Best of Chitwan National Park - 5 Days

Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu!

Flying into Kathmandu, you'll have views over the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below. After completing customs, a representative will be waiting to greet you outside the airport and to guide you through Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets to your hotel.

Once you've settled in, head out and explore the city. Kathmandu Durbar Square is a great place to start your exploration, where you'll walk through narrow alleyways teeming with small shops, ancient temples, and local restaurants. If you want to stretch your legs, Swayambhunath, the white stupa rising above the valley, is the perfect spot to catch the sunset.

In the evening, lively Thamel is a good place to grab your first meal, with a variety of restaurants to chose from offering both Western and local Nepali dishes.

Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Chitwan

This morning after breakfast, you'll head to the domestic airport in Kathmandu, where you will board your plane for the short flight to the Terai region and Chitwan National Park.

The name ‘Terai’ refers to the extensive plains in the southern part of Nepal – this area is the most northern extension of the great Gangetic plains of India, land that was won and lost in decades of struggle, and shares both Indian and Nepali characteristics and culture.

From the airport, it's a one-hour drive to your jungle lodge. Spread over 30 acres, the Barahi Jungle Lodge offers 35 deluxe boutique guest rooms, built as individual and two-in-one private villas. The works of Tharu artisans adorn all of the spacious rooms, each with its own private balcony overlooking the Chitwan canopy and the Rapti River.

Day 3: Safari Day - Jeep and Walking Safari

This is a day you won't forget: a full day of safari! All wildlife activities are escorted by an experienced naturalist who will share knowledge about the natural world. Wildlife in Chitwan National Park includes the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer and sambar deer, as well as a wide variety of birdlife. With a bit of luck, there is even the chance of glimpsing a leopard, sloth bear, or the Royal Bengal tiger.

You have the advantage of your resort being right on the river and at times you can even see animals come right to the edge of the river to drink and bathe! After your adventures, enjoy dinner and conversation under the stars. 

Day 4: Boat Safari to Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge

This morning after breakfast, walk down to the boat ramp on the river and get in a traditional longboat for your transfer to Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge. This is also an incredible opportunity for birdwatching and spotting crocodiles, rhino, and occasionally tigers on the banks of the river.

Your boat ride will end near Tiger Tops a bit before lunch. Nestled beside the lush forest and overlooking idyllic Terai landscapes, the lodge is the perfect place to unwind. In the afternoon you can spend time in the jungle or go for a bullock cart ride into the Tharu village near the lodge to explore the local culture of this part of the Terai.

Dine al fresco under the shade of a mango tree, take a refreshing dip in Tharu’s garden side pool, play a round of tennis, or simply sway gently in a hammock in the afternoon breeze. At night, enjoy the sounds of the forest outside your window.

Day 5: Fly from Chitwan to Kathmandu

This morning you may have a chance to fit in one last jungle or village activity before your transfer to the Bharatpur airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. The flight takes just 20 minutes. There's also the option to drive overland, which takes 5 - 6 hours, depending on road conditions.