Nepal with Children: A 10-Day Family Itinerary That Works

Last updated 9 October 2026.

Short answer: ten days works well for a family if you use three bases and give each day one main thing to do. Spend four nights in Kathmandu for the temples, two at Chitwan for the jungle, and three in Pokhara by the lake. There is no trekking, and I built it for children from about six.

Many parents ask me for a Nepal trip that is not a trek. This is the plan I give them, and you can see it on our Family Nepal Tour, 10 Days page. Parents always travel with the children, and one licensed guide and one private vehicle stay with you for the whole tour.

What does a good family itinerary look like?

It has few moving parts. Every day has one main thing, and the afternoons stay light. Two days include five to six hours on the road, with stops whenever you want them, and some mornings start early, so I keep the rest of those days easy.

A child pays the same as an adult. Permits, hotels, a seat in the vehicle and taxes cost us the same for a child, so I cannot offer a lower child price. If you are thinking about walking with children instead, read my guide to trekking in Nepal with kids.

Quick facts

What happens on each day?

Day 1, arrival. We meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel to rest. If everyone has the energy, we go up to Swayambhunath in the afternoon, the hilltop stupa with painted eyes. Monkeys live on the slopes, so keep snacks and sunglasses in a bag. See my Swayambhunath guide for what to expect. If your flight lands late, or the children are tired, we move the visits into the days that follow.

Day 2, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. Pashupatinath is the holiest Shiva temple in Nepal, on the bank of the Bagmati river. Only Hindus may enter the main temple, but you can watch from the terraces on the far bank. Your guide explains what you will see before you arrive, so the children know what to expect. At Boudhanath you walk the kora clockwise with local people and take tea on a rooftop with a view of the stupa.

Day 3, Bhaktapur and Changunarayan. Bhaktapur is the best preserved of the old Malla cities. We walk Durbar Square, the five-storey Nyatapola temple and the potters' square, where clay is still shaped and dried in the open. Some buildings are still being restored after the 2015 earthquake, so part of a square may be screened off. We then drive to Changunarayan, a Vishnu temple on a ridge above the valley.

Day 4, Kathmandu to Chitwan. We drive south along the Trishuli river for five to six hours, with stops. At the lodge there is a briefing from your naturalist guide. In the evening the Tharu people, the indigenous community of the Terai, perform their stick dance by firelight. My guide to Tharu culture at Chitwan explains what you will watch.

Day 5, jungle day. We start early, when the birds are loudest, with a walk at the edge of the forest with your naturalist guide. After breakfast we drive into the park by 4x4 jeep along sal forest tracks and grassland. The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the star. You may also see spotted deer, wild boar, and gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles on the river banks. We finish with a dugout canoe ride on the Rapti river. Tigers live in the park, but they are rarely seen, and no sighting can be guaranteed. My Chitwan safari guide goes into more detail.

Day 6, Chitwan to Pokhara. If you are awake early, a short walk around the lodge grounds in the first light is the best birdwatching of the trip. After breakfast we drive 159 km to Pokhara, five to six hours with stops. In the evening you walk the flat, shaded lakeside path and watch the sunset over the water.

Day 7, Sarangkot and a boat. We drive up to Sarangkot, about 1,600 m, at first light for the sunrise on the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre. If the children cannot manage a 5:00 am start, we go for the morning view later. Then a private boat takes us across Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple on its island, and we walk the Old Bazaar.

Day 8, Davis Falls, a cave and the museum. We visit the Seti river gorge and Davis Falls, then one of two caves, Gupteshwor Mahadev or Mahendra, and you choose on the day. After lunch we spend an hour or two in the International Mountain Museum. For more on the city, read things to do in Pokhara.

Day 9 and 10. A short flight takes you back to Kathmandu, with the afternoon free in Thamel. On day 10 we take you to the airport three hours before departure, unless you tell us otherwise.

How do you handle the two long drives?

I would not try to hide them. Each is five to six hours, and we stop when you ask, for a toilet, a snack or just to stretch. Put the children's books and games in the front of the bag. The lowland road is warm, and the hills give way to the Terai. The reward at the end of the first drive is the Tharu evening, and at the end of the second it is the lake.

What will children enjoy most?

The jeep safari and the canoe come first for most children, and then the monkeys at Swayambhunath and the boat on Phewa Lake. The potters' square in Bhaktapur is also good, because they can watch clay being shaped. I would rather tell you that children have different favourites than promise which one it will be.

What about temples and etiquette with children?

Shoes come off at some entrances, and shoulders and knees should be covered. Leather items are not allowed inside a few Hindu temples. Your guide explains the rules before each stop. At Pashupatinath, I suggest you tell the children beforehand what they will see on the far bank.

When is the best time to go?

October to March is the best for Chitwan, and September to November and February to May for Kathmandu and Pokhara. Summer is hot and wet. For Chitwan, bring neutral-coloured clothes, insect repellent and a hat. Read the best time to visit Chitwan for the month-by-month picture.

What is included and what is not?

The tour includes nine nights in 3-star hotels and a jungle lodge, with private rooms, breakfast, lunch and dinner from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 10, a licensed guide for all ten days, a private van for every transfer and sightseeing day, the Pokhara to Kathmandu flight for you and your guide, the entrance fees, the Chitwan jeep safari, jungle walk, canoe and Tharu evening, and a private boat in Pokhara. It does not include international flights, your visa, travel insurance, tips, drinks outside the plan, or Kathmandu nights before or after the programme.

Bring a copy of each child's passport. Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also travel solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice, to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu, in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. We tell you your guide's name after you book.

Questions people ask

What is the youngest age? I built it for children from about six. Younger ones can come, but tell us each child's age when you book.

Will we see a tiger? Probably not. Tigers are rarely seen, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Is it too much for grandparents? The pace is easy and there is no trekking, but there are steps at the temples and early starts. Tell us who is coming and we will adjust.

Do children pay less? No, a child pays the same as an adult.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.