Top Kathmandu Outdoor Activities

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.

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.

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.

Visit four of Kathmandu's top attractions on a private half-day tour. Start by traveling in your comfortable private vehicle from your hotel to the traditional heart of the medieval town. Visit Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site; watch the monkeys frolic around another heritage site, Swayambhunath Temple; and take in the sacred prayer wheels and incense. Explore Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa, which has roots going back to 600 AD. Hear informative commentary from your guide throughout the day on this comprehensive tour.

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.

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.

Take a full-day private tour that combines the sunrise viewing at Nagarkot with a sightseeing trip to Bhaktapur—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rise early to depart from Kathmandu and reach high altitude Nagarkot in time to watch the sun rise over the Himalayas. Continue to Bhaktapur after breakfast and visit top attractions in the culture-rich city, including Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nyatapole Temple, Dattatreya Temple, and 55 Window Palace. Your tour includes breakfast, private guide and vehicle, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This small-group sightseeing tour of Kathmandu includes several prominent religious monuments. Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in front of the old royal palace, and learn about the former Kathmandu Kingdom from your professional guide. Continue on to see the Tibetan Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath and visit Pashupatinath Temple—a shrine that honors Lord Shiva—both sacred sites designated by UNESCO. Finish at the imposing Bouddhanath stupa, the largest in Kathmandu Valley.

Opened in 2016, the Chandragiri Cable Car is the easiest way of ascending a mountain in Nepal. From the top you will see panoramic views of Kathmandu and the snow-capped Himalaya beyond, and the ride itself is exciting, too. On this hassle-free tour you will be picked up from your hotel so you don’t need to worry about hailing taxis or catching buses. Enjoy lunch with a view at the top.

Adventurous travelers who’d like to try something new without the risk of flying completely solo will love this tandem paragliding flight in Kathmandu. Take off from Chapakharka, at about 6,900 feet (2,100 meters), from where you’ll see amazing views of the snow-capped Himalaya. After the exciting take-off, you’ll be amazed by how peaceful and relaxing it is to paraglide above forested hills and villages.

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.

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.

Get an insider’s perspective on Nepal’s bustling and history-filled capital during this private, half-day walking tour of Kathmandu. Explore the city on foot, discovering little-known nooks and crannies hidden within the sprawling metropolis. Listen to stories related to Kathmandu’s history and heritage from your own personal English-speaking guide. Observe the daily lives of locals in temples, markets, and more.

Spend four days and three nights on this retreat where you will have all kinds of ayurvedic therapies, vegetarian meals, yoga classes, and spa and massage that will allow you to relax and detox. You’ll meet with an Ayurvedic doctor when you arrive to devise a program just for you over these four days. You won’t be too far from the tourist hub of Thamel, so you can do some local exploring, too.

See some of the finest ancient royal palaces of the Kathmandu Valley on this small-group day trip to Bhaktapur, a medieval capital of the Newar kingdom. Marvel at the temples and royal palace of the UNESCO-listed Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Then pass through Dattatreya Square and Nyatpole Temple Square en route to Patan Durbar Square, another World Heritage site located in the city of Lalitpur. Visit the Patan Museum for a look at Newari art with your informative guide before departing the ‘city of fine arts’ for Kathmandu.

Explore the colorful city of Kathmandu on this half day sightseeing tour. Your guide will collect you and your small group from your accommodation in Kathmandu, and then your tour will begin. You’ll visit Patan Durbar Square and wander the small streets with your guide. You will also visit Swayambhunath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Pashupatinath Temple, and you’ll hear all about the religious and cultural significance from your guide.

Spare yourself the risks of self-drive or the hassles of negotiating with taxis and relax in your own private vehicle on this guided tour of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot. Explore the medieval wonders of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, then soak up panoramic sunset views of the Himalayas from the hill town of Nagarkot.

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.