Kathmandu to Chitwan by Flight with Safari and Tharu Village Walk
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu
Your day starts early. A taxi you booked ahead of time will take you to the domestic terminal at TIA. Make sure to get there at least one hour before your flight.
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: The Short Flight
Buckle up and enjoy the quick flight south. Watch as the city of Kathmandu gives way to green hills, followed by the flat, wide lands of the Terai.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Arrive and Go to Sauraha
Your flight will land at Bharatpur Airport. The drive from the airport to Chitwan National Park in the Sauraha area offers your first glimpse of life in the countryside.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Calm Rapti River Canoe Trip
Your first activity is one of the most peaceful things to do in Chitwan. You will board a traditional wooden canoe and float slowly down the Rapti River. This is your best chance to see two kinds of crocodiles: the gharial and the mugger, which often lie in the sun along the riverbanks. You will also see many kinds of beautiful birds.
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: The Main Event: 4WD Jeep Safari
This is the highlight of Chitwan. You will go deep into the grassy areas and sal forests of the park in an open 4-wheel-drive vehicle. Your expert guide will help you look for wildlife, including:
- The Great One-Horned Rhinoceros (which you are very likely to see)
- Spotted, hog, and sambar deer
- Wild boar
- Monkeys
- Many kinds of birds
If you are very lucky, you might also spot the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger or a sloth bear.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Real Nepali Lunch
After the safari, you will enjoy a tasty lunch at a riverside resort in Sauraha. The meal often includes local Tharu-style dishes as well as other popular Nepali food.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Tharu Village Walk
Learn about the culture of the Tharu people, the original inhabitants of the Chitwan Valley. A short guided walk through a local village will show you their distinctive mud-and-stick homes and offer a look at their daily lives.
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM: Go Back to Bharatpur Airport
It is time to begin your journey back to the capital. Your mind will be full of jungle memories.
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Flight from Bharatpur to Kathmandu
Flights from Bharatpur to Kathmandu usually have several options late in the afternoon, making them ideal for a day trip.
6:30 PM onwards: Arrive in Kathmandu and Go to Hotel
You will return to Kathmandu in the early evening, just in time for dinner. In just one day, you will have experienced a totally different part of the country.
