5 Feb 2023 11 min to read
Trekking in Nepal is every traveler’s dream. Nepal has abundant destinations for all types of travelers. Like a solo, family, group, and with kids. To trek with kids is challenging. The high elevation and ascend and descend on trails are demanding factors. But, need not worry as we have listed some of the short and easy treks with your kids. Your kids can easily accomplish these treks.
We have designed the trek routes that suit the kids. You can take full enjoyment of the beautiful scenery. And spend quality time during the entire trek. The trek duration is between 3 to 8 days. So, within a week, the treks can be completed. You can also create memorable memories with your family and kids.
Ghorepani Poon Hill
One of the short and easy treks with your kids to enjoy is Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek. The sunrise from the Poon Hill viewpoint over the stunning Annapurna mountain ranges is phenomenal. Furthermore, spend some quality time in Ghorepani which is the beautiful Magar village. Interact with the locals and get some insights into their culture and lifestyle.
Ghorepani (Elevation): 2840m
Max. Elevation: 3210m (Poon hill)
Trek Start: Hile
Trek End: Nayapul
Duration: 5 days
Trek Route:
Hile-Ulleri-Ghorepani-Poon Hill-Tadapani-Ghandruk-Nayapul
Royal Trek
One of the short and easy treks with your kids is Royal Trek. The trek route is abundant with natural greenery, beautiful mountain vistas, and mesmerizing Begnas Lake. The elevation of this trek is at maximum of 1500m. And the highlight of the trek is witnessing the breathtaking views of snow-covered mountains like Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu and a peaceful time in the vicinity of Begnas Tal.
Royal Trek (Elevation): 1730m
Max. Elevation: 1730m
Trek Start: Bijaypur Khola
Trek End: Begnas Tal
Duration: 4 days
Trek Route: Bijaypur Khola-Kalikasthan-Syanglung-Chisopani-Begnas Tal
Sikles Trek
The traditional Gurung village Sikles is another beautiful trek destination. The natural beauty of this village is quite mesmerizing. Get the sights of magnificent mountains such as Tukuche Peak, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and Dhampus Peak. This short and easy treks with your kids passes through beautiful settlements.
Sikles (Elevation): 1980m
Max. Elevation: 2200m (Nyauli Kharka)
Trek Start: Bijaypur Khola
Trek End: Hemja
Duration: 6 days
Trek Route: Bijayapur Khola-Kalikasthan-Lama Khet-Sikles-Nyauli Kharka-Ghale Gaun -Hemja
Mardi Himal Trek
Mardi is one of the most beautiful mountains in the Annapurna region. This trek is an alternative option for trekkers. The least traveled and less-crowded trail offers splendid vistas of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Mardi. The trek route is surrounded by beautiful forests and greenery where you get the best natural scenery.
Mardi Himal High Camp (Elevation): 3600m
Max. Elevation: 3600m
Trek Start: Phedi
Trek End: Siding Village
Duration: 6 days
Trek Route:
Phedi-Deurali-Forest Camp-Low Camp-High Camp-Siding Village
Sarangkot Dhampus
One of the shortest treks is Sarangkot Dhampus trek. Adore the beautiful sunrise or sunset views from Sarangkot. The beauty of Pokhara valley and surrounding snow-capped mountains from the Sarangkot is phenomenal. You can get a close-up view of Mt. Machhapuchhre from here. Next, trek through Dhampus village. A beautiful Gurung village is famous for their hospitality and natural beauty. Relish the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges vistas.
Dhampus (Elevation): 1650m
Max. Elevation: 1650m
Trek Start: Pokhara
Trek End: Phedi
Duration: 3 days
Trek Route:
Pokhara-Sarangkot-Dhampus-Phedi
Helambu Trek
Helambu is a lovely Tamang village where locals follow its ancient culture. Tibetan Buddhism is still in practice here. The trek passes through small villages and lush green forests in the vicinity of Langtang National Park. Enjoy the scenic views of Langtang Ri, Ganesh Himal, Lang Sisa, Chorkor Ri, and other peaks. The perfect short and easy treks with your kids to try out for.
Helambu (Elevation): 2774m
Max. Elevation: 3597m (Tharepati)
Trek Start: Sundarijal
Trek End: Melamchi Pul
Duration: 7 days
Trek Route:
Sundarijal-Chisopani-Khutumsang-Tharepati-Tarke Gyang-Shermathang-Melamchi Pul
Langtang Valley Trek
The beautiful Langtang valley is a less crowded trek. This trek offers picturesque views of stunning Langtang ranges, lovely small villages, verdant forest, ancient monasteries, and greenery. The local natives are friendly. You can spend some time talking and learning about their tradition and enjoy local food too.
Langtang Village (Elevation): 3330m
Max. Elevation: 3850m (Kyanjing Gompa)
Trek Start: Syabrubesi
Trek End: Syabrubesi
Duration: 7 days
Trek Route:
Syabrubesi-Lama Hotel-Langtang village-Kyanjing Gompa-Lama Hotel-Syabrubesi
Everest View Trek
Everest View trek is one of the shortest treks in the Everest region. This trek passes through the Sherpa capital Namche and excursion to the beautiful Khumjung village. Get an awesome view of Mt. Khumbila. Visit the monastery which has a purported Yeti scalp. Also, visit the Khumjung school built by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust. Take a short visit to Everest View Hotel and enjoy the stunning views of Everest and other surrounding peaks.
Khumjung (Elevation): 3790m
Max. Elevation: 3790m
Trek Start: Lukla
Trek End: Lukla
Duration: 7 days
Trek Route:
Lukla-Phakding-Namche-Khumjung-Namche-Lukla
Everest Panorama Trek
This Panorama Trek offers panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, and other surrounding peaks. Visit the largest Tengboche Monastery in the Everest region. If you visit here around October/November full moon day, don’t miss attending the Mani Rimdu festival. Different cultural dance performance is held wearing colorful masks. Also, get familiar with the Sherpa culture in its place of origin.
Tengboche (Elevation): 3600m
Max. Elevation: 3600m
Trek Start: Lukla
Trek End: Lukla
Duration: 7 days
Trek Route:
Lukla-Phakding-Namche-Tengboche-Namche-Lukla
Benefits of short and easy treks for Kids
- Spend quality time with family and kids
- Get connected and close to the nature
- Exploring new destinations, wildlife, diverse fauna
- Great opportunity for meeting new people and networking
- Solid base for kids to start trekking
- Develop Independent thinking in Kids
- Growth in Physical and Mental Health
- Experience new culture, lifestyle, and tradition
- Try new local cuisine and interact with the locals
- Get a break from the technology world and come close to nature
Travel Info
Accommodation
Accommodation during these short treks is mostly in the locally operated teahouses or guesthouses. The teahouses are simple and comfortable with basic facilities. Warm hospitality of the locals is the highlight of these short treks. For the use of Wi-Fi, charging electronic devices, laundry, and hot water you must pay an additional charge. Though the accommodation is abundant, it is always best to book ahead especially during peak season.
Meals and Drinking water
The main meal during these short treks is Dal-Bhat. It is the staple diet of Nepal and a good source of carbohydrates. It provides energy for the trekkers throughout the trek. There is a variety of choices like noodles, soup, bread, eggs, and hot drink besides Dal-Bhat. Drinking water is abundant everywhere. You can purchase mineral water or fill water directly from the taps. You can also fill boiled water at teahouses paying an additional charge. For your convenience, always carry a water bottle and water purification kits for safety.
Communication
Both phone networks and internet connectivity are constant and fair during these short treks. You can also buy a local sim card for calling and using the mobile data for internet.
Transport
Flight is the best means of transport for Everest View and Everest Panorama treks. Vehicle ride is the means of transport for other short treks.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance protects against unexpected events or emergencies that may occur during the trip. It is always a good idea to have travel insurance before traveling. Moreover, it’s important to find a policy that covers high-altitude trekking. Especially, look for a policy that does cover all essential activities. Consider the following things while purchasing travel insurance:
- Coverage for medical emergencies
- Coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions due to an unforeseen event
- Coverage for lost or stolen belongings
- Coverage for high-altitude trekking
- Coverage for emergency evacuations
Best time to visit
Spring (March to May), and Autumn (September to November) are the best time to visit. The skies are clear, and the weather is bright during the day. Due to this, the trails are comfortable to trek. For the off-season treks i.e. in winter and rainy, it is advisable to plan carefully. The trails are slippery, muddy, and snowy as well as the weather is unpredictable.
Required Permits & its Cost
The permits are compulsory for short trekking except some places which are not listed below. Their lists are:
Trek Permits for Ghorepani Poon Hill, Sikles Trek, & Mardi Himal Trek:
Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)
- Foreigners- NPR 3000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS)
- Foreigners- NPR 2000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
- Diplomats/Foreign Officials & their families- NPR 500/person
Permits for Helambu Trek and Langtang Valley Trek:
Langtang National Park (LNP)
- Foreigners- USD 30/person
- SAARC- USD 15/person
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS)
- Foreigners- NPR 2000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
- Diplomats/Foreign Officials & their families- NPR 500/person
Trek Permits for Everest View Trek and Everest Panorama Trek :
Khumbu Rural Municipality permit costs:
- Foreigners- NPR 2000
- SAARC- NPR 1000
Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) permit costs:
- Foreigners- NPR 3000
- SAARC- NPR 1500
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS)
- Foreigners- NPR 2000/person
- SAARC- NPR 1000/person
- Diplomats/Foreign Officials & their families- NPR 500/person
How long does it take to issue the permit?
It only takes a few hours to issue the permit. But, trekkers must submit all the required documents to the travel agency.
Where to issue the permit?
You can issue permits from Tourist Service Centre, Exhibition Road, Kathmandu. Also, from Nepal Tourism Board Service Centre, Pokhara for all Annapurna region treks. For Khumbu Permit, you must issue the permit at Lukla. It is imposed by the local government. Since all permits are taken care of by the travel agency, trekkers needn’t worry much.
Just submit the following documents to the travel agency to issue the permits.
- Passport photocopy with 6 months validity
- 4 Passport size photos
- Nepali Visa with the arrival stamp
- Travel Insurance papers (all essential things must cover)
- Flight tickets photocopy
- Agreement Letter to trekking company and Immigration Head
Short Treks Difficulty
These short treks are especially in the lower regions. Hence, the treks are easy to medium-level difficult. For new trekkers, it may be slightly tough due to the steep ascend and descent. And roughness of the trails. As the elevation rises, trekkers might find it difficult. But, with proper guidance the short treks are attainable. Trekkers need to be physically and mentally fit. So, the best advice is to participate in short hikes at high altitudes before starting the trek. In addition, take necessary health check-ups and eat a healthy diet. Furthermore, do some physical training exercises and yoga or meditation for sound mental health. Our support is always there throughout your journey from the start to the end.
Porter Luggage limitation
The luggage limitation is a maximum of 15 kg per trekker. One porter carries the luggage of two trekkers. The luggage limitation is planned considering the health of the porters.
Altitude Sickness & its Symptoms
Altitude sickness is also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). It is a common condition that can occur when you travel to high altitudes, typically above 2,400 meters (8,000 feet). Mainly caused by reduced air pressure and lowered oxygen levels at high altitudes. It can affect the way your body functions. Altitude sickness is natural and can be taken care of.
Symptoms of altitude sickness can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Fatigue or weakness
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite or nausea
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
Preventive Guidelines
There are several preventive guidelines and are as follows:
- Acclimatize gradually for adjusting to the surroundings
- Stretch the body and do some warm-ups before the trek
- Ascend slowly to give the body time to acclimatize
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent Dehydration
- Urinate frequently to help the body function properly
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and salty foods
- Avoid strenuous activity
- Get plenty of rest to allow the body time to recover and adjust to the lower oxygen levels
- Make sure to get plenty of sleep and take regular breaks to rest
- Use an oxygen cylinder if necessary in case of difficulty
- Immediately consult with a guide and seek medical attention if necessary
Equipment checklist
Essential Documents: Passport, Travel Permits, Visa Photocopy, Passport size photos
Food: Light snacks, Energy bars, and drink mix
Shoes: Camp shoes, Pair of hiking boots, Rubber sandals
Clothes: Windcheater jacket, Thermals, Insulating Down Jacket, Fleece, Long sleeve shirts, Gloves, Towels, Inner garments, Trekking pants, Trousers, Shorts, Socks, Raincoat, Balaclava, Bandana, Gaiters
Accessories: Sunglasses, Hats/Caps, Sunscreen, Lip Balm, Water bottles, Pocket Knife, Solar chargers, Batteries, Head Lamps, Torch, Umbrella, Sewing kit, Water Purifying solution kits, reusable bags to deposit waste, separate clean/dirty clothes
Equipment: Warm Sleeping bag, Map, Trekking poles, Duffel bag
Note: Customize the above-mentioned checklist as necessary. Buy or rent option is also there in Kathmandu.
Updated on March 30, 2023
