Nepal Family Tour

Arrive in Kathmandu — Nepal's vibrant, chaotic, extraordinary capital — and meet your Mantra Adventure family guide. Transfer to a family-friendly hotel in Thamel. The evening orientation briefing covers the 10-day programme: Kathmandu's UNESCO sites, a gentle mountain trek, a Chitwan wildlife safari, and Pokhara's lakeside. Welcome dinner at a restaurant with live traditional music. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Dinner.

A family-paced day exploring three of Kathmandu Valley's finest cultural sites. Begin at Boudhanath Stupa — its sheer scale (37-metre dome, one of the largest in Asia) makes an immediate impression on children and adults alike. Continue to Pashupatinath Temple's outer areas, where the sadhus' colourful appearance and the river-side activity make for fascinating observation. Afternoon at Patan Durbar Square — Nepal's most accessible and beautifully preserved medieval city, with the Krishna Mandir and Patan Museum. Lunch at a Newari restaurant in Patan's old town. Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Scenic 6–7 hour drive (or 25-minute flight) to Pokhara — Nepal's second city and the gateway to the Annapurna region. The lakeside city on the shores of Phewa Lake is one of the most relaxed and beautiful destinations in Nepal. Check in to a lakeside hotel, rent a paddle boat for Phewa Lake in the afternoon, and watch the sun set behind Machhapuchhre. Meals: All included.

Early morning drive to Sarangkot (1,592m) for the classic Annapurna sunrise — the mountains catching the first light across Phewa Lake is one of Nepal's iconic images, and children are invariably transfixed. Return for breakfast, then spend the morning at the International Mountain Museum (excellent for older children with its detailed exhibits on mountaineering history). Afternoon: boat ride to the World Peace Pagoda on the lake's island. Meals: Breakfast.

A gentle family trek from Phedi (1,130m) through forested hillside and terraced farmland to Australian Camp — a small ridge settlement with spectacular Annapurna views. The 3–4 hour walk is manageable for children aged 7 and above. Overnight in basic but comfortable teahouse accommodation. Walking time: 3–4 hours. Meals: All included.

Morning descent from Australian Camp back to Phedi, then a 4-hour drive south across the Prithvi Highway and down from the mountains into the subtropical Terai — Nepal's lowland jungle belt. Arrive at Chitwan National Park: a completely different Nepal of elephant grass, sal forest, one-horned rhinoceroses, wild elephants and, if fortune favours, the Royal Bengal Tiger. Overnight: Jungle lodge. Meals: All included.

Full day in the world-famous Chitwan National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Morning 4x4 jeep safari into the park with a professional naturalist guide. One-horned rhinoceroses are reliably seen; sightings of wild elephants, gaur (Indian bison), gharial crocodiles and spotted deer are common. Birds: painted storks, lesser adjutants, pied kingfishers. Afternoon: elephant bathing session at the local elephant camp — splash in the river with the elephants in a genuine, ethically managed interaction. Evening: stick dance cultural programme by the Tharu indigenous people. Meals: All included.

Morning dugout canoe float down the Rapti River — a unique perspective on the park's wildlife from water level. Gharial crocodiles sunbathe on the banks; flocks of egrets rise from the riverside grassland. Afternoon: guided walking tour of a Tharu village with a visit to the community cultural museum. Meals: All included.

Morning at leisure in Chitwan before the 4-hour drive back to Kathmandu. Arrive in the afternoon for final souvenir shopping in Thamel — painted Tibetan singing bowls, hand-crafted yak wool goods and Thangka paintings. Farewell dinner. Overnight: Kathmandu hotel. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.

Airport transfer for your international departure. Nepal has given your family unforgettable memories: temple courtyards, mountain dawns, jungle safaris and the warmth of Nepali hospitality. We hope to welcome you all back soon. Meals: Breakfast.