Planning your Chitwan itinerary

Chitwan itineraries by number of days

Inside Chitwan, the pattern is simple: arrival afternoons go to culture and the riverbank, mornings and late afternoons go to the park, and the hot middle of the day is for rest. The table summarizes what each length allows. Each links to a package page with a full day-by-day program.

Not sure which to pick? Our guide on how many days to spend in Chitwan helps you decide.

Starting from Kathmandu or from Pokhara

From Kathmandu, the drive to Sauraha takes about 5–7 hours, so day one is mostly travel and you get only an afternoon in Chitwan. Flying to Bharatpur takes about 20–25 minutes and gives you most of the day. Details are on the Kathmandu to Chitwan page.

From Pokhara, the road is a little shorter at about 4.5–6 hours. Many travelers finish a trek or a lake stay in Pokhara, go to Chitwan, then return to Kathmandu for their flight home. See Pokhara to Chitwan for buses and private cars.

Nepal itineraries with Chitwan

Most visitors combine Chitwan with Kathmandu and Pokhara. The patterns below are a starting point; adjust them to your flights and interests.

7 days or 10 days in Nepal with Chitwan

Seven days is the minimum for a comfortable loop through Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara. It works, but two of those days are mostly on the road. Ten days lets you add Bhaktapur, a third night in Chitwan for a full-day jeep drive or birding, and slower time in Pokhara. If you have ten days and enjoy walking, a short trek from Pokhara is a good use of the extra time.

Fitting Chitwan in when you travel overland from India

Travelers crossing at the Sunauli/Belahiya border often visit Lumbini first, then continue to Chitwan, Pokhara and Kathmandu. The Lumbini to Sauraha leg is about 150–170 km via Butwal and Narayangarh, around 4–5 hours by car. Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa is another entry point on the same side of the country.

Going this way, a sensible pattern is one night in Lumbini, two in Chitwan, two or three in Pokhara and the rest in Kathmandu. It avoids doubling back and keeps the drives to half a day each. From Kathmandu you can then fly home, or return overland the way you came.

Common planning mistakes

Timing tips for any route

• Plan at least one dawn outing; early mornings are cooler and often best for wildlife and birds.
• Leave a buffer before international flights. Road travel back to Kathmandu can run long with traffic or road works.
• Check the season. October to April is the main season; April and May are hot; June to September brings monsoon closures. See the best time to visit.
• If you are trekking, put Chitwan after the trek so you can rest in the warm lowlands.