Chitwan National Park, and the less visited Bardia National Park are beautiful regions full of varied, colourful wildlife. The jungle & river landscapes are home to many birds and animals including the majestic Indian elephant, endangered one-horned rhino, and the ever-elusive Bengal tiger. This tour combines exciting safari activities in both of these parks, with a walk through the Nagarjun Forest Reserve in the Kathmandu Valley, and the remote Shreeban Nature Camp allowing you plenty of time to immerse yourself in and experience Nepal’s natural beauty and to discover its wildlife.

You begin in Kathmandu with a fully guided tour of this fascinating, sprawling city. The tour starts by walking through narrow bustling streets to Durbar Square with its splendid array of Hindu Temples, the Kastamandap (House of Wood), from which the city takes it name, and the old Royal Palace. The whole square has a wonderful feel to it and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by. You will also take time to stop at the many Stupas and Bahals that lie concealed within the city. Next you climb the many steps leading to Swayambhunath Stupa with its inquisitive monkeys, which sits upon a hill overlooking Kathmandu and gives a spectacular view out over the city. You also take a nature walk through the Nagarjun Forest Reserve on the side of the valley, where you should see deer and monkeys, and enjoy some of the best birdwatching in the valley.

From Kathmandu a short drive and a couple of hours walking (jeeps available) brings you to the Shreeban Nature Camp, from where you'll get spectular mountain views, and a chance for more birdwatching and easy trekking through the surrounding farmland and forest.

We then leave the mountains and descend into the plains andforests of Nepal's lowland Terai, to Chitwan National Park. Once at the park, you have a range of activities including a visit to the Elephant Breeding Centre, an elephant safari into the park, and a canoe ride and jungle walk along the Rapti River to view the wildlife, While getting very commercialised now, Chitwan remains the best place in Nepal to see the endangered one-horned rhino.

After 2 nights in the park, you leave Chitwan and drive through the Terai to Bardia National Park where you have the next three full days to enjoy a range of activities in and around the park.

The largest of Nepal’s lowland Terai National Parks, (and our favourite!), Bardia is mixture of riverine and sal forests, and is home to a large and diverse selection of wildlife. Here you will take time to explore the park and its colourful inhabitants by jeep, elephant and on foot, and also take to the water for a gentle rafting trip to view the wildlife from another perspective. Evenings are a time for relaxing and chatting amid the peace and solitude of this beautiful jungle setting. The remoteness of the park and the low number of tourists it receives make it a much more rewarding place to visit for wildlife lovers than Chitwan. You'll be unlucky not to see rhino, gharial and mugger crocodilles, and wild elephants, the bird watching is excellent, and you have the best chance of seeing tigers in the whole of Nepal.

From Bardia we fly back to Kathmandu where you have some free time for a little more sightseeing or to stroll around the many shops and stall in search of a few souvenirs.

The tour stays in a range of hotels and lodges, with a balance of comfort in Kathmandu and Chitwan with more basic but comfortable options in Shreeban and Bardia. Options to upgrade these are available on private & tailor-made departures. Options are also available to do a mountain flight to view Everest, or to extend the tour to do a mountain trek or try some exciting white-water rafting.