Royal Chitwan Hotel Tips by Saagar Top 5 Page for this destination

Gaida Wildlife Camp: Easy access - great upmarket place at Sauraha

Despite the name "wildlife camp" and the simplicity of facilities, this is more of a hotel than you think. It was originally established by royal interests and thus is one of the few resorts located inside the Chitwan national park itself.
There is an annex to the jungle lodge, called the Gaida Jungle Camp 8 km into the jungle in a rustic setting.
The program offered is much like that of other resorts, but Gaida has been the one place to set the standard. Very good quality of every service and guiding, good elephant rides and what not.

Unique Qualities: Inside the national park.
Good food - the BBQ is recommended! The best food I have eaten in Chitwan.
Limited electricity supply inside the park, bring headlamp/torch.
Large inside bar area, wildlife library etc. Good selection of drinks. Guides will mingle with customers, excellent way of getting aquainted with Nepalis and get more understanding of tha park and wildlife.

Address: Kathmandu office: Chusyabal, Jyatha near Thamel. GPO Box 2056, Kathmandu.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: From Tandi Bazaar to Sauraha. Signposted toward the right from Sauraha town, a couple of kms from the main settlement. Electric fences need to be passed.

Other Contact: gaida@mos.com.np

Phone: 4215431/4215409

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.gaidawildlife.com

Island Jungle Resort: A jungle camp on Bhandarjhola Island

I stayed at Island Jungle Resort twice, and with equally good memories of my time there. Once with fellow students, which was quite a riot, and once with my mom, which was more of a subdued affair.
The accommodation is fine, but the place is a bit over the top expensive. The food is like most Nepalese resort food, bland copycat European buffet food, and good Nepalese dishes inbetween.
A particularily enjoyable daytime bar made as a porch overhanging the river bank - you can see crocs from the bar.
The evening fireplace area is a very nice one for consuming a beer and snacks and hear jungle stories. The guards and guides were a really good bunch.
The regular program involves educational introductions to the ecology and wildlife, wildlife hikes, elephant rides (they have 5-6 elephants), elephant care, canoe trips, crocodile watch trips, birding tours and short and general jungle walks. The place is positively teeming with wildlife and it's dangerous to venture outside the scantily demarcated perimeter during nights.
Joint staff tip box provides for comfort in the tipping procedure. But check always if the staff benefits from tips put here.

Unique Qualities: Island Jungle Resort is situated on an island in the Naryani river near the confluence with the rapt. You have to travel from Naryanghat toward Butwal at the western side of Chitwan National Park to find the take-off for the canoe ferry place that gives you access to the island.
The resort is located inside the national park, and on the island of Bhandarjhola (Monkey Island), The island is plenty big enough to offer the same wildlife as other resorts in Chitwan, but perhaps even a bit wilder. Compared with Tiger Tops where I once stayed, too, Island Jungle is much smaller and remote from local settlements, and it has an air of inpermanence as the area gets flooded. Thus, only a few main buildings are permanent, the other stuff, such as accommodation may be somewhat simple in style, and some are in fact tents.

Address: Kathmandu head office, Durbar Marg;, Narayanghat sub-office, Bharatpur heights; Bhandarjhola resort location.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Don't try to find the place without a guide! It is located 27 westwards along the East-West Lokaha bridge, and then 8 kms on dirt road to a river bank for pick-up.
You can combine a Trishuli rafting trip with Island Jungle Resort by landing there.

Other Contact: island@mos.com.np

Phone: 4220162/ 4229116

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.islandjungleresort.com

Gaida Wildlife Camp: Sauraha's best for wildlife

I stayed only one night here based on a recommendation from friends. It is located inside the Chitwan national park, so it's among the exclusive ones in that sense. However, it is not a luxury camp as such. Utilitarian, rather, but that's what i was looking for. Good food off a huge BBQ, outside seating (inside alternative, too, of course), and very freindly and knowledgeable staff and guides. My only complaint is that I stayed too short.

Unique Qualities: See crocs and rhinoes from the forest edge porch. Bring binoculars and view the birdlife from the veranda or bar. Very good guides. Good rates for all-inclusive type of stays. For cheaper places in Sauraha, the accommodation might look cheaper, but they top it off with extras for this and that activity...

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: In the south-eastern part of Sauraha.

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Fewa Wildlife Resort: Pleasant - just outside Sauraha

Fewa Wildlife Resort is located a couple of kilometres downriver of Sauraha, the Chitwan backpackers' dens. Right on the river bank and national park border, and within walking distance from the services and facilities of Sauraha, Fewa benefits from both worlds. The staff enjoys taking you to a sunset drink at Rapti river restaruants/bars ar Sauraha. Something will trickle to them, too if you are a good tourist. Moreover, this is a very nice place rom where you can see the sunset. Most sunset+river photos on VT's Chitwan pages are taken from here.
The accommodation is good enough, no problem with water or toilet or whatever else that may happen to facilities of a middle of the tree type resort - modest, but fine.
Very friendly and helpful staff, good facilities overall, and with the rate i was given I could not at all complain. Ended up asking for the same food as the staff ate, as a good daal bhat is much better than a bland copy of European food.
When I was there I was requested to join the staff chasing wild elephants with burning grass torches, the alarm was sounded and people were really scared. We did chase the elephants away.

Unique Qualities: Neigbouring Sauraha may provide some shopping and entertainment options.
Sauraha has also restaurants if you want to eat out rather than at the resort. Don't forget to organize transport back in the evening, as this is tiger/rhino country even if there are scattered human settlements along the river bank.
Good guiding.
Visits to nearby Tharu villages to see their daily work in fields and homes. Low-intrusion-style which was good.
Walking distance to the elephant rearing and training centre at Kasauraha.
Good birding opportunities in walking distance from the resort.
Makhan and tented shelter may provide you with tiger views in early morning.
Rhinos very near the resort, elephant rides organised to see rhinos.
Wild elephants sometimes running through the compound...
Canoe trips combined with jungle walks.

Comparison: about average

Directions: 3 km west of Sauraha town

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel