Royal Manas Wildlife Safari
10 days · from US$3240 per person — all-inclusive: guide, transport, accommodation, meals, visa and SDF.
Explore Bhutan's oldest national park in the tropical south. This park is contiguous with India's Manas Tiger Reserve. Spot tigers, elephants, rhinos, and golden langurs.
Highlights: Elephant Safari · River Boating · Golden Langur · Tiger Tracking
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Flight to South
Arrive in Paro. Connect to domestic flight to Gelephu in southern Bhutan (or drive 8-10 hours). Gelephu sits in subtropical lowlands near India border - hot, humid, and dramatically different from mountain valleys. Drive to Royal Manas National Park entrance (2 hours). Check into park lodge or camp. Evening orientation about the park - Bhutan's oldest (1966) and most biodiverse protected area. Contiguous with India's Manas Tiger Reserve creating a massive transboundary conservation landscape. Overnight: Park lodge/camp (200m)
Day 2: Park Orientation
Morning nature walk near camp. Introduction to tropical flora and fauna. Royal Manas protects incredible biodiversity: Bengal tigers, Asian elephants, greater one-horned rhinos, clouded leopards, golden langurs, 365 bird species. Afternoon visit to park headquarters and interpretation center. Learn about conservation efforts. Evening wildlife spotting drive along park roads. Look for deer, wild boar, langurs. Overnight: Park lodge/camp
Day 3: Elephant Safari
Early morning elephant safari! Ride trained elephants into dense jungle. Elephants can access areas impossible on foot, moving quietly through grasslands and forests. Look for rhinos grazing in clearings, deer herds, wild elephants. Tigers are elusive but tracks and signs are common. The Manas River creates diverse habitats: grasslands, riverine forests, sal forests, and wetlands. Afternoon: River boating on Manas River. Spot marsh mugger crocodiles, otters, water birds (storks, herons, kingfishers). Evening: Night wildlife spotting drive. Look for nocturnal species: civets, fishing cats, owls
Day 4: Golden Langur Search
Full day searching for the endangered Golden Langur, found only in Bhutan and Assam. These beautiful primates have golden fur and live in riverine forests. Morning river walk searching canopy for langur troops. Also look for capped langurs, Assamese macaques. Afternoon jungle trekking to different habitats. Excellent bird watching - Oriental Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, jungle fowl. Evening: Campfire with forest guards sharing wildlife stories. Overnight: Park lodge/camp
Day 5: Tiger Tracking
Join rangers on tiger tracking expedition. While sightings are rare, searching for pugmarks, scratch marks, scat, and kill sites is thrilling. Learn tracking skills from expert rangers. Camera traps have documented healthy tiger population. The jungle's density, sounds, and raw wildness create adventurous atmosphere. Afternoon: Visit another park sector with different habitat. Overnight: Park lodge/camp
Day 6: Bird Watching & Nature
Full day focusing on birds and smaller wildlife. Royal Manas has 365 bird species including Bengal Florican, Great Hornbill, Pallas's Fish Eagle. Visit grasslands, wetlands, and forests - each habitat with distinct species. Afternoon: Spot butterflies and insects. The park's tropical climate supports incredible invertebrate diversity. Overnight: Park lodge/camp
Day 7: Final Safari Day
Last full day in the jungle. Morning elephant or vehicle safari to areas not yet visited. Final attempts to spot elusive species. Every safari is different - wildlife sightings are unpredictable and exciting. Afternoon: Relax at camp or optional nature walks. Evening farewell campfire. Overnight: Park lodge/camp
Day 8: Manas to Gelephu
Morning: Final wildlife spotting before departing park. Drive to Gelephu. Afternoon at leisure in this border town - experience southern Bhutanese culture (more Indian-influenced). Overnight: Gelephu
Day 9: Gelephu to Thimphu
Fly or drive to Thimphu (8-10 hours). The journey from tropical jungle to mountain capital showcases Bhutan's incredible ecological diversity. Overnight: Thimphu
Day 10: Departure
Drive to Paro for departure flight. You leave having explored Bhutan's wild side - tropical jungles teeming with mega-fauna. Royal Manas offers safari experiences rarely associated with Bhutan but equally impressive. Tashi Delek!