Best family trips in Nepal

Kathmandu Valley & Nagarkot, Lumbini and Pokhara lead a list of 11. Places in Nepal that work with children or parents along.

Ranked from our own destination data on season, difficulty, altitude, cost and who each place suits. Not paid for, and not the same as “most popular”.

1. 1Nepal · BagmatiKathmandu Valley & Nagarkot2,175 m, easy, 3–4 days.Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Durbar Squares, and a Himalayan sunrise from Nagarkot.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: City traffic and dust; the mountains are a view, not an experience.
2. 2Nepal · Rupandehi, LumbiniLumbini180 m, easy, 2–3 days.The birthplace of the Buddha, with the Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar and a monastic zone of world temples.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar · Why not: Very hot from April to June; the monastic zone is spread out and needs cycling or a rickshaw.
3. 3Nepal · Kaski, GandakiPokhara1,600 m, easy, 3–4 days.Lakeside town under the Annapurnas — boating, paragliding, cafes and sunrise at Sarangkot.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Views hide behind haze and cloud from May to September.
4. 4Nepal · Kathmandu Valley, BagmatiBhaktapur & Patan1,400 m, easy, 2–3 days.The two best-preserved Newari cities in the valley — Durbar Squares, courtyards and metalwork alleys.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Entry fees for non-Nepalis are steep, and both squares are earthquake-restoring in places.
5. 5Nepal · Kaski, GandakiGhandruk Loop1,940 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short, low-altitude teahouse loop through Gurung villages below the Annapurna South face.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb · Why not: Popular with domestic Nepali groups on weekends; can be busy.
6. 6Nepal · Tanahun, GandakiBandipur1,100 m, easy, 2–3 days.A preserved Newari hill town on a ridge above the Marsyangdi, between Kathmandu and Pokhara.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Small; two nights is plenty unless you're using it as a trek base.
7. 7Nepal · Myagdi, GandakiGhorepani Poon Hill3,210 m, easy to moderate, 4–5 days.A short teahouse trek to a famous sunrise over Dhaulagiri and Annapurna South.Best months: Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec · Why not: The sunrise viewpoint is crowded in peak season.
8. 8Nepal · Gorkha, GandakiGorkha1,450 m, easy to moderate, 1–2 days.The ancestral seat of the Shah dynasty, with the hilltop Gorkha Durbar and Gorakhnath temple.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Small and half-ruined post-2015; a half-day is usually enough.
9. 9Nepal · Palpa, LumbiniTansen (Palpa)1,500 m, easy, 2–3 days.A historic hill town of Newari traders between Pokhara and Lumbini, with a durbar and metalwork bazaar.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Small, with limited accommodation and few activities.
10. 10Nepal · Ilam, KoshiIlam2,400 m, easy, 3–4 days.Nepal's tea capital — emerald garden slopes, Antu Danda sunrises and Sandakphu views into India.Best months: Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb, Mar, Apr · Why not: Long journey from Kathmandu and very little tourism infrastructure.
11. 11Nepal · MustangMuktinath3,710 m, easy, 4–5 days.A temple sacred to Hindus and Buddhists at 3,710 m in the Mustang rain-shadow.Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov · Why not: Altitude matters for older pilgrims; flights to Jomsom cancel in wind.