The 10 Best Things to Do in Chitwan, Nepal (2026)
Chitwan is a long journey away from Kathmandu, but still, it is the closest place to Nepal’s capital to go on a jungle safari and spot wildlife.
The town of Sauraha is the main tourist hub in Chitwan. It is where most travelers stay, and where most of the jungle safaris start from. When I got to Sauraha, I was surprised by how nice the town is. It has lots of restaurants, and I just loved chilling by the riverside.
There are so many things to do in Chitwan, including going on a jungle safari, cycling to the 20,000 Lake, canoeing on the Rapti River, watching the sunset by the river, and getting to know about Tharu culture.
Chitwan National Park: Quick Information
- Entry fee: Foreigners Rs. 2,000 (USD 15), SAARC Rs. 1,000 (USD 7), and for Nepali Rs. 150.
- Best time to visit: February – March (During this time the grass is lower and it’s easier to spot wildlife)
The Best Things to Do in Chitwan, Nepal
1. GO ON A JUNGLE SAFARI
Chitwan Safari Costs
- Chitwan Half Day Jeep Safari Costs: Rs. 2,500 (USD 17) per person (Between 7-11 am or 1-5 pm)
- Chitwan Full Day Jeep Safari Costs: around USD 120 per day (Rs. 16,000). This cost is shared between everyone in the jeep, so if you join other people you can split the cost.
Wildlife in Chitwan National Park: There are more than 700 species of animals in the Chitwan National Park including tigers, elephants, rhinos, monkeys, deer, crocodiles, lizards and pythons.
Best way to see wildlife: 2-3 days walking safari or full day jeep safari. If you go on a longer walking safari, you will be able to go deeper into the jungle and thus, having a bigger chance of spotting wildlife.
The best time to visit the park is in February and March during which time the grass has been cut and it is easier to spot animals.
I visited the Chitwan National Park in the month of November and during this time, the grass in the park was very high – which made it difficult to spot wildlife.
I went only on a half day jeep safari and we were not able to spot tigers or elephants. We only spot a rhino, python, deer, crocodile, monkeys and deer.
I still enjoyed the safari but I wish I went in February or March to have better chances of seeing tigers and elephants.
2. CANOE DOWN THE RAPTI RIVER
- Price: 1 hour canoeing on the river: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7) canoeing + costs for guide.
If you are up for an adventure canoeing down the Rapti River is for you. The canoe takes you on about 1 hour ride on the river full of crocodiles.
🐘 Book a 3-day Chitwan Safari and spot elephants, rhinos and tigers in Chitwan! (Voted 4.6/5 on 130 reviews)
Each canoe can accommodate up to 10 people. It is a basic canoe and it is a bit scary as balancing the canoe takes some effort.
If you don’t get scared easily, the canoeing is best for spotting crocodiles.
After the canoe ride, the package also includes a walk through the jungle to get back to Sauraha.
3. CYCLE TO THE 20,000 LAKE (BIS HAZARI LAKE)
- Price for renting a bike: Half a day Rs. 300 (USD 2), and for the whole day Rs. 500 (USD 3).
- How to get to Bis Hazari Lake: 30-40 minutes bike ride from town.
The Bis Hazari Lake is near Sauraha and it is a great place for bird spotting. It is popular to rent bikes in Sauraha and cycle to the lake in the morning. Make sure to leave early as it can get hot during the day.
4. WATCH THE SUNSET
After a day of safari, there is nothing better to do than to relax and chill by the riverside in Sauraha.
If you walk to the Sunset Point/Riverwalk, you will find many restaurants by the riverside. It is a perfect place to relax and see the sunset over the Rapti River.
5. STAND UP 4 ELEPHANTS
Chitwan has had a bad reputation on the treatment of elephants for a long time. Many activities in Chitwan centre around elephant tourism (riding elephants, washing elephants or visiting the Elephant Breeding Centre).
However, the elephants kept for tourism go through a cruel training called “crushing” in which they are tortured and their spirits are crushed when they are young. The elephants are then kept for tourism purposes and are chained for the rest of their lives.
The NGO Stand Up 4 Elephants advocate for the better treatment of elephants. They are based near Sauraha also run an elephant sanctuary for 2 freed elephants.
Stand Up 4 Elephants organize information sessions about the welfare of elephants every day at 2 pm but you have to sign up the day before. You can sign up through their Facebook page or by visiting Shantiko Kitchen in Sauraha.
6. WATCH A THARU CULTURAL PROGRAM
The Tharu ethnic group are the original inhabitants of the Tarai region of Nepal (where Chitwan is located). In Sauraha, you will be able to experience a traditional tharu cultural program including dances and information on tharu culture.
Sauraha Tharu Village PVT
Entry fee: Museum and cultural show: Rs. 200 (USD 1)
The dance show at Sauraha Tharu Village starts every day at 7 pm. It is 1 hour long during which there is also a narrator that explains the significance of every dance.
There is also a small museum section consisting of typical tharu houses that you can check out before the show. I liked that you can try some tharu food at the venue, including snails and the tharu thali set (sticky rice, fish or duck meat).
7. VISIT THE THARU CULTURAL MUSEUM AND RESEARCH CENTRE
- Entry fee: SAARC and foreigners: Rs. 200 (USD 1)
- Location: 20 mins walk from central Sauraha. Slightly out of town but it is a nice walk through the non-touristy part of Sauraha.
If you have some extra time while you are in Sauraha, visiting the Tharu Cultural Museum and Research Centre can be a great stop to learn about the Tharu culture.
The exhibition is inside a house built in traditional tharu style and I really liked the old photographs depicting tharu culture.
8. TRY AUTHENTIC THARU FOOD
If you are in Sauraha, make sure to try some typical tharu food.
Tharu food is famous for sticky rice, fish, snails and duck. If you are vegetarian, there are also options for vegetarian meals.
9. VISIT THE WILDLIFE MUSEUM
- Wildlife Museum Entry fee: Rs. 100 (USD 0.70)
If you have done the jungle walk and canoeing on the river and still have some time to spend in Sauraha, visiting the Wildlife Museum can be an option.
It is a small museum near the Sunset Viewpoint. The exhibition displays information about animals that can be found in the Chitwan National Park.
Some information is only in Nepali but the infographics have pictures so even non-Nepali speakers can understand it.
10. VISIT THE LAMO WATERFALL/LAMO JHARANA
The waterfall is about 60 metres tall and it is a great place to visit if you like waterfalls. However, it is quite far away from Sauraha and is near the highway between Mugling and Sauraha.
Thus, visiting the Lamo Waterfall/Lamo Jharana is the easiest for those who are visiting Chitwan with their own transportation.
Restaurants in Sauraha
There are lots of nice restaurants in Sauraha, serving both Nepali and international dishes. Here are some of my favourite restaurants:
- Shantiko Kitchen: Best for nice ambience, good food, great playlist and supporting the welfare of elephants.
- Art Cafe: Great food and drinks
- KC’s Restaurant and Bar: Best for chill outdoor garden with great food.
Where to Stay in Chitwan
Looking for a place to stay in Chitwan? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:
📍 Best Budget Hotel: Hotel National Park Sauraha
📍 Best Mid-Range Hotel: Chitwan Village Resort
📍 Best High-End Hotel: Sapana Village Lodge
How to Get to Chitwan National Park
Kathmandu to Sauraha (Chitwan National Park):
The tourist bus leaves from Sorhakhutte Tourist Bus Stop (near Thamel) in the morning around 7 am. It takes about 8 hours to reach Sauraha (the main tourist town near Chitwan National Park).
For more information, read my complete guide on how to get from Kathmandu to Chitwan.
Pokhara to Sauraha (Chitwan National Park):
The tourist bus leaves from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara around 7 am and it takes about 7 hours to reach Sauraha from Pokhara.
Read my complete guide on how to get from Pokhara to Chitwan.
Best Places to Spot Wildlife in Nepal
Chitwan is the most popular place to go on a wildlife safari in Nepal. If you want to visit less touristy places, check out the Bardia National Park or Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
- Bardia National Park: best to spot tigers, wild elephants and rhinos
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve: best to spot winter migratory birds, arna (wild water buffalo), and Gangetic dolphins
🐅 Not sure which safari is better for you? Check out my post on Chitwan vs Bardia National Park here!
FAQs: The Best Things to Do in Chitwan, Nepal
What is Chitwan famous for?
Chitwan is the most famous for jungle safaris and spotting wildlife. It can be easily reached from other major cities in Nepal and it has become a very popular destination.
It’s wildlife habitat is famous for tigers, elephants and rhinos. Chitwan has become very touristic so it can be hard to spot wildlife if you only go for a half-day safari.
Your best bet to see wildlife in Chitwan is if you go on multiple day safaris that take you deeper and deeper into the jungle.
What are the best places to visit in Chitwan?
The best places to visit in Chitwan is the Chitwan National Park, cycling to the 20,000 Lake, go canoeing on the Rapti River, watch the sunset from the Sauraha Sunset Point, and watch a Tharu cultural show in Sauraha.
How many days are enough for Chitwan?
I would say 3 nights in Chitwan is ideal. However, if you are short on time, you can also do it in 2 nights.
Generally, it depends also if you just want to go on a jungle safari or if you want to do more activities in Chitwan apart form the safari. If you want to do 1 day jungle safari+ canoe, then 2 nights should be sufficient.
If you want to do other activities, such as cycling to the 20,000 Lake, exploring the Tharu heritage and cultural programs, or just chill by the riverside, then it is easy to spend 4 nights in Chitwan.
Is it worth going to Chitwan National Park?
Chitwan National Park is definitely worth visiting. Although, it has become very commercialized in the last couple of years, if you like wildlife and up for some adventure in the jungle, Chitwan is a great place.
Chitwan is also easily accessible by bus or plane which make it easy for a trip.
If you are curious to experience jungle safari in a more remote place, check out my travel guide for the Bardia National Park.
Which is the best season to visit Chitwan National Park?
The best time to visit Chitwan National Park in between February-March. During this time, the grass inside the park is lower and it is easier to spot wildlife.
The grass usually grows very tall during the monsoon season (June-August) and due to that it is more difficult to spot wildlife when the grass is tall.
The villagers cut the grass around February for feeding their livestock, thus, around February-March, you will get the best visibility inside Chitwan National Park.
My Final Tips for Visiting Chitwan
Overall, Chitwan National Park is a popular destination for spotting wildlife in Nepal. Chitwan is most famous for spotting elephants, tigers and rhinos, and there are different types of safaris that you can choose from.
When I visited Chitwan, I only went on a half-day jeep safari, and we didn’t get to spot that many animals, so it was a bit of a let down. Chitwan is very popular and the number of jeeps scare the animals away further into the jungle.
So, you have the most chance to spot animals (rhinos, elephants, tigers) in Chitwan, if you go further into the jungle, and sign-up for a 3-4 day jungle safari.
If you are up for an adventure, visiting the Bardia National Park is also an option. It takes much longer to reach but it is less touristy than Chitwan, and you have the most chance of spotting tigers. I did a walking safari in Bardia and it was one of the most adventurous things I have done in Nepal.
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