Walking to the Monkey Temple – Swayambhunath Tour | US$15.00

Explore the magic of Swayambhunath on our Monkey Temple Walking Tour in Kathmandu. Departing daily at 9 AM or 3 PM from Thamel, this small-group tour (max 5 participants) is USD 12.50 per person and only USD 5 for students and volunteers. Safe for solo female travelers, guided by expert 5-star guides.

This UNESCO-listed stupa offers breathtaking valley views, ancient architecture, and lively monkeys, making it one of Kathmandu’s must-visit cultural landmarks. Check out our amazing Tripadvisor reviews from travelers worldwide.

Why Book Our Monkey Temple Tour?

✅ 100% Guide-Owned Experience. Unlike typical tour companies where office staff handle bookings, our entire team are working professional guides: every Amazing Kathmandu Team Member is a Licensed Tour Guide.
✅ Small Group (max 5 people) or Private Experience – Enjoy a personalized tour with time for questions and photos.
✅ Breathtaking Panoramas – Take in sweeping views of Kathmandu from the hilltop stupa.
✅ Cultural Immersion – Discover Buddhist rituals, prayer wheels, and hidden shrines.

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Transportation is optional: after choosing a date you can select the option for a Private Tour including pick up by the guide and a separate dedicated driver with a private vehicle. Walking distance from Thamel to Swayambunath Monkey Temple is about 2 kilometer.

Tour Highlights

✔ Walk from Thamel to Swayambhunath – Stroll through lively markets, past Newari architecture, and into serene spirituality.
✔ Playful Monkeys & Sacred Stupa – Meet the temple’s mischievous residents and admire the gleaming golden spire.
✔ Panoramic Kathmandu Views – Capture breathtaking scenes of the city and Himalayan foothills.
✔ Cultural Deep-Dive – Spin prayer wheels, observe monks in meditation, and learn 5th-century legends.

Tour Details and Price

📍 Meeting Point: Pumpernickel Bakery, Thamel (hotel pickup available with private tour with transportation)
🕒 Duration: 3 Hours, start at 9.00am and 3.00pm
💰 Entrance Fee: 200 NPR (~$1.50) paid in cash at the temple
💰 Price: US$15.00 pp (students $5), $60 private, $95 private with transportation and pick up at your hotel.

Distance Thamel to Swayambhunath Monkey Temple

The distance between Thamel and Swayambhunath is 2 km.
The pleasant and culturally rich journey through the heart of Kathmandu takes about 30 minutes, with interesting stops like the Bijeshwari Temple.

Book Your Monkey Temple Walking Tour Today!

Ready to explore the Monkey Temple with an expert guide? Check availability and secure your spot for an enriching journey through one of Nepal’s most iconic landmarks.

What others say about us on Tripadvisor:

Wonderfull tour with Santosh (the most knowledgeable tour guide around) This afternoon I did the Kathmandu Durbar square tour with Santosh which 100% recommend. Santosh must be the most knowledgeable guide of Kathmandu as he could tell a story of every street, corner and building in and around Durbar sq. As a history graduate he knows the history of Nepal like no other, while he was ever so keen to share anecdotes from his family life. In between stories there was time for a joke. The tour was during Dashsain festival. Santosh was ever so keen to reshedule parts of the tour to join and watch the festivities. A remarkeable tour which I wholeheartely recommend to any traveller.

mike d

29/09/25

Great Walking Tour We had good time with Santosh for a walking tour to Monkey Temple. He was very insightful with stellar storytelling skills. He also shared a lot of recommendation for our upcoming hiking trip and what's the best thing we can do in Kathmandu for the rest of our trip. Highly recommended!

saviraq l

29/09/25

A great insight into Hindu culture Santosh is a very interesting guide, kind and full of knowledge, not only about this temple but also about the whole Nepal and both Hindu and Buddhist culture. He answered our many questions with great explanations and patience. It is also very valuable to do the tour in small groups. It is maximum 5 persons but we were only the 2 of us which is quite unique. The 3 hours tour gives you plenty of time to enjoy everything : pashipatinath temple, Arati ceremony and the burrial ceremony if there is some.Overall highly recommanded!He can also organize trekkings and other sorts of guided tour.

Côme B

23/09/25

A great way to discover the history, culture and architecture of Kathmandu. I was fortunate enough to be the only one on the tour, so I had Santosh's full attention. He's a great guide. He filled the entire tour with facts about the history of the area and the various religious practices in Kathmandu. His English grammar, vocabulary and fluency are all excellent, though it took a bit of effort to tune into his pronunciation of a few words. As long as you're in the right mood for a hefty climb up a few hundred steps you'll get plenty out of this tour.

Global55267846222

22/09/25

SwayambhuNath Walking Tour - Amazing Experience Santosh was an incredible tour guide who had so much wisdom and knowledge. It made me realise that sightseeing solo without a guide to share insights and local knowledge just isn’t the same and I’ll be booking with Santosh again. Thank you so much and see you again soon!

Danielle B

21/09/25

An amazing introduction to Kathmandu city and surrounds Wonderful insight into the historical and religious background of the Kathmandu Valley and the significant role the temples and stupas play in everyday life. Walking through the back streets from Thamel to the heights of Swayambunath with views of the hills and valleys was a great introduction to the city and surrounds.

Susan M

16/09/25

Fun walking tour with a local guide. We had a great day with Santosh, who is clearly passionate about history and Nepal. He took the time to walk us around and explain the history, culture and traditions. It was a great way to see some of the temples and have our questions answered. I highly recommend this tour to understand Nepal better.

Aliya A

14/09/25

The Best Guide Anyone Could Ask For! A huge thank you to Sraya for making our stay in Kathmandu the best! Sraya went above and beyond in ensuring we had an amazing experience. She was so friendly and warm and she ensured every member of the group was taken care of. Sraya didn’t treat us like tourists, she treated us like family. I am so blessed to say we left Kathmandu gaining one extra relationship that we will cherish forever! Till we meet next!

Temi L

08/09/25

Top notch tour. 👍🏻👍🏻 Very informative tour. Santosh has an excellent grasp English language and takes a lot of time to explain things and answer all questions. As a solo female traveller, and the only person on the tour that morning I felt very safe.Thank you Santosh for an excellent morning. I learned so much and enjoyed talking with you. I’ll definitely be recommending your tour to fellow travelers.

Kerrie W

05/09/25

AMAZING Guide (great for solo travelers!) Truly the best guided tour I’ve ever experienced! I learned a ton and felt super safe as a female solo traveler with Santosh. He is a wonderful human and passionate storyteller with so much knowledge. I could not recommend him more 🙏

Ashley

04/09/25

Awesome, kind guide, great for solo female travellers Santosh was an awesome guide recommended to me by a friend! Me and a few solo females travellers went to Boudhastupa and Pashupatinah with him - he was so accomodating, took lovely photos, was very kind! I am so glad we went with a guide to these places, especially Pashupatinah which is impossible to fully appreciate without deep understanding of Nepali and Hindu cultural traditions. He made sure we felt comfortable and relaxed on the tour, never pressured us to buy anything and was very flexible to our needs (like stopping for a coffee etc). More than this, Santosh shared his life stories and experiences with us, which was so meaningful. He is a great guide and a lovely person, from start to finish!!

Sarah S

04/09/25

Great tour It was a great tour, the guide was extremely knowledgeable about all of the history and temple. The cremation ceremony was very beautiful.

Amelie C

02/09/25

The best Guide Santosh is an extraordinary guide. If I could give him 6 stars I would. Super friendly, very knowledgeable and knows the secrets that Kathmandu hides. Perfect also if you go alone like me and meet other travelers. I’ve done the ceremony Tour. Thanks !

Mireia C

01/09/25

A nice way to see a different and less hectic side of the city This was a great way to see the temple and a few other sights along the way. Santosh is a friendly, professional and knowledgeable guide and was great company for the afternoon. Just note there's a lot of walking involved, and a fair few steps! But it's worth it for the views!

KatyF

31/08/25

Very knowledgeable and professional guide and a great introduction to the city Santosh was a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable guide who was very generous with his time and energy, especially as I was the only person on the tour that day. It was a great introduction to Kathmandu on my first day.

KatyF

31/08/25

Great experience in Kathmandu Very informative tour, it was interesting to learn more about Hinduism and Buddhism. Santosh was a very friendly guide and who seemed to have extensive knowledge on the subject. I would recommend this experience to anyone!

Lucas V.

29/08/25

Review of tour It was really fun, Santosh was really knowledgeable and interesting. If you have a few days in Kathmandu, I would recommend doing this tour.

Oliver F

25/08/25

A lovely Kathmandu Tour We visited the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square. This was a very detailed tour of culture, history, and architecture which I really enjoyed learning about. Thank you Shreya for showing us around, we had a lot of fun. Would highly recommend Shreya as she knows her way around Kathmandu and is very accommodating of schedules.

breakfast_fan

23/08/25

Great Tour in Kathmandu We had a great day with Shreya. We got to see many amazing temples and other historic buildings and she provided really interesting information about them all. Along the way we stopped for some delicious, authentic Newari food and other local snacks/drinks. Definitely the best tour of our trip to Nepal!

Tyrel W

23/08/25

FANTASTIC experience with Shreya Shreya was an AMAZING tour guide. Full of a lot of local knowledge regarding history, culture, religion, architecture. She answered any and all questions that came up. What’s more is she is patient and fun to be around - we greatly enjoyed her company, her jokes, her energy. Thank you, Shreya, for welcoming us into your country and for giving us such an incredible experience!

William G

23/08/25

Exceptional Guide in Takmando, Nepal Amazing guide in Takmando, Nepal – friendly, knowledgeable, and made the trip unforgettable! Always attentive, patient, and eager to share local culture and hidden gems, turning every moment into a memorable experience.

Anas A

18/08/25

Highly Recommended Walking Tour in Kathmandu We had a wonderful walking tour of Kathmandu’s city center with our guide, Santosh. He was extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions about the rich culture and fascinating history of Nepal. Santosh took us to some truly eye-catching and beautiful spots that we might have missed on our own. He also has a great eye for photography — he helped us capture some amazing pictures to remember the day. Overall, it was a very pleasant and insightful experience. Highly recommended!

JL C

08/08/25

The Perfect Guide for Exploring Kathmandu We had a wonderful experience in Kathmandu thanks to our amazing guide! Over three days, they shared deep local knowledge, took us to both famous and hidden spots, and made sure we felt safe and comfortable throughout. Their kindness, professionalism, and passion for Nepali culture truly made our trip unforgettable. Highly recommended!

Vighez

26/07/25

Captivating Cultural Experience This tour was a highlight of our time in Kathmandu thanks to our amazing guide Sontash! Although we could have visited these places on our own, we would not have seen as many things nor understood so well what we were seeing with this tour. Sontash took us to a variety of locations including areas that were less busy with tourists. He told us several stories about the history of the monuments, the city, the religions and the people of Kathmandu. He also answered all of our many questions. Additionally we felt very comfortable throughout the tour and the journey moved at the perfect pace to keep even our 10 year old interested and engaged. We would highly recommend this experience and our guide Sontash to everyone!

megan s

19/07/25

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Questions and answers

What is the distance from Thamel to Swayambhunath?
The distance is approximately 2 km. The pleasant and culturally rich walk through the heart of Kathmandu takes about 30 minutes, with interesting stops along the way, such as the Bijeshwari Temple.

How long does the Monkey Temple walking tour take?
The small group walking tour takes around 3 hours. If you choose the private option, transportation can be included, making it more flexible and comfortable.

What is the best time of day to visit Swayambhunath?
Early morning or late afternoon is ideal for fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and better photography opportunities.

Are there any entrance fees for the Monkey Temple?
Yes, there is a small entrance fee of 200 NPR (~$1.50) paid in cash at the temple. The private tour option can include your tickets to simplify the experience.

Is the tour suitable for children or elderly visitors?
Yes, the tour is suitable for families and elderly visitors, though some walking and steps are involved. The private option offers transportation for added comfort.

What is Swayambhunath known for?
Swayambhunath, also called the Monkey Temple, is famous for its ancient stupa, panoramic views of Kathmandu Valley, and the large population of monkeys that live around the site.

How do I reach Swayambhunath?
The small group tour is a walking tour, but you can also book the private option, which includes transportation from your hotel in Thamel or nearby areas.

Is it safe for solo travelers?
Yes, the Monkey Temple walking tour is safe for solo travelers, including women. Small groups and the private tour option with transportation add extra comfort and security, click here to see what other solo travelers wrote about their tours with us.

Other private tours in Kathmandu Valley:
3 to 9 hour UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Tour in Kathmandu
3 hour Patan Private Walking Tour Small Group
3 hour Pashupatinath and Boudhanath Private Walking TourSmall Group
3 hour Kathmandu Durbar Square Walking Tour
3 hour Thamel Walking Tour
3 hour Ason & Freak Street Walking Tour
3 hour Walking Tour in Kirtipur

Check for entry fees to Heritage Sites
Official site of the Nepal Tourism Board

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You can visit our Tripadvisor page at https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293890-d25463713-Reviews-Amazing_Kathmandu_Tours-Kathmandu_Kathmandu_Valley_Bagmati_Zone_Central_Region.html