The 15 Best Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) Tours

1.Chandragiri Cable Car and Monkey Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 139 reviews · 5 hours · from $3Our pick

Spend five hours with a private guide, riding the cable car to Chandragiri Hills, visiting Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple and eating a serving of momos before exploring Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple. Guides include Prakash, Biraj, Nilakantha and Sampada. The mountain views depend on clear weather; ziplining and an overnight resort stay are optional extras.

“A very enjoyable tour. Prakash is a very knowledgeable and considerate guide. He was able to fast track the queues at all of the major attractions, which was a huge bonus at times. I would highly recommend Prakash and his tour(s).”

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2.Monkey Temple – Swayambhunath Tour – Private/Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $15Top rated

Join an English-speaking local guide for a three-hour walk from Thamel through Swayambhu and nearby temple neighborhoods to Swayambhunath. The group is capped at five, with stories about Buddhist and Hindu traditions and the legend of Kathmandu Valley’s origin. Santosh has led this walk, but the assigned guide may vary. The 200-rupee stupa entry fee is extra.

“Amazing walking tour! We covered so much of Kathmandu and saw a ton. I’m a solo female traveler and felt totally safe. The guide was super knowledgeable and really took the time to explain what we were seeing. Highly recommend, especially if you are short on time.”

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3.Chandragiri Cable Car & Monkey Temple Tour- Private/Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $5

Spend about five and a half hours visiting Chandragiri Hill and Swayambhunath with an English- or Hindi-speaking guide, hotel pickup and a packed lunch. Ride the cable car to Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, then explore the Monkey Temple above Kathmandu. Guides named by the operator include Punam, Sujan and Asmita. Choose private or group travel, or pay extra for the all-inclusive option.

“We had an amazing experience on the Chandragiri Cable Car Ride. The views were absolutely stunning and the ride was smooth and well organized. Our tour guide, Putnam, was very professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. He explained everything clearly and made the whole trip enjoyable and stress-free. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Kathmandu!”

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4.Private Chandragiri Cable Car and The Monkey Temple Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $5

Take a private, roughly 4-hour-15-minute tour from Kathmandu to Chandragiri Hills and Swayambhunath. Ride the 2.4-kilometer cable car to Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, look for clear-day views of Everest and other peaks, then explore Swayambhunath’s stupa and shrines. Private transport, a guide, entry fees, bottled water, and a momo meal are included.

“We recommend this trip highly for those looking for a nice half day trip with a fun cable car ride, nice views of the city and surrounding hills and several interesting temple visits. On a day with less haze, views of the Himalayas would have beRead more”

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5.Guided Walking Tour with Monkey Temple

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $15

Start at the Garden of Dreams with an English-speaking guide from Himkala Adventure, then walk through Kathmandu’s markets, Durbar Square and Newari residential lanes to the Monkey Temple. Guide Shiva has been praised for his patient answers and knowledge of local culture. Expect a substantial walk and 365 steps back down the hill.

“Die Tour war sehr interessant! Ich würde sie jedem weiterempfehlen!”

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6.Kathmandu Chandrigiri Hill Cable Car & Monkey Temple UNESCO Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $48

This private Kathmandu tour pairs a cable-car ride to Chandragiri Hill’s Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple with a visit to Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple UNESCO site, and a Thangka painting school. Expect private transport, a guide, and roughly five hours on the road and at the sights. Prakash is one guide named by visitors, but your guide may differ.

“As usual, ride was on time. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited. He also spoke English very well and made us feel very welcome by answering all our questions. A wonderful day!”

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7.Chandragiri Cable Car Ride & Monkey Temple Tour – Private/Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $5

In about five hours, travel by air-conditioned vehicle from your Kathmandu hotel to Chandragiri Hills for a 10 to 15-minute cable car ride and a visit to Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, then explore Swayambhunath. An English-speaking guide accompanies you, and a lunch box is provided. Punam has guided this tour, but confirm who will lead your departure.

“Perfect way to see Chandragiri and skip the queue. Punam was my guide and she did a great job with communication and explaining everything on the tour. Great views of the Himalayas too”

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8.Private Half-Day Tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath Temple

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $47

Visit Kathmandu’s royal square and hilltop Swayambhunath on a private four-hour tour with an English-speaking local guide and private transport. You get about two hours at each stop, hotel or airport pickup, and a choice of hotel or airport drop-off. Bishnu, a Kathmandu native, has guided this route, though guide assignments may vary.

“It was a good tour, we liked that it was private and could change the tour to what we wanted. Our tour guide was very informative.”

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9.Kirtipur & Swayambhu Trip from Kathmandu: Local Eats and Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $80

Spend four to six hours visiting hilltop Swayambhunath and Newari Kirtipur with private transport and a guide. Expect valley views, temples and local architecture, then a rooftop meal with traditional Newari dishes and tastings of at least two local beers or liquors. One account names guide Ananta and driver Bijay; staff may vary.

“We were picked up on time at our hotel by Bijay the driver and Ananta the guide. Both were friendly, informative and helpful. We visited a beautiful statue/temple and a Hindu blessing place then off to Kirtipur which was beautiful ,nterestinRead more”

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10.Chandragiri Cable Car & Monkey Temple Private Guided Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $55

This private 5-to-6-hour Kathmandu tour pairs a cable-car ride up 2,551-meter Chandragiri Hill with a visit to Swayambhunath, the hilltop Monkey Temple. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and a licensed guide. Prakash has led the tour, though guide assignments may vary. Budget extra for the cable car and temple entry.

“The view from Chandragiri Hill was stunning. It was great tour around Kathmandu but out of city with 360 view with Himalayas, valley, city and green hills. So really love to visit this hill. I been this place more then 3 times. When i come to KRead more”

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11.Visit Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath Stupa with Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $50

See two of Kathmandu’s best-known Buddhist stupas on a private, 2 to 3 hour outing with hotel pickup, round-trip car service, and an English-speaking guide. Swayambhunath brings hilltop views and its Monkey Temple setting; Boudhanath adds striking architecture and nearby shops. A guide named Mr. Tuture has been praised, though your assigned guide may differ.

“I had a wonderful time. I liked the arrangement of the company. The guide was very congenial, and he was well informed about the sites. The tour was informative and full of joy.”

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12.Chandragiri cable car & Swayambhunath Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 7 hours · from $115

Spend about seven hours on a private guided trip from Kathmandu, riding the Chandragiri cable car to Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple before visiting Swayambhunath. English-speaking guides have included Subash, praised for keeping the day smooth and explaining the city. The tour includes a private vehicle and water; monument fees, meals and personal expenses are extra.

“The guide Subash was really good. He was knowledgeable and fun and made sure everything was smooth and ran on time. The cable car ride was really good, as apart from not being able to see the Himalayas we could see everything else and Subash explained about Kathmandu and Lalitpur. The monkey temple is not to be missed as I really enjoyed the atmosphere and activity.”

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13.Kopan Monastery, Swayambhu and Boudha Nath Stupa Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $70

Spend five to six hours visiting Boudhanath Stupa, Kopan Monastery, and Swayambhunath in a private, air-conditioned vehicle. An English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and monument fees are included. Madan is a guide associated with the tour. Lunch and monastery donations cost extra.

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14.Private Guided Tour in Swayambhunath Stupa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · from $36

Take a private, roughly 2.5-hour trip from your Kathmandu hotel to Swayambhunath Stupa. A driver doubles as your guide, and a car takes you most of the way up the hill, leaving only a short flight of steps. You’ll have about an hour at the temple for the city views, Buddhist shrine, monastery, and library.

“Swayambhunath Stupa is an excellent place to visit and see a spectacular Buddhist Stupa with a monastery and library in addition. The place located at an elevation offers a panoramic view of the city from one side of Stupa.”

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15.Swayambhu and Kathmandu Durbar Square Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $65

Spend about four hours exploring Swayambhu, the Monkey Temple, and Kathmandu Durbar Square with a local guide and private vehicle. Admission and hotel transfers are included. Stops range from a hilltop stupa and a quieter Buddha park to Kumari Chowk, Hanuman Dhoka, and local market streets.

“This tour is perfect for a taste of Kathmandu. My guide Pankaj was very informative and fun. He was able to give us a lot of knowledge of Hindu and Buddhist culture in a half day trip. The monkey temple and the palace were very cool spots to visit in Kathmandu.”

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