Transfer from Kathmandu (4 hours by road or 20-minute flight to Bharatpur, then 1-hour drive). Arrive at your jungle lodge on the edge of Chitwan National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the finest wildlife sanctuary in South Asia. After check-in and lunch, your afternoon introduction begins: a sunset jeep safari into the buffer zone grasslands where one-horned rhinoceroses, spotted deer, wild boar and various bird species are reliably encountered. Evening: jungle campfire dinner and introduction to Tharu culture by the lodge naturalist. Overnight: Jungle lodge. Meals: All included.

The main safari day. Pre-dawn start (5:30am) for the best wildlife viewing. Morning 4WD jeep safari deep into the sal forest and elephant grass meadows with your professional naturalist guide. One-horned rhinoceroses are reliably seen; wild elephants (tuskers and herds) frequent the grasslands in summer; spotted deer, sambar, nilgai and hundreds of bird species are encountered throughout. If fortune favours, the Royal Bengal Tiger — Chitwan has the highest density of tigers in Asia — may be observed. Afternoon: visit the government elephant stables, where rescued elephants are cared for and visitors can observe (not ride) the animals. Optional canoe float on the Rapti River for birds and gharial crocodiles at water level. Evening: Tharu stick dance cultural programme. Meals: All included.

Morning elephant bathing session at a responsible elephant camp on the Rapti River — splash in the shallows with working elephants in a genuine, ethically managed interaction that has been part of Tharu culture for generations. Afternoon: guided walking tour of a traditional Tharu village with a visit to the Tharu Cultural Museum. The Tharu are the indigenous people of the Terai and their grass-woven houses, hand-painted walls and centuries-old farming traditions are genuinely fascinating. Optional evening canoe float for wildlife. Meals: All included.

Early morning bird walk along the river — Chitwan is one of Asia's finest birding destinations with painted storks, lesser adjutants, hornbills, peacocks and eagles. After breakfast, transfer back to Bharatpur airport for your return flight to Kathmandu, or drive (4 hours). End of Chitwan Jungle Safari. Meals: Breakfast.