Chitwan National Park Guide 2026: Costs, Safari, Itinerary

145 tigers live in Chitwan National Park, up from 128 in 2022. That is good news for wildlife. But seeing a tiger on your safari is still rare luck.

This guide shows what you can really expect, what it costs in 2026, and how to plan 2 or 3 days without wasting money.

Quick answer: Chitwan National Park is in southern Nepal, about 165 km from Kathmandu. Foreign visitors pay NPR 2,000 per person to enter, plus NPR 5,000 per jeep. Most visitors stay in Sauraha for 2 to 3 days. Jeep safaris pause during the monsoon, so October to March is the easiest window to plan.

Chitwan National Park at a Glance

Detail	Fact
Location	Terai lowlands, southern Nepal. The park covers parts of Chitwan, Parsa, Makawanpur and Nawalparasi districts
Established	September 20, 1973. Nepal's first national park
Size	About 950 sq km
Status	UNESCO World Heritage Site
Famous for	One-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, gharial crocodile, over 500 bird species
Main gateway	Sauraha, a Tharu village on the Rapti River
Distance from Kathmandu	About 165 km by road via Mugling
Tourist entry points	6

Is Chitwan crowded? What the 2025/26 numbers show

The park had 272,923 visitors in FY 2025/26, up from 231,329 the year before.
The record year is still FY 2023/24, with 306,837 visitors.
About 87% of visitors entered through the Sauraha gateThrough mid-April 2026, Nepali visitors rose by 33,574 to 137,246. Foreign visitors from third countries fell by 6,259 to 75,638.
Revenue fell even though visitor numbers rose, because fewer foreigners paid the higher fee.

What this means for you: Nepali holidays like Dashain and Tihar are the busiest times. In one past Dashain period, 13,233 of 20,060 visitors were Nepali. Book lodges and jeeps early for October and November.

Chitwan National Park Entry Fee in 2026

The park fee is the same for every operator. It is set by the government.

Visitor type	Entry fee per person
Foreign tourist (non-SAARC)	NPR 2,000
SAARC national	NPR 1,000
Nepali	NPR 150
Jeep entering the park	NPR 5,000 per jeep

Indian visitors: NPR 1,000 is about INR 625 at the fixed rate of INR 1 = NPR 1.6.

What the park fees cost per person (foreign visitors)

A jeep fee is shared, so a bigger group pays less per person. These numbers are park fees only.

People in one jeep	Park fees total	Park fees per person
1	NPR 7,000	NPR 7,000
2	NPR 9,000	NPR 4,500
3	NPR 11,000	NPR 3,667
4	NPR 13,000	NPR 3,250

These are not included in the table above:

Jeep hire and driver
Nature guide
Lodge, meals and transport

Operators set those prices, and they differ a lot. Ask every operator in writing whether the park permit and jeep fee are already in the quote. This is the most common reason two quotes look different.

Chitwan Jungle Safari: Jeep, Walking, Canoe and Elephant Options

Option	Time	Best for	Things to know
Jeep safari	Half day or full day	Covering more ground, seeing rhinos safely from a vehicle	Park charges NPR 5,000 per jeep. Paused in monsoon
Walking safari	Half day	Birds, tracks, quiet jungle	Guides are required. Many operators send two. Confirm when booking
Canoe ride	About 1 hour	Birds and crocodiles on the Rapti River	Often combined with a short jungle walk
Elephant ride	Short	Not recommended	Many lodges have stopped offering it for animal welfare reasons. One operator says it is now limited. Check before you book

Our pick for 2 days: a canoe ride and jungle walk in the morning, then a half-day jeep safari in the afternoon. This mixes quiet walking with distance.

Skip the elephant ride. Visit the government Elephant Breeding Centre near Sauraha instead.

What Wildlife Can You See in Chitwan?

These odds are based on typical visitor reports, not park statistics.

Animal	Chance of seeing it
Spotted deer, monkeys, wild boar	Very likely
Birds	Very likely
One-horned rhino	Likely, but not guaranteed
Mugger crocodile and gharial on the river	Likely on a canoe ride
Wild elephant	Occasional
Sloth bear and leopard	Rare
Bengal tiger	Rare

Latest numbers

Tigers: The 2026 census counted 429 tigers in Nepal. Chitwan has 145, up from 128 in 2022. That is 17 more tigers, or about 13% growth. The report was released on Global Tiger Day, July 29, 2026.
Rhinos: Chitwan has 694 one-horned rhinos out of 752 in Nepal. This is from the 2021 census and is outdated. A new census was planned for 2026, and there is no report published yet.
Rhino deaths: 22 rhinos died in and around the park in the past year, according to a July 2026 report.
Gharial: Recent surveys put Chitwan's gharial count at about 265, up about 11% from the year before. Young gharials still survive poorly in the wild.

Honest advice: Go for the rhinos, birds and river. Treat a tiger as a bonus, not the plan.

Best Time to Visit Chitwan

Months	Weather	Safari and wildlife
October to November	Warm days, cooler nights, green after monsoon	Jeep safaris open again. Busy during Dashain and Tihar
December to January	Cold mornings, fog possible	Dry season. Elephant Festival is usually held between mid-November and mid-January, dates change yearly
February to March	Warming up, dry	Good time. Winter grass cutting opens views, according to local guides
April to June	Hot, often very hot	Animals stay near water. Go on early morning safaris only
July to September	Monsoon, high rivers, leeches	Jeep safaris are suspended. Lodges are cheaper

The park pauses jeep safaris during the monsoon, roughly July to late September. Ask your lodge for the exact reopening date each year.

Tharu communities also celebrate Maghi, their New Year, in mid-January. It is a good time for culture, but also cold.

How to Get to Chitwan from Kathmandu and Pokhara

Most people say Chitwan but mean Sauraha. Tell your operator which side you want, because the west side is much farther from the airport. Barauli, for example, is about 48 km from Bharatpur Airport.

Route	Time	Notes
Kathmandu to Sauraha, tourist bus	About 5 hours	165 km via Mugling. Buses leave early morning from near Thamel and arrive at the Bachhauli tourist bus park, just north of Sauraha
Kathmandu to Sauraha, private car	About 4.5 hours	The alternate route via Hetauda is 152 km and takes about 5 hours
Fly Kathmandu to Bharatpur	18 to 25 minutes	Yeti, Buddha Air and Saurya Airlines fly this route. Then 18 to 20 km to Sauraha. Taxi from the airport costs about NPR 1,500 to 3,000 (April 2026 airport guide)
Pokhara to Sauraha, tourist bus	Around 4 to 5 hours	Depends on traffic. Confirm with your agent
Fly Pokhara to Bharatpur	Short	Limited flights. Older guides mention one daily flight. Check the current schedule

Traffic warning: Jams at Kalanki and around Mugling can add 2 hours or more. Start early, and do not book a same-day safari right after a long bus ride.

Where to Stay in Chitwan: Sauraha vs Meghauli

Area	Best for	Trade-off
Sauraha	First-time visitors, budget and mid-range stays, tour desks, Tharu dance shows	Busiest area, crowded in peak season
Meghauli and Barauli (west side)	Quiet stays, higher-end lodges	Farther from the airport, usually costs more

Book your lodge with a clear plan for the safari. A good lodge arranges the guide, jeep and permit, and tells you what is included.

Tharu Culture in Chitwan: What to Do in the Village

Sauraha is a Tharu village, and the culture is part of the trip, not an extra. Most guides skip it. Here is what to do:

Watch a Tharu cultural program. Sauraha has community halls for Tharu dance. The stick dance is the best known. Ask your lodge for the current show time.
Take a village walk. Tharu houses are built with mud walls and often have painted designs. Ask before taking photos of people or homes.
Eat Tharu food. Try dhikri, a steamed rice-flour dumpling.
Choose community-run experiences where possible, so the money stays in the village.
Visit Bishazari Tal, a wetland about 10 km northwest of Sauraha, for birdwatching.

Chitwan Itinerary: 2 Days and 3 Days

2-day plan (1 night)

Day	Plan
Day 1	Arrive by late morning, check in and have lunch. Half-day jeep safari in the afternoon. Tharu cultural program in the evening
Day 2	Early canoe ride and jungle walk. Breakfast, then leave after lunch

3-day plan (2 nights, recommended)

Day	Plan
Day 1	Arrive by afternoon. Village walk and sunset by the Rapti River. Tharu dance in the evening
Day 2	Early canoe ride and jungle walk. Half-day jeep safari in the afternoon. Visit the Elephant Breeding Centre if time allows
Day 3	Morning birdwatching at Bishazari Tal. Leave after lunch

Three days gives you two chances at wildlife and one slow morning for culture and birds.

Mistakes to Avoid and What to Pack

Mistakes

Expecting to see a tiger. Plan for rhinos and birds.
Visiting from July to September and expecting a jeep safari.
Comparing quotes without checking if the NPR 2,000 permit and NPR 5,000 jeep fee are included.
Booking an elephant ride.
Booking Dashain or Tihar trips at the last minute.
Walking outside your lodge compound after dark. Rhinos and wild elephants sometimes come close to village edges.

Pack

Long sleeves and trousers in green, brown or khaki
Insect repellent
Binoculars
Hat and sunscreen for March to June, a warm layer for December and January
Power bank and some cash for small payments

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Chitwan National Park entry fee in 2026?

NPR 2,000 for foreign tourists, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals and NPR 150 for Nepalis. Jeeps pay NPR 5,000 each.

Can you see tigers in Chitwan?

Sometimes, but it is rare. The park has 145 tigers, based on the 2026 census. Rhinos and birds are far more likely.

How many days do you need in Chitwan?

Two nights is the best choice. One night works if you are short on time.

What is the best time to visit Chitwan?

October to March is the most comfortable. April to June is hot, and jeep safaris are suspended in the monsoon.

How far is Chitwan from Kathmandu?

About 165 km to Sauraha. It takes about 5 hours by bus or 18 to 25 minutes by flight to Bharatpur, plus a short transfer.

Is Chitwan safe?

Yes, if you go with licensed guides and follow park rules. Stay inside your lodge compound at night.

Can you visit Chitwan in the monsoon?

Yes, but jeep safaris are suspended. Expect rain, leeches and cheaper lodges.

Is Chitwan worth visiting?

Yes, if you want rhinos, river wildlife and Tharu culture after a Kathmandu or Pokhara stay. It is a warm, flat, easy trip, and a good contrast to trekking in the hills.

Chitwan National Park Guide 2026: Safari Costs, Best Time and 3-Day Itinerary