Travelling In Nepal Without Trekking
Many travellers to Nepal are trekking enthusiasts eager to reach Everest Base Camp or trek the Annapurna Circuit.
However, there's more to Nepal than trekking, so if you're planning a Nepal trip but feel up to the challenge, there are plenty of other options available.
You'll find a real mix of travellers in Nepal too - including a hige amount of non-trekkers - so you don't need to feel under pressure to trek.
Royal Chitwan National Park is situated in the sub-tropical lowlands of Nepal, known as the Terai.
This is a vast area of emerald rice paddies and typical rural villages.
The park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, including the king of the jungle, the Bengal Tiger.
The floodplain habitat of the Terai is one of the best tiger habitats in the world.
Based on recent and on-going research, it is thought that there are around 82 breeding tigers in the park which given the general decline in the worlds tiger population is a relative abundance! Apart from the obvious draw of the tigers, leopards are also present on the peripheries of the park.
There are also mugger crocodiles, fishing cats, jungle cats, clouded leopards, leopard cats, marbled cats, golden jackals, Indian wild dogs, sloth bears, Bengal foxes, Spotted linsangs, several species of mongoose, honey badgers, and smooth-coated otters inhabit the numerous creeks and rivulets.
Probably the most popular sight in the park is the one-horned rhino which are very easy to spot.
A good way to view these incredible beasts is on the back of an elephant.
Perched high on the back of your Chitwan elephant, you'll be safely out of reach of anything lurking in the tall grass.
The elephant seats four people so you'll be sharing with others! You may also be able to spot rhino during a walking tour of the park with a guide, who will know the area like the back of his hand.
If you are lucky enough to spot a rhino when you are on the ground this is an incredible experience that will probably send a shiver of excitement up your spine as you realise how close you are to this giant animal.
Your experienced guide will whisper clear instructions about safety and how to navigate your way past the beast in safety.
You might also like to explore the park at dawn by boat.
In the morning you and your guide can take a wooden canoe down the Rapti river.
This will give you a very different view of the park.
There is an abundance of bird life and you may see crocodiles sunning themselves on the shore as the sun comes up.
Close to the Park is the Trisuli River.
This is the perfect spot for rafting and makes a good contrast to the culture of Kathmandu and trekking in the mountain air.
You'll float along the mesmerising Trisuli River through canyons and under hanging bridges.
Don't get too comfortable though...
it's not all gentle river rafting.
You'll definitely get an adrenaline rush or two as you rocket down a couple of exciting rapids.
For travellers who like to get to grips with the culture of an area by spending time with the local people, this is also possible during a stay in and around the park.
The Terai region is home to the Tharu tribe, many of whom are the guides inside the park because they know the area and the animals' behaviour better than anyone.
There are also several small outlying villages where you can see how the Tharu live and put something back into the community.
You can harvest jungle vegetables, prepare food and dance the night away around a camp fire with the villagers.
They will show you how they live and take you for a walk through the jungle to your watchtower, where you'll spend the night with a guide.
This is a truly amazing experience as the sounds of the jungle are amplified in the darkness and you really do feel at one with nature! It will definitely be the highlight of any Nepal trip.
However, there's more to Nepal than trekking, so if you're planning a Nepal trip but feel up to the challenge, there are plenty of other options available.
You'll find a real mix of travellers in Nepal too - including a hige amount of non-trekkers - so you don't need to feel under pressure to trek.
Royal Chitwan National Park is situated in the sub-tropical lowlands of Nepal, known as the Terai.
This is a vast area of emerald rice paddies and typical rural villages.
The park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, including the king of the jungle, the Bengal Tiger.
The floodplain habitat of the Terai is one of the best tiger habitats in the world.
Based on recent and on-going research, it is thought that there are around 82 breeding tigers in the park which given the general decline in the worlds tiger population is a relative abundance! Apart from the obvious draw of the tigers, leopards are also present on the peripheries of the park.
There are also mugger crocodiles, fishing cats, jungle cats, clouded leopards, leopard cats, marbled cats, golden jackals, Indian wild dogs, sloth bears, Bengal foxes, Spotted linsangs, several species of mongoose, honey badgers, and smooth-coated otters inhabit the numerous creeks and rivulets.
Probably the most popular sight in the park is the one-horned rhino which are very easy to spot.
A good way to view these incredible beasts is on the back of an elephant.
Perched high on the back of your Chitwan elephant, you'll be safely out of reach of anything lurking in the tall grass.
The elephant seats four people so you'll be sharing with others! You may also be able to spot rhino during a walking tour of the park with a guide, who will know the area like the back of his hand.
If you are lucky enough to spot a rhino when you are on the ground this is an incredible experience that will probably send a shiver of excitement up your spine as you realise how close you are to this giant animal.
Your experienced guide will whisper clear instructions about safety and how to navigate your way past the beast in safety.
You might also like to explore the park at dawn by boat.
In the morning you and your guide can take a wooden canoe down the Rapti river.
This will give you a very different view of the park.
There is an abundance of bird life and you may see crocodiles sunning themselves on the shore as the sun comes up.
Close to the Park is the Trisuli River.
This is the perfect spot for rafting and makes a good contrast to the culture of Kathmandu and trekking in the mountain air.
You'll float along the mesmerising Trisuli River through canyons and under hanging bridges.
Don't get too comfortable though...
it's not all gentle river rafting.
You'll definitely get an adrenaline rush or two as you rocket down a couple of exciting rapids.
For travellers who like to get to grips with the culture of an area by spending time with the local people, this is also possible during a stay in and around the park.
The Terai region is home to the Tharu tribe, many of whom are the guides inside the park because they know the area and the animals' behaviour better than anyone.
There are also several small outlying villages where you can see how the Tharu live and put something back into the community.
You can harvest jungle vegetables, prepare food and dance the night away around a camp fire with the villagers.
They will show you how they live and take you for a walk through the jungle to your watchtower, where you'll spend the night with a guide.
This is a truly amazing experience as the sounds of the jungle are amplified in the darkness and you really do feel at one with nature! It will definitely be the highlight of any Nepal trip.
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