Kathmandu World Heritage Sites Tour - 5 days

Your tour begins as you land at the heart of Nepal, Kathmandu, via the Tribhuvan International airport. Tucked in the central region of Nepal, Kathmandu city is the city of temples and perhaps widely known to have numerous World Heritage Sites. After the customs, you will be met by our friendly representatives from Third Rock Adventures, who will drive you to the hotel in Thamel.

Thamel, a tourist hub, is located just 5 km away from the airport and is a great place to roam and witness different cuisine, culture, and narrow alleyways. If the time permits, we will visit the closest world heritage site, Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the afternoon. The well-preserved temples, shrines, and museums in the courtyards of the square depict the olden days, which is why it was enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

Visit the Hanuman Dhoka Museum, once the palace of the Shah kings of ancient Kathmandu. Witness the Kumari Bahal, Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairav shrine, and more before returning to the hotel for a welcome dinner.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Out of the seven enlisted World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, we will be visiting two on this day.

Pashupatinath Temple

Begin your day with breakfast, then a drive to the northeast of the valley to visit the most revered Hindu temple, Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple came into existence in 400 BCE and was enlisted by UNESCO in 1979. Hindus can only enter the main temple, but the gold-plated roof's distant view can be visible from afar, which makes it unique.

Boudhanath Stupa

Our next stop will be the Boudhanath Stupa, located just a few minutes away. The stupa was built in 600 AD and is famous for being the biggest dome-shaped stupa in the world. UNESCO enlisted it at the same time as Pashupatinath. After circling the stupa, you can enjoy the local Tibetan cuisine and head on a long drive to Nagarkot.

The one-hour-long drive takes the Arniko Highway to Nagarkot, a famous hill station. The drive is refreshing with the views of the city below and the green hills.

Overnight stay in Nagarkot.

The main attraction of Nagarkot is waking up early in the morning before dawn for a short hike up to the tower to witness the sunrise and the Himalayan views. Mt. Jugal, Ganesh Himal, Langtang range are a few mountains that can be seen from the viewpoint. Following breakfast, we will be heading to two world heritage sites.

Changu Narayan Temple

Half an hour drive to the south of Nagarkot will take us to Changu Narayan, the oldest temple in Nepal. It was built in 325 AD and enlisted as a World Heritage Site in The main temple is a two-storied pagoda styled and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There are other temples in the vicinity as well, and from the hilltop, you can also witness views of the city.  

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Later in the afternoon, drive back to the oldest city of Nepal, Bhaktapur, to visit the ancient Durbar Square with major construction starting in the 16 century. One of the two squares in the valley holds the reminiscence of the Malla dynasty era. Visit the Nyatapola temple, 55 window palace, and other palaces turned into National Art Museum and Brass and Metal Museum. Enjoy the Newari culture, tradition, ethnic dresses, and dishes before driving back to your hotel in Kathmandu city.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, it is time to visit the remaining two UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Patan Durbar Square

You will be driving to the south-central part of the valley to Patan, also known as Lalitpur. It is one of the largest Newari towns and hosts the third major Durbar Square of the valley. Patan Durbar Square was built in the 16th century by the Malla Kings and was their abode. It is famous for the Krishna, Bhimsen, and Taleju Bhawani temples and a museum illustrating architectural settings.

Swayambhunath Stupa

From there, head to the western hills of Kathmandu to visit one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage sites, the Swayambhunath stupa/Monkey temple. After walking on many steps to reach the top of the hill, you will reach the dome, topped off by 13 rings in the spire. From the hilltop, you can enjoy views of the city. You are bound to see many monkeys and a serene landscape.

After returning from your tour, you can check out the local handicraft shops to take some souvenirs back home.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On your final day in Nepal, you can do some shopping after breakfast, and as per the flight schedule, you will be dropped off at the airport. As you board your flight, our representatives will bid you farewell in hopes of your early return for yet another adventurous tour with us.