Located in the south west and spread over 968 km Bardia National Park is one of the largest and most undisturbed protected areas in the Tarai. Its most famous inhabitant was until recently Gajraj, touted as Asia’s biggest wild elephant which used to frequently travel across Nepal and India through the forest corridors. However the park has also been successful in protecting the endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, One-horned Rhinoceros and the Asiatic Elephant. Karnali, one of Nepal’s biggest rivers borders in the park in the west, while the Churia hill range forms the northern border. The Babai river, one of the tributaries of the Karnali river flows right through the park. The thick forests of the Shorea Robusta and grasslands render this region an ideal home to some 30 different mammals, 250 species of birds like the Bengal Florican, Silver Eared Mesia and Sarus as well as several species of reptiles. The Gangetic Dolphin can also be frequently spotted in the Karnali river.

Bardia National Park is 95km from Nepalgunj. There are a few lodges and resorts around the park and the best season to visit is from October – March.

Spread over 3555 sq km, Shey-Phoksundo, Nepal’s biggest national park is located in the trans-Himalayan region of Dolpo. The park gets its name from Phoksundo, a beautiful turquoise blue Himalayan lake in the southern area. To the north are the peaks of Kanjiroba and Hiechuli, both of which are above 6000m. With diverse terrain and altitude variation, the park is spread over Dolpa and Mugu districts and supports a broad range of wildlife and vegetation with coniferous forests in the south side and high alpine grassy meadows in the north. The park is home to 286 species of plants many of which have high medicinal value. Wild sheep, Ghoral, Musk Deer, Snow Leopard, Wild Dog, Marmot, Weasel, Mouse Hare, monkeys, Himalayan Thar, Himalayan black bear and Jackals can also be seen. There are over 200 species of birds including the Yellow-throated Marten, Tibetan Partridge, Wood Snip, White-throated Tit, Impheyan and Cheer Pheasant, Tibetan Snow Cock, Tibetan Twit, Himalayan Griffon & Lammergeyer.

The best season to visit the park is between June – September as the area falls in the trans-Himalayan region and receives little rainfall. Visitors usually fly to Juphal airport in Dolpo from Nepalgunj or Pokhara and take a three-day walk to the park headquarters in Sumduwa.

This is Nepal’s smallest national park with the biggest lake. Covering an area of 106 sq km Rara National Park is located in the far north-west districts of Mugu and Jumla. Lake Rara, with its crystal clear water is the heart of the park and one of the primary sources of the Mugu Karnali River. The area around the lake is dominated by sub alpine forests of blue pine, rhododendron, juniper, spruce, oak and cypress supports a wide variety of wildlife including Musk Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard, Jackal, Himalayan Thar etc. Migratory birds and water fowl like Coots, Great-crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Red Crested Pochard, Mallard, Common Teal, Merganser and Gulls. The Snow Trout is the only fish recorded in the lake so far.

Rara National Park is 3 days walk from Jumla or a weeks trek from Surkhet. You will have to go through Nepalganj to reach both destinations. The easiest way however is a n hour long charter flight to Gamghadi from where Lake Rara is an easy 2 hour walk. The best season to visit the park is in spring or in late autumn. There are no lodges in the park.

Named after Khaptad Swami, a renowned scholar and ascetic who lived here for almost five decades in the mid 1900’s, Khaptad National Park is located in the far western region of Nepal and covers an area of 225 sq km. The park has a unique ecosystem that is a combination of subtropical and temperate climate. To the north of the park is the Saipal Himal mountain range and to the south the rolling hills of the Mahabharat. 256 bird species of which 175 are residential, 135 species of flowers, 224 species of medicinal herbs, 20 species of mammals have been observed in the park. 22 patches of open highland meadow called Patan in Nepali are spread across the park. The park also has a small lake known as Khaptad Daha in the north eastern side where there is a festival takes place every autumn. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit the park with temperatures ranging from 10-20°c. There are several historical temples surrounding this area and an annual celebration of Ganga Dashhara is held here every full moon of May. Another religious site is Sahara Linga at 3,200 meters, the highest point of the park. Other religious areas in the park include Ganesh Temple, Nagdhunga, and Kedardhunga.

The park does not have lodging facilities so visitors need to be prepared for camping. Khaptad National Park is three days walk from Dipayal which is a short flight away from Nepalganj. The Park headquarter is located in a place called Khaptad.

Spread across 1710 sq km and spread over the northern districts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchowk districts in the mountainous terrain of central Nepal, the Langtang National Park is one of the most popular trekking destinations. The beautifully conserved area boasts of several lakes in the south, the most famous of which is Gosaikunda at an elevation of 4380m in Rasuwa district, where there is a major festival every August full moon. High altitude jungles with diverse vegetation and wildlife, scenic lakes, glaciers and Himalayan peaks combine to make Langtang an attractive destination for visitors. The park is home to several endangered species like the Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Wild Dog, Pika, Muntjac, Musk Deer, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan Thar, Ghoral etc as well as birds like Impheyan Pheasant.

A 117 km road from Kathmandu takes you to Dhunche in Rasuwa district from where most trekkers start walking. There are lodges along the trail but visitors can also camp out. The best season to visit Langtang are in late spring March – May or in autumn October - November.

Covering 2330 sq km Makalu Barun National Park is spread over the districts of Sankhuwasabha and Solukhumbu in northeast Nepal. The park has a unique ecosystem that is a combination of sub tropical to alpine forests and boasts of 47 species of orchids, 67 species of medicinal herbs, 25 of Nepal’s 30 varieties of rhododendron, 19 bamboo species, 15 oak species, 48 species of primrose and 86 species of fodder trees. 400 species of birds, including the rare Spotted Wren Babbler and the Olive Ground Warbler, offer excellent bird watching opportunities for ornithologists. The endangered Red Panda, Snow Leopard, and other usual suspects such as the Himalayan Black Bear, Clouded Leopard, Ghoral, Tahr, Wild Boar, barking deer, Himalayan Marmot, Weasel, Langur monkey and Serow can also be seen in the park. In addition the Arun River with its 84 varieties of fish originates in the park and flows down south to converge in the Saptakoshi River.

The only way to the Makalu Barun National Park is to fly to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu and take a six day walk that brings you to the park headquarters in Seduwa. The best season to visit the park is in late spring or autumn. There are no proper lodging facilities so trekkers have to rely on tented camps.

The former hunting grounds of the erstwhile rulers of the country, Chitwan National Park in south central Nepal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The park covers and area of 932 sq km and is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger and the One horned Rhinoceros among the 50 or so mammals, 526 birds and 49 amphibians reptiles. The Naryani and Rapti rivers provide habitat to the endangered Snouted Gharial, Marsh Mugger and the Gangetic Dolphin. The bird population includes the likes of the Paradise Flycatcher, Indian Pitta and parakeets and migratory birds like the Brahminy Duck, Pintail, Bar-headed Geese, Cormorants and other feathered friends from Siberia. The Tharu people who are an indigenous ethnic community who live around the park collect the tall Elephant grass for use during late winter and early spring.

Chitwan is five hours drive from Kathmandu. An old runway strip in Meghauli is also used for charter flights. There are seven world class safari lodges inside the park and numerous other hotels and lodges outside the park. Visitors to the park are taken on jungle safaris on elephant back, jeeps and nature walks as well as boat rides in the Narayani and Rapti rivers. The park headquarters at Kasara is 21Km from Bharatpur which is 20 minutes by air or 146 km by road from Kathmandu. The best seasons to visit the park is from October to February when it’s not too hot.

Sagarmatha National Park is home to the world’s highest peak Mt. Everest whose Nepali name is Sagarmatha or “mother of the skies”. The park was enlisted as a World Heritage Site in 1979. Located in the Solukhumbu district in north east Nepal the park is spread over 1148 sq km. Most of the peaks in the park are over 6000 m. Besides the parks obvious natural heritage the region is also home to the Sherpa people, famous for their mountaineering skills. The park is home to many species of wildlife found in the mountain region of Nepal.

Most visitors take a 30 minute flight to Lukla from Kathmandu and walk up for two days to get a glimpse of Mt. Everest. As one of the most popular trekking destination in Nepal there are plenty of resorts, hotels and lodges in the park. The best season to visit Sagarmatha is from October – November and March – May.

Located less than 30 minutes drive north of Kathmandu and spread over 144 sq km Shivapuri National Park is a major watershed and supplies the capital with its drinking water. With subtropical and temperate climatic zones, it has diverse vegetation composed of pine, oak, rhododendron and is rich in wild mushrooms of which there are at least 129 species here. Himalayan Black Bear, Spotted Leopard, Jungle Cat, and Rhesus Monkeys abound in the jungles here as do some 177 species of birds including 9 endangered species, and over 100 species of butterflies.

The park is also a gateway to trekking destinations like Gosainkunda, Helambu, Kagarkot and the Langtang National Park. The area also holds significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. Only 11km away from Kathmandu the best time to visit the park is in spring or late autumn and winter.

Formed by the raging Saptakoshi river the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is spread over an area of 176 sq km and is known the world over as a birdwatcher’s paradise. The reserve spreads over Saptari and Sunsari districts in the eastern part of the country and was originally created to preserve the only remaining herd of Arna Bhaisi (Bubalus Arnee) or wild buffaloes in Nepal. The reserve mainly consists of grassland with patches of scrub and deciduous riverside forests. Today the reserve is known for its 439 species of birds, some of which fly all the way from Siberia during winter. It also has one of the few elephant stables of Asia. The Koshi river is also home to the Marsh Mugger Crocodile and the Gangetic Dolphin.

The reserve is 40km from Biratnagar which is around 50 minutes flight from Kathmandu. There are several resorts & tented camps outside the reserve. The best season to visit here is from October to March.

Spread over 499 sq km the Parsa Wildlife Reserve covers parts of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Bara districts. It is mostly covered with Shorea Robusta forests and provides habitat for animals like the Asiatic Elephant, the Royal Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Blue Bull, Wild Dog and numerous species of deer and monkeys. The reserve is also rich in bird species of which there are 527 kinds like the endangered Great Hornbill, Peafowl, Red Jungle Fowl, flycatchers and woodpeckers. Reptiles and especially snakes like the King Cobra, Common Cobra, Krait, Rat Snake and the Indian Python are also found here.

The reserve is 7 km from Simara which is around 15 minutes flight from Kathmandu. There are a dew resorts in the area which provide jungle safari, elephant rides, jungle walks and jeep drives. The best season to visit Parsa is from October to March.
 

Covering an area of 305 sq km the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is located in the far-eastern lowland Terai district of Kanchanpur. This is Nepal’s second largest wildlife reserve in the Terai and has vast expanses of plain grasslands and Sal forests along with marshes and wetlands. The park was originally reserved as a hunting area but was later converted to a wildlife reserve to protect the Swamp Deer of which there currently are around 2000 along with herds of the wild Asiatic Elephant as well as the Royal Bengal Tiger. Other animals found here include the Spotted Deer, Blue Bull, Barking Deer, Hog Deer, Wild Boar, Leopard, Jackal, Langur and Rhesus monkeys. The reserve is also home to the Sarus Crane, Swamp Francolin, Gross Owl, Warblers, Flycatchers and the endangered Bengal Florican and reptiles like the Marsh Mugger crocodile, Cobra and python.

Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is less than half an hours drive from Dhangadi which
is around an hour and half’s flight from Kathmandu. There are a few lodges around the reserve and the best time to visit here is between February and March.

Nepal’s only protected area which allowed controlled big game hunting, the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve is spread over 1325 sq km in Myagdi and Baglung district, below the Dhaulagiri range in west Nepal. The altitude here begins from 3,000 m and reaches as high as 7000 m. The main attraction for big game hunters is the Blue Sheep, which is abundant in the area. Hunters also get pheasants and partridges in viable populations for hunting.

Dhorpatan is four days walk from Baglung which is 72 km from Pokhara. The best game season is from between March – April and October – November. There are no lodges in the reserve.

Considered among the top ten trekking circuits in the world the Annapurna Conservation Area covers 7,629 sq km and is spread around Kaski, Mustang, Manang and Lamjung districts in north central Nepal. This is one of Nepal’s most diverse protected areas starting with an altitude of 790 meters and reaching as high as 8,091 meters to the summit of Mt. Annapurna. Due to its popularity there are numerous tea houses and lodges all along the trails. The upper regions of the Annapurna Conservation Area fall in the trans Himalayan regions of Mustang and Manang both of which are culturally closer to Tibet. Lake Tilicho at an altitude of 4,919 meters in Manang district is one of the destinations for many trekkers while the Thorang- La pass between Mustang and Manang at 3500 m has gained notoriety. Muktinath in lower Mustang is a major pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus alike.

Upper Mustang region has recently gained a surge of visitors after the discovery of more than 2000 year Buddhist old murals in cave dwellings here. The walled city of Lo Manthang the capital of upper Mustang is also one of the most popular destinations.

Trekkers to the region generally start off from Besisahar in Lamjung or Berithanti near Pokhara. Both towns are easily reachable by road from Pokhara or Kathmandu. The best season to visit the area is from March to May or from September to November. There are plenty of lodges and tea houses along the trail.

Located in the north eastern most district of Taplejung the Kanchanjunga Conservation Area covers 2,035 sq km and is bordered by Tibet in the north and India in the east. It gets its name from the Kanchanjunga the world’s third highest mountain. All 30 varieties of rhododendron species found in Nepal and 69 varieties of orchids can be seen here. Wildlife includes the endangered Snow Leopard and the Red Panda along with other more common species like the Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer Red Panda, Blue Sheep and Rhesus Macaw. Around 202 species of birds including Impheyan Pheasant, Red-billed Blue Magpie, and the Drongo are found in the area.

Kanchanjung is a relatively virgin territory and there are very basic tea houses along the trail. The trail starts from Taplejung which can be reached by air from Kathmandu. The best seasons to go to Kanchanjunga is between March to May and September to November.

The Manaslu Conservation Area in Gorkha district covers 1663 sq km and starts at 600 meters above sea level. It is home to the 8th highest peak in the world Mt. Manaslu at 8,163 m. 29 species of mammals including Snow Leopard, Musk Deer and Himalayan Thar and an equally numerous species of birds can be seen here.

Manaslu Conservation Area can be reached from Dhading which is 87 km from Kathmandu from Besisahar 106 km from Pokhara. The best season to visit Manaslu is from March-May