A short distance from the hotels, you will find a lot of shops, restaurants and bars in the narrow streets of Thamel. There are many markets that sell metal handicrafts, colorful jewelry and other souvenirs from Nepal.

Durbar squares are areas located is front of palaces and there are three famous ones in and around Kathmandu. All three Durbar squares are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and consist of traditional art and architecture in the form of temples, idols, open courts, water fountains and more. Before the unification of Nepal, Nepal consisted of small kingdoms, and Durbar Squares are the most prominent remnants of those old kingdoms in Nepal.

Take a one hour flight from Kathmandu to get the most beautiful panoramic view of the Himalayas, including an up close view of Mount Everest. The most popular flight is the early morning flight on Buddha Air and you can find more information here.

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, a Tibetan monastery, museum and library. Swayambhunath stupa is also called the `Monkey Temple' because of the many hundreds of monkeys who scamper about the temple at night. According to legend, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. Swayambhu is believed to have been born out of the lotus.

This is an excellent place to get panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley.

Surrounded by hills and mountains, there is no shortage of hiking trails in and around Kathmandu Valley. Below are some helpful links for planning short hikes close to Kathmandu.

1) 5 Short Hikes Around Kathmandu

2) One Day Hikes Around Kathmandu

Nagarkot has a reputation as the top spot for enjoying Himalayan views. This trip can be done in one day. However, to view the mountain ranges in sunrise or sunset, it is recommended to stay overnight. Nagarkot also offers some excellent hiking options.

Recommended Hotel: Hotel Mystic Mountain

Dhulikhel is a similar trip as Nagarkot, however the roads are a little better to traverse. Similar to Nagarkot, this trip will take 1 full day. To view sunrise, it is recommended to stay in a hotel / resort for the night.

Recommended Hotel: Himalayan Horizon or Dwarikas Resort

A beautiful three-hour ride from Kathmandu, The Last Resort is located on top of a river gorge close to the Tibetan border. The resort offers a variety of activities such as bungy jumping over a 160m high tropical gorge, canyon swing and tandem swing.

The accommodations at this resort are in luxury safari tents. If you plan on booking this trip, keep in mind that it can get pretty cold during the mornings and nights during December.

Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site, is the first national park in Nepal. It is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and home to rare mammals such as the one-horned rhino and Bengal tigers.

Pokhara is well-known as a starting point for various trekking trail and expeditions in the Annapurna. There is plenty to do in the city that is considered the tourism capital of the country. A short hike to Sarangkot is highly recommended, with magnificent views of astounding sunsets, sunrise, and of the whole city beneath. Other activities include boating along the Phewa lake, paragliding, zip lining or simply relaxing at the lake with beautiful views of the Annapurna range.

Recommended Hotel: Temple Tree or Shangri La