Sacred Trails Kathmandu Homestay

Nepal travel

5 Days in the Kathmandu Valley: An Itinerary from Sacred Trails

Five relaxed days covering the valley's great sights — Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Patan, Bhaktapur and the Shivapuri forest — with quiet nights at the homestay.

By Shiva GiriPublished 5 min read

Swayambhunath Stupa with Buddha eyes, golden spire and prayer flags against a blue sky

Photo: Nirmal Dulal (opens Wikimedia Commons in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons

Five days is the perfect amount of time for the Kathmandu Valley: enough to see the great sights without rushing, with quiet evenings on our rooftop in between.

Five days from Sacred Trails
DayPlan
1Arrive, airport pickup, rest. Evening walk to the Sleeping Vishnu temple and a home-cooked welcome.
2Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square.
3Patan's Durbar Square and museum, then Bhaktapur's squares and juju dhau.
4Morning hike in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park; afternoon in Thamel and Asan bazaar.
5Slow breakfast on the rooftop and airport drop-off — or start your trek.

Tips

  • Do the busiest sights early in the day.
  • Keep one afternoon free — Kathmandu rewards wandering.
  • Save Nagarkot for a clear morning if you're visiting from October to December.

Frequently asked questions

Is 5 days in Kathmandu too long?

No — five days lets you see the valley's main sights at a relaxed pace, including Patan, Bhaktapur and a forest hike.

Trips this guide helps you plan

Reclining Vishnu statue on coiled serpents at Budhanilkantha Temple
Cultural

Kathmandu City Tour

Temples at dawn, Newar courtyards and old bazaars — the Kathmandu Valley's living heritage at an unhurried pace.

Duration
4 nights / 5 days
Group
Private or small group

From $280per person

Details

Questions about your trip?

Ask the family — we're happy to help you plan, whether or not you stay with us.

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