Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour with Tharu Dance & Jeep Ride

3.74

(19 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical when our bus finally pulled into Chitwan after that long, winding drive from Kathmandu. The air felt heavier here — almost sweet, like wet grass and something smoky in the distance. Our guide, Suman, met us at the station with this big grin and a wave that made me forget how stiff my legs were. He kept saying “wait until you see the Tharu village,” and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. But after lunch (dal bhat — still thinking about that spicy pickle), we wandered through the village where kids ran barefoot and women laughed behind their hands. There’s this rhythm to life here that’s just… slower. In a good way.

The elephant stable was quieter than I thought it’d be — no circus vibe, just these massive animals swaying gently while an old man brushed one’s side with what looked like a bundle of reeds. Later, Suman led us to the riverbank for sunset. The sky went all orange and purple over Chitwan National Park, and someone started drumming for the Tharu stick dance. I tried copying their moves (badly), which got some laughs from the locals. It felt less like a show and more like being invited in for a bit.

Next morning was all about the jeep safari — up before sunrise, dew still clinging to everything. The forest smelled earthy and sharp; birds made this racket overhead while we bumped along muddy tracks looking for rhinos (we actually saw one — huge and weirdly graceful). Suman pointed out tiger tracks but joked he’d never seen one himself: “Maybe today’s lucky?” It wasn’t, but I didn’t mind. There’s something about watching mist lift off the grasslands that sticks with you longer than any checklist animal sighting.