Greetings, my name is Sophia. I am a resident of Toronto, Canada, and I would say that I am a planner, an overthinker, and a person who is not ready to do anything that is out of her comfort zone almost immediately. Hence, having my husband, Adam, propose we head to Nepal, during summer with our two children; Lily (9) and Max (12), my first reaction was, Nepal? With kids? A bit much? Isn nt that?
As it turned out, this is precisely what we were missing.
What started as an experiment in the family soon became one of the most fulfilling and educative experiences a family could get. And with sincere admiration I will say that our 10-day Best of Nepal Family Tour in July 2025 is something that provided us with lifetime memories and more importantly, that has helped us grow closer than we ever were.
I would like to give you some idea of what our journey has been.
Day 1 Day Arrival In Kathmandu: A World Away
Our flight was a long and smooth one as we landed in Kathmandu via Doha. The moment I emerged out of Tribhuvan International Airport, the warm air of the monsoon with its attendant scents of incense and spice and so-called organized chaos struck me and I felt comfortably strange.
We had a sign and it had the warmest smile awaiting us by our guide, Raj. “Namaste! So we were greeted by a man with Nepali face, welcome to Nepal! The children immediately became interested, in particular, Max, who was unable to turn off his GoPro camera.
It also seemed like driving through a living museum through Kathmandu. These streets were full of motorbikes, small alleys with prayer flags hanging over them, and centuries-old temples between the contemporary houses. During the first night this was in a boutique hotel in Thamel, a tourist hub in the city. It was bright, noisy and even kid-friendly.
Day 2 – Kathmandu Valley Tour, Temples, Monkeys and blessings
The second day turned out to be the introduction into the spiritual and cultural background of Nepal. We also went to Swayambhunath, so-called Monkey Temple, and yes, the name is not false. Lily was excited and petrified when seeing monkeys running up and down the stone-steps. We enjoyed viewing the full Kathmandu Valley which was a panorama on the top of the mountain and it was a magic as the morning haze cleared up over Kathmandu.
The second must-visit tourist destinations were Pashupatinath, the most sacred Hindu shrine in Nepal. With reverent distance we observed as priests conducted cremation rituals along the Bagmati River. The kids were even in their own moment of silence. It led to Splendid discussion afterwards about death, life and spirituality.
Then there was Boudhanath Stupa, there were huge eyes of Buddha gazing around us in all directions. We had spun prayer wheels, participated in our clockwise korra (ritual walk) and had sweet Tibetan butter tea in a rooftop cafe as monks and believers walked before as a slow, solemn tide.
It was the first night, after eating momos and dal bhat, when I noticed that we were already greatly affected after a day.
Day 3- Journey to Pokhara: A road trip to the Lake city
The next morning we left early and drove to Pokhara, a beautiful view of a lake city situated in between the Annapurna mountains. We were lucky to drive around 6-7 hours with many breaks in between. Being real, road trip with kids is a win of a lose situation most of the time, however, the trip was unexpectedly exciting.
The green country side was luxuriant. We rode through paddies, suspension bridges and small villages where children greeted us up on the rooftops. The monsoon rain fell and lifted itself away as a piece of curtain is drawn across the sky and then blown out.
It was late in the afternoon when we reached Pokhara, the clouds cleared to give a glimpse of the sacred mountain Machapuchare (Himalayan Fish Tail). A postcard-perfect picture was the view we had of Phewa Lake that was located by the side of our hotel. The atmosphere was fresher and colder in Kathmandu compared to the air.
Day 4 Pokhara Tour: Waterfalls, Boats and Caves
Pokhara was magical to the children and us.
We went to breakfast, and then after it we walked down to the lakeside and hired a wooden boat. On the lake, our boatman took us rowing across the serene waters to a small temple called Barahi temple which is situated on a small island in the lake. Lily and Max offered dragonflies flower offerings and Max attempted to take photographs of dragonflies. It was still in terms that nature alone can be.
Afterwards we visited Devi Fall where the water goes under a big hole in the earth. Across the street you will find Gupteshwor Cave, a holy waterfall within a cave consisting of a sacred Shiva lingam and mysterious underground waterfall is there. Max was excited. Lily lost her amusement when a bat came flying past our heads-but it was a mighty good thing to tell at dinner afterwards.
In the evening we walked Lakeside road, a beach town with a cool fun atmosphere about it. The children were taken to get ice cream, Adam requested a singing bowl and I discovered a tiny bookstore that sold second-hand travel memories. I purchased one and on the first page wrote the words Pokhara July 2025.
Day 5 -Sarangkot Sunrise and Tibetan Refugee Camp Visit
At 4.30 am, we were up in order to travel to Sarangkot, another hilltop view of outside Pokhara. I know I won;t tell the truth, but it was not that easy to make the children to get out of the bed that early. Yet afterwards, when we had made it up there, wrapped in blankets, drinking tea in a small stall and watching the sun come up over the Annapurna range – really was it all worth it.
as the mists swept down upon the valley the mountains blushed pale and gold. We all knelt, and looked on. It is as though one is in a painting, murmured Max. He was not mistaken.
In the afternoon we went to a Tibetan refugee settlement. The children had a chance to observe women carpet weaving, monks-in-training, and even operated a prayer wheel themselves. It was instructive, indeed,–but it was so like man, so true to man. We purchased a little handwoven scarf as a gift to my mum back at home.
Day 6 Drive to chitwan: Mountains to Jungle
Our second destination was the most popular jungle in southern Nepal, the Chitwan National Park. We were driven to the highlands where we came by lowlands,–a new country altogether. It became more hot, and the forest soon grew more thick around us.
We got to a jungle lodge in Sauraha, just a few meters-away to the park. The children went butterfly catching and Adam and I sat in the mango trees taking fresh lime sodas.
There was a Tharu cultural dance in the evening. The dancers were dressed in colorful traditional clothes and beating the large drums making the dancers twirl the fire sticks and dancing ancient warrior dances. throughout the ride Max kept his jaw open.
Day 7: Chitwan Safari Day: Rhinos, canoes and wild wonder
This was likely to have been the most favorite day of the kids.
We began our day at 8:00 a.m. in a canoe trip down the Rapti River. The canoe made way without a paddle, and we saw crocodiles basking on the river banks, and kingfishers jumping like blue sparks and even a peacock flitting in the trees.
Then it was the turn of the jungle walk- a very easy walk led by a guide who told us about the plants, animal tracks and how to behave in the wild-do not run in whatever you do, laughed our guide semi-seriously.
The best part though? The jeep safari.
We observed rhinos with one horn, spotted deer, wild pig and in the distance there was a sloth bear. and at one place there was a bob of excitement at which something looked like a tiger above a shadow–it was a piece of a log. Nevertheless, merely the excitement of the prospect caused our pulses to beat.
Day 8- back to Kathmandu:One More Road Trip
We bade farewell to the jungle and drove back to Kathmandu. And the children slept on the way half-way, faces still smeared with mango juice, faces sun touched, with the cheekbones bronzed.
By the time we got back to Thamel, we felt that we were getting home to familiar surroundings, not overseas anymore, but familiar. We have entered into an identical hotel and requested the food that we have grown to like: veggie momos and fried rice to Lily, veggie momos and fried rice to Max, and chicken curry to Adam and me.
Day 9 Bhaktapur & Patan: time travel and pottery wheels
On our final full day in Nepal we had gone to visit two of the ancient cities in the valley–Bhaktapur and Patan. The two of them were open-air museums. We were surrounded by brick temples, courtyards, golden gates and centuries old wood carvings.
In Bhaktapur, the children would have a chance to experiment pottery-making in Pottery Square. Lily was left with a shaky little bowl; Max apparatus resembled a small volcano. Each was excited.
In Patan we could observe artisans making up statues of god in Hindu faith in bronze and copper. It was also unreal thinking how all these crafts had been inherited through generations.
Ending the day we had some sweet juju dhau Bhaktapur creamy yogurt to eat in clay pots.
Day 10 General departure dayFinal departure day
It was our final morning and on the rooftop of the hotel we were having our last cups of Nepali tea. Pigeons flitted on the rooftops and the bells of the temples rung out nearby and the city was awakening to her.
We were putting on our luggage when Lily held her stuffed yak. Max dirtied the glass with his nose one last time and said, I think I want to come here when I am grown. Perhaps, climb up one of those mountains.”
Adam grinned, and stared at me. “… So… did everything go all right on the family trip?”
Better than I ever expected, I said.
We embraced Raj in the airport. I would like to thank Nomad Adventure Treks Nepal and the whole team not only because they had provided us with very well-organized tour but for the gift that can gave us ever last longer memories about mountains, jungles and temples and people who opened their hearts to us.
Final Thoughts
Nepal is not only a place. It is an emotion.
It is the sense of entering into the temple which is 1000 years old on bare feet. And of you child with whispering of wow as the clouds reveal some snow capped peak. Of drinking tea on a jungle with the sound of rhinoceroses crunching on grass. It is the experience of melting of the clock, opening the eyes wider, experiencing more.
Touring with children is never ideal-but then again it did not have to be in Nepal. It was solid, mucky, lovely, life changingly beautiful. And in case there was any thought of Nepal as a good family destination: this is what happened to us: we were a family of tourists at the point of arrival and we were a family of another type at the point of departure albeit altered.