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Kathmandu city tours

How many days in Kathmandu?

Most visitors give Kathmandu one day between the airport and the trek. The valley deserves more. Here is what fits in one, two, three and five days without rushing, and my tours by how long they take.

Tours
49
Areas
Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, Hetirage Walk…
Checked
Nov 2026
Bouddha-Stupa
Bouddha-Stupa

Simple plans

One day
Kathmandu Durbar Square and the old market lanes in the morning, Swayambhunath at midday, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath at dusk.
Two days
Day one as above. Day two in Patan: the Durbar Square, the museum, the Golden Temple and the quiet courtyards behind it.
Three days
Add Bhaktapur, best with a night there so you see the town in the evening and early morning, and Changu Narayan on the walk.
Five days or more
Add the valley rim: a sunrise at Nagarkot, the walk to Namobuddha and Panauti, or Kirtipur and the villages in the south of the valley. Then you have seen the valley, not only its monuments.

Half a day 10 tours

For a morning or an afternoon, or your first day after the flight.

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

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

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
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

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

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

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

A full day 12 tours

Out in the morning, back at your hotel in the evening.

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
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
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

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

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
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

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

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

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

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

With a night away 27 tours

A night in an old town or on the valley rim, for the evening and the next morning.

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

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
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

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

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
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

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
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
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

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 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

Planning tips

  • Keep the day you land and the day before a mountain flight light. Delays happen.
  • Traffic is slow: group the places by area, not by fame.
  • Some sites ask a fee per visit and others give a ticket for several days. Entrance fees, place by place.
  • Keep a free afternoon. Some of the best moments are a cup of tea on a temple step.

Questions people ask me

Is one day enough for Kathmandu?

For a first look at Kathmandu itself, yes. For the valley, its three old cities and the stupas, give it three days.

How many days before and after a trek?

One full day before the trek for permits and gear, and one or two after it, before your flight home. Those days are perfect for the city.

Should I stay in Bhaktapur for a night?

If you can, yes. The town is most beautiful in the evening and early morning, when the day visitors have gone. Where to stay.

From people I walked with

The walk around Kathmandu was very informative and interesting. Rujan did a great job showing us the highlights. The outdoor crematorium in particular really stuck with me, probably because it was so foreign to us. On our way to our homestay we did a hike where we got to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. It…

Chris · Kathmandu, Namobuddha, Balthali · November 2026

Best three weeks on my trails

Kristina · November 2026

All reviews

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

Not sure what to see in your days here? Tell me your dates and what you love, and I will suggest a plan.

My next free weeks from 12 Nov The calendar

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