How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu (By Bus, Flight)
Getting from Chitwan to Kathmandu is a long and tiring journey. Kathmandu is 165 km from Chitwan, and you can either travel by bus, private jeep or plane to get to Kathmandu.
I took the tourist bus back from Chitwan to Kathmandu, and it took almost 8 hours. In Nepal, the roads are dangerous, they are in a bad condition, and go through mountains, so road travel can take a long time.
If you want to save time, taking the flight is much faster. It’s only around a 25-minute flight to Kathmandu from Bharatpur (closest airport to Chitwan). If you are staying in Sauraha, you have to take a bus to Bharatpur first and then the flight, but still, it is faster than taking the bus all the way to Kathmandu.
How to get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
The closest town to Chitwan National Park is Sauraha, and this is where most of the jungle safaris start, and where most tourists stay.
To get from Chitwan to Kathmandu, you have the option to take the bus, private jeep or a flight. The bus takes longer, but it is more affordable. While, the flight is faster but it is also more pricey.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Distance
Kathmandu is 165 km from Chitwan, and it takes around 8 hours to get from Chitwan to Kathmandu by bus, while it takes only 25 minutes by flight.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Bus
Chitwan to Kathmandu Bus Time
The tourist buses leave between 7:30-8:30 am from the Tourist Bus Station in Sauraha (Chitwan) to Kathmandu. It takes around 8 hours to get to Kathmandu and you usually arrive by 2-3 pm.
The Tourist Bus Station in Sauraha is about 15 minutes from the city centre and it is recommended to arrive at the bus stop 30 minutes before the departure time. This is to make sure that you locate the bus, although to be honest, the Sauraha Bus Station is not so big.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Bus Ticket Price
The bus ticket from Sauraha (Chitwan) to Kathmandu costs between Rs. 850 – 1,300 (USD 6-9).
Tourist Buses in Nepal
The tourist buses are considered the safest buses in Nepal. Nepal has mountainous roads so when you travel long distances by bus, sometimes it can take up the whole day.
The tourist buses are more comfortable than local buses but as the bus journeys can take long, sometimes, even the tourist buses can feel uncomfortable. This is due to the bumpy roads and long hours on the bus.
Usually, most tourist buses have an AC or fans during the hotter months and a 1L bottled water is always included in the ticket.
I recommend taking a tourist bus by Swift Holidays. They run sofa seat buses and they are considered one of the most comfortable and safest tourist bus companies in Nepal.
How to Buy the Tourist Bus Ticket to Kathmandu
If it’s your first time in Nepal, the easiest way to get a bus ticket is if you buy it at a travel agency or ask your hotel to arrange it for you.
Travel Agency: You can buy the tickets at travel agencies in Sauraha. Whenever you book tourist bus tickets through a travel agency, the ticket prices are slightly higher as they add a commission fee on top of the original price.
At Your Hotel: Most of the hotels in Sauraha are also able to arrange bus tickets. Usually, you can ask about bus tickets at the reception and they will be able to book it for you.
Online on BusSewa: It is also possible to buy bus tickets online on BusSewa.com. The platform is easy to use and you can pay for the ticket with an international bank card. It is usually best to just buy the bus ticket 1-2 days ahead of travel and here you can read my tips and tricks for booking bus tickets online in Nepal.
Browsing Bus Tickets Online in Nepal
If you just want to browse bus tickets online, you can also use BusSewa.com. BusSewa is a great platform and easy to use. You can use it to browse bus schedules, tickets and prices, even if at the end you prefer to buy the bus ticket from a travel agency in person.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Flight
The closest airport to Chitwan is the Bharatpur Airport. Bharatpur is about 1 hour bus ride from Sauraha and there are frequent, local buses that you can take to get to the Bharatpur Airport.
There are daily, regular flights between Bharatpur and Kathmandu so it is easy to take a flight from there.
The best option is to book a flight for the morning. Flights often get delayed in Nepal due to bad weather, so, the earlier flight you book, the sooner you get to Kathmandu even if flights are delayed.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Flight Time
The flight from Bharatpur to Kathmandu takes only 25 minutes. So even though you have to take a local bus from Sauraha to Bharatpur Airport, it is still faster than taking the bus all the way to Kathmandu.
Chitwan to Kathmandu Flight Price
The flight from Bharatpur (Chitwan) to Kathmandu costs USD 140 (approximately Rs. 21,000) for foreigners and Rs. 6,000 for Nepali citizens.
How to Buy Flight Tickets in Nepal
Buddha Air is considered as one of Nepal’s more trusted airlines. Check out Buddha Air’s website for prices and booking tickets.
Chitwan to Kathmandu by Jeep
There is also an option to hire a private jeep to go from Chitwan to Kathmandu. It is a good option if you don’t want to fly but you want to travel by a private car.
Generally, I have found that the seats in the jeeps are not that comfortable, but if you are travelling with your family or friends, then a private jeep is a good option.
Most of the travel agencies in Sauraha can organize a private jeep, so just ask around there. The price is around USD 100 one-way, but ask in a couple of agencies and see which one has the best price.
Hotels in Kathmandu
Not sure where to stay in Kathmandu? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:
📍 Best Hostel: Rest Up Kathmandu
📍 Best Mid-Range Hotel: Kailash Boutique Hotel
📍 Best High-End Hotel: Hotel Barahi
Best Things to Do in Kathmandu
There are so many things to do in Kathmandu and here are some of the best activities to do:
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Boudha, Swoyambhu, Pashupathinath, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Changunarayan Temple
- My favourite day trips from Kathmandu: Patan, Bhaktapur, Chandragiri, Godawari, and Manakamana
- 2-3 day trips from Kathmandu: Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Kakani, and Panauti
FAQs: How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
How do I get from Chitwan to Kathmandu?
To get from Chitwan National Park to Kathmandu, you can either go by bus, private jeep or plane. Both the buses and flights have a frequent, daily schedule.
The buses leave from Sauraha (Chitwan) to Kathmandu. It takes around 8 hours and costs Rs. 850 – 1,300 (USD 6-9).
The closest airport to Chitwan is at the Bharatpur Airport. It takes about 1 hour by local bus to get from Sauraha to Bharatpur. Once on the flight, it is only 25 minutes to get from Bharatpur to Kathmandu.
How far is it from Chitwan to Kathmandu?
Chitwan is 165 km from Kathmandu. It takes 8 hours by bus to Sauraha. The flight takes 25 minutes to Bharatpur, where you can catch a local bus to Sauraha (1 hour bus journey).
Conclusion
In conclusion, travelling from Chitwan to Kathmandu is fairly easy. You have the option to either travel by bus or plane. Both the buses and planes have a daily, regular schedule.
Kathmandu is 165 km from Chitwan and you can either travel by bus or plane to get to Kathmandu. The tourist buses take around 8 hours to get from Chitwan to Kathmandu and costs Rs. 850 – 1,300 (USD 6-9).
As for the flights, the closest airport to Chitwan National Park is the Bharatpur Airport. You can take a local bus from Sauraha to Bharatpur to get the flight. The flight takes 25 minutes from Bharatpur to Kathmandu and costs USD 140 for foreigners.
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