Evenings and weekends are free time for Nepal volunteers. While our non-profit status prohibits us from planning your free-time activities, the hotel staff will eagerly advise you of some options to enjoy as a team or individually. There are many shops, cafes and restaurants just outside the hotel where you can enjoy free time in the evenings. For example, the Kathmandu Guest House, just a five minute walk from the hotel, offers a lovely garden sitting area, bar and restaurant. Some weekend options include:
- Tour to Chandragiri and Swayambhunath
Chandragiri Hill which is situated at an altitude of 8,333 (2540m) is the picturesque hill station of Kathmandu Valley. Seven km from the Kathmandu Valley, there are restaurants, cable cars, resorts, branded shops, and multipurpose hall at Chandragiri Hill. The cable car runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the week and 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on public holidays and weekends.
The oldest shrine complex in the Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhunath Temple was said to have been built over 2,000 years ago. Situated at the top of a winding staircase, “Monkey Temple” has one of the city’s best panoramic views. The complex, containing multiple shrines and a stupa, is considered holy to both Buddhists and Hindus.
- Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupati Nath Temple, BoudhaNath Stupa
Durbar Square, or palace square, is the UNESCO-listed heart of Kathmandu’s Old City. Located in the heart of Kathmandu, this vibrant public square was once the Kathmandu Kingdom royal residence. It has one of the world’s highest concentrations of well-preserved ancient buildings, making for a stunning open-air museum. Although the square was damaged during the 2015 earthquakes, there is still an array of architectural gems to see.
BoudhaNath Stupa is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, and a major pilgrimage point near Kathmandu. Every day, Buddhists fill the square to light incense, turn prayer wheels, and perform kora—clockwise circumambulations—around the monument. Rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake, the stupa is one of Nepal’s most visited attractions.
- Bhaktapur and ChanguNarayan
Bhaktapur, once medieval Kathmandu Valley’s seat of power, earns its accolade as Nepal’s best-preserved city. The earthquake of 2015 claimed many historic buildings, but the one-time flourishing kingdom is still packed with old-world charm. Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and heart of the city, is well-worth a visit.
Changu Narayan Temple, located within easy reach of the town of Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu Valley, has a history as a sacred site dating to the third century AD, though the double roofed temple that stands in honor of the god Vishnu today was erected after a fire in 1702. Some of the statuary contained within the temple date to the fourth through ninth centuries.
- Mount Everest 1-hour Scenic Flight
Several tour agencies offer daily flights to see the top of Everest – without the climb. The cost is about $200-250 per person and only takes place in the early morning (5:00 AM arrival at the airport for the 6:00 AM flight). An example of such a tour is here.
