What suits each age
Children enjoy Nepal for different reasons at different ages. Toddlers like boats, animals and pigeons in temple squares; primary-school children love rhinos, caves and suspension bridges; teenagers want paragliding, rafting and a real trek. The table is how we match trips to the youngest member of the family.
Grandparents change the plan as much as children do. A family of three generations needs fewer early starts, hotels with lifts or ground-floor rooms, and a flight instead of the longest drive. In practice the same pace suits both ends of the family well.
| Age | Works well | Think twice about |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 | Pokhara lake hotels, Chitwan by jeep, short city visits | Long drives, nights above 2,500 m, heli landings at altitude |
| 3–6 | Boating, caves, breeding centre, Bhaktapur squares | Treks of more than 2 hours a day |
| 7–11 | Ghandruk trek, jeep safari, Sarangkot sunrise | Treks above 3,500 m |
| 12–17 | Poon Hill, Sing Gompa, rafting, paragliding | Base camp treks without training |
An 8-day family loop
Our 8-day family holiday is paced for children and grandparents together, from ₹45,000 per adult at 3-star hotels. It spends two nights in Kathmandu for Budhanilkantha, Pashupatinath and the old town of Bhaktapur, then takes the Manakamana cable car on the way to two nights in Chitwan. Three relaxed nights in Pokhara follow, with boating on Phewa Lake, Davis Falls, the caves and one early sunrise at Sarangkot. The last day flies back to Kathmandu in 25 minutes, skipping the longest drive.
We keep each drive to one per day and stop every 90 minutes or so. Children under 5 sharing their parents' bed usually travel free except for flights, and children aged 5–11 pay about 50–60 percent of the adult price on most of our family trips. If you have only five days, the Pokhara family holiday stays in one Lakeside hotel with a pool and short outings, from ₹21,000 per adult.
Wildlife days in Chitwan
Chitwan is usually the highlight for children. Our 3-night family safari splits game viewing into two shorter jeep drives instead of one long one, adds a dugout canoe on the Rapti for crocodiles and birds, a visit to the gharial breeding centre at Kasara, a bicycle or ox-cart tour of a Tharu village and the evening stick dance. Resorts with pools make the hot afternoons easy, and naturalists move activity times around naps and meals.
One-horned rhinos are seen on most jeep drives; tigers are rare and should be treated as a bonus. We do not book elephant-back rides for children or adults; the jeep, canoe and breeding centre give close views without riding. From April to June Chitwan reaches 35–40 °C at midday, so plan safaris early and late. Families coming by road from India can pair Chitwan with Lumbini on our 5-night family tour, with battery rickshaws between the monasteries.
Short treks children enjoy
Two treks work well for families. The 3-day Ghandruk trek from Pokhara suits children aged about 7 and over: a jeep to the Gurung village at 1,940 m, a day across the Modi Khola gorge to Landruk, and a walk out over the Australian Camp ridge, never above 2,100 m or more than 5 hours a day, from ₹19,000 per adult. For younger children we arrange a porter with a basket carrier.
In Langtang, the 6-day Sing Gompa trek uses a private jeep to Dhunche and two short walking days of 2–4 hours through forest to Chandanbari at 3,330 m, with a cheese dairy, a red panda walk and the Cholang Pati viewpoint at 3,584 m. It suits children aged about 6 and above who enjoy walking. Children under 10 are generally exempt from park fees on both routes. Lodges are simple, so bring sleeping bags.
Altitude and children
Young children cannot always tell you when they feel unwell, and altitude sickness in a child can look like tiredness, crankiness or poor appetite. For that reason we keep families with children under about 6 below 2,500 m for sleeping, and we do not take infants or very young children on helicopter landings above 5,000 m. The Everest heli tour for families stops at Hotel Everest View at 3,880 m for this reason, and even there some parents prefer the Everest mountain flight from Kathmandu, which never lands.
On treks above 3,000 m, watch children for headache, vomiting, unusual sleepiness or refusing food, and go down if symptoms do not ease. Give plenty of water and keep days short.
Documents, health and packing
Indian children can travel on a passport, which is the simplest option. Rules relaxed in 2019 allow children under 15 to use other government photo ID such as Aadhaar, and teenagers aged 15–18 a school identity certificate in the prescribed format, but airline staff do not always know this. Carry birth certificates and school ID for every child, and call your airline 48 hours before departure. Children of other nationalities need their own visa on arrival. Check current status before you travel.
- Drink only bottled, boiled or filtered water, and use it for brushing teeth
- Pack oral rehydration salts, a children's fever reducer, plasters and any regular medicines
- Bring sun hats, SPF 50 sunscreen and a warm layer for early starts, even in April
- Most hotels can heat milk and cook plain dal, rice and khichdi on request
- Car seats are not standard in Nepali vehicles; bring a travel booster if your child uses one
- Paragliding is usually allowed from about 6 years and 25 kg; the ZipFlyer from about 35 kg
Timing a trip around school holidays
Indian school holidays fall in three windows that suit Nepal differently. May and June work well in Pokhara and Kathmandu, but Chitwan is hot and the monsoon can reach the hills from mid-June, bringing road delays. The October Dashain and Diwali break is the best weather of the year, but hotel and vehicle rates rise 20–35 percent and Delhi flights can reach ₹25,000–32,000, so book 8–10 weeks ahead. The December break is clear and cool, with foggy mornings in Chitwan and cold nights in Nagarkot.
If you can take children out of school for a week in February or early March, you get good weather, lower prices and the best wildlife viewing in Chitwan after the grass is cut.
Regions and places in this post
- Kathmandu Valley
- Pokhara & the Middle Hills
- Chitwan & the Central Terai
- Langtang & Gosaikunda
- Kathmandu
- Bhaktapur
- Pokhara
- Chitwan National Park
- Chandanbari (Sing Gompa)
Questions travellers ask
Is Nepal safe for a family holiday with kids?
Nepal is generally a safe and welcoming country for families, with low violent crime. The main risks are long mountain drives, stomach upsets and altitude. Choose itineraries with one drive a day and no night travel, drink treated water, and keep young children below about 2,500 m for sleeping. Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
What is the best age to take children to Nepal?
Any age works for Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, though children aged 5 and over get the most from safaris, caves and boating. From about 7, children can enjoy a short trek like Ghandruk, and from 12 the Poon Hill trek or rafting. Babies and toddlers travel well on a relaxed plan with few long drives.
How much does a Nepal family trip cost from India?
Our 8-day family holiday covering Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara costs from ₹45,000 per adult at 3-star hotels. Children aged 5–11 sharing with parents usually pay about 50–60 percent, and under-5s often travel free except for flights. A 5-day Pokhara-only holiday starts at ₹21,000 per adult. Delhi flights add ₹12,000–22,000 per person return.
Can children go on the Everest helicopter tour?
Children can join the Everest heli tour, but we do not take infants or very young children to landings above 5,000 m, as they cannot tell you how they feel. Our 3-day family package lands only at Hotel Everest View, 3,880 m, for breakfast. Children pay the same seat price as adults on shared helicopters.
What ID do Indian children need for Nepal?
A passport is the safest choice for children. Under rules relaxed in 2019, children under 15 may use other Indian government photo ID such as Aadhaar, and those aged 15–18 a school identity certificate in the prescribed format. Airline staff do not always apply these rules, so carry birth certificates too and check current status before you travel.