Family Vacation in Mussoorie During Monsoon

How Should You Set Expectations Before You Book?

Tell the children honestly what the trip is, before you go:

• We will do our outdoor time in the mornings, early, before the rain
• We will spend a lot of the day at the resort, and that is the plan, not a failure of it
• The forest looks completely different in the rain, and that is why we are going now
• There may be a day when we do not leave the resort at all

Children handle this well. What they handle badly is being promised waterfalls and ropeways, then spending eight hours in a hotel room watching the rain.

What Does a Monsoon Family Property Need?

• Room for the family to spread out: One hotel room with two adults and two children on a full day of rain is hard going. Interconnected or larger rooms change everything. At EBC Mussoorie, the Twin Luxury Cottages are two interconnected cottages. Each has a king bedroom and its own bathroom, and they share a garden terrace. The Surveyor is a roomy suite with a large private sit-out, and extra beds can be added. The Andrew's Villa is the private flagship, with its own entrance and terrace. Pair it with other rooms for larger or multi-generational groups.
• Grounds the children can use: A secure private forest estate is a very different thing from a hotel with a small garden. Between showers, children can walk, explore and be outdoors without leaving the grounds.
• Dining on site, no drive needed: Park Cafe at EBC Mussoorie is a multi-cuisine café on the estate, beside a meadow. Breakfast is included with every room. For families, not having to drive a wet ridge road for every meal is a big advantage.
• Outdoor fun that fits short dry spells: The evening bonfire and barbecue setups give the day an end that children enjoy. The guided morning walk and the George Everest heritage site, a couple of minutes' walk away, give the mornings a purpose.

Look over the accommodation options at EBC Mussoorie and check which one fits your family before you enquire.

What Does a Realistic Monsoon Family Itinerary Look Like?

Day one, arrival: Leave Delhi in the morning, not the evening. The 280 km drive takes 5.5 to 6.5 hours in dry weather and longer in rain. Arriving with children after dark on a wet ridge road is no way to start. Aim to arrive in the mid to late afternoon, as check-in is from 2 PM. Let the children explore the grounds. Have an early dinner at Park Cafe. Sit by the bonfire if the evening clears.

Day two, the full day: 7 to 9 AM: the guided forest walk. Get everyone up for it. The forest in morning mist is the thing children remember most from a monsoon trip to the hills, and it lifts by 9 AM. After a 9 AM breakfast, walk to George Everest's House, a couple of minutes from Park Cafe. It opens at 9 AM. Tell the children the story. Sir George Everest led the survey that mapped India from its southern tip north towards the Himalayas. The world's highest mountain was later named after him, and he even objected to the honour. Children take to that far more than to any viewpoint.

From mid-morning, enjoy the resort. Play the board games you brought, read, spend time together and take a long lunch. This is where room size matters most. Evening: the bonfire, and a barbecue if the weather allows.

Day three, departure morning: One more early walk. Breakfast. Leave by about 10 AM to give yourself a buffer for the roads.

What Should You Pack for a Monsoon Family Trip?

• Waterproof shoes with grip for everyone, adults and children
• Two rain jackets each if you can, since one will always be wet
• Warm layers: evenings drop to 14 to 16 degrees Celsius up here, even in July
• Indoor games you bring yourselves: books, cards, board games
• A basic first aid kit
• Dry bags for phones and other electronics

What Are the Honest Tradeoffs?

• Kempty Falls in the monsoon is spectacular and full of water. But the approach can be crowded and slippery. Judge it with your children in mind.
• Roads around Mussoorie can be affected for 24 to 48 hours after heavy rain, and landslides do happen. Check advisories before you drive, and read the cancellation and date-change terms on the packages page before you book.
• Long day trips to Dhanaulti or Chakrata are best saved for a drier season when you have children with you.

EBC Mussoorie stays open right through the monsoon, and all tents and cottages are weather-proofed. A wet afternoon here is spent warm and dry.

The Hotelier India feature on EBC Mussoorie covers the resort's outdoor style of hosting. That is why it works for families whose plans need to bend around the weather.