Tea
Tea or coffee and biscuits before the first activity
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All destinationsBardia National Park Safari
5.012 reviews
Look for wild Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos and wild elephants in the grasslands of Nepal's largest lowland national park.
- 4 days
- Easy
- Duration
- 4 days
- Grade
- Easy
- Altitude
- 220 m (720 ft)
- Start and end
- Kathmandu
- Best season
- Feb to Apr, Oct to Dec
- Accommodation
- Wildlife resort
- Meals
- Breakfast daily
- Group size
- Up to 15
- Getting there
- Fly to Nepalgunj
Bardia National Park Safari Overview
Look for wild Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos and wild elephants in the grasslands of Nepal's largest lowland national park.
Tour overview
Bardia is Nepal's largest and least visited lowland national park, in the far west of the country on the Karnali river. It is roughly the same size as Chitwan but receives a small fraction of the visitors. This is the main reason to travel this far: the same species, much more space, and long periods when yours is the only vehicle.
Bardia and Chitwan compared
Chitwan is five hours from Kathmandu by road and has more rhinos. Reaching Bardia requires a flight and a drive, but it has the highest tiger density in Nepal, fewer visitors and a wilder setting. If you have time for one lowland park and want an easy journey, choose Chitwan. If you are coming specifically to see a tiger, or you have been to Chitwan and found it busy, choose Bardia.
Tiger sightings
Bardia offers the best chance of seeing a wild tiger in Nepal, but a sighting cannot be guaranteed. Across a season, tigers are seen on roughly one trip in three. Sightings are most frequent in the hot, dry months from March to May, when the grass is short and the animals come to water. You can reliably expect to see rhino, deer, langur, wild boar, crocodile and, on the Karnali, the Gangetic river dolphin.
Key highlights of the Bardia National Park Safari
- Jeep & walking safaris
- Chance to sight the Royal Bengal tiger
- Tharu community & cultural evening
- Karnali river dolphin excursion
Itinerary
Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj (about one hour), then transfer by road for about 2.5 hours to the resort, where you are given a welcome drink. After lunch, take a nature walk into the jungle. Dinner and overnight at the wildlife resort.
- Altitude
- 170 m (560 ft)
- On foot
- Short walks
- Night in
- Resort, Bardia
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Early tea or coffee at 6:30 AM and breakfast, then explore the jungle to see the Karnali River, its aquatic wildlife and birds. In the afternoon, take a jeep safari into the park to look for the one-horned rhinoceros, four species of deer, monkeys, wild boar and leopards. The day ends with a Nepali buffet dinner and a traditional folk dance.
- Altitude
- 170 m (560 ft)
- On foot
- Short walks
- Night in
- Resort, Bardia
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tea or coffee at 6:00 AM, followed at 6:30 AM by a birdwatching walk in the park, which is home to hundreds of bird species. After breakfast, visit a Tharu village to learn about local culture and social life, then return to the resort and fly back to Kathmandu.
- Altitude
- 1,400 m (4,590 ft)+1,230 m
- On foot
- Short walks
- Night in
- Hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals
- Breakfast
Breakfast in Kathmandu and a transfer to the airport for your onward flight. If you are joining a trek next, this is where we hand you over to the trekking team.
- Altitude
- 1,400 m (4,590 ft)
- On foot
- None, departure day
- Night in
- No overnight
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's included
- Airport transfers & ground transport
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- All permits & national park fees
- Meals as per the itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Travel & rescue insurance
- Personal trekking gear
- Tips & personal expenses
- Nepal entry visa (on arrival)
Dates and prices
Start date
12 Mar 2027
End date
15 Mar 2027
Available
15 left
US $467
Per person
Start date
22 Jan 2027
End date
25 Jan 2027
Available
15 left
US $467
Per person
Start date
15 Oct 2027
End date
18 Oct 2027
Available
15 left
US $467
Per person
Route map
The trail from start to finish, at a glance.
Photos
A look at the trail, the villages and the mountains.
Packing list
Clothing colours and luggage
Wear greens, browns and khaki in the park. On a walk in Bardia the aim is to avoid being noticed by wildlife, and bright colours and white are visible from a long way off. The Nepalgunj flight has a lower baggage allowance than your international ticket, and bags are weighed, so bring a soft bag rather than a large suitcase. Anything you do not need in the park can be stored free of charge at our Kathmandu office.
- Sun hat with a brim
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm
- A warm hat for foggy winter mornings, December to February
- Light long-sleeved shirts and long trousers in green, brown or khaki
- A fleece or light jacket for early mornings from November to February
- A light rain jacket from May onwards
- Closed walking shoes or light boots, quiet rather than stiff
- Socks that come above the ankle, against ticks and leeches
- Sandals for the lodge
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, for the small aircraft
- A daypack for water, camera and a layer
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Any medicine you take routinely, and a small first aid kit
- Rehydration salts for the hot months
- Ask your doctor about malaria tablets. The risk in the Terai is low but not zero
- Binoculars, which matter more than a camera for birds and for a tiger across a river
- A long lens if you have one
- Spare batteries and memory cards
- A refillable bottle, one litre or more
- Purification tablets as a backup
- Passport and a photocopy, which you need for the domestic flight
- Travel insurance certificate
- Cash in small notes for tips and drinks. Bring it from Kathmandu or Nepalgunj; there is a cash machine in Thakurdwara, but it is not always working
Accommodation
3 nights, and where
| Where | Nights | Type | Room | Bathroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bardia, on the edge of the park | 2 | Wildlife resort | Double or twin, cottage style | Private, hot water |
| Kathmandu | 1 | Hotel | Double or twin | Private, hot water |
- Bardia, on the edge of the park
- Nights
- 2
- Type
- Wildlife resort
- Room
- Double or twin, cottage style
- Bathroom
- Private, hot water
- Kathmandu
- Nights
- 1
- Type
- Hotel
- Room
- Double or twin
- Bathroom
- Private, hot water
Heat, hot water, power and signal
- Cooling
- A fan in every room. Some rooms have air conditioning; ask when you book if the heat matters to you.
- Hot shower
- In your room, solar or electric. Best in the afternoon on a cloudy day.
- Charging
- Sockets in the room. Nepal uses round two- and three-pin plugs, so bring an adapter.
- Wi-Fi
- In the main building, and slow. Enough for messages.
- Phone signal
- Ncell and NTC work at the lodge, but the signal is patchy. There is no reliable signal inside the park.
- Mosquitoes
- Nets over every bed. Repellent is still worth wearing at dusk.
- Water
- Filtered drinking water at the lodge for refilling your bottle.
- Laundry
- Available for a small charge, back the same day in dry weather.
Meals
Breakfast
Eggs, toast, porridge, fruit, Nepali and Indian dishes, tea or coffee. A packed breakfast on long mornings in the park
Lunch
Dal bhat, curries, vegetables, salad and fruit, at the lodge or packed for a full day out
Dinner
Nepali, Tharu and continental dishes, with a Nepali buffet on the cultural evening
If you eat differently
- Vegetarian
- Easy. Most of the food the kitchen prepares is already vegetarian.
- Vegan
- Manageable with notice. Tell us when you book, because the lodge buys its food in Nepalgunj and plans ahead.
- Gluten free
- Rice, dal, curries and fruit are safe. Tell us in advance, as the kitchen cannot rule out cross-contamination.
- Halal
- Not certified. Vegetarian food is the practical option.
- Allergies
- Tell us at booking and remind the kitchen on arrival. The nearest large hospital is Nepalgunj Medical College at Kohalpur, on the road to Nepalgunj.
A typical day
Difficulty and preparation
Physically easy. The main challenge is the heat during the tiger season.
- Walks in the park are on flat ground, two to four hours, at the naturalist's pace and with long quiet stops.
- The jeep is several hours on rough, dusty tracks, sitting in an open vehicle.
- From March to May the afternoons are close to 40°C, and the activities are timed around it.
- Early starts every day. The first activity leaves around 6:30.
- Getting there is a flight to Nepalgunj and two and a half hours by road, each way.
Getting ready, week by week
Written for somebody who walks a bit and does not train. If you already run or cycle regularly, start partway through. Nothing here needs a gym.
- Trek
4 weeks before, stage 1 of 2
Walking practice
No training is needed. If you do not walk much, a few walks of two to three hours on flat ground will make the walks in the park easier. Wear the shoes you will bring.
Weather by month
Typical conditions on this route in each month, including the months we do not run this trip.
- Best
- Good
- Hard
- We do not run it
March
Best- Day, in the park
- +31°C
- Night, at the lodge
- +13°C
- Early morning, when you set out
- +15°C
Hot afternoons, short grass, and the tiger season begins.
Approximate averages from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology records for Nepalgunj and the Bardia area. Winter mornings are often foggy and feel colder than the figure, and in April and May the afternoon can go several degrees above it.
Booking and payment
How to book
Write to us or send a message on WhatsApp and tell us roughly when you would like to travel. You will receive a reply from a member of our team who has been on this trip. Nothing is payable at this stage, and there is no obligation until you pay a deposit.
Deposit
A deposit of 30 per cent secures your dates, and the balance is paid when you arrive in Kathmandu, in cash or by card. At the same time, we ask for a copy of your passport, your insurance certificate and any dietary or medical information.
Payment
You can pay by bank transfer, or by card through a secure link. Card payments carry the bank's fee of about 4 per cent, which we show you before you pay. The balance in Kathmandu can be paid in US dollars, pounds, euros or Nepali rupees.
Cancellation
If you cancel more than 30 days before departure, your deposit can be transferred to any other date or trip we run, with no time limit. If you cancel within 30 days, the deposit is retained, because the permits, flights and crew have been booked by then. If we cancel for any reason other than weather, we refund everything you have paid.
Private and group departures
For a party of five or more, private and group departures cost the same. A private departure runs on your dates at your pace and can be arranged for one person. A group departure runs on the dates in the table above. Most travellers book privately, at no extra cost.
Late bookings
We need at least one week's notice, or two weeks in March and April. The limiting factor is the Nepalgunj flight rather than the resort: it is a small aircraft on a route with few seats, and it fills up during the tiger season.
Reviews
Exceptional5.0 out of 5Reviews from Tripadvisor
- 5836
- 426
- 32
- 23
- 11
Har Har Mahadev
June 2026, Tripadvisor
A Journey of a Lifetime with Earthbound Expedition Our pilgrimage to Kailash Manasarovar with Earthbound Expedition was truly the spiritual journey of a lifetime. From start to finish, the entire 14-day expedition was exceptionally well organized and thoughtfully planned. The itinerary was carefully designed to help us acclimatize gradually before the challenging high-altitude trek. This preparation played a significant role in helping us successfully complete the pilgrimage. Every aspect of the trip—from transportation, accommodation, and meals to the guidance, support, and attention to detail provided by the team—was outstanding. The organizers took care of every detail, allowing us to focus on the spiritual significance of the journey without worrying about logistics. I sincerely thank the entire Earthbound Expedition team for making this once-in-a-lifetime experience so memorable and seamless. I would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone planning a Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage. If you are looking for a safe, professionally managed, and deeply fulfilling spiritual journey, Earthbound Expedition is an excellent choice.
Climber50893197983Read on Tripadvisor
Consistent positive service
June 2026, Tripadvisor
Went to Kailash Manasarovar trip second time. Can confirm with certainty Rajan and his team are consistent in leaving a positive experience as much as I did this trip couple years ago, Highlight this time however is special care Rajan took in me having my 78 year old dad do this trip along with me. Om namashivaya - we both did the trip successfully and returned safe back home. THANK YOU Rajan ji.
Praveen YRead on Tripadvisor
Best company to travel with in Nepal and Tibet
June 2026, Tripadvisor
Our experience with Earthbound was very good from the beginning till the end. Rajan ji and his team made sure everything was taken care of, and even our smallest requests were met. Right from being picked up at the airport, to being put in very good hotels, to being fed with nutritious and healthy food, to our safety every step of the way, we felt protected. We will again use them if we ever get the chance to return to Nepal for any other expeditions.
Relax39430778554Read on Tripadvisor
Once in a lifetime trip
May 2026, Tripadvisor
Once in a lifetime experience that my father and I shared! Had an absolutely great time and enjoyed the guide and porters that we had in our trek. The route we took had is trekking for 15 days, and it was 15 days I will never forget. I expected it to be tougher than it was, but it does take some amount of training to not be completely exhausted every day. The average day of hiking was maybe 5-8 miles, and the views that you see with clear weather are breathtaking. The trail does have limited infrastructure, so don’t expect the Himalaya Hilton or some other type of fancy resort to stay in on the trail, but the tea houses were fine lodging accommodations in my opinion. Be prepared for hot, sunny days, as well cold rainy days…it’s the Himalayas so the weather can go any direction. I recommend this trip for anyone wanting a great experience.
Steven ERead on Tripadvisor
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the 6 questions travellers ask us most often. If your question is not here, contact us and we will answer it.
We grade it Easy. Rest days are built in to help you adjust, and a good level of everyday fitness is enough. Tell us about your experience when you enquire, and we will advise you on whether the trip is suitable.
The best time to go is from autumn to spring (October to April), when the weather is most settled and the views are clearest. We also run the trip outside these months on request. Ask us and we will explain what to expect.
Groups are small. Many of our trips run for just one or two people, and we keep group sizes low so that the pace suits you and your guide has time for everyone. You can also book the whole trip privately.
A 30% deposit, about $140 on this trip, secures your place, and the balance is due before you travel. You can change your dates free of charge up to 60 days before departure.
Yes, permits are required, and they are included. We arrange all the national park fees and trekking permits for this route, and they are included in the price. You only need a valid passport and a Nepal entry visa, which you can get on arrival.
Every itinerary can be adjusted to suit your dates, your pace and the time you have. If you would like extra rest days, a different starting point, or to add another region, let us know and we will plan the trip around your needs.
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4 days
$467 per person
