Quiet Chitwan
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
About
The same park, without the crowds. Most visitors stay in Sauraha on Chitwan's eastern edge; this tour goes to the western side, near Meghauli and Kasara, where the Rapti meets the Narayani and the lodges are few and far apart. The park's gharial breeding centre at Kasara, a long jeep drive or a walk through sal forest and grassland with the park's licensed nature guide, and evenings by the river in a quiet village.
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.
- Fewer jeeps, more forest
- The western side sees a fraction of Sauraha's visitors.
- The rivers at dusk
- We are by the Narayani when the light goes and the animals come.
- Your own pace
- A long day in the park or a short one: you choose on the morning.
- 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.
- The quiet western side of Chitwan, away from Sauraha
- The gharial breeding centre at Kasara, where young gharials are raised for the rivers
- Rhinos and deer in the grassland
- The meeting of the Rapti and the Narayani
- Riverside birdsstorks, kingfishers, eagles
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · To the western sideDown to the lowlands and west to Meghauli, or a short flight to Bharatpur and an hour's drive. The river at dusk.
|
6 to 7 hours by car, or 25 minutes by plane and 1 hour by car | Meghauli, a quiet lodge or homestay | Car or flight |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · Kasara and the parkWith the park's licensed nature guide: the gharial breeding centre at Kasara, then a jeep drive or a walk through sal forest and grassland; the rivers at dusk.
|
Meghauli | Park entry; jeep and nature guide at their prices | |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · A last walk, then backA morning walk by the river with the nature guide, then back to Kathmandu.
|
6 to 7 hours by car, or a short flight | Car or flight |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.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.- Fewer lodges and fewer choices than Sauraha.
- The drive is a little longer.
- Tigers are rarely seen.
- Very hot from April to June; parts of the park close in the monsoon.
Photos from this tour
More about this tour
Best time to go
Best from October to April.- GoodJAN
- BestFEB
- BestMAR
- BestAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- RainSEP
- GoodOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
In December and January the lowlands are often foggy and cold in the morning; from April to early June they are very hot. In the monsoon roads are slower and parts of the parks close.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk around stupas, monasteries and temples clockwise.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, or inside temples; some do not allow it.
- Take off your shoes where others do, and dress with shoulders and knees covered at holy places.
- In the parks, keep quiet and keep your distance from animals; follow the nature guide.
Staying away: 2 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 3 days, plus my overnight allowance × 2 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Car and driver | The driver or car company | Agreed before the tour | Paid at cost |
| Flights, if you fly | The airline | Its price | Paid at cost |
| Jeeps, canoes, boats and nature guides in the park | The park's guides and operators | Their prices | Paid to them |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
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.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.The western side of Chitwan
Chitwan National Park is a World Heritage Site (see UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal). Its park headquarters are at Kasara, with a breeding centre that raises gharials, the narrow-snouted fish-eating crocodiles of the rivers, and releases them into the wild. The western side, near Meghauli, has few lodges and a quieter feel.
Entry tickets and park fees are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal.
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.Frequently asked questions
How is it different from Sauraha?
Same park, fewer people. Sauraha has many lodges and jeeps; the western side has a handful.
Can we stay with a Tharu family?
Yes, there are village homestays near the park; I check for your dates.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can you book everything?
If you want, I book the car, rooms and flights at their own price and send you every price by email first. You can also book them yourself.
Can we add Lumbini?
Yes, it is about 4 hours further west.
Will we see a tiger?
Rarely. Rhinos, deer, crocodiles and birds are seen on most visits.
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Send your date, group size and anything you'd like to see or skip, whichever way suits you.
- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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.
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