KTM · 27.70° N · 85.32° E · Nepal
Nepal's temple filled capital, where both our Nepal holidays begin, and the gateway to Pokhara, Nagarkot and the Himalaya.
Both of our Nepal holidays start in Kathmandu. Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) serves the city, and Nepal also has international airports at Pokhara and near Lumbini.
Seven groups of monuments in the valley are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, and the Hindu temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. At the stupas, walk clockwise with the pilgrims, a practice called kora.
On a clear day the valley rim at Nagarkot looks out to the snow peaks of the Himalaya. Kathmandu is also where treks begin and where flights leave for Pokhara and Lukla.
Entry rules for Nepal depend on your passport and can change. Check the official sources below before you book and again before you travel. Nepal's Department of Immigration runs an official online visa form: use only the government's own website.
See your doctor or a travel clinic a few weeks before you go. Take care with food and water, protect yourself from mosquito bites and use sun protection. If you plan to trek at altitude, say so, and keep an eye on air quality in the valley.
Nepal's currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR). Carry cash for markets, small shops and taxis, and ask your bank what your card costs to use abroad.
General information only, not legal or medical advice. Rules change, so check the official source before you travel.
Checked on 14 October 2026
October and November, after the monsoon, and March and April, before it, are dry and mild. December to February is dry, but nights can fall close to freezing. About 65% of the year's rain falls from June to September.
See your doctor or a travel clinic several weeks before you go. Take care with food and water, guard against insect bites, and mention any trekking plans, as altitude illness is a risk on high treks. Air quality in the valley can be poor, so check local reports while you are there.
Checked on 14 October 2026
Clockwise. Buddhist pilgrims usually walk around a sacred site in a clockwise direction, a practice called kora, and you will see it at Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, so join the flow of people going that way.
The Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site has seven groups of monuments: the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath stupas, and the Hindu temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan. All seven are in the valley around the city.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) serves Kathmandu. Nepal also has international airports at Pokhara and near Lumbini.
It depends on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the official sources on this page before you book, and again shortly before you travel, as rules can change. The Nepal Tourism Board explains how tourist visas are issued, and Nepal's Department of Immigration runs an official online visa form.
Checked on 14 October 2026
October and November, after the monsoon, and March and April, before it, are usually the most comfortable months, with mostly dry, mild weather. December to February is also dry but cold at night, while most of the year's rain falls from June to September.
