Pre-arranged tours

We are planning to take a 4day-3night Kathmandu package offered by our local carrier Philippine Airlines and Royal Nepal Airlines towards the end of the year.

Aside from the airfare and accomodation package, they are offering optional tours as well. A 3 hour tour of Bhaktapur and Pashupatinath costs US$17 per person, a 3 hour Patan and Swayamb Hunath is also US$17 per person, and a 4 hour Nagarkot Hill Station tour is priced at US$33 per person.

Since our time is limited and we want to see as much as possible without walking endlessly (though we would%26#39;ve wanted that!) and quickly getting from one sight to another, will joining these organized tours be a wise decision in this part of the world? Or with barely 4 days, is it possible for us to do this on our own as well?

Pre-arranged tours

I cannot really comment on your plans as we have not yet been to Nepal - it all sounds excellent - but we do go on March 19th. You may then be interested to know that our UK-based tour operator has quoted us $19 for a half day Bhaktapur excursion from Kathmandu. So it looks as if you are being offered that trip at a very fair price.

We are also being offered a one hour light aircraft flight over the Himalayas for $126 - does anyone know if that is about the right price? and is it worth it? !!!

Pre-arranged tours

Hi Jobie!

Would be great to hear about your adventure. Hope you%26#39;ll have time to write about it hear for other first time travellers.

Hi

Yes, with pleasure! We are back on April 2nd and will write a few words soon after then.

It looks like most replies to you here get to be deleted - presumably because they are commercial!!

Hi Impulse:

My wife and I have taken three trips to Asia since 2002. Since we are in our early 60%26#39;s and both still working, we have a limited time to see everything. Also, since we%26#39;ve finished with college tuitions, we have a bit more disposable income!! We have used guides on all our trips, because it allows us to see more things in a shorter period of time. Also they are all highly trained and have a great deal of knowlege of local history and customs. We haven%26#39;t experienced a bad one and the ones we had in Nepal, Tibet and Saigon were outstanding. Given your short amount of time in the Kathmandu area, I think taking the organized tours make sense. There are some great folks on this forum who can let you know if the tours are conducted by a reliable outfit.

That all being said, if one does have the time, there are a lot of guide books, and this forum that can allow you to tour on your own at less expense. It%26#39;s actually fun to read about their adventures and we%26#39;ve picked up a lot of useful hints along the way.

Good luck with your trip and I hope you enjoy Nepal as much as we did on our two visits.

Another option is to hire a local when you get there and have them tour you. This is more personal and much cheaper. This form of travel, with taxi in between is more efficient and would be a great way to maximize your time. The other thing a local guide can do for you is negotiate prices for items you wish to buy while in Nepal. there is tourist price, and Nepali price.

Finally, that way you know your money is going directly to help a local person, not some company that may poorly pay their staff.

My local guide can be found at;

dbsubedi@wlink.com.np

or

binod_sd@hotmail.com