Embark on a captivating half-day tour of Kathmandu Valley and uncover the capital's hidden gems. Select from three unique itineraries to visit two of the five iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, or Boudhanath Stupa. Durbar Squares are a historic palace courtyard inside Kathmandu Valley while temples are sacred religious sites to both Buddhists and Hindus. Come delve into the heart of Nepalese culture, marvel at ancient temples, and witness the daily lives of the locals within a short window of your precious time.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM
Next available
Thu, Oct 8
Adult (ages 18–59)
$40
Senior (ages 60–90)
$40
Youth (ages 13–17)
$40
Child (ages 5–12)
$40
Infant (ages 1–4)
$30
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $70.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 7.
Tour Options
Monkey Temple & Patan Durbar
Monkey Temple & Patan Durbar
Pickup included
Pashupati & Boudhanath Tour
Pashupati & Boudhanath Tour
Pickup included
Monkey Temple & KTM Durbar Sq.
Monkey Temple & KTM Durbar Sq.
Pickup included
Itinerary
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Admission not included90 min
Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the valley that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although the construction of the square began in the third century, the major structures within it were added in later periods. The outer complex consists of a number of 16th-century temples built during the reign of Malla kings. These buildings are adorned with meticulously carved facades characteristic to Newari architecture.
The central square is surrounded by palace complexes built during the Malla and Shah periods. The most well-known among them is the Nautale Durbar, a nine-story palace built by Prithvi Narayan Shah to commemorate the Unification of Nepal. A three-story temple called Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal is located at the southern edge of the Durbar square. This Malla-era temple is used as the residence of the Kumari, a young girl worshiped as a living embodiment of the Hindu Goddess Durga.
Swaymbhunath
Admission not included90 min
The second halt for this tour will now be at Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple. Swayambhunath features a large Stupa known as the Mahachaitya. The Tibetan name for the site means Sublime Trees, for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shingun may be of Nepal Bhasa name for the complex, Swayambhu, meaning self-sprung. For the Buddhist Newars, in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice Swayambhu occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudha. Besides, Swayambhu is a Hindu name. Additionally, the hilltop also offers you a 360 degree view of the valley.
What's included
Included
Experienced Tour Guide
3 hour city tour
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
Monuments entrance fees
Food and Drinks
Pickup Locations & Times
Please wait at your hotel lobby or at the entrance of your residential apartment in Kathmandu 10 minutes prior your pick up time.
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
24 reviews
5
22
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
0
How it compares in Kathmandu
Starting price $40 is 27% below the typical $55 for tours of similar length in Kathmandu
Excurgo comparison of 2,808 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu take?
Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu cost?
Prices start at $40 per person for this Kathmandu experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $70. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM.
How much does Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu cost for children?
Children aged 5–12 pay from $40, adults from $40.
Can I cancel Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Please wait at your hotel lobby or at the entrance of your residential apartment in Kathmandu 10 minutes prior your pick up time. Pickup points include Shinee Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Fewa.
What languages is Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Private Half Day Tour in Kathmandu worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 24 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Cordial Trek Pvt. Ltd..
Reviews(24)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
V
Vacation64410445653
September 6, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Kathmandu Highlights 🛕💛🇳🇵
I had an amazing experience with my guide, Pramila Bohara! 🙌🏼 The heritage and cultural walking tour was such a wonderful way to experience Nepal. We explored beautiful historic places, learned so much about the local culture and traditions, enjoyed delicious food tasting, and even got to wear traditional dress. We were also lucky enough to join the Cow Festival, which made the experience even more special and memorable. ✨💛
Pramila was super friendly, knowledgeable, patient, and made the whole experience comfortable and fun. She shared so many interesting stories and details that brought the culture to life... and I truly enjoyed every moment and would defo highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Nepal! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to Cordial Trek and Team! 🤙🏼
Operator response
Dear Traveler,
Namaste and warm greetings from the Cordial Trek team!
Thank you so much for your kind words and appreciation. It was a true honor to guide your day tour and share such a special experience with you.
We would be delighted to welcome you back to Nepal and explore more wonderful destinations together.
With our warmest regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
G
Global64426
April 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Friendly, knowledgeable, and kind
I had the pleasure of Mr. Nilakantha as my Kathmandu city tour guide. He is passionate about the history of Nepal and his beautiful culture. He is very knowledgeable, kind, and helpful. Highly recommend taking a tour from Mr. Nilakantha through Cordial Treks. 🙏🏼 The drivers we had were also amazing in all the chaotic traffic!
Operator response
Dear Sandra,
Namaste and warm greetings from the Cordial Trek Team.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your amazing experience with us. It truly warms our hearts to know that your tour with Mr. Nilkantha was both memorable and enriching. We are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in us, and it would be a sincere pleasure to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
With warm regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
J
JoannaC154
March 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Way above expectations
We enjoyed a great tour with Nilakantha Acharya. He patiently explained the religious and cultural importance of the temples, palaces, and local areas. We learned a lot about Nepal and Kathmandu in a few hours with Nilakantha, not to mention a tasty lunch at the Durbar Square. For our special request to buy tea, Nilakantha took extra time and effort, bringing us to a tea store I specified. We could not ask for a better way to spend an afternoon in Kathmandu!!
Operator response
Dear Joanna,
Namaste and warm greetings from the Cordial Trek Team.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your amazing experience with us. It truly warms our hearts to know that your tour was both memorable and enriching. We are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in us, and it would be a sincere pleasure to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
With warm regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
E
Eugene_David
December 24, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
UNESCO Heritage Half Day Tour for Family
Nilakantha Acharya, our guide for this tour, is excellent! He taught us so many things about Durbar Square and Monkey Temple. We learnt a lot from him and made us appreciate Nepal more. This tour company and Nilakantha are highly recommended if ever you need tour services in Nepal.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Eugene,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Cordial Trek!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. It truly warms our hearts to know that your tour with us was both memorable and enriching. We are deeply grateful for the trust you placed in us, and it would be a sincere pleasure to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
With warm regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
L
logine2025
December 4, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Day trek to Shivapuri National Park
Our trekking experience in Kathmandu was truly unforgettable, thanks to our incredible guide, Nilakantha. From the very beginning, they were warm, organised, and attentive to every detail. Their knowledge of the trails, local culture, and hidden gems added so much depth to our journey. They always checked on our comfort, kept us motivated, and made sure we felt safe at every step. Beyond being a guide, they were a wonderful companion—sharing stories, laughs, and moments that made the trek even more meaningful. We’re genuinely grateful for the experience and would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Nepal.
Operator response
Dear Traveler,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Cordial Trek!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for your generous appreciation of your recent trip with us. We are truly delighted to hear that your experience was both memorable and enriching.
We deeply value the trust you placed in us for your travel arrangements and look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you again for another unforgettable Himalayan adventure in the near future.
With our warmest regards and best wishes,
The Cordial Trek Team
R
RobsvdH
November 30, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great customised experience
What a lovely tour, and incredible intro to Nepal and Kathmandu! I did option 1 with Nilakantha, and could not recommend it more. It ended up being a private tour (unexpectedly), which was amazing. The first stop was more of a city square with a ton of different buildings, which was great for the history, and the second stop was a temple (both Hindu and Buddhist) which was great for religion and mythology. I had looked at the tours with more stops, but I’m so glad I booked this one instead! We could really take our time at each stop, and Nilakantha adjusted according to what I was most interested in and what questions I was asking. He even took me to an incredible rooftop for coffee when jet lag hit between stops! He was also so patient with the million photos I took, but I know that if I’d been in a hurry then he would have adjusted for that too (he asked upfront about my time commitments for the day). Honestly can’t recommend this enough!
Operator response
Dear Rob,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Cordial Trek!
Thank you so much for your kind words and for your generous appreciation of your recent tour with us. We are truly delighted to hear that your experience was both memorable and enriching.
We deeply value the trust you placed in us for your travel arrangements and look forward to the pleasure of welcoming you again for another unforgettable Himalayan adventure in the near future.
With our warmest regards and best wishes,
The Cordial Trek Team
D
drewctodd
October 25, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Excellent, friendly and knowledgeable tour
Thank you for a wonderful experience sharing your knowledge of Kathmandu Durbar square and monkey temple Nilakantha Acharya. I would highly recommend taking this tour by Cordial Trek.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Traveller,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Cordial Trek !!
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and excellent rating! We’re absolutely thrilled to know you had such a memorable experience during your tour with us. It was truly our pleasure to be part of your journey, and your kind words mean a lot to our entire team. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable adventure soon.
Best regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
C
Curiosity62720043777
September 21, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Busy half day tour covering what we wanted.
We did a private tour which was a good half day and fulfilled our wishes. Our guide was helpful, kind, and knowlegeable but sometimes we had to repeat ourselves as he did not fully understand our questions.
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Traveller,
Namaste and warm greetings from the Cordial Trek team!
We were so happy to receive your kind words. It was an honor to serve you and arrange your recent tour. We look forward to the next opportunity to create more wonderful travel memories with you.
Thank you for trusting Cordial Trek with your travel plans.
Best regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
G
G8573BIstephanied
September 20, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience with Nilakantha!
My guide Nilakantha Acharya was great. He fully catered the tour to what I wanted to see and took plenty of pictures of me. Highly recommend him!
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Stephanie,
Namaste and Warm Greetings from Cordial Trek !!
Thank you so much for your delightful feedback with an exceptional five-star rating. Your generous words are a true inspiration to our entire team. It brings us immense joy to learn that your tour with Nilakantha was such a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Providing you with an unforgettable journey in Nepal was our distinct pleasure, and your appreciation of our dedication is truly cherished. We sincerely hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon. Thank you for entrusting Cordial Trek with your travel plans.
Best regards,
The Cordial Trek Team
A
alexmR7482GV
June 16, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Tailor-made Daytour
The local guide was very friendly and always eager to fulfill special requests. The driver was also excellent. The whole tour was really tailor-made, which gave me a deep insight into the culture and life in Kathmandu.
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
Dear Alex,
Namaste and warm greetings from Cordial Trek !!
We are profoundly grateful for your delightful feedback and the exceptional five-star rating. Your generous words are a true inspiration to our entire team. It brings us immense joy to learn that your tour with us was such a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Providing you with an unforgettable journey in Nepal was our distinct pleasure, and your appreciation of our dedication is truly cherished. We sincerely hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon. Thank you for entrusting Cordial Trek with your travel plans.
Kind regards,
Biraj Sharma Adhikari
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