Kathmandu to Chitwan
Your options
Ways to make the journey
25 min + 1–1.5 h drive
Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day. From Bharatpur, the drive to Sauraha takes about 30 minutes and to Meghauli Serai and the western lodges about 1–1.5 hours. Winter fog over the Terai can delay morning flights from December to February, so we choose late-morning departures in those months and keep the first afternoon free for a relaxed arrival.
5–6 h
The road leaves the Kathmandu Valley on the Prithvi Highway, follows the Trishuli River to Mugling and then drops along the Narayani to Narayangarh and Bharatpur, the gateway to the park. Traffic and roadworks make timings variable. A private car allows stops for lunch and a rafting stretch on the Trishuli, and it avoids the fog delays that affect winter flights.
1–2 days
For active travellers, a day of rafting on the Trishuli River can replace part of the drive, with gentle rapids in autumn and spring. Our car meets you at the take-out and continues to Chitwan the same evening, or after a night at a riverside camp. Water levels are high and unsafe in the monsoon, so we offer this only from October to May.
Worth a stop
- Trishuli River rafting
- Kurintar and the Manakamana cable car
- Narayangarh and the Narayani River
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How far is Chitwan from Kathmandu?
About 165 km by road to Sauraha, usually 5–6 hours by private car via the Prithvi Highway, Mugling and Narayangarh. Meghauli and the western lodges add another hour. By air, Kathmandu to Bharatpur is about 25 minutes, followed by a 30-minute to 1.5-hour drive depending on your lodge. We usually fly in and drive onward to Pokhara or Lumbini.
Is there an airport in Chitwan?
Yes. Bharatpur Airport serves Chitwan, with several daily flights from Kathmandu operated by domestic airlines. It is about 30 minutes from Sauraha and 1–1.5 hours from Meghauli Serai. Meghauli also has an old airstrip, but scheduled services there have been irregular, so check current status before you travel; we plan around Bharatpur.
Should I fly or drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan?
Fly if you are short of time or dislike winding roads; drive if you want flexibility or are travelling in foggy winter months. The flight saves four hours but needs transfers at both ends. The drive is long but scenic along the Trishuli River, and a private car lets you stop for rafting or lunch on the way.
Can I go from Chitwan to Pokhara directly?
Yes, by private car, about 150 km and 4–5 hours via Mugling and Dumre. There is no regular direct flight between Bharatpur and Pokhara, so driving is the practical option. Many of our journeys run Kathmandu to Chitwan by air, then Chitwan to Pokhara by road, and Pokhara to Kathmandu by air, which avoids repeating any stretch.