Tours and Holidays in Nepal
Below we are highlighting some of the most famous tours and holidays in Nepal. Due to its mountainous terrain, Nepal offers excellent tour opportunities for trekking and climbing, kayaking, river rafting, and mountain biking, all activities where Nepal excels compared with other destinations around the world.
Tour Highlights
- Go on a jeep safari to spot tigers, leopards and rhinos and see crocodiles and gharials on a boat safari in Chitwan National Park.
- See the Royal Palace and Hindu and Buddhist temples at Basantapur Durbar Square.
- Admire the temple courtyard architecture at Patan.
- Do the iconic Everest Base Camp trek, one of the world’s greatest outdoor adventures.
- Go paragliding above the tranquil lakes in Pokhara.
Travel Tips
- Remove your shoes when entering a temple or someone’s home.
- Use both hands while accepting or giving things.
- Use ‘namaste’ to greet others; ‘namaskar’ is preferred when greeting someone older than you.
- Carry a power bank to charge your devices as power outage is common in some parts of Nepal.
Popular tour types in Nepal
- Nepal private tours: Visit the pretty tea gardens of Ilam in the far east of Nepal; visit Asia’s largest dome-shaped Buddhist stupa, Boudhanath; or see the ancient temples of Panauti on one of our Nepal private tours. Explore this remarkable land at your pace on these tours.
- Nepal guided tours: Experience the best that Nepal has to offer on guided treks to the spectacular and untamed Nar Phu Valley or take a biking trip through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. Guided trips in Nepal are best for navigating your way through challenging and unfamiliar routes.
- Nepal luxury tours: Taste the finest Nepali cuisines, rejuvenate your body and mind in uber-luxurious spas and enjoy a stay at the most exclusive hotels on your higher-end tours in Nepal. These tours could include stays at stunning resorts near Chitwan National Park, breathtaking views of the Himalayas including Mount Everest in a mountain flight and personalized exploration of Kathmandu’s fabulously rich culture.
- Nepal group tours: See the architecture and religious art on display in the Patan Museum, visit Swayambhunath, located atop a hill, for great views of Kathmandu Valley, or go boating on the charming Phewa Lake in Pokhara on our top-rated Nepal group tours.
- Nepal budget tours: For an easy-on-the-wallet but comprehensive exploration of the country, choose from one of our many expertly designed Nepal budget tours. Visit Kathmandu’s famous Pashupatinath temple, enjoy Bandipur’s beautiful village architecture and serene countryside walks, and see elephants and crocodiles at Bardiya National Park on these low-priced Nepal tours.
- Nepal customized trips: If you are looking to design your own tour and craft your itinerary, our local experts will help you do that through our innovative Nepal customized trips. Whether you want to taste the best local cuisine in Kathmandu Valley, catch a glimpse of Nepal’s little living goddess, or go river rafting in Trishuli River, we have got you covered.
Activity-based Nepal tours
- Trekking tours: Trekking is one of the most popular activities in Nepal. Home to Mount Everest, Island Peak, Mera Peak, Lobuche East, Chulu West, Pisang, Dhampus Peak and Mount Amadablam, Nepal is a trekkers paradise. A wide range of trekking difficulties means both amatuer and expert trekkers can get their fill. Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Base Camp and Manaslu are some of the most sought-after trekking routes in Nepal.
- Rafting tours: With many great white water rivers, rafting is one of the most popular water sports in Nepal. Here, you can get your dose of adrenaline whether you are a novice or an experienced rafter. Bhote Koshi, Sun Koshi, Trishuli, Karnali and the Kali Gandaki rivers are popular spots for rafting in Nepal.
- Adventure tours: Adventure is almost synonymous with Pokhara. Due to its unique landscape, it is one of the best destinations in Nepal to go paragliding, bungee jumping, skydiving and more. Try out these adventure tours in Nepal for an experience of a lifetime.
- Mountain bike tours: There are many mountain biking routes in Nepal including in Kathmandu and Pokhara. But if you are looking for a challenging trail, then you should try the magical routes in Annapurna Circuit trek and Upper Mustang.
- Wildlife tours: The grasslands of Nepal’s lowlands are natural habitats of endangered animals and unique plants—ideal for thrilling wildlife tours. See rare orchids and dozens of exotic species of birds at Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, or spot the delightful Ganges river dolphins and red-crowned roof turtles at the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. These wildlife tours in Nepal are great for getting a taste of the wonderful natural diversity in the country.
- Sightseeing tours: Hindu and Buddhist temples, Newari architecture and medieval palaces make it a dream destination for sightseeing tours in Nepal. Stroll through the city square of Bhaktapur, see the stunning World Peace Pagoda at Lumbini, explore the impressive 16th-century palace and temples in Gorkha, and visit the important Hindu Janaki temple in Janakpur.
Popular durations for a Nepal trip
To cover the key cultural landmarks in the Kathmandu Valley, see Pokhara and do one wildlife safari, you will need at least five to seven days. In 10 days, you can add sites like Bandipur and Lumbini. You will need at least 12 days for treks like Everest Base Camp. We highly recommend a two-week itinerary while traveling in Nepal.
Nepal tours — Top destinations to visit
- Trek the amazing Everest Base Camp: The trek to Everest Base Camp is one of the world’s most exciting adventures one could have. The Everest Base Camp is situated at the height of 5,364 meters. The 15-day traditional or classic trek is the most popular route starting from Lukla. But you can also start the trek from Jiri or try the more challenging Three Passes route. The best time to trek to the region is from March to May and September to November.
- Follow the trail to Annapurna Base Camp: The 13-day Annapurna Base Camp trek is less intense than the Everest Base Camp trek but offers equally incredible views of the Himalayan peaks. You will cross ancient kingdoms, breathtaking mountain vistas, stunning glaciers, pristine rivers, and natural hot springs in this trek. September to November is the best season to do this trek. Chances of rain are less, the skies are mostly clear and temperatures are moderate. March to May is also a good time for the trek, but be careful of avalanches.
- View the wildlife in Chitwan National Park: Nepal’s oldest wildlife sanctuary, Chitwan National Park is home to many wild animals and Unesco World Heritage Site. Discover the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinoceros and Gharial crocodile on a safari trip. If you are planning to spend multiple days here, you can spend the night in watchtowers called Machans to spot the park’s inhabitants at night.
- Visit the popular sites in Lumbini: A Unesco World Heritage Site, Lumbini holds immense spiritual importance as it is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. A large number of Buddhist devotees travel here every year. But even people of different faiths can enjoy the artistic treasures here, including the beautiful stupas, temples and sculptures.
- Explore the ancient landmarks in Kathmandu: A holiday to Kathmandu valley is bound to be a great one as it has seven UN World Heritage Sites. The Durbar squares in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur will give you a taste of the history, art and culture of the three cities that together make the Kathmandu Valley. The holy sites such as Pashupatinath and Boudhanath are perfect for the religiously inclined. Another famous Buddhist site to visit is the Swayambhunath Stupa or the ‘Monkey Temple,’ which sits atop a hill. From here, you can get a sweeping panorama of the valley.
- Try adventure sports in Pokhara: Home to many lakes, caves and extensive water system, Pokhara is a haven for nature lovers. Add adventure sports and you have a recipe for an ideal holiday destination. Whether you want to take a stroll around Fewa Lake, visit Peace Pagoda, go on a mountain bike ride or head down a river on a paddle boat, you are bound to have a great time in the lake city.
Peak season and low season tours in Nepal
- Peak Season: October and November are the best time to visit Nepal. The dry weather and moderate temperatures in autumn make it ideal for trekking and mountaineering. This is also a great time to explore cultural sites like Patan and Bhaktapur, spend some lazy days by the lake in Pokhara, and go on a wild adventure in the jungle of Terai.
- Low Season: July and August are the low season months for tourism in Nepal, typically coinciding with the peak monsoon season. You can consider traveling in the rainy season if you are on a budget, do not want to deal with crowds, or do not intend to embark on an ambitious Himalayan trek.
Popular Nepal trip travel guide
If you are planning a trip to Nepal, you will want to know about the best time to visit Nepal as well as check out all the available Nepal tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Nepal. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Nepal, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Nepal. We generally recommend to stay at least 7 days in Nepal, but to get the most out of your trip to Nepal you can stay 10 days in Nepal or more.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Nepal. If you are in doubt, check all our Nepal tours at the top of this page.
Nepal is an amazing country to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our “Nepal travel guide” which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Nepal.