Lumbini and Chitwan Tour, 5 Days is a 5-day tour for travellers who have seen Kathmandu and want the Buddhist sites and the jungle in one short trip. It reaches about 190 m (Sauraha, Chitwan) and is graded Easy: short walks on flat ground, a flight and two long drives. It costs from USD 1,140 per person (Budget, couple). The price per person is the same for a private trip and a group of the same size, and it falls as the group grows.
Lumbini and Chitwan at a glance
| Duration | 5 days, 4 nights, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Altitude | Lumbini about 150 m, Sauraha (Chitwan) about 190 m. No altitude |
| Grade | Easy. Short walks on flat ground |
| Best months | Mid September to March |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Starts and ends | Kathmandu. Fly to Bhairahawa, back by road via Chitwan |
| Hotels | 2 nights at Lumbini and 2 nights at a Chitwan jungle lodge are included |
| Wildlife | Jeep safari, dugout canoe, jungle walk, birdwatching and Tharu culture. No animal rides |
| From price | USD 1,140 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 1,355, Luxury USD 1,710 |
Why I built it this way
Many people come to Nepal for the mountains and only later realise that the Buddha's birthplace and the best jungle in the country sit next to each other on the plains. This tour puts the two together in five days. You fly to Bhairahawa, spend two nights at Lumbini with the Sacred Garden, the monastery zone and Tilaurakot, then drive to Chitwan for two nights and a full day of safari, and drive back to Kathmandu.
It is the second half of our Kathmandu, Lumbini and Chitwan in 7 Days: Day by Day, Cost and Who It Suits. If you have not seen Kathmandu yet, that 7-day tour adds two days of the city's temples first. If you have, or you are coming off a trek, this 5-day version saves you the repeat. Read Lumbini, Nepal: Birthplace of the Buddha Travel Guide and Tilaurakot: The Walled Site Where Siddhartha Grew Up, 27 km from Lumbini before you choose.
There is no altitude and almost no walking beyond the sites and the jungle walk. The real challenges are the heat from April to June and the road from Chitwan to Kathmandu, which takes five to six hours. We do not sell animal rides. Our Chitwan days are a jeep, a dugout canoe, a walk with a naturalist, Tharu culture and birds.
Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum. The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
Best time to go, month by month
Temperatures and conditions come from our Lumbini guide and our Chitwan seasonal guide. They are guides to the seasons, not forecasts.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cool and dry. Fog in the mornings in Lumbini and Chitwan can delay flights and the early safari. Rhinos are near-certain in the thin cover. Lumbini is busy with pilgrims. | Good, keep a spare day for the flight |
| February | Cool, dry and busy with pilgrims at Lumbini. Chitwan has migratory birds and thin cover. | Good |
| March | Lumbini is still in its 18 to 28 C window early on. Chitwan heats up, and March is arguably the best month for seeing rhinos up close. | Good |
| April | Hot. Lumbini can pass 38 C and the monastery zone is an exposed walk. Chitwan reaches 35 to 40 C. Activities run early morning and late afternoon. | Only if you can take the heat |
| May | Hot and dusty. Lumbini can pass 38 C. Buddha Jayanti draws large crowds of pilgrims, and lodges fill. | Only for the festival or if you can take the heat |
| June | Monsoon and humid. Chitwan floods, canoe rides can stop and leeches appear. Some lodges close. | No |
| July | Monsoon. Daily rain on the plains, floods in Chitwan. | No |
| August | Monsoon. Some monastery galleries close for the wet season. | No |
| September | The rains are easing, but the roads are still wet and some lodges are still shut. | Late September only |
| October | Lush and clear after the rains, 25 to 30 C in Chitwan. Peak birding. Book ahead. | Best |
| November | Dry and clear, with Lumbini in its 18 to 28 C window. Pilgrim season starts in late November. | Best |
| December | Cool, dry and sunny, with fog in the mornings. Flights to Bhairahawa can be delayed in December and January. | Good, keep a spare day for the flight |
October to March is the dry and cool window for both Lumbini and Chitwan, and October to December is the sweet spot. April to June is hot, and June to September is monsoon. One price applies all year.
Starting dates for 2027
These are the windows I would pick for 2027. Festival dates are the expected ones and are confirmed each year.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| January to February 2027 | Cool, dry and clear on the plains, with fog some mornings that can delay the Bhairahawa flight. | Good |
| March 2027 | Warming up. Comfortable mornings, hot afternoons by the end of the month. | Good |
| April to June 2027 (Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha's birthday, falls on the May full moon) | Very hot: Lumbini can pass 38 C and Chitwan 40 C. Early starts and midday rests. | Possible, early starts |
| July to mid September 2027 | Monsoon. Heavy rain, floods in Chitwan and the park's jungle activities are limited. | No |
| Mid September to December 2027 | Clear and comfortable after the rains, and the best weeks for wildlife and photographs. | Best |
We run this tour on any date you choose.
Permits and costs
We pay for every entrance fee. There are no trekking permits on this tour.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lumbini Sacred Garden | NPR 1,000 | Included |
| Tilaurakot | About NPR 1,000 for the Tilaurakot area sites together | Included |
| Chitwan National Park | NPR 2,000 per person per entry | Included, on top of the lodge and activities |
The price per person falls as the group grows, and a child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table. These prices hold for 2027.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 1,810 | USD 2,155 | USD 3,055 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 1,140 | USD 1,355 | USD 1,710 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 810 | USD 985 | USD 1,305 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 715 | USD 875 | USD 1,165 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 685 | USD 850 | USD 1,145 |
Not included: international flights, your Nepal visa (USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, paid in cash on arrival), Kathmandu hotel nights, travel insurance, tips, personal spending and any extra porter (USD 25 per day plus 13% VAT and the 3.5% bank charge). You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge.
Getting there and getting back
On day 1 we collect you from your Kathmandu hotel and you fly to Bhairahawa, about 30 minutes, then drive 25 km to Lumbini. On day 3 we drive from Lumbini to Chitwan, about four hours. On day 5 we drive from Chitwan to Kathmandu, five to six hours along the Trishuli river, and take you to your hotel. The small aircraft have a tight baggage limit, so pack light, and the flight is weather-dependent. We check road conditions 48 hours before departure. If a road is not open, we move your dates free of charge.
Visa on arrival is USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, and your passport must be valid for at least six months.
Safety and altitude
There is no altitude on this tour. The risks are heat, dust and the road. In April to June Lumbini can pass 38 C and Chitwan 40 C, so we start early, rest at midday and carry water. On the safari you follow your naturalist, keep to the jeep and the canoe and never walk into the forest alone. Wildlife is wild, and no sighting is guaranteed.
Dress modestly in the temples and monasteries: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off, voices low. Buy travel insurance at home that covers domestic flights and medical care.
What to pack
- Light clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, for the temples and monasteries
- Comfortable shoes you can slip off easily
- A hat, sunglasses and SPF 50 sun cream
- Neutral clothes in greens and browns for the jungle days, and insect repellent
- A light jacket for cool mornings and evenings from November to February
- Binoculars if you have them
- A small bag for the flight, which has a tight baggage limit
- Any personal medicines
- Our full list is in Complete Nepal Travel Checklist: Everything to Do Before You Fly
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers do the same route and activities. What changes is where you sleep, what you eat and how you are driven.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels | Simple, clean hotel and jungle lodge, twin share | 3-star Lumbini hotel and a 3-star jungle lodge, private rooms | The best available hotel in Lumbini and a deluxe jungle lodge, ensuite |
| Meals | Breakfast each morning | Breakfast, lunch and dinner | All meals and all non-alcoholic drinks |
| Vehicle | Private car or van sized to your group | Private car or van sized to your group | A comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle |
| Guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed guide in your language where we have one | Heritage specialist guide in your language where we have one |
Read before you book
- Lumbini, Nepal: Birthplace of the Buddha Travel Guide
- Chitwan Jungle Safari: Tigers, Rhinos, and What to Actually Expect
- Things to Do in Chitwan: Jeep Safari, Canoe, Jungle Walk, Tharu Culture and Birds
- Best Time to Visit Chitwan National Park: Month-by-Month Wildlife Guide
- Kathmandu-Pokhara-Chitwan Golden Triangle: Complete Cost Guide 2026/2027
- Kathmandu, Lumbini and Chitwan in 7 Days: Day by Day, Cost and Who It Suits
- Tilaurakot: The Walled Site Where Siddhartha Grew Up, 27 km from Lumbini
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
