Panauti and Balthali
About
Panauti is an old Newar town where two rivers meet, east of Kathmandu, with brick lanes, carved temples and the great pagoda of Indreshwar Mahadev; its families run a community homestay. From there a walk through fields and forest leads up to Balthali, a village on a ridge with homestays and, on clear mornings, a long line of snow mountains to the north. Three days, two very different nights: an old town and a hill village, both an easy drive from Kathmandu.
A private tour
A few days that belong to you
Namaste, and welcome. Just your group, your own car and me. You wake in a quiet guest house, walk when the light is good, and rest when you want to. Nobody hurries you to the next stop on someone else's timetable. For these few days, the road is yours.
- Your own start
- I pick you up at your hotel at the time you choose.
- The plan can change
- If a day is better spent in the village, we stay longer there.
- No shopping stops
- We go to shops only when you ask.
- Your own car and driver
- It stops for a view, a tea shop or a photo whenever you ask.
- Mornings without an alarm
- Sunrise if you want it, a slow breakfast if you do not.
- One person to ask
- The same guide all the way: for the history, the food, the road and anything that goes wrong.
- Quiet places to sleep
- Small guest houses, chosen for calm rather than size.
- The plan bends to you
- A place left out, a longer stay, a slower day: we decide together as we go.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Indreshwar Mahadev, Panauti's great pagoda
- Triveni, where the rivers meet
- Brick lanes of an old Newar town
- A walk through fields up to Balthali
- Langtang to Gaurishankar from the ridge
- Two different homestays
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · Kathmandu to PanautiEast by car past Banepa to Panauti. An afternoon in the old town: the lanes, Indreshwar Mahadev and the river confluence at Triveni. Evening with your Newar host family.
|
About 1.5 hours by car | Panauti, a homestay | Car; homestay |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · Up to BalthaliOn foot through fields, villages and forest up to the ridge village of Balthali. Afternoon to rest and watch the light.
|
Balthali, a homestay | Homestay | |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · The mountains, then homeSunrise over the northern mountains from the ridge, then down to the road and back to Kathmandu.
|
About 2 hours by car | Car |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- The mountains are far on the horizon and often hazy from late March.
- The roads near Kathmandu are busy.
- Simple homestays.
- The walk is muddy in the monsoon.
More about this tour
Best time to go
Best from October to December, and in March.- GoodJAN
- GoodFEB
- BestMAR
- GoodAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- RainSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
From late March to May the far views are often hazy; from June to September the monsoon brings rain, leeches on forest paths and cloud on the mountains. December and January nights are cold in the hills.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Take off your shoes at the door, and do not step over the fire or the stove.
- Ask before entering the kitchen or the prayer room.
- Dress with shoulders and knees covered.
- Ask before photographing people, especially children and elders.
- Pay what the homestay asks; in community homestays the price is fixed and shared.
Staying away: 2 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 3 days, plus my overnight allowance × 2 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Car and driver | The driver or car company | Agreed before the tour | Paid at cost |
| Entry tickets where asked | The temples or the town | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Panauti
Panauti is an old Newar town in Kavre district, about 32 km east of Kathmandu, at the meeting of the Roshi and Punyamati rivers. Its temple of Indreshwar Mahadev is one of the oldest and largest pagodas in Nepal, and the riverside at Triveni is a place of pilgrimage. The town’s community homestay welcomes guests into Newar family homes.
Balthali
Balthali is a hill village south-east of Panauti, on a ridge above the Roshi valley, with homestays and a wide view to the north: on clear mornings the mountains of Langtang, Dorje Lakpa and Gaurishankar.
See what a night with a family is like, and my other village stays. Entry tickets are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
Frequently asked questions
How far is Panauti from Kathmandu?
About 32 km; around 1.5 hours by car.
How long is the walk to Balthali?
About 3 to 4 hours, through fields and forest.
Which mountains can we see?
On clear mornings, the Langtang range to Gaurishankar.
Can we do it in two days?
Yes, with one night in Balthali, but it is rushed.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can you book everything?
If you want, I book the car, rooms and flights at their own price and send you every price by email first. You can also book them yourself.
Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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