Nepal's Wild Frontier: Bardiya, Pokhara & the Annapurna Foothills

These are the points a Singapore traveller usually wants settled before booking. Before we confirm, we check the domestic flight schedules, including which days Buddha Air flies Nepalgunj to Pokhara direct, and lodge availability in Bardiya, Astam and Dhampus.

Pace

The grade is moderate. Most days are easy, with seated jeep outings, short walks between Pokhara's sights and free time. The effort lies in the early starts, the domestic flights and the walk of about three hours from Astam to Dhampus. The highest night is Dhampus at about 1,650 metres, so altitude is not a concern.

Weather and what to wear

Singapore stays between 25 and 33 degrees all year; this route swings far more. The Terai can reach the mid-40s Celsius in April and May, December and January bring misty Bardiya dawns, and Astam and Dhampus turn cool after sunset in any season. Pack muted, neutral clothes for the park, a fleece or light down jacket, long sleeves and repellent for dusk, a light rain jacket and broken-in walking shoes. A soft bag suits the lower domestic baggage allowances.

Money and plugs

Nepal uses the Nepalese rupee (NPR). Hotels and larger shops take cards, but village shops, temple stalls and the Tashiling handicraft stalls run on cash, so carry rupees in small notes for tips and purchases. Bring a travel adapter: Singapore's three-pin type G plugs meet type C, D and M sockets on Nepal's 230 V supply.

Connectivity

If your work needs you to be reachable every day, tell us before booking. We check connectivity at each property, the Bardiya and Dhampus lodges included, and tell you honestly where it may be limited.

Food

Breakfast is included every morning from Day 2; lunch and dinner are covered only where your quotation says so. Raise any vegetarian, halal or allergy needs at booking rather than on arrival, so that the Bardiya and Dhampus lodges can plan for them.

Park rules

Bardiya sets its own activity rules, and lodges follow them. The park kept its safari routes open through the 2026 monsoon, but conditions vary, so we recommend travelling between October and April. Activities run only as permitted by the park and lodge, and we do not include riding elephants.

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. You do not need to apply before you fly.

On arrival

After immigration and baggage, your guide meets you in the arrivals area, and an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver takes you to Hotel Barahi Kathmandu on Kantipath. If your international flight is delayed, we adjust the pick-up time.

Fees and length of stay

Nine days call for the 15-day visa, which costs US$30; the longer options are US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days. Even with an extra night in Pokhara, Astam or Kathmandu, the trip fits comfortably inside the 15-day visa. Clean US dollar notes settle it most reliably, so keep the exact sum apart from your other cash.

Before you fly

Your passport should be valid for at least six months. You can fill in the arrival form online at nepaliport.immigration.gov.np within 15 days before you fly and bring the printed barcode, or use the self-service kiosks in the arrivals hall. Having the form done in advance saves time after a five-hour flight.

Park permits

Bardiya National Park needs an entry permit, which HSJ arranges, and if you choose the Jamacho hike on Day 9, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park has its own fee. Your quotation shows which permits and entrance fees are covered, and your guide carries what is needed on the day.

What is not included

The visa fee is not part of the trip price, and nor is travel insurance, which we strongly recommend and which should cover medical treatment and cancellation. 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 Department of Immigration or the Nepal Consulate in Singapore before you travel.

Singapore Airlines flies nonstop between Changi and Kathmandu in about five hours. On recent schedules SQ442 leaves Singapore at about 18:50 and lands at Tribhuvan International Airport at about 21:30, which is why Day 1 is an arrival and a quiet night rather than sightseeing. Kathmandu time is 2 hours 15 minutes behind Singapore.

Going home, SQ441 departs Tribhuvan at about 22:50, and you are back on the ground at Changi around 06:15. Because the trip returns from Pokhara a day early and spends Day 8 at Hotel Barahi Kathmandu, there is never a same-day connection between a mountain flight and the flight home.

Domestic flights

This route has three: Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, about 50 minutes; Nepalgunj to Pokhara, about 30 minutes direct with Buddha Air on three set days a week and otherwise via Kathmandu; and Pokhara to Kathmandu, about 25 minutes. All depend on schedules and weather, and domestic airlines have lower baggage allowances, which your quotation confirms. If weather holds a flight, your guide and our Kathmandu team rework the day around it.

Schedules shift with the seasons and international flights are not part of the package, so check the current timetable and send us your flight details before booking. Routes through other Asian hubs are possible too, if they suit your dates better. We then fit the domestic legs around your times, never the reverse.

Nothing on this route goes high. Bardiya lies in the lowland Terai, Pokhara sits at about 822 metres, Kathmandu at about 1,400 and Dhampus, the highest night, at about 1,650. Altitude is not a concern for most travellers, though you may notice the walk to Dhampus a little more than a stroll at home.

Heat and cold

Bardiya can reach the mid-40s Celsius in April and May, while December and January bring misty dawns that feel colder than anything in Singapore from an open jeep. Astam and Dhampus are cool after dark all year. Drink plenty of water, wear a hat and sunscreen by day, and pack a warm layer for the evenings.

Insects

Mosquitoes and other insects come with forest and river life in Bardiya, above all around dusk and after rain. Well ahead of the trip, ask your doctor or a Singapore travel clinic about vaccinations and any malaria advice for the Terai, and pack repellent and long sleeves.

On safari and on the trail

Jeep tracks in Bardiya are rough and dusty, so tell us about any back or mobility problems. When you are on foot or on the river in Bardiya, your naturalist's word is final. For the Dhampus walk, carry water, sun protection and a light rain jacket, and set your own pace with your guide.

Medication and insurance

Bring enough of any regular medication for the whole trip plus a few spare days, in original packaging and in your hand luggage, as pharmacies in Nepal may not stock everything sold in Singapore. Because Bardiya and Dhampus are remote, we strongly recommend a policy that covers evacuation as well as medical treatment and cancellation. Insurance is not included in the trip.

This route passes through Tharu, Tibetan and Gurung communities as well as a national park, and a little care goes a long way with all of them.

Tharu villages near Bardiya

Thakurdwara, at the park's edge, is a quiet Tharu farming village. The Tharu are an indigenous people of Nepal's Terai, and their fields and homes border the forest. Walk through with your guide, greet people before you raise a camera, and treat farmyards as private ground.

Inside the park

Keep voices low, never feed or approach animals, and stay with your naturalist at all times. Neutral clothing helps you blend in, and waiting quietly brings more than chasing. Take all litter back out with you. Every activity runs only as permitted by the park and lodge, and we do not include riding elephants.

Temples and Tashiling

At Tal Barahi, the World Peace Pagoda and Bhaleshwor Mahadev, cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes where others do and follow your guide on photography. At the Tashiling Tibetan refugee settlement, buying from the handicraft stalls is a respectful way to engage.

Astam and Dhampus

Dhampus is a Gurung village, and Astam is a farming community, not a resort. Dress modestly, ask before photographing anyone, and keep evenings quiet. A question asked through your guide opens more doors than a lens.

Tipping

Guides, naturalists and drivers in Nepal customarily receive tips. Your guide can advise on sensible amounts, and no tips are included in the trip price.

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

Before you travel

We build the plan around your international flights, confirm the Nepalgunj and Pokhara flights and lodge space in Bardiya, Astam and Dhampus, and send an up-to-date visa and packing checklist with your confirmation.

While you are away

We watch domestic flight schedules, mountain weather and park notices for you. If a flight is held, a road is disrupted or the park changes its rules, we adjust the plan and explain why. Your quotation sets out accommodation, meals, transport, activities and permits, so what you have booked is always clear.

After you book

If your international flights change, tell us and we rework the domestic legs around the new times. To add a night, swap the Day 9 outing or slow the pace, just ask: the trip is arranged for your own party, so the plan moves with you.