Chitwan National Park sits in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, about 160 km by road from Kathmandu. Most visitors arrive on a morning tourist bus from the capital, which drops them in Sauraha, the park's main tourist hub.
Kasara Park Headquarters, Chitwan District, Nepal
The classic budget run: 160 km from Kathmandu down to the Terai in 5–7 hours, with listed fares running NPR 500–1,500 depending on whether you take a standard, tourist, deluxe or VIP 'sofa' bus. Most tourist buses leave from near Thamel between 6:30 and 9:00 AM, so it's an early alarm. Buses drop at Sauraha, Bharatpur, Tandi or Ratnanagar — these stops can be up to an hour apart, so confirm yours before paying. Book ahead from October to February and around festivals, when seats sell out.
Buddha Air flies Kathmandu to Bharatpur in 25 minutes, the quickest way to cover the ~160 km. Fares are dynamic, with no fixed published price, so check current rates directly. Arrive at the airport one hour before departure, and expect schedule changes — frequency drops in the low season. Bharatpur Airport sits about 18 km from Sauraha; a pre-booked hotel transfer, taxi or local transport covers the road leg in 30–45 minutes. Budget for that transfer on top of the airfare.
A private car with driver takes 4–6 hours hotel-to-hotel, which makes it the pick for families with children, small groups, or anyone with a fixed safari departure or check-in time. Expect NPR 12,000–20,000+ per vehicle — split three or four ways, it often beats flying. Confirm before booking whether fuel, driver, tolls and waiting time are included; quotes vary. Road conditions and traffic set the pace, so allow the full six hours if you have a commitment the same day.
Tourist buses cover the ~150 km from Pokhara to Sauraha in 5–8 hours, mostly departing in the morning and arriving by afternoon — the natural link on a Kathmandu–Pokhara–Chitwan circuit. Fares vary by operator and seat type, with some tourist services running up to about US$20. As on the Kathmandu run, check your exact drop point when booking: Sauraha and Bharatpur are different towns. Journey time swings with the route, traffic and road conditions, so don't schedule a safari for your arrival day after this ride.
The fastest Pokhara–Chitwan connection is a ~20-minute Buddha Air hop to Bharatpur, followed by the 18-km, 30–45-minute road transfer to Sauraha. Fares are dynamic. It suits time-pressed travelers, but schedules change — verify the current timetable with Buddha Air before committing, and note that low-season flights are fewer. If the timing works, you trade a 5–8-hour bus ride for under an hour in the air plus a short drive to your lodge.
No dedicated parking lots are documented at Chitwan's entry gates, which sit on rough dirt roads with no ramps or paved trails. Base yourself in Sauraha instead: private cars and taxis run door-to-door to lodges, and safari jeeps depart from the Sauraha gate around 6:00–7:00 AM. The drive from Sauraha or Bharatpur to the gates takes just 10–20 minutes, so drivers can drop you and go.
Swipe to see more
| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu (Thamel area) | Tourist or deluxe bus | 5–7 hours (~160 km) | NPR 500–1,500+ per person, depending on bus class | Tourist buses leave near Thamel between about 6:30 and 9:00 AM; confirm whether your drop-off is Sauraha, Bharatpur, Tandi or Ratnanagar — these stops are up to an hour apart. |
| Kathmandu | Private car with driver | 4–6 hours | NPR 12,000–20,000+ per vehicle | The door-to-door pick for families and anyone with a fixed safari time; before booking, confirm the price covers fuel, driver, tolls and waiting time. |
| Kathmandu | Buddha Air flight to Bharatpur (BHR), then taxi | 25-minute flight plus 30–45 min road transfer | Dynamic fares — no fixed published price | Bharatpur Airport is ~18 km from Sauraha, so budget for the road leg too; arrive 1 hour before departure and expect schedule changes, especially in low season. |
| Pokhara | Tourist bus to Sauraha | 5–8 hours (~150 km) | Varies by operator and seat type; local sources cite up to ~US$20 on some tourist services | Morning departures get you to Sauraha by afternoon, which fits the Kathmandu–Pokhara–Chitwan circuit; check whether you're dropped at Sauraha or Bharatpur. |
| Pokhara | Buddha Air flight to Bharatpur (BHR), then taxi | About 20-minute flight plus 30–45 min road transfer | Dynamic fares | The fastest connection if you're short on time; verify the current timetable with Buddha Air before committing, as schedules change. |
"Chitwan" on a bus ticket can mean Sauraha, Bharatpur, Tandi, Ratnanagar or Patihani — points up to an hour apart — so confirm the exact stop before you pay. If you're staying in Sauraha, where most lodges and the safari booking offices are, ask for Sauraha by name. Arriving at the wrong stop means a long, hot transfer with your luggage.
Tourist and deluxe buses from Kathmandu (NPR 500–1,500+ per person) leave the Thamel area between about 6:30 and 9:00 AM and take 5–7 hours for the 160 km. Reserve ahead for October through February and around festivals, when seats sell out. The same applies to Pokhara departures, which run roughly 5–8 hours to Sauraha.
Buddha Air's 25-minute Kathmandu–Bharatpur hop saves most of a day, and Pokhara flights take about 20 minutes. Budget for the road leg too: Bharatpur Airport is 18 km from Sauraha, a 30–45 minute ride by taxi or a pre-booked hotel transfer. Flight frequency drops in the low season, so check the current timetable before building your itinerary around it.
Morning jeep safaris leave Sauraha around 6:00–7:00 AM, which you'll miss if you're still on a 5–7 hour bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Plan to arrive, settle in, and do a Tharu village walk or evening cultural show instead, then take the dawn safari the next day. The standard 2-night, 3-day itinerary exists for exactly this reason.
The park entry permit (NRs. 2,000 for foreigners, NRs. 1,000 for SAARC nationals) can be bought in advance at the Tourist Service Center at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, with processing taking about 15 minutes. Bring a passport copy. The counter runs roughly 9 AM to 5 PM and closes on Saturdays and public holidays, so don't leave it for your departure morning.
Three ways: a tourist or deluxe bus taking 5–7 hours over the ~160 km road (NPR 500–1,500+ per person depending on bus type), a private car with driver at NPR 12,000–20,000+ per vehicle for 4–6 hours door-to-door, or a 25-minute Buddha Air flight to Bharatpur followed by an 18-km, 30–45-minute transfer to Sauraha. Tourist buses leave near Thamel early, roughly 6:30–9:00 AM.
Flying wins on time: 25 minutes in the air versus 5–7 hours on the road. But fares are dynamic with no fixed published price, schedules change often, and frequency drops in the low season, so budget for the 30–45-minute road leg from Bharatpur Airport to Sauraha too. The bus is the budget pick and drops you directly in town.
Tourist buses cover the ~150 km in 5–8 hours, mostly departing in the morning and reaching Sauraha by afternoon; some tourist services charge up to about US$20 depending on seat type. The fastest option is a 20-minute Buddha Air flight from Pokhara to Bharatpur plus the 18-km transfer to Sauraha — verify the current timetable before booking, since schedules shift.
"Chitwan" can mean Sauraha, Bharatpur, Tandi or Ratnanagar — points up to an hour apart — so confirm your exact drop-off before booking. Most safari lodges and operators cluster in Sauraha, which is the stop you want. Roads from Sauraha or Bharatpur to the park gates take just 10–20 minutes.
Yes — permits are sold in advance at the Tourist Service Center at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu, with processing taking about 15 minutes; the desk runs roughly 9 AM–5 PM and closes Saturdays and public holidays. Otherwise buy at the park entrance gates, or have your lodge arrange it. Foreigners pay NRs. 2,000 per person per entry, and you'll need a passport copy.
Don't try it. The road journey alone takes 5–7 hours from Kathmandu and 5–8 from Pokhara, and morning jeep safaris depart the Sauraha gate at 6:00–7:00 AM — before any bus arrives. Book your safari and permits through your lodge the evening before, and plan safaris for your second day onward.
Expect NPR 12,000–20,000+ per vehicle for a hotel-to-hotel transfer taking 4–6 hours depending on road conditions and traffic. It's the right choice for families with children, small groups, or anyone with fixed safari or check-in times. Confirm in writing whether fuel, driver, tolls and waiting time are included.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours