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Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour

Based on 1501 reviews in trip-advisor

Trip Facts

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Trip Duration 5-6 Hours
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Trip Start & End Point Your Location in Kathmandu/Patan/Bhaktapur
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Trip Difficulty
Easy
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Max. Altitude 2195m
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Destination Bhaktapur & Nagarkot
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Activity Sightseeing tour
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Best Season September to May
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Region Kathmandu
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Nature of Trip Sightseeing tour
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Transportation Private Transportation

Highlights of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot City Tour

  • Historical Bhaktapur Palace Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The residential and administrative complex of the Ancient Kingdom of Kathmandu.
  • 55-Window Palace, is a mesmerizing monument boasting 55 intricately carved traditional wooden windows.
  • Nyatapola, 33 meter /108 ft 5-storied Temple made in Pagoda Style, the tallest Temple in the country.
  • Dattatreya Temple, the only temple in Nepal dedicated to the God Dattatreya who is an incarnation of Devine Trinity in Hindu Religion: Bhramha, Vishnu, Maheshwor(Shiva).
  • Nagarkot Hill station and view tower, an eastern hill station providing breathtaking views of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest, Kathmandu Valley, and surrounding landscape. An escape to the greenery to reconnect with the nature.
  • An opportunity to witness ancient art, culture, tradition, and history of the Bhaktapur city.
  • Beautiful wood carvings, sculptures, and architecture displaying the prowess of ancient artisans and craftsmen.
  • Experts knowledgable guides and impeccable service from Breakfree Adventures.

Trip Overview

Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour is a day tour exploring the beautiful ancient city of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot, an eastern hill station of Kathmandu Valley. The tour incorporates the cultural as well as natural aspects of exploration. Bhaktapur with its ancient palaces, courtyards, ornate temples, and traditional architecture takes explorers back in time. Nagarkot on the other hand is an escape from the hustle of the city. This placid hill station endows tourists with a breathtaking view of the mountain panorama, including Mt. Everest, and a unique perspective on the Kathmandu Valley. Moreover, the greenery and cool breeze on the top of the Nagarkot is a refreshing retreat from the congested alleys of Kathmandu.

The Bhaktapur tour part of the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour takes explorers to visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola, Dattatreya Temple, and the premises. These visiting sites consist of monuments that showcase the ancient Newari architecture, sculptures that display the craftsmanship of the artisans, and historical artifacts that betray the history and culture of its people. Moreover, each of the temples, sculptures, wood carvings, artifacts, and buildings has its own fascinating backstory, that never ceases to amaze the visitors.

After completing the Bhaktapur tour, and visiting the historical complexes of great significance amidst the crowd and noise, who wouldn’t love to reconnect with peaceful nature? Everyone would.

Nagarkot is a hill station situated east of the Kathmandu Valley. A 30-minute drive from Bhaktapur will get you amidst the greenery, with beautiful scenery. Elevated 2175 meters above sea level, the Nagarkot tour takes visitors closer to nature while still not taking them far away from the city. The views from the hill station on a clear day are truly breathtaking. One can witness the tallest peak of the Himalayas from Nagarkot. Visitors can spot Mt. Everest, Mt. Ganesh Himal, Gauri Shanker Himal, and several other peaks of Langtang, Manaslu, Numbur, and Everest Range.

Along with the view of the mountain panorama, tourists can witness the beauty of Kathmandu Valley from a vantage point like no other. A chance to observe the beauty of the valley that is unavailable to those walking in the alleys and palace squares.  Also, the sunrise and sunset view from Nagarkot is one of the best in the valley. You can see the white cloud on the azure sky turn yellow then a golden to dark shade of brown as the sun departs the horizon finishing its duty for the day.

All in all, the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour is a perfect day tour for anyone who loves to explore both the natural and cultural aspects of Kathmandu Valley in a day.


Major Attractions of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

What is Bhaktapur Durbar Square famous for? Well, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, used to be the residential and administration site of the Kings of Bhaktapur. The historical complex is a marvel of ancient culture, architecture, and arts. The Palace Square comprises courtyards, a palace, temples, and many mesmerizing monuments. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a major attraction for anyone that is visiting Bhaktapur City.

One can observe the prowess of the artisans of the Bhaktapur. The monuments, scriptures, and inscriptions mirror the history and inclination of the people of Bhaktapur. Every monument, room in the palace, building, and temple found in the Bhaktapur Durbar palace has its own story. A two-hour tour of Bhaktapur Durbar Palace only, with our expert guide, will reveal to you the mysteries, myths, and arcane stories of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

55-Window Palace

As its name suggests is a palace with 55  Window Palace, with carvings so intricate that it will take onlookers’ breath away. The 55-Window Palace is a prominent building found inside the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, ornate with amazing pieces of woodworking. It is one of the major attractions of the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour.

The windows are a testament to the artistry and deftness of artisans. Each carving and notch inscribed on the wooden frame and windows has its own meaning and relates to the beliefs and traditions.

Nyatapola Temple

Nyatapola is a conspicuous 5-storied temple built on Pagoda-style architecture. The temple was commissioned to be built by Bhupatindra Malla during the early 18th century. Nyatapola is the tallest temple in Nepal with a staggering height of 33 m or 108.20 ft. The temple is adorned with mesmerizing wood carvings all the way to its highest storey.

Nyatapola despite being one of the tallest temples has withstood 4 mega earthquakes, including the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of 2015. Nyatapola temple is restricted to enter for normal people, only people of certain subgroups of the Newar community are allowed to enter the temple. The temple is believed to house a strong local tantric incarnation of the mother goddess.

Dattatreya Temple

Some, 5-10 minutes walk away from the main palace complex, lies Dattatreya Temple. Dattatreya, according to Hindu mythology, is a god who is an incarnation of the Divine trinity Bhramha, Vishnu, and Shiva. It is the only temple in the whole country dedicated to Dattatreya Temple.

The temple unlike others is circular styled also known as mandala-style. The temple is embellished with stone engravings and wood carvings on all its sides. On the front side of the temple is a pillar on top of which one can see a kneeling Garuda. During the Shrawan month of the Nepali calendar Hindu women come to the Dattatreya temple to worship the god Dattatreya.

Pottery Square

Situated south of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square lies this attraction of Bhaktapur city. Where one can observe pieces of pottery being left outside to sunbathe and get rid of moisture along with prepared pieces of clay pots and similar art and crafts of pottery.

Pottery Square also known as “Kumha Twa” is a site where visitors can witness the traditional craft of pottery distinct to Bhaktapur city. The square features pottery studios, workshops, and shops where one can observe the turning the earth into pieces of art and utilities, and buy it as well.

A quick tour of Pottery Square reveals the skills and competence of potters and the skills that have been passed down from the ancient period till now.

Nagarkot Hill Station

Nagarkot is a hill station situated east of Kathmandu Valley. Elevated 2175 meters above the sea level the hill station provides a mesmerizing view of the mountain panorama and the Kathmandu Valley.

It is said that a different perspective on something allows you to observe the beauty of that thing that otherwise remains hidden. The same is the case with Nagarkot hill station. It provides a mesmerizing view of Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding landscape that will let you observe the beauty of Kathmandu Valley.

Surrounded by greenery, Nagarkot is a retreat to peaceful nature from the clangor of the city and the view pleasure is not only limited to the Kathmandu Valley. One can see Mt. Everest from the Nagarkot hill station and other tall peaks of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is: a favorite sunrise and sunset destination for tourists.

Short Itinerary of Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour

Day 1: Bhaktapur and Nagarkot City Tour


Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour Itinerary

1

The Bhaktapur and Nagarkot tour start time depends on your preference for either sunrise, sunset, or general sightseeing. Please let us know your choice, and we can arrange a departure time accordingly.

For sunrise and sightseeing

Hotel Pick Up and Drive to Nagarkot Hill Station 

In the early dawn, our team member will contact you and pick you up from your hotel. You can ask the hotel you are staying in to pack you the breakfast which you can have during the tour. You will be then driven to Nagarkot Hill. The distance of Nagarkot from Kathmandu, Thamel is approximately 30 km of drive will get visitors from Thamel to Nagarkot.

The departure time for sunrise views can vary depending on the seasons and time of the year. During the summer the departure timing can be a bit late in contrast to winters.

Nagarkot Hill Sunrise View and Sightseeing 

At Nagarkot, you will get to the Nagarkot View Tower, from where you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayas, including a chance to spot Mt. Everest, as well as the stunning Kathmandu Valley landscape. As it begins to lighten up, you will get to observe a mesmerizing sunrise over the mountain panorama.

After spending some time enjoying the view, you will have a break for breakfast.

Nagarkot to Bhaktapur Drive: Visit Dattatreya Temple and Nayatapola Temple 

Afterward, you will be driven to Bhaktapur, where the sightseeing tour of Bhaktapur will begin at Dattatreya Temple, followed by a short walk to Nyatapola Temple. You’ll explore the beautiful courtyards, learn about the local history, and enjoy a guided tour of these historic landmarks.

Visit Pottery Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and 55-Window Palace 

Next, you’ll visit Pottery Square, where you can witness traditional pottery-making, and perhaps pick up a souvenir. Following this, you’ll walk to Bhaktapur Durbar Square, where a 2-2.5 hour tour will guide you through the museum, monuments, and the famous 55-Window Palace. You’ll learn about the rich culture, history, and fascinating stories tied to these sites.

Hotel Drop off 

After completing the tour, there will be a lunch break before you are driven back to your hotel, concluding the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour.

For the Day Tour focusing on Sunset View.

For the day tour that focuses on witnessing the sunset from Nagarkot Hill, the tour itinerary will be scheduled in a way that it will take visitors for the exploration of Bhaktapur and subsequently to Nagarkot Hill. The timing of the tour will be scheduled in a way that the visitors will get to observe the sunset from Nagarkot Hill.

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Max Altitude

2,175 m (7,136 ft)
Trip Note:

The time mentioned in the itinerary may vary depending on the seasons (early in summer and late in winter), clients’ preferences, and other external factors that are out of our control. You can call/message us to know more about the suitable timing that works for you.

Includes & Excludes

What is included?

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
  • Guided tour of a UNESCO heritage site: Bhaktapur and beautiful Nagarkot Hill with a private guide.
  • All transfers & city tours by a private vehicle.
  • Professional government-licensed tour guide.
  • Mineral water during the tour.
  • All government and local taxes, VAT.

What is excluded?

  • Monument entrance fees.
  • Any kind of alcoholic drinks, cold beverages/drinks, etc.
  • Tips & Gratuities.
  • Lunch and other meals.
Have a question?
Note:

We also operated private trips.

Trip Information

Bhaktapur City; Its History and Culture Summarized.

Situated in the eastern part of the Valley, Bhaktapur is one of the three ancient Kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley. The city with its rich history, culture, and traditions, is in itself a civilization distinct from other communities found within and outside of the Kathmandu Valley.

It is believed that after the Kathmandu Valley, which according to folklore was a lake before, was drained, Bhaktapur also known as “Khwopa” and “Bhadgaon” locally was the first settlement area. Bhaktapur was an administrative center where rulers of Kathmandu Valley would reside. Up until the 15th century the rulers of the now Kathmandu Valley from different clans (Gopal Clan, Mahisapala Clan, Kirat Clan, Lichhavi Clan, and Malla Clan) resided in Bhaktapur. The period of Lichchhavi Rule was considered a golden era of Bhaktapur, in terms of socio-economic aspects. The tradition and culture were preserved, and temples, courtyards, public rest-houses, and many infrastructure were constructed. Along with that art and culture were also well preserved and promoted during the Lichchhavi Rule.

It was only in the late 15th century that the Kathmandu Valley was divided into 3 smaller Kingdoms; Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. During the Malla Regime, Bhaktapur City also observed radical changes that flourished the culture, art, and tradition. However, after the Bhaktapur was annexed in the 18th century during the Nepal Unification campaign, Bhaktapur was neglected. As Bhaktapur is situated far from the central part of the valley, it was isolated and not cared for by the ruling administration. The mega earthquakes of 1833 and 1934 had a devastating effect on Bhaktapur city, its monuments, temples, courtyard, and canal water supply were damaged, but no reconstruction efforts were shown by the government of that time.

The Rana Regime also had an adverse effect on the city. Rana Roulers demolished many of its ancient monuments in order to build British architecture-inspired modern buildings. Bhaktapur city, which once was a bustling hub for merchants traveling from Tibet, was a neglected and isolated fringe of the Valley. Until the late 20th century, the situation of Bhaktapur city was not as good as it was. It was only after the aid provided by West Germany for the reconstruction that the city was able to metamorphose into the beautiful Bhaktapur that we rejoice now.

The culture likewise is as vivid as it could get. Mostly inhabited by people of the Newar Community, the festivals, traditional processions, jatras, lifestyle, monuments, handicrafts, and arts all serve as evidence that indicates how well flourished and developed the culture of the city is.

If you tour the major cities in the valley, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur, you will experience the difference. How Bhaktapur has still preserved its culture and tradition? How the intrinsic essence of a quintessential Newar locality is still intact.

Each monument, built to praise, impress, and reconcile with Gods, deities, and humans has its own story that our guides are well versed with. Many festivals and Jaatras have their own significance to every people’s belief. Each engraving on the wood and stone has its own deeper meaning than what meets the eye. The city tour to Bhaktapur takes you on an odyssey where you will get to witness and know more about the culture and beliefs that made this city what it is now.


Itinerary Options for the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Tour

There are two itinerary options for the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tours. One itinerary will take you first for the sunrise view at Nagarkot and then to Bhaktapur Tour, where you will spend the rest of the city day tour visiting Bhaktapur Palace Square, 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola, and finally Dattatreya Temple. There will be a lunch break in the afternoon, By the early evening, you will be dropped off at the hotel of your residence.

The second itinerary is focused on a sunset view. The tour begins a bit late and takes you to visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola, and Dattatreya. After exploring the Bhaktapur in the evening you will be driven to Nagarkot for the sunset view.

The itinerary can be tweaked according to your needs and requirements. You might want to time your Nagarkot Tour during sunrise or sunset, which provides you with an amazing view of the valley, surrounding landscape, sky, and mountain panorama. For that, we can make changes accordingly to the itinerary accommodating your requests.

Inquire us to make changes in the itinerary. You can email, call, or message us on WhatsApp to book the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour with an alternative itinerary.


Before you go for the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour

There are some things we would like you to tick off before you go for the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour. Doing and checking the things mentioned below will accentuate your travel experience and obviate the chances of you being in an undesired situation.

  1. Sunscreen, Sunglasses, and Tissues: We suggest travelers use sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and carry tissues. While visiting the designated sites you might get sunburned so sunscreen and sunglasses are highly recommended. Carrying a tissue is also highly recommended.
  2. Clothing: The city tour will take you to religious complexes. So, we request our clients to dress modestly respecting the culture and beliefs of natives. During winter Nagarkot is comparatively cooler than the valley, so wearing warm yet comfortable clothes would be recommended. A sun hat along with a mask is also recommended if the weather forecast predicts a sunny day.
  3. Camera: The Nagarkot and Bhaktapur City Tour takes you to visit beautiful Bhaktapur and Nagarkot. While visiting these sites travelers will come across fascinating architecture, sculptures, woodcarvings, sunrise/sunset, and sightings, which they would love to recall and relive. A camera, be it a smartphone, will be an indispensable gear for capturing the memories of the amazing time you had visiting the site.
  4. Water: Breakfree Adventures will provide the water during the trip. We suggest travelers hydrate themselves as the tour extends to 5-7 hours.
  5. Cash: We highly suggest travelers have sufficient Nepalese Rupee cash with them. As the entry fee to the UNESCO heritage site is excluded from this Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day tour,  it is a good idea to have enough NPR cash with you. You can exchange foreign currency at the hotel you are staying, nearest banks, or at money exchanges near your hotel.
  6. Weather: We recommend that tourers check the weather forecast for the day. It will help determine what to wear and bring for the tour.

Scammers, Pick Pocket and Swindlers

These sites are often filled with officious scammers and swindlers. They might approach and nag you to make you purchase their service and/or product. This can be very irritating and can spoil the whole tour.

Our guides are always with you, in case of such situations our guides will get rid of scammers and swindlers. That is why it is important to have a guide with you.

Also, keep your belongings with yourself in a secure manner. Keep cash, mobile phones, and other valuables in a zipped bag if not in use.


Bhaktapur and Nagarkot City Tour with Breakfree Adventures.

Numerous travel agencies in Kathmandu operate the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour, so why you should book this city day tour with us? Here are the reasons, for you to book the Bhaktapur tour and Nagarkot tour with us.

Experience and Reliability

Breakfree Adventures boasts almost 20 years of experience in arranging travels, tours, and trekking packages for the explorer. Serving clients for almost 20 years gives us an experience providing us an edge over our competitors, we know the nuances and every aspect of curating the best travel package for us.  And you can rely on a 20-year-old company. We are not a horse for long multiple races, we stand accountable for our flaws if there are any.  You can rely on us and our service just like the thousands of people we have served. You can check us on Trip Advisor and read the reviews that speak for us more than anything we can write here. Your Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day tour will indubitably benefit from our experience and will be as smooth and flawless as it could get.

Easy Bookings and Payments

Our booking procedures are made easy for our clients so that there are no long complicated online forms you need to fill out. All you need to do is inquire us via email, WhatsApp, or call us directly. We will then converse with you regarding the booking date and all the necessary information to confirm your booking.

Payments are also easy with us. We accept cards and cash. The charges might occur while paying for the service with cards, clients are responsible for incurring bank charges. Clients can pay in advance, just before the tour, or during the tour.

Same Day Bookings

We offer same-day bookings for our clients. Are you afraid of booking the tour, thinking that it might get canceled? Well, we have the solution. With us, you can book the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot tours with us the same day you are doing it. But make sure that you contact us during the early hours of the same day so that we can arrange everything quickly.

Experts Guides

Every monument you visit has an arcane backstory, fables, and tales, on its origin and existence. Our Guides are well-versed with these fables and stories. You can expect to hear fascinating anecdotes and stories at every site you visit. Our Guides are erudite when it comes to the history of the sites you will be visiting and the culture of the people that inhabit them. As a matter of fact, we request our clients to confound our guides with questions and check their expertise.

The guides themselves are very accommodating, can fluently communicate in English (if you need a guide speaking your language, please contact us in advance), and are cognizant of facts, history, and culture of the places they are touring the visitors.

In addition to that, our guides are trained extensively in customer satisfaction, environmental & social responsibility, and effective communication to ensure the optimum touring experience without neglecting our responsibility to the community and environment.

Impeccable Service

Right from the moment you make a first contact with us to the moment you are dropped off at your place of stay, expect flawless service and nothing else. Our expert teams know exactly what they should be doing and are doing. We value customer service more than anything, and even if it costs us more resources than usual we are happy to walk the extra mile to make sure that you have a wonderful experience with us.

Breakfree Adventures strives to make every tour and trek with us the one to last till the end. We are a team of experts whose passion aligns with the objective of the company, to let people experience the real joy of traveling and exploring. And we are working 24×7 to make sure that we are on track to reach where we aim to be.


Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour: Private and Group Tour.

Breakfree Adventure operates both Private and Group tours for Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day tours, however, we do not arrange Group tours. Having 20-25 people sign up for the same-day tour on the exact same day is a difficult conquest, which is one of the major limiting factors preventing us from arranging a Group Tour. Also, many of our clients complained about the tour not being as personalized as they would have liked, which led us to terminate arranging the Group Tours.

However, we do operate Group Tours if you already have a group, at a discounted rate. You will be able to enjoy the same trip at a significantly discounted rate (almost 50%) if you book it with a group. We will make all the arrangements accordingly and also may provide extra Guides to maintain a proper Guide to tourist ratio to ensure the optimum quality of the tour. Please inquire us beforehand to book the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Group Day Tour with us.

We operate Private Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tours every day. Booking private Bhaktapur and Nagarkot tours is as easy as it gets. You can do the same-day booking for which you will have to call us in the morning hours to book the Bhaktapur tour and Nagarkot tour. You can also book the tour in advance.

Meals During the Tour

The Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Tour package excludes meals, so the tourers themselves are responsible for paying for their meals. The lunch break most likely will be at Bhaktapur. At Bhaktapur, there are numerous restaurants serving all kinds of menus. You will have a wide selection of recipes and dishes to choose from.

While ordering make sure the dishes are well within the spice limit that you can tolerate. Nepalese usually eat spicy food which can be too much to handle for someone used to the Western style of eating.


Bhaktapur And Nagarkot Tour Extensions and Other Travel Package

Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour in itself is a mesmerizing tour providing you with an amazing exploration opportunity inside the Kathmandu Valley. However, you can accentuate your travel experience by coupling the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Tour with another travel package, or the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot day tour can be a relaxing day tour after completing your trek in the Himalayas.

Breakfree Adventures operates a plethora of travel and trekking packages in Nepal, which you can couple with the Bhaktapur and Nagarkot day tours. If you are planning a short trek Mardi Himal Trek, Pikey Peak Trek, Ghorepani Poonhill Trek, Gosain Kunda Trek, and  Dhampus Sarangkot Trek are some of the best short treks. For Moderate treks, Annapurna Base Camp, Khayar Ridge Trek, Upper Mustang Trek,  Everest View Trek, Gokyo Lake Trek, and Langtang Valley Trek could be the best ones to choose from. For long challenging trek e, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, Mera Peak Climbing, Kanchenjunga Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, and Dhaulagiri Circuit could be the best ones to choose from.

Breakfree Adventures also operates multi-day tours in Nepal. Buddhist Cultural Tour, Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour, Pokhara Tour, Kathmandu Multi-Day Tour, Bardia Jungle Safari, and Chitwan Jungle Safari could be the one for you.

You can couple Bhaktapur and Nagarkot City tours with any of the above-mentioned tours or trekking packages, and make your holiday in Nepal memorable.

 

Reviews on Bhaktapur and Nagarkot Day Tour

US$ 55

(Price varies by group size)
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  • 1 - 1 person
    US$ 99
  • 2 - 3 person
    US$ 55
  • 4 - 6 person
    US$ 50
  • 7 - 11 person
    US$ 45
  • 12 over 9999
    US$ 40

US$ 99

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