Nepal Family Trek and Safari
The Himalaya for families
- 10 days
- Easy
- From $4,400
- Duration
- 10 days
- Walking grade
- Easy
- Highest point
- 1,940 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
Gentle walking, real villages and rhinos at dawn, at a pace that suits everyone.
- Short walking days for children from eight
- Cooking with a Gurung family in Ghandruk
- Two nights on safari in Chitwan
- Boating on Phewa Lake in Pokhara
A journey for families with children aged eight and over. The walking days are short, the lodges are warm, and every day has something for everyone in it.
The trekking part is three to four hours a day at most, on village paths and stone stairs below 2,000 metres, so altitude is not a concern. Every night on the trail is in a mountain lodge with en-suite rooms. Your guides walk at the pace of the youngest member of the family, with plenty of stops along the way.
In the foothills you walk from Dhampus through the forest to Landruk, cross the river on a suspension bridge to Ghandruk, and spend a day cooking with a Gurung family. Pokhara gives you time by the lake before and after.
Then you drive down to Chitwan for two nights on safari, at a lodge at the edge of the national park. Naturalist guides take you out by jeep and canoe to look for rhinos and crocodiles, and you visit a Tharu village. A short flight back to Kathmandu ends the journey.
Nepal Family Trek and Safari: the route
6 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 1,940 m at Ghandruk
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Nepal Family Trek and Safari, day by day
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Day 1 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Arrival 1,400 m
Your host meets you all at arrivals and takes you to your heritage hotel, with gardens and courtyards for children to explore. The rest of the day is for rest after the flight. In the evening you meet your guide and talk through the days ahead.
- Getting there
- Arrival
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 Pokhara Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 820 m
A short morning flight west takes you to Pokhara, with the Annapurnas outside the window on a clear day. In the afternoon you take a wooden boat out on Phewa Lake to the small island temple of Tal Barahi, then settle into a comfortable hotel by the lake or on the hill above.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−580 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 3 Dhampus Mountain lodge 1–2 h · 3 km 1,650 m
A drive of about forty-five minutes climbs out of the valley to Phedi. From there it is a short, easy walk of an hour or two up stone steps and between terraced fields to Dhampus. You arrive by lunchtime at a mountain lodge with en-suite rooms and a garden, and the afternoon is free to play and to look across to Annapurna South and Machapuchare.
- Walking
- About 1–2 h, 3 km
- Getting there
- Drive 45 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,650 m (+830 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 4 Landruk Mountain lodge 3–4 h · 8 km 1,565 m
A gentle walk of three to four hours through Pothana and a stretch of cool oak and rhododendron forest, then down through farms to Landruk. There is time along the way for stops and a cup of tea in the village with your guides. Machapuchare rises above the lodge, which has en-suite rooms and warm beds.
- Walking
- About 3–4 h, 8 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,565 m (−85 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 5 Ghandruk Mountain lodge 3 h · 6 km 1,940 m
A short walk of about three hours drops to the Modi Khola, crosses it on a suspension bridge that children usually love, then climbs stone stairs to Ghandruk. In the afternoon you spend time with a Gurung family in their home and cook together, learning to make dal bhat or momos, then eat what you have made. The lodge has en-suite rooms.
- Walking
- About 3 h, 6 km
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,940 m (+375 m)
- Where you stay
- Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 Pokhara Luxury hotel 3 h · 6 km 820 m
A walk of about three hours, mostly downhill, through terraced fields and villages brings you to the road, where your driver is waiting. Two hours later you are back by the lake in Pokhara, with an afternoon to swim, rest or have a last wander along the lakeside.
- Walking
- About 3 h, 6 km
- Getting there
- Drive 2 h
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m (−1,120 m)
- Where you stay
- Luxury lakeside or hillside hotel in Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Days 7–8 Chitwan Safari lodge Drive 5 h 150 m
Day 7: a drive of about five hours down to the plains, to a safari lodge at the edge of Chitwan National Park, arriving in time for an afternoon walk. Day 8 is a full day in the park with naturalist guides: a jeep safari to look for rhinos and deer, a canoe ride on the river past crocodiles, and a visit to a Tharu village.
- Getting there
- Drive 5 h
- Sleeping altitude
- 150 m (−670 m)
- Where you stay
- Safari lodge, full board with activities
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 Kathmandu Luxury hotel Flight 25 min 1,400 m
A short flight from Bharatpur, near Chitwan, takes you back to Kathmandu. The afternoon is free. Your guide can take you to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa with its monkeys, or you can rest at the hotel before a last family dinner in the city.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 1,400 m (+1,250 m)
- Where you stay
- Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 10 Departure Departure
Your host drives you to the airport in good time for your flight home, after breakfast if the timing allows.
- Getting there
- Departure
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Two to four hours a day on good paths, staying below 2,000 metres.
- Fitness
- Comfortable walking a few hours on consecutive days.
- Altitude
- You sleep as high as 1,940 m. Altitude is not a concern on this route.
- Terrain
- Short walks on village paths and stone stairs through forest and terraced fields, all below 2,000 metres.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 4 nights
Luxury hotel
Heritage luxury hotel in Kathmandu (Dwarika's or similar)
Kathmandu · Pokhara
- 3 nights
Mountain lodge
Mountain lodge with en-suite rooms (Ker & Downey or similar)
Dhampus · Landruk · Ghandruk
- 2 nights
Safari lodge
Safari lodge, full board with activities
Chitwan
Best time for the Nepal Family Trek and Safari
- JanJanuary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Good. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Spring, Autumn, Winter. Choose a month for what to expect.
Comparing prices for the Nepal Family Trek and Safari?
Cheaper treks are usually group departures. Ask any operator:
- Is the guide yours alone?
- Yes. Only your own party travels together, never a group departure.
- How many guides and porters?
- A senior guide and a porter for every two guests.
- Are altitude checks written down?
- Twice a day above 3,000 m, with bottled oxygen on every high route.
- What if someone needs evacuating?
- A standing helicopter agreement, and insurance confirmed before you travel.
Included
- Himkora Host, plus a senior guide and a porter for every two guests
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Kathmandu–Pokhara flight, Chitwan–Kathmandu flight
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area permit; Chitwan National Park fees
- Porters, private vehicles and every transfer
- Down jacket, sleeping bag and a Himkora duffel on loan
- Treated drinking water every day on the trail
- Twice-daily oxygen and pulse checks, and a full first-aid kit
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
6 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Wi-Fi, charging and hot showers where lodges charge for them
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
- Chitwan National Park entry
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
How we manage altitude
- Above 3,000 m, sleeping altitude rises by about 500 m a night (never more than 700 m, and then next to a rest day), with acclimatisation days built in.
- Your guide checks blood oxygen and pulse twice a day and carries a full medical kit.
- Guides always have the authority to descend, and we hold a standing helicopter-evacuation agreement in Kathmandu.
Getting ready
- Walking grade: Easy. We send a training plan with your proposal.
- Talk to your doctor or a travel clinic about altitude medication and vaccinations at least six weeks before you travel.
- We send a health questionnaire before booking and talk it through with you.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −20°C, on loan
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Broken-in walking boots and four pairs of trekking socks
- Layers: base layers, fleece, waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves, sunglasses (category 3 or 4) and sunscreen
- Daypack (25–30 litres), refillable bottles, headtorch
- Personal medicines, and a copy of your insurance policy
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Similar journeys
All journeys
Poon Hill and Ghandruk Trek
Mountain lodges in Dhampus, Landruk and Ghandruk, the forest to Ghorepani, and sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna from Poon Hill.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Up the Modi Khola gorge into the Annapurna Sanctuary, a ring of peaks around Base Camp, with an extra night at Machapuchare Base Camp for a safer ascent.
Mardi Himal Trek
A quiet ridge through rhododendron forest to the Mardi Himal viewpoint, almost touching Machapuchare.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Nepal Family Trek and Safari cost?
From $4,400 per person, for two travelling privately, $4,050 per person for four and $7,450 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Nepal Family Trek and Safari?
10 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How difficult is the Nepal Family Trek and Safari?
We grade it easy. Two to four hours a day on good paths, staying below 2,000 metres. Comfortable walking a few hours on consecutive days.
How high does the Nepal Family Trek and Safari go?
The highest point is 1,940 m, and the highest night is at 1,940 m.
When is the best time for the Nepal Family Trek and Safari?
The best months are March, April, October and November. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Nepal Family Trek and Safari?
You will need: Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card; Chitwan National Park entry. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.
Short on time, or a few days spare?
Add to this journey
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Pokhara up the Modi Khola gorge to Annapurna Base Camp, with time on the ground inside the Sanctuary. Back for a late breakfast.
Everest Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Kathmandu up the Khumbu at dawn, a landing where the rules allow, and breakfast facing Everest. Back by noon.
Chitwan Safari in Three Days
A short flight to Chitwan, two nights at a safari lodge, jeep and canoe safaris for rhino, deer and birds, and a Tharu village evening.