# Culture in Nepal

## Culture in Nepal

Nepal's culture is lived every day, in the temples and courtyards of the **Kathmandu Valley**, the potters' squares of **Bhaktapur**, the metal workshops of **Patan**, and the villages of the hills, where Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Sherpa and many other communities keep their own languages and traditions. The 2021 census counted more than **140 caste and ethnic groups** and over **120 mother tongues**.

Walk the old cities with a local guide, try your hand at a traditional craft, cook dal bhat and momos, stay with a village family, or explore the country's museums.

## Regions
- [Cultural Tours in Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/cultural-tours-in-nepal.md)
- [Village and Homestay Tours](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/village-and-homestay-tours.md)
- [Traditional Crafts of Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/traditional-crafts-of-nepal.md)
- [Meet the People of Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/meet-the-people-of-nepal.md)
- [Food and Culinary Tours in Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/food-and-culinary-tours-in-nepal.md)
- [Heritage Walks in Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/heritage-walks-in-nepal.md)
- [Museum Tours in Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/category/museum-tours-in-nepal.md)

## Trips
- [Nepal Tour: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan](https://himalayanhiking.com/nepal-tour-kathmandu-pokhara-chitwan.md): 8 days, Easy, max 2,175 m / 7,136 ft (Nagarkot), from US$890. This Nepal tour package is an 8-day private journey through the country's highlights: the UNESCO World Heritage temples and royal squares of the Kathmandu Valle...
- [Shamanic Traditions Cultural Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/shamanic-traditions-cultural-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,500–2,000 m, from US$70. The shamanic traditions cultural day tour introduces Nepal's living dhami-jhankri (shaman and faith healer) traditions. With a local guide, visit a hill village...
- [Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/kathmandu-valley-heritage-tour.md): 3 days, Easy, max 2,175 m / 7,136 ft (Nagarkot), from US$290. The Kathmandu Valley heritage tour is a 3-day private tour of all seven monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site: Swayambhunath, Kathma...
- [Lumbini Tour: Birthplace of Buddha](https://himalayanhiking.com/lumbini-buddhist-pilgrimage-tour.md): 4 days, Easy, max 1,400 m / 4,593 ft (Kathmandu), from US$490. The Lumbini tour takes you to the birthplace of Lord Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Terai plains of southern Nepal. Visit the Maya Devi Temple with...
- [Tamang Heritage Trail Trek](https://himalayanhiking.com/tamang-heritage-trail-trek.md): 9 days, Easy to moderate, max 3,165 m / 10,384 ft (Nagthali), from US$690. The Tamang Heritage Trail trek is a 9-day cultural and homestay trek in the Langtang region, close to the Tibet border. Stay with families in traditional Tamang...
- [Pokhara Tour: Lakes, Sarangkot Sunrise & Adventure](https://himalayanhiking.com/pokhara-tour.md): 4 days, Easy, max 1,600 m / 5,249 ft (Sarangkot), from US$390. Our Pokhara tour is a 4-day holiday in Nepal's lakeside adventure capital, at the foot of the Annapurna range. Watch sunrise from Sarangkot over Machhapuchhre,...
- [Ghandruk Trek](https://himalayanhiking.com/ghandruk-trek.md): 3 days, Easy, max 1,940 m / 6,365 ft (Ghandruk), from US$210. The Ghandruk trek is an easy 3-day short trek from Pokhara to Ghandruk (1,940 m), one of the largest and most beautiful Gurung villages in Nepal, with close-up...
- [Panauti and Namo Buddha Cultural Hike](https://himalayanhiking.com/panauti-namo-buddha-hike.md): 2 days, Easy, max About 1,750 m / 5,741 ft (Namo Buddha), from US$140. The Panauti and Namo Buddha hike is an easy 2-day cultural trip from Kathmandu. Explore the medieval Newar town of Panauti, with its temples and quiet brick lan...
- [Kathmandu Sightseeing Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/kathmandu-sightseeing-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$75. The Kathmandu sightseeing day tour covers four of the Kathmandu Valley's UNESCO World Heritage monuments in one full day with a licensed guide and private vehic...
- [Gorkha and Bandipur Cultural Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/gorkha-bandipur-cultural-tour.md): 3 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$290. The Gorkha and Bandipur cultural tour turns the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara into a three-day adventure through Nepal's history. Ride the Manakamana cable...
- [Nepal Highlights Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/nepal-highlights-tour.md): 12 days, Easy, max About 2,175 m / 7,136 ft (Nagarkot), from US$1,390. The Nepal highlights tour is a 12-day journey through the best of Nepal without a long trek. Explore Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, watch sunrise over the Hima...
- [Panchase Trek](https://himalayanhiking.com/panchase-trek.md): 3 days, Easy to moderate, max About 2,500 m / 8,202 ft (Panchase Danda), from US$220. The Panchase trek is a quiet 3-day trek from Pokhara to a sacred, forested ridge west of Phewa Lake. Cross the lake by boat, climb past the World Peace Pagoda,...
- [Ilam Tea Garden and Kanchenjunga Sunrise Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/ilam-tea-garden-tour.md): 4 days, Easy, max About 2,300 m / 7,546 ft (Antu Danda), from US$590. The Ilam tea garden tour takes you to the green hills of eastern Nepal, next to Darjeeling, for four days of tea, mountains and quiet villages. Fly to Bhadrapur...
- [Kathmandu Food Tour and Cooking Class](https://himalayanhiking.com/kathmandu-food-tour-cooking-class.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$65. The Kathmandu food tour and cooking class is a delicious way to spend a day in the city. In the morning, walk through the old bazaars of Asan and Indra Chowk wi...
- [Buddhist Heritage Tour of Nepal](https://himalayanhiking.com/buddhist-heritage-tour-nepal.md): 7 days, Easy, max About 1,750 m / 5,741 ft (Namo Buddha), from US$790. The Buddhist heritage tour of Nepal is a 7-day journey to the most important Buddhist sites in the country. Visit the great stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhana...
- [Bhaktapur and Patan Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/bhaktapur-patan-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$80. The Bhaktapur and Patan day tour visits two of the three old royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley in one full day with a licensed guide. In the morning, explore...
- [Pokhara City Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/pokhara-city-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,100 m / 3,600 ft (World Peace Pagoda), from US$55. The Pokhara city day tour shows you the best of Pokhara in one day: row across Phewa Lake to Tal Barahi Temple, walk up to the World Peace Pagoda, visit Davis F...
- [Pashupatinath Evening Aarati and Boudhanath Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/pashupatinath-evening-aarati-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$45. The Pashupatinath evening aarati and Boudhanath tour shows Kathmandu at its most atmospheric. Walk the evening kora around Boudhanath stupa as the butter lamps...
- [Kirtipur, Bungamati and Khokana Village Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/kirtipur-bungamati-khokana-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,593 ft, from US$60. The Kirtipur, Bungamati and Khokana village tour explores the traditional Newar world just beyond Kathmandu. Visit the hilltop town of Kirtipur, the Chobhar Gor...
- [Bandipur Overnight Trip](https://himalayanhiking.com/bandipur-overnight-trip.md): 2 days, Easy, max About 1,030 m / 3,380 ft, from US$150. The Bandipur overnight trip takes you to one of Nepal's most charming towns, a car-free Newar bazaar on a ridge above the Prithvi Highway. Wander the old lanes,...
- [Lumbini Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/lumbini-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 150 m / 490 ft, from US$70. The Lumbini day tour explores the birthplace of the Buddha with an expert guide: the Maya Devi Temple with its marker stone, the Ashoka Pillar, the sacred pool,...
- [Patan Heritage Walk](https://himalayanhiking.com/patan-heritage-walk.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,350 m / 4,430 ft, from US$40. The Patan heritage walk explores Patan, the city of fine arts, on foot with a local guide: Patan Durbar Square, the Patan Museum, the Golden Temple, hidden Budd...
- [Swayambhunath Sunrise Walk](https://himalayanhiking.com/swayambhunath-sunrise-walk.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,420 m / 4,660 ft, from US$25. The Swayambhunath sunrise walk takes you to Kathmandu's oldest Buddhist stupa at the most beautiful time of day. Climb the steep eastern stairway past stone Bud...
- [Bhaktapur Half-Day Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/bhaktapur-half-day-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,400 m / 4,590 ft, from US$40. The Bhaktapur half-day tour explores the best-preserved of the Kathmandu Valley's three royal cities. Walk through Bhaktapur Durbar Square with its 55-Window Pa...
- [Begnas Lake Boating and Village Walk](https://himalayanhiking.com/begnas-lake-boating-village-walk.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 900 m / 2,950 ft, from US$35. The Begnas Lake boating and village walk shows you a quieter side of Pokhara. Drive about 45 minutes east of Lakeside to Begnas Lake, the second-largest of Pokh...
- [Dhulikhel Overnight Trip](https://himalayanhiking.com/dhulikhel-overnight-trip.md): 2 days, Easy, max About 1,550 m / 5,085 ft, from US$120. The Dhulikhel overnight trip is an easy escape from Kathmandu. About 30 km east of the city, the old Newar town of Dhulikhel sits on a ridge with views of the H...
- [Kathmandu Old-Town Walking Tour](https://himalayanhiking.com/kathmandu-old-town-walking-tour.md): 1 days, Easy, max About 1,350 m / 4,430 ft, from US$30. The Kathmandu old-town walking tour follows the ancient trade route from Thamel to Kathmandu Durbar Square through the busiest, most atmospheric bazaars in the...

## Frequently asked questions
### What is Nepal's culture like?
A rich mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions and many ethnic cultures, each with its own festivals, food and crafts.

### Where is the best place to experience culture?
The **Kathmandu Valley**, with its seven UNESCO-listed monument zones, and hill villages such as Ghandruk and Bandipur.

### Can I stay with a local family?
Yes, on our village tours and homestays.

### What should I wear?
Modest clothing, especially at temples; remove shoes where asked.


Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/category/culture-in-nepal