Day 1: Arrival

Day 2: Swayambhu, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudha 

Day 3: Pashupati (optional), Patan Durbar Square and Nagarkot

Day 4: Hike to Changu Narayan (optional) Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Namo Buddha

Day 5: Pharping and Kirtipur or Dakchinkali 

Day 6: Free day/departure

Day 7: Departure 

The alternatives visit around the Kathmandu valley can be to 

• Namo Buddha and Panuti area 
• Overnight stay at Chisapani 
• Nagarkot experiences 
• Travel around the southern part of Kathmandu  

Day 1: Arrival 

On the day of your arrival, we will be there to pick you up from the airport and check you in to your hotel. After that, you can take a rest as you will probably be tired because of a long flight. If you arrive early, after taking some rest you can walk around the places near your hotel and freshen up or do some last-minute shopping for things that you will need or buy souvenirs. 

Day 2:  Swayambhu, Kathmandu Durbar square, and Baudha  

On the second day, we will rise early and have breakfast as well as the tour guide will brief you on your travel plans. Then we will begin our journey, we will first go to Swayambhu MahaChaitya. 

Swayambhu means 'Self-Existent One.' Swayambhu is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. According to translations from an inscription dating back to 460 A.D. It was built by King Manadeva and by the 13th century, Swayambhu had developed into an important center of Buddhism. Legend has it that Swayambhu was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of the lake which the Kathmandu valley once was. The base of the hill is almost surrounded by prayer wheels where devotees can be seen circumambulating the Stupa at all times. 

Swayambhu is one of the most prominent places in Kathmandu valley that is interlinked with both religion and culture. Swayambhu temple isn't just for the devotees who follow Buddhism but is also one of the important parts of the Hindu religion. Thus, you will be able to see people from both religions coming here to worship Swayambhu. The moment you set foot inside the premises of the temple, you will be surrounded by this peaceful aura of Swayambhu. You will really be able to see and feel the difference in the atmosphere once you are walking around the temple. As there are two ways to enter the temple, one is from the front and another one from the back. The front way starts from down the hill which leads you to steps that lead you to the top. There are said to be 365 steps to represent each day of the year. The back entryway starts with three big statues of one “The Light of Asia, Gautam Buddha”, another is a statue of the goddess “Saraswati”  who is known as the goddess of knowledge in Hindu religion and the last one is the statue of “Manjushree” who was responsible to create Kathmandu Valley. 

Once we have finished visiting and exploring Swayambhu Mahachaitya, we will then head towards Kathmandu Durbar Square. Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the Durbar Square located in the Kathmandu district of Kathmandu Valley. 

The then royal palace Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur durbar square are UNESCO World Heritage sites of cultural importance. These squares are not only famous for different rulers who ruled Kathmandu valley as a single country or as divided into 3 countries. The historical squares are full of different Hindu and Buddhist deities.

Politically Kathmandu Durbar square is more famous than the rest two as even after the unification of Nepal till Rana regime with spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries. Although there are no written archives it is believed king Sankharadev (1069–1083) constructed royal palaces; it is believed it started as early as the Licchavi period in the third century.

The Malla period is known as the golden time for craft and architecture on the development of Durbar square. As Buddhism and Hinduism developed and changed throughout Asia, both religions prospered in Nepal and produced a powerful artistic and architectural fusion beginning at least from the 5th century AD, but truly coming into its own in the three hundred year period between the 1500 and 1800 AD. These monuments were defined by the outstanding cultural traditions of the Newars, manifested in their unique urban settlements, buildings, and structures with intricate ornamentation displaying outstanding craftsmanship in brick, stone, timber, and bronze that are some of the most highly developed in the world. 

The seven monument ensembles represent an exceptional testimony to the traditional civilization of the Kathmandu Valley. The cultural traditions of the multi-ethnic people who settled in this remote Himalayan valley over the past two millennia referred to as the Newars are manifested in the unique urban society which boasts of one of the most highly developed craftsmanship of brick, stone, timber, and bronze in the world. The coexistence and amalgamation of Hinduism and Buddhism with animist rituals and Tantrism are considered unique. The symbolic and artistic values are manifested in the ornamentation of the buildings, the urban structure, and often the surrounding natural environment, which are closely associated with legends, rituals, and festivals. 

After exploring the Kathmandu Durbar Square, we will most definitely stop for lunch. After lunch and rest, we will move to our next destination which is Boudha Mahachaitya. Located just a few km away from Kathmandu Durbar Square, we will arrive at Boudha during the late afternoon which is one of the best times to explore the area. 

Khasti  Chitya (Boudha)  Khasti Chaitya, “The Dewdrop Stupa” largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. Some believe the name derives from Kasyapa, the Manusi Buddha of the Dwapara-yuga, whose relics are said to be enshrined within it. According to Newari etymology, it is derived from the Newari word for dew, for the chronicles mention that when the Stupa was in process of construction a drought struck and the workmen were forced to layout white cotton cloth to collect the morning dew, which was then wrung out to facilitate the day’s construction. Some say Khasa was the name of a Tibetan Lama whose relics were interred here, or that the Stupa’s origin was in some way associated with the town Khasa on the present border of Nepal and China. One of the most sacred Buddhist temples in Nepal, the stupa is a huge dome structure with a gilded spire with Buddha’s eyes painted on the base and a brass canopy on the top. The relics of Kashyap Buddha, one of the mythical Buddhas, are said to be enshrined there. There are also about 50 Buddhist monasteries in and around Khasti  Chitya (Boudha Stupa). The exploring of Boudha Stupa will be truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Your travel destination throughout the day will make it very easy to see a big diversity in between such a small area.

And by the time we are done with exploring and visiting every corner of Boudha Stupa, it will be around dinner time. We then take you back to your hotel for a much-needed rest after having such an extravagant day filled with so much cultural and religious knowledge and experience. After your dinner, you are free to do whatever you like, explore the surrounding areas or you can go and take a rest in your room as the day has finally come to an end.

Day 3: Pashupati (optional), Patan Durbar Square and Nagarkot:

Early in the morning, we will go to Pashupati Temple, one of the most important temples in the Hindu religion. It is so popular that every year millions of people visit this temple to show their devotion to Lord Shiva. 

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. The Pashupatinath Temple built in the 5th century and later renovated by Malla kings is a famous and sacred Hindu temple complex that is located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. Historically where monkeys and deers wander all around the temple complex on both banks of Bagmati considered holy by Hindus. The main pagoda-style temple has a gilded roof, four sides covered in silver, and exquisite wood carvings. Temples dedicated to several other Hindu and Buddhist deities surround the temple of Pashupatinath.  

At Pashupati the spirit of death can be felt, It is also very common to meet sadhus in Pashupatinath. Sadhus are wandering ascetic yogis, who are trying to acquire liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth by meditating. They have a very unique appearance with specific yellow paintings on their bodies. 

Next, we will go to Patan Durbar Square which is known as the oldest city of Nepal as well as the whole of Asia. The Patan Durbar Square is surrounded by temples and old buildings with unique architecture and patterns. We can also go to the Patan Museum where it is filled with historical arts and crafts used at that time. The Patan area is filled with different monuments like Krishna Mandir, stone taps that were built hundreds of years ago. 

After completing the visit to Patan Durbar Square, we will stop for lunch as rest before we continue our adventure to our next destination which is Nagarkot. Nagarkot is very famous for Sunrise and Sunset. It is a hill station which provides magnificent mountain views from the top with clear sunrise or sunset depending on which time you reach 

Day 4: Hike to Changu Narayan (optional) Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Namo Buddha

The fourth day of your tour will start as the previous day, rising early and having breakfast to energize you for what’s on your itinerary for the day. So, the first thing we will do after breakfast is go on a hike to Changu Narayan. 

Built by Haridatta Barma in the 2nd century during the Lichhavi Dynasty. Change Narayan is believed to be the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu and Nepal.

Changu Narayan is a two-story pagoda-style temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and surrounded by ancient carvings and statues. The diagonal beams that support the temple’s roofs are decorated with intricate carvings of the 10 incarnations of Vishnu and various multi-armed Tantric goddesses. Meanwhile, the temple’s four entrances are guarded by stone lions, griffins, elephants, and Sarabhas (part-lion, part-bird creatures from Hindu mythology). Hiking to Changu Narayan Temple will be a different experience compared to the places you went to the day before as you will not only get to experience and feel the spiritual and religious connection but also the natural connection as well. You will hike through the green forested hill which will grant you the view of nature connected with the Hindu religion. 

After coming back from the hike we will have an hour or two to rest and have lunch before heading towards the next destination. And our next destination as mentioned above is the Bhaktapur Durbar Square located in Bhaktapur. It is otherwise also known as the Fifty Five Window Palace. Bhaktapur is a place famous for its Newari culture and lifestyle. Like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur Newars have different ways to express their culture and language. Even though both are considered Newars, their lifestyle is different as well as the language they speak. You will be able to see the amazing architecture of the palace as well as the temples that surround it. One of the famous temples is Natya Pole which is known as the tallest temple of Nepal, with five stories.  You can shop for locally made handicrafts and enjoy local cuisines which Bhaktapur is famous for and one of the must-try foods is called Juju Dahi which is the local curd or yogurt. 

We will get done with our exploring around Bhaktapur Durbar Square and head to our next destination at Namo Buddha. Namobuddha is located a few kilometers away from Bhaktapur. We will be moving towards the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley. 

Day 5: Pharping and Kirtipur or Dakchinkali 

Day 6: Free day/departure

Day 7: Departure