Nepal’s Red Pandas, Tigers & Rhinos

Nepal’s Red Pandas, Tigers & Rhinos

Prices From £11,329pp
February to December | 13 nights

Nepal’s Red Pandas, Tigers & Rhinos

Journey from the ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley to the mist-shrouded forests of the eastern Himalayas and the wild lowland plains of western Nepal. Along the way, discover exquisitely preserved temples, palaces and sacred sites before venturing into remote wilderness regions in search of some of Asia’s most elusive and endangered wildlife.

Track red pandas with expert guides in Singalila National Park, where forest trails reveal exceptional birdlife and distant views towards Everest and Kangchenjunga. Continue to Bardia National Park for immersive safaris in search of Bengal tigers, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, Asian elephants and other rare species, returning each evening to characterful lodges that place you close to Nepal’s landscapes, wildlife and traditions.

Set group and private tours available. Big price reductions available for groups of 6 or more.

Highlights

  • Track elusive red pandas through the misty Himalayan forests of Singalila National Park
  • Search for Bengal tigers, greater one-horned rhinoceroses and Asian elephants in wild Bardia
  • Explore the temples, palaces and courtyards of the Kathmandu Valley’s UNESCO-listed cities
  • Follow scenic forest trails with panoramic views towards Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga
  • Discover extraordinary birdlife, from rare Himalayan pheasants to the endangered Bengal florican
  • Experience guided jeep safaris, forest walks, hides and wildlife lookouts with expert naturalists
  • Visit sacred Buddhist and Hindu landmarks, including Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple
  • Connect with Nepalese culture through traditional craftsmanship, monasteries and a possible Kumari blessing
  • Stay at atmospheric heritage hotels and remote wilderness lodges surrounded by nature

What's Included

  • 4 nights at Dwarika’s Hotel with breakfast included and 6 course farewell dinner on final night
  • 5 nights at Red Panda Outpost on a full board basis 
  • 4 nights at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge on a full board basis
  • All internal flights throughout (Kathmandu – Bhadrapur – Kathmandu & Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu)
  • All transfers throughout
  • All city sightseeing with a private English-speaking guide, including entrance fees to all monuments 
  • All Jaubari excursions with a private English-speaking naturalist guide, including entrance fees 
  • All in-house activities in Bardia such as jeep drive, boat ride, jungle walks, sundowner & village walks with English speaking local guide
  • Wildlife permit costs, conservation fees and park entry fees

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Kathmandu Valley - Arrive
1Day

Kathmandu Valley - Arrive

Arrive independently to Tribhuvan International Airport, where you will be welcomed by a local representative and assisted with your luggage before transferring into the heart of the Kathmandu Valley. Your destination is Dwarika’s Hotel, an atmospheric heritage property inspired by Nepal’s traditional Newari architecture.

After settling into your Junior Suite, the remainder of the day is yours to relax following the journey. Unwind within the hotel’s peaceful surroundings or begin soaking up the sights and sounds of Nepal’s vibrant capital at your own pace.

Accommodation: 2 nights at Dwarika’s Hotel in a Junior Suite with breakfast included.

Explore Kathmandu Valley
2Day

Explore Kathmandu Valley

After breakfast, set out on a full-day guided exploration of the Kathmandu Valley, beginning at Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Wander through this beautifully preserved royal city, where red-brick lanes, hidden courtyards, carved wooden temples and centuries-old palaces create the atmosphere of a living museum. You may also choose to join a traditional pottery session, learning techniques passed down through generations of local artisans.

Continue to the sacred Pashupatinath Temple complex on the banks of the Bagmati River, one of Nepal’s most important Hindu pilgrimage sites. Later, visit the magnificent Boudhanath Stupa, where devotees circle beneath fluttering prayer flags, spinning prayer wheels and chanting softly. Take time to absorb the stupa’s deeply spiritual atmosphere and explore the surrounding monasteries, shops and rooftop cafés.

Fly to Bhadrapur
3Day

Fly to Bhadrapur

This morning you will fly east from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur, where you will be met for a private 4WD transfer into the foothills of the Himalayas. The scenic drive passes through the fertile lowlands and lush tea-growing country before climbing towards the misty forests surrounding Singalila National Park.

After approximately three hours and 45 minutes, you’ll arrive in the small village of Jaubari and settle into the remote Red Panda Outpost. A late lunch will be served on arrival, followed by time to relax or enjoy some gentle birdwatching around the lodge grounds.

Accommodation: 5 nights at Red Panda Outpost in a Deluxe Room on a full board basis with all meals and activities included.

Singalila National Park
4 - 7Days

Singalila National Park

You will now spend four exciting days exploring the misty forests of Singalila in search of the elusive red panda. Each morning, expert trackers head out at dawn while you enjoy the sunrise with tea or coffee, perhaps visiting the lodge’s bird hide or taking a short nature walk. Once fresh signs or sightings are reported, set off by 4WD and on foot to explore the surrounding trails, returning to the lodge for lunch and a well-earned rest.

Afternoons bring further guided walks through this richly biodiverse landscape, with sweeping Himalayan views and exceptional birdlife along the way. Opportunities to follow trails offering panoramic views towards Mount Everest and Kangchenjunga are available. Birdwatching is another highlight, with more than 350 species recorded in the region, including rare pheasants, while visits to nearby Tibetan Buddhist monasteries may offer insight into local spiritual traditions. Curated experiences with local guides can add further depth, connecting the wildlife, landscapes and culture of this remarkable Himalayan region. Leopard cats, marbled cats and clouded leopards are occasionally spotted, although these secretive forest dwellers are very elusive.

Back to Kathmandu Valley
8Day

Back to Kathmandu Valley

Fly back to Kathmandu this morning and return to Dwarika’s Hotel before setting out on a half-day exploration of Patan Durbar Square. Once the royal seat of the Malla kings, the square is surrounded by an exceptional collection of Newari temples, courtyards and palaces blending Hindu and Buddhist influences.

Visit the excellent Patan Museum, housed within the former royal palace and renowned for its collection of sacred art, ancient artefacts and traditional craftsmanship. Subject to timing and availability, you may also have the rare opportunity to meet Patan’s Kumari, or Living Goddess, and receive a traditional red tika blessing.

Accommodation: 1 night at Dwarika’s Hotel in a Junior Suite with breakfast included.

Fly to Nepalgunj - Bardia
9Day

Fly to Nepalgunj - Bardia

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Nepalgunj, the gateway to the remote wilderness of western Nepal. On arrival, meet your local representative and continue by road through rural villages, farmland and open countryside to Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, a journey of approximately 90 minutes.

Settle into your lodge close to Bardia National Park, Nepal’s largest protected area in the lowland Terai. Created to safeguard tigers and their prey, this vast wilderness is also home to Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, swamp deer, blackbuck and an impressive variety of other wildlife.

Accommodation: 4 nights at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge in a Signature Room on a full board basis with all meals and activities included.

Bardia National Park
10 - 12Days

Bardia National Park

You’ll now spend three full days exploring the forests, grasslands and riverine habitats of Bardia National Park with expert naturalist guides. Full-day jeep safaris in restored open-top Land Rovers provide opportunities to search for Bengal tigers, greater one-horned rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, sloth bears, deer and an extraordinary variety of other wildlife, with packed lunches allowing you to remain in the park for longer.

Your explorations may also include visits to hides, lookouts and scenic viewpoints, as well as time beside the Karnali River, home to gharial and mugger crocodiles and the elusive Gangetic dolphin. Birdlife is equally impressive, with more than 400 species recorded, including the critically endangered Bengal florican. On the return journey, visit the park headquarters and its Gharial Breeding Centre to learn about efforts to protect this rare crocodile.

Kathmandu - End of Tour
13 - 14Days

Kathmandu - End of Tour

After breakfast on Day 13, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu, where you will be met and escorted back to Dwarika’s Hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax before gathering in the evening for a memorable six-course farewell dinner at Krishnarpan, celebrating Nepal’s rich culinary traditions.

Following breakfast the next morning, transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport in good time for your onward flight. Depart Nepal with lasting memories of Himalayan forests, ancient cities and remarkable encounters with red pandas, tigers, rhinoceroses and other rare wildlife.

A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu

Dwarika’s Hotel is an atmospheric heritage retreat in Kathmandu, inspired by the palaces of the Newar kings and the rich artistic traditions of the Kathmandu Valley. More than just a place to stay, it feels like a living museum, with intricate carved woodwork, terracotta details and an extensive collection of historic artefacts dating back as far as the 14th century.

Its 87 rooms and suites blend traditional Newari design with the comfort of a luxury hotel, featuring dark hardwood beams, tiled floors, handmade furniture, organic linens and carefully chosen antiques. Guests can dine across three restaurants and a bar, with dishes prepared using fresh produce from Dwarika’s own farm, then unwind in the library, by the Malla-inspired swimming pool, with a yoga class or at the Pancha Kosha Spa. Elegant, deeply rooted in place and full of character, Dwarika’s is one of Kathmandu’s most distinctive stays

Red Panda Outpost, Jaubari

Red Panda Outpost is a very comfortable, community-run mountain lodge in the Buddhist village of Jaubari, set around 2,850 metres above sea level near the Singalila ridgeline. Surrounded by misty broadleaf forest and dense bamboo, it offers an exceptional base for tracking the elusive red panda alongside knowledgeable local guides. This is not conventional luxury, but a warm, purposeful stay that brings guests close to the wildlife, landscapes and communities of the eastern Himalayas.

The former village teahouse has just six modest, well-kept rooms, each with an attached bathroom, hot water and reliable electricity. After long days following forest trails and scanning the canopy, guests gather around the traditional bukhari stove in the cosy central dining room, sharing wholesome meals prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and regional flavours. Operated through a community tourism model, the Outpost supports local employment and red panda conservation while minimising plastics, packaged foods and its impact on the fragile mountain environment.

Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge, Neulapur

Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge is an intimate jungle retreat on the edge of Bardia National Park, one of Nepal’s finest places for tracking wild tigers. Far removed from the bustle of Kathmandu, the lodge offers a peaceful base in a landscape of forest, grassland and river, with expert naturalists leading safaris on foot, by jeep and along the waterways in search of tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephants and prolific birdlife.

Accommodation includes nine air-conditioned Signature Rooms with ensuite bathrooms, handmade furniture and a calm, contemporary feel, along with six Traditional Rooms built using local materials and time-honoured techniques. Soft natural colours, locally sourced furnishings and a strong sense of privacy make each room a restful place to return to after a day in the park. Guests can also cool off in the swimming pool, enjoy fresh farm-to-table meals prepared with organic produce grown on site, or simply relax in the gardens with a book and watch the jungle come to life. With rewilded grounds, thoughtful environmental practices and highly personal service, Karnali Lodge combines authentic safari adventure with understated comfort.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect India adventure for you.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Sheena’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike has more than fifteen years hands-on experience in the industry, travelling to some of the most incredible wild places on the planet. His far-reaching knowledge and invaluable skills will ensure that your wildlife travel adventure is a dream come true.

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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

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Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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