Bardiya VIP Wildlife Safari: Tiger Tracking
Four quiet days in Bardiya National Park, far from the crowds, tracking tigers on foot and by private jeep with licensed nature guides. Stay at Rhino Lodge Bardia (Comfort) or Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge (Luxury).
4 days · Nature Escape · From US$ 1,080
Enquire- Duration
- 4 days
- Group size
- Private — from 2 guests
- Best season
- Oct–May (tigers: Mar–May)
Overview
Bardiya is Nepal’s largest lowland national park, in the far west of the country, and it sees only a small share of the visitors who go to Chitwan. Sal forest, tall grassland and the braided channels of the Karnali river hold Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, gharial and mugger crocodiles and, in the river, the rare Gangetic dolphin.
This short private safari is built around tracking. You spend one full day on foot with two licensed nature guides, reading pugmarks and alarm calls and waiting quietly at river crossings where tigers come to drink, and a second day by private jeep, with a visit to the crocodile breeding centre at the park headquarters.
Tigers here are wild, and a sighting is never certain, but the forest is calm, the guides are patient and the days are yours alone. You fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and drive two to three hours to the park.
Highlights
- A full day on foot in tiger country with two licensed nature guides
- Private full-day jeep safari along the Karnali and Geruwa rivers
- The crocodile breeding centre at the park headquarters
- Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, with all meals, on the Luxury level
- Short flight to Nepalgunj and a private car to the park
Gallery
Day by day
A 50–55 minute flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, then a private car for about 90 km (2–3 hours) to the edge of Bardiya National Park. Settle in at Rhino Lodge Bardia (Comfort) or Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge (Luxury) and meet your nature guides for a short briefing.
Out early with two licensed nature guides for a full day of walking and quiet waiting in the forest and along the river banks, looking for tiger signs and sightings, rhino, elephant and deer. A packed lunch in the jungle.
A full day by private jeep with your nature guide, covering the grasslands and river channels deeper in the park, and a visit to the crocodile breeding centre at the park headquarters, where gharial and mugger crocodiles are raised for release.
A last early walk near the lodge if you wish, then the private car back to Nepalgunj airport (2–3 hours) and the flight to Kathmandu, with a private transfer to your hotel.
Choose your comfort
| Comfort tier | Lodging | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | Rhino Lodge Bardia, a long-running family lodge at Thakurdwara by the park entrance: super deluxe air-conditioned room with breakfast, and packed lunches on the two safari days. | From US$1,080 |
| Luxury | Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, a small lodge of local stone and thatch on the west side of the park: signature room with all meals. | From US$2,290 |
What’s included
Included
- Airport pickup and drop by private car in Kathmandu
- Flights Kathmandu–Nepalgunj–Kathmandu and airport taxes
- Private car Nepalgunj–Bardiya–Nepalgunj
- Three nights at your chosen level: Rhino Lodge Bardia with breakfast (Comfort) or Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge with all meals (Luxury)
- Packed lunches on both safari days (Comfort; all meals on Luxury)
- Full-day jungle walk with two licensed nature guides
- Full-day private jeep safari with a nature guide
- Bardiya National Park entry fees and the crocodile breeding centre visit
Not included
- International flights and Nepal visa
- Kathmandu hotel before and after the safari (we can arrange it)
- Dinners on the Comfort level, drinks and bar bills
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and lodge staff, and personal expenses
Dates & departures
Bardiya is open from October to May; many lodges close and the park is hard to reach in the summer monsoon (June to September). The hot months of March to May give the best chance of tiger sightings, because animals come to the rivers and the tall grass has been cut. Nepalgunj flights can be delayed by winter fog in December and January. The price shown is for the Comfort level, per person, for two guests travelling together and sharing a room. Ask us for solo or larger-group prices.
Questions, answered
Will we see a tiger?
We cannot promise it. Bardiya’s tigers are wild and move over large areas. Your chances are best from March to May and on full days in the forest, which is why this safari spends two full days inside the park. Rhino, elephant, deer, crocodiles and many birds are seen far more often.
Is walking in the park safe?
Jungle walks follow the national park’s rules and go with two licensed nature guides, who brief you before you set off. You walk quietly in a small group, keep together and follow the guides’ instructions at all times.
How do we get to Bardiya?
You fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj in 50–55 minutes, then drive about 90 km by private car, which takes 2–3 hours. The same route brings you back on the last day.
What is the difference between Comfort and Luxury?
Comfort stays at Rhino Lodge Bardia, a simple, well-kept family lodge by the park entrance, with breakfast and packed lunches. Luxury stays at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, a small, quiet lodge with more space and all meals included. The safaris are the same on both levels.
What should we wear?
Clothes in muted greens, browns or khaki, comfortable walking shoes, a hat and sun cream. Mornings and evenings are cool from November to February, so bring a warm layer; March to May is hot.
Is the price per person?
Yes. The price shown is per person for two guests travelling together and sharing a room. Tell us your group size and dates and we will send an exact quote.
Bardiya VIP Wildlife Safari: Tiger Tracking: the complete guide
The route at a glance
Kathmandu → Nepalgunj (flight, 50–55 min) → Bardiya National Park (private car, about 90 km, 2–3 hours) → three nights by the park → Nepalgunj → Kathmandu.
Park rules
Foreign visitors pay a daily national park entry fee, which is included. Walks inside the park are only allowed with licensed nature guides, and you keep to the guides’ pace and instructions. Drones are not allowed.
Weather
October to February has warm days and cool, sometimes foggy mornings. March to May is hot and dry, with the best wildlife viewing. The park is mostly closed in the June to September monsoon.
What to pack
Muted-coloured clothes, light long sleeves against insects and sun, good walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent, binoculars and a small day pack. A warm layer for winter mornings.
Luggage
Domestic flights to Nepalgunj allow about 15–20 kg of checked luggage per person, depending on the airline. Leave extra bags at your Kathmandu hotel.
Enquire about this journey
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