Lumbini Day Tour: Visit the Birthplace of Lord Buddha

Best Time for Lumbini Day Tour

It is crucial to plan the appropriate moment to enjoy and have a comfortable Lumbini Day Tour, as Lumbini is located in the subtropical Terai area of Nepal. Autumn and spring are the most suitable seasons to have a Lumbini Day Tour because the weather is good and conducive to sightseeing.

October and November months as well as the months of February and March, are quite conducive to the weather as they are mildly temperate with clear weather and a serene environment.

The daytime temperatures in such periods are normally mid-20 °C (70- 80°F); therefore, walking around and exploring cultural sites on your Lumbini Day Tour will be most comfortable.

Another ideal time to visit Lumbini Day Tour is during winter, which is between December and January. Days are usually dry and mellow, and the temperatures are approximately 20 °C (68°F).

But it is cold in the mornings and evenings, and in some cases the temperature can fall up to 8-10 °C (46- 50 °F), and early flights can be affected by fog. This season is advisable for dressing in layers.

The Lumbini Day Tour is not good during the summer and monsoon months. Between May and June, the temperature may reach 35-40 °C (95-104°F), thus sightseeing is exhausting.

The July to September season is called the monsoon season, which causes heavy rainfall and humidity, which can interfere with travelling.

Autumn is the best time to enjoy your Lumbini Day Tour from Kathmandu, or spring is the best season to enjoy it.

Visa and Permits

It is also good to note that there are no complex documentations, such as permits, before you join your Lumbini Day Tour. All you need is a visa for Nepal.

The majority of foreigners visiting the country can easily access a visa at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. It is done by filling a form and paying a fee of which the shortest period is 15 days of visa.

In case you are already in Nepal, it is just necessary to make sure that your current visa will work on the day of the Lumbini Day Tour. Indian citizens do not need a visa to travel to Nepal and can travel with a valid government-issued ID.

There are no special trekking or travel permits needed for a Lumbini Day. Lumbini receives visitors all year round.
Nevertheless, the foreigners have to pay a small entry fee to visit the Lumbini Sacred Garden, including the complex of the Maya Devi temple.

This is an extra charge that should not be included in the tour cost but has to be paid at the location in Nepali Rupees.

No other documents are required, except your Nepal visa and the Lumbini entrance ticket. This renders the Lumbini Day Tour a cultural experience that is non-hustle and hassle-free.

Health and Safety

We value your comfort and well-being in your Lumbini Day Tour, and luckily, travelling in Lumbini is not viewed as a high-risk or unsafe location. Nevertheless, simple health and safety measures will allow arranging a pleasant and trouble-free experience.

Lumbini is located in the hot Terai plains, so it is necessary to be hydrated. Consumption of a lot of bottled or purified water during your Lumbini Day Tour, particularly in warm seasons, is recommended.

It is strongly advisable to wear sunscreen, a sunhat, and sunglasses as a way of shielding yourself against harsh sun rays.

Mornings are cool in winter, and in this case, you can dress in layers so that you can easily add and take off a layer of clothes as daylight approaches.

Lumbini Day Tour is a light walk that is on smooth and well-constructed paths, thus it can be done by people of any age group.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and also do not forget to take off your shoes when entering temples and holy places.

Insect repellent is also advisable, especially during the monsoon and late summer seasons, as the chances of the presence of mosquitoes are high.

Lumbini is a serene pilgrimage site whose crime rate is very low in terms of safety. Your sightseeing guide will be with you throughout the Lumbini sightseeing to aid in ensuring your safety and easy movement.

There are basic first aid, and in case of any severe medical requirements, the hospitals in Bhairahawa and Kathmandu. The Lumbini Day Tour with you will be stress-free and very fulfilling with basic precautions.

Transportation

You are assured of a comfortable, efficient, and maximum sightseeing time in your transportation to the Lumbini Day Tour.

It starts in the morning with a comfortable domestic flight service between Kathmandu and Bhairahawa. This is a 25-30-minute flight, which saves a lot of time and many hours, as compared to road travel, since the Lumbini Day Tour is a one-day trip.

You will be picked up by our staff from the Kathmandu hotel and will be assisted with airport formalities to clear out of Kathmandu.

On reaching Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa, there will be a private vehicle to pick you up to Lumbini. The distance is some 25 kilometers, and the journey lasts an hour by a well-paved road along the picturesque Terai plains.

The car is comfortable and well-air-conditioned, and you will be able to unwind in the transfer as part of your Lumbini Day Tour from Kathmandu.

Most of the sightseeing activities are on foot within the Lumbini complex to allow a tourist to enjoy the peaceful environment. A local tuk-tuk (rickshaw) ride is also included to comfortably cover a bigger area of the monastic zone and the World Peace Pagoda.

Flights, transfers, and all the transportation inside the Lumbini Day Tour are handled by Life Himalaya Trekking, and you have the chance to travel without any worry and concentrate on the spiritual experience.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is useful for trips in Nepal, which covers domestic flight cancellations and medical evacuation, even in a simple and quick tour such as the Lumbini day tour.

Although the tour itself is considered to be a safe situation, carrying insurance will provide you with calmness during the event that something goes wrong.

Nepalese domestic flights may at times be postponed and rescheduled due to weather, e.g., in cases of fog, and a good insurance policy will cover the associated expenses.

Another reason to have insurance is through medical coverage. Even though the problems are unlikely to be serious, one can still encounter minor problems, such as heat exhaustion, food-related illness, or a minor injury.

Travel insurance also able to provide clinic visits, medical care, or emergency care if required. It also provides coverage on personal property.

Things like cameras, phones, or other valuables that you carry with you during sightseeing are insured in case of any loss, theft, or damage.

Prior to traveling, ensure that your insurance program entails domestic flying and domestic medical coverage in Nepal.

Travel Insurance will enable you to have a good trip in Lumbini since you do not need to worry about financial loss in case of any unexpected circumstance, as you are insured.

Alternative Routes

The Lumbini day flight tour is the best in the case of travelers who have restricted time; however, it is possible to visit Lumbini in other ways, provided that one has the time to do so.

One of the possibilities is travelling by road transport from Kathmandu to Lumbini. It is approximately 300 kilometers, and the road network and traffic can take 10-12 hours one way.

And due to this, a road trip needs at least one overnight stay, and it is a better choice with a multi-day itinerary. Other tourists may include Lumbini as a road trip (in conjunction with other destinations to visit, such as Chitwan National Park or Pokhara).

The other option would be to continue staying at Lumbini. You can fly, spend your night close to the Lumbini Garden, and fly back the following day.

This gives the time to take things slowly and pay a visit to the historical locations in the neighborhood, like Tilaurakot, the old palace compound of Prince Siddhartha.

Lumbini can be integrated with other religious places in Nepal or India in case a broader Buddhist pilgrimage is required.

With an increased budget, the traveler can also hire a helicopter charter (subject to weather conditions and aviation permits) to have a faster and more luxurious adventure. We are able to tailor the route according to your time and tastes.

Your Extra Expenses

Most of the key expenses are included in the Lumbini day tour package; however, there are a few extravagancies that you ought to budget for. The initial and the principal one is the Lumbini Sacred Garden entrance fee that consists of the Maya Devi Temple complex.

This charge is not included in the price of the tour but is instead paid over the counter at the entrance. To foreign visitors, they normally pay a few hundred Nepali Rupees, which is approximately USD 5 per person, but prices can change or vary by nationality.

The other out-of-pocket cost is meals. What your hotel covers in Kathmandu is breakfast, though lunch in Lumbini is excluded.

You will end up in a nearby restaurant where you will get to take Nepali or Indian food at a very affordable cost. During the day, you also pay for drinks, snacks, bottled water, or tea.

Personal spending is a choice, and that is a choice dependent on your interests. Local shops might sell prayer flags, small statues of Buddha, books, or postcards as examples of souvenirs. You can do a light bargain at these shops.

It is not mandatory, but welcome to tip the guide and the driver in case you are satisfied with the offered service. In general, such additional expenses are small and can be handled.

Language & Communication

In the Lumbini day tour, communication is mostly stress-free and simple. Your tour guide will be highly qualified in English and will have been working with international passengers.

Should you require a guide conversant in a different language, like Hindi or Chinese, it can be arranged before the trip, again, depending on the availability.

The local community in the Lumbini region primarily speaks Nepali, although there are other descriptive languages such as Bhojpuri and Maithili. Hindi is also known by many people, and in tourist-related places, simple English is prevalent.

Simple English and body language are often enough since people need just a simple conversation during such interactions as shopping or ordering food.

Nepalis are considered to be hospitable and helpful. It is also good to learn basic greetings such as namaste, as a simple greeting, and it is always welcome in the locals.

Coverage of mobile phones is within the borders of Lumbini. A local Nepali SIM card or NTC and Ncell Store is advisable to use in order to make cheap data and voice calls. Wi-Fi coverage within heritage places is limited, but it can be offered in the nearby restaurant or hotels.

And do not forget also to slient you phone when in temples and monasteries to be in a peaceful and meditative environment.

Don’ts on This Trip

Lumbini is a very holy place in the world, and hence one should treat it with a lot of respect in the course of the tour. Wear modest or decent clothes.

Simple clothes that reveal no more than the shoulders and knees are required, particularly in temples and monasteries. Simple tops, skirts, and lightweight pants are the best when it comes to walking around.

It is good to take off your shoes when entering places of worship like the Maya Devi Temple and monasteries. This will be facilitated by wearing footwear that can be easily removed and put on. Keep in mind the regulations of photography.

Inside the inner sanctum of the Maya Devi Temple, photography is forbidden under all conditions, and some monasteries also might lead the line in prohibiting photos. The best thing to do when uncertain is to call up your guide or refer to the signs posted.

Keep noise to a minimum. Praying, meditating, and reflecting are common practices in Lumbini; thus, no loud conversations, phone calls, or loud music should be played.

Please switch off your phone when visiting religious places. The Lumbini garden does not permit littering, smoking, or alcohol consumption since it is a sacred and serene area.

Direct touching, sitting, or climbing of monuments, ruins, and statues is not allowed. These locations are historic and holy, and they should be conserved.

Following such rules will allow Lumbini to retain its peaceful setting and will provide each visitor with an experience that will be worth remembering.

Photography & Drone Rules

Photographs can be an excellent memory or souvenir; they can be taken in many beautiful places in Lumbini. Photography is permitted in the majority of the outdoor locations.

It is free to take photos around the Lumbini Garden, Ashoka Pillar, World Peace Pagoda, and the exteriors of monasteries and the landscaped walks. The scenery at these locations is just beautiful and non-disturbing.

Nonetheless, photography is strictly prohibited in the inner part of the Maya Devi Temple, where the very place of birth of Buddha is indicated. This space is a sign of respect since cameras and phones ought to be removed.

Certain monasteries will even ban the taking of pictures within the premises. Always be alert to the signs or instructions given by your guide. One should ask permission before taking photographs of monks or the local people.

In Lumbini, without special permission, the use of drones is not allowed. Being a UNESCO World Heritage with an international boundary and the airport almost next door, the drone regulations are unexpectedly severe.

Legal permits must be obtained in advance through clearance of the aviation and local authorities in Nepal, and this is not feasible when paying for a short time.

Unauthorized flying of a drone may result in penalties and seizure. Drones should be forgotten and spend some time on the ground making calm and serene photographs, instead.