Chitwan Tour: 3 nights, 4 days via Drive

Day 1 – Drive to Chitwan and Cultural Evening

After having breakfast, you depart early from Kathmandu via bus or jeep. Enjoy the scenic drive through rolling foothills, alongside rivers, and through local villages. Once you arrive in Chitwan, check-in at your hotel and freshen up. We will arrange for your hotel in Sauraha, the tourist area of the region, unless otherwise requested for a jungle resort or a Tharu homestay. For dinner tonight you are hosted for a traditional Tharu meal.

After dinner you can attend a Tharu cultural performance. The show highlights cultural dances and folk music that Tharu people perform during their festivals and celebrations. The star of the show is the Tharu stick dance, a ritualistic dance incorporating percussion and synchronized movements.

Day 2 – Jungle Safari

Today begins with a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Your jungle safari adventure begins in the late afternoon with pick-up from your hotel. You can choose either a walking safari or a jeep safari. As an ethical Nepali tour company, we do not recommend an elephant riding safari as it is not good for the elephants.

Your safari takes you into Chitwan National Park, which was established in 1973 as Nepal’s first National Park. The 932 square kilometer park is home to a huge diversity of flora and fauna including many species of birds, deer, crocodiles, and monkeys. If you are lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of the incredible one-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and Bengal tiger, both endangered species. Lunch and snacks will be taken care of for you today.

After an exciting day in the park, the evening is yours to rest and explore the town on your own time. We recommended finding a dinner spot along the river where you can enjoy peaceful sunset views.

Day 3 – Birdwatching and Canoe Ride

After another tasty breakfast at your hotel, you can get ready for another day of wildlife adventures! In the morning there is a guided bird-watching tour on foot. Have your cameras ready to capture the diversity of bird species in the region. Have lunch on your own, perhaps venturing into the nearby Tharu village of Sauraha.

In the afternoon, enjoy a peaceful canoeing tour along the Rapti River. Someone will be paddling on your behalf and pointing out the various flora and fauna of the riverside. The gentle pace of the hand-paddled canoe leaves the wildlife undisturbed. Spotting rare wildlife species such as crocodiles and exotic birds adds a burst of excitement to the otherwise tranquil ride.

The area is known for its two crocodile species, the Gharial and the Marsh Mugger, as well as many bird species including the Egret, Cormorant, Pond Heron and Open Billed Stork. The night is yours to rest or continue exploring. The area has lots of shops to purchase local art and handicrafts.

Day 4 – Return Drive to Kathmandu

Once again, you can have your breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Then, prepare for your journey back to Kathmandu via bus. The drive between Kathmandu and Chitwan takes anywhere from 6 to 7 hours depending on vehicle type and road conditions. If you would like more days to enjoy what Chitwan has to offer, then we can absolutely extend your tour to include more days and activities.

If you would like to see more of Nepal, then we would be happy to arrange continued travel to somewhere like Lumbini or Pokhara, or even into the Himalayas for a trek!

4 Day Chitwan Tour Cost Via Tourist Bus – Per Person (USD)

• • 1 person: $260
  • 2 people: $245
  • 3-4 people: $230
  • 5-6 people: $215
  • 7+ people: $200

Your Chitwan Tour Cost Includes:

• • Three-night stay at three-star hotel in Chitwan
  • All ground transportation from kathmandu to chitwan
  • Three breakfasts at hotel in Chitwan, one local Tharu dinner, one lunch and snacks during Safari tour
  • A local and professional english-speaking guide to meet you in Chitwan
    • Assistant guides will be added with larger groups
  • Entrance fee to cultural dance performance
  • Jungle safari (choose either jeep or walking tour)
  • Birdwatching walking tour
  • Canoe ride tour on the Rapti River
  • Company fees, administration, and government tax (VAT)
  • A tree planted in your name
  • A minimum of 1% of profits donated to schools and orphanages in Nepal

Your Chitwan Tour Cost Does Not Include:

• • International flights to and from Nepal
  • Tourist visa to enter Nepal (can be obtained on arrival at the airport)
    • US$30U for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days
  • Airport pick up for international flights (available upon request)
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu (available upon request)
  • Personal costs such as souvenirs, donations and laundry
  • Personal insurance, personal expenses, loss of property and theft, etc.
  • Staff tips
    • Many Nepali guides rely on tips to supplement a lower wage. With Himalayan Peace Treks, you will be able to travel knowing that the team is being paid fairly and that any tip you want to give is a reflection of your experience
  • We can arrange extra activities that you might like and make any adjustments to your itinerary to suit your travel plans better

Major Activities and Touring Places

• Jungle Safari
• Tharu Village Visit
• Tharu Cultural Dance
• Birdwatching
• Canoe Ride
• Sunset View Over Rapti River

Transportation to Chitwan

• Flight: Flying is usually the fastest way to reach Chitwan as it is only a 25 min flight from Kathmandu. The incredible aerial views from the small plane showcase the vastness of the Himalayas. Flying gives you time to explore Chitwan on the same day that you are travelling. Although not as sustainable as road travel, domestic flights are a great way to save time and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the mountains. Depending on availability, time of year and weather, flights are often cancelled.

During peak season, try to book as far ahead in advance as you can. If it’s cloudy, flights won’t be operating so be prepared to hop in a car or on a bus as an alternative. Our 2 Night, 3 Day Chitwan Tour includes the cost of flights. If you would like to add flights to another tour package such as our 3 Night, 4 Day Pokhara Tour then just let us know and we will arrange it.

• • Cost: ~UD$240-270 round-trip, per person
• Private Car or Jeep: A private car is another comfortable and convenient option to get to Chitwan from Kathmandu or anywhere in Nepal. If everything goes smoothly, it will take 4-5 hours to get to Chitwan from Kathmandu. It is a scenic drive with views of lush green hills, rivers, and mountain villages.

This is an ideal option for stopping on your own time and adding on any side trips you might like. As you might imagine, the mountainous roads in Nepal are windy, bumpy, dusty and unpredictable. A standard tour package to Chitwan from Kathmandu includes round-trip travel via bus. If you would like to book a private vehicle, please let us know.

• • Cost:
    • Car (seats 3-4 people) ~US$220 round-trip
    • Jeep (seats up to 7 people) ~US$300 round-trip
• Tourist Bus: Tourist buses are a reliable and comfortable option for travelling between Kathmandu and Chitwan. As you might know, travelling via bus is a more sustainable and cost-effective travel option. There are a few different tourist bus companies that operate different classes of tourist buses including regular, deluxe and sofa.

These buses depart from Kathmandu at the tourist bus station in Sorakhutte, near the tourist hub of Thamel, at 7 or 7:30 am every day and typically take 5-6 hours.

• Local Bus: The local bus is the cheapest and, honestly, least comfortable option to reach Pokhara. It takes about 6-8 hours because it stops frequently to pick up and drop off passengers along the way.

The buses are often crowded, they play loud music and you might just end up sitting next to a goat! They can be quite challenging for some tourists, or a lot of fun, depending on your style. Local travel in any country, especially Nepal, offers an authentic glimpse into local travel and way of life.

Best Time for a Chitwan Tour

Chitwan can be visited throughout the year, but autumn, spring, and winter are the most popular. Autumn (September-November) has pleasant weather and clear skies and is best for jungle safaris, wildlife spotting, and outdoor activities. The greenery is most lush at the beginning of September when the monsoon season is finishing up.

Spring (March-May) is another lovely season for a Chitwan tour with warm weather and lots of baby animals! Winter (December-February) is a peaceful time of year for a Chitwan tour due to fewer crowds. It is cold in the morning and warms up for the afternoons.