• Swayambhunath - Embarking on a journey to the Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Swayambhunath is a quintessential experience in Kathmandu. Known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ due to the presence of numerous monkeys, it majestically overlooks the city from a high hilltop. This site is a captivating blend of Buddhist and Hindu symbols. Despite the 2015 earthquake, Kathmandu’s beloved temple remained standing, although some peripheral structures were damaged.

Visitors have referred to it as “Monkey Temple” since the 1970s due to its challenging name. Swayambhu offers a panoramic view of the valley, showcasing its beauty. The stupa has been a symbol of faith and unity for centuries, integrating Hindu temples and deities within this Buddhist site. The glory of the Kathmandu Valley is believed to have originated here.

Located on a hillock 3 km west of Kathmandu, Swayambhu is one of Nepal’s holiest Buddhist stupas. It is said to have formed spontaneously when the valley emerged from a primordial lake over 2,000 years ago. This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal, surrounded by numerous shrines and monasteries.

Legend tells that the Kathmandu valley was once a lake, with Swayambhu hill as an island. Atop this hill stood a natural crystal stupa. Buddha, upon visiting, declared it a wish-fulfilling stupa, granting liberation to those touched by the wind passing over it.

Swayambhu means “self-existent one” and is believed to date back to 460 A.D., built by King Manadeva. By the 13th century, it had become a significant center of Buddhism. According to legend, Swayambhu emerged from a lotus flower that bloomed in a lake that once covered the Kathmandu Valley. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is situated on a high pedestal on Swayambhu’s western boundary, near the Ring Road. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswati, the Goddess of learning. The stupa complex is filled with chaityas, statues, and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities. The base of the hill is almost entirely encircled by prayer wheels and deities, with devotees constantly circumambulating the stupa.

The steep stone steps leading to the shrine present quite a challenge, but there is also a motor road that goes almost to the top, from where it’s a short walk. A large number of Buddhists and Hindus visit Swayambhu throughout the day. This shrine is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. The largest crowds gather here on Buddha’s birthday, usually in May each year.

• Natural History Museum - The Natural History Museum of Nepal is located at the base of the Swayambhu stupa, a world heritage site on the western hillock of the Kathmandu valley. Swayambhu hillock is renowned not only for its cultural, religious, and historical significance in the Kathmandu valley but also as a famous site for early plant hunters in Nepal.

The museum’s extensive specimen collection is a treasure trove of Nepal’s biodiversity. It houses 14,843 specimens of butterflies and moths, 4,142 beetles, 1,464 dragonflies, and 1,604 other insects. Additionally, it contains six specimens of lower chordates, 890 fish, 107 amphibians, 390 reptiles, and 1,194 birds. The museum’s mammalian specimens total 225, along with 22 skeleton specimens, 964 fossils, and animal body parts. The museum also features 107 plastic-clay models and 74 rock and mineral models. Equally impressive is the museum’s botanical and mycological collection, including algae (124), fungi and mushrooms (2,320), lichens (61), bryophytes (1,124), pteridophytes (507), gymnosperms (163), and angiosperms (5,034).

The museum also showcases a specimen of the spiny babbler, Nepal’s only endemic bird species, and a specimen of the golden pheasant, an exotic bird from China. A specimen of the Atlas moth, the largest moth species in the world, is also on display.

The museum is now the only place to see a specimen of the mouse deer (Indian chevrotain), believed to be extinct in Nepal. Among its unusual specimens are an eight-legged goat embryo, a four-legged chick, and a two-headed snake.

The museum also holds relics from the country’s prehistoric times, including a fossilized skull of the Archidiskodon, a species of elephant that roamed the Sivalik Hills of Nepal. Another ancient specimen is the molar teeth of Sivapithecus, a hominoid. The skull and teeth are believed to be around 3 million and 8-10 million years old, respectively.

• Amideva Buddha Park - This site, frequented by Tibetan pilgrims, features three enormous golden statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, a four-armed Chenresig, and Guru Rinpoche, constructed in 2003.

The three massive golden statues dominate the small Buddha Park, gazing over visitors’ heads towards the mountains in western Kathmandu. Their expressions remain enigmatic, yet they glint in the sunlight, perhaps with a twinkle in their eyes.

Looking up at the statues might strain your neck; they are large and sit atop small flights of steps that elevate them further. The statues are in traditional style, with distinctive faces, gentle hands, delicate robes, and two adorned with ornate crowns and lavish jewelry. Guru Rinpoche (an Indian Buddhist master) sits on the right, the Buddha Maitreya (future Buddha) on the left, and Buddha himself in the middle. These statues are undoubtedly the main attraction, but there’s more to explore here.

Behind the statues, there’s a slightly unusual concrete mountain adorned with small golden Buddha statues. It resembles a miniature representation of the Himalayas, complete with little stepped paths, mountain huts, and a temple house. It features mini mani stones and lush green vegetation, adding plenty of color. Animals roam the upper slopes, and a flag sits at the top.

• Kathmandu - Explore ancient temples and monuments in the valley of the Gods, where Hinduism and Buddhism coexist harmoniously. Discover the myths and legends that have shaped Nepali lifestyles for centuries.

Enjoy traditional Newari cuisine cooked in wood ovens as you wander through the charming alleys around the Durbar Squares of the three cities in the Kathmandu Valley: Bhaktapur, Patan, and Kathmandu.

Purchase handicrafts from artisans who continue to work according to ancient traditions. Admire the exquisite architecture and woodcarvings of Newar craftsmen, whose artistic brilliance is showcased in the temples and monuments built centuries ago across the three cities.

• Boudhanath Stupa - Take a morning or evening stroll around the inspiring white dome, buzzing with energy. Observe the devout people circumambulating, light a butter lamp, say a prayer, browse for souvenirs, or enjoy the view from a rooftop restaurant with a hot cup of coffee. Boudha is always vibrant.

Located 8 km east of downtown Kathmandu, Boudha is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most prominent landmarks in Kathmandu. Visible upon landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, it is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley.

The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudha is massive and dominates the area’s skyline. With numerous monasteries surrounding it, Boudha is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

Built in the shape of a mandala to replicate Tibet’s Gyangtse, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. Its location is significant, as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet, where Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for centuries. It is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists worldwide.

According to legend, the king built the stupa as an act of penance after accidentally killing his father. The first stupa was destroyed by Mughal invaders in the 14th century, so the current stupa is a more recent construction.

The highly symbolic construction serves as a three-dimensional reminder of the Buddha’s path to enlightenment. The plinth represents earth, the kumbha (dome) is water, the harmika (square tower) is fire, the spire is air, and the umbrella at the top is the void or ether beyond space. The 13 levels of the spire represent the stages a human must pass through to achieve nirvana.

Stupas were originally built to house holy relics, and some claim that Boudhanath contains relics of the past Buddha, Kashyapa, while others say it holds a piece of bone from Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. Around the stupa’s base are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha (108 is an auspicious number in Tibetan culture) and a ring of prayer wheels, set in groups of four or five into 147 niches.

To reach the upper level of the plinth, look for the gateway at the north end of the stupa, beside a small shrine dedicated to Hariti (Ajima), the goddess of smallpox. The plinth is open from 5 am to 6 pm (till 7 pm in summer), offering a raised viewpoint over the tide of pilgrims around the stupa. Note the devoted individuals prostrating themselves full-length on the ground in the courtyard on the east side of the stupa.

• Kopan Monastery - Situated on a hill north of Boudha, Kopan Gumba is a popular monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. Each year, many foreigners visit to study Buddhism and meditation. Kopan Monastery was founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe, who passed away in 1984. Interestingly, a young Spanish boy named Osel Torres was declared his reincarnation, though he no longer resides at Kopan.

Home to 360 monks, lamas, teachers, and workers, the monastery welcomes individuals from all over Nepal and Tibet, ranging in age from seven to sixty. They dedicate their lives to studying and practicing the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, with a focus on the teachings of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug Lineage.

Visitors from around the world come to attend courses and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere for study and practice.

Kopan is committed to helping all beings develop their full potential of infinite wisdom and compassion, as taught by its founder, Lama Thubten Yeshe, and spiritual director Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Kopan Monastery is affiliated with the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an organization dedicated to transmitting the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation, and community service. FPMT provides integrated education to transform people’s minds and hearts into their highest potential for the benefit of others, inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility.

Popular Courses:

Discover Buddhism: The Discover Buddhism courses offer an overview of Tibetan Buddhist principles and meditations in the form of the Lam Rim, the complete path to Enlightenment. They are available as ten-day or seven-day courses. The ten-day course includes a two-day silent retreat, ideal for gaining meditation experience in a supportive environment. Alternatively, the 7-day course may better suit your schedule. Additionally, some 5-day courses are available for those with limited time.

The Next Step: The Next Step is a program of intermediate courses designed to explore topics covered in the standard ten-day introductory courses in more detail. It is suitable for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of essential topics in the Buddha’s teachings, particularly the teachings on the lam-rim, the stages of the path to enlightenment, as set out in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Daily Dharma Talks: Daily Dharma talks are offered during Private Stay times when no course or event is scheduled.

November Courses: The course is based on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, forming a complete and gradual spiritual path (Lam Rim) leading to ultimate happiness and enlightenment. By cultivating awareness of our present conditions, we gain an understanding of the nature of our dissatisfaction and unhappiness, their causes, and how to overcome them. We can then direct our energy to deal more effectively with any situation, positive or negative. Many ideas presented may be new and sometimes contrary to Western beliefs. We request you to come with an open mind and a willingness to analyze, question, and contemplate the teachings and your own beliefs. Please read the extensive information below before booking this course. More detailed information will be available in May.

FPMT Basic Program

Retreats: The purpose of retreat is to deepen the understanding of Dharma through intensive contemplation and integration into one’s mind stream in a quiet place. Undisturbed by worldly activity, the mind can turn inward and explore our inner world.

According to legend, the king built the stupa as an act of penance after accidentally killing his father. The first stupa was destroyed by Mughal invaders in the 14th century, so the current stupa is a more recent construction.

• Pulhaari Gumba - After reaching Kopan Monastery, consider walking along the ridge to visit Phulhari Monastery, which sits on a hill higher than Kopan. The hike takes less than an hour. Between the two is the Vajrayan Monastery. Phulhari is worth visiting for the stunning Thangka paintings that adorn the entire facade and interiors of the halls. The building was designed by an American architect/Buddhist monk who combined the best of Eastern and Western architecture. Even the paintings lean towards more pastel colors rather than the bright colors usually associated with Tibetan Buddhism.

• Proficient English-speaking tour guide, including their food, accommodation, and salary
• Complimentary Icicles Adventure T-shirt, trekking map, and a certificate of achievement
• Coverage of all government taxes
• Access to all tour activities as outlined in the itinerary
• Air-conditioned transportation
• Payment of all official expenses
• Equipped with a first aid medical kit

• Nepal visa arrangement and International airfare
• Personal expenses such as phone calls, bar bills, laundry, etc)
• Entry fee and tips for guide and driver

Kathmandu Buddhist tour surrounds you by the eternal feeling of peace, enigma and fruitfulness while visiting around various monasteries, stupas.People from all the religion who would like to study, research or learn more about Buddha, Buddhism culture, tradition, rituals and lifestyle can join Nepal Buddhism pilgrimage tour regardless their age and interest. In short you will be sightseeing around Swayambhunath stupa, Kopan monastery, Boudhanath stupa and around Kathmandu valley.
It is not only religious tour but also cultural because it familiarizes you with all the important UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu.
Old-world stupas fascinating structures are also the illustrations of religious harmony that prevails in Nepal. It is truly one of the most awe-inspiring tours of Nepal that is guaranteed to make you fall in love with the country’s facets and ambiance. With Icicles there shall be no room for the tour to get any better!

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.