Family trekking in Nepal is very popular now-a-days. Most of the families want their child to spend more time outside and this might be the reason why the number of families going on trekking along with their kids is increasing rapidly in recent times. Trekking routes & destinations which require climbing above 4000m heights across the Annapurna region and Everest region are very popular among the family trekkers.
Since the family trek includes children, parents are more careful about the safety of these types of hikes. Therefore, they always hire a guide to assist them on their journey. Hiring a guide gives more confidence among the trekkers that they can do the trek. The guides have a lot of information regarding the route you are trekking. It ultimately minimizes the risks involved such as not being able to find a hotel, quality & hygienic foods of your preference, getting lost on the route etc.
Most families are careful with the choice of the trek as well. We know that it is hard to walk long distances with your children. However, there is an option to hire a porter to carry the child. Still, the families should be attentive to every detail to have a good experience during the entire trek.
Since the trekking trails go through some uninhabited places and it might take a few hours walk to reach from one village to another it’s always advisable to take some things of basic necessity along with you.
It might be difficult to find clean drinking water when you need it so, always take a bottle (reusable ones of course) of drinking water per person with you along with some water purifying tablets. You can use the purifying tablets to purify clean water from the taps as well as local resources such as natural springs or rivers to make it drinkable when you run out of it.
Other things that you should consider taking with you are a first-aid box, packed foods, sunscreen, hand-sanitizers and other items of personal hygiene that you may need. Also don’t forget to pack some children games or toys for the kids to make sure they don’t get bored during the trek.
In this article, I am sharing the experience of Mr Brady from America & his family; who traveled to Nepal with their 2 and 4 years old children. They did a 5 days Ghorepani-Poonhill trek in the Annapurna region. Sharing their experience here with you, I believe will help you organize your hike with your family in Nepal if & when you plan to do it in the future. Here’s an excerpt of the conversation I had with Mr. Brady.
Hi Brady! Welcome to our blog. Can you please tell me a bit about yourself?
Thank you. I am a father of two children living in Colorado, United States. I am very fond of outings & hiking across the mountains. I always enjoyed learning about others cultures, lifestyles, and languages.
Why did you choose Nepal for the visit?
We wanted to teach our children about different cultures, so that they get exposed to various types of lifestyles. And, I believe this will help them with their growth. Besides these, I have always heard about Nepal’s mountaineering community, lovely people, and beautiful scenery from my friends, which is why we chose Nepal.
Did you struggle while making the decision to visit Nepal with Kids?
I think not. As a family, we always enjoy hiking in America. We wanted to experience trekking in Nepal to see the beautiful Himalayas. Besides this, we wanted to have a family vacation. We wanted to spend time together as a family, away from the computers, phones, and hectic schedule. That’s how we decided.
And what appealed to you about the Poon Hill Trek specifically?
We were told it was a good trek to experience with family and children, since it does not involve climbing very high altitude hills & mountains. Also, we want to see the view of the Annapurna range. We even heard about the beautiful scenery that we come across on the trail.
What are the memorable things that happened on your trek?
Our guide and porter were the best. Their care for our children was beyond our expectations. I was surprised to see the view of the Himalayas from the balcony of my guesthouse at Ghorepani. I shouldn’t forget the sunrise at Tadapani and the hot spring at Jhinu. The fun thing during this trek was; I carried my two children for a short time in a doko and they loved it! (a large basket used to carry loads in Nepal).
What is your experience with accommodation across the trail?
We really enjoyed the common gathering area with other guests that most guest houses had. We preferred sitting in the dining room, which allowed us to talk with other people. The rooms were clean with all the basic facilities. Since it was cold, they provided thick blankets that helped us to keep warm.
Is there anything you’d wish you knew in advance?
We went there when winter was just starting. So, it was a bit colder than I thought it would be.
What do you suggest for anyone going on such a trek with kids?
The important thing I would suggest to anyone is to hire a good guide and porter through a registered trekking agency. Hiring a guide & a porter enhances your trekking experience. Also, I would suggest hiking slowly by taking time. Don’t try to go too far each day with children. We were worried about how our kids would react but they did the trek much more easily than we expected while enjoying it throughout.
Would you recommend this trek to other travelers with kids?
Definitely yes, We would.