Top Kathmandu Art & Culture

Kathmandu’s top sights are spread throughout the sprawling capital, meaning most visitors end up missing key attractions. On this action-packed day tour, you’ll cover all of the region’s UNESCO-listed highlights. Travel in a comfortable private car between locations in the city, with a private guide on-hand to supply information and background. You’ll also enjoy lunch in stunning Bhaktapur and venture to Changu Narayan, the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Many visitors to Kathmandu miss nearby Bhaktapur, a well-preserved medieval city-state and UNESCO-World Heritage site. Discover one of Nepal’s prettiest attractions during this behinds the scenes peek at the Newari city, famous for its intricate pagodas and delicate handicrafts. The in-depth tour also includes a visit to Panauti, where you’ll have a chance to meet with local entrepreneurs.

Get a comprehensive tour of Kathmandu, focused on its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, in a single day. With a guide in the lead, you'll follow a curated itinerary designed to show you the best of the city, including Swayambhunath, Patan Durbar Square, Boudhanath, and Pashupati. Your guide will provide a primer on Nepali culture and tradition through narration as you travel.

A local food tour is a fun and immersive way to explore the culinary culture of a specific area. It typically involves visiting various restaurants, food vendors, and markets to sample local specialties and learn about the history and traditions behind them. On a food tour, you can expect to taste a variety of foods, ranging from savory to sweet, and from traditional to modern. local guides who are knowledgeable about the area's food scene and can provide insights into the cultural and historical context of the dishes you're trying. A local food tour can be a great way to connect with a community, learn about its history and culture, and discover new flavors and cuisines. Whether you're a foodie or simply curious about local cuisine, a food tour is an excellent way to experience the flavors and traditions of a new place and hidden food stops.

Kathmandu is a fascinating city, but many travelers miss out on the natural splendor of the surrounding valley. Enjoy pine-covered hills and sweeping, snow-capped views of the Himalayan range during this relaxing day trip to Chandragiri Hill. Hike up shady trails, grab lunch at a nearby restaurant, or lounge in the park. The tour includes tickets to a brand-new cable car for a scenic ride up the mountain.

Discover Nepal's scenery and culture during a leisurely hiking tour that includes an early morning arrival in Nagarkot for the sunrise. Watch the distant Himalayas catch the morning light, then take a hike to reach Changu Narayan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pass through Brahmin, Tamang, and Newari villages along the way, and stop to purchase breakfast and lunch at small restaurants for an authentic local experience. Includes round-trip transport in a private vehicle from Kathmandu.

Escape the crowds in the capital and venture to hidden attractions in the Kathmandu Valley during this insider’s temple tour. Get an exclusive peek at some of Nepal’s most sacred locations, including three Hindu temples and a Buddhist monastery. See the handprint believed to be from an 8th-century saint and enjoy snow-capped mountain views in a spectacular setting.

Ideal for history and nature enthusiasts, this private tour of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot covers the highlights of the centuries-old former independent kingdom outside Kathmandu plus stunning views from a Himalayan hill station. See Bhaktapur's well-preserved Durbar Square and, on clear days, all the way to Mt. Everest. Tours include your own guide, free time to shop for handicrafts, and comfortable, round-trip transportation from your Kathmandu hotel. Note: From Nagarkot, mountain views are only visible when the weather is clear and without clouds.

Arrive in Kathmandu stress free when you’ve booked this private airport transfer to your hotel. After clearing customs and getting your bags, exit the airport and find your driver. They will take you to your air conditioned vehicle, help you with your bags, and then you can sit and relax while your driver navigates traffic and the roads to your hotel.

Soar across the Himalayas on a helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Mount Everest Base Camp, touching down for an optional breakfast at a hotel with spectacular mountain vistas. Along the way, you’ll get aerial views of glaciers, camps, mountaineering routes on the world’s highest mountain. A stop to refuel at Lukla offers a glimpse of the mountain town where trekkers set out for Mount Everest.

Not many people can claim to have reached the top of Mount Everest. During this exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime flight from Kathmandu, soar over the Eastern Himalayas, getting a bird’s eye panorama of the world’s tallest—and most legendary—mountain chain, including Everest. Enjoy the magic of the world-famous summit without the struggle to make it to the top. Tours include private hotel pickup and drop-off and a celebratory glass of sparkling wine.

Immerse yourself in the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Kathmandu Valley on this private tour. You'll enjoy dedicated attention from your guide and the ability to move at your own pace through the area's top attractions. Stops include UNESCO-listed sites such as Pashupati, Bouddha, Patan Durbar Square, Swoyambhu, and others.

Learn more about Nepali culture through its food. During this fun, hands-on cooking class, participants will start from scratch by learning how to choose the best ingredients, and work through to complicated techniques, like making momos. Three different menus are offered, each containing four traditional Nepali dishes, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy. Foodies and enthusiastic cooks will especially enjoy this activity, but you don’t need to have cooking experience.

Walking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal takes as long as two weeks, but on this convenient helicopter tour, cut out all the hard work and fly straight there. As well as seeing the stunning rocky and icy landscape surrounding Everest, enjoy views of remote villages and lush farmland along the way. This is an ideal tour for travelers short on time, or those with mobility issues, who don’t want to miss out on seeing Everest while visiting Nepal.

Enjoy a relaxing departure from Kathmandu during this private car transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport. Get picked up from inside your hotel lobby and dropped off ahead of your flight. Travel comfortably in a climate-controlled vehicle with your own personal driver. Pickup from Patan and Bhaktapur can be arranged at an additional cost.

Hit the streets and alleyways of Kathmandu with your guide on this small group walking tour of the city. You’ll spend the majority of your time in the Asan markets, where spices, fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, grains, pulses, and anything you would need to buy if you were a Kathmandu local is on sale. Your guide will point out all the local ingredients and tell stories along the way.

Travelers who want to do more than just taste Nepali food can join a cooking class in a local family home. Start by visiting the local market and a private organic farm to choose your ingredients. Learn the techniques, tastes, and tricks of favorite dishes such as dal bhat (lentils and rice), momo (steamed dumplings), and sel roti (sweet fried bread). Afterwards, enjoy eating your hard work.

Soak in the fresh air of the mountains and sweeping views of the Himalayas during a private tour between the hill towns of Nagarkot and the UNESCO-listed Changu Narayan. Depart from Kathmandu in the morning for your hike, which traverses a rugged mountain landscape sprinkled with traditional hamlets and forests. Note: From Nagarkot, mountain views are only visible when the weather is clear and without clouds.

Get a chance to capture some of Nepal’s most time-honored spiritual traditions during this private photography tour from Kathmandu. Head to Boudhanath to photograph Buddhist monks and devotees lighting butter lamps and walking around the stupa. Then, document a Hindu aarti ceremony at Pashupatinath Temple involving chanting, singing, and fire rituals. Private transportation is included.

Kathmandu is one of the world’s most fascinating capitals, but travelers short on time often miss out on key attractions. During this private, full-day tour, you’ll get an unparalleled immersion into Nepalese history and culture with four in-depth stops. Get a peek at the home of Nepal’s living goddess in Durbar Square, climb to the holy hilltop site known as “Monkey Temple,” walk around one of the world’s largest Buddhist temples, and discover a 4th-century Hindu mecca.

Nepal is known mainly for its trekking opportunities, but rafting is the country’s best-kept secret—and the top activity for in-the-know travelers. During this exciting day trip, you’ll hit the rapids for an unforgettable ride down the Trishuli River, passing pristine scenery only reachable by the water. Tours include detailed safety briefings and a private group guide, plus free time to swim and relax along the riverbanks.

Hike from Nagarkot to Changunarayan with your own private guide on a 5-hour tour from Kathmandu. Begin with a scenic drive to Nagarkot to reach the trail. While hiking, soak in sweeping views of the Himalayas, Kathmandu, and Bhaktapur, and pass through small villages where you can observe local culture. You'll also visit Changunarayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Includes private guide and transportation, packed lunch and bottled water, entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Immerse yourself in the daily rhythms and colorful atmosphere of Kathmandu during this guided rickshaw ride. Begin your trip in the tourist district of Thamel as your guide pedals past the area’s busy market place and bustling squares, heading towards Durbar Square. Then hop off your rickshaw to wander on foot, observing the gorgeous early-evening light as it silhouettes the city’s temples and the nocturnal glow of Kathmandu’s lively nightlife begins to stir. Your rickshaw ride also includes the entrance fee at Durbar Square.