Dhulikhel Day Tour

Useful Information

1. Meetup/ Drop off location and Duration of Tour.
   The Dhulikhel Day Tour organized by the Mountain Ram Adventures will usually begin in the morning at around 9-10 AM and end at around 5-6 PM or after sunset. The tour will commence as the travelers will be picked up from their Hotel within the Kathmandu valley and dropped back to their Hotel after the completion of the tour and for the travelers who are staying outside the Kathmandu Valley they are requested to arrive at the Head office of Mountain Ram Adventures in Z- Street, Thamel 20 minutes before the agreed upon starting time of the Dhulikhel Day Tour and after the end of the trip they will be dropped back to the office. 
2. Guides
   For the Dhulikhel Day Tour an English speaking Cultural Guide (licensed) will be assigned, who will be accompanying the travelers for the trip taking them through various landmarks and sharing their knowledge about the sites. The guides will also make sure to suggest some of the local vendors/ restaurants where the travelers can try the authentic cuisine making the trip even more enriching. The Guides salary is included in the tour package, however the tips for the Guide is not included in the tour package. The travelers are suggested to tip the guide as per their wish and satisfaction level of the services they received from their Guides.
3. Entrance Fee and Personal Expenses
   While visiting the Bhaktapur Durbar Square the foreign travelers will need to have an entry permit which can be easily obtained from the checkpost of the Durbar Square. The entry fee is not included in the package and to obtain their pass the travelers will be assisted by their Guides. Meals for the day are also not included in the package so the travelers will need to carry some extra funds for the trip. The guides will be recommending local restaurants to the travelers where they can try authentic meals from the local cuisine if they want to try them. The travelers can also buy various souvenirs from the local vendors while strolling around the Durbar Square.
4. Essentials for the Day Tour
   For the Dhulikhel Day Tour the travelers will be required to carry their Passport with them to obtain the entry permit for the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Carrying sunscreen and sun hat will be essential for the trip as the travelers will be exploring Bhaktapur Durbar Square and other landmarks on foot. The travelers are suggested to dress properly as the sites are religious and sacred holding significance for the local communities and various religious groups.
5. Transportation
   For the Dhulikhel Day Tour the team will be responsible for managing the sightseeing vehicle which will be transporting the travelers to various landmarks for the tour. The vehicle will be assigned depending on the size of the group ensuring the commute to be comfortable. The Travelers will be picked up and dropped from their accommodation within the valley, if participating from outside the valley pickup and drop location will be the office of the Mountain Ram Adventures in Z-Street Thamel. 
6. Trip Extension
   The Dhulikhel Day Tour is a day excursion but can be extended by one more day. The travelers can visit the nearby destination if they plan to extend their trip. The travelers will be able to visit Panauti which is a hidden gem of a destination in Nepal filled with intricate temples and complexes due to which the concerned authorities are attempting to enlist the site as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The principal monument in Panauti is the Indresvar Mahadev Temple which was originally constructed in 1294 AD. The surrounding monuments were later erected during the 17th century AD which includes the Brahmayani Temple, Saddles, Patis and many other ancient landmarks. The site is situated at the confluence of two holy Kholas( Rivers): Roshi Khola and Punyamati Khola. The historical site is around 33 KM away from the Capital and shares the same route with Dhulikhel until Banepa Chowk after which the route separates from where Dhulikhel is around 4.4 KM towards the Eastern direction and Panauti is just around 6.6 KM South from Banepa.
   
   The travelers can also visit the Namo Buddha and Thrangu Tashi Monastery which are near Dhulikhel and offer spectacular views of the Himalayas when the weather is clear. The trip extension will incur in additional charges for accommodations and several factors. The travelers will need to contact the team for the trip extension before the beginning of the Dhulikhel Day Tour so that the team can manage the necessary facilities for the Tour.
7. Best Time to Participate
   Autumn Season: The months from September to November is arguably considered to be the best time to explore Nepal as the weather conditions are pleasant and favorable to enjoy the views of the Himalayas. The Autumn season is the busiest season attracting tourists from all around the world due to which popular destinations in Nepal can get crowded which can also lead to hike of prices in touristic areas. The main festivals of Nepal like Dashain and Tihar also usually fall during the Autumn season during which the travelers can have an amazing cultural experience. Although considered to be the best season to explore Nepal, for travelers seeking to avoid crowds it is not a perfect time. The travelers can plan their travel during the Winter or the Summer/ Monsoon season to avoid crowds.
   
   Winter Season: As the end of November marks the end of the pleasant Autumn season the chilly season of Winter begins. Not a favorable time for trekking, the winter season is ideal for travelers going on day tour and excursion even though the weather conditions are a bit cold and dry the skies are usually clear offering views of the snow capped Himalayas. The number of travelers is also significantly low in touristic areas and is perfect for travelers avoiding crowds. Overall even though it's a bit chilly, the winter season is ideal for an excursion or day tour in Nepal.
   
   Spring Season: Spring season is also one popular time to explore Nepal and is considered to be the best time for trekking in Nepal due to which many travel enthusiasts arrive in Nepal to embark on their journey to the Himalayas. The Spring season is a pleasant time beginning after the harsh winter covering the months from March to May. The weather conditions are pleasant but can become a bit unpredictable at times as the weather can be a bit chilly during the months of March due to the fading winter season and can rain during the month of March as the Monsoon season begins shortly after the Spring season.  During the Spring season the destinations near the Kathmandu Valley including Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Dhuikhel can get a bit crowded but the travelers can enjoy their visit to the magnificent landmarks without much hassle. Overall the Spring season is a good time to participate in the Dhulikhel Day tour.
   
   Summer/ Monsoon Season: The Monsoon/ Summer Season is not a favorable time to explore Nepal as during the months of June to August the skies are covered by dark rain clouds. The monsoon season brings a new sense of freshness, however due to constant rain and humid conditions the Monsoon season is not a good time to participate in the Dhulikhel Day tour. One of the main highlights of the Dhulikhel Day Tour, sunset views of the Himalayas from Dhulikhel will most likely be not possible as the Himalayas are not visible due to the gloomy clouds. Overall the Monsoon season is not a good time to participate in the Dhulikhel Day Tour as it constantly rains and also the glorious views of the Himalayas cannot be enjoyed. On the brighter side the sites will not be crowded due to the unfavorable conditions and the prices of amenities are also at its lowest during the Monsoon season.
   
   Dhulikhel Tour During Festivals: The Nepalese festivals are renowned for their grand and colorful nature during which the festive mood lights up everyone. During the festivals Bhaktapur Durbar Square and other iconic landmarks within Kathmandu valley are especially crowded as many festival rituals have been celebrated there since centuries. The travelers might have some difficulties navigating through the crowd but it is undoubtedly the best time to visit the mesmerizing landmarks.
   
   Major Festivals celebrated in Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Note: Most of the festivals mentioned above are celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar used in Nepal due to which the dates of the festival can be different from year to year in the Gregorian Calendar.