How to Travel to Bardia National Park (By Bus, Flight)
Looking for information on how to travel to Bardia National Park, Nepal?
You’ve come to the right place! I visited the Bardia National Park earlier this year and did the bus journey from Pokhara to Bardia and then back from Bardia to Kathmandu. I must say, the bus trip to and from Bardia is long but totally worth it!
Bardia National Park is regarded as the best place to spot tigers in Nepal. Although, Chitwan is the most popular place to see wildlife in Nepal (due to its proximity to Kathmandu), Bardia provides a more authentic jungle experience.
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and you have the options to travel to Bardia by bus or flights.
The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours and costs Rs. 2,200. The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes. After landing in Nepalgunj, you can take a local bus to Bardia that takes around 3 hours.
The distance between Pokhara and Bardia is around 450 km and there are two buses per day that go from Pokhara to Bardia. The buses leave around 1 pm in the afternoon and takes around 15 hours to get to Bardia.
Here is how you can travel to Bardia National Park!
How to Travel to Bardia National Park
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and you have the options to travel to Bardia by bus or flights.
The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours and costs Rs. 2,200. The distance between Pokhara and Bardia is around 450 km and it takes around 15 hours to get to there.
You can also fly to the Nepalgunj Airport and then take a local bus from there to Bardia. The flight takes around 50 minutes from Kathmandu and the bus from Nepalgunj to Bardia takes 3 hours.
How to Travel from Kathmandu to Bardia National Park
Kathmandu to Bardia Distance
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and it takes 17 hours to get there by bus.
Kathmandu to Bardia Bus
- Bus Route: Kathmandu to Thakurdwara
- Bus Type: Air Bus (like a deluxe bus, it is non-tourist bus but still good quality), only one bus available per day, it’s a night bus.
There is only one bus daily that goes from Kathmandu to Bardia, so there are not multiple options to choose from. The buses to Bardia leave from the Gongabu Bus Park (also called as the Naya Bus Park/New Bus Park).
The bus going from Kathmandu will drop you in Thakurdwara which is the town where all the guesthouses and lodges are for the Bardia National Park.
Kathmandu to Bardia Bus Time
The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours.
There is only one bus per day the goes from Kathmandu to Bardia. It leaves at 5:15 pm and arrives in Bardia around 9-10 am the next day.
Kathmandu to Bardia Bus Ticket Price
The price of the bus ticket from Kathmandu to Bardia is Rs. 2,200.
How to Travel from Pokhara to Bardia National Park
Pokhara to Bardia Distance
The distance between Pokhara and Bardia is 450 km and takes around 15 hours to get there by bus.
Pokhara to Bardia Bus
The buses to Bardia leave from the Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara.
To get to Prithvi Chowk, you can take a taxi or a local bus from Lakeside. The bus fare is Rs. 30. For the best taxi prices, book it via the inDrive taxi app.
Pokhara to Ambassa Bus
The bus from Pokhara will drop you in Ambassa (also spelled as Ambasha), which is the closest town to Bardia and Thakurdwara.
- Bus Route: Pokhara to Ambassa
- Bus Type: AC or Deluxe Bus
Pokhara to Bardia Bus Time
The bus from Pokhara to Bardia takes around 15 hours.
There are two buses per day the going from Pokhara to Bardia and they go on 2 different routes. The bus that goes on the shorter route goes via Waling and Palpa, so that’s the one you should pick.
The bus leaves Pokhara at 1:30 pm (via Waling and Palpa) and arrives around 4 am in Ambassa (Bardia).
Ambassa to Bardia
The bus from Pokhara will drop you in Ambassa, which is the closest town to Bardia. The buses usually arrive early morning in Ambassa, around 4-5 am.
There are taxis at 4 am in Ambassa waiting for people who get off the bus, so you will be able to find a taxi to take you to your hotel in Thakurdwara. The tuktuk taxi takes 30 minutes and costs Rs. 500 from Ambassa to Thakurdwara. Some hotels also pick up passengers for free of charge.
Pokhara to Bardia Bus Ticket Price
The price of the bus ticket from Pokhara to Bardia is Rs. 2,100-2,300.
How to Travel from Chitwan to Bardia National Park
If you like jungle safaris and would like to check out two of the best places in Nepal to see tigers, wild elephants and rhinos, you can travel to both Chitwan and Bardia National Parks.
Chitwan to Bardia Distance
The distance from Chitwan to Bardia is 445 km and it takes around 15 hours to get there by bus.
Chitwan to Bardia Bus
Bus Route:
- First, take a local bus from Sauraha to Bharatpur
- Then, in Bharatpur, get on a tourist bus (coming from Pokhara or Kathmandu) to Ambasha or Thakurdwara
There is no direct bus from Sauraha (main tourist town in Chitwan) to Bardia but you can take a bus from Bharatpur. So first, you will have to get from Sauraha (main tourist town by the Chitwan National Park) to Bharatpur.
There are local buses frequently going between the two towns. Once you are in Bharatpur, you will have to catch either the tourist bus going from Pokhara to Ambassa or the one coming from Kathmandu to Thakurdwara. Both buses stop by in Bharatpur.
If you are planning to go on this route, it is best to get the ticket through a travel agent who can contact the bus driver to confirm your seat, pick up time and location in Bharatpur.
How to Travel from Tansen (Palpa) to Bardia National Park
Tansen, Palpa to Bardia Distance
The distance between Tansen and Bardia is 330 km and takes around 10 hours to get there.
Tnasen, Palpa to Bardia Bus
To take a bus from Tansen (Palpa) to Bardia, you will have to get on the bus that is going from Pokhara to Bardia. The bus leaves Pokhara at 1:30 pm and passes by Palpa on the way to Bardia.
The bus from Pokhara arrives at around 6-7 pm in Palpa and then takes about 10 hours to get to Ambassa (Bardia).
It is the best to book the bus ticket through a travel agent so they can contact the bus driver to confirm your pick up time and location. It could be that you will have to pay for the full fare of bus ticket from Pokhara to Ambassa, even though you are only getting on the bus in Palpa.
Flights to Bardia National Park
Flying to Nepalgunj Airport
The closest airport to Bardia National Park is the Nepalgunj Airport. There are daily flights from Kathmandu and other major cities to Nepalgunj.
Taking a flight to Nepalgunj is a great option if you don’t want to go on a long bus ride and want to save some time.
The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes and costs USD 135 (Rs. 18,000) for foreigners and Rs. 6,400 for Nepali citizens.
Once you land in Nepalgunj, there are local buses that go to Bardia (Thakurdwara). The bus takes around 3 hours from Nepalgunj to Bardia. Alternatively, your hotel may be able to arrange a pick up for you. If you prefer that option, just contact your hotel to ask about the prices.
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 schedules and prices.
Tips for Taking a Flight in Nepal
Book a Morning Flight
Flights often get delayed or cancelled due to bad weather in Nepal. The earlier your flight is, the most chance you have of flying out that day.
Once the weather clears, they start the flights take off in the order they were supposed to fly.
This means that if you were going to fly on the first flight in the morning, your flight will be the first one to fly out. If you were on a later flight, your flight might get delayed to the next day.
Buses in Nepal
There are no tourist buses going to Bardia, only Deluxe/AC buses. Nepal has mountainous roads so in many cases, bus travel in Nepal can take up the whole day.
The Deluxe/AC buses are not as comfortable as the tourist buses but they are still not too bad. Sometimes, the Deluxe/AC buses are almost as good as the tourist buses. (Except for the sofa seat tourist buses, which are the most comfortable!)
As the bus journeys can take long hours, sometimes, even the tourist buses can feel uncomfortable. This is due to the bumpy roads and long hours on the bus.
⚡ Get your power bank now so you don’t have to worry about charging your phone on long bus rides in Nepal!
How to Buy the Bus Ticket to Bardia
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: There are many travel agencies in big cities in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) selling tourist bus tickets. It is quick and easy to buy the ticket through an agency, though usually they will charge a higher price as they also add commission to the price.
At Your Hotel: Most of the hotels can also arrange a bus ticket for you. Just ask at the reception and they will be able to get the bus ticket 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.
Hotels in Bardia
Looking for a place to stay in Bardia? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:
📍 Budget Hotel: Bardia Eco Friendly Homestay
📍 Mid-Range Hotel: Bardia Forest Resort
📍 High-End Hotel: Tiger Tops Karnali Resort
Things to Do in Bardia
Bardia National Park is one of the best places to spot tigers in Nepal. It is the less touristy version of Chitwan, so if you want to experience a more authentic jungle in Nepal, Bardia is the place for you!
Here are some of the things to do in Bardia:
- Jungle safari (walking or jeep)
- Rafting
- Bird Watching
Best Places to See Wildlife in Nepal
Three of the best places to spot wildlife in Nepal are the Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park and the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
- Chitwan National Park: best to spot rhinos and is the closest to Kathmandu
- 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!
Nepal Transport Guide
Looking for information on how to get to other destinations in Nepal? Check out my transport guides:
- How to Get from Pokhara to Kathmandu
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Pokhara
- How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan
- How to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Chitwan
- How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
- How to Get to Bandipur
- How to Travel to Janakpur
- How to Get to Tansen (Palpa)
- How to Get to Lumbini
- How to Get to Gorkha
- How to Get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
FAQs: How to Travel to Bardia National Park
How do you get to Bardia National Park?
To get to Bardia National Park, you can either take a bus or a flight. Bardia is connected by daily buses with all major cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara) but it can take up to 17 hours to get there by bus.
There is also an option to take a flight to Nepalgunj. Once you land in Nepalgunj, there are local buses that go to Bardia (Thakurdwara). The bus takes about 3 hours from Nepalgunj to Bardia.
Which airport is near the Bardia National Park?
The closest airport to Bardia National Park is the Nepalgunj Airport. There are daily flights from Kathmandu and other major cities.
The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes and costs USD 135 (Rs. 18,000) for foreigners and Rs. 6,400 for Nepali citizens.
How do I get from Kathmandu to Bardia?
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and you have the options to travel to Bardia by bus or flights.
The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours and costs Rs. 2,200. The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes. After landing in Nepalgunj, you can take a local bus to Bardia that takes around 3 hours.
How long is the flight from Kathmandu to Bardia?
The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes and costs USD 135 (Rs. 18,000) for foreigners and Rs. 6,400 for Nepali citizens.
How far is Bardiya from Kathmandu by bus?
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and takes around 17 hours to get there by bus.
How do you get from Pokhara to Bardia?
The distance between Pokhara and Bardia is around 450 km and there are two buses per day that go from Pokhara to Bardia. The buses leave around 1 pm in the afternoon and takes around 15 hours to get to Bardia.
The bus will drop you in Ambassa (also spelled as Ambasha). Ambassa is 30 minutes from Bardia and you can find tuktuks to take you there for about Rs. 500.
How much is the jeep safari in the Bardia National Park?
The full day jeep safari in Bardia costs around USD 250/jeep and can be shared between passengers if you buddy up with other travellers.
Conclusion
The Bardia National Park is 570 km from Kathmandu and you have the options to travel to Bardia by bus or flights.
The bus from Kathmandu to Bardia takes around 17 hours and costs Rs. 2,200. The flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj takes 50 minutes. After landing in Nepalgunj, you can take a local bus to Bardia that takes around 3 hours.
The distance between Pokhara and Bardia is around 450 km and there are two buses per day that go from Pokhara to Bardia. The buses leave around 1 pm in the afternoon and takes around 15 hours to get to Bardia.
