Day Trips

Kathmandu Valley Day Tour

A day trip to Kathmandu can help you understand the unique cultural aspects of Nepal.

Days 1
Nights 0
Max Altitude 1,400m (4,600ft)
Group Size 1-15 pax
Category Day Trips
Activity Sightseeing
Location Nepal
Grade Easy

Journey details

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and is known as the city of God and the goddess. You will find a temple or stupa in every corner of the city. This chaotic city has seven of the 10 heritage sites inscribed on the UNESCO list in Kathmandu. Our day trip to Kathmandu offers art, culture, architecture and craftsmanship, and statues on the walls, pillars, architecture and heritage are fascinating. The ancient palaces of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur reflect the royal taste of the ancient Malla kings of Nepal.

Similarly, temples such as the Pashupatinath Temple and Changu Narayan Temple reflect the religious aspects of Nepalese Hindus. Similarly, Lumbini, the birthplace of Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Gautama Buddha, will provide you with some knowledge about the Buddhist religion.

A day trip to Kathmandu can help you understand the unique cultural aspects of Nepal. The art and craftsmanship of forests, metals and stones in temples and palaces reflect the artistic taste of the people who live here. Walking through the streets of Kathmandu will familiarize you with the standards, values and lifestyles of people. Tasting authentic Nepalese cuisine and other snacks in the restaurant will add to your lifestyle and your gastronomic journey. Therefore, explore Kathmandu in just a few hours from the Himalayan Adventure Nepal.

The highlight of a day trip in Kathmandu

Kathmandu Durbar Square: is an ancient palace of art and large building built by the King of Mala in the middle Ages. It is located in the center of Kathmandu and is busy most of the time. The pillars, buildings and windows of the palace reflect art, architecture, craftsmanship and design. There are many small temples around the palace that give it a fascinating look. The palace is also known as Hanuman Dhoka. A large statue of Hanuman was placed in front of a door in Durbar, whose name was Hanuman Dhoka. Built in the 14th century, this magical palace is the crown of the king when he ruled the monarchy.

Since 1997, it has been on the list of UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu.

Swayambhunath Stupa: one of the oldest Buddhist stupas in the Kathmandu Valley. Located at the top of the hill, it is a perfect view of the entire Kathmandu valley. Since the pagoda has many monkeys, the pagoda is also known as the Temple of the Monkey. In this stupa you can find Buddha statues, large Buddhist statues in monasteries and public places, and the influence of Buddhism. According to mythology, the pagoda is in the same place where the legendary Manjushree meets the lotus in the valley lake.

Pashupatinath stupa - the oldest temple of Lord Shiva, is of great value among Hindu pilgrims. You can find buildings that are older than life. Only Hindus can enter the temple. For others, you can enjoy the surroundings, including the crematorium, where the body burns to ashes. The unique characteristics of Sandhus: those who use the ashes of the body and fear are seen here as a unique feature.

Boudhanath Stupa - It is the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. We can see that the monks are busy singing their rituals around the temple. It is the most sacred pagoda outside of Tibet and has a high value in Buddhist pilgrimages. The white dome and the shiny golden needles symbolize peace and are unique to this stupa. The stupa is located on a three-story staircase and presents the exterior of the mandala.

Trip Profile

Destination: Nepal

Trip Grade: Leisure Holidays

Total Duration: 5 hours

Group Size: Min 1 People

Day by day

Detailed itinerary.

Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)
Our representative at the airport will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, he / she will show signs of Himalaya Adventure Nepal outside the airport terminal. Next, you will take our private tourist vehicle to your respective hotel.

Note: If you are arriving after 4:00 p.m., our guide will inform you of the trip, which will be your line before the meeting, so be sure to make all the problems. But if you arrive before 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting will take place in the day's office. During the meeting, we will present your leadership / difficulties guide. For meetings, be sure to bring your passport, three passport photos and a legible copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, clear the balance owed (if applicable) and signs a legally binding travel form with a disclaimer.

Overnight at a hotel. No meals included.
Day 2 Guided Sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, your tour will start at 8:30 in the morning. You can use private vehicles and professional guides. Today we will visit part of the heritage that is detailed below:

Pashupatinath Temple:

The Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most important Hindu temples in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Although you are not allowed to enter the temple because it is limited to the Hindus, you can clearly see the activities of the temple and the east bank of the Bagmati River. This is a two-story square pagoda temple built on a single-story pedestal that is famous throughout the world.

Boudhanath Stupa:

Boudhanath is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century AD and has four pairs of Buddha's eyes in four main directions, maintaining an eternal vigilance of people and their actions. You will find Buddhist pilgrims from Tibet turning the prayer wheel around the pagoda.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:

Visit Bhaktapur Durbar, Bhupatindra Malla real residential area, the five-story name of the Nyatapola temple, a pagoda-style palace in Batsala Temple, Bhairavnath, Dattatreya temple, Pujari Muth and 55 windows.

We can explore the rest of Kathmandu for free and take a last minute shopping trip in the Thamel area for hiking.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.
Day 3 Fly to Pokhara (823m/2,700ft) and trek to Ulleri (2050m/6725 ft): 30 min flight and 6 hours trek
We take an early morning flight to Pokhara and enjoy amazing views of the Himalayas from the right side of our plane. Upon our arrival in Pokhara, the beautiful lake city, we are rewarded with magnificent views of the Himalayas including Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, the five peaks of Annapurna and others. After taking a rest, we drive to Naya Pul and start the trek. We pass through sub-tropical valley forests, sometimes on the carved trail on the side of the cliff. After lunch, we cross the Bhurungdi Khola (river) via a bridge to the village of Tikhedhunga. The Ulleri Hill with thousands of steps and boulders that continually go upward will really prove a test of our stamina. We reach Ulleri by late afternoon. Overnight in Ulleri.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 4 Ulleri to Ghorepani (2,750m/9,020 ft): 4 - 5 hours trek
After breakfast, we ascend to the Ghorepani village. The name Ghorepani in Nepali means ‘horse-water’ due to it being an important campsite for traders before it became a trekker's stop. Ghorepani is an interesting place with small shops and stalls for selling local products and crafts. The town has two parts: one in a saddle and the other a few hundred feet lower. We stop at the higher part of the Ghorepani village that offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains including Annapurna South and Nilgiri mountains. Since Ghorepani lies quite higher than our previous stop, we begin to feel the chilly weather especially in the evenings. Overnight in Ghorepani.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day5 Ghorepani to Tadapani (2,700m/8,860ft) with a visit to Poon Hill: 6 - 7 hours
To catch the sunrise over the Himalayas, we make an early morning climb along the steep trail to the viewpoint of Poon Hill (3,210m/10,529ft), the most popular trekking destination of the Annapurna region. It is also a great viewpoint to enjoy the amazing views of Mustang, Pokhara and more than 20 of the highest mountains including the close-up views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. The snowy peaks of the high mountains loom above and around us glowing in the morning light. After taking photographs and having some coffee or tea or hot chocolate, we return back to Ghorepani. After breakfast, we head east and climb a nearby ridge. We descend through rhododendron forests, pass by spectacular waterfalls along the way and reach Tadapani to spend the night.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 6 Tadapani to Ghandruk (1940m/6360 ft): 3 - 4 hours
From Tadapani, we make a steep descent through the dense and dark forest. This part of the trek will be through a thick forest of old rhododendron trees. When the rhododendron trees are in bloom, these forests actually turn into amazing gardens. By afternoon, depending upon the season of travel, we also get to enjoy cherry blossoms in bloom on the slopes on the other side of the ravine. After trekking some more minutes, we enter the village of Ghandruk, a slope settlement with stone houses mostly inhabited by the Gurung people. Along with enjoying the stunningly close-up towering views of Fishtail, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli mountains, we also acquaint ourselves with the simple but rich cultural traditions of the Gurung people at the Gurung Museum in Ghandruk.

Included meals:Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Day 7 Ghandruk to Pokhara: 4 hours trek and 1 hour drive
Ghandruk to Pokhara: 4 hours trek and 1 hour drive
Day8 Fly to Kathmandu
We fly to Kathmandu in the afternoon. The left side of the airplane offers some amazing views of the Himalayas. After arriving in Kathmandu, we leave for our hotel. We enjoy the day leisurely or catch up on some last minute shopping or explore any landmarks we missed during our first day in Kathmandu. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Included meals:Breakfast Dinner
Day 9 Final Departure
Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Himalayan Adventure Nepal representative will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way to home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.

Your trip price

What your journey covers.

Cost Included

  • All Meals
  • All ground and plane transportation
  • All accomodation
  • Full trek guide and staffs
  • All trek pack and equipment

Cost Not Included

  • Alcohol or Beverage
  • Camera and other non trek accessories

Tripadvisor traveler reviews

Trusted on the trail.

5.0 118 reviews on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor

Annapurna Circuit with a caring team

Iona praised Raju’s planning and the care provided by guide Keshar and porter Tek, helping two friends enjoy the trek with confidence.

Iona MVisited February 2025
Tripadvisor

Welcomed like family

Michel described careful organization, warm hospitality and a team that looked after every detail, from guiding to hotels and city transfers.

Michel LVisited March 2026
Tripadvisor

A smooth Annapurna journey

Steph praised the well-managed meals and accommodation, patient guide Sunil, dedicated porters, and the team’s quick response whenever plans needed attention.

Steph YeeVisited November 2025
Tripadvisor

Everything handled for EBC

Amina valued proactive communication, equipment support, reliable guides and calm handling of flight and accommodation changes throughout her solo trek.

Amina CVisited November 2025

Review highlights are concise summaries of traveler feedback. Visit Tripadvisor to read the complete reviews.

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