Full-Day Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour of Sacred and Heritage Sites

Namaste and see you during your next trip to the Nepal Himalayas! If you wish to stay longer, we can offer plenty of suggestions, including mountain biking in the Kathmandu Valley, white-water rafting, a wildlife safari, bungee jumping, and an Everest sightseeing flight. We can help arrange any of these excursions for you.

Sherpa Expedition and Trekking have specially designed this Kathmandu day tour for those who only have a short time in Kathmandu to see its excellent cultural World Heritage Sites. This is a guided cultural sightseeing tour in Kathmandu, where our experienced guide will take you around the World Heritage Sites to explore the sights and sounds of the city's wonders and understand them better.

Swayambhunath: It is believed that the original stupa existed 2,000 years ago, while the present stupa is said to have been built after the 14th century. Swayambhunath means 'the shrine existing by itself.' It is often called 'The Monkey Temple' by Westerners because there are many monkeys scampering around the site, amusing visitors as they spin prayer wheels and play around the stupa, making the place lively and interesting. The panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley from the stupa is simply breathtaking. Legend says that the Kathmandu Valley was once a vast lake, with a lotus flower glowing white in the middle. In the Buddhist version, Majushree, a Bodhisattwa, came from China and drained the water, and the lotus flower came to rest where the stupa now stands. In the Hindu version, the lake was drained by Lord Krishna. On the eastern side of the stupa, a long staircase climbs the hill to a beautiful pagoda-style temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess Harati. All around the complex are shrines and statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities side by side, illustrating the religious harmony between them. Swayambhunath truly deserves its place as a World Heritage Site and as one of the great places to visit on a day tour in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: This lies in the heart of the city. Locals call it Hanuman Dhoka, as it is named after the Monkey God, Hanuman. At the main entrance to the palace, you can see the statue of the Monkey God covered in red paint. Durbar Square is a World Heritage Site, and history says its design dates back to the 9th or 10th century, during the time of King Gunakama Dev, a true devotee of Kali, the goddess of terror, whose main weapon is the sword - hence the square's sword-shaped layout. The complex consists of a lavish royal palace, surrounded by many temples dedicated to different Hindu gods and goddesses. This place used to be the royal seat until the 19th century. Today, the palace is used as a museum for visitors and as a coronation site for the kings of Nepal. The last king was crowned here in 2001. Another special attraction of the square is the Living Goddess, The Kumari, a young girl who goes through a rigorous selection process. She acknowledges the greetings of visitors from her balcony window, and the shrine is believed to have been built from a single tree named Kastamandap, which is the origin of the name Kathmandu. The surrounding area has temples dating from the 15th to the 18th century. Nowadays, much restoration is taking place, as the April 2015 earthquake badly damaged this site, though it is still completely safe to visit and witness the old palace on a Kathmandu sightseeing tour.

Pashupatinath: The name means 'The Lord of All Creatures' and 'the God of Gods.' It is a World Heritage Site and lies on the eastern side of Kathmandu, on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. The temple site dates from the 5th or 6th century, but the present temple was built in the 16th century. It is one of the most popular and important Shiva shrines, and all followers of Hinduism must visit the temple at least once in their lifetime. During the Maha Shivaratri Festival, the temple is full of devotees worshipping the stone linga in the form of Shiva. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the main temple complex, but they can still view the two-tier pagoda-style temple from the eastern side of the river and see the funeral pyres on the banks. The platforms along the holy Bagmati River are popular for ritual baths and for cremating the bodies of Hindus who have died. It is considered an honour for Hindus to be cremated here, as it is believed this ensures the soul rests in peace and remains safely away from the cycle of rebirth.

Boudhanath: Boudhanath means 'The Lord of Wisdom' and is the biggest stupa in the Asian subcontinent. It is believed that all followers of Buddhism must visit it once in their lifetime. The stupa is believed to have been built in the 5th century after twelve years of drought, when the king built it in the hope that it would help restore water, which it did with the help of dew drops. For this reason, it is also called the Dew Stupa. Nepal used to be a transit point between Tibet and India, and trade with Tibet existed from ancient times. Traders travelling to Tibet would stop here to offer greetings to the stupa and ask for blessings for a safe journey and return. The complex is often called a mini Tibet because many Tibetans live around the stupa, reflecting the Tibetan form of Buddhism. There are many monasteries around Boudhanath, making it a centre for learning and practising Buddhism. Visitors should walk around the stupa clockwise, spinning the prayer wheels, as this is believed to bring happiness, infinite merit, and good luck. It is a heritage site not to be missed on your day tour in Kathmandu.