Tiger Island
Track tigers through Bardia’s forests and grasslands with some of Nepal’s most skilled wildlife trackers.
Nepal – Tiger Island and the Wild Terai
A wildlife journey in search of tigers, rhino and river life through Nepal’s remote southern jungles…
This 11-day holiday to Nepal is for travellers who value immersion, expert guiding and genuine wilderness experiences above polished luxury. Beginning in Kathmandu before moving through Chitwan, Pokhara and deep into the western Terai, the journey builds towards Bardia National Park and the remarkable tracking experiences around Tiger Island.
Wildlife viewing here can be long, hot and unpredictable, but that is precisely the point. Nothing feels staged. Accompanied by exceptional guides, you read spoor, listen for alarm calls and walk through forests where wildlife moves freely beyond park boundaries. The rewards are not simply sightings, but a real sense of connection to the wilderness around you.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Sacred Kathmandu
Explore Kathmandu’s Buddhist stupas, backstreet bazaars and centuries-old courtyards shaped by ritual and daily life.
River Wilderness
Stay on the edge of Nepal’s great jungle rivers, exploring by canoe, raft and river safari.
Tharu Lands
Spend time in Nepal’s culturally rich western Terai, where wildlife and village life exist side by side.
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Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
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Day 2
Kathmandu to Chitwan
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Day 3
Chitwan National Park
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Day 4
Chitwan National Park
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Day 5
Chitwan National Park to Pokhara
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Day 6
Pokhara - Nepalgunj - Bardia National Park
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Day 7
Bardia National Park
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Day 8
Bardia National Park
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Day 9
Bardia National Park
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Day 10
Bardia National Park to Kathmandu
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Day 11
Depart Kathmandu
Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to The Dwarika’s. If time allows, visit the great stupa of Boudhanath, where fluttering prayer flags, spinning prayer wheels and glowing butter lamps create a deeply atmospheric introduction to Nepal.
Day 2
Kathmandu to Chitwan
Fly south to Bharatpur and continue to Chitwan National Park. In the afternoon, glide quietly along the river by canoe, spotting birdlife and aquatic species before enjoying sundowners beside the water as the jungle settles into dusk.
Day 3
Chitwan National Park
Explore Chitwan by jeep safari and guided jungle walk, tracking wildlife through sal forest and grassland. Later, visit a nearby Tharu village for an insight into local life before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 4
Chitwan National Park
Spend another day exploring Chitwan’s varied habitats with your naturalist guides. Search for one-horned rhino, deer and birdlife before returning to camp for an evening cultural performance by the local Tharu community.
Day 5
Chitwan National Park to Pokhara
Drive through the foothills to Pokhara, with the Annapurna range rising beyond the lakes. Visit the International Mountain Museum before taking to the water on Phewa Lake and visiting the small island temple of Tal Barahi.
Day 6
Pokhara - Nepalgunj - Bardia National Park
Fly west to Nepalgunj before continuing to Bardia National Park. En route, stop at the Blackbuck Sanctuary before settling into your riverside camp. Later, enjoy paddleboarding or kayaking followed by sunset drinks overlooking the Karnali River.
Day 7
Bardia National Park
Set out on a full-day safari through Bardia’s forests and grasslands, with opportunities to track wildlife both by vehicle and on foot. Later, visit a local Tharu community for a deeper understanding of life in Nepal’s western lowlands.
Day 8
Bardia National Park
Begin with a sunrise river safari before heading into the forest on a guided rhino tracking walk. This afternoon, join specialist guides for tiger tracking, learning how camera traps, spoor and fieldcraft reveal the movements of these elusive cats.
Day 9
Bardia National Park
Drive to Chisapani and raft along the Karnali River, drifting past remote riverbanks and dense jungle. Stop for a picnic lunch beside the water before returning to camp for a relaxed evening beneath the stars.
Day 10
Bardia National Park to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu and explore the old city by rickshaw, weaving through lively bazaars and hidden lanes. Later, visit the hilltop stupa of Swayambhunath for panoramic views across the valley.
Day 11
Depart Kathmandu
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
More Details
A Gentle Introduction
Chitwan National Park
Nepal’s first national park remains one of the country’s richest wildlife reserves. Chitwan’s forests, grasslands and wetlands support one-horned rhino, crocodiles and prolific birdlife, alongside more elusive species such as sloth bear and tiger. Explore by canoe, jeep and on foot with expert naturalists, then spend time with the indigenous Tharu community whose lives remain closely connected to the jungle. Chitwan provides a gentler introduction to Nepal’s lowland wilderness before continuing west towards the more remote landscapes of Bardia.
Walking with Tigers
Bardia National Park and Tiger Island
Remote, lightly visited and remarkably wild, Bardia National Park offers one of Asia’s most rewarding wildlife experiences. Based from Burhan Wilderness Camp beside the Karnali River, days are spent exploring forests, grasslands and waterways with expert naturalists and trackers. On Tiger Island, safaris take place largely on foot, shaped by fieldcraft rather than vehicles. Guides interpret pugmarks, alarm calls and spoor to understand how tigers move through the landscape, while camera traps and drones offer a glimpse into their hidden world. Hearing tigers roaring across the river at night only heightens the sense of being part of the wilderness.
A pioneer in Bardia
Sushila
Among Bardia’s most respected guides is Sushila, a tracker whose calm authority and deep understanding of the forest have earned recognition far beyond Nepal. Raised around elephants through her father’s work as a mahout, she developed an instinctive understanding of animal behaviour from an early age. Years spent tracking wildlife in Bardia refined those instincts into remarkable fieldcraft, leading to her selection by the BBC as a principal tracker for an Asian wildlife documentary. Today, she is helping inspire more women to enter guiding and conservation in Nepal.
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How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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This journey supports a growing number of women working within Nepal’s wildlife and conservation sector. Guides such as Sushila are helping reshape opportunities within a traditionally male-dominated profession, demonstrating how tourism can contribute to greater visibility, independence and leadership for women in remote communities.
Exploring Chitwan and Bardia helps support the long-term protection of Nepal’s forests, grasslands and wildlife corridors. Tourism linked to conservation provides important incentives to preserve habitats for endangered species including Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros and wild elephants across the Terai region.
Time spent with the indigenous Tharu community offers a more meaningful understanding of life in Nepal’s western Terai. Community-led tourism creates opportunities for local livelihoods while helping preserve traditional knowledge, cultural identity and the close relationship between people, wildlife and the surrounding forest.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
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