Chitwan National Park safari cost 2026: entry fees, jeep, canoe and walk prices

By the Farefika editorial team · Updated 2 November 2026 · 8 min read

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Chitwan National Park is the easiest place in Nepal to see a one-horned rhino, and it fits neatly between Kathmandu and Pokhara. The catch is that the bill is built from several small pieces: a government entry fee, a vehicle fee, and the activity prices that lodges and agencies set themselves. Here is what each part costs, with official fees checked November 2026 and market prices marked as approximate.

Chitwan park entry fee in 2026

The fees below are the official rates published by the Nepal Tourism Board and repeated by the park office:

• Foreign visitors: NPR 2,000 per person
• SAARC nationals: NPR 1,000 per person
• Nepali citizens: NPR 150 per person
• Children under 10: free

Two details catch people out. First, the Nepal Tourism Board table says "per person per entry", while the park office's own charter and recent local reports say "per person per day". In practice, budget for one permit for every day you go into the park. If you can, stack your jeep drive, canoe trip and walk on the same day so you only pay once. Second, a few operators quote the fee as NPR 2,260, which is NPR 2,000 plus 13% VAT. Ask whether VAT is added at the counter you use, and keep the receipt.

Since October 2026 the park has been trialling online entry tickets at Sauraha: you fill in your details, pay and get a QR code that is valid for one day. The trial started at Sauraha only, so the counter is still the fallback. Carry your passport either way, because the price depends on nationality.

The jeep vehicle fee

On top of each person's entry permit, the park charges a fee for every tourist jeep that drives into the core area: NPR 5,000 per jeep, as reported by OnlineKhabar and other Nepali outlets in October 2026. A jeep carries up to 10 people, so this fee is usually folded into the price you pay for a seat on a shared jeep. If you hire a private jeep, ask whether it is included.

About 60 jeeps can enter each day across the park's gates, and Sauraha has the largest fleet. In peak season (October to December and February to April) it is worth booking your jeep the evening before.

Typical activity prices (approximate)

Activity prices are set by lodges and agencies, not the government, so they vary with season, group size and what is included. These ranges come from several 2026 guides and operators in Sauraha:

• Shared half-day jeep safari (3 to 5 hours): roughly NPR 2,500 to 4,000 per person
• Full-day jeep safari, often reaching the gharial breeding area or deeper forest: roughly NPR 4,000 to 8,000 per person
• Private jeep: roughly NPR 10,000 to 15,000 for the vehicle
• Dugout canoe on the Rapti (about an hour): roughly NPR 1,000 to 1,500 per person
• Guided jungle walk with licensed guides: roughly NPR 1,500 to 2,500 per group for a short walk; longer walks cost more

Always ask, in writing if possible, whether the quoted price includes the park entry permit and the jeep fee. Some agencies quote "all in" prices of NPR 5,000 to 7,000 per person for a half-day jeep with permit and guide, others quote the activity only. Comparing like with like saves arguments later.

Free things to do around Sauraha

Not everything costs money. Since July 2026 entry to the park's Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor (near Sauraha) and the Gharial Breeding Centre at Kasara has been free. Watching the sunset over the Rapti from the riverbank costs nothing, and Tharu villages such as Bachhauli are a short walk or cycle away (ask before photographing people or homes). In the evening, Sauraha also hosts Tharu stick-dance cultural shows.

A note on elephants: in December 2025 Nepal's Supreme Court ordered the government to look for alternatives to elephant-back safaris and to improve the welfare of captive elephants. We do not recommend elephant rides; a jeep, canoe or walk gets you just as close to the wildlife.

Is the jeep safari running now?

Yes. Core-park jeep safaris close for the monsoon, from 1 July in 2026, and reopened on 9 October 2026 after flood-damaged park roads were repaired. Jungle walks and buffer-zone (community forest) drives continue through the monsoon. If you travel between late June and early October, expect only buffer-zone drives and check the status with your lodge.

Getting to Chitwan and what it costs

• Tourist bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara: about 5 to 7 hours to Sauraha, usually leaving around 7 am. Recent guides put fares at roughly NPR 800 to 1,200 one way. The Sauraha bus stand is about 1 km from the main tourist street.
• Flight to Bharatpur: 20 to 25 minutes from Kathmandu, then about 15 to 18 km (20 to 30 minutes) by road to Sauraha. Fares change daily; check the airlines.
• Private car or jeep: quicker and door to door, but several times the bus fare.

Most people combine Chitwan with the Kathmandu to Pokhara leg, or continue south-west to Lumbini: see our Lumbini travel guide.

Sample budget: two days in Chitwan

For one foreign visitor, activities only (lodging, food and transport extra), using the approximate ranges above:

• Park entry, 2 days: NPR 4,000
• Shared half-day jeep safari: NPR 2,500 to 4,000
• Canoe trip: NPR 1,000 to 1,500
• Your share of a jungle walk (group of two): NPR 750 to 1,250
• Total: roughly NPR 8,250 to 10,750, before tips

Do the canoe trip and walk on the same day as the jeep and you save a day's entry fee. Bring enough cash, as ATMs in Sauraha can run dry or reject foreign cards.

Best time to visit for wildlife

October to March is the most comfortable period, with daily averages of about 15 to 26 °C at nearby Bharatpur. February and March are a favourite for wildlife because the tall grass has been cut or has died back. April and May are very hot, with average highs of about 35 to 36 °C, and June to September is the wet season. Our best time to visit Nepal guide covers the rest of the country month by month.

Safety tips

• Never enter the park without a permit and a licensed guide, and never walk in the park between sunset and sunrise.
• Rhinos also wander through Sauraha and its fields. Keep a wide distance and never approach one for a photo.
• Wear muted colours and closed shoes for walks, use insect repellent, and drink plenty of water.
• Make sure your travel insurance covers medical evacuation; serious cases go to Bharatpur or Kathmandu.

Plan the rest of your trip

Sort your entry with our Nepal visa on arrival guide, get online with the Nepal SIM and eSIM guide, and see the Nepal travel guide for money and safety. Our hotel search covers Sauraha and Meghauli lodges.

Contains affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.

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Sources, checked November 2026: Nepal Tourism Board park entry fees (ntb.gov.np); OnlineKhabar, 5 Oct 2026 (jeep fee, monsoon closure); Sauraha Online and Inner Circle Nepal, 16 Oct 2026 (online ticketing trial); Uncover Nepal Sauraha guide, updated 31 Oct 2026 (per-day charter, 9 Oct reopening, free breeding centres); Travelling Nepal and Magical Nepal 2026 Chitwan guides (activity and bus price ranges). Activity prices are market prices and change often; confirm with your lodge or the park office before you go.

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