Bardiya National Park Tour - 4 Days

Bardiya National Park Tour - 4 Days
Bardiya National Park Tour - 4 Days
Bardiya National Park Tour - 4 Days
At a Glance
Duration4 Days
Trip GradeEasy
CountryNepal
Group Size1-20
StartsKathmandu
EndsKathmandu
Travel StyleTour
Best TimeAll Year Bound

The Barida National Park Tour is an extremely abundant natural and cultural exploration, especially that of the Tharu Community in the far western region of Nepal, in one of the largest national parks in the country, Bardiya National Park, a haven for pristine natural lovers and wildlife aspirants. Covering an area of 968 square kilometers, the park boasts a wide array of habitats, including thicket forests, grassland, and river ecosystems, along with its untouched wilderness.

This unique variation in environment supports a diverse range of wildlife species, including elusive Bengal tigers, rhinoceroses, elephants, deer, and birds, making the park stand on the edge as one of the best places in Nepal to embrace and witness wildlife in their natural habitat. The Karnali River making its way through the park houses endangered Gharial crocodiles and Gangetic dolphin, along with one of the tribal communities of the indigenous people of Nepal, Tharu, adding much to the cultural dimension of the tour.

Hence, the tour package offers a jeep safari, explore Bardiya and Tharu civilizations, enjoy walks and picnics, and adore wildlife before finally returning to Kathamand or Pokhara by flight, offering a more secluded, intimate experience with eco-friendly lodges and resorts led by experienced naturalist guides, ensuring your full enjoyment and safety, whether you are looking forward to boating, tiger tracking, pleasing forest walks, or others promising you an unforgettable encounter with nature.

Trip Highlights

  • An adrenaline-rushing scenic flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj.
  • Enjoy the thrilling jungle safari activities in Bardiya National Park.
  • Get to spend 3 nights and 4 days in the Teri region of Nepal.
  • A golden opportunity to watch Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, varying species of birds, the Tharu cultural program, ethnic village communities, and others.
  • Experience first-hand homestays, warm hospitality, jungle rafting, and many more.

What is Bardiya National Park famous for?

Established in the year 1988 as Royal Bardiya National Park in Nepal, it is the largest untouched national park in the Terai, marked for its abundance of biodiversity and exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities, except for the thrilling wildlife encounters, tranquil natural landscapes, and seamless cultural experience, making it a special once-in-a-lifetime nature excursion as promised by:

The sublime feat of wildlife encounters in the Bardiya National Park

The Bardiya National Park Tour offers an unparalleled experience of getting to immersing visitors, trekkers, and travelers in the beauty and profound tranquility of one of Nepal’s most pristine natural wonders. The park is a sanctuary for elusive one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, and diverse fauna, including leopards, deer, wild boars, langurs, and rhesus macaques.

One of the main highlights of the vast park is also the sprawling grasslands, winding rivers, and dense woodland, which serve as top-notch bathing spots for Asian elephants, while the river and its tributaries are teeming with fish and amphibians, making every step a moment of awe and a spirit of untamed coming along with the above mentioned majestic creatures.

Bardiya National Park is a birdwatching paradise

Meanwhile, Bardiya National Park is a fantastic place to go bird watching, with over 400 different species to be discovered. These include vultures and swift-striding eagles, as well as colorful kingfishers and hornbills. With a diverse range of birds adding a dynamic touch to the thrilling wildlife experience and providing a distinctive mix of year-round resident and migratory species, the national park is an immense, true jewel.

The chirps of these avians, along with the sound of nearby rivers soothing your eyes and ears, bring Bardiya National Park's dense forests of sal, open grassland, riverine woodlands, and wetlands supporting amazing biodiversity to life as dawn breaks. Every moment is filled with the excitement of exploration and discovery, whether it's the breathtaking sight of Bengal Flora in the grassland, a great hornbill in flight perched high in the canopy, or the delightful song of Aweber at dusk.

An immersive cultural experience of the Tharu community

The Tharu people are an ethnic Indigenous community of Nepal to the Terai in southern Nepal, having possessed their distinctive language, culture, traditions, cultural attire, rites, rituals, and festivals. These tribe groups also inhabit a large portion of Bardiya National Park; hence, a tour here is also a chance to connect with their rich cultural heritage, traditional arts, crafts, culinary arts, and others.

The visit to their typical dwellings takes you back in time. They are usually made of mud, and thatch, and are usually adorned with intricate decorations and paintings showcasing the artistic talents of the Tharu people. Engaging in conversation with them provides trekkers, visitors, and travelers with a unique insider insight into their daily lives where you can observe and take part in their day-to-day activities such as farming, fishing, and others, fostering a deeper understanding and cultural appreciation of living for sure.

The natural haven for nature lovers

Bardiya National Park is renowned for its rich and varied plant life, which includes deep savannah, riverine forest, and open grasslands that makeup 70% of the park, in addition to its unique animals. Its approximately 839 species of flora, which include 173 vascular plants with 140 dicots, 26 monocots, six ferns, and one particular gymnosperm species, are also noteworthy.

The Karnali River and its tributaries are home to Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo), khair (Acacia catechu), and several kinds of fig trees (ficus spp.), in addition to the sal forests that dominate the national park area. Throughout the year, this flora, along with others in the national park, shows significant variation based on the season, creating a rich natural tapestry.

The wetlands exhibit their richness in aquatic plants, including species of water lilies (Nymphaea spp.), water hyacinth, and other reeds and sedges, along with several other plants with medicinal properties like Neem tree, Indian gooseberry, and others to come across during the tour journey to Bardiya National Park. The grasslands are distinguished by Imperata cylindreica, wild sugarcane, and Themeda arundinacea.

One of the top-notch family tour destinations of Nepal

Similar to the Chitwan National Park in Chitwan, the Bardiya National Park is also an outstanding family tour destination in Nepal in the lower Terai region, making its way through well-established, well-maintained, and well-protected lands that also bear several eco-friendly lodges and resorts emphasizing sustainable tourism practices in the country.

Unlike alpine jauntings to the Nepalese Himalayas, such as to the Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit Voyage, Everest Base Camp Expedition, or a combined journey to the high altitude, including the Gokyo Cho La Pass Everest Base Camp, Everest Base Camp hike, and Mera Peak Climbing, on the way to Barida National Park, you can use several means of transportation throughout the journey, such as private jeeps, cars, and local buses, after a flight from Kathmandu.

The accommodations en route are also comfortable, with spacious rooms, modern amenities, and several recreational activities that may also host educational programs to learn eco-friendly practices and promote them, making Bardiya National Park a perfect family holiday destination to visit with your family to include any healthy individual members without any constraints of age, experience, or budget.

The 3-night 4-day itinerary for the Bardiya National Park Itinerary

The 4-day Bardiya National Park Tour begins with a flight to Bardiya from Kathamandu. On the very first day, you will get to enjoy the vibrant culture, and dance, and be welcomed by the natives of the region, Tharu, adding much to your excitement for the upcoming days. As you traverse these Tharu hamlets, guides take you early in the morning for a jeep safari to see rhinoceroses, Bengal tigers, and other wildlife the very next day, along with the sightseeing of Gangetic dolphins and Gharical crocodiles on the river safari around Karnali River.

Similarly, the third day is also allocated to a guided nature walk and bird watching as you embark across the forests and grasslands of Bardiya National Park, followed by an afternoon visit to the iconic elephant and crocodile breeding centers, and lastly, after a relaxing breakfast, depart for Kathmandu on the fourth day. This 4-day itinerary to Bardiya National Park can be further extended and the trip customized as per your needs, preferences, and time schedule; hence, this is the best itinerary, route, and trail for the Bardiya National Park Tour.

The 4-Day Bardiya National Park Tour Cost

Though the cost of a 4-day tour to Bardiya National Park can observe a significant variation based on several factors such as the level of accommodation, services chosen, inclusiveness of meals, guided or non-guided package, means of transportation use, and your personal spending habits, we at Ammonite Adventures and Treks offer you the best out of the best according to your budget plans, making it extremely affordable and reasonable for you.

Though the total cost of the Bardiya National Park Tour can range anywhere from USD 400 to USD 800 per person, you can get an incredible group discount. Contact us now to reserve your seat!

Itinerary

The Bardiya National Park Tour begins with a beautiful and adventurous flight to Nepalgunj, the gateway to the Bardiya National Park from Kathmandu, spanning around 1-2 hours, and then officially enters the park area with a 2-3 hour drive taking you deep into the varying plains, hills, and traditional beauty of the cities, passing by lush forests along the riverside.

After checking in and freshening up in your designated hotel, you will receive a brief orientation about the park and upcoming trip days. In the afternoon, if you have enough spare time, you can stroll around the Tharu villages and get acquainted with the local culture, traditions, and customs.

Max. Altitude: 1,400mMeal: Breakfast-Lunch-DinnerAccommodation: Comfortable-Lodge

After spending the first-ever night in the Terai region of Nepal, relishing the enriching culture and traditions of the Indigenous community of the country, Tharu, you will head early in the morning to the national park area around 6 a.m. after catching breakfast by 6:30 a.m. for a full-day exploration or jungle safari.

Throughout the day, you will explore the dense forests and grasslands of Bardiya National Park, encountering some of the iconic wildlife such as the Bengal Tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, and others, all under the careful guidance of guides, and lastly, return to your lodge to share your adventure and its stories.

Max. Altitude: 26mMeal: Breakfast-Lunch-DinnerAccommodation: Comfortable-Lodge

The second day in Bardiya National Park begins with a lovely bird-watching experience with at least 400 species of birds, a haven for bird enthusiasts. Your guide introduces you to some of the best spots to appreciate the beauty of several resident and migratory birds and gives you a hearty breakfast to hop on a river safari to the Karnali River.

On the banks of these rigorous rivers, the chances of witnessing aquatic wildlife such as the endangered Gharial crocodile and the Gangetic dolphin are increasing, giving you more and more exposure to the park's diverse flora and fauna. Eventually, you get back to your lodge for the night.

Max. Altitude: 26mMeal: Breakfast-Lunch-DinnerAccommodation: Comfortable-Lodge

The four-day Bardiya National Park Tour concludes this day with a flight back to Kathmandu or Pokhara from the airport in Nepalgunj. Depending upon your flight schedule, you can unwind in the hustling and bustling vibrant towns of either Kathmandu or Pokhara, adding much to the natural immersion of the Nepalese diverse ecosystem and biodiversity to the cultural enlightenment.

Meal: Breakfast
Customize Trip
Trip Service Details
Included
  • Flight tickets from Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu.
  • Pickup and drop-off to and from domestic airports.
  • All jungle activities, from jungle safaris to bird watching, visits to elephant breeding centers, Tharu culture dance, and canoeing inside Bardiya National Park.
  • All local and governmental entrance fees and an English-speaking guide.
  • Essential meals such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the tour days as per the itinerary.
Excluded
  • Nepal visa fee and international ticket price
  • Food and accommodation in Kathmandu or Pokhara are outside of the itinerary.
  • Travel insurance and personal shopping
  • Guide tips are much anticipated and appreciated.
Additional Info

Can you go for a summer tour of the Bardiya National Park?

Yes, much to the delight of nature lovers, visitors can tour around the Bardiya National Park throughout the year, including during the summer season in Nepal that coincides with the monsoon, to experience the fresh, lush, and green environment due to the washout of rains, while the spring and autumn are usually noted as the best times to engage yourself in various adventurous activities in the country of hills and mountains.

Is it possible to go for a solo tour of the Bardiya National Park?

Yes, on obtaining the necessary park permit, a solo tour to Bardiya National Park is possible; however, it is not recommended, having considered your safety and well-being. The guides can greatly enhance the overall experience by managing all the tour logistics, including accommodation, meals, essential permits, and others.

Further, guides act as a bridge to fill the communication gap between you and locals, keeping you aware of social norms and values followed in the outskirts of the national park for a better seamless cross-cultural experience, while also introducing you to the best spots for wildlife observation.

Who issues necessary permits for a visit to the Bardiya National Park?

Generally, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Office in Kathmandu issues permits required for the Bardiya National Park Tour, which you can also purchase at the entrance gate of Barida National Park after filling out the necessary forms along with essential documents such as a copy of your passport and passport-size photos.

The fee for this entrance permit is NPR 1,500 (approximately USD 15) per person per day, while nationals from South Asian Association for Regional Conservation (SAARC) countries can get it at a lower price, typically 500 per person.

How difficult is the Bardiya National Park Tour?

Though the Bardiya National Park Tour involves a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj followed by a bus ride to the National Park Gate and trekking through the dense forest, holistically, it is considered an easy trip.

Since it takes place at comparatively low altitudes in the Terai region, the risk of altitude sickness is very low—almost zero. However, you must be physically fit enough for the journey, regardless of age and experience.

Why get travel insurance and a guide for touring the Bardiya National Park?

Hiring a professional guide is key to the most successful jaunting in the country known for its towering hills and Himalayas, including the Bardiya National Park, which not only helps to legalize your visit to the country that has banned free individual trekkers from April 1st, 2023 but also helps to craft the most enriching experience.

The guides provide you with knowledgeable navigation, cultural and regional insight, logistical management, and immediate response to any sort of emergency incurred, while travel insurance assures you financial security during unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations or interruptions, lost or stolen luggage, and adventurous activities.

FAQs

Known for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, Bardiya National Park is located in the far western part of Nepal, in the Bardiya district in the Terai region, at a closer distance to Nepalgung at about 90 km/56 miles, serving as a common gateway to visit the national park in proximity to the border with India.

The Bardiya National Park is approximately 600 km (373 miles) away from the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, from where you board a domestic flight that spans around 1 hour to Nepalgunj and drives 2-3 hours to the park while taking a direct bus can take between 12 and 16 hours.

No, Bardiya National Park is not a restricted area of Nepal; it is accessible to almost everyone, both domestic and international tourists. However, you must obtain the necessary park entry that grants you permission to explore the park and discover its majesty, along with following the rules set by authorities to ensure your safe and enjoyable visit.

Yes, absolutely. For children, in fact, the Bardiya National Park Tour can be an exciting and educational experience to learn about wildlife, nature conservation, and local cultures, along with an opportunity to make your family bond stronger.

During the Bardiya National Park Tour, you can find a variety of tasty, filling, and nutritious food options ranging from typical Nepali cuisines to international dishes, based on where you stay, catering to the varying taste buds and dietary needs of an individual.