An encounter with Royal Bengal Tiger
Experience Nepal’s rich natural heritage on this 10-day journey to Bardia and Chitwan National Parks. Begin in Kathmandu before exploring Bardia’s remote wilderness, home to tigers, rhinos, and diverse wildlife. Continue to Chitwan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for jeep safaris, river canoeing, and immersive encounters with the Tharu community. Thoughtfully curated and responsibly operated, this tour offers a rare blend of wildlife, culture, and conservation-focused travel.
Highlights of An encounter with Royal Bengal Tiger
Duration: 10 days
Activities: Culture, Wildlife
Max. Altitude: 1350m
Best season: February,
March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Accommodation: hotel/lodge
Level of difficulty: Easy
Places to visit: Kathmandu,
Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park
Activities: Culture, Wildlife
Max. Altitude: 1350m
Best season: February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
Accommodation: hotel/lodge
Level of difficulty: Easy
Places to visit: Kathmandu, Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park
Why Encounter with Royal Bengal Tiger is for?
Authentic wildlife encounters – See tigers, rhinos, and rare species in Nepal’s most pristine parks.
Remote & less-crowded experience – Bardia offers quiet, off-the-beaten-path safaris.
Cultural immersion – Connect with the Tharu community and learn about forest-based traditions.
Variety of activities – Jeep safaris, jungle walks, and river canoeing for diverse wildlife experiences.
Responsible travel – Low-impact itineraries supporting conservation and local livelihoods.
Itinerary
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Meet upon arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at the hotel
Transfer to domestic airport for flight to Nepalgunj. Meet upon arrival at Nepalgunj airport and after some refreshment, 2hrs drive takes you to Bardia National Park. Consisting of magnificent Sal and riverine forests, and extensive grasslands, the park’s 936 square kilometres are home to Tiger, Leopard, Asian Elephant, Greater One-horned Rhino, a few Blackbuck, Spotted Deer (Chital), Sambar, Barking and Hog Deers, Nilgai, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Himalayan Serow, Himalayan Goral, as well as Mugger Crocodile and the endangered Gharial. Nearly 300 species of birds occur in the park and during our time here we will hope to find such species as Pallas’s Gull, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Crested Kingfisher, Wallcreeper, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Scaly-bellied Woodpecker. Bardia is bounded to the west by the Karnali River, the largest in Nepal, and this enables us to explore the park by raft, as well as by jeep and on foot.
Upon arrival refreshment and briefing about the facilities & jungle activities by the resident naturalist.
After lunch and having rest for a while.
Later afternoon: Village tour to a nearby ethnic Tharu village where you will learn more about the life and lifestyle of the Tharus followed by Sunset view from the Karnali river bank.
Dinner and overnight at the jungle lodge
Early Morning: Elephant-back safari: Guests will ride on elephant to explore the jungle and wildlife the One-horned rhinoceros, several types of deer, monkeys, wild boar, bison, sloth bear, leopard and, if luck favours, the Royal Bengal Tiger. This exciting ride lasts for 2- 2½ hours
Return to lodge for Breakfast and have some rest.
Afterwards Elephant briefing/Bathing program: Learn more about these fascinating animals during a visit to our elephant stables followed by Elephant Bathing in the River. (Note: Elephant bathing is done during summer season as elephant loves to bath in the river willingly. Elephants are not forced to take bath during the cold season/day).
Rest of the day enjoy yourself being in the jungle atmosphere.
Dinner and overnight at the jungle lodge
After early breakfast, Bird Watching/Nature Walk followed by Canoeing: Wake-up call followed by tea or coffee then proceed for canoe in a traditional Patela boat which takes you on a silent trip down the Babai River to view aquatic birds, crocodiles, Gharials and the animals of the river bank. After boating, start Bird watching/Nature walk, about 426 species of the birds we have recorded in Bardia National Park. Guides will help you to identify some of the species of these birds.
Return to lodge for Lunch
After Lunch Jeep Safari: Jeep safari (Jungle Drive) begins from the open grassland area followed by the mix (riverine) forest and continues inside the dense Sal Forest crossing the Reu River inside the Park to see different wildlife around the famous Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge surroundings area and oxbow lakes (Devi Tal, Munda Tal, Lamo Tal, Kamal Tal) to view different wildlife, Aquatic birds and the Marsh Muggers. Back to the jungle lodge by the evening before sunset.
(Note: Jeep Safari is prohibited during monsoon season by the park authorities from June-September and in some season it can prolong till October)
Evening: Tharu Cultural dance: Farmers of the nearby villages will show some of their traditional skills and dances.
Dinner and overnight at the jungle lodge
After refreshment and lunch, visit Lumbini garden. Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site towards east from Bardia. It is the place where, according to Buddhist belief, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved enlightenment sometime around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism. Lumbini is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha. Lumbini has a number of older temples, including the Mayadevi Temple, and various new temples, funded by Buddhist organizations from various countries, have been completed or are still under construction. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are also within the holy site. Also, there is the Puskarini, or Holy Pond, where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath.
Overnight at the hotel
Drive to Chitwan National Park - an UNESCO world heritage property. approx. 3-4hrs drive
Upon arrival, check in at your hotel and freshen up. This afternoon, enjoy an Elephant Back Safari to explore the jungle and its wildlife. Popular wildlife at Chitwan National Park includes the one-horned rhinoceros, several types of deer, monkey, wild boar, bison, sloth bear, and leopard and tigers. Perched high on the back of your elephant, you'll be safely out of reach of anything lurking in the tall grass. Each elephant seats 4 people.
Overnight at jungle lodge
Enjoy an early morning a traditional Dug-Out WoodenCanoe Cruise takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view aquatic birds and crocodiles of the banks of the river followed by Nature Walk identifying birds, plants and other wildlife in the open grasslands, and jungles of Sal forests. Chitwan is most beautiful at dawn with the sun rising above the jungles and the glistening river.
After breakfast, join an Elephant Briefing Program, where you get an opportunity to visit elephant stables and learn more about these gigantic animals. For the more adventurous, you may also try your hand at giving these mammals a good scrub and wash!
After lunch, go to Tharu local village and meet the Tharu community.
This evening, enjoy indigenous Tharu Stick Dance Show, whereby farmers from nearby villages showcase their traditional skills and dances.
Overnight at jungle lodge
Breakfast at the lodge
Drive back to Kathmandu – approx. 5 hrs. The total distance from Chitwan to Kathmandu is approx. 175km and the road condition is good. It's a scenic drive, following the Trisuli Valley much of the way, with its steep forest-covered hills and farming villages. However, traffic jams of two hours or more are extremely common.
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at the hotel
Breakfast at the hotel. Sometimes saving best for the last is good. We try to do this with Kathmandu sight-seeing for you as your last trip of the journey. City of temples, mostly cited so, you will get the glimpses of magnificent art and architecture in the uncountable monuments and sculptures of the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Next will be the holiest Hindu shrine, Pashupatinath Temple. You will have your lunch after this whole different experience at the temple. The day completes by leading you to the holy shrine of Buddhist, the Boudhanath stupa, where you can seek some love and peace from the Lord Buddha. You then get back to the hotel with the diversities that your camera does not seem to have enough space for.
Free until departure transfer to international airport for your onward flight.
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