Personalised photo gifts in Kathmandu for Dashain, Tihar and more

The best personalised gifts in Nepal are the ones made from your own memories. A Soouvenir photobook or photo magazine turns the photos already on your phone into a printed book that parents, grandparents, partners and friends will keep for years. You make it in your browser, and we print it and deliver it anywhere in Kathmandu Valley.

What is a good personalised gift in Kathmandu?

A printed photobook is one of the most personal gifts you can give in Kathmandu. It is made from your own photos, with names, dates and a few words that only your family will understand. Unlike flowers or sweets, it lasts. And unlike a digital frame, it needs no charger, Wi-Fi or updates, so it works just as well for a grandparent who never uses a smartphone.

Which occasions suit a photobook gift?

• Dashain. A book of last year's Dashain, given at this year's tika.
• Tihar and Bhai Tika. A book of your childhood photos together, for your brother or sister.
• Teej. A book of the women in your family dancing and celebrating together.
• Mother's Day (Mata Tirtha Aunsi) and Father's Day (Kushe Aunsi). A book of your parents' lives, including old photos scanned with a phone.
• Weddings and anniversaries. A book of the couple's story for their first anniversary.
• Birthdays and pasni. A first-year book for the grandparents.
• Farewells. A book for a friend moving abroad to study or work, so they can take home with them.

Can I send a photobook gift to my family in Kathmandu from abroad?

Yes. Soouvenir works in any web browser, so you can make the book wherever you live and have it delivered to your family's door in Kathmandu, Lalitpur or Bhaktapur. For Nepalis in Australia, the US, the UK, Japan, Korea or the Gulf, it's a heartfelt way to be part of Dashain or a parent's birthday from far away.

How long does it take to make a photobook gift?

Most people can make a small gift book in an evening. Pick a ready-made layout and your photos drop into place, then add captions and choose a cover. Printing and delivery take a few days, and you see the delivery date before you pay, so leave yourself a little time before the festival or birthday.

Should I choose a photobook or a photo magazine?

Choose a photobook for a keepsake that will sit on a shelf for decades, such as a wedding, a baby's first year or a parent's life story. Choose a photo magazine for something lighter and more playful, such as a friend's birthday, a year in review or a trip with friends. Both are made in the same Soouvenir editor. See turning your Instagram feed into a printed magazine.

Can I include old family photos?

Yes. Photograph old prints with your phone in soft daylight, holding it straight above the photo, and add them to your book alongside new ones. A book that puts a grandmother's wedding photo next to her granddaughter's is a gift families talk about for years. Our guide to designing your parents' anniversary album shows how.

Why do photobooks make better gifts than digital frames?

A photobook tells a story in order, with words, and it never needs charging. Digital frames often end up in a drawer once the novelty fades. Read why photobooks make better gifts than digital frames.

How do I start?

Join the Soouvenir waitlist and we will email you when it's your turn. If you want a book for a festival, join early so you have time to make it.