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Sunrise Swyambunath © Henrik Rasmussen
The Boudhanath Stupa© Suman Thapa
Sadhus at Pashupatinath © Elisabeth Hellenes
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HomeCultural Tours Essence of the Kathmandu Valley
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Nepal Family Adventure

Essence of the Kathmandu Valley

This tour is designed for those who have limited time but appreciate a quality experience. The Kathmandu Valley is home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and while your time may be limited, we will ensure that you experience the best of the Kathmandu Valley - the heritage, the sights, the sounds and, of course, the incredible mountain views!

  • Starts In: Kathmandu
  • Duration: 4 Days
  • Difficulty Grade: Easy

Itinerary

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Day 01: Arrival and Patan Heritage

We will welcome you at the international airport and guide you through the initial culture shock of Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to get you settled into your hotel.

In the afternoon (depending on your arrival time) we can take you on a bazaar walk exploring the secret alleys and courtyards of old Patan that most visitors don’t get to experience. (Note: this is a walking tour). Your knowledgeable local guide will take you through the ancient courtyards where Newar artisans live, where we will learn about about the design and unique culture of this ancient city and gain rare insights into the lives of artisans and their craft. We will meet and learn about the highly skilled metalwork artisans who make the stunning brass statues we see on display, as well as learning about the ancient skill of thangka painting by meeting the artists themselves. We will gain appreciation of the work and significance of skills such as woodcarving and stonecarving to the heritage and daily life of this fascinating city as well as the design and planning of the city structure and how this is inseparable from the daily life and truly unique culture of the Newar people.

Accommodation: Swotha

You welcome committee © Rocky Prajapati

Day 02: Explore Kathmandu - Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath and Pashupatinath, Drive to Lakuri Bhanjyang

After breakfast, today, get set for an unforgettable day being chauffeured to the must-see sites of the Kathmandu Valley.

First, we make our way to the Swoyambhunath Temple. Also known as the Monkey Temple for the many resident monkeys that scamper around the myriad of small shrines and temples, this ancient Buddhist Stupa is perched on a hilltop overlooking the valley and is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

From here we drive through Kathmandu and across it to the Boudhanath Stupa, 8 km east of Kathmandu City, is one of the biggest in the world. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal directions keeping watch for righteous behaviour and human prosperity. This Buddhist Stupa was built by King Man Deva on the advice of the Goddess Mani Jogini. Boudanath is part of the shared history of Nepal and Tibet, with Tibet having held ruling privileges over the site until the last century. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels and the stupa is ringed by houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests, monasteries and shops.

Your last exploration takes you to Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest temples in the Hindu religion. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the three main gods in Hinduism, as his birthplace. Situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, Pashupatinath is the main cremation site for Hindus in the Kathmandu Valley, with cremation ghats lining the Bagmati River below the temple. It is such an important pilgrimage site that any Hindu should visit it once in their life and there is a constant stream of sadhus coming and going from Nepal and India.

From here you continue on to Lakuri Bhanjyang a beautiful spot overlooking the entire Kathmandu valley. Here we will stay at The Terraces a modern resort where we can enjoy being back close to Kathmandu.

Accommodation: The Terrace Resort & Spa
Meals included: Breakfast

Painting the Stupa © Dan Barham

Day 03: Morning Hike and Bhaktapur Sightseeing

This morning after breakfast your guide will meet you and we will walk along the ridge towards Bhaktapur. This is a great way to get a feel for the Kathmandu valley rim, the lungs of Kathmandu. Up hear in the forest above the city it is a completely different world than down in the chaos of the city. At Ranikot still high above the valley floor we will meet our car and drive 10 min down to Bhaktapur, one of the three ancient cities within the Kathmandu Valley. It is also known as Bhadgaun, meaning the city of devotees and is the home of true medieval art and architecture in the Valley. Lying 14 km east of Kathmandu city, Bhaktapur was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. Not only because of its famous carved peacock windows but also due to its museum, Bhaktapur is the centre of traditional Nepalese wood carving. Compared to other royal cities in Patan and Kathmandu, Bhaktapur is the most original and is without a doubt the most historically authentic as it is literally a living museum where farmers dry their harvest, potters turn their wheel and people go about live as they have done for so long. We will have lunch here overlooking a classic ancient town square and then continue our exploring.

Note: For those who like mountain biking, it is an option to mountain biking along the valley rim and ends up in Bhaktapur instead of the walk. Talk to us if you would like to plan this option instead of walking.

Another Note: It is also possible to have a helicopter pick you up at the hotel for a sightseeing flight up over Everest BC and have breakfast at the famous Everest View Hotel before returning to Kathmandu.er Note: It is also possible to have a helicopter pick you up at the hotel for a sightseeing flight up over Everest BC and have breakfast at the famous Everest View Hotel before returning to Kathman

Accommodation: Milla Guest House
Meals included: Breakfast

KTM Valley and mountain © Mads Mathiasen

Day 04: Morning in Bhaktapur and then Depart

Enjoy your last moments in Bhaktapur with breakfast in a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. It’s good to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.

From Bhaktapur, the drive back to Kathmandu is approximately half an hour.

Meals included: Breakfast
Bhairabnath temple © Rocky Prajapati
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Gallery

The colourful bazaar in old Kathmandu, Nepal Tourist descending from the Swayambunath Stupa in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal Tibetan pilgrim at the Boudhanath stupa in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal Tibetan pilgrim at the Boudhanath stupa in the Kathmandu valley, Nepal

Included In Price

  • Hotel nights in the hotels specified in the itinerary; based on standard rooms on twin share with bed and breakfast plan
  • Transfers as per the itinerary include private transport
  • Your city guide for sightseeing days including private transport, all entrance fees to the sites listed
  • Everest Mountain flights including transfers and taxes

Not Included In Price

  • Services and activities not mentioned in the detailed itinerary
  • Any gear or equipment that you may need to rent/buy – please ask us if you would like any advice about gear to bring/buy/rent
  • International flights to and from Kathmandu
  • Nepal visa fees and international airport taxes
  • Any excess baggage charges
  • Comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and rescue evacuation should this be required for any reason (we require this as the minimum insurance cover)
  • Additional nights, optional trips and sightseeing tours outside the detailed itineraries above
    Single supplement
  • Personal expenses (eg mineral water/soft drinks/bar bills, entrance/photography fees at monasteries, laundry, telephone calls, postage, donations, extra snacks, etc)
  • Any extra charge that tea house owners may levy for single rooms, attached bathrooms, or hot showers (if these facilities are available) and charging of batteries
  • Tips for your trekking crew, city guide, drivers, hotels, restaurants, etc (please ask if you would like guidance about appropriate tips)
  • Costs incurred due to changes in programs and reservations due to unforeseen events (eg landslides, strikes, fuel shortages, etc)
Adventure travel: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in the mountains, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of fellow travelers can all contribute to changes. We will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy- going nature will be an asset!
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Google reviews

Epic journey off the beaten track with these guys!

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Georg Winkler Avatar Georg Winkler
01.06.2020

A wonderful 11 day trip in Nepal was created for us by Kripa. She was excellent at listening to what we wanted and creating the perfect trip for us. I am not the strongest hiker, but I really wanted to experience small villages, treking and feeling close to the amazing mountains in Nepal. Our trek exceeded my expectations. Tendu was an amazing guide and our porter was wonderful. We learned so much and had such fun on our journey. They really pampered us. I am not used to people anticipating what we might like before we even thought of it. They also knew great photo views and were flexible enough to discuss a few possible changes that improved the trek for us! ( more orchids, less stairs maintaining stunning views etc..). Our time exploring the greater Kathmandu area was wonderful also. We stayed at delightful character properties ( a wonderful organic farm as well as in town properties near walkable ares to explore. ) Our guide, Pratikshya, was wonderful. In addition to teaching us about the sites we were seeing, she answered all our questions ( we ask ALOT of questions!) so that we gained so much insight into Nepal that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. Thank you so much for a trip of a lifetime!- Nancy

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nancy koppl Avatar nancy koppl
01.06.2020

Kripa and her team at Himalayan Trails Treks & Expedition organized our trek of the Manaslu circuit down to the last detail. Everything from the airport pickup to our guide and porters was perfect. Our guide, Gelu, was in contact with Kripa almost every day, keeping her up to date on our progress. We would highly recommend Himalayan Trails and Kripa if you are planning a trek in the Himalayas.

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Rick and Ami Bergstrom Avatar Rick and Ami Bergstrom
01.05.2022

Tailor Made

Looking for something you don’t see yet? Get a trip that‘s customized just for you! (And actually, this is where our best work happens.)
Ask us about:

  • Off the beaten path trekking
  • Photography trips
  • Food and cooking
  • Cities of Nepal
  • Yoga and meditation trekking
  • Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions
  • Wellness and spas
  • Mountain biking
  • Tiger tracking and bird watching
  • Multi-sport (bike, hike, raft)
  • Adrenaline adventures (paraglide, bungee jump)
  • Weddings and honeymoons
  • Arts, crafts and textiles
  • Mountain vistas without trekking
  • And more!

We couldn’t possibly fit all our trips, options and ideas on the website, so for a personalized deep-dive into our archives, get in touch here!

customise my tour
Courageous guide Mr. Tendu Sherpa summited #mtever Courageous guide Mr. Tendu Sherpa summited #mteverest for the third time.

Our fearless guide summited Mera peak on the 5th of may along with our two clients, dropped them off to Lukla and pushed to summit Mt. Everest solo on 15th of may, 2023.

Tendu did his first summit of Mount Everest on 2016. He summited again from the Tibet side on 2017 and finally his third success on may 2023. 

📧info@himalayan-trails.com
📸Mr. Tendu Sherpa

#mounteverest #mountaineering #8848 #mountains #topoftheworld #mountainlovers #mountainclimbing #achievement #goals #fearlessgoals #achievetheimpossible #mountaingoals #adventure #nature #explore #himalayas #himalayantrails #nepal #nepalnow #visitnepal2023 #teamhimalayantrails
Have you heard of the beautiful hike to the famous Have you heard of the beautiful hike to the famous chain of six turquoise, glacial-fed lakes in the Everest region? 

Gokyo lakes are considered oligotrophic lakes that lies in Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park which is located at an altitude of 4,700-5,000 m above sea level.

These lakes are the world’s highest freshwater lake system comprising six main lakes and are considered sacred by both Hindus and Buddhist. 

Gokyo lake trek is one of the very challenging trek as you will have to climb steep terrains. Book your trip with us for a smooth and effortless vacation.

DM or email us info@himalayan-trails.com for more information.
 
#gokyolake #gokyolaketrek #nature #mountains #lakes #adventure #adventuretreks #beautiful #beautifulnepal #everestview #everestviewtrek #everestregion #trekking #trekkingnepal #himalayas #ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇᴘʜᴏᴛᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ #scerene #himalayantrails #explore #exploreNepal #visitnepal2023 #teamHimalayantrails
Looking for a short trek in the Everest region? Pi Looking for a short trek in the Everest region? Pikey Peak trek is a great route that offers one of the best views of Everest. 

If you’re short on time it can be done on 3-4 days but a more leisurely 6 day trek gives you a chance to visit number of Buddhist monasteries, gompas and stupas with amazing view of Numbur Himal range and Mount Everest.

Pikey Peak is incredible during the spring, fall and also the winter months. It is at an altitude of 4,065 m with panoramic view point of the Himalayan range.

Our clients Mieke and Joshua recently did the Pikey Peak trek with guide Dawa on 12th-17th of may. 

Visit our website www.himalayan-trails.com for more information. 

#everestregion #pikeypeak #shorttrek #himalayas #himalayanrange #panoramicviews #numburhimal #mounteverest #4065m #mteverestview #incrediblenepal #visitnepal2023 #beautiful #himalayantrails #teamhimalayantrails
Manang Village is considered as a hidden treasure Manang Village is considered as a hidden treasure of Nepal which offers you incredible beauty of natural, rich culture and spectacular views of the Annapurna Range. It is simply the paradise for trekkers, tourist destination also known as the “crown jewel” of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. 

The majestic Manang is a town in the Manang District at an elevation of 3,519m. The best time to visit Manang is during September to November. 

As this village is high in the Himalayas, it is a perfect place for acclimatization and classic stop on the Annapurna Circuit Trek for the trekkers.

#manangvalley #majesticmanang #trekking #trekkersnepal #beautifulnepal #incrediblehimalayas #annapurnarange #annapurnacircuittrek #himalayas #landscapes #himalayantrails #teamhimalayantrails
Mustang valley: mentioned as one of the best desti Mustang valley: mentioned as one of the best destinations to visit in 2023 by CNN, offers trekkers to witness ancient trails along with exploration of ancient villages and Buddhist monasteries. 

Upper mustang also known to be “the forbidden kingdom” of Nepal has been recently opened to foreigners. It is a magical place full of monasteries, dramatic landscapes, and a very rich Buddhist culture. 

Upper mustang Lo manthang trek is situated at an altitude of 4,000 m with centuries of rugged history. This trek has moderate level of difficulty not as difficult as the strenuous level treks. 

The best time to visit mustang valley is during the months of June to September which are the summer months. This time allows visitors to take up tours and hikes in this area which would be difficult during the colder months. 
Similarly, the trek duration lasts Upto 13-15 days.  Visit our website www.himalayan-trails.com for more information. 

#mustang #uppermustang #lomanthang #theforbiddenkingdom #visitnepal2023 #top23destinations  #tibetankingdom #buddistculture #4000m #ancient #ancientvillages #ancienttrails #monasteries #nature #naturalbeauty #himalayas #travelnepal #travelgram #visitmustang #trekkingnepal #himalayantrails #teamhimalayantrails
The magnificent Tilicho lake is claimed to be the The magnificent Tilicho lake is claimed to be the world’s highest glacial lake which is situated at an elevation of 4,919 meters above sea level in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. It is located in the Manang district of Nepal.

Tilicho lake is part of Annapurna circuit trek and one of the best sight treks with the spectacular landscapes and high mountains, the Tilicho lake hike is the best activity that you should do when you trek to the Annapurna circuit trek. 

Tilicho Lake Trek's difficulty is moderately challenging. The trek includes a trail having many steep ascends, descends, rough trails, and icy and slippery during winter and rainy seasons.

The best time to visit Tilicho Lake is in the spring season on the months of March to May and during autumn on the months of September to November. 

To get a clear and best views, we suggest to start trek from the Tilicho base camp early in the morning. Similarly, trek duration lasts Upto 16-18 days. 

Book your next adventure trek with us, visit our website www.himalayan-trails.com for more information. 

#tilichotrek #tilichotrail #highestlake #4,919m #adventure #tilichoadventure #landslidearea #dangeroustrail #himalayas #himalayantrails #teamhimalayan #explore #explorehimalayas #extremetrail #magnificentmountains #spectacularviews #mountains #world’shighestlake
Do you want to have a trekking experience like you Do you want to have a trekking experience like you never have before?Join our team @himalayantrails .

Manaslu trek provides the most stunning view of 8,000m picturesque peaks. It is a beautiful excursion that offers a distinctive cultural experience and breathtaking natural landscapes.

Find out more at 
www.himalayan-trails.com for any enquiry contact us @himalayantrails 

#manaslu  #manaslutrek  #nepal #nature #explorenepal #himalayas #mountains #snow #peaks #extremeexperience  #beautifullandscapes #breathtakingviews #teamhimalayantrails #adventure #himalayanadventure #nepal #nepaltravel
Magnificent view of Shey Phoksundo lake captured w Magnificent view of Shey Phoksundo lake captured while hiking up to the view point.  Phoksundo lake is an alpine fresh water lake which lies in Nepal’s Shey Phoksundo National Park, located at an elevation of 3,611.5 m in the Dolpa District. Shey Phoksundo lake is also claimed to be the deepest lake in Nepal which is up to 145m (476 ft) deep.  Check out our website www.himalayan-trails.com to book your next trek to the Himalayas🏔️. #sheyphoksundo #sheyphoksundolake #sheyphoksundotrek #sheyphoksundonationalpark #nepal #deepestlake #deepestlakenepal #scenery #beautifulnepal #nature #naturelovers #naturebeauty #trekking #trekkingnepalhimalaya #himalayas #lostinthehimalaya #mountains #mountainslovers #snow #trek #trekwithhimalayantrails #himalayantrails
Our stupendous guide Mr. Tendu Sherpa along with o Our stupendous guide Mr. Tendu Sherpa along with our two clients summited Mera peak today! 🎉🗻

📷 credit: Tendu Sherpa

Visit our website to book your expedition at www.himalayan-trails.com

#merapeak #merapeakexpedition #merapeak2023 #summit #mountainsummit #mountain #expedition #climb #mountainlife #mountainclimbing #snow #adventure #adventurelife #adventurelover #topofthemountain #peak
Manaslu trekking is a famous hiking route in Nepal Manaslu trekking is a famous hiking route in Nepal that presents magnificent views of the world’s eighth-tallest mountain, Mount Manaslu, towering at 8,163 meters. 

It is considered a fantastic substitute for the crowded Annapurna and Everest regions. Since, the flow of tourist in this area is relatively low compared to other trekking places. 

The trail also offers a view into the locals’ distinctive culture and way of life, who still uphold their ancestral customs and practices.

The best time to hike Manaslu is in the spring (March to may). Likewise, autumn (September-November) is another best time for the Manaslu trek. Similarly, the trek lasts for around 14 to 16 days.

 If you want to join us book your tours at www.Himalayan-trails.com

#manaslutrek #manaslu2023 #manaslutravellers #manasluadventures #himalayas #scenery #spectacularviews #worshiphimalayas #adventure #nature #naturelovers #adventuretravel #travelgram #himalayandiaries #himalayantrails
The Manaslu region is well known for its breathtak The Manaslu region is well known for its breathtaking Himalayan scenery. 
These are some glimpse of our guest transiting remote communities, green forests and breathtaking sceneries including valleys, glacier, and snow- covered mountains. 
#trekking #trekkingnepal2023 #trekkingnepalhimalaya #explorehimalayas #exploremanaslu #manaslutrek #manaslu2023 #manaslutravellers #manasluadventures #scenaries #snow #snowvalley #remoteplaces #explore #explorenepal #explorehimalayas.  www.himalayan-trails.com
We escaped the madness and got into the mountains! We escaped the madness and got into the mountains! Sad that people are missing out this season because of the coronavirus and travel restrictions. It was glorious up there! The autumn months are gonna be magic too... just sayin 😊 ⛰ 🥾 💖 #nepaltrekking
Lazimpath, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977 1 4410661
Email: info@himalayan-trails.com
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