Chepang Tribal Trek & Chitwan Wildlife Tour
7 Days of Culture and Nature — Chepang Hills, Siraichuli Sunrise & Chitwan Safari
Chepang Tribal Trek & Chitwan Wildlife Tour
Chepang tribe of Nepal, one of the country’s oldest indigenous communities, and experience their simple, soulful way of life. Our 7-day Chepang Hills and Chitwan Homestay Tour invites you to explore the stories and traditions that have remained unchanged for generations, offering a close look at Nepal’s timeless village life and natural beauty. Begin your journey exploring Kathmandu’s sacred heritage, climb the steps of Swayambhunath Stupa for panoramic city views, witness rituals at Pashupatinath Temple, circle the vast Boudhanath Stupa with pilgrims, and wander through Kathmandu Durbar Square with its ancient palaces and temples. Travel through green, terraced farms and along the Trishuli River to reach the quiet Chepang Hills. Here, you’ll live with local families, share home-cooked meals, and join in their daily routines. One morning, rise before dawn to climb Siraichuli Ridge. Watch the sunrise paint the Himalayan peaks in pink and gold. Then travel to Chitwan National Park’s lowland plains. Glide in a wooden canoe along the Rapti River, spotting crocodiles and colorful birds.
Why This Tour
Authentic Chepang homestays: Experience daily life, traditional cooking, and storytelling beside hospitable host families- Siraichuli sunrise: Pre-dawn hike to the highest point in Chepang Hills for 360° Himalayan panoramas
- Cultural deep dive: Engage with animist beliefs, farming practices, and age-old traditions of one of Nepal’s least-explored ethnic groups
- Rural trekking trails: Traverse terraced fields, dense forests, and off-road tracks far from any tourist crowds
- Birdwatching prime: Spot the elusive Spiny Babbler, Himalayan Monal, and over 500 bird species
- Chitwan jungle safari: Track one-horned rhinos, gharial crocodiles, and Bengal tigers by elephant, jeep, and canoe
Detailed Itinerary
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and meet your private guide. Transfer to a comfortable hotel in Thamel and settle into your room. Join a small-group briefing to review the week’s route, safety tips, and cultural customs. Enjoy lunch at the hotel or a nearby café, try local snacks like steamed momos. Spend the afternoon exploring Thamel’s winding lanes, browsing artisan shops, and sampling Nepali tea.
- Airport pickup
- Hotel check-in
- Tour briefing
- Thamel exploration
Begin your tour at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), climbing steps to admire prayer flags, stupas, and city views. Continue to Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River to observe Hindu rituals and temple ceremonies. Enjoy lunch at a rooftop cafe overlooking Boudhanath Stupa, then circle the vast stupa with pilgrims and listen to monks chanting. Head to Kathmandu Durbar Square to explore ancient palaces, intricately carved temples, and the Kumari’s courtyard. Return to Thamel for dinner — consider sampling dal bhat at a traditional Nepali restaurant.
- Swayambhunath Temple
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Durbar Square
Drive out of the Kathmandu Valley through terraced farmlands and alongside the Trishuli River. Arrive at Shaktikhor, then switch to a rugged vehicle for the off-road journey into the Chepang Hills. Reach your homestay village and receive a warm welcome, garland, and blessing. Share afternoon tea with homemade millet bread, then help prepare a family-style dinner over a wood-fired stove. Gather around the hearth for folk stories and songs under the starry hilltop sky.
- Trishuli River valley drive (180 km)
- Chepang village arrival
- Traditional welcome
- Wood-fired cooking
Wake up to the sounds of the village and enjoy a simple breakfast of maize porridge and tea. Walk through green rice fields and nearby forests, learning how Chepang farmers grow their crops. Visit the local school to meet children, share pencils, and join a short Nepali lesson. Come back for lunch of vegetables, lentils, and flatbreads. In the afternoon, try making pottery or weaving baskets with local villagers. In the evening, join a village elder in a nature-spirits ceremony and enjoy traditional dance and songs with your hosts.
- Rice field walks
- Local school visit
- Pottery and basket-weaving
- Traditional ceremony
Wake up early for a hike to Siraichuli Viewpoint, the highest point of the trek. Enjoy stunning sunrise views over the Himalayan ranges: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal. Walk back through the green forests and stop at Sita-Ram Waterfall for a refreshing swim. Return to the village for lunch. Drive to Chitwan National Park (about 3–4 hours) and check in at a comfortable jungle resort. In the evening, watch a Tharu cultural dance performance and learn about local music and traditions.
- Siraichuli sunrise (1,945m)
- 360° Himalayan panorama
- Sita-Ram Waterfall
- Tharu dance performance
Morning safari by elephant or jeep through grasslands and river forests to spot one-horned rhinos, deer, and wild boar. Paddle a wooden canoe along the Rapti River to see gharials (crocodiles) and colorful birds in their natural home. Return to the lodge for lunch, then visit the Elephant Breeding Center to watch playful elephant calves. Take a guided walk through the Sal forest, spotting medicinal plants and listening to birds. In the evening, gather around a campfire for Tharu songs, dance, and stories under the stars.
- Elephant or jeep safari
- Rapti River canoe
- Elephant Breeding Center
- 500+ bird species
Enjoy a final breakfast by the river before packing your bags. Choose to either take a scenic drive back to Kathmandu (5–6 hours) or an optional short flight from Bharatpur (25 minutes). Arrive in Kathmandu with some free time for last-minute shopping in Thamel or a relaxing visit to a café. Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight, taking with you memories of Nepal’s hidden gems.
- Drive or fly to Kathmandu
- Thamel shopping
- Airport transfer
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Private Tourist standard A/C vehicles for all transfers & sightseeing according to number of guests
- 7 Nights / 8 Days stay in comfortable tourist-standard hotels
- All Meals Included (AP Plan) – 8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 8 Dinners (Buffet)
- Drinking mineral water throughout the trip
- Entrance tickets for sightseeing points
- Friendly & experienced driver-guide
Not Included
- Personal expenses not mentioned in the package
- Alcoholic & additional beverages
- Donations, tips & additional expenses caused by adverse weather conditions
What to Expect
Chepang Tribal Culture
The Chepang are one of Nepal’s oldest indigenous communities. Experience their animist beliefs, farming practices, traditional cooking, and age-old traditions in a remote hill village.
Siraichuli Sunrise
A pre-dawn hike to 1,945m rewards you with a 360° panoramic view of Nepal’s greatest peaks — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal lit up by the rising sun.
Chitwan Wildlife
One of Asia’s finest national parks. Track one-horned rhinos, Bengal tigers, gharial crocodiles, and over 500 bird species through jeep safari, canoe rides, and jungle walks.
Homestay Immersion
Stay in traditional Chepang homes. Cook over wood fires, learn basket-weaving, attend nature-spirit ceremonies, and share stories with your host family.
Off the Beaten Path
This tour takes you to remote areas rarely visited by tourists. The Chepang Hills and Siraichuli trek are far from the usual tourist circuits.
Moderate Difficulty
The Siraichuli sunrise hike is the most challenging part — a 2–3 hour pre-dawn ascent. The rest of the tour is comfortable with vehicle transfers.
Best Time to Visit
Autumn
Oct – NovBest weather for hiking and wildlife. Clear Himalayan views from Siraichuli. Comfortable temperatures.
Spring
Mar – MayWarm weather, blooming forests. Great for Chitwan wildlife as animals gather near water. Good visibility.
Winter
Dec – FebCold mornings in the hills but clear skies. Chitwan is pleasant. Fewer tourists.
Monsoon
Jun – AugLush green but leeches in the hills. Chitwan is very humid. Roads may be affected. Not recommended.
Travel Summary
| Route | Distance | Duration | Major Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribhuvan Airport → Kathmandu (Hotel) | 8 km | 30 minutes | Kathmandu |
| Hotel → Kathmandu Sightseeing | 25 km (total) | Full day | Kathmandu |
| Kathmandu → Chepang Hills (via Shaktikhor) | 180 km | 5–6 hours | Dhading/Chitwan |
| Chepang Village → Local trekking areas | 10–15 km | Walking/hiking | Dhading/Chitwan |
| Chepang Hills → Chitwan National Park | 120 km | 3–4 hours | Chitwan |
| Jungle Lodge → Safari areas (Chitwan) | 30–50 km | Safari activities | Chitwan |
| Chitwan → Kathmandu Airport | 200 km | 5–6 hrs (road) / 25 mins (flight) | Kathmandu |
About the Chepang Tribe
The Chepang are an indigenous Tibeto-Burman ethnic group residing in the mid-hill ridges of central Nepal, chiefly in Dhading, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Gorkha, and Tanahun districts. They speak the Chepang language (Chyo-bang), which features a unique duodecimal (base-12) counting system. Traditionally semi-nomadic, the Chepang combined shifting cultivation of maize, millet, and bananas with hunting, fishing, and foraging for wild roots and fruits. Today, most are settled farmers, though low soil fertility forces reliance on forest resources and wage labor. Chepang society is largely egalitarian and practices a blend of animism and Hinduism. Key cultural events include the Nwagi harvest festival and observance of Dashain and Tihar. Religious identification is roughly 65% Hindu, 25% Christian, and 10% animist. Persistent challenges include food insecurity from marginal lands, limited access to education and healthcare, and environmental threats like deforestation and erosion. Recent development efforts focus on agroforestry revival, food security, and cultural preservation in partnership with Chepang communities.
How to Reach
Arrive in Kathmandu
FlightFly into Tribhuvan International Airport. We arrange airport pickup.
Drive to Chepang Hills
5–6 hrs5–6 hour drive from Kathmandu through Trishuli Valley, switching to rugged vehicle for the final stretch.
Drive to Chitwan
3–4 hrs3–4 hour drive from Chepang Hills to Chitwan National Park.
Return to Kathmandu
5–6 hrs or 25 min flight5–6 hour drive or 25-minute flight from Chitwan to Kathmandu.
Tour Photos
Common Questions
No special permit is required. All local fees and homestay contributions are covered in the tour price.
The Chepang are an indigenous Tibeto-Burman ethnic group living in Nepal’s mid-hill ridges, known for their semi-nomadic history and close ties to forest ecosystems.
The ascent is moderate, steep in sections, but only for a few hours. No technical climbing gear is needed.
Rooms are simple and clean, often shared dormitory style or twin beds. Facilities include basic bedding, a private or shared bathroom, and a shared cooking area.
Yes. Children can enjoy simple village activities like planting, weaving, and crafts. The hikes on Days 4–5 need moderate fitness — kids 10+ usually do well with short breaks.
