Chitwan Jungle

We offer 3 main options with this enjoyable trip – the first being the mode of transportation that you use to get to the Chitwan jungle. You can either fly or take a pre-arranged tourist bus. With the latter, you obviously use a significant proportion of your time in travel (around 6-8 hours by road versus 1 hour by plane), but it undoubtedly provides you with a greater sense of what is going on at ground level in this interesting part of Nepal. The second option is whether you decide to stay within the National park, in the Machan Wildlife Resort, or just outside – the latter option requiring jeep transportation (included) each day to get you in and out of the park. The third and final option is the duration of your visit. We offer 3 day/2 night options as well as 4 day/3 night options. The prices can be found in the dates and prices section of the website. A suggested itinerary for the 3 day/2 night option is as follows:

Day1– Following your journey from Kathmandu, pick-up by Land Rover or elephants at the roadside village of Sunachuri which is 2.5 km from the Resort. Upon arrival, lunch will be served, rooms assigned and there will be a short briefing on the program and lodge facilities. In the afternoon, enjoy the elephant-back safari, whereguests can ride on elephants to explore the jungle and spot wildlife including the one-horned rhinoceros, several types of deer, monkey, wild boar, bison, sloth, bear,leopard and, if lucky, the Royal Bengal tiger. This exciting ride lasts for 2-3 hours. In the evening, you are invited to a slide-show presentation with one of the lodges’ jungle experts,who will present some interesting facts and history about the Royal Chitwan National Park as well as some other topics relating to the local wildlife. Questions are welcomed. Supper followsin the central dining hall.

Day2 – An early wake-up call will be followed by tea or coffee, and then the start of the morning nature walk. This close encounter by foot with the surrounding environment will introduce you to the main features of the eastern Chitwan jungle – Sal forest, open grassland and riverine jungle. The park guides will help you identify some species of birds, plants and other wildlife that you may encounter.Following a late breakfast, join the elephant briefing program where you’ll learn more about these fascinating animals during a visit to the elephant stables (for the brave ones there is even a crash course in riding and leading the elephants). Afterwards, lunch can be taken at the poolside terrace. The remaining hours before the afternoon program can be used to take a dip in the pool, or relax on your veranda. Hammocks and the library are at guests’ disposal. In mid-afternoon, join the canoe safari in a traditional dug-out canoe that takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti river to view aquatic birds and the animals on the river bank. Return to the lodge through the Jungle. In the evening, enjoy theTharu stick dance, where farmers of the nearby villages will show some of their traditional skills and dances. Supperto be taken around the campfire.

Day 3 – Another early start, this time for bird watching (or another elephant ride) after early morning tea/coffee.Following breakfast,your luggage is to be left at lodge reception in time for your departure at around9:30 in the morning.