How to Travel to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (By Bus, Flights)
Looking for information about how to travel to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
You’ve come to the right place! There is not much information available online, so I had to figure out everything by myself when I planned my trip to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is 340 km from Kathmandu and you can get there either by bus or plane. If you want to travel by bus, you will have to look for buses going to Biratnagar or Itahari. The bus will pass by Koshi Tappu where you can get off.
The closest airport to Koshi Tappu is in Biratnagar and from there, there are frequent buses going to Koshi Tappu.
The bus takes around 15 hours from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu. While, the flight takes 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, then from Biratnagar, the bus takes 1.5 hours to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
So how can I get to Koshi Tappu? Here is everything you need to know.
How to Travel to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Bus
Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Distance
The distance from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is about 340 km and takes up to 15 hours to get there by bus.
Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Minivan (“Hiace”)
- Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Minivan Ticket Price: Rs. 1,500-1,800
If you want to travel during the day from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu, the minivans (“hiace”) is your only option. The buses that go to Koshi Tappu are all night buses.
Taking the Hiace is also the fastest option from Kathmandu. You have book the minivan that goes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar/Itahari and get off at the gate to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
The minivans from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu are faster than the bus but it still takes about 11 hours.
🦉 Want to know about wildlife spotting in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve? Check out my travel guide to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve here!
Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Bus
- Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Bus Ticket Price: Rs. 1,400-1,700.
The buses going from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu are all night buses and AC/Deluxe type of buses.
The buses usually leave between 3-5 pm in the afternoon and take about 15 hours to get from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu.
Same as with the minivans, you should book a bus heading towards the direction of Biratnagar/Itahari, and then get off at the Koshi Tappu Gate/Nahar Chowk.
Where is the Bus Stand in Kathmandu?
The buses and minivans (Hiace) going to Biratnagar leave from Koteshwor in Kathmandu.
There is also on option to get on the bus at Gaushala, Gongabu or Kalanki, so check with the bus company if they can pick you up at the location which is best for you.
Pokhara to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Bus
Pokhara to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Distance
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is about 500 km from Pokhara and it takes around 15 hours to get there by bus.
Pokhara to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Bus
- Pokhara to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Bus Ticket Price: Rs. 2,450.
There is only one bus going from Pokhara to Biratnagar each day and it is a night bus.
The bus departs Pokhara at 3:30 pm and gets to Koshi Tappu the next morning. It takes around 15 hours from Pokhara to Koshi Tappu by bus.
The same night bus also passes by Dumre which is the closest town if you are visiting Bandipur. Thus, if you plan to go by bus from Bandipur to Koshi Tappu, you can go to Dumre and get on the bus there.
Where is the Bus Stand in Pokhara?
The bus leaves from Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara. From here, it makes stops along the way near Begnas Lake and later also at Dumre.
If you are staying at Lakeside in Pokhara, you can get to Prithvi Chowk by taking a local bus. The bus fare costs around Rs. 30.
🐅 Not sure about visiting Koshi Tappu? Check out the 3 best places to spot wildlife in Nepal!
Butwal to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Bus
Butwal to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Distance
The distance from Butwal to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is around 478 km and takes up to 15 hours to get there by bus.
Butwal to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Bus
- Butwal to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Bus Ticket Price: Rs. 2,020
Although, Butwal is not the touristic hotspot of Nepal, if you plan to visit Koshi Tappu from Palpa or Palpa or Bardia, first you will have to go to Butwal and then take a bus from there to Biratnagar.
There is a deluxe night bus that goes daily at 5 pm from the Butwal Bus Park towards Biratnagar. You can take this bus and get off at Koshi Tappu.
The journey takes about 15 hours to reach Koshi Tappu. Just tell the bus helper to drop you off at the Koshi Tappu Gate/Nahar Chowk.
Where is the Bus Stand in Butwal?
The bus from Butwal to Biratnagar (Koshi Tappu) departs from the Butwal Bus Park.
It is in a central location in Butwal so you might be able to walk there. If not, there are lots of tuktuks or local buses that can get you there.
Where to Get Off the Bus in Koshi Tappu?
There are a couple of stops along Koshi Tappu so it is best to ask your accommodation the name of the bus stop closest to your hotel/homestay.
Most likely you will have to get off at Koshi Tappu Gate/Nahar Chowk. From Nahar Chowk, there are tuktuks that can take you to your hotel for Rs. 100.
How to Buy the Bus Ticket?
There are different options on buying bus tickets, including:
- Travel agency
- Through your hotel
- Bus Park/Ticket Counter
- Online through the ESewa App: here you can read my guide to how to set up eSewa and book bus tickets online in Nepal.
💡 Did you know? You can browse bus tickets online in Nepal on BusSewa.com. It is not possible to book bus tickets using an international bank card but if you stay in Nepal long-term, here is how you can register on eSewa to buy bus tickets.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve by Flights
Another option to get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is to fly to Biratnagar and then take a bus from there. The Biratnagar Airport is the closest airport to Koshi Tappu and there are regular domestic flights to Biratnagar.
The flight takes 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar and costs USD 100 (for foreigners) and USD 40 (for Nepali).
Once in Biratnagar, there are many buses and minivans going towards Koshi Tappu. The bus from Biratnagar to Koshi Tappu takes about 1.5 hours.
From Biratnagar, you can take any local or deluxe buses going in the direction of Kathmandu, Butwal, Birgunj, or Bharatpur (Chitwan). They will all pass by the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
Want to browse flights? Check out the flight tickets on Buddha Air’s website.
FAQs: How to Travel to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
How to reach Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is 340 km from Kathmandu and you can get there either by bus or plane. The bus takes around 15 hours from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu.
While, the flight takes 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, then from Biratnagar, the bus takes 1.5 hours to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
How much is the entrance fee to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
The prices of tickets to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve depends on your nationality.
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Tickets for Foreigners: Rs. 1,500/day
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Tickets fo Nepali: Rs. 100
If you want to enter the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve for multiple days, you will have to buy a new ticket for each day.
What is the famous animal found in the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is famous for its habitat of arna (wild water buffalo) and winter migratory birds.
It is the only place in Nepal where you can find arna and the reserve has been doing extra work to preserve and grow the population of arna in Koshi Tappu.
Where is Koshi Tappu located in Nepal?
Koshi Tappu is located in the South-East of Nepal, close to the border with India. It is around 340 km from Kathmandu and takes up to 15 hours to get there by bus.
How many National Parks are there in Nepal?
There are 12 National Parks in Nepal. In total, Nepal has 12 National Parks, 1 Wildlife Reserve, 1 Hunting Reserve, 6 Conservation Areas, and 13 Buffer Zones. All of them belong to the Protected Areas in Nepal.
In which province is the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
In total, there are 7 provinces in Nepal. The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is located in the Koshi Province in Nepal which is a province in the far east of Nepal.
The 7 provinces in Nepal are as follows: Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Lumbini and Sudurpashchim.
What is the distance from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve?
The distance from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is 340 km and takes 11 hours to reach by minivan and around 15 hours by bus.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is connected by frequent, daily buses and minivans as well as flights to the nearest airport in Biratnagar.
The bus journey may be long but there are buses going towards Koshi Tappu from all the major towns in Nepal.
The bus can take up to 15 hours from Kathmandu to Koshi Tappu. While, the flight takes 40 minutes from Kathmandu to Biratnagar, then from Biratnagar, the bus takes 1.5 hours to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve.
If you choose to go by bus, the journey might be long but it is totally worth it to visit one of the least touristy places in Nepal to spot wildlife.
