What is the best time to visit Chitwan National Park?

October to March is peak season — dry trails, comfortable temperatures, and lower vegetation make wildlife much easier to spot. April and May are hot but offer excellent wildlife activity. The monsoon (June–September) brings heavy rain and reduced visibility, though the park remains open year-round.

What is included in the Chitwan 3-day tour package?

The package includes: private vehicle transport (Kathmandu to Chitwan and return), 2 nights lodge accommodation in Sauraha, all national park entry and activity fees, two jeep safaris, a dawn canoe ride on the Rapti River, a guided jungle walk, a Tharu village tour, a bird watching walk, a Tharu cultural show, an expert naturalist guide, and meals as specified in the itinerary.

How do I get from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park?

This package includes a private vehicle that collects you directly from your Kathmandu hotel. The drive to Sauraha takes approximately 5–6 hours. There are no shared buses, no fixed stops, and no other passengers — your driver is exclusively yours for the duration.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. A 50% refund applies for cancellations 15–29 days before travel. No refund within 14 days of departure. Travel insurance covering trip cancellation is strongly recommended.

Chitwan National Park Safari | Private 3-Day Tour from Kathmandu

Q: Can I see a Bengal tiger in Chitwan?

Tiger sightings are always possible and never guaranteed. Chitwan has one of the highest tiger densities in Asia, and your naturalist guide will know the best areas and times to maximise your chances. Many guests find fresh tracks; some see tigers directly.

Q: Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes. The Chitwan package is family-friendly. Jungle walks are gentle and flat with no demanding terrain. Jeep safaris are accessible for all ages. We recommend this tour for children aged 6 and above.

Q: What should I pack for a Chitwan safari?

Pack neutral-coloured clothing (greens, khaki, brown) — avoid bright colours on safari. Also bring: DEET insect repellent, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable closed-toe walking shoes, a light layer for early mornings, and binoculars if available. Sauraha has shops for any essentials you forget.

The Experience

Some wildlife experiences feel curated.
This one feels real.

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.

Every trip supports locally-employed Nepali guides and contributes directly to Chitwan's national park conservation fees. No third-party operators. No commissions.

Founded by Prakash Shrestha — Nepali guide, Kathmandu native, and the person who personally responds to every enquiry.

500+

Bird species recorded

1984

UNESCO designation

700+

One-horned rhinos in the park

100%

Private — only your group

Day by Day

Your Chitwan Itinerary

Arrival · First Safari · Tharu Culture

Into the Jungle Before the Day Is Done

Your private vehicle collects you from your Kathmandu hotel. The 5–6 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 midday. 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.

Morning

Private Vehicle Transfer

Kathmandu → Chitwan, 5–6 hrs scenic

Midday

Arrive & Settle In

Lodge check-in, settle in, briefing before safari

Afternoon

First Jeep Safari

Grasslands, floodplains, sal forest

Sunset

Rapti River Walk

Golden hour on the water

Evening

Tharu Cultural Show

Stick dance, music, dinner

Before Sunrise · Forest · Village · Safari

The Fullest Day in the Wild

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.

Pre-Dawn

Dawn Canoe Ride

Misty river, crocs, kingfishers

Morning

Guided Jungle Walk

On-foot tracking in rhino habitat

Late Morning

Elephant Breeding Centre

Conservation project, baby elephants up close

Afternoon

Tharu Village Tour

Indigenous culture, mud-brick homes

Late Afternoon

Second Jeep Safari

Different zone, different habitat

Evening

Dinner at the Lodge

Unwind, swap stories, early night before Day 3

This is the day guests talk about for years. Reserve your dates →

Bird Walk · Departure

One Last Walk, Then the Road North

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 travellers 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 vehicle turns north. Back in Kathmandu by late afternoon — memory card full, emails ignored, and a story that will take more than one dinner party to tell properly.

Early Morning

Bird Watching Walk

500+ species, jungle waking up

Mid-Morning

Late Breakfast

Final meal at the lodge

Afternoon

Return Drive

Private vehicle back to Kathmandu

The Animals

Wildlife You
May Encounter

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.

Greater One-Horned Rhino

Chitwan holds one of the world's healthiest, most stable populations

Gharial & Mugger Crocodile

Along the Rapti and Narayani rivers, motionless in the early mist

Spotted, Sambar & Barking Deer

Throughout the grasslands — alarm calls signalling larger movements

Langur Monkey

Forest canopy inhabitants, often first to signal approaching wildlife

Wild Elephant

Moving through buffer zones, especially in the early and late day

Peacock on branch, Chitwan National Park

500+ Bird Species

Giant hornbills, rare pelicans, painted storks, jewel-bright kingfishers

🐅

The Bengal Tiger

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.

Reserve Your Dates

Why Private

Why a Private Chitwan Tour
Changes Everything

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.

Book Your Private Trip

→ Linger at sightings as long as you want — no group consensus needed
→ Stop anywhere on the drive — roadside chai, viewpoints, photo stops
→ Travel at your own pace — departure times flexible
→ Your vehicle, your group, your experience — nobody else involved
→ Driver and guide exclusively dedicated to you
→ Stretch out on the return drive — not squeezed into a shared seat

Practical Info

Practical Details &
What to Expect

Everything you need to know before you go.

Duration	3 Days / 2 Nights
Transport	Private vehicle, Kathmandu → Chitwan → Kathmandu
Drive Time	Approx. 5–6 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 travellers per private vehicle
Fitness	No specialist fitness required. Jungle walks are gently 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.

What's Included

Everything You Need,
Nothing You Don't

Included in your package

Private vehicle, Kathmandu → Chitwan → Kathmandu
2 nights lodge accommodation in Sauraha
All national park entry & activity fees
Two full jeep safaris (afternoon Day 1 & Day 2)
Dawn canoe ride on the Rapti River (Day 2)
Guided jungle walk on foot (Day 2)
Tharu village cultural tour (Day 2)
Elephant Breeding Centre visit (Day 2)
Bird watching walk in the buffer zone (Day 3)
Tharu cultural show (Day 1 evening)
Expert government-licensed naturalist guide throughout
Meals as specified (breakfast daily, dinner Days 1 & 2)
Government taxes & service charges

Not included

International flights to/from Nepal
Nepal tourist visa (~$30–50 USD, paid on arrival)
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Lunches (plenty of options in Sauraha)
Personal expenses & shopping
Alcoholic beverages
Tips for guides and driver (appreciated)
Any activities not listed above

Pricing

Transparent Pricing,
No Hidden Costs

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. (USD approximates shown · rates vary)

Solo — Full Private Rate

£650

– £850

per person

approx. $825 – $1,080 USD

Full private experience with undivided guide attention

Everything You Need to Know
Before You Go

Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?

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.

Is Chitwan National Park safe for tourists?

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.

What is the best time to visit Chitwan?

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.

Can I see a Bengal tiger in Chitwan?

Tiger sightings are always possible — and never guaranteed. Chitwan has one of the highest tiger densities in Asia, 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.

How do I get from Kathmandu to Chitwan?

This package includes a private vehicle that collects you directly from your Kathmandu hotel — jeep or private minibus depending on group size and availability. The drive to Sauraha takes approximately 5–6 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.

What should I pack for a Chitwan safari?

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.

Is this tour suitable for children?

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.

Can we customise the itinerary?

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.

Where Rhinos
Roam Free

Some wildlife experiences feel curated.
This one feels real.