Three days in Kathmandu is enough to see the valley properly without rushing. You spend a day at the main heritage sites and a morning watching sunrise from Nagarkot. Then, on the last morning, you ride the Chandragiri cable car. Each day has a guide in English or your own language, a private vehicle and free time in the afternoon. We build it as one package and quote it for your group.
The plan below is the one we suggest for a slow, comfortable pace. However, you can change the order, swap a day or add something else.
What’s Inside This Guide
- Three Days in Kathmandu at a Glance
- Who Is This Trip For?
- Kathmandu heritage sites (Day 1)
- Nagarkot sunrise and Bhaktapur (Day 2)
- Chandragiri Hills by cable car (Day 3)
- What to Do with Your Free Afternoons
- Changing the Plan
- Price and What Is Included
- Costs on the Day
- Why Plan Three Days in Kathmandu with Us?
- Best Time to Go
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
Three Days in Kathmandu at a Glance
| Day | Plan | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Swayambhunath, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath | 6 to 7 hours |
| Day 2 | Nagarkot sunrise, then Bhaktapur Durbar Square | 5 to 6 hours, afternoon free |
| Day 3 | Chandragiri cable car and hilltop viewpoint | About 4 hours, afternoon free |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Start and end | Your hotel in Kathmandu (Thamel area) |
| Guide | Every day, in English or your own language |
| Transport | Private car, jeep or HiAce van with driver, by group size |
| Group size | 1 to 12 people |
| Pace | Slow, with free afternoons on Days 2 and 3 |
| Price | Quoted for your group, dates and guide language |
| Not included | Entrance fees, cable car ticket, meals, hotels |
Who Is This Trip For?
The trip suits travellers who want to see Kathmandu well, not quickly.
- First-time visitors who want heritage, culture and mountain views in one short trip.
- Travellers who are not trekking. You still see the Himalaya twice without a single day on the trail.
- Trekkers with spare days before or after a trek, who want to rest while still seeing the valley.
- Families and older travellers. There is little walking, and the afternoons also give time to rest.
- Travellers who want a guide in their own language. We arrange Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese or Chinese speaking guides on request.
If you only have one free day, choose one of the single trips instead. In that case, the heritage day tour gives you the most in one day.
Day 1: Kathmandu Heritage Sites
The first day gives you the background to everything else you see in Kathmandu. First, your guide picks you up at 8 am, the time we recommend, and the day runs 6 to 7 hours.
- Swayambhunath: the hilltop stupa with the Buddha’s eyes, known as the Monkey Temple.
- Patan Durbar Square: the old royal square of Lalitpur, full of Newar temples and carved windows.
- Pashupatinath: the most important Hindu temple in Nepal, on the Bagmati River.
- Boudhanath: the great white stupa at the centre of Tibetan Buddhist life in Kathmandu.
Lunch is usually in Patan or at a rooftop café at Boudhanath. After Boudhanath, you are back at your hotel by mid-afternoon. For more detail, the full day is explained in our Kathmandu heritage day tour guide.
Day 2: Nagarkot Sunrise and Bhaktapur
Day 2, however, starts early. Pickup is at 4 am when the days are long and 5 am in winter. As a result, you reach the Nagarkot ridge before sunrise. If the morning is clear, you see the Langtang and Ganesh Himal ranges light up across the north.
Afterwards, you can take a short coffee break at Buddha Peace Park and walk to Rani Jhula, a 250-metre suspension bridge in the forest.
Then, on the way back, you stop at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the valley’s three old royal cities. Your guide takes you through the palace square and Taumadhi Square with the five-tiered Nyatapola Temple.
You are back at your hotel by late morning or midday. After the early start, the afternoon is free to rest. Read more in our Nagarkot sunrise trip guide.
Day 3: Chandragiri Hills by Cable Car
Finally, the last day is the gentlest. Pickup is at 7:30 am, and you reach the Chandragiri cable car near opening time. From there, the ride takes about 9 to 12 minutes and climbs to a viewpoint at 2,551 metres.
On a clear day, the view from the top runs from the Annapurna range to Langtang, with the whole Kathmandu Valley below. The hilltop also has the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, paths and cafés.
By around midday you are back in Thamel, so the afternoon is free. Read more in our Chandragiri Hills half-day tour guide.
What to Do with Your Free Afternoons
The free afternoons are part of the plan, not a gap in it. Instead, they give you time to rest and explore at your own pace.
- Walk around Thamel and Asan. The old bazaar streets between Thamel and Kathmandu Durbar Square are busy and full of small shrines.
- Shop for handicrafts. Thamel has singing bowls, pashmina, thangka paintings and trekking gear.
- Try Newari food. Ask your guide for a local restaurant serving momo, bara or a Newari set meal.
- Rest. After an early start, a quiet afternoon at your hotel is often the best choice.
If you would rather fill an afternoon, tell us. In that case, we can suggest or arrange something extra.
Changing the Plan
The order is flexible, and the weather often decides it. If heavy cloud is forecast for the Nagarkot sunrise, we can swap it with a clearer morning.
You can also replace a day. Some travellers swap Chandragiri for a hike, such as the Champadevi day hike. Other travellers add a fourth day instead. Either way, tell us what you are interested in, and we adjust the plan before we quote.
Price and What Is Included
We price the three days as one package, so we quote it for your group. That is because the price depends on your group size, your dates and the guide language you choose.
For reference, these are the prices of the single trips when booked on their own, per vehicle:
| Trip | 1–3 people | Mid-size group | Large group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage day tour (English guide included) | USD 100 | USD 150 (4–6) | USD 180 (7–12) |
| Nagarkot sunrise and Bhaktapur | USD 65 | USD 85 (4–7) | USD 110 (8–12) |
| Chandragiri Hills half day | USD 65 | USD 85 (4–7) | USD 110 (8–12) |
The Nagarkot and Chandragiri trips do not include a guide when booked on their own. In the three-day package, however, a guide comes with you every day.
Included in the package
- Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Kathmandu each day
- Private car, jeep or HiAce van with driver, depending on group size
- Guide on all three days, in English or your chosen language
- All sightseeing in the plan above
Not included
- Entrance fees and the cable car ticket
- Meals, drinks and snacks
- Hotel accommodation
- Personal expenses
- Tips for the guide and driver (optional)
Costs on the Day
Entrance fees and the cable car ticket are paid on the day. Your guide can collect the money and buy the tickets for you, so you do not have to queue.
| Site | Fee for foreign visitors |
|---|---|
| Swayambhunath | About NPR 200 (reported to be rising) |
| Patan Durbar Square | About NPR 1,000 |
| Pashupatinath | NPR 1,000 |
| Boudhanath | About NPR 400 |
| Bhaktapur Durbar Square | NPR 1,800 |
| Chandragiri cable car (return) | About USD 23 |
Fees change from time to time, and published figures do not always agree. For this reason, treat these as a guide and check the current rates on the day. Also, SAARC nationals pay lower fees at most sites.
Why Plan Three Days in Kathmandu with Us?
- One plan, one contact. We arrange the vehicles, guides and timing for all three days.
- A guide every day. In English or your own language, so you understand what you are seeing.
- Private, not shared. Only your group travels together, at your pace.
- Built around the weather. For example, we move the sunrise day if the forecast is poor.
- Clear about costs. That way, you know in advance which fees and meals are not included.
- Easy to change. Before we quote, you can swap a day, add a day or change the order.
- Direct contact. You plan the trip with us on WhatsApp, with no booking platform in between.
Best Time to Go
The best months for this trip are October to December, when the mountain views are usually clearest. September and March to May also work, although spring haze can soften the views. The heritage day works all year. In the monsoon, from June to August, cloud usually hides the mountains on Days 2 and 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three days is enough to see the main heritage sites, a mountain sunrise and the Chandragiri viewpoint at a slow pace. You will not see everything in the valley, but you will see the most important places without rushing.
We quote it for your group, because the price depends on group size, dates and guide language. Send us these details on WhatsApp and we reply with a price. Entrance fees, meals and hotels are not included.
Yes. The package includes a guide every day, in English or your chosen language. This is different from booking the Nagarkot or Chandragiri trips on their own, which come without a guide.
Yes. We often move the Nagarkot sunrise to the clearest morning. You can also swap or add a day before we quote.
No. The package covers guides, vehicles and sightseeing. You book your own hotel, and we pick you up there each day.
Related Planning Guides
- Kathmandu Heritage Day Tour — Day 1 in full: Swayambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
- Nagarkot Sunrise Trip from Kathmandu — Day 2 in full: sunrise over the Himalaya and Bhaktapur
- Chandragiri Hills Half-Day Tour — Day 3 in full: the cable car and hilltop viewpoint
- Kathmandu and Pokhara Private Tour — six days, if you also want to see Pokhara
- Nepal Tour Packages — private day and multi-day tours across Nepal
Three days in Kathmandu with us means a guide every day, a private vehicle and a slow pace. Send us your dates, group size and preferred guide language on WhatsApp, and we will send you a quote.