Chitwan National Park tour: jungle tower night stay

You sleep inside the jungle in a wooden tower while a guide watches for nocturnal animals.

A 4-day tour from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park combines jeep safari, canoe rides and bird watching with one night in a forest tower at the river's edge, powered by solar panels and staffed by a guide who wakes you if animals move nearby. Transport from Kathmandu or Pokhara, all park fees, meals and three nights' accommodation are included; the tower night requires a 40-minute to one-hour hike into the corridor forest. A live English-speaking guide leads the group through jungle walks, a Tharu village visit and cultural dance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Travel to Chitwan and local activities

• Pick up from hotel early morning
• Drive to Chitwan by tourist bus
• Arrival and transfer to resort
• Refreshment and briefing
• Lunch at 13:00
• Village tour to Tharu ethnic village
• Visit National Park Visitor's centre
• Sunset view from Rapti River bank
• Tharu cultural dance presentation
• Dinner and overnight at luxury resort

Day 2 — Jungle activities and tower night stay

• Wake up call and breakfast
• Canoe ride along Rapti River
• Bird watching and crocodile spotting
• Jungle walk with nature guide
• Return to hotel for lunch
• Transfer and hike to jungle tower
• Jungle walk and sunset at tower
• Packed dinner inside jungle
• Overnight stay in jungle tower

Day 3 — Jungle safari and relaxation

• Wake up and light breakfast
• Jungle walk and return to hotel
• Freshen up and optional bicycle tour
• Jeep safari inside Chitwan National Park
• Visit crocodile breeding center
• Rest and relax at resort
• Overnight at luxury resort

Day 4 — Return to Kathmandu or Pokhara

• Breakfast
• Departure to Kathmandu or Pokhara by tourist bus

The Experience

You leave Kathmandu at 6 am by air-conditioned tourist bus, arriving in Sauraha five to six hours later. After check-in and lunch at the resort, the afternoon moves into a Tharu village where you learn how the local people live, then to the National Park Visitor Centre to understand the park's history and wildlife. At sunset you stand on the bank of the Rapti River, and that evening the villagers perform traditional dances you can join in.

Day two is the tower night. You start with a canoe ride at dawn along the Rapti River, watching for the two rare crocodile species—the Marsh Mugger and the fish-eating Gharial—while the guide points out birds. After a jungle walk back to the hotel and lunch, you hike 40 minutes to an hour into the forest to reach the tower, a wooden structure built at the river's edge and powered by solar panels. This is where animal movement is most active. You walk again at sunset, then eat a packed dinner inside the tower. The guide and an assistant stay in the tower with you; if animals move at night, the guide wakes you to watch.

On day three you have light breakfast in the tower or back at the hotel, then return by jungle walk and local transport. The afternoon is a 35-kilometre jeep safari through the park where you see wild animals and birds, and visit the crocodile breeding centre. Day four is breakfast and a five to six-hour drive back to Kathmandu or Pokhara by tourist bus.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned tourist bus transport from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Chitwan and back.
• all Chitwan National Park entry fees.
• canoe ride on the Rapti River with bird watching.
• jungle walks with a nature guide.
• jeep safari covering 35 kilometres inside the park.
• visit to the crocodile breeding centre.
• one night in the jungle tower and two nights in a deluxe hotel room.
• all meals including packed dinner in the tower.
• Tharu village visit and cultural dance presentation.
• hotel-to-bus and bus-to-hotel pickup and drop-off by private vehicle.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Welcome Nepal Treks P.ltd

Is this one for you?The English-speaking guide means you follow the commentary throughout the four days without needing to arrange a translator or navigate the park on your own; this suits first-time visitors to Chitwan who want the animals and culture explained as you move through them.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

43 verified traveler reviews

5 ★38

4 ★4

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What animals might I see on the jeep safari and canoe ride?

The jeep safari covers 35 kilometres inside Chitwan National Park where you see wild animals and birds; the canoe ride on the Rapti River is an opportunity to spot the Marsh Mugger and fish-eating Gharial, two rare crocodile species, as well as birds.

How do I get to the jungle tower and what is it like to sleep there?

You hike 40 minutes to an hour from the hotel to reach the tower, which is built at the river's edge in the corridor forest where animal movement is frequent. The tower is powered by solar panels and staffed by a guide and assistant who stay with you overnight; if animals move at night, the guide wakes you to observe them.

What is included in the tour price from Kathmandu?

The package includes transport by air-conditioned tourist bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara, all Chitwan National Park fees, canoe rides, jeep safari, jungle walks, bird watching, the Tharu cultural dance show, three nights' accommodation (one in the jungle tower and two in a deluxe hotel room), and meals.

Do I need special clothes for the jungle activities?

Dark-coloured clothes—leaf green, brown or grey—are recommended for jungle safari so you blend into the forest environment.

Is a guide provided and what language does the guide speak?

A live English-speaking nature guide leads the tour through all jungle activities, village visits and safari, so you have commentary throughout the four days.