Kathmandu city tours

Best time to visit Kathmandu

The Kathmandu Valley can be visited all year. The weather changes what you see from the hills, and the festivals change the life in the squares. Here is how each season feels in the valley, and when the big festivals come.

Tours
49
Areas
Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, Hetirage Walk…
Festivals
10
A young gharial at the breeding centre in Kasara, ChitwanAdam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The seasons in the valley

October to November
Clear, warm days and cool evenings, mountain views from the valley rim, and the two great festivals, Dashain and Tihar. The busiest time.
December to February
Sunny days and cold mornings, often with fog until mid-morning. Few visitors. Bring a warm layer: houses here are not heated.
March to May
Warm and dry, with haze and dust in the air, and more festivals: Holi, Bisket Jatra, Buddha Jayanti. May can be hot in the afternoon.
June to September
The monsoon: warm, with heavy rain on most afternoons or nights, fresh green fields and washed temples. Mornings are often fine for walking.

The festivals of the valley

Lunar dates: they move every year.

FestivalWhenWhereWhat happens
LosarFebruary or MarchBoudhanathTibetan New Year: families in new clothes walking around the stupa, butter lamps and fresh prayer flags.
Maha ShivaratriFebruary or MarchPashupatinathThe night of Shiva: sadhus from all over South Asia, fires by the river, very big crowds. Come early.
HoliMarchEverywhereColours and water in the streets. Wear old clothes and keep your camera in a bag.
Bisket JatraMid-April, Nepali New YearBhaktapurGreat chariots pulled through the old town, and a tall pole raised and brought down. My own town's festival.
Rato MachhindranathApril to JunePatanA very tall chariot pulled through Patan over several weeks, to bring the rain.
Buddha JayantiApril or MaySwayambhunath, BoudhanathThe Buddha's birthday: lamps, music and pilgrims at the stupas.
Gai JatraAugust or SeptemberBhaktapur, KathmanduFamilies who lost someone in the year walk in procession; the day mixes grief with humour and satire.
Indra JatraSeptemberKathmandu Durbar SquareMasked dances, and the chariot of the Kumari, the living goddess, through the old city.
DashainSeptember or OctoberEverywhereNepal's biggest festival, fifteen days long: families gather, kites fly, offices close and buses fill.
TiharOctober or NovemberEverywhereThe festival of lights: oil lamps on every house, crows, dogs and cows honoured, and sisters blessing their brothers.

The tours, month by month

From each tour's own page. bestgoodhazymonsoon

Newar Food in Bhaktapur

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
About 6 hours, 10:00 to 16:00from 10:00
  1. Arrive in Bhaktapur
  2. Durbar Square
  3. Bara and chatamari
  4. Samay baji
  5. Pottery Square
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
6 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  1. Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, drive to Thakurdwara
  2. Bardia: a forest walk
  3. Bardia: the Karnali
  4. Bardia: villages and a free afternoon
  5. Bardia: one more morning
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Bardiya in 5 Days

Round trip
5 days, 4 nights
  1. Day 1 · Fly west to Bardiya
  2. Day 2 · The park by jeep
  3. Day 3 · On foot by the river
  4. Day 4 · The Karnali and a Tharu village
  5. Day 5 · Back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
Full day, about 9 hoursfrom 08:30
  1. Pickup at your hotel in Thamel
  2. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
  3. Taumadhi Square
  4. Pottery Square
  5. Dattatreya Square and the old lanes
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Bhujung

Round trip
3 days, 2 nights from Pokhara
  1. Day 1 · Pokhara to Bhujung
  2. Day 2 · The village and the forest
  3. Day 3 · Back to Pokhara
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
About 5 hoursfrom 09:00
  1. Pick-up at your hotel
  2. Bungamati
  3. The field path
  4. Khokana
  5. Lunch
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
2 days, 1 night
  1. Changu Narayan, then the ridge walk to Nagarkot
  2. Sunrise at Nagarkot, back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
About 6 hoursfrom 08:30
  1. Pick-up at your hotel
  2. Ridge walk to Changu
  3. Changu Narayan temple
  4. The village and lunch
  5. Down through the fields
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Chitlang

Overnight
2 days, 1 night from Kathmandu
  1. Day 1 · Over the hill to Chitlang
  2. Day 2 · Kulekhani and back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Chitwan in 3 Days

Round trip · Chitwan
3 days, 2 nights
  1. Day 1 · Down to Chitwan
  2. Day 2 · Chitwan National Park
  3. Day 3 · Birds, then back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Chitwan Jungle Safari

Round trip · Chitwan
3 Days / 2 Nights
  1. Kathmandu to Chitwan
  2. A day in the park
  3. Sunrise and back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Indra Jatra Day

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
1 dayfrom 09:00
  1. Hanuman Dhoka and the Indra pole
  2. Indra Chowk and Akash Bhairav
  3. Maru and the figure of Indra
  4. A rest in a courtyard
  5. Dancers in the streets
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Kathmandu's Museums

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
A full day, about 9:30 to 16:30from 9:30
  1. Patan Museum
  2. Lunch in Patan
  3. Narayanhiti Palace Museum
  4. National Museum, Chhauni
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Kirtipur at Golden Hour

Photo walk · Kathmandu Valley
Half a day, about 14:00 to 19:00from 14:00
  1. Up to Kirtipur
  2. Bagh Bhairab
  3. The lanes
  4. Uma Maheshwar
  5. The last light
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Koshi Tappu Birds

Round trip
4 days, 3 nights
  1. Day 1 · Fly to Biratnagar, on to Koshi Tappu
  2. Day 2 · Koshi Tappu by water
  3. Day 3 · The barrage and the ponds
  4. Day 4 · A last dawn, then back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
4 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  1. Kathmandu to Biratnagar, drive to Koshi Tappu
  2. Koshi Tappu: the embankments and marshes
  3. Koshi Tappu: the river
  4. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Lwang

Overnight
2 days, 1 night from Pokhara
  1. Day 1 · Pokhara to Lwang
  2. Day 2 · Morning, then back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Nagarkot Overnight

Overnight · Kathmandu Valley
2 days, 1 night
  1. Day 1 · Up to the rim
  2. Day 2 · Sunrise, then back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
2 days, 1 night
  1. Day 1 · Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha
  2. Day 2 · Dawn at the monastery
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Nepal's Lowland Parks

Round trip · Chitwan
12 days, 11 nights
  1. Day 1 · Arrive in Kathmandu
  2. Day 2 · Down to Koshi Tappu
  3. Day 3 · Koshi Tappu
  4. Day 4 · West to Chitwan
  5. Days 5 and 6 · Chitwan National Park
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Nuwakot

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
A long day, about 7:30 to 18:00from 7:30
  1. Over the rim by Kakani
  2. Nuwakot palace
  3. Bhairavi temple and the village
  4. The ridge
  5. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Old Kathmandu on Foot

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
About 4 hours, 7:30 to 11:30from 7:30
  1. Thamel's edge to Kathesimbhu
  2. Asan
  3. Seto Machhindranath
  4. Itum Bahal and Kilagal
  5. Bangemudha and Indra Chowk
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
3 days, 2 nights from Kathmandu
  1. Day 1 · Kathmandu to Panauti
  2. Day 2 · Up to Balthali
  3. Day 3 · The mountains, then home
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
A full day, about 9 hoursfrom 07:30
  1. Pick-up at your hotel
  2. Namobuddha
  3. Walk down to Panauti
  4. Panauti
  5. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Parsa National Park

Round trip
4 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  1. Kathmandu to Parsa
  2. Parsa: the forest
  3. Parsa: the hills and rivers
  4. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
About 5 hours, afternoon to eveningfrom 15:00
  1. Pick-up at your hotel
  2. Pashupatinath
  3. The evening aarati
  4. To Boudhanath
  5. The kora at Boudhanath
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Pashupatinath at Dusk

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
About 4 hours, 15:00 to 19:00from 15:00
  1. Guhyeshwari
  2. Mrigasthali
  3. The terraces
  4. Above the ghats
  5. The aarati
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Pharping and Dakshinkali

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
A full day, about 8:00 to 16:00from 8:00
  1. Chobhar gorge
  2. Taudaha
  3. Pharping
  4. Shesh Narayan
  5. Dakshinkali
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
7 days, 6 nights
  1. Kathmandu to Pokhara
  2. A day in Pokhara
  3. Pokhara to Lumbini
  4. A day in Lumbini
  5. Lumbini to Chitwan
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Quiet Chitwan

Round trip · Chitwan
3 days, 2 nights
  1. Day 1 · To the western side
  2. Day 2 · Kasara and the park
  3. Day 3 · A last walk, then back
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Rara Lake

Round trip
6 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  1. Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
  2. Nepalgunj to Talcha, walk to Rara
  3. Around Rara Lake
  4. Murma Top
  5. Rara to Talcha, fly to Nepalgunj
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Sankhu and Vajrayogini

Photo walk · Kathmandu Valley
1 day, about 7:00 to 15:00from 07:00
  1. To Sankhu
  2. The waking town
  3. The stairway
  4. Vajrayogini
  5. Down and lunch
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
3 days, 2 nights from Pokhara
  1. Day 1 · Up to Sarangkot
  2. Day 2 · Sarangkot sunrise, then Australian Camp
  3. Day 3 · Australian Camp sunrise, then down
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Shuklaphanta

Round trip
4 days, 3 nights
  1. Day 1 · Fly west to Shuklaphanta
  2. Day 2 · Dawn on Shukla Phanta
  3. Day 3 · On foot, and the far corners
  4. Day 4 · A last dawn, then home
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour
5 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
  1. Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, drive to Mahendranagar
  2. Shuklaphanta: the grassland
  3. Shuklaphanta: forest and birds
  4. Shuklaphanta: one more morning
  5. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Sirubari

Round trip
3 days, 2 nights from Pokhara
  1. Day 1 · Pokhara to Sirubari
  2. Day 2 · A day in the village
  3. Day 3 · Back to Pokhara
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Swayambhu & Pashupatinath City Walk

Day walk · Hetirage Walk
Half day into evening, about 7 hoursfrom 13:00
  1. Pickup at your hotel in Thamel
  2. The climb to Swayambhu
  3. The stupa and the Buddha’s eyes
  4. The view and a quiet monastery
  5. Across the city
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Swayambhu at Dawn

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
About 3.5 hours, 6:00 to 9:30from 6:00
  1. The foot of the hill
  2. The kora
  3. Buddha Park
  4. The eastern stairway
  5. The stupa and the monasteries
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Boudhanath, Kopan and Budhanilkantha

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
A full day, about 8:30 to 17:00from 8:30
  1. Budhanilkantha
  2. Kopan Monastery
  3. Lunch near Boudha
  4. Around Boudha
  5. Boudhanath at dusk
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

The Far West

Round trip
7 days, 6 nights
  1. Day 1 · Fly west to Bardiya
  2. Day 2 · Bardiya by jeep
  3. Day 3 · Bardiya on foot and by the river
  4. Day 4 · West to Shuklaphanta
  5. Day 5 · The grasslands
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

The Makers of Patan

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
About 5 hours, 9:00 to 14:00from 9:00
  1. Patan Durbar Square
  2. The Golden Temple
  3. Metal workshops
  4. Mahabouddha
  5. Lunch
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Thecho, Chapagaun and Lele

Day walk · Kathmandu Valley
A full day, about 8:30 to 16:00from 8:30
  1. Thecho
  2. Chapagaun
  3. Lunch
  4. Lele
  5. Back to Kathmandu
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Thimi: Potters and Clay

Photo walk · Kathmandu Valley
Half a day, about 8:00 to 13:00from 08:00
  1. To Thimi
  2. The potters' lanes
  3. The kilns
  4. Mask-makers
  5. Tea and the old square
$30 a daymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

The Valley Rim

Round trip · Kathmandu Valley
3 days, 2 nights
  1. Kathmandu to Changu Narayan, walk to Nagarkot
  2. Sunrise at Nagarkot, to Dhulikhel and Namobuddha
  3. Namobuddha to Panauti, back to Kathmandu
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Village Nepal

Round trip
8 days, 7 nights
  1. Day 1 · Arrive in Kathmandu
  2. Day 2 · To Ghale Gaun
  3. Day 3 · Ghale Gaun
  4. Day 4 · To Bandipur
  5. Day 5 · To Amaltari
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Winter Birds of Nepal

Round trip · Chitwan
10 days, 9 nights
  1. Day 1 · Arrive in Kathmandu
  2. Day 2 · Phulchowki
  3. Day 3 · Fly east to Koshi Tappu
  4. Day 4 · Koshi Tappu by boat
  5. Day 5 · The barrage and the marshes
$30 a day+ $15 a night awaymy guide fee, for 1 to 5 people
The tour

Visiting during a festival

Festivals follow the lunar calendar, so their dates move every year; I tell you the dates for your year when you write. During Dashain many shops and offices close for days and buses are full, but the valley is at its most joyful. More: planning around Nepal's festivals.

Questions people ask me

What is the best month to visit Kathmandu?

October and November for clear skies and festivals; March and April for warm days and spring festivals.

Is it worth visiting Kathmandu in the monsoon?

Yes, if you don't mind rain. The temples and squares are as beautiful, there are few visitors, and the rain usually comes in the afternoon or at night.

Is Kathmandu cold in winter?

The days are mild and sunny, but mornings and evenings are cold, close to freezing in January, and rooms are rarely heated.

When is the air clearest?

After the monsoon, from October to December. In spring, dust and smoke make the air hazy.

Written by Rujan Neupane

A freelance guide in Kathmandu, trained, with a deep interest in photography and in Nepal's photography history. I walk these routes and write these pages myself.

About me How I walk

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