Extended Kathmandu Valley Tour-7 days

Saadhu, holy man, smoking hasses on Shiva Ratri Festival

Idol of Budhanilakantha is a form of Bishnu representing Lord Bishnu floating o cosmic ocean

Idol of Kaal Vairab, God of Death, is an incarnation of Lord Shiva

Trip Introduction

Kathmandu Valley boasts of geographical, natural, and cultural wonders unique to itself. The Valley has also served as an important travel point for the traders and travelers from Tibet, Nepal, and other South Asian Region. The valley blends different culture and lifestyle practiced in the region in its own way. The mountains encircling the valley surround three medieval cities - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Besides the three cities, there are also a number of other important sites in the periphery of the mountains. The Kathmandu valley holds a considerably high number of places recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Besides the cultural magnificence, Kathmandu Valley has a number of equally soothing natural sites. These sites also contain temples, forts, monasteries, gardens, and also a National Park. Each city inside the valley has an artistic exposition of graceful temples, elegant palaces, brick-paved courtyards and quaint streets. In this trip, we make a tour of some of the most important as well as interesting cultural and natural landscapes of Kathmandu Valley.

As the name suggests, the 7-day Extended Kathmandu Valley Tour has been designed to encompass both the cultural and natural splendors of the Kathmandu Valley. If you wish to make a tour of all World Heritage Sites of Nepal including Lumbini & Mt. Everest Mountain flight, we suggest you to try our itinerary Nepal Heritage Tour with Mt. Everest - 10 Days. For those wishing for making a two-week holidays tour, our Nepal Holidays Tour-14 Days would be most suitable. However, if you've arrived in Kathmandu for a short business trip or are in transit and wish to make a tour of Kathmandu in just 3 days, you may try our Kathmandu Transit Tour-3days. Some of our other tour packages that you may find interesting include: Nepal Village Home-stay Tour - 10 Days, Kathmandu Pokhara River & Wildlife Tour -10 Days, Buddhist Cultural Tour - 8 Days. For a complete list of our tour packages for Nepal please click here.

Important Note and Optional Activities
Your safety is of paramount concern whilst traveling with Himalayan Glacier Trekking. Please note that your leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary; however, as this is adventure travel in remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, health condition of a member, unexpected natural disasters, etc., can all contribute to changes in the itinerary. The leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if required.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival & Overnight in Kathmandu
Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (TIA) you will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier Trekking. After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our representative with a Himalayan Glacier Trekking display board at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to Hotel Shanker or a similar category hotel. After check in, you can take a rest, hang around in the city, visit our office - it all depends upon your interests and condition. In the evening we will organize a "Welcome Dinner" at an excellent traditional Nepalese Restaurant where you will enjoy a Nepalese cultural program as well as a fine meal. Included meal: Dinner (D)

Day 02: KTM Sightseeing Tour: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhu, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath
Today after breakfast we start a guided tour to four of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu valley: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swayambhu, and Boudhnath.
Kathmandu Durbar Square holds the palaces of the medieval Kings who ruled over the then Kathmandu Kingdom. Swayambhu meaning the "the self-existent" is one of the oldest Buddhist Stupas in the world. The stupa is also famous for being on the hilltop and is popular among the foreigners as the Monkey Temple owing to the large number of monkey population residing in the area. The Pashupatinath along with the Aryaghat or Funeral Site near the Bagmati River is one of the worldÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½s most sacred places of worship for the Hindus. The Buddhists shrine of Bouddha Nath is one of the largest stupas in the world, and one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage and tourist destinations in Kathmandu. Included meal: (B)

Day 03: Sightseeing Tour: Patan, Khokana, Bungmati & Chapagaun
We start our tour of some cultural and natural spots today after taking our breakfast. Patan, also nicknamed as "The City of Fine Arts" is full of ancient places, temples and shrines, noted for their exquisite carvings. The Patan Durbar Square is also a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. Khokana village dates back from the medieval age, and the village has been nominated to be listed as a World Heritage Site, with its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage. Bungmati is another medieval sleepy little village with a beautiful temple in the village square and medieval houses hanging onions and red chilies from their windows. Chapagaun is also a Newari village where most of the farmers used to do farming until recently, however, the place is rapidly changing into a modern settlement these days. (B)

Day 04: Sightseeing Thimi, Bhaktapur, Changu Narayan, & Overnight Nagarkot
After breakfast, we head toward Thimi. Thimi is a medieval pottery village, which is rapidly changing into modern settlement these days. The medieval town of Bhaktapur, or the Town of the Devotees, preserves medieval arts, architecture, culture, and lifestyle to this date. One is sure to feel like travelling back into the past while walking along the Bhaktapur thoroughfares, squares and streets. Changu Narayan, the oldest temple in the Kathmandu valley, boast of being the oldest pagoda of Nepal. The route to Changu Narayan passes through small villages and farmlands with farmers work their fields. Then we head toward Nagarkot lying 32 kilometers east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2,175m (7,136ft) above sea level. We stay overnight at Nagarkot to enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sunset views over the major peaks of eastern Nepal Himalayas including Mt Everest. (B)

Day 05: Sightseeing Dakshinkali, Chobhar, Pharping & Overnight Kirtipur
We take our breakfast and head toward the southern part of Kathmandu today. Dakshinkali, inside the green mountain forests, is regarded as one of most important Hindu goddesses where pilgrims visit to offer their prayer and animal sacrifices to the goddess. Chobhar is known for the Chobhar gorge through which all the water of the valley drains and also for the vast network of natural mountain caves. Pharping has several Buddhist & Hindu monuments, temples and monasteries. Kirtipur, on the top of a hill, is one of medieval kingdoms inside the Kathmandu Valley. Kirtipur, with Nepal's largest and oldest Tribhuvan University, is also an important learning center of Nepal. The historic town has many interesting sights, shrines and temples, old houses, people in their old traditional costumes, people working on ancient loom, etc. We stay at Kirtipur for the overnight. (B)

Day 06: Sightseeing Budhanilkantha & Shivapuri
Today is the day for making our tour to the northern part of the Kathmandu Valley. We take our breakfast and drive to Budhanilkantha, a colossal statue of Lord Vishnu reclining on the bed of snakes, lies at the base of Shivapuri Hill. Budhanilkantha is a major pilgrimage site for the Hindus. Further north from Budhanilkantha, a stretch of dusty road goes into the Shivapuri National Park. The site is also a famous trekking region nearby Kathmandu and many city dwellers can be seen doing their trek especially on Saturday. There is also a Buddhist nunnery inside the National Park. The dirt-road amidst the jungle goes uphill through the villages of Dandagaon, Gurje Bhanjyang, etc finally unfolding into a panoramic view of mountains, distant hills and valleys. After crossing the hill top, a few kilometers downward drive takes us into the Shivapuri Village. (B)

Day 07: Fly Home, Transfer to Airport
The 7-day Extended Kathmandu Tour comes to an end today. There is nothing to do but trade emails with travel companions and organize the photos. If you have more time you can do some shopping or walking around in the streets of your hotel. A representative from Himalayan Glacier Trekking will take you to the airport approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight. We hope you enjoyed the tour with us, and are sure you'll be back making another trip somewhere in the Himalaya again. (B)

Trip Cost

Number of people	Price in US$ per person
1 person	$1496
2-4 person	$878
Above 5	$735

Trip Cost Includes

All airport/hotel transfers
Welcome and farewell dinner
Private car with driver
4 nights in 4-star hotel in Kathmandu ( Hotel Shanker or similar standard) 1 night in Hotel Coutry Villa Nagarkot and 1 night Kirtipur Hill Side Hotel & Resort in Kirtipur (All on B.B basis)
An experienced English-speaking tour guide including his salary, insurance, equipment, food and lodging
T-shirt, City map
Heritage sites entrance fees
All government and local taxes

Trip Cost Does Not Include

Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)
International airfare to and from Kathmandu
All meals except breakfast
Extra night accommodation if needed
Travel and rescue insurance
Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water etc.)

Accommodations

All accommodations for Extended Kathmandu Valley tour are on twin sharing basis included in the trip cost and are chosen based on standard of hygiene, standard of service and food, location, etc. There are two styles of accommodations during our tour. You will spend five nights in a 4-star hotel, Hotel Shanker or similar category hotel in Kathmandu; Hotel Country Villa or similar in Nagarkot and Kirtipur Hillside Hotel and Resort or similar in Kirtipur. Mostly the buffet style breakfast will be provided in the Kathmandu hotel and some time we will provide the set breakfast outside Kathmandu hotels. If you are a solo traveler, you will share a room with someone else of same sex of your group. If you prefer a single room, you may indicate your preference and get single rooms on request by paying single supplement USD 450.

Meals

Mostly the buffet style breakfast will be provided in the Kathmandu hotel and some time we will provide the set breakfast outside Kathmandu hotels

Departure Dates

We will organize this trip on the dates requested by you. Please contact us for your customized departure date.

Additional Information

Our website contains as much information as possible about this trip. However, if you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for it please contact us by email. If you want to talk to us directly feel free to call us at: US telephone: 704-200-7512 Asia telephone: 00977-98510-55684

Trip Facts