Most hikers and climbers who travel to Nepal want to reach their destination as soon as possible. This is a pity, because the Kathmandu Valley has more to offer than just an overnight stay in the capital to recover from the long flight.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. Meanwhile, this city has grown into a real metropolis. The national airport is also located here.
From our country the flight takes about 12.5 hours. This includes a stopover in, for example, Abu Dhabi. Do not forget that it is still very busy at Schiphol and delays are still a daily occurrence. In the passenger rights delays and cancellations you can find when you are entitled to compensation.
Kathmandu has plenty of historical sights. A visit to the central temple square Durbar Square and the Buddhist stupas of Bodnath and Swayambunath are certainly worthwhile. On the riverbank you will find the Hindu sanctuary of Pashupatinath.
The Kathmandu Valley
Besides the capital Kathmandu, there are other towns and villages in the valley that are definitely worth visiting.
One is Patan, the second city of the Kathmandu Valley. It is the oldest city of Nepal. Here too you will find a beautiful temple square. Be sure to visit the museum of Patan.
The medieval city of Bhaktapur is on the Unesco World Heritage List. The city is largely car-free. In the old center you can stroll around the markets and along the various temples in the city. On the many squares you will also see many potters who practice their craft.
The Kathmandu Valley is also perfect for hiking. Near the village of Nagarkot on the edge of the valley, you can make beautiful walks. The best time to do this is in spring when the sky is clearest. You can then enjoy a fabulous sunrise over the mountains.
From here you can also walk on to Dhulikhel. The very colorful terrace fields are interspersed with idyllic villages. In the background you can always see the snowy peaks of the Himalayas.
The village of Dhulikhel was in earlier times the center of woodcarving. It is situated on a hill from where you have a beautiful view of the surrounding terraced fields. You can make beautiful walks there. In this area is also the temple complex of Changu Narayan. Unfortunately, this is heavily damaged in the earthquake of 2015.
As you can see there is a lot to see in this region. Think about this before you travel straight to the trek to Annapurna Base Camp or Base Camp Everest.