Nepal with Children
Photo: Mahendra Raj Adhikari, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
About
Twelve slow days for a family, with something for every age. Monkeys at Swayambhu and a potter's wheel in Bhaktapur; a boat on Phewa Lake, a bat cave and a waterfall in Pokhara; two easy days on the hills above Pokhara, sleeping in a lodge with the Annapurna range in front of the window; and the forest of Chitwan, with rhinos, deer and birds, and a Tharu village at sunset. Short days, long breaks, no altitude problem, and one guide the children get to know.
A private journey
Your holiday in Nepal, travelled your way
Namaste, and welcome to Nepal. A week or two here can feel like a race when you are one of thirty on a coach. With your own guide it becomes a journey: the same face every morning, a car that stops for tea in a village, a slow day when you need one, and someone who knows the country and wants you to feel at home in it. I would like you to go home feeling that Nepal was kind to you.
- Your family's rhythm
- Naps, snacks and playtime fit into the day; nothing is rushed for a timetable.
- The same face every day
- Children get to know one guide, which makes new places feel safe.
- Short walks, real views
- The hill walk is 2 to 3 hours a day, with a car close when we need it.
- Just you, and the people you came with
- No strangers to wait for, no group to keep up with.
- The same guide from the first day to the last
- You never start again with someone new.
- Rest days when you want them
- We add one, or move the plan, whenever you need it.
- The country between the places
- Villages, rivers and roadside tea, not only the famous sights.
- Someone to look after the details
- Tickets, permits, rooms and roads are arranged for you, so your mind is free.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- The monkeys and prayer wheels of Swayambhu
- A turn at the potter's wheel in Bhaktapur's pottery square, if the potters have a free wheel
- A boat on Phewa Lake and the caves and waterfall of Pokhara
- A night at Australian Camp with the Annapurna range in front of the lodge
- Chitwan's forest with a park nature guiderhinos, deer, crocodiles and birds
- A Tharu village walk and the Rapti river at sunset
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · Arrive in KathmanduI meet you at the airport or your hotel. Rest after the flight.
|
About 30 minutes from the airport | Kathmandu | Dinner |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · Swayambhu and PatanThe monkeys and prayer wheels of Swayambhu in the morning, Patan's squares and a quiet courtyard lunch.
|
Short drives inside the city | Kathmandu | Entry tickets; lunch |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · Bhaktapur and BoudhaBhaktapur's squares, the pottery square and a bowl of the town's famous curd (juju dhau). Boudha's great stupa in the evening.
|
About 1 hour to Bhaktapur | Kathmandu | Entry tickets; lunch |
| Day 4 | Day 4 · To PokharaA short flight, or the road with stops for tea and a swing bridge. A quiet evening by the lake.
|
25 minutes by plane, or 7 to 8 hours by car | Pokhara, near the lake | Car or flight |
| Day 5 | Day 5 · PokharaA boat on Phewa Lake to the little island temple of Tal Barahi, Devi's Fall and the cave of Gupteshwor Mahadev, and the International Mountain Museum if the children like mountains.
|
Short drives | Pokhara | Boat; entry tickets |
| Day 6 | Day 6 · Up to Australian CampA short drive to Kande and an easy walk up through the forest to Australian Camp, about 1.5 to 2 hours, with the Annapurna range in front of the lodge.
|
About 1 hour by car; then 1.5 to 2 hours on foot | Australian Camp, a mountain lodge | Annapurna Conservation Area permit; lodge |
| Day 7 | Day 7 · Dhampus and down to PokharaSunrise on the mountains, an easy walk along the ridge to Dhampus village, then down the stone steps to the road and back to Pokhara.
|
3 to 4 hours on foot in all; 30 minutes by car | Pokhara | Car |
| Day 8 | Day 8 · To ChitwanDown to the lowlands. An afternoon by the pool or in the shade, and the Rapti river at sunset.
|
About 150 km: 5 to 6 hours by car | Sauraha, by Chitwan National Park | Car; lunch on the way |
| Day 9 | Days 9 and 10 · ChitwanTwo days at an easy pace with a licensed park nature guide: a canoe in the morning mist, a jeep drive in the forest, a walk to a Tharu village, and time to rest in between.
|
Sauraha | Park entry; canoe, jeep and nature guide at their prices | |
| Day 10 | Days 11 and 12 · Back to Kathmandu, and homeA short flight from Bharatpur or the road back to Kathmandu. A free last day before your flight home.
|
25 minutes by plane, or 6 to 7 hours by car | Kathmandu (night 11) | Car or flight |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- Long road days are hard on small children; flying the two long legs helps.
- The mountain lodge is basic: shared bathrooms in some, cold from December to February.
- Chitwan's jeep drives are bumpy and dusty, and animals are never certain.
- Sauraha is busy and built-up in the high season.
Photos from this tour
More about this tour
Best time to go
Best from October to December and from February to April.- GoodJAN
- BestFEB
- BestMAR
- GoodAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- HazySEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
In December and January the lowlands are often foggy and cold in the morning; from April to early June they are very hot. In the monsoon roads are slower and landslides can close them for hours.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk around stupas, monasteries and temples clockwise.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, or inside temples; some do not allow it.
- Take off your shoes where others do, and dress with shoulders and knees covered at holy places.
- In the parks, keep quiet and keep your distance from animals; follow the nature guide.
Staying away: 9 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 12 days, plus my overnight allowance × 7 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Car and driver | The driver or car company | Agreed before the tour | Paid at cost |
| Flights, if you fly | The airline | The airline's price | Paid at cost |
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | The permit office | Official price | For the hill days |
| Porter, if you want one | The porter | His day rate | Paid to him |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.A family journey
The route is the classic Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, slowed down for children, with two easy days on the hills above Pokhara. Every day has a rest, and every long journey can be a short flight.
The hill days
Australian Camp and Dhampus lie on a ridge north-west of Pokhara, inside the Annapurna Conservation Area, below about 2,100 m. The walks are on village paths and stone steps.
Chitwan
Chitwan National Park is a World Heritage Site of forest, grassland and rivers. The park’s licensed nature guides lead inside the park; I come with you.
Entry tickets are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal. The valley’s monuments: see UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
Frequently asked questions
What age is it good for?
About 6 and older for the hill walk. With younger children we leave out the hill days or use a porter basket; tell me their ages.
Is it safe for children?
The places are calm and the walks short. We keep away from busy roads on foot, and the car is always close.
What about food?
Every place has simple food children like: rice, noodles, pancakes, eggs. I help you choose clean places.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people, children included.
Can we do rafting?
A gentle half day on the Trishuli or the Seti fits on the way to Chitwan, with a rafting company and its own river guides, at their price.
Can you book everything?
If you want, at their own price, with every price sent by email first.
Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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