Overview
Take a trip to Kathmandu on your Nepal Vacation
While on Nepal tours, you will most likely visit Kathmandu, the largest city and capital of Nepal. Situated at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in central Nepal, Kathmandu is the urban core of Kathmandu Valley, located in the Himalayas.
Kathmandu features two sister cities, Lalitpur to its south, and Bhaktapur to its east, comprising the acronym ‘KTM’ and the name ‘tri-city’. Recognized for its cultural heritage and monuments in its three districts (Kathmandu District, Lalitpur District, and Bhaktapur District), Kathmandu Valley is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Located in the northwest region of Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu features eight rivers flowing through and is surrounded by four major hills, Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri.
Kathmandu has been undergoing rapid growth, as homes, shops, and businesses are being developed, making it one of the most desired but expensive places in Southeast Asia to buy real estate.
Amidst its modern development, Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is crowded with temples and palaces. This ancient square has been around since 1000 A.D. and also features Durbar Square Museum. As well, Durbar Square plays host to various Nepal festivals.
Kathmandu is the starting point for many adventures on Nepal vacations including Mount Everest area tours, a trek through Bandipur, a boat ride in Pokhara, and rafting in Chitwan National Park along with jungle adventures.
With its culturally-rich heritage, shops, and meditation retreats, this fascinating city has something special for everyone. Book one of our Kathmandu tours today!
Kathmandu has been undergoing rapid growth, as homes, shops, and businesses are being developed, making it one of the most desired but expensive places in Southeast Asia to buy real estate.
Amidst its modern development, Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is crowded with temples and palaces. This ancient square has been around since 1000 A.D. and also features Durbar Square Museum. As well, Durbar Square plays host to various Nepal festivals.
Kathmandu is the starting point for many adventures on Nepal vacations including Mount Everest area tours, a trek through Bandipur, a boat ride in Pokhara, and rafting in Chitwan National Park along with jungle adventures.
With its culturally-rich heritage, shops, and meditation retreats, this fascinating city has something special for everyone. Book one of our Kathmandu tours today!
At a Glance
Languages
NepaliCurrency
Nepalese Rupee (NPR)What do the experts say?
Visiting a temple or monastery to experience a Puja Ceremony is a great way to immerse yourself in Nepalese culture.
You'll notice immediately that the people of Nepal are some of the nicest and most hospitable you'll ever meet.
Boudhanath Stupa in the Kathmandu valley is a g...
Three stupas high in Himalayas
Shaiva sadhu (holy man) smokes a pipe in Kathma...
Macaque sitting in the monkey temple
Nepalese schoolgirls playing outdoor
Most Popular Time to Travel
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
KathmanduLight Rain
30°C / 86°F
84mm / 3.3"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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ExcellentBased on 5,219 ReviewsThe booking processs was really easy. Katie was very communicative and was very responsive. Every change we asked for, she quickly replied. The room arrangements had a small hiccupp but Katie fixed it within minutes! All the excursions were a blast and well planned.
The trip was a bucket list trip and was everything we hoped for. Alison MAllan Birkett at Goway has been an absolute godsend! Over the past year, he has helped me plan numerous vacations—especially honeymoons—and has been an incredible partner every step of the way.
He is always quick to respond, patient with my clients' frequent changes, and goes above and beyond to help whenever an issue comes up. His knowledge, professionalism, and dedication make my job as a travel advisor so much easier.
I truly appreciate everything Allan does and highly recommend him to anyone looking for exceptional service. Thank you, Allan, for always being thereBrooke EcholsOur 2-week trip to Normandy, Switzerland and Italy after we disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton in mid-May was superb. Michael Keon did an amazing job of putting together highlights for us to see and visit with the short time we had. All the train reservations, private and small group tours and transportations were very well coordinated, on time, and usually exceeded our expectations. Drivers were courteous and knowledgeable. Mike did a wonderful job getting everything coordinated, in spite of our almost “last minute” booking. I booked a month-long trip through GOWAY back in 1989 for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and they were superb then. So I tried them again, and found the entire organization to be even better. Mike was quick to respond to any questions that came up regarding booksings and times, regardless of the 6-hour time difference. Just superb! Although we had a nasty experience in Milan, GOWAY was very responsive and saw to our requests and our needs. Again, Michael Keon is the person who coordinated our travel. I will ask for Mike when I travel again with GOWAY. I recommend GOWAY highly. PJ WheelerA BIG THANK YOU to Goway Travel, Brooke Theron and all of the partners onsite. Our trip to Africa was incredible, memories that will last forever.
Everything planned and more went perfectly. The guides, the excursions, the accommodations, everything, was just spectacular. Fortunately, everything ran on time, no delays, no problems.
Thank you again!!
Linda IriasI have been blessed to have an amazing rep, Farooq Qaisar!
He has helped me find the best spots for my clients to experience and when I am looking for something and just can't figure it out, he is able to put together something better than I was thinking. He my go-to and I am thankful for all his help over the years!SherriGoway helped plan our two week trip to Peru and they (Virginia in particular) did a great job. The on-site logistics with Condor Travel went very smoothly, and the trip exceeded our expectations overall. They proactively suggested changes to our initial itinerary which were welcomed. I would recommend them and would work with them again in the future.Kate O'NeillWe entrusted Goway with every detail of our trip from start to finish and they came through for us superbly! Every single detail was smooth sailing. It was a joy to plan our travels with Goway!! We had an amazing trip of a lifetime!
E&DI recently went on an African Safari with my brother-in-law and sister and another couple who I knew. The entire experience was absolutely unbelievable. The complete details were flawlessly coordinated from the transfers to the breathtaking lodges. Our guides Peter showed us Kenya and Maulid Tanzania were very knowledgeable and very sharp eyes for finding the animals.
We were able to see the animals up close, learn a lot about the people, birds , vegetation etc.
We had several sundowners in the bush really added to a magical experience with beautiful sunsets.
I would highly recommend Goway to all my friends, they will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Bijal for the excellent African Safari that you put together for us. You were wonderful.Nancy HayWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. Ask for Mark! I have already planned another trip back to the Oregon wine country with Mark. Claire
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