Nepal tour guide: heritage cities, lakes, wildlife and mountain views
Nepal is best known for trekking, but you don't have to walk for weeks to see the culture and the scenery. A Nepal tour combines medieval royal cities and living temples in the Kathmandu Valley, the lakeside town of Pokhara beneath the Annapurna range, jungle safaris in the lowland national parks and sunrise views of the Himalaya from hilltop viewpoints, all with comfortable hotels and private transport.
This guide covers everything you need to plan a Nepal holiday: the main destinations and what to see, sample itineraries, the best time to visit, festivals, food, getting around, visas, money and etiquette. It is written by the Himalayan Hiking team in Kathmandu, who organise Nepal tours for families, couples, groups and first-time visitors.
Why take a tour of Nepal?
Nepal packs an astonishing range of experiences into a small country. In a single week you can watch butter lamps flicker around a great Buddhist stupa, explore palaces and temples built by the Malla kings, paddle across a mountain lake, ride a jeep through the jungle in search of rhinos and watch the sun rise over snow peaks more than 8,000 metres high.
A tour is ideal if you have limited time, are travelling with children or older relatives, or want to see the highlights of Nepal without the physical demands of a long trek. It also combines perfectly with a trek: many travellers spend a few days sightseeing before or after walking in the Everest or Annapurna regions.
Kathmandu Valley: seven World Heritage monument zones
The Kathmandu Valley is the cultural heart of Nepal. Its three historic cities, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, were once independent kingdoms ruled by the Malla dynasty, whose Newar craftsmen created some of the finest architecture in Asia. The valley has seven monument zones inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square, also called Hanuman Dhoka, is the old royal palace complex at the heart of the city. It includes temples, courtyards and the Kumari Ghar, home of the Kumari, a young girl worshipped as a living goddess. Nearby streets such as Indra Chowk and Asan are full of spice sellers, bead shops and small shrines, and the tourist district of Thamel is a short walk away.
Swayambhunath
Swayambhunath, often called the Monkey Temple, stands on a hill west of the city. Its white dome and gilded spire, painted with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha, are one of the symbols of Nepal. Climb the steep stone stairway past prayer wheels and resident monkeys for panoramic views over the valley.
Boudhanath
Boudhanath is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and the centre of Tibetan culture in Nepal. Pilgrims walk clockwise around the stupa spinning prayer wheels, surrounded by monasteries, cafés and shops selling thangka paintings and incense. Visit in the late afternoon, when the kora (circuit) is busiest and butter lamps are lit.
Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath, on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, is the most important Hindu temple in Nepal and one of the holiest Shiva shrines in the world. Only Hindus may enter the main temple, but visitors can watch the rituals, including open-air cremations on the ghats, from the opposite bank, and meet the colourful sadhus (holy men). Please be respectful and ask before taking photographs.
Patan (Lalitpur)
Patan, across the river from Kathmandu, is known as the city of fine arts. Its Durbar Square contains the stone Krishna Mandir, the royal palace and the excellent Patan Museum, one of the best museums in South Asia. Nearby, the Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar) and workshops of metal casters and woodcarvers keep centuries-old crafts alive.
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is the best-preserved of the three royal cities. Its car-free squares include the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple, the tallest temple in Nepal, the 55-Window Palace and the Pottery Square, where potters shape clay on wheels in the open air. Try the city's famous juju dhau, a rich, sweet yoghurt served in clay pots.
Changu Narayan
On a ridge above Bhaktapur, Changu Narayan is considered the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, with inscriptions dating back to the 5th century. Its carved stone and wood sculptures of Vishnu are masterpieces of early Nepali art, and the quiet village setting makes a pleasant contrast with the busy city.
Himalayan viewpoints near Kathmandu
Several hill towns on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley offer sunrise and sunset views of the Himalaya without trekking. Nagarkot, about an hour and a half from Kathmandu, is the best known, with views on clear mornings stretching along the range from Langtang towards the Everest area. Dhulikhel, a traditional Newar town on the road east, offers similar views and pleasant walks to Namobuddha monastery. Clear views are most likely from October to April.
Pokhara: lakes and the Annapurna range
Pokhara is Nepal's favourite holiday town, set beside Phewa Lake with the pyramid of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurna range rising behind. It is a 25-minute flight or a six- to eight-hour drive from Kathmandu. Highlights include:
- Phewa Lake: hire a colourful wooden boat and paddle to the island temple of Tal Barahi.
- Sarangkot: a hilltop viewpoint famous for sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre.
- World Peace Pagoda: a white stupa on a ridge above the lake, with views over the town and mountains.
- International Mountain Museum: exhibits on the Himalaya, mountaineering history and mountain peoples.
- Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave: a waterfall that disappears underground and a sacred cave across the road.
- Paragliding: Pokhara is one of the world's best places for tandem paragliding, with flights from Sarangkot over the lake.
Pokhara is also the gateway to Annapurna treks, and short walks such as Poon Hill or Australian Camp can be added to any tour for a taste of trekking.
Chitwan National Park: jungle safari
Chitwan National Park, in the subtropical lowlands of southern Nepal, was the country's first national park and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Its grasslands, sal forests and rivers are home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, sloth bear, several species of deer, gharial and mugger crocodiles and hundreds of species of birds.
A typical Chitwan visit includes a jeep safari into the park, a canoe trip on the Rapti or Narayani river to see crocodiles and birds, a guided jungle walk with naturalists, and a visit to a Tharu village to learn about the culture of the region's indigenous people, including an evening of traditional stick dancing. Chitwan is about five to six hours by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara, or a short flight to Bharatpur. For a more remote experience, Bardia National Park in western Nepal offers some of the best chances of seeing wild tigers.
Lumbini: birthplace of the Buddha
Lumbini, in southern Nepal near the Indian border, is where Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, was born. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the world. The sacred garden contains the Maya Devi Temple, built over the exact spot where the Buddha is believed to have been born, and the Ashoka Pillar erected by the Indian emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Around the garden, a monastic zone contains temples built by Buddhist communities from many countries. Lumbini can be combined with Chitwan and is reached by road or a flight to Bhairahawa.
Bandipur and other hill towns
Bandipur, a hilltop Newar trading town between Kathmandu and Pokhara, is one of the most charming stops in Nepal. Its car-free main street is lined with restored traditional houses, cafés and guesthouses, and there are short hikes to viewpoints, caves and nearby villages. Other good stops include the temple town of Gorkha, birthplace of modern Nepal, and the Newar town of Panauti near Dhulikhel.
Everest mountain flight
If you'd like to see Mount Everest but don't have time to trek, take the one-hour scenic mountain flight from Kathmandu. Early-morning flights of about an hour fly east along the Himalaya, passing peaks such as Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa, Gauri Shankar, Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. Every passenger gets a window seat, and many airlines invite passengers to the cockpit for a view of Everest through the front window. Flights depend on clear weather, so they are best scheduled early in your stay to allow time for rebooking. Helicopter tours with a landing near Everest are also available.
Adventure activities on a Nepal tour
Nepal is an adventure playground, and many activities can be added to a tour for a day or two:
- White-water rafting: the Trishuli River, on the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara or Chitwan, offers fun one- or two-day trips suitable for beginners. The Bhote Koshi and Seti rivers offer other options, and multi-day expeditions are available on the Sun Koshi and Kali Gandaki.
- Paragliding: tandem flights from Sarangkot above Phewa Lake in Pokhara, with views of the Annapurna range, need no experience.
- Zipline and bungee: Pokhara has one of the world's longest and steepest ziplines, and a famous bungee jump over the Bhote Koshi gorge lies near the Tibetan border.
- Mountain biking and cycling: ride through villages and terraces on the rim of the Kathmandu Valley or along the lakeside roads of Pokhara.
- Day hikes: walks from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan, around Shivapuri National Park or up to the Peace Pagoda in Pokhara give a taste of trekking without overnight stays.
Accommodation on a Nepal tour
Nepal has accommodation for every budget. In Kathmandu, choose from international hotels, boutique heritage hotels in restored Newar buildings, and comfortable mid-range hotels in Thamel or near Boudhanath. Pokhara has lakeside hotels and resorts with mountain views, while Chitwan has jungle lodges and resorts on the edge of the park, many of which include safaris and meals in their packages. In Bandipur and Nagarkot, small guesthouses and hotels make the most of the views. We choose hotels for their location, comfort, cleanliness and service, and we can upgrade or adjust any tour to suit your preferences.
Nepal with children and families
Nepal is a great place to bring children. Children love the monkeys at Swayambhunath, boating on Phewa Lake, spotting rhinos from a jeep in Chitwan and watching potters at work in Bhaktapur. Short hikes such as Poon Hill or the walk from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan give older children a sense of adventure without long days. For families, we recommend private transport, flexible itineraries with rest time, hotels with gardens or pools in the lowlands, and flights instead of the longest road journeys. Nepali people make a fuss of children, and kids tend to make friends everywhere.
Shopping in Nepal
Nepal is a great place to shop for handicrafts. Look for pashmina shawls, hand-woven carpets, singing bowls, thangka paintings, wood carvings, handmade paper, Tibetan jewellery, prayer flags, organic tea and coffee from the eastern hills, and trekking gear in Thamel. Patan is famous for metalwork and statues, Bhaktapur for pottery and woodcarving, and Boudhanath for Tibetan crafts. Bargaining is normal in markets and small shops, but always with a smile. Fair-trade shops in Kathmandu and Patan support women's groups and artisans across the country.
What does a Nepal tour cost?
The cost of a Nepal tour depends on the number of days, the destinations you choose, the standard of hotels, whether you travel by road or by air between cities, and the size of your group. Most tour packages include hotels, private transport, sightseeing with a licensed English-speaking guide and airport transfers; some also include meals and entrance fees. Activities such as safaris in Chitwan are usually included in jungle lodge packages, while paragliding, rafting and mountain flights are optional extras. Contact us for a tailor-made quote based on your plans.
Combining a tour with a trek
Many travellers want both culture and mountains, and Nepal makes this easy. Short treks such as the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek (four to five days from Pokhara), the Everest View trek or the Helambu trek near Kathmandu fit neatly into a tour and require no previous trekking experience. If you are coming for a longer trek, such as Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, we recommend a few days of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley before you start, to recover from your flight and adjust to the time zone, and a few relaxing days in Pokhara or Chitwan afterwards. We can plan the whole journey, including transfers, hotels, permits and guides, as one itinerary.
Tell us which experiences matter most to you, whether that is heritage, wildlife, mountain views, food or adventure, and we will balance sightseeing, travel time and free time so that your Nepal holiday never feels rushed.
Sample Nepal tour itineraries
5 days: Kathmandu Valley highlights
Arrive in Kathmandu; explore Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath; visit Pashupatinath and Boudhanath; spend a day in Patan and Bhaktapur; watch sunrise from Nagarkot before returning to Kathmandu.
7–8 days: Kathmandu and Pokhara
Spend three days exploring the Kathmandu Valley's World Heritage Sites, then fly or drive to Pokhara for three days of boating on Phewa Lake, sunrise at Sarangkot, the Peace Pagoda and optional paragliding, before returning to Kathmandu.
10–12 days: Classic Nepal with Chitwan
Combine the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and two or three days in Chitwan National Park for a jungle safari, with an optional stop in Bandipur. This is our most popular route for families and first-time visitors, and it can be extended with Lumbini or a short trek such as Ghorepani Poon Hill.
Every tour can be adjusted to your interests, pace and budget. Tell us how many days you have, and we will design a route that suits you.
Best time for a Nepal tour
Nepal can be visited all year, but the best seasons for touring are:
- October and November: clear skies, the best mountain views and pleasant temperatures, with major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar.
- March and April: warm weather, blooming rhododendrons and good visibility, though afternoon haze is more common later in spring.
- December to February: cool, clear days and cold nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara; a good season for Chitwan, when wildlife viewing is excellent and the lowlands are pleasantly mild.
- June to September: the monsoon brings rain and cloud, but the countryside is green and sightseeing carries on. Chitwan's jungle activities are limited during the heaviest rains.
Festivals of Nepal
If you can, time your visit for a festival. Nepal follows a lunar calendar, so dates change each year.
- Dashain (September or October): Nepal's biggest festival, celebrating the victory of good over evil, with family gatherings, kites and bamboo swings.
- Tihar (October or November): the festival of lights, when houses are decorated with oil lamps and marigolds, and crows, dogs and cows are honoured.
- Indra Jatra (September): a Kathmandu festival featuring masked dances and the chariot procession of the Kumari.
- Holi (March): the festival of colours, celebrated with coloured powder and water in the streets.
- Bisket Jatra (April): Nepali New Year in Bhaktapur, with a huge chariot tug-of-war.
- Buddha Jayanti (April or May): the Buddha's birthday, celebrated at Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Lumbini.
Nepali food to try
Food is one of the pleasures of a Nepal tour. Dal bhat, rice with lentil soup, vegetable curry and pickles, is the national dish. Momos, steamed or fried dumplings filled with vegetables or meat and served with spicy sauce, are found everywhere. In the Kathmandu Valley, try Newari cuisine, including bara (lentil pancakes), choila (spiced grilled meat), samay baji (a festive platter) and Bhaktapur's juju dhau. Thakali dal bhat is a speciality in Pokhara, and Tibetan dishes such as thukpa noodle soup are popular in Boudhanath. Masala tea is served everywhere.
Getting around Nepal
Roads in Nepal are winding and often slow, so journeys take longer than distances suggest. We use private vehicles with experienced drivers for all our tours, which is more comfortable and flexible than public buses. For longer journeys, domestic flights save time: Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about 25 minutes, and there are flights to Bharatpur for Chitwan and Bhairahawa for Lumbini. Scenic mountain flights from Kathmandu offer close views of Everest for those who cannot trek.
Visas, money and practical information
Most nationalities can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu or apply online before travelling; check the latest requirements for your passport before you book. The currency is the Nepali rupee. ATMs are widely available in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and larger hotels and shops accept cards, but carry cash for smaller shops, entrance fees and tips.
Local SIM cards with data are easy to buy in Kathmandu, and Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and cafés. Many heritage sites charge entrance fees for foreign visitors, which fund conservation. Travel insurance is recommended for all travellers, and if you plan to add paragliding, rafting or trekking, make sure your policy covers these activities.
Etiquette and responsible travel
Nepalis are warm and welcoming, and a few customs will help you show respect. Greet people with namaste, palms together. Walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas and temples, remove your shoes before entering temples and homes, and ask before photographing people or religious ceremonies. Avoid touching anyone's head or pointing your feet at people or shrines, and dress modestly at religious sites. Buying handicrafts directly from artisans, eating in local restaurants and choosing a locally owned tour operator all help your money benefit Nepali communities.
Book your Nepal tour with Himalayan Hiking
Himalayan Hiking is based in Kathmandu. We design Nepal tours that combine the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini and hill towns such as Bandipur and Nagarkot, with hand-picked hotels, private transport, licensed English-speaking guides and optional activities such as mountain flights, paragliding and short treks. Every tour can run privately on your own dates, and we can combine it with any of our treks.
Browse our Nepal tours above, or contact us with your dates and interests, and we will send a tailor-made itinerary and quote.