We will take a closer look at each of Nepal’s 12 national parks in Nepal, discussing their distinctive characteristics and what to expect during your visit.

These all national parks are protected and preserved under the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is located in the Terai region of central Nepal and is considered one of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in Asia. The park’s main attraction is the Bengal tiger, but visitors can also see one-horned rhinoceroses, Asian elephants, and other mammals.

Chitwan National Park is home to over 68 mammal species & 450 species of birds, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers. Besides that, there are 700 species of wildlife and unique species of butterfly, moth, and insect species. 

Bardiya National Park

Bardiya National Park is in western Nepal’s Terai region and is renowned for its pristine wilderness, picturesque landscapes, and abundance of wildlife.

The national park has over 400 species of birds, 642 faunal species, 125 recorded species of fish, 23 reptiles, and 53 mammals including the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, barasingha, and Gangetic dolphin.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park is located in the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal with the base of Mount Everest (8848m), the tallest mountain in the world. The park offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers, as well as opportunities for trekking, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities.

• Flora: The subalpine belt in Sagarmatha National Park is home to fir, Himalayan birch, and rhododendron, while juniper and rhododendron are found at elevations of 4,000-5,000m. The park has over 1,000 species of plants.
• Fauna: The park hosts 208 bird species including Impeyan pheasant, bearded vulture, snowcock, and alpine chough, and is recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. Ungulates include Himalayan Thar, Himalayan serow, and musk deer. Snow leopards inhabit elevations above 3,500m and Indian leopards are found in lower-elevation forests.

Langtang National Park

Langtang National Park is renowned for its glaciers, alpine meadows, and forests at high altitudes. It is in the central Himalayan region.

Trekking, climbing, and other outdoor activities are available to visitors, as is the opportunity to observe a variety of wildlife, including Himalayan black bears and red pandas.

There are 14 types of vegetation and 18 types of ecosystems in Langtang National Park. In addition, these range from alpine scrub and perennial ice to upper tropical forests at elevations below 1,000 meters.

Makalu Barun National Park

Makalu Barun National Park is located in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal and is considered one of the most biodiverse areas in the world.

The park offers opportunities for trekking and climbing, as well as the chance to see rare species like the snow leopard, clouded leopard, and red panda.

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey Phoksundo National Park is located in the western Himalayan region of Nepal known for its scenic beauty and diverse ecosystems.

Visitors can explore the forests, waterfalls, and glaciers, as well as its rich cultural heritage, including ancient monasteries and traditional villages.

Khaptad National Park

High-altitude forests, alpine meadows, and wetlands are just some of the diverse landscapes found in Khaptad National Park, which is in the western part of Nepal.

A wide range of animals, including blue sheep and black bears, as well as more than 300 species of birds, live in the park.

Rara National Park

In the western part of Nepal, Rara National Park is famous for its high-altitude lakes and pristine wilderness.

Trekking, boating, and other outdoor activities are available to visitors, as is the chance to observe a variety of wildlife, including blue sheep and Himalayan Tahr.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is renowned for its scenic beauty and extensive cultural heritage. Hence, the park is named after Shivapuri Peak’s 2,732 m (8,963 ft) altitude.

The park is beautiful with its forests, waterfalls, and cultural sites, such as ancient temples and traditional villages.

Shuklaphanta National Park

Shuklaphanta National Park is located in the far western region of Nepal. It was gazetted in 1976 as Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Additionally, the national park is known for its rich biodiversity, including over 400 species of birds, as well as its scenic landscapes, including wetlands and grasslands.

Banke National Park

Banke National Park is located in the western region of Nepal. It was established as 10th Park on the 12th of July 2010. It is also known for its rich biodiversity, including tigers, rhinos, and over 400 species of birds. Furthermore, the park offers opportunities for wildlife viewing, trekking, and other outdoor activities.

Parsa National Park

Parsa National Park is based in the central region of Nepal well-known for its beautiful landscapes and abundant biodiversity. Over 500 species of birds and a wide range of animals, including elephants, tigers, and leopards, are common sights for visitors. Trekking, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor activities are also available in the park.

Related: UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Nepal

National Parks in Nepal Entry Fee

In conclusion, national parks in Nepal offer visitors a chance to experience the country’s incredible natural and cultural wonders. Whether you’re interested in wildlife viewing, outdoor activities, or exploring rich cultural heritage, there’s a national park in Nepal that serves a purpose for you. So, pack your bags and start exploring!

Nepal is a diverse country with unique culture, nature, biodiversity, climate, and so on. Exploring cultural places, wildlife safari, hiking and trekking, white water rafting, and mountain biking are some significant activities you can experience in Nepal. Nepal is popular for its research center on different aspects.

For adventure travelers, Nepal includes various trekking and climbing options over 5000m. Other than trekking and hiking you can experience adventures such as camping, rafting, paragliding, and following activities.

Trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal

Trekking in the Himalayas comes to mind every individual whenever they think of adventure in Nepal. Nepal provides huge ranges of the Himalayas for the foothill adventure. Starting from a day of hiking that can last as a multi-day expedition.

Among the top 10 highest mountains in the world, Nepal consists of 8 highest peaks including Mt. Everest at first. Everest Base Camp Trek is a popular trekking expedition with the highest level of challenges all over the world. Some other popular treks are Annapurna Circuit, Langtang Valley, Manaslu Circuit, etc.

Sightseeing around Kathmandu

Kathmandu Valley provides a range of sightseeing within the valley. Sightseeing in Kathmandu can be covered in a single day; the four major places are Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Swyambhunath, and Bouddhanath Stupa. It takes around 5-6 hours for sightseeing inside the valley.

Besides that, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, 13km from the heart of the valley, Thamel with a cultural taste you can still see in locals. These durbar squares constitute the traditional culture, fine arts, and history, and reflect on the royal dynasty.

Moreover, sightseeing around the valley consists of other popular places i.e. Chovar, Kopan Gumpa, Bhudanilkhanta temple, Garden of Dreams, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, White Monastery, the national botanical garden, etc. Some of these places are listed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Trekking and sightseeing are priorities on to-do lists in Nepal.

Pilgrimage and Religious Tour

Although Nepal is a secular state majority of people follow Hinduism. Another popular religion is Buddhism which originated in Nepal by Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia. Nepal is the base for pilgrimage tours for all religious people including Buddhists, Christians, and Islam.

Pashupatinath Temple, Manakamana Temple, Janaki Mandir, and Muktinath Temple are famous for the Hindu Pilgrimage Tour. Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, Namobuddha, Kapan, and Lumbini are popular for Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour. In addition, Jame Masjid in Rupandehi, Bhairahawa is one of the oldest of its kind in Nepal.

Jungle Safari and Hunting

Nepal is a landlocked country covered with forest and has 12 National Parks, 4 Wildlife Reserves, and 3 Conservation Areas. Most are dense tropical jungles teeming with diverse wildlife and birds.

During the safari, a four-wheeler or an elephant is used. Besides that, people do experience nature walks, bird watching, culture, and village tours.

Chitwan National Park Safari

Chitwan National Park is a biodiversity-rich area in Nepal’s Terai Lowlands. Rare mammals and a wide range of bird species can be found here. The following are some of the appealing wildlife creatures found in Chitwan National Park. Chitwan National Park is the ideal combination of peace and adventure.

Bardia National Park Safari

Bardia National Park is the largest National park in the low land of Nepal. This is also the habitat for endangered animals. The major vegetation and forest type is wooded grassland and Riverline.

These two are the major National park for jungle safari. The following species are found:

• One-horned Rhino 
• Royal Bengal Tiger
• Clouded Leopard
• Elephant
• Gaur
• Swamp Deer 
• Black Buck
• Gharial Crocodile
• Marsh Mugger
• Gangetic Dolphin

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is only a licensed hunting reserve. This park is famous for leopard, goral, Himalayan Thar, black beer, barking deer, wild boar, rhesus macaque, langur, and mouse. The national park has an area of 1325 square km and was established in 1987 AD.

Besides mountainous adventure, jungle safari, and hunting is also major activity to do in Nepal. 

Sunrise view from different parts of Nepal

Illam is the place where the sunrise is first in Nepal. Illam has its own beauty with its tea garden and sunrise view. Also, Nagarkot is the best place for the sunrise and sunset near Kathmandu. From there we can see the eye-catching view of Mt. Everest on a clear day.

Sarangkot is also a popular tourist destination for the sunrise when it comes to sightseeing in Nepal. While you are trekking, Poonhill is the best destination for sunrise and sunset. Nepal is a mountainous country, we can explore the magnificent view of sunrise and sunset from different parts of Nepal.

Kayaking and Rafting

There are different levels of rafting in Nepal. Starting from beginner and advanced level rafting and kayaking are held in Nepal. Grade 1 up to Scale 5 rafting grades are available in Nepal. Nepal is one of the top 10 places for rafting and kayaking.

Trishuli River, Seti River, Bhote Koshi River, Kali Gandaki River, Marsyandi River, Sun Koshi River, Arun River, Karnali River, and Tamur River are the major rivers for white-water rafting. The rafting packages start from a day and can be extended per your choice.

Paragliding and Bungee

Paragliding gives you a breathtaking aerial view with that kick-off adventure. If you like flying then you can fly in the sky of Nepal with the view of mountains, lakes rivers paragliding is the best adventure option. Paragliding in Nepal depends on the weather and the season. The best season for paragliding in Nepal starts from September to early June.

Pokhara, Chapakharka, Kot Danda, Godavari, Phulchowki, and Bandipur are the major place for paragliding in Nepal. Tourists usually experience paragliding in Pokhara.

The bungee in Kushma was listed as the highest bungee jump in the world. Later, it becomes the second-highest bungee jump. The max height is 228 meters and the min-max weight is 45kg and 95kg respectively.

Besides all the activities in Nepal, bungee is a popular one in a short time period for both local and foreign tourists. Bhote Koshi Gorge, Hemja, Pokhara, and Kushma are well-known bungee sports.

Mountain Flight Over Mt Everest

If you are a mountain lover and want to explore Mt. Everest in a short time, a Mountain flight is the best way. Mountain flights operate every morning starting around 6 o’clock from Kathmandu. The flight takes you to the highest peak Mt.Everest and other smaller peaks near Everest. Mountain flight is operated by domestic airlines of Nepal and takes around 1-hour flight.

Read more on 15 of the best things to do in Nepal: experience the Himalayas where you can find possible activities in Nepal.