Chitwan National Park 3 Days Tour with Jungle Safari

Your journey begins early in the morning. After breakfast in Kathmandu or Pokhara, our driver picks you up for a drive to Chitwan. The journey takes about around 4 hours by private car or tourist bus.

Note: You can also choose to fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur, which takes around twenty-five minutes, followed by a thirty-minute drive to your hotel in Sauraha.

When you reach Sauraha, our local representative welcomes you with a refreshing drink and a short briefing about the activities for the next few days. 

After check-in, you have time to rest and enjoy your first meal in the peaceful surroundings of Chitwan. Lunch is served at your lodge, often featuring a mix of Nepali and international dishes.

Afternoon Village Walk

In the late afternoon, your guide takes you for a gentle walk through a nearby Tharu village. 

As you walk through the village, you will see traditional mud houses decorated with hand-painted designs. Women often wear colorful sarees and silver ornaments, while men tend to the fields or prepare fishing nets.

Your guide will explain how the Tharu community practices sustainable farming and uses natural materials from the forest for their daily needs.

This village walk is a chance to learn how locals live in harmony with nature. Many travelers say this experience feels different from any other part of Nepal because it is peaceful and grounded in daily life. 

Evening Sunset at the Rapti River

Before evening falls, you will visit the Rapti River, which flows along the edge of Chitwan National Park. The riverbank is one of the most peaceful places in the area, perfect for watching the sunset. 

As the sun begins to sink, the sky turns shades of orange and pink, and the reflection of the jungle appears on the calm water.

If you are lucky, you might spot a rhinoceros or a few crocodiles resting on the opposite bank. Birds return to their nests, and the forest slowly becomes quiet. 

In fact, every now and then our team sits by the river in silence, enjoying the soft sound of water and the distant calls of animals. It is a moment that makes us feel connected to nature without saying a word.

Tharu Cultural Show 

After sunset, you return to your hotel or lodge for dinner. Most lodges serve Nepali dishes such as rice, vegetables, soup, and curry, but they also offer options for international travelers. The meals are fresh and usually prepared from local ingredients.

After dinner, you attend the Tharu Cultural Show, which is performed by local villagers at the community center. This performance is one of the highlights of the entire tour. 

The Tharu people express their stories through dance and music. Each movement and rhythm has meaning. 

The Stick Dance represents bravery and protection, while the Peacock Dance celebrates beauty and love. The drumbeats, traditional songs, and colorful dresses create an atmosphere full of joy and pride.

The performance is not just entertainment. It is a living tradition that helps preserve the Tharu identity. Your presence directly supports local artists who continue this cultural heritage.

Sometimes, guests are invited to join the dance at the end. It becomes a light-hearted moment where everyone smiles and feels part of the celebration.

After the show, you return to your lodge. The night in Chitwan is calm and quiet. You can hear crickets and distant animal sounds from the forest. 

You wake up early in the morning to the sound of birds singing outside your window. 

After a light breakfast, you get ready for a full day of exploring Chitwan National Park. This is the day when you meet the wild side of Nepal.

Morning Canoe Ride on the Rapti River

Your morning starts with a canoe ride along the calm waters of the Rapti River. The boats are long and narrow, made from hollowed-out tree trunks, and are paddled slowly by skilled local boatmen. 

As you glide across the water, you can see the reflection of the forest in the river and feel the stillness of nature around you.

This quiet ride is a great way to watch animals closely without disturbing them. You may spot crocodiles sunbathing near the banks, colorful kingfishers diving into the water, and herons standing still as they hunt for fish. 

Furthermore, the canoe ride also gives you a chance to see many species of birds that live in the wetlands, such as egrets, storks, and cormorants.

The guide sitting with you points out different animals and birds while explaining their habits.

The canoe trip usually lasts about 45 minutes to one hour. It ends at a small riverbank near the park, where your next adventure begins.

Jungle Walk and Bird Watching

From the riverbank, you begin a guided jungle walk with your nature expert. Before entering the forest, the guide gives you a short safety briefing. 

You are advised to stay close, walk quietly, and avoid sudden movements. Chitwan is home to many wild animals, and it is important to respect their space.

As you walk through the forest, you can hear the crunch of dry leaves under your feet and the occasional cry of a langur monkey in the distance. With every step, you might notice new details like a deer footprint on the path, a butterfly resting on a leaf, or the sound of a rhino moving in the grass.

The jungle walk allows you to see smaller animals and birds that are often missed during the jeep safari. 

Furthermore, Chitwan is famous for bird watching, with over 540 species recorded inside the park. You may see hornbills, parakeets, woodpeckers, and even the rare Bengal florican if you are lucky.

Your guide shares stories about how the forest changes with each season and how animals move across the park depending on the weather. 

After the walk, you return to your hotel for lunch and a short rest. 

Afternoon Jeep Safari or Elephant Safari in Chitwan National Park

In the afternoon, you set out on a jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park. The safari is one of the main highlights of the trip. It allows you to cover a larger area of the park and increases your chances of spotting wildlife.

The park is divided into zones, and your guide chooses the best route depending on the season and animal movement. 

As the jeep drives slowly through the forest trails, you can see tall grasslands, dense sal trees, and open meadows. Every turn feels exciting because you never know what you might see next.

But if you want slower and more royal experiences, you can go for an elephant ride as well for an hour or so. 

Did you know: Chitwan is home to more than 700 one-horned rhinoceroses, one of the largest populations in Asia. 

Seeing rhinos in the wild for the first time is unforgettable. Sometimes they appear near water holes, walking calmly through the grass. The park is also known for its population of Bengal tigers, though they are rarely seen. Your guide helps you look for signs such as paw prints or claw marks on trees.

Other animals you may see include spotted deer, sambar deer, wild boars, and langur monkeys. You may also spot gharials, which are rare crocodiles with long, thin snouts. The jeep stops often for you to take photos and observe animals quietly.

Your guide is trained to identify animal calls and movements. They explain how rangers protect wildlife from poaching and how conservation has helped Chitwan recover from years of hunting and deforestation. The safari usually lasts for about three hours, giving you plenty of time to experience the park’s diversity.

As the sun starts to go down, you return to your lodge. The evening light makes the forest glow in shades of orange and gold. You may stop briefly at the river again to watch another sunset, this time with new eyes after your day in the wild.

Dinner and Relaxation

After returning, you freshen up and enjoy a warm dinner. Most lodges offer both Nepali and continental dishes. If you wish, you can try traditional local food like dhido, gundruk, or spicy pickles made from fresh ingredients.

Your last morning in Chitwan begins early. The air feels fresh, and the sunlight slowly spreads across the grasslands. This day is lighter in schedule but equally beautiful.

Visit to the Elephant Breeding Center

After breakfast, your guide takes you to the Elephant Breeding Center, one of the most educational parts of the tour. The center is located a short drive from Sauraha and was established to protect and increase the population of Asian elephants, which are now considered endangered.

At the center, you can observe elephants of all ages, including mothers and their calves. The sight of baby elephants playing and learning to use their trunks always brings smiles to visitors. Your guide explains how elephants are trained gently and how they are used for patrolling the park to prevent poaching and forest fires.

You also learn about the challenges of elephant conservation, such as loss of habitat and human-wildlife conflict.

However, visitors are encouraged to maintain distance and avoid feeding or touching elephants. The goal is to observe them respectfully and understand their importance in Nepal’s ecosystem.

Optional Bird Watching or Short Nature Walk

Depending on your schedule and interest, you may also join a short morning walk around the buffer zone of the park. This area is rich in birdlife, and early mornings are the best time to see them. Your guide helps you spot species like the great hornbill, jungle babbler, or white-throated kingfisher.

This walk is slow and peaceful. If you ask us, it is the perfect way to end your nature experience, surrounded by life in every direction.

Check-out and Return Journey

After returning to the lodge, you start your process to leave Chitwan. The staff who served you during your stay come to say goodbye with warm smiles. Many travelers say that what they remember most from this trip is not just the animals but also the kindness of the people.

You check out and begin your journey back to Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you are driving, the trip takes about six to seven hours. If you are flying, it takes around half an hour.