Footsteps of Buddha Tour
Trace the Path of Enlightenment
A 13-Day Journey Following the Footsteps of the Buddha
The Footsteps of Buddha Tour is a 13-day tour from Kathmandu to Delhi. We run it as a private trip on your own dates, or as a small group departure.
Seven UNESCO monument zones inside one valley. Newar architecture, living Hindu and Buddhist practice, and a festival calendar that runs all year. Newari khaja sets, momo, and a restaurant scene in Thamel and Jhamsikhel that outstrips the rest of the country.
This is a cultural trip, not a trek. Expect vehicle transfers, guided site visits and short walks of an hour or two, with the option to add a longer hike where the itinerary allows. Nothing beyond ordinary city travel. Winter air quality in the valley is the main comfort issue, and we plan the outdoor sections for the morning.
Best time to go. Year round. October to March gives the clearest air; the monsoon from June to August is green and quiet with afternoon rain.
Permits and getting there. UNESCO World Heritage site entry fees for Durbar Squares, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, all included in your tour price. Everything is within an hour's drive. We use private air-conditioned vehicles with a licensed cultural guide.
Where you sleep. Hotels in Thamel, Lazimpat, Boudha or Patan depending on the tour, from comfortable three-star to heritage properties in Bhaktapur and Patan.
Why book with us. Trekking Team is a family company in Gongabu, Kathmandu, running trips since 1991 under TAAN licence 1106. About ten thousand people have travelled with us and we hold more than 630 TripAdvisor reviews. Every departure runs with a government-licensed guide, permits arranged before you arrive, insured and equipped staff, and a fixed price. If the dates or the route do not suit you, write to us and we will rebuild the itinerary around what you want.
Trip Summary
Duration
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Trip Outline
- Day 1Arrival in Kathmandu
- Day 2Sightseeing in Kathmandu
- Day 3Transfer to Lumbini
- Day 4Sightseeing of Lumbini and Kapilavastu
- Day 5Transfer from Lumbini via Sunauli to Kushinagar; sightseeing in Kushinagar
- Day 6Transfer to Patna
- Day 7Transfer to Bodhgaya
- Day 8Sightseeing in Bodhgaya
- Day 9Detour to Nalanda, overnight in Bodhgaya
- Day 10Transfer to Varanasi
- Day 11Visit Sarnath and return to Varanasi
- Day 12Afternoon flight to Delhi
- Day 13Final Departure
Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in a private vehicle
- All ground transport in the itinerary by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Entry fees for every UNESCO monument zone and site in the itinerary
- Government-licensed cultural guide throughout
- Hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, twin share, as listed in the itinerary
- All transfers, sightseeing and excursions listed in the itinerary
- Welcome or farewell dinner in Kathmandu
- All government taxes, VAT and company service charges
Not Included
- International flights and the Nepal visa fee
- All lunches and dinners other than those listed. Our packages run on a bed and breakfast basis
- Travel insurance, which we require you to hold
- Drinks, laundry, telephone and other items of a personal nature
- Camera and video fees at the monuments where they apply
- Optional activities and any sightseeing outside the itinerary
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Anything not listed under what is included
Get started on your journey
Detailed itinerary
Arrival in Kathmandu
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Sightseeing in Kathmandu
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Transfer to Lumbini
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Sightseeing of Lumbini and Kapilavastu
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Transfer from Lumbini via Sunauli to Kushinagar; sightseeing in Kushinagar
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Transfer to Patna
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Transfer to Bodhgaya
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Sightseeing in Bodhgaya
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Detour to Nalanda, overnight in Bodhgaya
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Transfer to Varanasi
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Visit Sarnath and return to Varanasi
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Afternoon flight to Delhi
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Final Departure
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Getting ready
No special training is needed. Comfortable shoes for uneven cobbles and stone steps at the heritage sites, and a light layer for early mornings, will cover it.
Permits and paperwork
UNESCO World Heritage site entry fees for Durbar Squares, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath, all included in your tour price.
Nepal issues visas on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport: 15, 30 or 90 days, payable in cash in most major currencies or by card. Bring two passport photographs and make sure your passport has at least six months validity.
Money, tipping and costs on the ground
Nepali rupees are the only currency accepted on the trail. Draw cash in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you leave; ATMs have a per-transaction limit of around NPR 35,000 and charge a fee, and above the roadhead there are no machines and no card terminals.
Budget for drinks, souvenirs and any meals not listed in the itinerary.
Tipping is customary and genuinely matters to the crew, but it is not compulsory and never demanded. As a guide to the guide: around USD 8 to 12 per day for your trekking guide and USD 6 to 8 for each porter, pooled by the group and handed over at the end.
Staying in touch
Wi-Fi everywhere, 4G across the valley, and a tourist SIM at the airport.
Ncell and Nepal Telecom tourist SIM cards are sold at Kathmandu airport and take about ten minutes. Bring your passport.
Health and safety
No vaccinations are legally required for Nepal, but hepatitis A, typhoid and tetanus are sensible and a rabies course is worth discussing if you are travelling for a long time. Check with a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you fly.
Drink bottled or treated water and be sensible about street food in the first few days.
Our guides carry a comprehensive first aid kit. We hold a 24-hour operations line in Kathmandu throughout your trip, and we run rescue coordination ourselves rather than handing it to a third party.
Booking and cancellation
A deposit confirms your dates and the balance is due before departure. If your plans change we will move your booking to another date rather than treat it as a cancellation wherever the ground operators allow it.
Written quotes are fixed. We do not add fuel or permit surcharges after you have booked, and if a government fee rises between your booking and your departure we absorb it.
Questions before you commit are welcome and never rushed. Write to us with what you actually want and we will tell you plainly whether this trip is the right one, including when the answer is that a different route would suit you better.
Ready to start your journey?
Start planning your dream trip today. Enquire now for more information or customize this trip to tailor it to your needs and make it truly unforgettable.