Chitwan Safari Day Tour from Sauraha
A full day in and around the park for travelers already in Sauraha: morning canoe on the Rapti, guided walk, and an afternoon jeep drive.
$55 per personBook now
Chitwan Safari Tours & Jungle Experiences in Nepal
Jeep drives through the grasslands, dugout canoes on the Rapti River and walks with licensed nature guides in Chitwan National Park. Book a set package, or send your dates and we'll fit the safari around your route through Nepal.
Chitwan in October: good
Clear skies after the monsoon and days near 25–30 °C. Grass is still tall early in the month. Month by month
Where are you starting from?
Chitwan safari packages and tours
From a single day in the park to five days in the jungle, plus private trips from Kathmandu and Pokhara. Each tour lists exactly what's included.
Chitwan Jungle Safari 1 Night 2 Days
One night in Sauraha with a sunset by the Rapti, a Tharu village walk and a morning jeep safari before you travel on.
$115 per personBook now
Chitwan Safari Package 2 Nights 3 Days
The stay most first-time visitors choose: two nights, a jeep safari, a canoe ride, a jungle walk and an unhurried evening by the river.
Chitwan Wildlife Safari 3 Nights 4 Days
Three nights for travelers who want time: a full-day jeep safari deep into the park, early bird walks and a second chance at everything.
$245 per personBook now
Chitwan Safari 4 Nights 5 Days
Five days at a slower pace: two jeep safaris including a full day, walks with two guides, a tower-free dawn on the river and room to rest between outings.
$310 per personBook now
Kathmandu to Chitwan by Private Car
Door-to-door private car from your Kathmandu hotel to your Sauraha lodge, one way. Price is per car for up to four people.
$130 per carBook now
Kathmandu to Chitwan Safari Tour, 3 Days by Private Car
Private car from your Kathmandu hotel to Sauraha and back, with two nights and the full safari program in between.
$340 per personBook now
Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan Tour, 7 Days
Nepal's classic first trip in one week: Kathmandu's temples and squares, the lakes and mountain views of Pokhara, and two nights on safari in Chitwan.
$690 per personBook now
Special interest tours
Tiger and rhino tracking on foot, a full day by jeep, birding with a specialist, a night in a jungle tower or a quiet trip for two.
Chitwan Rhino Tracking Tour
A half-day walk with guides who know where the rhinos graze and wallow, ending with a canoe glide back down the river.
$60 per personBook now
Chitwan Tiger Tracking Safari, Full Day on Foot
A long day on foot with two experienced guides, following pugmarks, scrapes and alarm calls through tiger country. Sightings are rare; the tracking is the experience.
$85 per personBook now
Chitwan Full-Day Jeep Safari
Eight hours deep inside the national park, far beyond the half-day loop, with the gharial breeding center at Kasara and a packed lunch on the way.
$95 per personBook now
Chitwan Jungle Tower Overnight
A night in a simple wildlife watchtower in a community forest, with a guide, dinner and a dawn walk out.
$95 per personBook now
Chitwan Bird Watching Tour, 2 Nights
Two nights built around early starts with a birding guide: riverbanks, grassland edges and a wetland morning outside the park.
$210 per personBook now
Chitwan Honeymoon Tour, 2 Nights
Two nights for couples: a quieter lodge room, private jeep and canoe outings, a riverside sunset and a candle-lit dinner.
$210 per personBook now
Unique Chitwan experiences
Short outings you can add to any stay, from a morning with an elephant and its mahout to a canoe ride and jungle walk.
Chitwan Canoe Ride and Jungle Walk
A quiet half day: a dugout canoe down the Rapti at first light, then a guided walk back through forest and grassland.
$35 per personBook now
A Day with an Elephant
Spend time with an elephant and its mahout: walk alongside on the forest path, help prepare its food and learn how the pair work together. No riding.
$70 per personBook now
Chitwan Jeep Safari, Half Day
A 3–4 hour shared jeep drive into the national park grasslands with a licensed nature guide. Morning or afternoon departures.
$40 per personBook now
Elephant Bath Time at the River
Watch elephants cool off in the river with their mahouts and, where currently permitted, help scrub them from the shallows.
$30 per personBook now
Elephant Breeding Center Visit
A short guided visit to the government elephant breeding center near Sauraha, where working elephants raise their calves.
$20 per personBook now
Six ways to explore Chitwan
Most stays combine two or three. A jeep covers distance, a canoe is quiet, and walking shows you what the others miss.
Jeep safari
The most ground in the least time: grassland, sal forest and waterholes. Your best chance of finding rhinos and deer.
Canoe ride
Drift down the Rapti in a dugout canoe past basking crocodiles, kingfishers and storks.
Jungle walk
On foot with licensed nature guides, reading tracks, calls and the small details a jeep drives past.
Bird watching
More than 540 species recorded, from great hornbills to the rare Bengal florican.
Jungle tower night
A simple watchtower in a community forest: dusk, night sounds and a dawn walk out.
Tharu villages
Village walks, the Tharu Cultural Museum and the evening stick dance in Sauraha.
Looking for an elephant safari? Here is what's available now, and why it has changed. Or compare every safari type.
Chitwan National Park at a glance
A protected stretch of Nepal's Inner Terai where sal forest, riverine woodland and tall elephant grass meet the Rapti and Narayani rivers. It is the reason most travelers come, and it rewards slow, early mornings.
- Established
- 1973, Nepal's first
- UNESCO World Heritage
- Since 1984
- Core area
- 952.63 km²
- Rhinos (2021 count)
- 694 in Chitwan
- Tigers (2022 count)
- 128 in Chitwan
- Birds recorded
- More than 540 species
What you're likely to see
An honest guide to your chances. Wildlife keeps its own schedule, so treat this as odds, not a promise.
- One-horned rhinoSeen on most trips
Grazing in the grassland or wallowing near water, often from the jeep.
- Spotted and hog deerSeen on most trips
Herds along forest edges; their alarm calls often give a predator away.
- Mugger crocodileFairly common
Basking on sandbanks, best seen from a canoe in the cooler months.
- GharialOccasional
Occasional in the wild; you can see captive gharials up close at the Kasara breeding center.
- Sloth bearOccasional
Shy and mostly active early or late; more likely on longer outings.
- Bengal tigerRare
128 live in the park, but sightings are uncommon. Tracks and alarm calls are the usual signs.
How long to stay in Chitwan
Each length has its own sample program, what's included and the tours that fit it.
1day
Chitwan safari day tour
For travelers already in Sauraha or passing through between cities.
1night1 night, 2 days
A sunset, a village walk and one early-morning safari before you move on.
2nights2 nights, 3 days
The stay most first-time visitors choose, with a full safari day in the middle.
3nights3 nights, 4 days
A full-day jeep safari fits comfortably, with bird walks and a second try at everything.
The best time to visit Chitwan
The park is open most of the year, but each season changes what you see and how you feel doing it.
- JanCool
- FebPrime
- MarPrime
- AprHot
- MayVery hot
- JunMonsoon
- JulMonsoon
- AugMonsoon
- SepClearing
- OctGood (this month)
- NovGood
- DecCool
Best wildlife monthsGood, cool morningsHot, good near waterMonsoon, limited routes
Chitwan as part of a bigger Nepal trip
Most people visit Chitwan between Kathmandu and Pokhara, or after a trek. These guides show how the pieces fit.
Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan
A 7 day golden triangle loop with options for 8 or 10 days and the best travel direction.Trekking and safari
How to pair a Poon Hill, Annapurna or Everest trek with a Chitwan safari, and in which order.From Lumbini
Driving between Lumbini and Sauraha, including the India border at Sunauli/Belahiya and Lumbini–Chitwan loops.Nepal jungle safari
Chitwan, Bardia and Nepal’s other lowland parks compared on access, wildlife and who each suits.Private safari
Private guide, jeep and transfers, tailored for families, couples, photographers and groups.Sauraha
A practical guide to Sauraha: layout, the river crossing into the park, food, cash and when it gets busy.
Plan your Chitwan trip
Practical answers before you book: what it costs, where to sleep, what to pack and how to stay safe.
Safari cost
Every cost component of a Chitwan trip explained, from park entry to tips.Where to stay
Sauraha, the quieter buffer-zone villages and Bharatpur compared as a base.What to pack
Seasonal Chitwan packing list: clothes, colors, insect protection and gear.Safety
Wildlife, health, family and solo-travel safety in Chitwan, explained calmly.Things to do
Safaris, village visits, river sunsets and day trips, organized by where they happen, with a one-day plan.Travel guide
Every planning guide for Chitwan in one place, from the best season to packing and safety.
Chitwan safari questions
Where is Chitwan, and how do I get there?
Chitwan National Park is in Nepal's southern lowlands, roughly halfway between Kathmandu and the Indian border. Most visitors stay in Sauraha on the park's northern edge. It is usually 5–7 hours by road from Kathmandu and 4.5–6 hours from Pokhara, or a short flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur. See getting to Chitwan for every option.
How many days do I need for a Chitwan safari?
Two nights suits most first visits: you arrive, get a full day in the park, and leave the morning after. One night works if your schedule is tight, but you only get one main safari. Three nights or more makes sense for birders, photographers and anyone hoping for the shier animals. Our guide on how many days to spend compares them.
Will I see a rhino or a tiger?
Most visitors see at least one one-horned rhino, especially on a jeep safari or canoe ride. Tigers are a different story: around 128 live in the park, but they are shy and sightings are uncommon. Longer stays, full-day jeep drives and the hot months improve the odds, but nobody can promise one.
When is the best time for a Chitwan safari?
October to April is the main season; February and March usually give the best visibility because grass-cutting opens up the grasslands. April and May are hot but good near water. June to September is monsoon, when some routes close. The month-by-month guide has the details.
What does a Chitwan safari cost?
The total depends on how many nights you stay, your lodge, private or shared activities and how you travel from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Each tour lists exactly what's included, so you can compare like with like. The safari cost guide explains each part of the price.
Is a Chitwan safari suitable for children?
Yes. Jeep safaris, canoe rides, village walks and the elephant breeding center all work well for families. Walking safaris are better for older children and teenagers who can stay quiet and follow the guide. Read safety and family tips before you travel.
Not sure which safari fits?
Tell us your dates, where you're traveling from and who's coming. We'll suggest a plan with a full price, and nothing is charged until you confirm.