Far west
Bardia National Park
In the far west of the Terai, a park far wilder than Chitwan and much less visited: sal forests, grasslands and channels of the Karnali river, home to more than a hundred tigers.
- Region: Far west
- Time needed: 3–5 days
- Entry: 1,500 NPR (≈ €9) per entry
- From Kathmandu: 50 min by plane + 2 h 30 to 3 h by road
At a glance
Bardia is the largest national park in the Terai plain, with nearly 1,000 km² of forest, grassland and rivers. It has the same animals as Chitwan, plus wild elephants and, in the Karnali, rare Gangetic dolphins. Above all, its tiger population (about 125 at the last census) and the small number of visitors make it the place in Nepal where you have the best chance of seeing one.
The experience is different from Chitwan: no tourist town, but the Tharu village of Thakurdwara, with a handful of lodges on the edge of the park. The speciality is the full-day walking safari with two guides: you settle by a river and wait, in silence, for the animals to come and drink.
It's far (an hour's flight then three hours by road), and it takes time: three nights minimum, ideally four, to multiply the outings. For those who love nature and patience, it's one of the finest stays in the country.
Don't miss
- A day on foot in the jungle, lying in wait on the banks of the Karnali.
- A real chance of spotting a tiger, especially from February to May.
- The calm: a few lodges, no crowds, no queues of jeeps.
- Village life among the Tharu around Thakurdwara, by bike.
Less good
- Far from everything: a flight to Nepalgunj, or a long day on the bus.
- Seeing a tiger is never guaranteed, even if you stay several days.
- Very hot from April; many lodges close during the monsoon.
In pictures
What to see
Park entry costs 1,500 NPR (≈ €9) per entry for non-SAARC foreigners, according to the Nepal Tourism Board's official rates (some recent guides say 2,000 NPR (≈ €12): the Thakurdwara ticket office has the final word). It is often included in the price of outings sold by lodges. Typical 2026 prices.
The speciality
Walking safari
≈ 1,500 to 4,000 NPR (≈ €9 to €23)
Half a day or, better, a full day with two licensed guides and a picnic: walking through forest and grassland, then long waits at lookout points by the water. You see deer, monkeys, dozens of birds, often rhinos or elephants, sometimes a tiger. Follow the instructions to the letter.
- Time
- half a day to a full day
By vehicle
Jeep safari
≈ 3,000 to 4,000 NPR (≈ €17 to €23)
To go deeper into the park, to the Babai grasslands or the banks of the Karnali. A whole jeep for the day is shared between several people (allow about 200 to 250 USD (≈ €180 to €225) for the vehicle).
- Time
- half a day to a full day
On the water
Rafting and canoeing on the Karnali
A gentle trip down the Karnali by raft or canoe along the edge of the park: crocodiles, birds and, with a lot of luck, Gangetic dolphins. A full day with a picnic, booked through your lodge (≈ 15,000 NPR (≈ €87) per boat).
- Time
- one day
Thakurdwara
Breeding centres, Tharu museum, villages
≈ 50 NPR (≈ €0.3) each
Near the park headquarters: a crocodile breeding centre, a small Tharu museum and an elephant breeding centre. By bike, the Tharu villages with their mud-and-thatch houses and rice fields.
- Time
- half a day
Planning your visit
In 3 nights
Day 1: fly Kathmandu–Nepalgunj, drive to Thakurdwara, cycle through the villages at the end of the day. Day 2: full-day walking safari. Day 3: jeep safari or trip down the Karnali. Day 4: one last outing at dawn, then back to Nepalgunj.
In 4 or 5 nights
Two more days on foot: that's how you really increase your chances of seeing a tiger.
With Lumbini or Chitwan
By road, Bardia combines with Lumbini (about 7 to 8 hours) on the way west; as for Chitwan National Park, choose one or the other if time is short: Chitwan is easier to reach, Bardia wilder.
Getting there
Kathmandu → Nepalgunj by plane
Several flights a day, from 6:30 am into the afternoon (foreigner fare noted at Buddha Air for November 2026, 25 kg checked baggage). Then 2 h 30 to 3 hours by road to Thakurdwara, by taxi or with the lodge's transfer.
Bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara
Night bus to Ambassa, on the main western highway, then jeep to Thakurdwara. A few buses go all the way to the village.
Getting around locally
On foot and by bike
Thakurdwara is a village: you get around on foot or by bike (lent or rented by the lodges). In the park, only with licensed guides.
Where to stay
Thakurdwara
A handful of lodges, from a simple bungalow run by a Tharu family to an upmarket lodge, all on the edge of the park (none inside). Most sell packages with nights, meals and outings.
When to come
bestpossiblenot advised
From October to April the climate is pleasant (morning fog and cool nights in December–January). From February to May, cut grass and the heat driving animals to the water give the best chances of seeing tigers, at the cost of temperatures that often top 40 °C in May.
From June to September, the monsoon floods part of the park: many lodges close and outings are limited.
Festivals
| Maghi (Maghe Sankranti) | mid-January The Tharu New Year, the big festival of the villages around the park: dances, meals and family visits. |
The date shifts slightly every year.
Good to know
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
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