Family trips go wrong when the days are too long. This one has no road leg over six hours, no more than one big sight before lunch, and afternoons that leave time for a swim, a nap or a game of cards. The highest point is Sarangkot at 1,600 m, so altitude is no concern for small children or grandparents. Food is easy: vegetarian thalis, dal bhat and North Indian dishes are available everywhere, and hotels make plain, mild food for children on request.
Children remember the animals and the rides. The Manakamana cable car lifts you 2.8 km up a forested hillside in about 10 minutes to a temple at 1,302 m, a favourite stop with Indian families. In Chitwan they see rhinos from a jeep, crocodiles from a dugout canoe and baby elephants at the breeding centre. Pokhara adds rowing boats, a waterfall that disappears into the ground and caves with bats. The parents get the Pashupatinath darshan and the Himalaya at sunrise.
Highlights
- Manakamana cable car and darshan on the drive to Chitwan
- Rhinos on a jeep safari, crocodiles from a dugout canoe
- Baby elephants at the Khorsor elephant breeding centre
- Boating to Tal Barahi, Davis Falls and the bat cave in Pokhara
- Pashupatinath darshan and the reclining Vishnu at Budhanilkantha
- 25-minute flight from Pokhara instead of a 7-hour drive home
Elevation profile
1,600 mWhere you sleepHigh point of the dayCheck acclimatisation
Day by day
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DAY1
Arrive Kathmandu, Budhanilkantha visit
We meet the family at Tribhuvan International Airport with a van large enough for luggage and car seats if you need them. After check-in and lunch, drive 9 km north to Budhanilkantha at the foot of the Shivapuri hills. Here a Licchavi-era statue of Vishnu, about 5 m long and carved from a single black stone, lies on a bed of coiled serpents in a small pond. Children are usually struck by the size of it. On the way back stop at the Garden of Dreams near Thamel, a walled 1920s garden with lawns and pavilions where children can run about.
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DAY2
Pashupatinath darshan and Bhaktapur
Go to Pashupatinath at 7:30 am, before the queues build, for darshan of the four-faced Shiva lingam. Our guide can arrange a short family puja with a temple priest. A 10-minute drive brings you to Boudhanath, where children like spinning the long rows of prayer wheels. After an early lunch, continue 10 km east to Bhaktapur. At Pottery Square potters let children try the wheel for a small fee, and every family should share a clay bowl of juju dhau, Bhaktapur's sweet curd. The five-tiered Nyatapola temple, guarded by stone wrestlers, elephants and lions on its stairs, is the photo stop.
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DAY3
Manakamana cable car, on to Chitwan
We leave at 7 am and drive 105 km, about 3–4 hours, down the Trishuli valley to Kurintar. The Manakamana cable car climbs 2.8 km from the riverbank at about 258 m to the hilltop temple at 1,302 m in roughly 10 minutes, with the river shrinking below you. The two-tiered pagoda is dedicated to Bhagwati, believed to fulfil wishes, and families queue with coconuts, red cloth and marigolds. After darshan and lunch at the top, ride back down and continue about 2 hours to Sauraha. Check in to the jungle resort and relax by the Rapti in the evening.
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DAY4
Canoe, baby elephants and jeep safari
The morning begins with a dugout canoe ride of about 45 minutes on the Rapti. Life jackets are provided, and children sit between adults while the naturalist points out mugger crocodiles sunning on the sandbanks and blue kingfishers on low branches. A short walk leads to the elephant breeding centre at Khorsor, where young calves stay close to their mothers. After lunch and a rest, a jeep safari of three to four hours goes into the park for one-horned rhinos, deer, wild boar and peacocks. In the evening watch a Tharu stick dance, with drums and fast footwork.
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DAY5
Tharu village, drive to Pokhara
Before breakfast, take a gentle walk through a Tharu village next to Sauraha. Children can see ox carts, goats and families drying rice and mustard in the yards, and the naturalist explains how the Tharu people built homes from mud, straw and cow dung. After breakfast, drive about 150 km to Pokhara via Narayanghat and Mugling, 5–6 hours with a lunch stop beside the Trishuli. The road climbs gently into the hills and the air cools. Reach Lakeside by late afternoon for a walk along Phewa Lake and dinner at one of its many Indian restaurants.
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DAY6
Sarangkot sunrise, falls and caves
Early risers drive up to Sarangkot (1,600 m) at about 5 am for sunrise over Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South and Dhaulagiri, while younger children can sleep and join after breakfast. Mid-morning, visit Davis Falls, where the stream plunges into an underground channel, and the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave opposite, with damp steps down to a Shiva lingam and a view of the falls from below. After lunch head north of town to the Mahendra Cave with its limestone shapes and the Bat Cave, where torches pick out hundreds of bats on the ceiling. A narrow squeeze-exit is optional.
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DAY7
Phewa boating and Peace Pagoda
Take a rowing boat to Tal Barahi, the island temple in Phewa Lake, and ring its bells. Then cross to the south shore and walk 45 minutes to an hour uphill through forest to the World Peace Pagoda on Anadu hill, about 1,100 m, or let the van drive you round if grandparents prefer. The white stupa looks over the lake to the Annapurnas. After lunch the afternoon is free: visit the International Mountain Museum, book paragliding for teenagers and parents, or rest at the hotel. In the evening, walk the lakeside, where boating ghats and shops stay busy until about 9 pm.
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DAY8
Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu, depart
After breakfast we drive to Pokhara airport for the 25-minute flight to Kathmandu. Sit on the left side of the plane for views of the Annapurna and Manaslu ranges on a clear morning. At Kathmandu our driver meets you at the domestic terminal and, if you have time before your international flight, takes you to Thamel or Asan for last shopping: pashmina shawls, singing bowls, Nepali tea and wooden toys. We then drop you at the international terminal, a short drive across the airport, three hours before departure. Domestic flights can be delayed, so we book the earliest practical flight.
Route map
- 1Kathmandu 1,400 m
- 2Bhaktapur 1,401 m
- 3Manakamana 1,302 m
- 4Chitwan National Park 150 m
- 5Pokhara 822 m
- 6Sarangkot 1,600 m
Included
- 2 nights at a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast, family or interconnecting rooms on request
- 2 nights at a Sauraha jungle resort on full board from day 3 dinner
- 3 nights at a 3-star Lakeside hotel in Pokhara with breakfast
- Pokhara–Kathmandu flight with 20 kg checked baggage per person (check current airline rules)
- Manakamana cable car return tickets
- Chitwan activities: canoe ride, jungle walk, elephant breeding centre, jeep safari, Tharu village walk and cultural show, with park fees
- Private van with driver for road legs and airport transfers
- Licensed English- or Hindi-speaking guide for Kathmandu and Pokhara sightseeing
- Taxes and our service charge
Not included
- International flights and the Nepal visa fee for non-Indian passports
- Monument and museum fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara (check current status before you travel)
- Lunches and dinners outside Chitwan
- Puja materials and priest dakshina at temples
- Paragliding and other optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guide, driver and naturalists
- Drinks, snacks and personal shopping
Popular add-ons
- Tandem paragliding from Sarangkot, 20–30 min≈ ₹8,000–10,000 per person
- Family puja at Pashupatinath with a temple priest≈ ₹2,500–5,000 per family, depending on the puja
- Kathmandu–Bharatpur flight on day 3 instead of the road≈ ₹4,000 for Indian nationals (skips Manakamana; check current fares)
Good to know
- The ₹45,000 price is per adult for two sharing at 3-star hotels, outside Dashain–Tihar and Christmas–New Year; children under 5 sharing parents' bed usually travel free except for flights, and we quote child rates with extra beds when you send ages.
- Indian and other SAARC nationals pay lower park, monument and cable car fees than other foreigners, which the US$ price covers; fees change, so check current status before you travel.
- May and June school holidays work well in Pokhara, but Chitwan is hot, often 35–40 °C, so safaris run early and late; from mid-June monsoon rain can affect roads.
- Domestic flights in Nepal are weather dependent; if the Pokhara flight is cancelled we drive you to Kathmandu, so book your international flight for late evening.
- We do not book elephant-back rides for children or adults; the jeep, canoe and breeding centre visit give close views without riding.
Trip details
- Starts
- Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport)
- Ends
- Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport)
- Stay
- 3-star family-friendly hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, a jungle resort in Sauraha on full board; twin or family rooms
- Transport
- Private van with driver on the road legs, Manakamana cable car, Pokhara–Kathmandu flight
- Walking days
- 7
- January good
- February good
- March best
- April best
- May good
- June good
- July avoid
- August avoid
- September good
- October best
- November best
- December best
Questions about this trip
Is Nepal safe for families with children?
Nepal is generally a safe and welcoming country for families, and Nepalis are warm with children. The main risks are road traffic, stomach upsets and sun, all manageable with a private driver, bottled water and sunscreen. After the September 2025 protests in Kathmandu, check current advisories before you book and again before you fly. We keep families away from rallies and adjust routes on strike days.
What is the cost of a Nepal family tour package from India?
Our 8-day family holiday starts at ₹45,000 per adult for two sharing, including 3-star hotels, the Pokhara–Kathmandu flight, Manakamana cable car, safaris in Chitwan, a private van and a guide. Children under 5 sharing a bed usually pay only for flights; children 5–11 with an extra bed typically cost 60–75% of the adult rate. Send us the ages and we quote the exact price.
Do children need a passport to travel to Nepal from India?
Indian children do not need a passport for Nepal. Children under 15 can travel on photo identification such as a PAN card, driving licence or ration card, and those aged 15–18 need an identity certificate from their school principal. Adults need a passport or voter ID. Airlines set their own checks, so confirm with your airline before booking and check current status before you travel.
What age is right for a Chitwan safari?
Children of almost any age can join a jeep safari with their parents, though the 3–4 hour drive is long for toddlers, so we can shorten it. For the dugout canoe, children should be about 5 or older and able to sit still in a life jacket. Jungle walks inside the park are best for those 10 and above. The breeding centre and Tharu village suit all ages.
Is the Manakamana cable car safe for grandparents?
Yes. The Manakamana cable car runs enclosed gondolas from Kurintar to the temple in about 10 minutes, and there is no walking on steep ground at either end. At the top, the temple is a few minutes' walk up paved lanes with some steps. Queues can be long on Saturdays and festival days, so we arrive on weekdays when possible. The cable car closes for routine maintenance on some days; check current status before you travel.
Do you include elephant rides in Chitwan?
No. We do not book elephant-back rides, which are increasingly seen as harmful to the animals. Instead, children see elephants at the government breeding centre at Khorsor, where calves stay with their mothers, and watch rhinos and other wildlife from a jeep and a canoe. These also give better views and photographs than the slow, high ride used to.
Can we get Indian vegetarian and Jain food in Nepal?
Yes. Kathmandu and Pokhara both have many pure-vegetarian Indian restaurants, and dal bhat, Nepal's daily meal, is vegetarian. Jungle resorts in Chitwan serve buffets with several vegetarian dishes and will cook Jain food if told in advance. Tell us your needs when booking and we inform every hotel. Carry a few familiar snacks for long drives.
When is the best time for a Nepal family holiday?
October and November, which line up with Dussehra and Diwali breaks for many Indian families, give clear skies and comfortable 20–25 °C days. December and late March to April also work well. The May–June summer holidays are fine in Kathmandu and Pokhara, but Chitwan is very hot, so we keep safari times early and late. We avoid July and August because of monsoon rain.
Is there any risk of altitude sickness for children?
No. The highest point is Sarangkot at 1,600 m, reached only for an hour at sunrise, and you sleep at 1,400 m or lower. Altitude sickness generally appears above about 2,500 m. Children may find the winding roads harder than the height, so bring motion-sickness medicine your doctor recommends and ask for the front seats. We stop every couple of hours on longer drives.
