The best views of the Himalayas in Nepal are from the Everest flight-seeing flights.

If you go out past Bhaktapur to Changu Narayan (no need for a tour - just take a taxi), you'll get some nice views there, and there are some fairly easy walks in the area. That's just a day trip from Kathmandu.

PS, you didn't ask this, but the best views of the Himalayas I've experienced are from Sikkim - NE India.

I agree with Kathie - take the flight.

If you plan to be in India, Kathie is right although when I was in Sikkim one needed a permit. In the same general area the views of Kanchenjunga, the main mountain you see from Sikkim, can be seen beautifully (when it's not covered in clouds) from Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Ah, Mme Perdu, we have been to many of the same places. We were in Sikkim in 2010, and while you do need a permit, it was pretty pro forma. You could simply stop on your way in at Rangpo and pick up a permit. We didn't stop at Kalimpong, but did go to Darjeeling which we didn't like much after our wonderful time in Sikkim.

The nicest thing about Kalimpong is that there are relatively few tourists so it's a "real" place. I stayed a while, waiting for a friend to catch up from a trek in Sikkim and liked it VERY much. Rather a step back in time compared to other better known places in the region.

Thanks for your comments about Kalimpong - we thought about it but didn't have enough time - maybe next time! Where did you go in Sikkim? We just loved what we saw of it!

I stayed at a farm/guest house near a village in the east. Heard about the place from another traveler in Delhi who'd just come from there. We were picked up in Bagdogra and driven there by jeep through tea gardens and unpaved roads for hours, through a waterfall that came down on the road when it rained. The guest house was a family farm run by 2 young sisters and their brother and accommodated just a few of us who'd come to just hang out and take walks. The closest landmark was Kanchenjunga and the Nepal border which they pointed out to us on a ridge. One of the corners of the world you usually come upon by accident as we did.

There are so many little homestays in Sikkim! We stayed in Gangtok and Pelling, and visited many of the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the area. Driving in Sikkim was quite an adventure. Your comment about the waterfalls reminded me of one place that had water flowing down the mountain and across the road became in impromptu car wash for the locals.

We encountered very few western tourists in Sikkim, almost all the tourists we met were from India. For such a gorgeous place, it is remarkably untouristed.

thanks a lot!
I'll look up Changu Narayan
if you think of any interesting towns close to pokhara, that would also be wonderful.
we just came from India, so we won't be going back, but maybe someone will find this thread and get some inspiration about sikkim.
the flight is out of our budget. we'd spend $350 on a few hours of entertainment, when that is closer to our budget for the country! I'd rather move slower and spend more time with the mountains
thanks for the ideas

Well, you could stop in Bandipur between Kathmandu and Pokhara - click on my name for my S. Asia TR, starting in Nepal. $350 seems high for that flight, but I suppose that's for two?

Sorry to have hijacked your thread to chat about Sikkim.

I do think Changu Narayan is well worth the trip. Here is a link to our Nepal photos: www.marlandc.com/Nepal/index.html Look at the photos from the drive to Bhaktapur and then on to Changu Narayan.