Chitwan Safari Cost in 2026: What You Actually Pay

You search "Chitwan safari cost" and get answers ranging from $99 to $700. Most of those numbers leave out the park entry fee, the guide, or the bus ride that gets you there.

This guide gives you the real numbers so you know exactly what to budget before you go.

Here is what you will find below:

• Every activity cost with the actual NPR price, not just USD estimates

• A full 3-day cost breakdown across three budget levels

• Why booking locally through a host saves you real money

Quick Summary: What Does a Chitwan Safari Cost?

If you want a number before reading further, here it is. A 2-night, 3-day Chitwan trip for one person costs roughly:

• Budget (homestay + shared jeep): USD 150 to 200

• Mid-range (lodge + jeep + canoe): USD 250 to 350

• Comfort (good lodge, private jeep): USD 400 to 600+

Those numbers include accommodation, food, park entry, activities, and a bus from Kathmandu. They do not include flights, personal shopping, or travel insurance.

The Park Entry Fee 

Almost every cheap Chitwan National Park package you see online does not include the park entry fee. It is a separate daily charge you pay at the gate, on top of whatever your safari or guide costs.

According to the Nepal Tourism Board and Chitwan National Park's official regulations, the fees per person per day are:

You pay this every day you enter the park. On a 3-day trip, most people pay for 2 days of entry. If you do your jeep safari and canoe ride on the same day, that is one fee, not two.

Budget tip: Plan your activities so everything falls on the same park day when possible. Doing your morning jeep safari and afternoon canoe ride on the same day saves you NPR 2,000 right there.

Safari Activity Costs, One by One

There are several activities to choose from in Chitwan, and each one has a different price. Here is what each activity costs in 2026, based on current prices from local operators and the Nepal Tourism Directory's 2026 safari cost guide.

Jeep Safari

The jeep safari is the main activity most visitors do in Chitwan. You ride in an open-sided jeep through the park with a driver and a wildlife guide who points out animals and explains what you are seeing. A morning slot leaving around 6 to 7am is better than afternoon because animals are easier to spot before the heat of the day.

• Shared jeep (6 to 8 people): NPR 2,500 to 4,000 per person for a half-day

• Private jeep (just your group): NPR 10,000 to 15,000 for the whole vehicle per day

• Full-day shared jeep safari: NPR 4,000 to 6,000 per person

The shared jeep is fine for most visitors. You will still see rhinos, and a jeep safari in Sauraha has a 90%+ chance of a rhino sighting. The private jeep is worth it if you are a photographer or traveling with four or more people who want to move at your own speed.

Canoe Ride on the Rapti River

Skip this one if you are nervous around deep water. The canoes are narrow wooden boats and they do tip, especially when passengers shift their weight. That said, for most people it is 90 minutes on the Rapti River that a jeep simply cannot give you. You drift past gharial crocodiles, whose needle-thin snouts are built for catching fish, not people, and mugger crocodiles that lie completely still on the banks until you are almost alongside them. Kingfishers shoot past at eye level. It costs NPR 1,500 to 2,500 per person on a shared canoe.

Guided Jungle Walk

At NPR 2,500 to 4,000 per person for 2 to 3 hours, the jungle walk is not the cheapest option, but it is the closest you will get to the park without a vehicle between you and it. You go in on foot with two guides, one of whom is armed, and you move at the pace of someone looking at the ground rather than the horizon. You read footprints, you hear things before you see them, and you cover maybe 5 kilometres total. The honest downside is that fewer animals means fewer sightings than a jeep safari, where you cover three times the ground at the same time.

Elephant Breeding Centre

The elephant breeding centre is a short visit near Sauraha where you can watch baby elephants being fed and bathed in the river. It is run by the government and entry for foreign visitors is just NPR 50. Note that elephant-back safaris are still offered in Chitwan, but responsible travel organizations advise against them because of how the elephants are trained. A jeep safari shows you more wildlife anyway.

Tharu Village Walk

Most safari visitors spend their time inside the park and never walk through the villages that sit just outside it. A Tharu village walk fixes that. For NPR 2,000 to 3,000 per person you get 2 to 3 hours in the villages on the park's edge, where families have lived alongside this jungle for generations. You see mud-painted homes, working farms, and daily life that has nothing to do with tourism. If you are staying in a village homestay nearby, most hosts include this walk as part of your stay at no extra charge.

Birdwatching

This one is free. Once you have paid your daily entry permit, birdwatching is already included in whatever activity you are doing, whether that is a jeep safari or a jungle walk. Your wildlife guide will point out species along the way. Chitwan has over 500 recorded bird species. The most striking are the Bengal florican, a large grassland bird so rare it is listed as endangered, and the great hornbill, a bird the size of a small dog with a bright orange beak that you will hear before you see it. You do not need to book anything extra for birdwatching.

Where You Sleep Changes Everything

Accommodation is where most of the cost difference between travelers comes from. Here is the honest price range for Sauraha and the villages nearby.

Staying in a village homestay near the park offers strong value. At USD 20 to 50 with breakfast and dinner included, you cut your food costs almost entirely. Your host also has direct relationships with local guides and can book your safari at fair local prices, which is almost always cheaper than going through a hotel desk.

Chitwan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Nepal's first national park, which is part of why accommodation demand is high year-round. Prices near the park gate in Sauraha are higher than in the surrounding villages.

Getting to Chitwan: Transport Costs

Many travelers forget to add transport to their budget. Here is what it costs to get to Chitwan from the two most common starting points.

From Kathmandu, the tourist bus costs NPR 1,500 to 2,000 (around USD 12 to 15), takes 5 to 6 hours, and leaves from the Thamel area around 7am. A private car costs NPR 10,000 to 15,000 for the vehicle and gets you there in about 5 hours. If you want to fly, the domestic flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur Airport takes just 25 minutes and costs USD 120 to 150 one way, then it is a 30-minute drive to Sauraha.

From Pokhara, the tourist bus costs NPR 800 to 1,500 and takes around 4 to 5 hours. A private car is similar in time and costs NPR 10,000 to 15,000 for the vehicle. You can also fly from Pokhara to Bharatpur, which takes about 25 minutes and costs USD 80 to 120 one way, though flights from Pokhara are less frequent than from Kathmandu.

The bus is the most popular choice for budget travelers. If you are going during peak season (October to February) when buses fill up quickly, book your seat the day before you travel.

Full 3-Day Cost Breakdown by Budget

This is what a 2-night, 3-day trip actually costs per person when you add everything up.

Most first-time visitors land somewhere in the budget to mid-range column. USD 200 to 300 for a proper 3-day Chitwan trip with two jeep safaris, a canoe ride, a jungle walk, and a cultural program is a realistic target.

Do Prices Change by Season?

Yes, and most cost guides do not mention this. Chitwan has a busy season from October to February when more tourists visit and prices go up across the board.

Expect jeep safari prices and accommodation to run 20 to 30% higher than the figures above during October, November, and the Christmas to New Year window. A budget homestays that charges NPR 1,500 a night in April will charge NPR 2,000 to 2,500 for the same room in November.

The quieter months of March, April, and September are cheaper and still offer very good animal sightings. March and April are hot, but animals gather near water to drink, which actually makes rhinos easier to spot. If your travel dates are flexible, March is the single best month to visit for the combination of lower prices and high wildlife activity.

Can You Negotiate Prices in Chitwan?

Most prices in Chitwan are not fixed, which means you can often pay less than the first price you are quoted. This is especially true for jeep safaris and accommodation.

Jeep safari prices from small operators in Sauraha are often 20 to 30% higher than what the guide actually charges. If you are quoted NPR 4,000 for a shared morning jeep, NPR 3,000 is a fair counter. The guide's real cut is NPR 1,500 to 2,000; the rest is margin. Accommodation is also negotiable, especially if you are staying two or more nights. Asking for a lower rate on a 2-night stay is normal and most hosts expect it.

What you cannot change is the park entry permit. It is NPR 2,000 per day for foreign visitors, paid at the gate, set by the government.

Touts vs. Fair Price: What to Watch For

The Sauraha bus drop-off is one of the busiest tout spots on Nepal's main tourist route. Operators are waiting at the bus stand and will quote you a safari package before you have picked up your bag. The prices sound reasonable until you look at what is included. Most of the time the package does not include the park entry fee and sometimes not the guide either. What looks like NPR 5,000 for a full safari day can become NPR 9,000 once all fees are added.

The best way to avoid paying too much is to have your accommodation booked before you arrive. Walk past the bus stand sellers, get to your lodge or homestay, and ask your host to give you a full price that includes everything. That one question about the total cost including entry is where most extra charges are hiding.

Here are fair prices for a walk-in visitor in Sauraha in 2026:

• Shared morning jeep safari: NPR 2,500 to 3,500 per person

• Canoe ride: NPR 1,500 to 2,000 per person

• Guided jungle walk: NPR 2,500 to 3,000 per person

• Park entry permit: NPR 2,000 per day, fixed, paid at the gate

If you are quoted a price much higher than these without a clear reason like a private jeep or a longer trip, it is fine to push back or try a different operator.

The One Booking Decision That Changes Everything

The biggest difference in how much you spend in Chitwan is not which activities you choose. It is who arranges your trip for you.

Travel agencies in Kathmandu sell Chitwan packages that look easy and convenient, but they add an extra charge of around USD 80 to 120 on top of what a local operator in Sauraha would charge you. You end up paying USD 280 to 350 for a package that costs USD 160 to 200 when you book it locally or through a village host.

The smarter way is to book your accommodation directly before you travel, then let your host arrange the safari once you arrive. Local hosts know which guides are good that week, which areas of the park have had the most animal activity, and what a fair price looks like. Booking this way almost always results in a better trip at a lower cost than any pre-arranged package from outside Nepal.

Final Thoughts

The numbers in this guide are as accurate as any public source can give you in 2026, but prices in Sauraha do move. An operator who charges NPR 3,000 for a morning jeep in March may charge NPR 3,800 for the same thing in November. The park entry fee is the only fixed number here.

If you want to stay in a Tharu village near the park and have your host arrange your safari directly, browse verified homestays at Nepal Homestays.

FAQ: Chitwan Safari Cost

Do Chitwan safari prices change by season?

Yes. The busy season runs from October to February, and prices for accommodation and safari packages run 20 to 30% higher than the rest of the year. The Christmas and New Year window is the most expensive time to visit. If your dates are flexible, March and April offer lower prices with good animal sightings because animals gather near water in the dry heat.

Can you negotiate safari prices in Chitwan?

On most things, yes. The park entry fee is set by the government at NPR 2,000 per day for foreigners and cannot be changed. Everything else (jeep safaris, canoe rides, jungle walks, accommodation) is open to negotiation. Operators in Sauraha often quote 20 to 30% above the going rate for visitors who walk in without a booking. A fair counter on a shared morning jeep quoted at NPR 4,000 is around NPR 3,000 to 3,200. Staying two nights and asking for a combined price on accommodation and activities also works well.

Does the Chitwan park entry fee change every year?

The official entry fee is NPR 2,000 per day for foreign visitors, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals, and NPR 150 for Nepali citizens. This has been the same for several years, but it is worth checking the Nepal Tourism Board website before your trip in case it has been updated.

Is the park entry fee included in most safari packages?

Not always. Many operators quote a safari price that does not include the entry fee. Before you confirm any package, ask clearly: "Does this price include the NPR 2,000 park entry?" If the answer is not clear, assume it is not included and add it to your total.

Can I do Chitwan on a one-day trip from Kathmandu?

You can, but you will spend most of the day traveling. The bus takes 5 to 6 hours each way, and the best time to see animals is early in the morning. A one-day visit means you will either miss the morning safari entirely or arrive too tired to enjoy it. Two nights is the minimum for a proper experience.

Is it cheaper to book in Sauraha than from Kathmandu?

Yes, almost always. Local operators and homestay hosts in Sauraha charge fair local prices. Travel agencies in Kathmandu add an extra fee on top. Even when you add the bus fare, booking locally after you arrive almost always costs less.

What does a Chitwan trip cost for two people?

Two people sharing a room and splitting the cost of a shared jeep brings the per-person cost down noticeably. For a 2-night trip with two jeep safaris, a canoe ride, and a homestay, budget USD 150 to 200 per person when traveling as a couple. That includes the bus from Kathmandu and all park fees.

Do I need to pay a guide separately or is it included?

All activities inside the main park area require a licensed wildlife guide and an armed park officer for safety. Most safari operators include the guide cost in their quoted price. If you book activities on your own at the park gate, the guide fee is separate and usually NPR 500 to 1,000 for a jungle walk. Always ask before you confirm.