Kathmandu Chitwan Tour-Cost, Distance, Itinerary, In Nepal

We'll meet you outside the terminal building (look for your name board) and take you to your hotel: afternoon free. Evening: a welcome supper, introduction to your guide, and a trek briefing with a checklist of essentials. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Take a day trip to five of the Kathmandu Valley's cultural world heritage sites: Swayambhunath, the world's largest stupa; the city's historical Durbar Square with ancient temples, unique art, and architecture, and the chance to see the Kumari (living goddess); Patan's Durbar Square; the Hindu temple Pashupatinath; and Bouddhanath, the world's largest stupa (under restoration).

Each site entry will be served by a car and driver who will wait for you.

After breakfast, drive west on the Prithvi Rajmarg (Highway) towards Pokhara, passing through Middle Hill scenery and along the important Trisuli Nadi, which rises in Tibet northeast of Kathmandu. The road runs through lower Gorkha (home of the first Ghurkha troops), beneath Manaslu, and south of the epicenter of the first earthquake. The river turns south at Mugling, and you follow it as it falls through the lowland Terai region, eventually reaching the Indian border. From high land, there should be good views of the high peaks to the north.

Our objective is the settlement of Sauraha, which is located on the outskirts of the world-famous Chitwan National Park, as well as our hotel. (There are no lodges in the park anymore.)

After lunch and a rest, travel along the Rapti Khola's banks to Tharu village for sunset. This region has long been home to the Tharu, an Indian ethnic group (being naturally immune to malaria). Dinner will be served at the hotel, followed by a Tharu cultural show.

Chitwan National Park (932 km2) epitomizes the 'original' Terai region, which was established in 1973 and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. On the hill slopes, it has a subtropical Sal forest, meadows, and a diverse variety of blooming species. It has 68 mammal species, over 500 bird species, 120 fish species, and 56 reptile and amphibian species. Since the park's establishment and the creation of the surrounding regulated buffer zone, the wildlife population has exploded.

Drive into the park after breakfast to the elephant center for a three-hour elephant game-viewing ride. Keep an eye out for Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, boars, and other wildlife. After that, pay a visit to the elephant washing center. Take a canoe river ride after lunch and rest to see mugger and endangered gharial (long-snouted) crocodiles. Then take an hour-long (cooler) guided forest stroll. Finally, go outside the park to see the elephant breeding center. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Begin with a 1- to 12-hour guided bird-watching stroll along the riverfront in the early morning, followed by breakfast. Then make your way back to Kathmandu and your accommodation. You have the rest of the day to yourself.

Transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport for your next journey.