Asia
Nepal
Where Buddhism and Hinduism share the same street
I design stops in the Kathmandu Valley where the temples aren't just for looking: newar family kitchens, monasteries in active practice, and an aarati at sunset by the river.
The Kathmandu Valley concentrates, within a radius of a few kilometers, some of the best-preserved historic cities in the Himalayas: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur were independent kingdoms for centuries, and each developed its own tradition of woodcarving, metalwork, and temple architecture. It's also one of the few places in the world where Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism actively coexist in the same space — in Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, a few minutes apart, you can go from prayer flags and Buddhist prayer wheels to the daily ritual on the banks of the Bagmati. It's a destination of short, dense days, that pairs well with another country in the region, with the option to add trekking in Annapurna or wildlife in Chitwan for those wanting to extend the trip.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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Newar cooking class in a Patan family home
Learn to prepare momo, chatamari, or bara in a newar family's kitchen in Patan, then dine with them on what you cooked.
View experience: Newar cooking class in a Patan family home
In one of Patan's local newar homes, the family welcomes travelers and invites them to take part in preparing one of their traditional dishes — momo (steamed dumplings), chatamari (a kind of newari "pizza"), or bara (lentil-based) — before sharing a full newari meal together, including the dish cooked during the class.
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Dawn puja with the monks of Neydo Monastery
A transfer to the outskirts of Kathmandu to take part, early in the morning, in the daily ritual of the Neydo monastery monks.
View experience: Dawn puja with the monks of Neydo Monastery
On the outskirts of Kathmandu, Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery is home to around 200 resident monks of the Tibetan Kagyu lineage. Early in the morning, you can attend the daily puja ritual in the main temple, dedicated to Avalokiteshvara (the Buddha of compassion) and Mahakala (a protective deity) — an ongoing practice, not a performance for visitors.
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The Kumari, Kathmandu's living goddess
In Kathmandu's Durbar Square, the chance to see the Kumari appear at one of the windows of her inner courtyard.
View experience: The Kumari, Kathmandu's living goddess
Facing the Temple of the Living Goddess, in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, there is a chance to see the Kumari appear at one of the windows overlooking the inner courtyard — a prepubescent girl, chosen by strict ritual criteria, venerated as the living embodiment of the goddess Taleju for the duration of her role. It's one of the most singular living religious traditions in Nepali Hinduism, and it happens only in this very specific corner of the valley.
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Tasting dinner at Krishnarpan restaurant
A slow Nepali cuisine tasting menu at Krishnarpan, the flagship restaurant of the Dwarika's Hotel.
View experience: Tasting dinner at Krishnarpan restaurant
Krishnarpan, the exclusive restaurant of the Dwarika's Hotel, offers slow Nepali cuisine tasting menus — from six to twenty-two courses — made with produce from the hotel's own organic farms, as a journey through Nepal's kitchens, communities, and regions.
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Sunset Aarati ceremony at Pashupatinath
The Aarati ceremony on the banks of the Bagmati River, facing Kathmandu's oldest Hindu temple.
View experience: Sunset Aarati ceremony at Pashupatinath
One of the valley's most moving rituals: the sunset Aarati ceremony, on the banks of the Bagmati River, facing the Pashupatinath temple — Kathmandu's oldest Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva — with the temple lit up and the river dividing the scene between the sanctuary and the ritual itself.
Itinerary ideas
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5 days
Essential Nepal: the Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur
View itinerary idea: Essential Nepal: the Kathmandu Valley
Five days concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley, based in the capital: the three royal cities — Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur — each with its own Durbar Square and its own craft tradition; the valley's great Buddhist and Hindu sanctuaries, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, just minutes apart; and an afternoon at an active monastery on the outskirts, to see Tibetan Buddhism practiced, not just visited. It closes with a Nepali cuisine tasting dinner on the final night.
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12 days
Nepal on Foot: Annapurna
Kathmandu and trekking through the Annapurna region
View itinerary idea: Nepal on Foot: Annapurna
A couple of days in Kathmandu to acclimatize and visit the valley before flying to Pokhara, gateway to Annapurna. From there, a long week of trekking through mountain teahouses — Gurung and Magar villages, terraced farmland, rhododendron forests depending on the season — with nights in simple village lodges, not tents. The pace is set by altitude, not the clock: moderate walking days, with views of the eight-thousanders as the reward at every lookout. It closes again in Pokhara, with a day with nothing planned facing Phewa Lake before returning to Kathmandu.
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11 days
Complete Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan
Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara's lake and mountains, Chitwan jungle
View itinerary idea: Complete Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan
Three distinct sides of Nepal in a single trip, with no demanding trekking: days of temples and royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley; lake-and-mountain scenery in Pokhara, with Annapurna as the backdrop and the most relaxed pace of the whole route; and a finale in the subtropical jungle of Chitwan, with walking, canoe, and jeep safaris in search of the one-horned rhinoceros and, with luck, the Bengal tiger, with nights at a lodge inside or beside the park. Three landscapes of Nepal — Himalaya, valley, and lowland — none left half-explored.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Nepal?
In October and November and in March and April, with clear skies and outside the June to September monsoon. The Nepal Tourism Board points to spring and autumn as the best seasons and to the clearest skies after the monsoon. You can travel all year, but the route changes with the season.
Do I need a visa to travel to Nepal with a Spanish passport?
Yes, a visa is required. You can obtain it at the Nepalese Embassy in Madrid, on arrival at Kathmandu airport or at land border crossings. The passport must be valid for six months and have at least two blank pages. As of November 2026 that is what Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs states; confirm fees and timings at the official source.
What health precautions should I take before travelling to Nepal?
The main one is typhoid fever: Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that the risk to travellers in Nepal is among the highest in the world and that prior vaccination is essential. Depending on the season, other vaccines may be recommended. Book an appointment at your international vaccination centre in good time. As of November 2026.
What language and currency are used in Nepal?
The official language is Nepali, and English is widely spoken in tourism, so with hotels, trails and guides you won't have difficulty communicating. The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR). If you pay for the visa on arrival, the authorities recommend carrying US dollars in cash.