Nepal_Swayambhunath_Monkey_Temple_Elite_Explorer

Mystic and Eternal: The Culture of Kathmandu

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$ 890.00

Step into the vibrant tapestry of Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling capital, where every corner tells a story. This Kathmandu Cultural Tour invites you to explore a city that is a living mosaic of history, art, and tradition.

Imagine wandering through Kathmandu’s labyrinthine alleys, where each turn reveals a new facet of the city’s rich heritage. The intricate wooden crafts that adorn temples and homes showcase centuries of artisanal skill, reflecting the deep-rooted traditions of the Newar community. As you stroll, the aroma of traditional Newari food wafts through the air, enticing you to taste the savory delights of dishes like Sekuwa, Choila, Bamboo Shoot soup, and the ever-popular Mo:Mo—succulent dumplings that are a culinary favorite.

Kathmandu is not just a city but a living museum, a melting pot where Hinduism and Buddhism coexist in a harmonious blend. The city’s streets are lined with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each a testament to its historical grandeur. From the majestic Swayambhunath Stupa, known as the Monkey Temple, to the intricate details of Patan’s Durbar Square, every landmark is a chapter in Kathmandu’s rich narrative.

As you explore, you’ll be captivated by the city’s stunning backdrop—blue skies framing snow-capped mountains that add a serene beauty to your journey. The warm, welcoming smiles of Kathmandu’s people make every interaction a memorable part of your adventure. They are eager to share their stories, offer assistance, and make your visit unforgettable.

This tour isn’t just about seeing sights; it’s about immersing yourself in Kathmandu’s vibrant life. Experience the city’s colorful festivals, lively markets, and the ever-charming local culture that makes Kathmandu a must-visit destination.

Want more insider tips on exploring Kathmandu? Contact our expert for personalized advice or follow Kathmandu Travel Guide for additional guidance.

  • Reviews 0 Reviews
    0/5
  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
      Culture, Family, Guided Tours, Short Breaks, Short Tours
    • Activity Level Fairly Easy
      2/8
    • Group Size Medium Group
      Private

    Highlights: 

    • Explore the busy yet fulfilling streets of Kathmandu. 
    • Visit the places that carry significant religious importance like Boudhanath, Swayambhu, and Pashupatinath Temple. 
    • Walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and the four squares of Bhaktapur. 
    • Get blessings from the Living Goddess Kumari. 
    • Spend a day with the locals that have been native to Kathmandu for centuries. 

    Why tour with Us?

    Quality: To us, quality isn’t just about luxury but a sense of interconnectedness with society. We can guarantee you this interconnectedness. Thus, we have designed this tour in such a way that you won’t just be walking through different cultural sites of Kathmandu but making memories with us and the locality. We will interact with the locals, and merge ourselves with the local culture itself.  

     

    Giving back to the community: We consider acknowledgments to be one of the stronger aspects that contribute to society. Nepal, regardless of globalization, has been brought into the mainstream but still is unexplored. Alongside mountains, Nepal is proud of its people, history, and origin which we Nepalese acknowledge by celebrating our cultures and traditions. With this tour, we will make you a part of acknowledging Nepal for its culture and people. Even by listening to the stories of the locals, or traveling to the remote sites where ethnic significance glares over anything, you would be acknowledging the existence of people and their culture that go unexplored by the world. 

    What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.
    • Pick up and transfer to the booked accommodation by Elite Explorer representative from Tribhuwan International Airport Kathmandu. (please look for your full name card outside the arrival hall, +977 985 115 5251 arrival assistance WhatsApp call or message)
    • Twin or Double sharing room with breakfast in Kathmandu.
    • Private vehicle with driver for ground transportation.
    • English-speaking government-licensed tour guide at your service (language guide of your preference can be arranged upon request)
    • Government Entrée fees at the monuments and heritage sites.
    • Three liters of bottled water for each individual each day.
    • Local delights tasting (Juju Dhau, King of Yoghurt in Bhaktapur, Mo: Mo either one Veg or Non-veg and butter tea at Boudha subject to availability)
    • A night’s accommodation with the local family including local meals.
    • Groceries for the cooking class at the local family’s.
    • Transfer to the airport on the day of departure.
    What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.
    • Travel/Medical insurance
    • Drinks and meals not specified in the itinerary
    • Any personal expenses such as laundry, sim cards, data, and other tours and services not within the itinerary.
    1. Day 1 Arrival

      Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be greeted and escorted to your accommodation. There, you will be briefed about your upcoming trip and offered several alternatives for how to spend your time in Kathmandu.

      We recommend strolling through Thamel’s streets, picking up some souvenirs, and dining on distinctive specialties such as momo, yomari, or a traditional Nepali khana set. Kathmandu is not just known for its scenery, but also for its cuisine.

    2. Day 2 Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square

      Our first day’s adventure starts early in the morning as we head to Swayambhunath while the sun is rising. We will encounter two entrances, and if you agree, we can fancy taking the 365 stone stairs. As we reach the main temple, the rising sun colliding with the Swayambhunath Stupa will make our journey worthwhile. From there, we will head to the Hariti Temple and wish for a healthy and illness-free life for us and our families, well Goddess Hariti is known to cure diseases. We will then visit the Swayambhu Buddhist Museum which houses a modest collection of Buddhist sculptures and other artifacts. Talking for some time with the monks there, we will board our vehicle and head to Kathmandu Durbar Square.

      The first thing we will do at Kathmandu Durbar Square is to visit the Kumari Ghar where the living Goddess Kumari who is believed to be a manifestation of Goddess Taleju resides. After that, we will head to the Nasal Chowk which is famous for being the place where the Nepalese Kings’ incarnation took place while Nepal still had a monarch. From there, we will enter the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum where we will observe emblems and representations of most of the things that hold great value to the country.

      Thereafter, we will visit the nearby temples, learn about them, and head to Basantapur Square where we will buy some souvenirs and make our way to Freak street, Indra Chowk, and Ason.

    3. Day 3 Pashupati and Boudhanath tour also visit Monastery spend some hours with the local monk around the Boudhanath inside the monastery

      We start our day by taking the blessing of Lord Shiva who is deemed to be the God of all Gods in Hinduism in one of the holiest places, Pashupati. The temple houses the God of all animals who is also Lord Shiva. After worship, we will walk around the periphery of the temple and head to our next destination: Boudhanath.

      Boudhanath is a divine place, even when it is around the focal point of Kathmandu’s urbanization. Turning Giant Prayer Wheels, we will observe Boudha and visit the monasteries near the place. The one that we won’t miss is the Tamang Gompa Monastery where we will spend some hours with monks learning about Buddhism and the reasons that make people deliberately sacrifice worldly materialism to become a monk. We will also join them in their prayers and maybe feel what nirvana feels like.

    4. Day 4 Patan Durbar Square

      Today is the day to explore the historic Patan Durbar Square and the surrounding places of Patan. If you know about Kathmandu, there are some bold chances that it was because of Patan. The moment we enter through the Patan Gate, Lalitpur’s history starts appearing in every step we take. We will visit a lot of temples including Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, Hari Shankar Temple, and Golden Temple. Likewise, we will spend some time at historic spots like Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Bhandarkar Garden. To end the day, we will visit the Royal Palace of Patan and the Patan Museum.

    5. Day 5 Changu, and Bhaktapur

      After making memories of Kathmandu and Lalitpur, the final city of the valley, Bhaktapur will welcome us. The name speaks for itself. Bhakta refers to devotees and thus Bhaktapur is the city of devotees. The major places we will visit today are the four squares of Bhaktapur: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pottery Square, Taumadhi Square, and Dattatraya Square. Likewise, we will be visiting the Changunarayan Temple to end our adventures for the day. All these destinations are the emblems of the rich religious faith and history of the city. Every stone, brick, and wood sings of Gods in this city and people cherish their faith more than anything.

    6. Day 6 A day with the local family- Be with the locals, learn cooking, and culture with the local host family

      It is never aesthetic to end a cultural tour without knowing those who have been saving the culture. So, to merge with the culture and make memories of a lifetime, we have facilitated a special program for you. Think of it as a cultural exchange program where you won’t just see things but learn by being a part of it. You will spend your final day with a local family of the city, most probably a host family from Bhaktapur. For the entire day, you will transcend to a Newar, Chhetri, or any race the host family is. From the moment you wake up to every bite of food you chew to every drop of liquid you drink, and to the moment you close your eyes watching the stars, you will become a local.

    7. Day 7 Departure

      As the sun rises, you will leave the local family’s house and we will drop you at your hotel. Three hours before the flight, we will leave you at the airport. We won’t bid you farewell because we know you will be back here in no time again!

    swayambhunath
    bhaktapur
    BaberMahal Villas
    Kathmandu-BaberMahal Villas

    Can I customize my tour?

    The tour displayed on the Elite Explorer website can be booked by clicking the Book Now button or can be fully customized as per your preferences. For customization simply click Customize link fill out and submit the form. Team Elite will get back to you with the itinerary within 24 hours.

    Can I stay more days with the local family?

    Yes. We can arrange as many days as you want. It would be easy if you mention it beforehand.

    Is it safe to travel around Nepal?

    It is very safe to travel around Nepal. The crime rate is low and people are extremely hospitable here. Even world-renowned vloggers like Sam Chui, Harald Baldr among others have visited Nepal and have talked highly about the safety of the country.

    Are accommodations safe, can I choose my own?

    Elite Explorer chooses its accommodation based on its high safety record and service quality. However, if you wish to choose your own accommodation you can simply let us know, and our team will access such accommodation from various sources and advise you accordingly.

    I am asthmatic, and can’t climb high, where can I tour?

    It is best to consult your home physician first. However, the major places of interest in Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Chitwan, Pokhara, and Sarangkot lie below 3000 meters, and are accessible by vehicles, so it is possible to tour around major places of interest.

    How far I can tour since I have limited mobility?

    Most of the tour destinations are accessible by vehicles and for such travelers, special care, as well as walking pace, will be taken care of by our own experienced guides. We do not recommend long and continuous walks and recommend short one instead. Still, we recommend you know your limit and consult your physician.

    Are jungle safaris safe for children?

    Yes, our safaris are safe and you can take your children. Before heading to the wild you are briefed about the program. Still, when you are in the wild, your way is often crossed by wild animals but our experienced local nature guides will advise accordingly.

    Are there good clinics and hospitals?

    Absolutely, there are good hospitals and dedicated travelers clinics in Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara. Should you need medical attention in rural areas, priority will be given to the closest health facilities, and will be referred to further treatment in well-equipped facilities depending on the cases.

    Are flights and road transport safe?

    Yes, it is safe. Further, we only use the best airlines in the country for the services. Our drivers on the roads are tourist vehicle drivers and have years and years of experience driving on the mountain road and Terai plains. 

    Do POS and ATMs easily available?

    ATMs are widely available in major cities and towns however, while traveling to rural areas we recommend carrying Nepalese currency. Currencies of a different kinds can be exchanged at money changers, hotels, or banks.

    Does Nepal have good internet?

    Free wifi is available at major places, including hotels, tea houses, cafes, and restaurants. In case you need it frequently, you can easily request Elite Explorer Team for the local sim card with data, please make sure your phone is not factory locked and supports a local sim card.

    Can I decide to stay and do more activities apart from my booked itineraries?

    Absolutely, you can. If you need any help or suggestion please feel free. Furthermore, we will provide you with one departure vehicle to the airport if you are in central Kathmandu.

    Is your guide licensed? Will it be the same guide for all destinations?

    Yes, Elite Explorer uses all government-licensed guides who are highly trained in their field. It depends on your preferences. Can be fully guided but once the guide is done for the day, you will have your private time to spend. A cultural tour guide may have skills in culture and history but may lack the knowledge of deep jungles, and the nature guide may not have the skills to lead your walk or hike in the mountains. Thus, there may be different guides for different kinds of tours.

    Choosing a local company is hard, are you a registered company?

    Yes, Elite Explorer is registered Private Limited Company at the Company Registrar Office Tripureshwor Registration number 289833/78/79 registered at Inland Revenue Department Koteshwor for taxation, Nepal Government Tourism Department Valley Tourism Office Hattiban Lalitpur for Tour and Trekking license, Kathmandu Metropolitan 32 ward Office local government, Small and Cottage Industry Tripureshwor under Ministry of Industry and Nepal Central Bank Baluwatar

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