Bengal tigers leave tracks in the mud. Every morning feels like a discovery. Chitwan — fully private, door-to-door from Kathmandu.
Chitwan National Park sits in Nepal's subtropical south — where ancient sal forests meet open floodplains and the greater one-horned rhinoceros walks paths it has walked for thousands of years.
This private package brings you here from Kathmandu in your own vehicle, at your own pace, with expert naturalist guides who know every track, call, and clearing in the park. Three days. Two nights. Zero compromises.
Your private jeep collects you from your Kathmandu hotel. The 4–5 hour drive south is a landscape transformation — Himalayan foothills giving way to terraced farmland, then the thick subtropical lowlands of the Terai. No shared bus. No fixed stops.
Settle into your Sauraha lodge by late morning. This afternoon, your first jeep safari into Chitwan covers serious ground. Your naturalist guide reads the landscape with years of expertise — they spot what you'd miss, know where the rhinos move in late afternoon, and which riverbank the gharials favour.
As evening arrives, walk to the Rapti River. Watch the water go orange. Listen to the jungle change its voice from day to night.
Before sunrise: your canoe is already on the river. Drifting silently through the mist, mugger crocodiles motionless on the mudbanks, kingfishers cutting low arcs over the water — nobody speaks much. Nobody needs to.
After breakfast, boots on for the guided jungle walk. On foot, Chitwan becomes a different world — intimate, layered, alive in ways a vehicle can't reveal. You read tracks pressed into damp earth. You learn to decode alarm calls. Rhino encounters on foot happen. When they do, your guide handles everything with calm expertise.
The afternoon Tharu village tour offers something no wildlife sighting can: human connection. Walk through family compounds, learn about farming rhythms and a way of life that continues on the edge of one of Asia's great wilderness areas.
The final morning is not for sleeping in. An early bird watching walk through the buffer zone is a quietly brilliant way to close out your time in Chitwan. More than 500 species have been recorded here — and even travelers who have never considered themselves birders find themselves stopped in their tracks by giant hornbills, painted storks, and the jewel-like flash of a kingfisher.
Late breakfast. Bags loaded. Your private jeep turns north. Back in Kathmandu by late afternoon — memory card full, inbox ignored, and a story that will take more than one dinner party to tell properly.
Chitwan has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Conservation here is serious, sustained, and measurably successful. The results show in the animals — and in every morning you spend inside the park.
Sightings are always possible and never promised. That uncertainty is exactly what makes every tiger track in the mud feel electric. Your naturalist will know where to look — the rest is up to Chitwan.
A private vehicle doesn't just mean more comfort — it means a fundamentally different kind of trip.
You linger at a rhino sighting for as long as you want. You stop on the highway for chai without consulting a group. Your driver is there for you exclusively — not managing fourteen other passengers with fourteen different priorities.
No specialist fitness required. The jungle walks are gentle. The jeep handles the distances.
Everything you need to know before you go.
| Duration | 3 Days / 2 Nights |
| Transport | Private jeep, Kathmandu → Chitwan → Kathmandu |
| Drive Time | Approx. 4–5 hours each way |
| Best Season | October to March — peak wildlife visibility, dry trails, comfortable temperatures Peak Season |
| Also Good | April–May — hot but excellent wildlife activity in the final weeks before monsoon |
| Group Size | 1–6 travelers per private vehicle |
| Fitness | No specialist fitness required. Jungle walks are gentle paced. |
| Meals | Breakfast daily; dinner on Days 1 & 2 included. Lunch not included (plenty of options in Sauraha village). |
| Nepal Visa | Required for most nationalities. Obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport — 15 days $30 USD, 30 days $50 USD. No advance application needed for UK, US, AU, CA citizens. |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund 15–29 days prior. No refund within 14 days. Travel insurance strongly recommended. |
All prices are per person in GBP. Larger groups reduce the per-person cost — the vehicle and guide cost is shared, so everyone pays less.
Prices vary by lodge category and travel dates. Request a personalised quote — we respond within 24 hours. No commitment required to enquire.
We spotted two rhinos within the first hour of our jeep safari. Our guide was extraordinary — his knowledge of the park was matched only by his patience. The dawn canoe ride on the Rapti was absolutely silent and completely magical. Worth every penny.
Travelling with two kids (8 and 11), I was nervous about whether they'd stay engaged. They were completely captivated — the jungle walk especially. Even the drive from Kathmandu was an experience. The private vehicle made everything so relaxed. We'll be back.
I almost booked a group tour to save money. Don't. The private experience is incomparably better — we lingered at every sighting, stopped for roadside tea, and had the naturalist's undivided attention for three days. Saw rhinos, gharials, deer, and fresh tiger prints.
Tourists from the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, and most European countries can obtain a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. A 15-day visa costs $30 USD; a 30-day visa costs $50 USD. Payment is accepted in cash (USD, EUR, GBP). No advance application needed.
Chitwan is one of the safest wildlife destinations in South Asia. All safaris and jungle walks are led by government-licensed naturalist guides trained in wildlife safety and encounter protocols. The park has an excellent safety record. Nepal overall is consistently rated a safe travel destination for international visitors.
October to March is peak season — dry trails, comfortable temperatures (18–28°C), and lower vegetation make wildlife much easier to spot. April–May is hot but excellent for wildlife activity before the monsoon. The monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain and leeches; the park remains open but visibility is reduced. We run tours year-round.
Tiger sightings are always possible — and never guaranteed. Chitwan has one of the highest tiger densities in Nepal, and your naturalist will know the best areas and times to maximise your chances. Many guests find fresh tracks; some guests see tigers directly. The uncertainty is real, and it's part of what makes a sighting feel genuinely extraordinary.
This package includes a private jeep that collects you directly from your Kathmandu hotel. The drive to Sauraha (the main gateway village) takes approximately 4–5 hours through Nepal's landscapes — from the Kathmandu Valley to the subtropical Terai lowlands. Your driver is exclusively yours; stop anywhere you like along the way.
Pack neutral-coloured clothing (greens, khaki, brown, beige) — avoid bright colours on safari. Also bring: DEET-based insect repellent, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable closed-toe walking shoes, a light layer for early morning canoe rides, and binoculars if you have them. Sauraha has shops for any essentials you forget.
Yes — this Chitwan package is family-friendly. Jungle walks are gentle and flat with no demanding terrain. Jeep safaris are accessible for all ages. Children tend to love the wildlife encounters, the canoe ride, and the Tharu cultural show. We recommend this tour for children aged 6 and above. Let us know the ages of your children and we'll tailor the experience accordingly.
Absolutely — every trip is built around you. Add an extra night in Chitwan, upgrade your lodge category, or combine this package with a Pokhara lakeside stay, a visit to Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace), an Everest Base Camp trek, or the Annapurna Circuit. Tell us your Nepal plans and we'll design it around you.
Every trip is fully customizable. Add an extra night. Upgrade your lodge. Combine with Pokhara, Lumbini, or any stop on your Nepal journey. Tell us what you want — we'll build it around you.