Parsa National Park

About

Parsa is the quiet neighbour of Chitwan: a large national park of sal forest on the slopes of the Churia hills, joined to Chitwan on its western side. Tigers, wild elephants, gaur and leopards live here, and very few people visit. There are almost no tourist lodges, so the stay is simple. It is for people who want real forest and no crowds, and who accept that wildlife is hard to see in thick sal.

A private tour

A few days that belong to you

Namaste, and welcome. Just your group, your own car and me. You wake in a quiet guest house, walk when the light is good, and rest when you want to. Nobody hurries you to the next stop on someone else's timetable. For these few days, the road is yours.

Your own car and driver
It stops for a view, a tea shop or a photo whenever you ask.
Mornings without an alarm
Sunrise if you want it, a slow breakfast if you do not.
One person to ask
The same guide all the way: for the history, the food, the road and anything that goes wrong.
Quiet places to sleep
Small guest houses, chosen for calm rather than size.
The plan bends to you
A place left out, a longer stay, a slower day: we decide together as we go.

With warmth, Rujan Neupane

Along the way

What this day is known for.

  1. Old sal forest on the Churia hills
  2. Wild elephants and gaur
  3. Tigers, rarely seen, in a growing population
  4. Forest birds, including hornbills
  5. Almost no other visitors
Jump to

Day by day, night by night

Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.
DayThe dayOn the roadThe nightRoom + meals
Day 1 Kathmandu to ParsaBy road south to Hetauda and on to the edge of the park.
  • Hetauda
 About 4 to 5 hours Near the park Paid at cost
Day 2 Parsa: the forestA morning in the sal forest with a licensed park guide, and an evening by a waterhole.
  • Parsa National Park
 Jeep and on foot Near the park Paid at cost
Day 3 Parsa: the hills and riversAlong the dry river beds into the Churia hills, looking for tracks.
  • Parsa National Park
 Jeep and on foot Near the park Paid at cost
Day 4 Back to KathmanduA last early walk, then the road back.
  • Kathmandu
 About 4 to 5 hours —
Lodging and mealsAt actual cost, per night, as the lodges charge. Not part of the guide fee; nothing added.
Change the loopAdd a night, drop a stop, end somewhere else: tell me, and I re-plan it with you.
The paceEarly mornings in the forest, rest at midday. Easy to moderate walks.

Is this tour for you?

Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.
InterestForest and quiet more than sure sightings.
ComfortYou accept simple places to stay.
CombineIt joins well with Chitwan.

Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me

The honest downsides

What I'd want to know before booking.
  • Wildlife is harder to see than in Chitwan.
  • Very few places to stay, and simple ones.
  • The roads near Hetauda and Birgunj are busy with trucks.
  • Hot from April; much of the park closes in the monsoon.

More about this tour

Best time to go

February and March, when the forest is open.
  1. GoodJAN
  2. BestFEB
  3. BestMAR
  4. HazyAPR
  5. HazyMAY
  6. RainJUN
  7. RainJUL
  8. RainAUG
  9. RainSEP
  10. GoodOCT
  11. GoodNOV
  12. GoodDEC
Best: clear and mild Good: cool mornings or some haze Warm, hazy and dusty Monsoon: afternoon rain

Late winter, when leaves fall and waterholes shrink, is the best time to see animals.

Time of day

First lightAnimals moving
Late afternoonWaterholes

Before you go

The small practical things.
ClothesDull green, brown or grey clothes for walks in the forest; nothing white or bright.
ShoesClosed walking shoes; leech socks in the wet months.
BinocularsOne pair each if you can; birds and animals are often far.
CashRupees in small notes; few cash machines near the parks.

Visiting with respect

These are living places of worship, not museums.
  • Keep quiet in the forest and follow the park guide's word near animals.
  • Never feed or follow animals for a photograph.
  • Carry your rubbish out of the park.
  • Ask before photographing people in the villages.

Staying away: 3 nights

You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.
LodgingPaid at cost, as the lodge charges
MealsPaid at cost, where we eat

Where your money goes

Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.
WhatWho receives itAmountNote
Guide (me)Rujan NeupaneMy city day rate × days, and the overnight allowanceOne rate for 1 to 5 people
Car and driverA local driverWhat the driver chargesPaid at cost
Hotels and mealsThe hotels and restaurantsWhat they chargeYou pay directly; I never add anything
Entrance feesThe sites and parksSee my Entrance fees pagePaid at the gate, at cost
Park entry permitThe national parkSee my Entrance fees pageOfficial price, paid at cost
Licensed park guide for walks insideLocal nature guidesWhat they chargePaid at cost

I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.

Photo notes

From a guide who is also a photographer.
ForestDim light under the sal: a fast lens helps.
River bedsMorning mist in the dry channels.

The places in detail

The history and stories behind what you will see.

Parsa National Park

Parsa lies in the central lowlands, in Parsa, Makwanpur and Bara districts, joined to Chitwan National Park on its west. It covers about 627 km² of mostly sal forest on the Churia hills. It was set up as a wildlife reserve in 1984 and became a national park in 2017. Its tiger population has grown since then.

Fees

The park entry fee is on my Entrance fees page.

My promises

Written down, so you can hold me to them.
  • No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
  • Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
  • Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
  • Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.

Before you go

What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.

Guides to read first

Stories from this tour

Frequently asked questions

How is Parsa different from Chitwan?

It is quieter and more forested, with almost no tourist lodges. Wildlife is harder to see.

How do we get there?

By road from Kathmandu, about 4 to 5 hours via Hetauda.

Can we combine it with Chitwan?

Yes, the two parks are side by side.

When is the best time?

February and March.

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Plan it with me

Tell me how you'd like to spend the day. I'll plan the rest around you.

Rujan NeupaneTrekking & Tour Guide · Kathmandu

Send your date, group size and anything you'd like to see or skip, whichever way suits you.

Know your date already? Book me as your guide for this tour

More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.

Verified credentials

My licences and training papers. Open any file to see the original.

Guide Association Membership

Some information on this page comes from Department of Immigration, Nepal · Nepal Tourism Board · Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

Written 2 November 2026