Chitwan safari from Kathmandu: 2, 3 or 4 days, and which package to book
5 min read
The short answer
Three days is the length most packages are built around, and the 3-Day All-Inclusive Chitwan Safari is the most-reviewed Chitwan package in our listing. Its page describes two nights in Sauraha, a canoe ride on the Rapti River, a jeep safari, a visit to the Elephant Breeding Center and a Tharu cultural show. If you only have two days, or want a night in a jungle tower, read the flexible 2, 3 or 4-day option below. The Nepal Tourism Board puts Bharatpur, 21 km from the park headquarters at Kasara, at 146 km by road from Kathmandu and lists 56 mammal species, including the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger (Nepal Tourism Board). Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed; the first package’s page says so plainly.
The packages compared
| Package | Length | How you travel (per page) | Group type | From price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Day All-Inclusive Chitwan Safari | 3 days, 2 nights | Tourist bus or private car, depending on option | Small group available | €136.88 per person | 4.5 / 5 from 180 reviews |
| 3-Day Chitwan Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers | 3 days, 2 nights | Hotel pickup by private car, round trip by tourist coach | Private or small groups | €136 per person | 4.6 / 5 from 137 reviews |
| 3-Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Private Tour | 3 days | Pickup from hotels in Kathmandu or Pokhara, drop-off at the bus stand | Private | €123.32 per person | 4.7 / 5 from 121 reviews |
| 2, 3, or 4-Day Chitwan Jungle Safari | 2, 3 or 4 days | Private car on the 2-day option, tourist bus on 3 and 4 days | Ask the operator | €67.82 per person | 4.7 / 5 from 58 reviews |
Getting there
The road is part of every package. The first package gives about 6–7 hours by tourist bus each way, sends the bus ticket one day before departure and says you must come to the bus station yourself; return passengers are dropped at Balaju in Kathmandu or the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara and take a taxi from there. The flexible option lists a private car of 4–5 hours for the 2-day trip and a tourist bus of 5–6 hours for 3 and 4 days, and says hotel transfers are included for all options. The second package lists hotel pickup and drop-off by private car in its inclusions. The page for the 3-day private tour lists pickup from hotels in both cities and a drop-off at the bus stand. Plan the return before you book a flight out the same evening: the flexible option gives approximate return times, for example Kathmandu by 4:00 pm on the 2-day option.
What a day looks like
The pages describe the same rhythm: arrival and a Tharu village or sunset visit on day one, a canoe ride, a jungle walk and a jeep safari on day two, breakfast and the road back on day three. The first package has a small inconsistency: its description speaks of a four-hour jeep safari while the itinerary heading says three hours, so ask which applies. Its page also says that if you prefer not to visit animal facilities you can skip the Elephant Breeding Center by telling your guide on day one.
Two days or four
The flexible package is the only one here that offers a 2-day version, which ends after the canoe ride with a private drive back, and a 4-day version with a night in a remote jungle tower, which the page puts in the 4-day option only. The page also lists optional add-ons such as a 5-star hotel, private transport on 3 and 4 days and round-trip flights, which are not part of the base price.
When to go
The Nepal Tourism Board gives October to March as the best time, with about 25 °C; April to June can reach 43 °C and July to September is the rainy season (Nepal Tourism Board).
Who should skip it
The first package lists children under 5, people with mobility impairments and people over 95 as unsuitable, and does not allow baby strollers. The second lists people with back problems, and the private tour lists people with animal allergies. The first page asks for lightweight clothing in earthy colours, long sleeves and closed shoes. Bus days of 6–7 hours on bumpy roads, as the first page warns, are hard with small children.
Our recommendation
Take the 3-Day All-Inclusive Chitwan Safari if you are happy to go with a small group. Choose the 3-Day Private Tour for a private group with English, Hindi or Chinese guiding, and the flexible 2, 3 or 4-day package when two days is all you have. More choices are in the Chitwan jungle safari category.
