Cultural Tour of Nepal: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur

The tour takes place in the Kathmandu valley and introduces three ancient cities in turn – Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Each developed as an independent city state and each has kept its palace square, its temples and the craft traditions of the Newar people.

The first day combines modern city life with the main religious centres of the capital. After the Garden of Dreams, Thamel and the Asan market, the group visits Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. The second day is devoted to Patan and its craftspeople, the third to Bhaktapur and the legacy of the Malla era. The six zones visited belong to the single UNESCO World Heritage property of the Kathmandu Valley.

The programme is not a journey to the birthplace of the Buddha and does not include Lumbini. Its subject is the religious, artistic and urban culture of the Kathmandu valley. That is worth bearing in mind when choosing between a short cultural tour and a longer journey around the country.

No special physical preparation is required, but the first day involves a long guided programme, walking in the city and several road transfers. In temples and at ceremonial sites you must follow the guide’s instructions, observe the rules on photography and respect the religious rites taking place. A visit to the cremation area at Pashupatinath should be discussed in advance with children and with sensitive participants.

Three days are easy to add before or after a mountain programme. The cultural part can be combined with a trek to Everest Base Camp, with the short Everest route, with the Gokyo lakes trek or with the Annapurna Circuit.

No altitude acclimatisation is needed for this programme: all the excursions take place in the cities of the Kathmandu valley without entering a high-altitude route. The main practical factors are traffic, a dense urban environment, long walks and the weather. The guide may change the pace or the order of visits if conditions and site rules require it.

Day 1. Kathmandu, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath.

We begin the morning at the Garden of Dreams, then walk through Thamel to the Asan market and Durbar Square. The guide explains how the old city is arranged, the history of the royal era, the significance of the Kumari and the religious imagery of the square. We then drive to the Swayambhunath stupa, on to the Boudhanath district and to the Pashupatinath temple complex on the bank of the Bagmati. Rituals may be observed only from the areas open to visitors, and an appearance by the Kumari or the holding of any particular ceremony cannot be guaranteed in advance. A lunch stop at La Casita is kept in the programme; lunch is paid for separately by participants. The order of sites may be adjusted because of city traffic and opening hours. The first day exists to show the main layers of the capital – everyday life, the Buddhist tradition and the Hindu shrines – and to give context for the two cities that follow.

Day 2. Patan – Newar crafts and architecture.

We travel to ancient Patan, also known as Lalitpur. With the guide we look at Durbar Square, the temples, the courtyards and the workshops of local artisans, and become acquainted with Newar art and urban culture. Unlike the busy overview of the first day, this stage concentrates on a single historic centre and allows a closer look at the layout of the temple courtyards, at the woodwork and metalwork, and at a living craft tradition. Covered clothing is needed to visit religious sites, and shoes should be easy to take off. The exact order of stops is set by the accessibility of the sites on the day of the excursion.

Day 3. Bhaktapur – a city of the Malla era.

After breakfast we drive to Bhaktapur. On Durbar Square we look at the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows, the Vatsala temple, the Nyatapola and the surviving wood carving. The historic centre is mainly explored on foot, so comfortable shoes and protection from sun or rain according to the season are needed. We finish the excursion with a tasting of traditional lassi in a clay cup. Bhaktapur shows a third way in which an ancient city of the valley developed and completes the comparison of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur within a single cultural programme. The finishing time is confirmed with the return journey and participants’ onward plans in mind.

• An English-speaking local guide throughout the three-day sightseeing programme
• All transfers along the stated sightseeing route in the Kathmandu valley
• Entrance tickets and compulsory fees at the sites included in the programme

• International flights to Nepal and back
• A tourist visa or any other entry permit required
• Medical insurance covering a cultural tour in Nepal
• Accommodation and breakfasts – their inclusion is not confirmed by the source set of services and is clarified before booking
• Lunches, snacks, dinners and drinks
• Tips for the guide
• Souvenirs and other personal purchases