Reception on arrival in Tribhuvan International airport, Kathmandu. Then transfer to a hotel. Welcome drink will be served upon arrival at the hotel. Rest of the time is free. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Swoyambhu: a stupa situated on the hill of the west of Kathmandu, is one of the most venerable places for Buddhist people of Kathmandu valley. The stupa is dated back to the 4th century AD. Today the shrine is accompanied by different temples, monasteries and chaityas. A historical part of Kathmandu is Kathmandu Darbar square. It is almost the center of Kathmandu city during medieval times. It is lavishly adorned with pagoda style temples. It was a center of power till one of the kings of the Shah Dynasty, King Prithivi Bir Birkram Shah, moved in his new palace at the end of 19th century. In the south of this palace, a sector named Jhhochen is an old touristic area renowned in 70’s and 80’s for hippies that left a mark in the history of Nepalese tourism. The ancient markets in the center of the city also hold tales of its past history and glory. Continuing towards the north, we traverse the upper part of the medieval town and reach a touristic area, known as Thamel today. Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we visit Pashupatinath. This is a temple venerated for the protection of cattle and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Pashu means animals, pati denotes “master” and Nath signifies “protector” is the god who protects all cattle. The temple is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindu people from around the world. The temple premise is also known for its ghats (open crematorium on the bank of the rivers) where people terminate their life. Afternoon we visit Baudha. Most probably it is the biggest stupa of Nepal, known as Baudha today, is called Khasti Chaitya which means stupa constructed with water from mist. This was the nearest village from the city of Kathmandu on the way to Lhasa. So, a lot of people from Tibet during the period of Chinese annexation of Tibet, settled around the stupa and constructed a number of Buddhist monasteries with their own architecture. Thus, we can see the Himalayan or Tibetan influence in the sector. Overnight in Baudha, Kathmandu.

In the morning drive to Thimi. This is a small town of pottery. Most of the people from this city practice agriculture and pottery. So, large number of productions of pottery of this town are sold all over Nepal. This city lies in the center of Kathmandu valley’s three big cities. Thus it is called Madhyapur in Sanskrit that signifies center city. Then we visit Bhaktapur. The real name of this town is Khwopa, the name derives from Khopingra. Once it was a village in the beginning of our era. In the beginning of the medieval period it developed into a city and in the 13th century it became a capital of Nepal until the division of Kingdoms. The city has preserved its architecture from the medieval period. Almost all the road of this town is paved in bricks once but today replaced by stone. The city is well known for wood carvings where its ancient palace, doors and windows of each houses are intricately carved. Overnight in Bhaktapur.

Drive to Dhulikhel from Bhaktapur. Like Kathmandu, Patan, Thimi, Bhaktapur and other towns and villages of the Kathmandu valley, this is also a city of Newa people. The town is known to house the Kathmandu University’s headquarter and tourism from where we can have a vista of the Himalayas with a paddy valley. This small town is also adorned with pagoda styles temples. After visiting Dhulikhel we continue drive to Namobuddha (opt. by foot for 3 hours). This is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists where Prince Mahasatva sacrificed himself to nourish a starving tigress and her recently born five cubs. This site is situated on the top of the hill from where 360° of view can be observed. It is believed that the stupa of this site contains a relic of Prince Mahasatva. So, many people come to light 108 butter or oil lamps in the name of deceased souls in their family. In the same hill a Kagyulin monastery named Thrangu Tashi Yangtse occupy a large area where hundreds of monks reside. Here we visit the monastery and the holy site. Overnight in Namobuddha.

After breakfast we commence our day from easy hiking to Sunthan that will take approximately 2hours. Then drive to Panauti and visit this small medieval commercial town. Today the town is more popular in cultural and religious points of view than commercial although people from surrounding villages come here to sell their agricultural production. Panauti is the name derive from Punyavati River that crosses the town. The city also possesses Temple of Indreswore dated 13th century. Legendry, it is believed that once Indra released from his sin of adultery, he built this temple in honor of God Shiva. After visiting this town, we drive to Patan. Overnight at a hotel in Patan.

Morning visit Patan Darwar Square, Hiranyavarna Mahavihara, Rudravarna Mahavihara and Mahaboudha temple in Patan. Another name of Patan is Lalitpur which means the city of fine arts. So, the town is well known for its metal sculpture. Sculptors and architects from this town were moved to the north and east of Nepal during the medieval period in an invitation from different kingdoms. Still today lot of Chinese people come to buy metal statues in this city. This is the town adorned with hundreds of monasteries with its own architecture of the valley and was the center of Buddhist education in medieval times. Hiranyavarna mahavihara (Golden monastery) is one of the chef d’oeuvres of this city as well as Mahabouddha temple with thousands of statues of Buddha in terracotta. Afternoon visit Bungmati. This is a small town situated 7 km on the south of Patan city. The town is known for wood carving and almost all the people practice agriculture. As we found a stele of 7th century AD, the history of this town goes back to the ancient times. It is believed that the temple of Machhindranath in the center of the town goes back to the 7th century AD but the architecture belongs to the 17th century. This is the town badly hit by the 2015 earthquake. After visit of this small town, we go to Khokana by foot. This is a neighboring town of Bungamati, known for its rapeseed oil production in a traditional way. This town possesses a temple of Rudrayani in the center. Overnight in Patan.