Western Terai
Bardiya National Park
Nepal’s largest lowland park and its best chance of seeing a wild tiger on foot.
- Region
- Western Terai
- Best time to visit
- February to May for tigers; October to January is cooler with better birding.
- How long to stay
- 3–4 days
- Experiences
- 3 nearby
Overview
Bardiya protects 968 km² of sal forest, grassland and riverine jungle along the Karnali, Nepal’s longest river, in the far west of the country. It receives a fraction of Chitwan’s visitors, and its tiger population has more than doubled since 2009, making it the park where guided walks most often meet the big cats.
Wild elephants, one-horned rhinos (reintroduced from Chitwan), swamp deer and gharial crocodiles share the park. Activities are the same as Chitwan, jungle walks, jeep safaris, rafting on the Karnali and Tharu village visits, at a slower pace.
Plan your visit
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Ask Recent Visits AI →Why visit Bardiya National Park
- The best tiger-sighting odds in Nepal, especially on dry-season walks
- A fraction of Chitwan’s visitors and lodges
- Rafting or float trips on the Karnali with gharials and dolphins
What to see
Jungle walks
Full-day walks with two guides along the river and through the grassland are the park’s speciality; tiger sightings are frequent from February to May when animals come to the water.
Karnali river
Float trips and rafting below Chisapani pass gharials, mugger crocodiles and, with luck, Gangetic river dolphins.
Thakurdwara
The village at the park entrance where most lodges are, with a small visitor centre and a crocodile breeding centre.
Guided jungle walks
Tiger sightings
Tharu culture
Gangetic dolphins
Good to know
- Fly Kathmandu–Nepalgunj (about one hour), then 2.5–3 hours by road; by bus from Kathmandu it is a 14–16 hour journey.
- The park entry fee is charged per day and is lower than Chitwan’s; lodges arrange permits and guides.
- February to May is driest and best for wildlife but hot by April; the park is largely inaccessible in the monsoon.
Frequently asked questions
Photo gallery
Bardiya National Park in pictures
Things to do
Experiences in Bardiya National Park
Easy
Jungle Safari
Rhinos, crocodiles, deer and hundreds of birds in the Terai’s national parks.
- Typical duration
- Half day to 3 days
Moderate
White-water Rafting
From gentle one-day floats to multi-day expeditions on glacial rivers.
- Typical duration
- 1–10 days
Easy
Day Hiking
Short walks to viewpoints, villages and monasteries, no permits or porters needed.
- Typical duration
- 2–6 hours
Plan
Suggested itineraries with Bardiya National Park
Day-by-day trips by our team. Ask local agencies for a quote on any of them.
Suggested itinerary
6 days: Bardiya National Park wildlife safari
Nepal’s wildest lowland park and its best chance of a wild tiger: full-day jungle walks, a jeep safari and a float on the Karnali, staying in Thakurdwara.
- Places
- Bardiya National Park
- Trekking
- Easy
Suggested itinerary
9 days: Chitwan and Bardiya wildlife
Nepal’s two great Terai parks back to back: rhinos and birdlife in Chitwan, then the quieter jungles of Bardiya for tigers, wild elephants and the Karnali.
- Places
- Kathmandu · Chitwan · Bardiya National Park
- Trekking
- Easy
From travellers
Stories from travellers who went to Bardiya National Park
First-hand accounts from people who visited recently. Read one, then plan a trip like it.
Travel storyDemo storyTraveller story · Tom Lindqvist · 18 May 2026
Bardiya: the quiet side of Nepal’s wildlife
Far less visited than Chitwan, Bardiya National Park rewards patience: walks with a guide, fresh tiger tracks, deer in the long grass and the Karnali river at dusk.
- Visited
- April 2026
- Places
- Bardiya National Park
