budget family trip

Spice up your family trip to Pokhara with these off-the-beaten-path activities!

The pretty lakeside town of Pokhara attracts large numbers of visitors, ranging from thrill-seekers enjoying adventure sports, to serious trekkers embarking on hikes around the Annapurna Circuit, to families looking for a little R&R around the lake. There are welcoming, affordable guest houses, cozy restaurants, and yoga studios, making the place a breeze for family visitors to Nepal. Moreover, the compact nature of the place means families can see the major sites in just a few days. The mountain breezes make Pokhara a literal breath of fresh air for anybody who has recently spent time among the traffic fumes of Kathmandu, but the swathes of North Face-clad tourists who flock here can make a visit to Pokhara feel a little like following the herd. Follow these tips to get off the beaten path with your family in Pokhara!

Head to Begnas Lake

Pokhara sits pretty on the shores of beautiful Phewa Lake, and it’s not surprising that this lovely stretch of water is a major draw for nature-loving families heading out to the water for boating, windsurfing and other water sports. It’s undoubtedly a gorgeous spot, but it’s also a very popular one, drawing more visitors than any other lake in the country. For something that feels more satisfyingly off-the-beaten track, Begnas Lake is just as picturesque, but lacks the big crowds and bustling restaurants. Regular buses make the 18km ride out to the lake, but it’s also possible to combine a visit with a relatively easy trek. Keen walkers will be able to do it in a day, with ample opportunity to stop for picnics in stunning surroundings, and it’s even possible to hire a sherpa guide and/or a porter who can carry little ones in a wicker basket, taking some of the strain off parents’ weary limbs and freeing up space for backpacks. The north side of the lake is particularly quiet, even in high season, and visitors to Pokhara with kids will find plenty of budget-friendly spots for a night’s stay, as well as simple restaurants that feel a whole lot less touristy than those in Pokhara itself.

Visit Nearby Villages

If you and your family want to get a taste of how local people live in the mountainous Annapurna region of Nepal, you’ll need to leave Pokhara and head to the nearby villages. Luckily, there’s gorgeous scenery galore as you set off along trails that follow trickling rivers past terraced fields to small, traditional villages inhabited by Gurung and Ghale people. You’ll be met with friendly curiosity, and following trails onwards (it’s possible to do this alone with a reliable map, or with a guide if your navigation skills are likely to fail you) to reach the village of Kalikasthan. Kalikasthan is famous because it is the starting point for the Royal Trek, the route so-named because Prince Charles walked along it with a 90-person entourage back in the 1980s. There are plenty of places to enjoy a peaceful hot drink and bite to eat in this small village, but the real beauty of the place is the view of snowy mountains, stretching as far as the eye can see. From here, three central Himalayan ranges, Manaslu, the Annapurna and the Dhaulagiri, are clearly visible, while the nearby Kalikasthan Ridge houses still more villages and camps, as well as a large local school.

Socially-Responsible Shopping

Pokhara’s shops and markets offer any number of opportunities to pick up colorful souvenirs and climbing gear–just watch out for “North Fake” items that will do little to protect you in extreme conditions, as counterfeit items are commonplace! There is one store that merits a visit over the others: the Women’s Skills Development Organisation is a not-for-profit, fair-trade group that works with socially and economically disadvantaged women from rural communities. The gorgeous, expertly crafted bags, scarves and knitted toys are worthy of your investment even without the feel-good factor. You’ll find the store right by the lake in Pokhara.

Visit a Tibetan Refugee Village

A little out of town in Chhore Patan, visit the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement, which is home to about 500 Tibetans who have fled their homeland after Chinese troops invaded Tibet. Here you can meet some Tibetans and attend the puja (Buddhist ceremony), which occurs daily at 3 PM. The ceremony involves the young monks playing traditional instruments and chanting from religious texts. If you’re in need of some authentic Tibetan souvenirs, check out the Tashiling Handicrafts Centre outside the gates of the village. Chhore Patan showcases the rug-making skills of Tibetan refugees, and the goods are first rate.

Chill Out at the Movie Garden

Head to Northern Pokhara for movie night, every night! Located in the quieter northern end of town, the Movie Garden screens different films every night (time differs depending on the season). Their outdoor area is filled with comfy bean bags and couches, and they project the movies on a large screen. They also serve beers and non-alcoholic beverages, along with snacks (popcorn is a must!). On Saturdays, there is a double-feature with a kids’ movie in the early evening and a film for more mature audiences afterwards. Check the schedule on their Facebook page to see what the movies are going to play each week.

Eat This: Momos

Whether you’re visiting for a relaxing few days in Pokhara with the family, or taking a pit stop before an energy-burning trek, food is likely to be a focal point of your stay here. Tibetan momos are hugely popular in Pokhara, and the meat-or-chicken-stuffed dumplings are usually a big hit with kids. Wash those momos down with sweet and spicy masala tea or, if you’re brave enough, potent raksi (the local firewater) at any number of family-run spots. Opinion is strictly divided about which Pokhara restaurant serves the best momos, but most people agree that the most authentic taste of Tibet, (and a tourist-free experience!), take a 20-minute ride out of town to Mount Kailash Tibetan Restaurant, at the entrance to the Tibetan encampment at Chhore Patan, and run by a friendly Tibetan family. Just ask them to hold the chili sauce if the little ones haven’t acquired a taste for spice!

Spice up your family trip to Singapore with these off-the-beaten-path activities!

Slick, shiny, and stroller-friendly, Singapore is one of the most stress-free destinations for families visiting Asia. But while bringing the brood to this polished modern city is a lot less hassle than visiting other big Asian cities such as Kathmandu or Bangkok, the manicured lawns, shiny high-rise buildings and super-clean sidewalks can make it feel a little sterile and lacking in potential for real adventure. But look beyond the ice cream parlors (although don’t miss out on visiting a few–Singaporeans take their ice cream seriously, and it shows!) and the shopping malls, and it’s not hard to uncover family-friendly sights and activities that go beyond tame, tourist-oriented pursuits. Get off the beaten track with these under-the-radar exploits, for a more memorable family jaunt to Singapore.

Follow a Foodie Treasure Trail at Simpang Bedok

Most foodies will tell you that a trip to Lau Pa Sat Market is virtually mandatory for any culinarily curious families visiting Singapore. But while there’s certainly a lot of yummy fun to be had at this downtown gastronomic institution (and a few bargains to be picked up), it’s very much on the tourist trail, and the location in the business district further bumps up the prices. Instead, make like the locals and jump on a bus to Simpang Bedok, which has become the go-to neighborhood for in-the-know gourmands. Although the area’s been spruced up a bit through gentrification, and there are some very high-end places to eat here, it’s more fun (and budget-friendly) to check out the stalls at the Fengshan Market and Food Center, where families can try all manner of delicious local dishes, and kids can slurp down bowls of noodles for as little as $1 a pop. It’s open until late, so it’s worth bringing kiddos in a stroller in case they nod off as you make the rounds and soak up the lively vibe.

Escape to the Kranji Countryside

Leave the spick-and-span city behind and head off for fresh air and fun in the rural suburb of Kranji. The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) runs out here, some 20 kilometers from the city center, and it feels like a world away from the Singapore of the guidebooks. As well as some educational and informative farm visits, (try to find time to visit the wonderful Bollywood Veggies), Kranji is home to the Sunjei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where nature-loving families can stroll through 130 hectares of protected land, where mangrove swamps are inhabited by all manner of flying, swimming, jumping and crawling creatures. Nearby Chestnut Nature Park is a pleasant place for an afternoon’s cycling and a picnic, while a frog farm in the vicinity will appeal to youngsters with a fondness for the little hoppers.

Step back in time at Pulau Ubin

While vast numbers of locals and visitors alike head for family fun at the lively island resort of Sentosa, adventurous families in Singapore will find an entirely different island experience at Pulau Ubin. Just a 10-minute ferry ride from the city center, it feels like a wild ride back in time! Instead of sleek restaurants, white sandy beaches and glistening modern buildings, this island has traditional kampung houses on stilts, forested trails and some astonishing ecosystems. There are scarcely any cars on the island, making this a popular spot for trekking and cycling, and visitors can gawk at the abundant wildlife present in the mangrove swamps, sand and mud flats, coastal forest and unspoiled beaches. Don’t expect high rise hotels or chain restaurants here–the family can nosh on super-fresh fish and seafood from simple family-run restaurants by the jetty. To get here, take a bumboat from the ferry terminal at Changi Point (around $6 USD return, plus a little extra for a bike).

Did we mention the ice cream?

There’s nothing under-the-radar or hidden about the ice cream scene in Singapore! With ice cream and frozen yogurt spots on every corner and vendors selling ice cream sandwiches at every stretch of pavement in between, the city will thrill kids and sweet-toothed parents alike. It’s fun just to shop around until you find your favorite, but some good family options to start with are the self-serve Sogurt shops, where kids can load up their own cones and bowls, and chuck on their toppings of choice, while the cheekily-named Udders serves the scoops alongside yummy pancakes, and has ‘grown-up’ versions, made with boozy ingredients such as Baileys. Yum. If the kids needed any further convincing to come here, mention that there’s a special Star Wars-themed range, with flavors including a bright green ‘Yoda’ (actually matcha green tea with coconut caramel). Doubt the power of our Green Tea flavor, you do not! Enjoy the richness of our Kyoto Matcha ice cream, infused with the sweetness of coconut caramel. Embrace this delicious light flavor today!

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Pokhara with Kids: Get off the Tourist Track!

Spice up your family trip to Pokhara with these off-the-beaten-path activities!

Singapore with Kids: Get off the Tourist Track!

Spice up your family trip to Singapore with these off-the-beaten-path activities!