8 Market Tours in Kathmandu to Build a Day Around

1.Kathmandu Secret Food Crawl & Local Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 54 reviews · 2 hours · from $28Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Chhaya Devi Complex for a two-hour walk through Ason Bazar and nearby lanes. Expect at least five foods and drinks, including Newari dishes and local street snacks. Guides such as Santosh explain the food, customs, religion, and daily life along the way.

“It was great! A funny & friendly guide who tells you interesting things about the market, the people and of corse the delicious food - 5 Stars plus 👍👍👍 also for the momos and samosas 😋😋😋”

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2.Kathmandu Food Crawl & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $25Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at Chhaya Center in Thamel for a two-hour food walk toward Ason Bazar. Expect at least five local foods and drinks, tucked-away eateries, market scenes, and cultural background. Guides may include Santosh, Manoj, or Namaste.

“What a fab way to start myNepal visit with a walk through the streets of Kathmandu and enjoy some ‘most delicious’ food. We found places that only a local would know about and tried a wide selection of savory and sweet treats. All were very tasty! Can highly recommend this tour. Information and most delicious!”

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $30

Join a small Nepali cooking class in Thamel with a local market visit, hands-on preparation, snacks, and a full meal. Ingredients are included, and vegetarian or vegan menus can be requested. The class lasts about three hours and accepts up to eight people.

“We were four persons this day. Not room for any more in the small kitchen. A nice morning although it was a bit stressful and more like putting ingredients togheter, than a schooling.”

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4.Kathmandu Food Crawl & Market Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

Meet Santosh Pandey at Chhaya Devi Complex for a two-hour walk through Ason Bazar and nearby food lanes. You will sample at least five local foods and drinks, learn about Newari customs, and see parts of Kathmandu’s market life that are easy to miss alone.

“Santosh was a really great guide who not only showed me amazing food spots frequented by locals, but also gave me lots of information about Kathmandu and Nepal. We tried multiple local foods with a great variety. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to try something new and expand their food horizons.”

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5.Oldest Local Market Walking Tour With Living Goddess Kumari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2 hours · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at Chhaya Devi Complex in Thamel for a two-hour walk through Ason Market and Kathmandu Durbar Square. You’ll learn about Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Kumari tradition. Guide Santos has received praise for clear, detailed explanations.

“Her gaze is impressive!! I’m so happy and honored to have visited the living goddess Kumari”

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6.Oldest Local Market Walking Tour with Living Goddess Kumari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $40

Walk from Thamel through Ason Bazaar to Kathmandu Durbar Square with an English-speaking guide. Shop-lined lanes, temples, courtyards, and a short visit to Kumari Chowk are included. The tour costs $40, with a separate NPR 1,000 monument fee.

“Seeing the Kumari is a really special experience, expert guide through the market and Kathmandu Durbar Square, an ideal tour to begin to orientate yourself in the city.”

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

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

Join an English-speaking chef in Thamel for a three-hour cooking class limited to eight people. Visit a local market, choose from three four-dish menus, prepare momos and other Nepali favorites, then eat each course fresh with masala tea.

“We had so much fun learning about Nepalese culture and food! It was very interactive and the girls were so kinds and nice!! I would definitely recommend going here :))”

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8.Local Bazaar Walking Tour in Kathmandu with Professional Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $100

Spend about three and a half hours with a private guide in Kathmandu’s Asan and Indra Chowk bazaars, then visit Kathmandu Durbar Square. Expect spice stalls, brassware, wedding ornaments, temples, narrow lanes, a traditional lunch, and hotel pickup by air-conditioned vehicle.

“A great way to epxlore the lively action filled streets of Kathamandu. It was helpful to be picked up and dropped back at our hotel. Our guide was knowledgeable very patient with us as we stopped to take photos and do shopping along the way.”

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