Prayer flags streaming from the gilded spire of Boudhanath Stupa between tall flagpoles topped with gilded finials, the white dome below in late afternoon sun

Lumbini and Chitwan TourFour Sides of Nepal, Slowly

The Lumbini and Chitwan Tour is a 5-day private tour by road from Kathmandu: a full day at Swayambhunath, a full day at Boudhanath, then south to Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, and on to the forests and Tharu villages of Chitwan. You travel with your own guide and vehicle, and the 6-day and 7-day versions add time in Lumbini and Chitwan.

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4 placesIn five days

Journey at a Glance

Duration: 5 DaysPlus an arrival day; 6 or 7 days optional
Difficulty: EasySightseeing and short walks
Best Season: Spring and autumn
Group Size: 2 or moreRates fall at 12 and 21
Start and End: Kathmandu to ChitwanPrivate vehicle, via Lumbini

Package Cost

USD500

per person

(Group of 21 or more)

2 to 11 travellers: $600
12 to 20 travellers: $570
21 and above: $500
6-day version: +$100
7-day version: +$200

Last updated 16 October 2026

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Overview

What is the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour?

The Lumbini and Chitwan Tour covers four places in five days: Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, the two great stupas of Kathmandu, then Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, and Chitwan National Park with its Tharu villages. Each stupa gets a full day rather than an hour, and the 6-day and 7-day versions add a day in Chitwan, or a day each in Lumbini and Chitwan.

Swayambhunath is a hilltop stupa about 3 km west of central Kathmandu, sacred to Newar and Tibetan Buddhists, with Hindu shrines on the same hill. UNESCO identifies its great stupa as the oldest Buddhist monument in the Kathmandu Valley. Pilgrims walk clockwise round the stupa and turn the prayer wheels that ring the hill.

Boudhanath, about 8 km east of central Kathmandu, is the largest stupa in Nepal by UNESCO’s description, and sacred to Tibetan, Himalayan and Newar Buddhists. Monasteries surround it, and pilgrims walk the kora round the dome from early morning into the evening.

Lumbini, in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, is where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha. The Maya Devi Temple stands over the birthplace in the Sacred Garden, beside the Sacred Pond and the pillar that the emperor Ashoka erected in 249 BCE, whose inscription names the site. Lumbini has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and monasteries built by Buddhist countries from across Asia line its monastic zone.

Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s lowland forest and grassland park, is home to the one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles and a wide range of birds, and the Tharu people have lived on its edge for generations.

The whitewashed dome of Boudhanath Stupa seen from its terrace, the gilded tower with painted Buddha eyes above it and prayer flags strung from the pinnacle against a blue sky

“A full day at each of the great stupas.”

Before You Book

Who the Tour Suits, and What to Know

The Lumbini and Chitwan Tour suits Buddhist pilgrims, first-time visitors to Nepal and families who want the main Buddhist sites at an easy pace, with no trekking. The walking is short and on the flat at Boudhanath, Lumbini and Chitwan. Swayambhunath’s traditional eastern stairway is very steep, but a road climbs almost to the top, so travellers who find stairs hard can still reach the stupa. The longest day is the drive from Kathmandu to Lumbini, about 280 km.

The tour runs as a private trip on the dates you choose, mainly in spring, March to May, and autumn, September to November, and in other months on request. October to March is the most comfortable time in the Terai and the best for wildlife in Chitwan. From April to June the plains are very hot, and Rupandehi, Lumbini’s district, passed 40 °C in April 2023. The monsoon, from mid-June to mid-September, floods rivers and can limit park activities, and in December and January fog can delay flights and roads. Buddha Jayanti, the Buddha’s birthday, falls on the full moon of Baisakh in April or May, and is one of the busiest days of the year at Swayambhunath.

At the Maya Devi Temple, take off your shoes and dress modestly, and do not photograph inside: photography is allowed in the garden around it. At Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, walk clockwise round the stupa. Entrance fees for Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Lumbini and Chitwan National Park are included in the price.

As of October 2026, Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Citizens of other SAARC countries receive up to 30 days free once in a visa year. Everyone else buys a tourist visa, which costs USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days. Travel insurance is not included.

The 5-day tour costs USD 600 per person for 2 to 11 travellers, USD 570 for 12 to 20 and USD 500 for 21 or more, and a single traveller is quoted on request. The 6-day version adds one more day in Chitwan for USD 100 per person, and the 7-day version a full day each in Lumbini and Chitwan for USD 200. Other extra nights or transport are quoted separately.

The jeep safari, canoe trip and Tharu cultural programme are confirmed with the group before booking and are covered only when your quotation lists them. The flight from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, about 35 minutes, can be booked for groups that want to save time, at the current airline fare. The tour ends in Chitwan, and the drive back to Kathmandu, about 150 to 170 km and 5 to 7 hours, is arranged separately unless your quotation includes it.

A 30% deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is paid in Kathmandu before the tour begins. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost. A single room and child prices are quoted on request, and Indian travellers can discuss paying in rupees.

Journey Highlights

A full day each at Swayambhunath and Boudhanath
Boudhanath in the evening
The Buddha’s birthplace at Lumbini
The Sacred Pond and Ashoka Pillar
Chitwan wildlife and Tharu villages

Detailed Itinerary

5 DaysKathmandu, Lumbini and Chitwan

The 5 days at a glance
Day	Route	Overnight	Travel
Arrival	Arrive in Kathmandu	Kathmandu	Airport pickup
Day 01	Swayambhunath and spiritual Kathmandu	Kathmandu	By road or the stairway to Swayambhunath
Day 02	A full day at Boudhanath	Kathmandu	A day at Boudhanath
Day 03	Kathmandu to Lumbini	Lumbini	A full day by road, about 280 km, or a 35-minute flight
Day 04	Lumbini to Chitwan	Chitwan	About 3 to 4 hours by road
Day 05	Chitwan wildlife day	Tour ends	Jeep safari, then about 5 to 7 hours by road to Kathmandu

ArrivalArrive in Kathmandu
A representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and takes you by private transfer to your hotel. After check-in the rest of the day is free, with a welcome and trip briefing and help with any local arrangements. This day comes before the five days of the tour. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 01Swayambhunath and spiritual Kathmandu
A full day on Kathmandu’s spiritual and cultural heritage, beginning at Swayambhunath Stupa on its hill about 3 km west of the city centre, reached by the steep eastern stairway or by road almost to the top. Walk the prayer wheels clockwise, watch the devotees and their rituals, learn the history and symbolism of the stupa, and visit the temples and shrines around it, with their Buddhist and Hindu elements. There is time for meditation and quiet reflection, the views over the Kathmandu Valley, photography, and the local markets and daily life of the old city nearby. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02A full day at Boudhanath
The whole day at Boudhanath, about 8 km east of the city centre, at a slower pace. Walk the kora clockwise round the stupa, turn the prayer wheels, watch the pilgrims and learn what the stupa’s symbols mean. Visit Buddhist monasteries, learn about Tibetan Buddhist traditions and thangka painting, and meet the local Buddhist community where that is appropriate. Time for meditation, prayer and yourself, and Boudhanath in the quiet of the evening. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 03Kathmandu to Lumbini
After breakfast, a full day by private vehicle to Lumbini, about 280 km. Groups that want to save time can fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa in about 35 minutes and transfer the last 18 km to Lumbini, with the flight charged at the current fare. After check-in, explore the Sacred Garden: the Maya Devi Temple and the marker of the Buddha’s birthplace inside it, the Ashoka Pillar and the Sacred Pond, then the international monasteries of the monastic zone and the World Peace Pagoda, with time for meditation and prayer. Overnight in Lumbini.
Day 04Lumbini to Chitwan
After breakfast, about 3 to 4 hours by private vehicle east across the Terai to Chitwan. Visit a Tharu village, walk through it and learn about Tharu culture and the local community, with a riverside or sunset outing and a Tharu cultural programme when one is on. Overnight at a hotel or resort in Chitwan.
Day 05Chitwan wildlife day
An early start in Chitwan National Park for jungle exploration, looking for one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles and birdlife, by jeep safari, on a nature walk and by canoe when park and local conditions allow and your quotation includes them. Tigers can be seen but are never guaranteed. Time for the local communities and Tharu culture, and the tour ends after the day’s activities. The drive back to Kathmandu takes about 5 to 7 hours.
6-day versionOne more day in Chitwan
An extra day in Chitwan: an early morning jungle safari, bird watching, a nature walk, canoeing, the Tharu village and a Tharu cultural experience, local food, free time at the resort and the sunset. Adds USD 100 per person.
7-day versionA full day each in Lumbini and Chitwan
Arrival day in Kathmandu, then day 1 Swayambhunath and Kathmandu, day 2 Boudhanath and Buddhist culture, day 3 Kathmandu to Lumbini, day 4 a full day in Lumbini, day 5 Lumbini to Chitwan, day 6 a full day of wildlife in Chitwan, and day 7 Chitwan to Kathmandu or onward. Adds USD 200 per person to the 5-day price.

What's Included

Comfortable tourist-standard hotels throughout the tour, a hotel or resort in Chitwan, twin or double sharing, with breakfast, and the extra nights of the 6-day or 7-day version
Airport pickup and private transfer to your hotel
Private tourist vehicle for sightseeing, Kathmandu to Lumbini and Lumbini to Chitwan
Professional English-speaking private guide, with a Hindi-speaking guide on request, subject to availability, cultural, historical and Buddhist heritage interpretation, a Lumbini sightseeing guide and a Chitwan local or nature guide where required
Entrance fees and permits for Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Lumbini and Chitwan National Park, and other applicable sightseeing fees
Sama Yatra support: airport assistance, hotel and transport coordination, local help, and emergency and logistical support

What's Not Included

International airfare
Nepal tourist visa
The flight from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa, booked at the current fare if wanted
Transport from Chitwan back to Kathmandu, unless your quotation includes it
Jeep safari, canoe trip and Tharu cultural programme, unless your quotation lists them
Lunch and dinner
Drinks and bottled water, including alcoholic drinks
Travel insurance
Medical expenses and emergency evacuation
A single room, quoted on request
Personal expenses, laundry, phone and SIM costs, and shopping
Tips for the guide and driver
Optional activities
Camera and video fees where they apply
Costs caused by flight cancellations, road closures, weather or other unforeseen events
Anything not listed as included

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

How many days do you need for Lumbini and Chitwan?

The Lumbini and Chitwan Tour takes 5 days from Kathmandu, after a separate arrival day. A 6-day version adds a day in Chitwan, and a 7-day version adds a full day each in Lumbini and Chitwan.

How much does a Lumbini and Chitwan tour cost?

The 5-day Lumbini and Chitwan Tour costs USD 600 per person for 2 to 11 travellers, USD 570 for 12 to 20 and USD 500 for 21 or more. A single traveller is quoted on request, and the 6-day and 7-day versions cost USD 100 and USD 200 more per person.

How far is Lumbini from Kathmandu by road?

Lumbini is about 280 km from Kathmandu by road, a full day’s drive. The quicker way is a flight of about 35 minutes to Bhairahawa and 18 km by road to Lumbini, which this tour charges separately at the current fare.

What is there to see in Lumbini?

Lumbini’s Sacred Garden holds the Maya Devi Temple over the Buddha’s birthplace, the Ashoka Pillar of 249 BCE and the Sacred Pond. Beyond it are the international monasteries of the monastic zone and the World Peace Pagoda.

Can you take photos inside the Maya Devi Temple?

No. Photography is not allowed inside the Maya Devi Temple at Lumbini, but you can photograph the Sacred Garden around it. Shoes come off before you enter.

What is the best time to visit Lumbini and Chitwan?

October to March is the most comfortable time in the Terai and the best for wildlife in Chitwan. April to June is very hot, the monsoon from mid-June to mid-September can limit park activities, and fog can delay travel in December and January.

What are the dates for the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour?

There are no fixed departures. Sama Yatra runs the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour as a private trip on the dates you choose, mainly in spring and autumn and in other months on request.

Is the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour suitable for older travellers?

Yes. The Lumbini and Chitwan Tour has no trekking, and the walking is short and mostly flat. Swayambhunath’s eastern stairway is very steep, but a road climbs almost to the top.

Do Indians need a visa to visit Lumbini?

No. Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. As of October 2026 other SAARC citizens get up to 30 days free once a visa year, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days.

Is the Chitwan jungle safari included?

On the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour the jeep safari, canoe trip and Tharu cultural programme are confirmed with the group before booking and are covered only when your quotation lists them. Chitwan National Park entrance is included.

What is included in the Lumbini and Chitwan Tour price?

The price includes hotels with breakfast, a private vehicle and guide, the airport pickup and the entrance fees for Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Lumbini and Chitwan National Park. Lunch, dinner, the Bhairahawa flight, the visa and insurance are not included.

Can you arrange a puja or a lamp offering at a monastery in Lumbini?

Yes, by prior request. Monasteries in Lumbini may arrange a Buddha puja, mantra recitation, blessing prayers, butter-lamp offerings, meditation or a Dhamma talk, at a contribution each monastery sets, and donations are voluntary. As one published example, the World Center for Peace and Unity in Lumbini lists USD 1 a day or USD 365 a year for its main hall lamp lighting. Buddha Jayanti, in April or May, and full-moon days are the main observances.