Kyanjin Valley has become one of the highly demanded tourist destinations in Nepal. Mainly, because of Kyanjin Monasteries and the local Yak cheese factory. However, the valley has evolved quite a bit in terms of cultural and spiritual norms. The valley itself attracts thousands of trekkers and travelers from all around the globe every year. Although the ethnicity has not equally been highlighted in comparison to Sherpas, it surely claims a large population of Nepal. It is a heavenly feeling to explore the village after landing which is fairly difficult to put into words. It will make sense once you visit the village and interact with the locals residing there for centuries.
The Kyanzin Gumba Heli Tour starts from the domestic terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It lasts approximately 1 and 1/2 hours including ground time at Kyanjin Monastery (3,870m). The Heli tour takes you over the verdant hills of Kathmandu towards the northern side of Nepal. Along the way, one will get to enjoy the bird-eye perspective of the unique topography that separates different settlements. As we leave the city behind, we are instantly introduced to the Himalayan range as we gain altitude.
As we comprehend the satisfactory trip to the Kyanjin Gompa, the pilots fly the helicopter back to Kathmandu. After 25 min we land at the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The time has finally come to bid our goodbyes.
Tribhuvan International Airport (Google Map)
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, one of the Asian Heritage representatives will receive you at the airport and will transfer you to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure or explore on your own.
Overnight stay at hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, we will spend a full day visiting the main attractions in the Kathmandu Valley:
Kathmandu Durbar Square:
Our First destination for sightseeing is Kathmandu Durbar Square.This was the place where kings were crowned and ruled. It has beautiful old buildings, temples, and palace courtyards. It was damaged by the 2015 earthquake, but it is still a remarkable place with traditional architecture. Reconstruction will take years.
Swayambhunath:
After Kathmandu Durbar Square we will visit the next cultural and heritage site Swayambhunath. This ancient Buddhist stupa is a masterpiece of architecture. It has a white dome representing the earth and a tower with Buddha’s eyes looking in all directions. The stupa symbolizes the stages of enlightenment. Monkeys live around the temple, giving it the name “Monkey Temple”. Despite earthquake damage, it remains a beloved and iconic site.
Boudhanath:
After Swayambhunath, we will visit the largest Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath. This massive white dome-shaped stupa was built around 600 AD. Its design perfectly represents the Buddha’s path to enlightenment, with each part symbolizing an element or stage. It is considered extremely holy and is believed to contain relics of past Buddhas. Tibetan pilgrims walk around it daily.
Pashupatinath:
After visiting the Boudhanath stupa, we will travel to Pashupatinath. This is Nepal’s most important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It sits by the sacred Bagmati River and has markets selling religious items. The main temple was undamaged by the earthquake and remains a powerful spiritual site for Hindus.
After visiting these sites, we will return to the hotel, refresh, and then have a welcome dinner hosted by the trekking company.
Overnight stay at hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
Meals included: Breakfast
Bhaktapur:
We will explore our first sightseeing destination place at Bhaktapur, it was one of the three medieval cities in the Kathmandu Valley. It was known as the best-preserved, but sadly, many buildings were damaged in the 2015 earthquake. However, there are still impressive temples and squares remaining. People still practice traditional crafts like weaving and pottery here. Visitors must pay an entry fee which helps with temple repairs.
Patan:
After Bhaktapur Durbar Square, we will reach Patan Durbar Square. Patan, formerly an independent city-state, is now part of Kathmandu but has kept its Sanskrit name Lalitpur (City of Beauty). Despite earthquake damage, Patan Durbar Square still has Nepal’s finest collection of temples and palaces, especially from the Malla period. The ancient royal palace now houses an excellent museum with religious art and artifacts.
The museum displays statues, carvings, and objects explaining the symbolism and architecture of the valley. It is housed in interconnected brick and timber rooms. Other attractions in Patan include the Golden Temple, Krishna Mandir, Sundari Chowk, the Royal Palace Golden Gate, and Maha Boudha Temple.
After visiting Bhaktapur and Patan, we will return to our hotel in Kathmandu.
Overnight: Hotel Dwarik in Kathmandu
Meals included: Breakfast and Welcome dinner
Once you step out, an amazing aura of thin air constantly fills your heart with an extreme sense of adventure and height. The valley is decorated with Buddhist prayer flags and a bright smile on their face. Kyanjin Gompa is about the spirit rather than the beauty. The entry to Kyanjin Gompa is mostly made up of stones and wood. The posters of Lord Buddha all over the walls reflect peace and positivity.
Our next destination will be the Local Cheese Factory. The factory produces organic and fresh Yak cheese which are exported to different countries of the world. It is one of the outstanding viewpoints of the Kyanjin Valley. After all the activities, we prepare our flight back to Kathmandu.
This Heli tour is completed in 3 phases, as follows:
Phase 01: Helicopter takes off from Kathmandu airport starting Heli Tour. As we fly north from the city, we get to eye the World’s Tallest Shiva Statue visible from the helicopter at Sanga. When you look below, you will get a better understanding of the land structure in Nepal and the wavy highways that beautifully wrap the hills. Then we enter the Langtang National Park which expands to cover an area of 1,710 sq. km including Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchok districts of the central Himalayan region. After around 45 min we finally land at Kyanjin Valley which contains the famous Kyanjin Gompa.
Phase 02: As soon as you land at Kyanjin valley, you will be greeted with the beautiful colorful Buddhist prayer flags and a cold breeze from the mountains. You will notice the Langtang mountain range surrounding the valley. Strolling around the village, we then head towards the Kyanjin Gompa (Monastery). The gompa is mostly made of stone and wood. The white accent of the gompa reflects gives off a peaceful vibe. Locals believe that the monastery is approximately six centuries. Inside the gompa are 13 statues made with clay and pictures of Lord Buddha. The statues represent the ancestors of the Dhomares “the inhabitants of the land of red rocks”. After about 30 minutes of ground time and a delightful breakfast, we hop onto the helicopter and prepare for the return flight.
Phase 03: As we comprehend the satisfactory trip to the Kyanjin Gompa, the pilots fly the helicopter back to Kathmandu. After 25 min we land at the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The time has finally come to bid our goodbyes.
Overnight: Hotel Dwarikas in Kathmandu.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Approximately 3 hours before the departure of your flight, you will be transferred to Kathmandu international airport where we guide you to the check-in hall. From here we hope you had an amazing journey through our country, Nepal. And we hope to see you again.
Meals included: Breakfast
Note: This itinerary is specially created for you. This itinerary can be adjusted in all aspects in order to meet your specific requirements. Please let us know what suits you best and we will be very pleased to provide you with a complete tailormade holiday package.
Note: Please note: Tipping (guides/driver) is not included in the price. Guest can always decide if they would like to tip for good services to guides, porters, and drivers at the end of the trip. However, in Nepal, it is a custom of good faith to tip guides/drivers when they have provided a good service.
