Kathmandu Temple Tours: the 8 Best Valley Days

1.Kathmandu Spiritual Sites: Bodhnath & Pashupatinath Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 185 reviews · from $60Our pick

Meet at Hotel Marshyangdi in Thamel at 3 pm for a four-hour small-group visit to Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. Your English-speaking Nepali guide leads you by public transport and on foot, explains Buddhist and Hindu customs, and helps you find the evening Aarati ceremony.

“This is a great tour and cover lots of very interesting places. The guide was nice and knowledge that she explain things in detail.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Chandragiri Cable Car and Monkey Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 139 reviews · 5 hours · from $3Best value

You’ll ride 2.4 km above Chandragiri Hills, visit Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple and Everest View Tower, eat vegetarian or chicken momos, then explore Swayambhunath. Private guides such as Prakash, Biraj, and Nilakantha Acharya add history, local stories, and flexible pacing.

“My activity was awesome. Nilakantha was knowledgeable about the sights with excellent explanations, he continued to check in to make sure we were happy. Guided us through the crowds like a true professional. I would highly recommend this tour and this tour guide if I could give 10 stars I would .”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.2 Stupas and Kopan Monastery Spiritual Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 115 reviews · 5 hours · from $6

You’ll visit three important Buddhist sites by private car, with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and time for meditation at Kopan Monastery. Guides such as Pooja, Karma, Aneel, and Pranav explain Buddhist symbols, local customs, and Kathmandu life in clear, friendly terms.

“I really enjoyed myself. I was alone so the one on one relationship was excellent. My guide was Extra Ordinary. I have forgotten how to spell her name. She went over and beyond to make sure I was satified. I have made a new frienf.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Lunch with Nuns – Monastery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · from $135

Leave Kathmandu for a moderate 1 to 2 hour uphill walk through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. At Nagi Gumba, meet resident Buddhist nuns, learn about Nepali religious life, and share lunch before returning by road. Hotel pickup is offered in Thamel, and the private tour lasts about 4 to 6 hours.

“So I've been volunteering for 2 months in Nepal and my mother came to visit me. Gap Nepal organized a whole trek for us to Poon Hill, everything was taking care of. Even if I got sick during the trek, they were super reactive and made it really easy for me and we were able to finish the trek in full health!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Monkey Temple – Swayambhunath Tour – Private/Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $15

Join a maximum of five people for a three-hour guided walk from Thamel to Swayambhunath. Guide Santosh explains Hindu and Buddhist traditions, valley legends, neighborhood temples, and the hilltop stupa. Expect stairs, local streets, striking views, and a small cash entrance fee.

“As a female solo traveller I can totally recommend this tour! Santosh is a very experienced tourguide who has a lot of historical knowledge. He told as many stories about hinduism and buddhism. If you like walking and seeing the stunning stupa and view over Kathmandu, you should totally book this tour!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Chandragiri Cable Car & Monkey Temple Tour- Private/Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $5

Spend 5.5 hours visiting Chandragiri Hills and Swayambhunath from Kathmandu. Your guide handles the route, explains the temples, and arranges hotel pickup, transport, and a packed lunch. Private departures are flexible, while group tours follow a set morning time. Cable car and temple fees depend on your package.

“The guide was very informative and giving us encouragement to try the activities existing at the chandragiri hills. The best.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Private Chandragiri Cable Car and The Monkey Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $5

Travel by private vehicle from Kathmandu to Chandragiri Hills, ride the 2.4-kilometer cable car, visit Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, then explore Swayambhunath, the famous Monkey Temple. Your guide, transport, tickets, bottled water, and vegetarian or chicken momos are included.

“We recommend this trip highly for those looking for a nice half day trip with a fun cable car ride, nice views of the city and surrounding hills and several interesting temple visits. On a day with less haze, views of the Himalayas would have beRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.PashupatiNath and BoudhaNath – Private/Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $15

In about three hours, an English-speaking guide leads you from Pashupatinath’s sacred river and cremation ghats to Boudhanath’s Tibetan Buddhist center. You’ll learn about Hindu rites, Buddhist teachings, prayer flags, monasteries, mandalas, and Thangka painting in a group of no more than five.

“Our tour of Pashupatinath and Boudhanath was great, largely thanks to our guide Santosh! When we mentioned wanting to see the aarati ceremony, he adjusted our tour schedule to accommodate this special experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review