9 Thamel Tours in Kathmandu Worth Booking Early

1.Half day cooking class in Thamel kathmandu

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 607 reviews · from $28Our pick

In Thamel, a chef guides you through a hands-on Nepali cooking class, from choosing ingredients to making momos. Pick one of three menus, adjust the spice to suit your taste, then eat what you make. Groups are limited to eight. Some sessions include a local market or spice-shop visit; instructor names include Anshu and Nilam, though the teacher may vary.

“My friend and I took the class and it was so much fun. They modified the menu to be gluten-free and taught us good local tips. We aso enjoyed being taken to a local spice shop and were able to buy some of the spices to take home. The ladies who taught were kind, funny and taught well!”

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2.Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $30

Spend about three hours exploring local ingredients and cooking Nepali dishes with Nepali cooks. The class includes market shopping, all ingredients, snacks, and a meal made from your work. Groups are capped at eight, and vegetarian or vegan options are available on request. Pickup is offered, but private transportation is not included.

“Great cooking class and learned lots of new things I would definitely recommend going here and plenty of food!”

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3.Wood Carving Workshop with Local Artisan (Thamel)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 3 hours · from $42

Spend three hours in a small Thamel workshop learning to outline, chisel, and detail a wooden design with a local artisan. Hera has guided sessions, and you may work with traditional motifs such as lotus flowers or mandalas. Tools and materials are supplied, and you take your finished piece home.

“I had a lovely time carving with Hera, learning the different techniques. Hera and his wife were very warm, kind and funny. I think I would have liked to learn more about the history/context of the craft.”

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4.Private Pickup from Tribhuvan Airport to Thamel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews

Meet an airport representative and driver at Tribhuvan Airport, where the driver waits at the arrivals gate with a nameplate. Travel by private car to your hotel in Thamel or a nearby area, with parking and the driver included. The ride takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and the driver may point out famous places along the way.

“This was the best pick up service to use. My flight was even one hour delayed, and the driver was waiting right in front with a sign very easy to find and quickly got me to my hotel highly recommend.”

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5.Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 3 hours · from $21

Join an English-speaking instructor for a three-hour cooking class in Thamel, with a local market visit and four traditional Nepali and Newari dishes. Choose from three menus, cook and eat each course as it is made, and adjust the spice to your taste. Groups are limited to eight, and momos feature on every menu.

“Wonderful family of cooks who grow there own spices. Very interactive group. We cooked a full menu. Good instructions. Delicious recipes.”

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6.Taste Nepali Food & Drink- Walking Tour in Thamel

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $10Best value

Walk Thamel and nearby Kathmandu streets with a local guide, tasting Nepali favorites such as momo, chatamari, sel roti, pani puri and lassi. The route can include local markets and family-run eateries, with Suresh named as a guide associated with the tour. Expect food, cultural context and a small group of up to six.

“Suresh showed us places we would never have visited without him. He was very flexible and adapted quickly to special requests (such as vegetarian Food). He answered many, food- and not-food related questions with patience and passion and we had a great time exploring Kathmandu with him. Suresh was easy to talk to, very friendly and brought us home in time. We highly recommend and would do it again anytime!”

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7.About 3-hour Cooking Class Experience near Thamel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3 hours · from $29

Near Thamel, Shepherd Holidays runs a three-hour Nepali cooking class with English-, Hindi-, and Nepali-speaking instructors. Choose three dishes, such as dal bhat, momo, chatamari, or yomari, then cook them with prepared ingredients and equipment. Bikram and Kamal have taught the class, and your meal is included.

“Esperienza molto bella! Mi sono divertito tanto, la cucina nepalese é ottima.”

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8.Thamel Rickshaw tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · 4 hours · from $14

Ride a traditional cycle rickshaw from Thamel to Ason Market and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Your driver speaks English, Nepali, or Hindi, and can share local information along the way. Try a Nepalese breakfast, visit temples and the Kumari Ghar, or add the personal-expense $5 street-food challenge. The private outing takes about four hours, though the route details allow up to four and a half.

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9.Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $24

Near Thamel, choose three dishes from the Nepali menu, visit a local market with a guide, then prepare and eat your meal in a professional kitchen. Chef Vikram and Kamal are among the named instructors. The roughly three-hour class includes ingredients, equipment, and the food you cook.

“The chef was knowledgeable kind and explained everything in excellent English. The momos were amazing and I'm confident I can cook them at home.”

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