Kathmandu Valley in Three Days
Royal cities, stupas and a family table
- 3 days
- No trekking
- From $1,300
- Duration
- 3 days
- Style
- No trekking
- Highest point
- 1,400 m
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
For travellers with a few days in Nepal, or a few days to add to a trek.
- Patan and Bhaktapur with a local historian
- Boudhanath at dusk and Pashupatinath
- Dinner at a family table
- Swayambhunath at sunrise on the last morning
Three days is enough to see the heart of the Kathmandu Valley well, if someone who knows it is with you.
Over two days a local historian takes you through the old royal cities of Patan and Bhaktapur, to the cremation ghats and temples of Pashupatinath, and to Boudhanath at dusk, when the families of the neighbourhood walk the kora around the great stupa. One evening you eat at a family table in a Kathmandu home. On the last morning you climb to Swayambhunath before breakfast, as the valley wakes.
You stay in a heritage hotel with every transfer private, and the pace is easy, with long lunches and time to rest. It suits a first visit to Nepal, a stopover on the way to somewhere else, or a few days added before or after a trek.
If you have one more morning, add the private helicopter to Everest. We can also add a night at Dhulikhel or Nagarkot, on the rim of the valley with the Himalaya on the horizon.
Kathmandu Valley in Three Days: the route
1 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 1,400 m at Kathmandu
Kathmandu Valley in Three Days, day by day
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Days 1–2 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you at arrivals and drives you to your heritage hotel. Over two days a local historian takes you through the valley at an easy pace: the royal square of Patan and its metalworkers' courtyards, the pagodas and potters' square of Bhaktapur, the riverside temples of Pashupatinath and, at dusk, the great white stupa of Boudhanath, where families walk the kora with prayer wheels turning. One evening you sit down to dinner at a family table in a Kathmandu home.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 3 Departure Departure
Before breakfast you climb the steps to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa above the city, as the valley wakes below. After a late breakfast at the hotel there is time to rest or shop, and then a private transfer to the airport, timed around your flight. If you have the morning free, the Everest helicopter can be added on the second day.
- Getting there
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Easy sightseeing on foot in old city squares and temple steps; no trekking.
- Who it suits
- Anyone, including families and travellers who would rather not walk far.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 2 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu
Best time for the Kathmandu Valley in Three Days
- JanJanuary: Best. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Best. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Possible. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Possible. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Possible. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Best. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Autumn, Winter, Spring. Choose a month for what to expect.
Included
- Himkora Host and a private guide throughout
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Local fees
- Private vehicles and every transfer
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
4 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and light layers
- Modest clothing for temples (shoulders and knees covered)
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen; insect repellent for Chitwan
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Combine it with
All journeys
Everest Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Kathmandu up the Khumbu at dawn, a landing where the rules allow, and breakfast facing Everest. Back by noon.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Pokhara up the Modi Khola gorge to Annapurna Base Camp, with time on the ground inside the Sanctuary. Back for a late breakfast.
Chitwan Safari in Three Days
A short flight to Chitwan, two nights at a safari lodge, jeep and canoe safaris for rhino, deer and birds, and a Tharu village evening.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Kathmandu Valley in Three Days cost?
From $1,300 per person, for two travelling privately, $1,200 per person for four and $2,000 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Kathmandu Valley in Three Days?
3 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How high does the Kathmandu Valley in Three Days go?
The highest point is 1,400 m, and the highest night is at 1,400 m.
When is the best time for the Kathmandu Valley in Three Days?
The best months are January, February, March, April, October, November and December. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.