- Length
- 3 days
- Highest point
- 1,400 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best months
- Oct–May
- Starts
- Chitwan (from Kathmandu or Pokhara)
- Group size
- 2–15 People
- Sleeping
- Resort / Lodge
Nepal's most famous wildlife destination in 3 days — UNESCO-listed Chitwan National Park brings you face-to-face with one-horned rhinos, Bengal tigers, gharial crocodiles and hundreds of bird species on elephant-back safaris and jungle walks.
- One-horned rhinoceros — 700+ rhinos in Chitwan; close encounters on jungle walks and jeep safari
- Royal Bengal tiger habitat — one of Asia's best chances to spot a wild tiger
- Elephant bathing experience with rescued working elephants
- Dugout canoe safari on the Rapti River — mugger crocodiles and gharial sightings
- Tharu cultural show: traditional stick dance and bonfire under the jungle canopy
- Dawn jeep safari in prime wildlife hours — highest sighting rates of the day
- Chitwan National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Birdwatcher's paradise: 500+ species including giant hornbill and Bengal florican
The climb, day by day
Day 1Kathmandu — Drive/Fly to Chitwan — Jungle Arrival150 m
Drive (5–6 hours) or fly (25 minutes) from Kathmandu to Sauraha, the gateway to Royal Chitwan National Park (150m), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Asia's finest wildlife reserves. Check in to jungle resort. Evening nature briefing and sunset walk along the Rapti River watching rhinos and deer on the far bank.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Drive
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Lodge
Day 2Jungle Walk — Canoe Safari — Elephant Bathing150 m
Early morning guided jungle walk on foot through sal forest and tall grasslands searching for greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, langur monkeys, and the elusive Royal Bengal tiger. Morning canoe safari drifting silently down the Rapti River watching gharial and mugger crocodiles basking on the banks. Afternoon elephant bathing experience at the elephant breeding centre, followed by birdwatching (Chitwan has over 540 bird species).
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Lodge
Day 3Jeep Safari — Tharu Village Cultural Program — Return Kathmandu1,400 m
Pre-dawn jeep safari into the core zone for the best wildlife sightings. Chitwan is home to over 700 one-horned rhinos and 120+ Bengal tigers. Late morning visit to a traditional Tharu village — tour the community museum, watch the famous Tharu stick dance, and learn about their fish-trap weaving traditions. After lunch, drive or fly back to Kathmandu.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Drive
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Chitwan National Park entry permit and conservation levy
- Licensed naturalist guide for all jungle activities
- Jeep safari (dawn and/or dusk, open 4WD)
- Dugout canoe safari on Rapti River
- Elephant bathing experience
- Tharu cultural program
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) at jungle lodge
- Accommodation at jungle resort (standard twin room)
- Round-trip transport from Pokhara or Kathmandu
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee ($30–$50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages and premium drinks
- Personal clothing and safari gear
- Tips for naturalist guide and lodge staff
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Any optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Chitwan National Park is Nepal's most celebrated wildlife destination — a UNESCO World Heritage-listed tropical floodplain in the southern Terai with the highest density of one-horned rhinoceros on earth, healthy Bengal tiger and leopard populations, gharial crocodile in the Rapti river, and over 500 bird species. The 3-day safari itinerary includes two dawn jeep safaris (the most productive wildlife-viewing time), one guided jungle walk for close-encounter rhino tracking, a Rapti river canoe trip for crocodile spotting, and a Tharu cultural village visit and stick-dance dinner on the final evening.
Chitwan receives over 100,000 visitors per year — far more than Bardia — but the wildlife density is also higher, and sightings are more reliable. Rhino encounters on a Chitwan jeep safari are essentially guaranteed; tiger sighting rates run at approximately 20–25% per visit. The 3-day programme is the standard format and delivers the full range of Chitwan experiences.
Best seasons: October–March (dry season; tall grass cut in January opens sightlines dramatically). Access: Kathmandu–Sauraha private vehicle (included). Rhino sighting rate: Near 100%.