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Chitwan National Park Tour Cost 

Chitwan National Park Tour Cost 

The cost of the Chitwan National Park tour is one of the most common questions among travelers worldwide. However, though this tour is fantastic and may seem too fancy to be accurate, it’s just as affordable! You can experience the most fantastic wildlife reservation area with many flora and fauna. As fascinating as it may sound, the National Park is also home to the Bengal Tiger!

In addition, Chitwan National Park is also open to every visitor, given that you fulfill minor formalities and pay the said amount by the authorities. How much you pay for the tour depends on whether you opt for a guided or independent tour. The more facilities you seek during the tour, the higher the cost. This article will discuss everything you need to consider while visiting Chitwan National Park and how much it will cost you overall. Be sure to read till the end! 

What Influences the Cost of the Chitwan National Park Tour?

Several factors influence the cost of a Chitwan National Park tour. Some such factors are as follows:

  • Length of tour: When we talk about a Chitwan National Park tour, we are not only talking about a day tour. You can stay in a lavish hotel near the national park, tour Chitwan, and live in the wild for more than a day. The more you stay, the higher the cost will be, and vice versa
  • Group size: Your group size will determine how much you should pay. You may share the overall cost and pay less if the group size is more significant. The fewer people in the group, the more you’ll likely pay. 
  • Accommodation: The price of your accommodation depends on the type of hotel you stay in. A day’s stay at a fancy hotel or lodge will be more expensive than a basic one. 
  • Activities: In addition to the jeep safari tour and jungle walk, the cost will be higher if you engage in other activities like the Elephant safari, visit another UNESCO World Heritage site during the same tour, hire a private jeep throughout your tour, or opt for a guided jungle walk or Chitwan safari tour.
Rhino In Chitwan

Chitwan National Park Tour Cost Breakdown 

The Chitwan National Park tour fee does not only include the national park fee. It includes everything you need to pay for throughout your journey. This could include the entrance fee, accommodation, transportation, food and beverages, and miscellaneous costs. The cost will also be detrimental based on more and less of the facilities you seek. Following is a breakdown of each such factor:

Entrance Fee

The entrance fee for a Chitwan National Park tour is NPR. 2000 for foreigners. You can pay the fee directly at the location. In addition, the fee costs NPR. 1000 for SAARC citizens. If you are confused, use the information provided by your tour operator. If you’re looking to travel independently, you can contact someone at the park’s counter and receive your ticket. 

Accommodation 

The price of accommodation varies during the Chitwan National Park tour. For the typical 3-night, 4-day tour, you’ll have to pay NRS. 1500 to NRS. 15000 per day. It may be surprising when we name the prices. However, the lower-range hotels are cheap, whereas the luxurious ones are expensive. If you want to stay very close to the wildlife and experience luxury, settling for the higher-range hotels would be better. For budget travelers, a lower range, which also has good facilities, is the best choice. 

Transportation 

The cost of private vehicles is going to cost your NPR. 10,000 to NPR. 15,000 for a day. You can manage such a commute directly from the Chitwan National Park. The cost may differ based on the seasonal demand. The flight tickets are typically NPR. 4,000 to NPR. 7,000 per day. If you’re looking to go on a Jungle Safari tour in a jeep, the cost will be NPR. 2,500 on a shared basis and NPR. 4,000 per person otherwise. 

Food and Beverages

Like accommodation, there is something for every budget in the Chitwan National Park tour. Budget travelers can enjoy food from NPR. 300 to NPR. 800 per day. On the other hand, the cost of a single meal will be above NPR. 1500 if you want to explore the luxurious set meals in the more expensive hotels and restaurants. You will have to pay additional costs for your plate per meal. 

Additional Expenses

Some additional expenses include travel insurance for the Chitwan National Park tour, souvenirs, extra activities like roaming the city, medical expenses, etc. Traveling with a guide further increases the cost of your national park tour package. If you’re not a local and want to travel safely, especially with older adults and children, take along a guide for peace of mind. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for a budget-friendly yet explorable journey in Chitwan. 

Activities and Their Costs in Chitwan National Park

There are plenty of activities you can engage in when you’re in Chitwan National Park. Some such activities are as follows:

Jungle Safari

Though not a full-day jeep safari, you can go on a 2 to 4-hour-long jeep safari in Chitwan, which will cost you NPR. 2500 for two hours and NPR. 4000 for 4-hour long drives. You can pay for this together with the Chitwan National Park entry fee. 

Canoeing 

Canoeing is one of the most enjoyable and popular activities to do in Chitwan National Park. Since this activity has been common for a while, it is safe and even recommended as an experience for all adventurers. You can canoe in the lake for around NPR 4800, but the cost may vary according to the season. 

Bird Watching 

Even if you’re going bird-watching in the heart of the jungle, you won’t have to pay any fees. However, you may need to pay your guide, who will accompany you while you go for wildlife sightings. This is among the cheapest yet one of our list’s most popular and engaging safari activities. It may be a surprise to know that there are around 500 species of birds within the park. And the park is even their natural habitat!

Elephant Breeding Center 

If you’re a foreigner going to the elephant breeding center, you must pay NPR. 50. Visitors are not allowed inside the center’s fences. Hence, you’ll have to follow the guidelines provided by your tour operator thoroughly so as not to get in trouble during your visit. 

Nature Walk

This one’s free of cost. You can go on a nature walk in your hotel, given you’re staying at a luxurious hotel. Even if you’re on a budget and at a hotel that is not as expensive, you can go out for a stroll in the morning and evening. Luckily for budget travelers, you will find greenery in most places around the Chitwan National Park region. Also, you can go on activities like jungle walks when you’re inside the national park. 

Budget Tips For a Chitwan National Park Tour 

Following are the budget tips you can follow for the Chitwan National Park tour:

  • Follow the standard itinerary: Going out of your way during travel may cost you more than following a proper itinerary. Be sure to take a map or consult with the trekking agency for this. 
  • Group tour guide hiring: Hiring a tour guide individually is expensive. Instead, you can hire a guide for a group of 4 or 5 people. 
  • Be sure to book beforehand: This applies to travelers who opt for the 3 nights and 4 days of Chitwan National Park during peak seasons. Booking beforehand means you don’t have to rush, and you’ll have budget-friendly options to explore. Last-minute bookings are usually expensive
  • Stick to a budget: Even if you want to spend lavishly during your tour, it would be best to stick to a budget as the total cost at the end of the journey may be exhausting for your pockets

Budget, Mid-Range, and Luxury Chitwan National Park Tour 

There is an evident difference between the three tours you can go on during the Chitwan National Park tour. For those who want to explore the Chitwan National Park jungle safari while also getting a glimpse of the Tharu culture, it would be best to opt for a budget tour. If you want to engage in more activities like canoeing and food hunting around the location, mid-range is the better option. For a luxurious experience as a temporary royalty, you can go for the most expensive option, the luxury Chitwan National Park tour. 

Budget Tour

Budget tours are not half as bad as one may think. You won’t get the luxurious treatment in your accommodation as you do in the other two options. The facilities on this tour are impressive and will suffice for your comfort during the journey. The budget-friendly package costs around NPR. 9000 overall. 

The following are the pros of a budget tour:

  • It’s not too challenging on your pockets. 
  • Decent facilities for a minimum budget. 
  • Suitable for young travelers. 

Similarly, the following are the cons of a budget tour:

  • May miss out on the luxurious experience. 
  • You need to be mindful of spending too much, as the budget Chitwan National Park tour package does not include some major facilities. 
  • You can only access extra activities if you stretch your budget.
Elephant Bathing In Chitwan

Mid Range Tour 

You can go on a mid-range tour to Chitwan National Park to explore various wildlife and experience other popular activities. You can go on guided tours while exploring the jungle with a mid-range budget. The cost is likely to be NPR. 17,000. Though not as lavish as the luxury range tour, you can still enjoy Chitwan’s unique taste, including three lunches and dinners daily in the 4 days, 3 nights tour. 

The following are the pros of the mid-range tour:

  • Better chance to visit more locations.
  • More exploration. 
  • Comfortable amenities. 

The following are the cons of the mid-range tour: 

  • It may not always be budget-friendly for all. 
  • Besides being a guided tour, it’s the same safari experience as budget travel. 
  • A full-day jeep safari may not be possible. 

Luxury Tour 

Luxury tours are suitable for those who want an deep wildlife experience. Please inform your tour operator about your visit beforehand. Moreover, you can live like royalty even if it means for around only 3 nights and 4 days on the Chitwan National Park tour itinerary. The cost could go up to NPR. 90,000. Even if you’re going on the 2-night, 3 three-day Chitwan Junge safari, you will get a maximum number of experiences. 

Following are the pros of a luxury Chitwan National Park tour:

  • Extravagant amenities, including food, accommodation, transportation, etc. 
  • Opportunity to stay very close to the wildlife. 
  • Close view of the river. 

Following are the cons of a luxury Chitwan National Park tour:

  • Village tours are possible with the packages above, but luxury tour packages may not include this if you stay for a short time. 
  • Expensive. 
  • You may miss out on the authenticity of the local accommodation and lifestyle. 

Final Thoughts 

Chitwan National Park is a stunning destination. We recommend this tour if you want to travel with your family anywhere in Nepal. If you take the kids, the national park tour is an ideal location to let them learn a lot. On a budget or not, every traveler can enjoy this tour with its wildlife and nature, bird species, the beauty of the Rapti River, and an authentic Nepali cultural experience!

Kapil Banjara
Kapil is one of the highly experienced guides from CoreTreks. With over 10 years of touring and travelling, he is a humble and highly driven individual. He began climbing mountains at a very early age and has continued to pursue his passion ever since. He is certified by Nepal Mountaineering Association for the completion of advanced mountaineering training. He has been guiding with us since 2015 and has been active ever since. He is able to lead a trek, being mindful from both the trekker’s and the guide’s perspective. Being highly experienced, he can handle emergency situations and performs well under pressure.