Chitwan Safari in Three Days
Rhinos at dawn, two nights in the jungle
- 3 days
- No trekking
- From $1,800
- Duration
- 3 days
- Style
- No trekking
- Highest point
- 200 m
- Best months
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Oct, Nov, Dec
- Starts and ends
- Kathmandu
For travellers who want Nepal's lowland wildlife in a long weekend.
- One-horned rhino from the jeep at dawn
- A dugout canoe on the Rapti river
- Two nights at a safari lodge
- A Tharu village evening
Chitwan National Park lies in the lowlands of southern Nepal, a short flight from Kathmandu and a world away from the mountains. Its grasslands and sal forest are home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, gaur, crocodiles in the rivers and more than five hundred kinds of bird. Tigers live here too, though they are seldom seen.
You fly to Bharatpur and spend two nights at a safari lodge on the edge of the park. Its naturalists take you out by jeep at dawn and in the late afternoon, down the Rapti river in a dugout canoe, and on foot in the forest. One evening you visit a Tharu village nearby.
It suits families, travellers who have finished a trek and want warmth and wildlife, and anyone with a long weekend. The lodges close in the monsoon, from about June to mid-September, and the best months are October to March.
The safari can be added to any journey, before or after the mountains.
Chitwan Safari in Three Days: the route
1 places · starts and ends in Kathmandu
Your journey at a glance
Choose a day
Highest night 1,400 m at Departure
Chitwan Safari in Three Days, day by day
-
Days 1–2 Chitwan Safari lodge Flight 25 min 150 m
A twenty-five-minute flight takes you south to Bharatpur, where the lodge's naturalist meets you for the short drive to the park. Over two days you go out by jeep at dawn and in the late afternoon, when rhino, spotted deer and gaur come out to the grasslands; you drift down the Rapti river in a dugout canoe past mugger crocodiles and kingfishers; and you walk with the naturalists in the forest. Tigers live here, though sightings are rare. One evening you visit a Tharu village nearby. The lodge looks after everything else, from early tea to dinner by the fire.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Sleeping altitude
- 150 m
- Where you stay
- Safari lodge, full board with activities
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 3 Departure Flight 25 min
A last early drive or walk while the park is quiet, then breakfast at the lodge and the short flight back to Kathmandu, timed around your onward flight.
- Getting there
- Flight 25 min
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- Jeep and canoe safaris, with short, flat walks in the forest; no trekking.
- Who it suits
- Anyone, including families and travellers who would rather not walk far.
The practical details
Where you stay
Named lodges or similar, confirmed in your proposal.
- 2 nights
Safari lodge
Safari lodge, full board with activities
Chitwan
Best time for the Chitwan Safari in Three Days
- JanJanuary: Best. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Best. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Good. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Possible. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Best. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Autumn, Winter, Spring. Choose a month for what to expect.
Included
- Himkora Host and a private guide throughout
- All hotels and lodges as described
- All meals, including dinners in the cities
- Kathmandu–Bharatpur (Chitwan) flights
- Permits: Chitwan National Park fees
- Private vehicles and every transfer
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
5 items
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance with evacuation cover (required)
- Gratuities and drinks
- Extra nights or helicopters caused by weather delays (often covered by insurance)
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Chitwan National Park entry
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and light layers
- Modest clothing for temples (shoulders and knees covered)
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen; insect repellent for Chitwan
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Combine it with
All journeys
Everest Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Kathmandu up the Khumbu at dawn, a landing where the rules allow, and breakfast facing Everest. Back by noon.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Pokhara up the Modi Khola gorge to Annapurna Base Camp, with time on the ground inside the Sanctuary. Back for a late breakfast.
Kathmandu Valley in Three Days
Patan, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath with a local historian, two nights in a heritage hotel and dinner at a family table.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Chitwan Safari in Three Days cost?
From $1,800 per person, for two travelling privately, $1,750 per person for four and $2,700 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How many days is the Chitwan Safari in Three Days?
3 days as we have planned it, from your arrival in Nepal to your departure. Because it is private, we can add rest days or extra nights, or shorten it if you have less time.
How high does the Chitwan Safari in Three Days go?
The highest point is 200 m, and the highest night is at 150 m.
When is the best time for the Chitwan Safari in Three Days?
The best months are January, February, March, October, November and December. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Chitwan Safari in Three Days?
You will need: Chitwan National Park entry. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.