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Kathmandu Valley Family Tour

Kathmandu Valley Family Tour 

Kathmandu Valley is an amazing destination for travel, and the Kathmandu Valley family tour is just as common among visitors. People worldwide come to this lively location every year, making it all the more colorful and busy throughout the year. A Kathmandu Valley tour is perfect for sightseeing the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exploring Hindu and Buddhist culture, and going on short treks. Even if you’re traveling with children, they can learn much about Nepal and its culture while remaining comfortable throughout the journey. 

Usually, Kathmandu is best known for day tours. This makes tours in the valley all the more family-friendly. You can also find many comfortable hotels and eateries for cheap anywhere you’re visiting. When it comes to good amenities, there is no issue at all. Also, devotees can go on pilgrimage to several temples around the valley, which all have great significance in Hindu culture. To learn more about the Kathmandu Valley family tour, read this article until the end!

Best Family-friendly Destination in Kathmandu Valley

There are plenty of family-friendly destinations in the Kathmandu valley. And by this, we mean child-friendly places! Usually, parents are concerned about keeping their children safe and comfy throughout a tour. You can tour any of the following locations without worrying. These family-friendly destinations will help kids learn, adults experience cultural aspects, and the family makes terrific memories

If you’re also keen on taking pictures, all these destinations are perfect. Not only are these locations aesthetically pleasing, but they are just as healing. The spiritual aspects of many travel destinations in Kathmandu are why tourists worldwide come here for inner healing. You will also find a beautiful view of the Himalayas from almost every high-altitude location within the valley. Following are some familiar places to visit:

Kathmandu Durbar Square 

The Kathmandu Durbar Square tour is significant while touring the central city. You can visit the Hanuman Dhoka Temple, the residence of the living goddess, Basantapur, Kathmandu Museum, and Bhairav temples when you’re here. In contrast to how it used to be, Durbar Square has become much livelier and urbanized. It, for sure, should not be surprising that Basantapur had once been a hippie hub, which gave it another name, Freak Street. While the hippie culture has gone expansively down, you will find many tourists in the area. 

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath Stupa is also known as the Monkey Temple. Nepalese pilgrims who usually follow Buddhism and Hinduism always frequent this stupa. The shrine is popular among those looking for sightseeing tours. You can also get the most amazing view of central Kathmandu city from the stupa’s altitude. Visitors must climb a few flights of stairs before they reach the temple. Several souvenir shops and monkeys will surround them. Though the monkeys here are used to having people around, you may have to watch for a mischievous snatcher. 

Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath plays a very significant role in Buddhism. It is believed that the Gautam Buddha and Kassapa Buddha relics are inside the pagoda. This religious relic is essential for daily and occasional rituals among the Tibetan community. The Mongolian community within the valley also frequents this stupa. Plenty of eateries and hotels around the Boudhanath Stupa make it a convenient place to tour. 

Bhaktapur Durbar Square 

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the three durbar squares in Nepal. The locals in Bhaktapur are very close to following traditional Newari lifestyles even today. In Newari, the Durbar Square area is known as Khwopa Layeku. You will find interesting religious elements there, like statues of Ugrachandi and Ugrabhairava, Char Dham and the Krishna temple, Nhēkanjhya Lyākū palace, the Palace of Fifty-five Windows, the Golden Temple, etc. Here, you can also enjoy pottery and mouthwatering King Curd (Juju Dhau)

Patan Durbar Square 

The Patan Durbar Square is another center of art and architecture in the Kathmandu Valley. The courtyard is extremely serene. Even amid the crowd, you will find peace everywhere. You can visit the Patan Museum to see the most ancient relics from ancient times. Krishna Mandir is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and is made entirely of stone. Visitors will also be amazed by other religious temples like Bhimsen Mandir, Taleju Bhawani Mandir, and Vishwanath Mandir. You’ll find plenty of accommodation and eateries around here as well. 

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the oldest temples in the valley and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the holiest temples, and a part of Lord Shiva’s head is believed to have fallen here. The Holy Bagmati River also falls beside this cultural heritage. You will find a crematorium beside the main Mandir. You can join the devotees for Sandhya Arati, or evening Arati, every evening. Likewise, there are plenty of souvenir shops here to buy religious goods. You will also find pure vegetarian eateries within a short distance from the temple. 

Chandragiri Hills

Chandragiri Hills is the most popular hill station in Kathmandu Valley. You will find lots of tourists in this location. It is also popular for the Hindu temple, Bhaleshwor Mahadev, Lord Shiva’s avatar. You can see Nepal’s most stunning view of the Himalayan ranges when you’re here. In addition to this, you can also enjoy a cable car ride back and forth as you go and return from Chandragiri Hills. You can choose to stay near the hill at a hotel. Similarly, there are plenty of souvenir stores and eateries where you can buy collectibles and enjoy a tasty lunch. 

Nagarkot 

If your family is keen on traveling to the hills, Nagarkot is the perfect place. The Nagarkot tour offers you incredible views of the sunrise and sunset. Also, you can find the most amazing hotels with just as many eateries here. Since it is a hilly area, you can travel by jeep or bus if you’re going there with your family. You can also hike there, as it is a popular day-hike destination. Visitors can also enjoy the view of peaks like Mount Everest, Ganesh Himal, Jugal, Langtang, and Annapurna Himal

Nagarkot-Valley

Shivapuri National Park 

Shivapuri National Park is a very famous hiking place in Kathmandu. You can go on guided sightseeing with a reliable guide if you’re a beginner hiker or with children. Though short, it is a highly recommended location for a brief adventure in Nepal. You cannot quite enjoy the sunset view here because the national park closes after 5 pm every day. However, visiting the park early can help you get a glimpse of the morning sun and a clear view of the mountains like Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal, etc.

Cultural Experience to Enhance Family Vacation

The cultural experience you get in Kathmandu will surely improve your family vacation. Holi, Indra Jatra, Janai Purnima, Dashain, Tihar, Teej, and Maha Shivaratri are festivals you can celebrate in the valley. These festivals are celebrated chiefly during spring and autumn, which are also the best seasons to travel to Kathmandu. The cultural festivals will also let you explore the cultural wonders within the valley, like Kathmandu Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square. 

Moreover, Dashain and Tihar are both the biggest festivals in Nepal. This festival is celebrated by Buddhist and Hindu communities all over the country. You can also visit the living goddess, Kumari, in Nepal when you’re here. She is considered an incarnation of Goddess Taleju Bhawani. In addition to this, you can also celebrate the age-old Machindranath Jatra when in Patan. Another such Jatra is the Biska Jatra of Bhaktapur.

Kathmandu Travel Tips for Families

You can follow the travel tips below if you’re traveling in Kathmandu with your family:

  • Carry cash: Be sure to carry some money instead of relying on ATMs everywhere. You can, however, be assured of finding an ATM on almost every street in Kathmandu. Carrying cash will still be the most dependable way to tour. 
  • Follow a proper itinerary: It is recommended that travelers follow a proper itinerary. Doing this will help them avoid being misled by external factors. You can hire a guide for guided travel
  • Explore nightlife: Thamel is an unmissable location if you’re not with your children or want to experience nightlife. Adults are recommended to explore the location after they’re done with their day tours. You can enjoy day tours there as many times as you want as there are many souvenir shops and eateries. 
  • Be respectful of the culture: No matter where you travel around Kathmandu, you must respect the local culture. Being disrespectful may get you into trouble not only with the locals but also with the authorities. 

Where Should Families Stay During Their Kathmandu Tour?

You should consider staying in locations with many hotels and restaurants. Some such places are Thamel, Patan, Lazimpat, Bhaktapur, and Baluwatar. These locations have good facilities for ATMs, restaurants, cafes, bank services, hospitals, etc. If you’re in Kathmandu for a day or two, consider staying in Nagarkot. Though a fantastic choice for a stay, it does not have expansive facilities like the formerly mentioned places.

Likewise, you can stay at a hotel that fits your budget. It could be a five-star hotel that perfectly accommodates your family with luxury that will cost over $200. If you’re looking for a more affordable hotel with luxury, you can settle for three-star or four-star hotels. The prices are likely to be between the range of $70 to $200. In addition, if you’re on a budget and are looking to save as much as possible while being comfortable, there are plenty of budget-friendly hotels to fit your needs. The low-budget hotels will cost around $15 and up to $70

Easy Way to Get Around Kathmandu With Kids

  • Consider hiring vehicles: Hiring vehicles will make your travel smooth. This tip will be helpful if you’re traveling with young kids or older people. 
  • Consider guided tours: You cannot risk your children’s safety in a new location. We can still assure you that your trip to Kathmandu will be smooth and exciting as it is a city area with safe roads and amenities. But remaining cautious and taking along a guide will always give you peace of mind
  • Take rest: Taking breaks when you’re touring is very important if you’re with the kids. It does not matter where you are traveling. Kids tend to get tired easily compared to adults. Be sure to consider this every time you’re out!
  • Check the weather forecast: When traveling, you must be considerate of everyday weather. Before you go out, checking the weather will help you know when to travel in pleasant weather and how to avoid bad weather. 

Final Thoughts

Going to Kathmandu with your family might be the wisest thing to do if you want to explore the city! Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital city, making it the safest city, with the most amenities and convenient travel location. And you don’t always have to hire a vehicle, either! You can book a ride through different commute apps or get on a local bus with the help of a guide or a map. Happy journey, explorer!

Narendra Bhatta.
Narendra Bhatta is rich in knowledge and expertise regarding to trekking and natural vegetation of Nepal. Mr. Bhatta is a licensed trekking guide (issued by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal). A trekking guide at CoreTreks since 2015, he has been guiding trekkers to places such as Kanchenjunga Base Camp, Manaslu Circuit Trek & Ghorepani Poon Hill Trekking. Mr. Bhatta is also from the famous Gorkha region. He shares his thrilling and exciting personal stories which keeps our trekkers entertained.