Into the Wild: A Chitwan Safari Escape

Your quotation names your hotels: Hotel Barahi Kathmandu, premium 4-star, and the 5-star Kasara Resort in Chitwan. It also confirms, in writing, the meal plan, whether you travel to Chitwan by road or by domestic flight and road, which guided activities are included, and which park permits and entrance fees are covered. If something is not in the quotation, assume it is not included and ask us.

Chitwan's activities follow park rules. Jeep safaris run inside the park in the dry season and are suspended for the monsoon, from 1 July in 2026 until about the third week of September, while some safaris continue in buffer-zone community forests. Jungle walks go out with licensed guides, and canoe trips use dugouts on the Rapti River. We do not include elephant-back rides.

Pack muted, neutral clothing for activities, a warm layer for early mornings from November to February, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and binoculars if you have them. Nepal's currency is the Nepalese rupee, and cash is useful for tips and small purchases.

Singapore passport holders need a visa for Nepal, and Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that a tourist visa can be obtained on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepal's embassies list the on-arrival fees as USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days. A trip of five days fits comfortably inside the 15-day visa.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months. You can fill in the arrival form online on Nepal's immigration portal within 15 days before you fly and bring the printed barcode, or use the self-service kiosks in the arrivals hall. Carry the visa fee in clean US dollar notes, because cash is the simplest way to pay at the counter.

The visa fee is not part of the trip price. Fees and rules can change at short notice, so we send an up-to-date checklist with your confirmation, and we recommend a final check with the Nepal Consulate in Singapore before you travel.

Singapore Airlines flies nonstop between Changi and Kathmandu, a flight of about five hours. The current schedule leaves Singapore in the evening and lands at Tribhuvan International Airport in the late evening, which is why Day 1 is an arrival and a quiet night rather than a day of sightseeing. Connecting options through other Asian hubs also exist if they suit your dates better.

The return service currently leaves Kathmandu late at night and reaches Changi early the next morning. That usually leaves time for the journey back from Chitwan on the last day, but we never plan a tight same-day connection. If your flight leaves earlier, or the domestic leg looks fragile, we add a night in Kathmandu instead.

International flights are not included, and airline schedules change seasonally, so please send us your flight details before you book them. We build the itinerary around your arrival and departure times rather than the other way round.

Chitwan lies in Nepal's lowland Terai, far below Kathmandu, so altitude is not a concern on this trip. Heat is the bigger factor in the lowlands: April and May can reach the mid-40s Celsius, while December and January bring cool, misty mornings. Drink plenty of water and plan for both.

Mosquitoes and other insects are part of jungle life, especially around dusk and after rain. Speak to your doctor or a travel clinic in Singapore well before you travel about vaccinations and any malaria advice for the Terai, and bring repellent and long sleeves for evenings.

Jeep tracks are rough and dusty, so tell us about any back or mobility concerns. On walks and river trips, follow your guides' instructions at all times, because wildlife safety depends on it. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is strongly recommended.

The Tharu are an indigenous people of Nepal's Terai, and their villages sit close to the lowland parks. Tharu cultural programmes, including the stick dance, have been performed for visitors in Sauraha for decades. They are a performance, but a genuine one, and they help support local cultural groups.

Ask before photographing people, especially in villages, and dress modestly away from your hotel. Inside the parks, keep voices low, never feed or approach animals, and stay with your guides. Neutral clothing helps you blend in, and patience nearly always brings better sightings than chasing them.

Tipping is customary in Nepal for guides, naturalists and drivers. Your guide can advise on sensible amounts, and tips are never included in the trip price.

Your dedicated guide is with you from arrival to departure, and in Chitwan a qualified local naturalist leads the wildlife activities. Our Kathmandu team stays in touch throughout and can be reached if anything changes.

We watch domestic flight schedules, road conditions and park notices for you. If a flight is cancelled, a road is disrupted or a park changes its activity rules, we adjust the plan and tell you why. Your quotation sets out the accommodation, meal plan, transport, activities and permits, so you always know what you have booked.