Best of Chitwan National Park – 8 Days

You’ll enjoy stunning views of the valley, the Himalaya, and the terraced fields below as you take off for Kathmandu. After clearing customs, a representative will be there to help you check into your hotel and navigate the initial cultural shock of Kathmandu’s twisting, winding streets. After you’ve settled in, go explore one of Kathmandu’s cultural attractions. The evening is a nice time to eat, and Thamel, a popular tourist destination, offers a wide selection of eateries serving both Western and regional Nepali cuisine.

When the city is gently waking up in the morning hours and isn’t yet too chaotic, Kathmandu offers a unique aura. It’s a perfect time to stroll and explore the neighborhood, or to enjoy a chai while gazing out over one of the durbar squares or neighborhood courtyards. Given the numerous breathtaking vistas in and around the Kathmandu Valley, there are numerous ways you might spend the day. Later in the evening, go out to eat at one of the city’s top restaurants, or your specialist can set up a supper at a local family’s house.

Drive to the domestic airport in Kathmandu after breakfast to catch a quick flight to Bharatpur, the entry point to Chitwan National Park.

From what you may have encountered in Kathmandu and the surrounding areas up to this point, the scenery and culture are very different. The vast plains in the southern region of Nepal are referred to as the Terai, and they constitute the country’s most northern extension of India’s vast Gangetic plains. The locals here have a blend of North Indian and Nepali cultural elements, as well as dialects of both languages in their native tongue.

After breakfast, take a short flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur, the entry point to Chitwan National Park.

Compared to what you may have previously encountered in Kathmandu and the surrounding area, the environment and culture here are completely unique. The Terai, the most northern continuation of the vast Gangetic plains of India, is the name given to the expansive plains in the southern region of Nepal. The locals here share elements of both Nepali and North Indian culture, and their language is a hybrid of dialects from both countries.

With a full day of safari activities planned in the Chitwan National Park, today is likely to be unforgettable and you can expect to see some amazing animals. An expert naturalist will accompany you on every wildlife activity and provide you with all the information you could ever want to know about the park’s flora and creatures. The greater one-horned rhinoceros, spotted deer, hog deer, sambar deer, barking deer, gharial crocodiles, and a large diversity of birdlife are among the wildlife that can be seen. You might even catch a glimpse of a leopard, sloth bear, or Royal Bengal tiger with a little luck.

After breakfast, a very memorable event lies ahead. Take a long boat from the river’s bank to the Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge, where you will spend the following night. Since the boats are quiet and low to the water, this boat ride offers a good opportunity to see additional species, including birds, gharial crocodiles, and occasionally even tigers and rhinoceroses beside the water.

Drive to the lodge after arriving at Tiger Tops a little before lunch. The Tharu Lodge is a lovely spot to relax, with a location next to a lush forest and views of exquisite wetlands and farms on the edge of the park. Eat your meal under a mango tree, cool off in the pool, play some tennis, or just relax in a hammock while reading a book. Take a bullock cart ride into the local Tharu village in the afternoon if you’d like a little more exercise. Enjoy the sounds of the forest at night, which are only a few meters from your window.

Before noon, get to Tiger Tops and make your way to the resort. The Tharu Lodge is a lovely spot to unwind, with its location next to a dense forest and a view of gorgeous wetlands and farms on the park’s boundary. Dine beneath a mango tree, cool off in the pool, play some tennis, or simply read a book while gently rocking in a hammock. In the afternoon, take a bullock cart ride into the local Tharu village if you’d want a little more excitement. Enjoy the sounds of the forest at night, just feet from your window.

After breakfast, head back to the Elephant Camp, where you’ll spend tonight. Learn how to take care of the elephants from the mahouts for the remainder of the morning. Around noon, lunch will be served, and you may want to unwind and take it easy (like the elephants) during the sweltering daytime hours.

Take a stroll through the jungle with the elephants and their mahouts in the late afternoon when the weather is favorable. As you stroll next to the elephants, you will observe their movements, observe what they consume, and listen to their communication, which consists of rumbling and trumpeting. As you go with the elephants through the jungle, grassland, and wetlands, the naturalist will answer any of your questions regarding the local eco-system. Depending on the route you follow, you may see tiger footprints, deer, numerous bird species, and even one or more rhinos.

As an overnight visitor to the Elephant Camp, you will be surrounded by elephants that are free from chains and living in open spaces. All day long, you’ll be immersed in the elephants’ routine, and even at night, their vocal and infrasonic communication will make you aware of their presence.

Before being transferred to the Bharatpur airport for your journey back to Kathmandu, you might have the chance to squeeze in one last jungle or village activity this morning. There are two options for transportation: a 20-minute fly, or a 5- to 6-hour trip overland, depending on the state of the roads. The lengthier trip is scenic, and it’s fascinating to watch the change in the environment from flat plains to tall hills and terraced crops.

It’s time to leave Nepal. Enjoy one more breakfast in a café, a stroll through the city, and/or some souvenir shopping to cap off your time in Kathmandu. When you arrive at your hotel, a representative will pick you up and take you to the airport in time for your flight home. It is advisable to arrive at the airport two hours before departure.