Nepal's two great lowland national parks both protect rhinos, elephants and tigers, but the experience is very different.
Quick answer: choose Chitwan for easy access from Kathmandu and Pokhara, excellent rhino sightings and lots of lodge choice. Choose Bardia for a wilder, quieter park and some of the best chances in Nepal of seeing a tiger, if you have time for the journey west.
Side by side
| Chitwan | Bardia | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central Nepal | Far west |
| Access | 5–6 hours by road from Kathmandu; flights to Bharatpur | Fly to Nepalgunj, then a few hours by road |
| Rhinos | Most of Nepal's rhinos (694 in 2021) | Fewer |
| Tigers (2026 survey) | 145 | 112 |
| Crowds | Busier, especially in Sauraha | Quiet |
| Lodges | Many, from budget to luxury | Fewer, mostly small lodges |
| UNESCO | World Heritage Site | No |
Time needed
Chitwan: two or three nights. Bardia: at least three nights to give yourself a good chance of a tiger.
Combine both
Our Chitwan, Lumbini and Bardia wildlife tour visits both. Or choose our Chitwan jungle safari or Bardia tiger safari.
Read our Chitwan guide and Bardia guide.
Chitwan in more detail
Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, was Nepal's first national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers grasslands, sal forest and riverine forest along the Rapti, Narayani and Reu rivers in the inner Terai. Most visitors stay in Sauraha, a lively village on the park's northern edge with lodges for every budget, or in luxury lodges near Meghauli on the western side. Activities include jeep safaris, canoe trips on the Rapti to see crocodiles and birds, guided jungle walks, birdwatching, visits to the gharial breeding centre and the elephant breeding centre, and Tharu cultural programmes. Greater one-horned rhinos are seen on most safaris, and Chitwan has the largest tiger population of any park in Nepal, though tigers remain hard to spot. See Chitwan safari guide.
Bardia in more detail
Bardia National Park, in the far west, is the largest protected area in Nepal's lowlands. It is wilder and much less visited than Chitwan, with a mix of sal forest, grasslands and the braided channels of the Karnali and Babai rivers. Visitors stay in small lodges in Thakurdwara on the park's edge. Bardia is famous for tiger-tracking on foot and from river banks, with experienced naturalists who spend long hours waiting at watering points. The park is also home to wild Asian elephants, rhinos (reintroduced from Chitwan), swamp deer, and the rare Gangetic dolphin in the Karnali river, as well as rich birdlife. Rafting on the Karnali can be combined with a Bardia visit. See Bardia guide.
Wildlife compared
| Animal | Chitwan | Bardia |
|---|---|---|
| Rhino | Very likely on a 2–3 day visit | Possible, but less common |
| Tiger | Largest population, but sightings are hard because of crowds and dense cover | Many visitors choose Bardia for tiger-tracking; still never guaranteed |
| Wild elephant | Occasional | Resident herds, including large tuskers |
| Crocodiles | Mugger and gharial, easily seen from canoes | Mugger and gharial |
| Gangetic dolphin | No | Possible in the Karnali river |
| Birds | More than 500 species recorded | More than 400 species recorded |
See the latest figures in our news on Nepal's 2026 tiger survey.
Getting there
| Chitwan | Bardia | |
|---|---|---|
| From Kathmandu by road | About 5–6 hours | About 12–14 hours (not recommended) |
| By air | About 25 minutes to Bharatpur, then 30 minutes by road | About 1 hour to Nepalgunj, then about 2.5 hours by road |
| From Pokhara | About 5 hours by road | Long; usually via Kathmandu or by road via Lumbini |
| From Lumbini | About 4–5 hours | About 7–8 hours |
Best time to visit
For both parks, the best time is October to May. October to February is pleasant, with cool mornings and warm days, and birdwatching is excellent. From February to May, the tall grasses are cut and burned, opening up views, and animals gather at water as the weather gets hotter, so wildlife viewing is at its best, though temperatures can exceed 35 °C in April and May. During the monsoon from June to September, parts of both parks close, rivers rise, and many lodges shut.
Ethical wildlife tourism
Elephant-back safaris were once the classic way to see rhinos in Chitwan, but many lodges and visitors now avoid them over concerns about animal welfare, and some areas have restricted them. Jeep safaris, canoe trips, walking safaris with trained naturalists, and watchtowers offer excellent alternatives. Always stay with licensed guides on walking safaris, keep a safe distance from rhinos and elephants, which can be dangerous, and don't pressure guides to get closer to animals.
Sample itineraries
- Chitwan, 3 days: arrive and take a village walk and sunset by the river; full day of canoe, jungle walk and jeep safari; morning birdwatching and departure.
- Bardia, 4 days: fly to Nepalgunj and drive to Thakurdwara; two full days of tiger-tracking on foot and by jeep, with a river float; morning activity and return.
- Both parks, 8–10 days: Chitwan, then Lumbini, then Bardia, flying back from Nepalgunj.
Accommodation compared
Chitwan has the widest range of accommodation of any wildlife area in Nepal. Sauraha has dozens of guesthouses and mid-range hotels along the Rapti river, while upmarket jungle lodges near Meghauli and elsewhere offer private cottages, pools, naturalist guides and fine food. Bardia's lodges are smaller and simpler, often family-run, with a strong focus on wildlife and very knowledgeable naturalists; a few offer more comfortable cottages and tented camps. In both parks, packages usually include meals and activities. See Chitwan lodges and Bardia lodges.
Culture: the Tharu people
Both parks lie in the homeland of the Tharu, an indigenous people of the Terai who have lived alongside the forests for centuries and are known for their resistance to malaria, their mud-and-thatch longhouses decorated with paintings, and their stick dance. In both Chitwan and Bardia you can visit Tharu villages, see traditional houses, try Tharu food such as dhikri and fish curry, and watch cultural performances. Bardia's villages feel more traditional and less touristy. See Tharu culture.
Who should choose which?
- Choose Chitwan if you have limited time, want an easy trip from Kathmandu or Pokhara, are travelling with children, or want the best chance of seeing rhinos.
- Choose Bardia if you want a wilder experience, fewer visitors, and the chance to spend long days tracking tigers with expert naturalists.
- Combine both if wildlife is a priority and you have eight days or more.
Other lowland parks
Nepal has other lowland protected areas worth knowing about: Parsa National Park, next to Chitwan, now with a growing tiger population; Shuklaphanta National Park in the far west, famous for its swamp deer herds and grasslands; Banke National Park, next to Bardia; and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the east, one of Asia's great birdwatching sites. See Shuklaphanta and Koshi Tappu.
Costs compared
Chitwan offers the widest price range, from budget guesthouses in Sauraha with shared safaris to luxury lodges with private naturalists. Bardia is generally mid-range, with fewer budget options and the added cost of the flight to Nepalgunj. In both parks, foreign visitors pay a daily national park entry fee, and activities such as jeep safaris and canoe trips are charged separately unless included in a package. Expect to pay more for private jeep safaris and specialist tiger-tracking guides.
Safety on safari
Walking safaris are one of the most exciting ways to explore both parks, but they carry real risks: rhinos, elephants, sloth bears and tigers can all be dangerous. Always walk with licensed, experienced naturalists, listen to their briefing on what to do if you meet an animal, wear neutral colours, and stay quiet and close together. Don't walk in the parks without a guide, and avoid the forest edge at dusk and at night.