Kathmandu Travel Guide

Kathmandu is the practical and cultural starting point for most Nepal trips. It combines airport arrivals, trek preparation, UNESCO heritage sites, local markets, monasteries, temples, and easy day trips into the surrounding valley.

Kathmandu works well at the beginning of almost every Nepal route because it handles international arrivals, permits, guides, domestic flight connections, and cultural orientation. It also works as a buffer after Lukla flights or before safari and Pokhara extensions.

One full day is enough for a focused heritage overview, two days allows a better pace across Kathmandu, Patan, and Boudhanath, and three days works well if you want nearby viewpoints, food walks, or buffer time before a trek.