Chandragiri Hills. You’ll have breakfast with a wholesome mountain panorama.
Why morning? Well. You’ll get a clear view of Kathmandu Valley and the entire mountain range. Chandragiri Hills is a popular vantage point and a must-visit site during the Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour.
You’ll take a cable car from Chandragiri Hills back to Thankot and drive to Swyambhunath, aka Monkey Temple. Monkey Temple is a significant Buddhist site in Nepal. It’s also a hilltop site from where you’ll get a beautiful glimpse of Kathmandu Valley.
Watch out for monkeys while in Monkey Temple. They often steal handbags and snacks from the visitors.
From Monkey Temple, you’ll drive to the most popular destination, Kathmandu Durbar Square. This place was once a royal palace to the Shah kings, the last ruler of Nepal.
This place is the epitome of ancient architecture and traditions. Taleju Bhawani Temple, Kal Bhairav, 55 Window Palace, and other sites here are worth visiting. Visiting the museum and Kumari Ghar is highly recommended.
The rooftop cafes at the entrance are where most visitors prefer lunch. Hence, your tour guide will take you to the best rooftop cafe for lunch with a great view of the entire site.
After visiting Kathmandu Durbar Square, you’ll drive to the hotel.
With this, your two-day Kathmandu City Tour ends.
Kathmandu City Tour- Visit to the Best Kathmandu Valley Attractions Site
This section includes a brief of each place you’ll visit during your two days of the Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour. Also, we’ve put the price of entry tickets to each site you’ll tour.
Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur Durbar Square)
Once a hippie haven, Kathmandu Durbar Square is now a tourist place. Close to Thamel, where most tourists stay, reaching here by narrow bustling alleys is just a 10-minute walk. However, you’ll take a private vehicle drive on your guided two-day Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour with us.
The first construction of this site dates to the 3rd century. However, the complex structures are from the 15th and 16th century. Hence, while touring here, you’ll get the timeless vibe of every monument.
You’ll take a detailed tour around Kumari Chowk, the Nine-Storied Palace, the Royal Museum, and another popular place on the site.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square was once a royal palace of Malla Kings of Patan. Out of three Durbar Squares, it is the most beautiful, with the best museum. Also, the grassy courtyard, gold water sprout, magnificent woodwork, and overall architecture are the best.
Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, and Taleju Bhawani Temple are major structures sitting west of the royal palace. Inside the museum are three courtyards where the Malla kings and queens once stepped on.
Apart from the temples and palaces, the rooftop cafes around the site make it more appealing. You can enjoy the unobstructed aerial-like view from the rooftop cafes.
Have plans to buy Thangka Paintings or other souvenirs? The handicraft and art shops in the alleys close to the site are worth the visit.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square sits 16 km east of Kathmandu Valley. It’s the largest among the three Durbar Square in the city.
Fifty-five windows palace, a five-storied temple, a statue of Ugrachandi, Golden Gate, and Taleju Bell are the prominent visiting monuments here. You’ll complete the tour in two hours with the museum visit and others on the site.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square was near-destroyed by an earthquake in 2015. However, with recent renovation, this place is back to life.
Local Newari cuisine and JuJu yogurt are a must while in Bhaktapur. To the south side of the site are rooftop cafes, best for snacks and elegant views of temples and alleys.
Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. It sits 11 km northeast of Kathmandu Valley.
The history of Boudhanath Stupa is associated with the Lichhavi Dynasty of Nepal and the Tibetan Empire. Your tour guide will give you in-depth information on Boudhanath and its history while you visit here.
The humungous dome with the towering golden spire with Buddha’s eyes makes it a grand-sized stupa. You’ll circumambulate around the dome and visit the ritual places around the site.
On the periphery of the stupa are the finest handicraft shops. Here, you can buy exquisite souvenirs at the best rates. And if you want to taste Tibetan cuisine, ask your guide to take you to a restaurant.
Swayambhunath Stupa
Atop a hill, west of Kathmandu Valley, sits Swayambhunath, the most sacred Buddhist Stupa. The word ‘Swayambhu’ translates to self-evolved. In Tibet, people call this site sublime trees due to the abundance of varieties of trees.
Considered a Buddhist site, Swayambhunath Stupa is equally significant in Hinduism. A Hindu Temple, Ajima Temple, next to Swambhunath, shows that Hinduism and Buddhism co-exist.
Since it’s a Buddhist site, we recommend you to circumambulate around the stupa. From the periphery of this site offers a near-360 panoramic view of the entire Kathmandu valley.
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva. This world heritage site is popular among Hindus worldwide and most prominently in the Indian subcontinent. The conception of this holy abode dates back to the 5th century. It spans over 2460000 sq. meters, with more than 519 temples.
This temple has four entrances. However, foreign nationals other than Hindus are not allowed to enter the sacred premises of the temple. Foreigners can explore the Bagmati river bank, open cremation site, and view the temple from the east side, across the Bagmati River.
On your visit here, you’ll attend Aarti during the evening. Thousands of pilgrims gather at the Bagmati river bank to experience the heavenly ritual of Aarti.
Chandragiri Hills
Chandragiri Hills is a beautiful hill station on the southwest of Kathmandu Valley. It’s a must-visit site during the Kathmandu City Tour. From here, you’ll get a complete panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley and the mountains surrounding it. Also, touring here lets you enjoy the serenity away from the bustling alleys of Kathmandu city.
It sits at 2,551 meters altitude, the highest point in Kathmandu Valley. And on a clear weather day, from here, you’ll get a panoramic view of Annapurna, Langtang, and Ganesh Himal. More to it, if the weather becomes 90-100% clear, you’ll get a glimpse of Mt. Everest also.
You’ll visit and pray at Bhaleshwor Temple. And with a beautiful breakfast, you’ll take a cable car and return to the valley to visit other popular sites.
Kathmandu City Tour- Essential Information
Gadgets
While on the Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour, we suggest you bring the following gadgets:
- photo/video camera
- mobile phone and a portable charger (power bank)
- binoculars (for Chandragiri Hills visit)
Wearable gears for Kathmandu City Tour
Based on the time of your Kathmandu City Tour, we advise you to bring and wear clothes accordingly. Here’s our recommendation for Spring and Autumn.
Spring and Summer (March-September)
- T-shirt
- Sunglass
- Short pants/Thin trousers
- Flip flops, sandals, or running shoes
- Windproof and Rainproof jacket (during March-May, June-September)
- Cap/Hat
Autumn and Winter(October-Febraury)
- Down jacket, thermals, and trekking pant
- Benie, gloves, and neck buff
- Decent running shoes
- Moisturizers and lip balms
Try local cuisine!
Instead of biting a pizza slice, we recommend you try local cuisines during the Kathmandu City Tour. Every city in Kathmandu has unique cuisines.
For example, in Bhaktapur, you can try Newari Snacks (beaten rice, meat, pickles, and more), Chatamari (Newari Pizza) and JuJu (yogurt).
Likewise, in Patan Durbar Square, you can try local Newari dishes like bara, sel roti, and Nepali Dal Bhat.
Restaurants around Boudhanath Stupa are best for Tibetan cuisines like momo, Tibetan noodles, Laphing, and Keema Noodles. They’re spicy but worth trying.
Overall, local cuisines won’t disappoint your belly.