Since we have been family travelling to commonly visited, modern countries in our previous trips, we decided it was time for us to go back to a more cultural, developing country in Asia. Nepal has always been in our must visit list for the past 5 years. Originally we planned to visit Nepal together with India in 2012, but we didn’t have enough time to cover both countries. Following the birth of our son, the trip got delayed further.
Nepal was devastated by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in 2015. It was the worst earthquake to strike the region in over 80 years. Many lives were lost, temples and homes destroyed. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia and the damage from the earthquake will put a strain on its citizens for many years to come. The good news is Nepal is still Nepal, meeting super friendly people is one of the great joys of travelling to Nepal.
After doing a lot of research, we decided finally the time had come for us to go there. We also had to make sure we are not putting ourselves and our son through any health risks or unnecessary discomfort. Doing a lot of research went a long way in helping us prepare.
For our family trip, we chose Nepal because:
- We have been wanting to visit Nepal for a number of years
- Cheap flights with Malindo Air (we paid about $650 per person)
- No jet lag – only 2 hours and 15 minutes time difference with Perth
- During September the weather is mild
- Value for money destination – cheap accommodations
- A lot of Western foods to choose from – cheap eats
- Nepalese are very friendly and absolutely adore children
- Despite the earthquake damage, it is still a beautiful place to visit
- Everyone speaks good English. There’s no need to worry language barriers
- Nepal needs a boost from tourism
Booking.com
When we told our friends and families about our plan to visit Nepal, everyone raised their eyebrows – Why?! Nepal may not be the first obvious destination you think of when planning a family holiday. But guess what? With good preparation, we were so surprised how easy it turned out to be. We picked the 2 main cities to visit; Kathmandu, the capital city and Pokhara. We spent 10 days visiting in September 2017. Firstly, we did 3 days in Kathmandu, then flying off to Pokhara for 3 nights, before heading back to Kathmandu. It was a good way to structure a family travel plan as Pokhara being a smaller town, provided relief from the hectic (and dusty) Kathmandu.
Time zone difference between Perth and Nepal is only 2 hours and 15 minutes (Nepal is one of only three time zones with a 45-minute offset from UTC) so we knew jet lag wouldn’t be a worry for us. Our son Berlin was 2.5 years old at the time of travel. He was already a seasoned traveller and his sleep routine very well established. He normally naps once a day back home in Perth, however probably due to excitement and exhaustion; in Nepal he was back to 2 naps a day – like a baby all over again!
The weather in September was ideal for visiting Nepal. The daily average temperature during our trip was in the high 20s degrees Celsius. Pokhara which is only a 30 minutes flight from Kathmandu had similar temperatures, but was a lot more humid. Of the 10 days we were in Nepal, only 1 time at night where it poured heavily. The rest we were blessed with sunny bright days with mild breeze.
Nepal is probably one of the cheapest places we have ever visited during our travels. Majority of accommodation are catered more to the backpacker’s. We purposely picked well known 4 star hotels in both Kathmandu (Hotel Shanker) and Pokhara (Hotel Glacier) through our favourite hotel website Booking.com. We paid average of $150 a night including breakfast and extra bed for Berlin. The rooms we stayed in were spacious, with a separate living area and also came with a bath which was a big plus for Berlin.
Food and drink prices in Nepal are a lot cheaper than in Australia. Some nights when we were too exhausted to eat out, we ordered room service as it was very affordable. Normally room service in Western countries cost arms and legs so we had to take the opportunity to our advantage. When dining out, we always picked good clean restaurants recommended from Lonely Planet guide book and all were very tasty and affordable (Even in tourist areas $5 will usually get you delicious and generously sized meal!).
Prior to our trip, we were worried if our toddler son can eat during the trip. We started taking our son to Nepalese restaurants in Perth, so that he can get used to some of the local delicacies. However, as it turned out there were LOTS and LOTS of Western restaurants in Nepal especially Italian. Even when we went to Indian and Nepalese restaurants their menus were so extensive they had Western dishes. So we needn’t have to worry in the first place. Berlin had quite an appetite in Nepal and much to the grandparent’s delight, came home with a big belly from this trip.
The Nepalese were all very friendly, always wanting to start a conversation with us. They would ask us where we are from and how long we are visiting Nepal for. The Nepalese we found to be similar to the Thais as they absolutely adore children. As we walk down the street, a lot of people would come up to Berlin, smiled and say hello to him. Some even wanted to take photographs with him. All much to Berlin’s amusement as he loved the attention. Almost in all restaurants, the waiters and waitresses would want to play with him. The locals taught him to say Namaste using the correct hand gesture. By the 5th day, Berlin was a pro at Namaste greetings
Even though the 2015 earthquake earthquake wasn’t too kind to many historical buildings and temples, it certainly didn’t take away the grandeur. From our photos the buildings and temples that are still intact are absolutely worth a visit. There is still so much beauty in Nepal, and don’t forget there is that eternal views of the Himalayas mountain range in the background. Two years on since the big earthquake it is great to see a lot of reconstruction happening around. A lot of the funding comes from overseas such as China, Japan and the US. To us, Nepal is still a very beautiful cultured place to visit.
Almost everyone in Nepal spoke very good conversational English – even the rickshaw drivers. We didn’t struggle one bit with language barrier. We tried to speak Nepalese, but as soon as the locals saw us stutter, they immediately jumped in with their perfect English.
Like we mentioned earlier, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in South East Asia. Tourism is the largest industry in Nepal and the largest source of revenue for the country. After the earthquake, unfortunately tourism took a big hit on the country.
Nepal is not just for the mountain climbers and trekkers. People of all ages can enjoy what this beautiful country has to offer. From the boat rides in Pokhara, to listening to the chanting of monks at one of the Buddhist Stupas, to taking a morning flight to see Annapurna and Mount Everest. There’s something for everyone in Nepal. The time we spent as a family in Nepal is one we will cherish forever.
Booking.com
