Bardia National Park, in Nepal's far west, is about as far from the Rasuwa flood zone as you can get while still being in the same country - roughly 500km away, in a different river system entirely. If you've been holding off booking a Bardia trip out of caution following the August 2026 floods, here's the clear picture.
Bardia is safe to visit and had no reported impact from the flood. Below is why, plus a couple of separate, ordinary seasonal details worth knowing before you go.
The August 2026 floods began with a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung in Rasuwa district, and travelled down the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers - a watershed in north-central Nepal. Bardia National Park sits on the Karnali and Geruwa rivers in Nepal's far west, roughly 531km from Kathmandu and a completely separate river system from the one affected by the flood. There is no physical pathway for that flood to have reached Bardia, and no reports from Nepali authorities, TAAN, or local operators indicate any impact on the park, its access roads, or the town of Thakurdwara.
Bardia's safari operations are running normally. Unlike Chitwan, which closes its core park to jeep safaris every year for the full monsoon season, Bardia has continued operating jeep safaris through the 2026 monsoon, since heavy rains had not blocked its park roads as of the most recent reporting. Jungle walks, canoe trips along the Geruwa River, and tiger tracking tours with experienced trackers are all available as usual. As with any park during monsoon, a spell of exceptionally heavy rain can occasionally cause a short, local pause on specific routes - a routine seasonal matter rather than a flood-related closure.
Bardia is reached by a roughly 45-minute flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj, followed by an approximately four-hour drive to the park headquarters at Thakurdwara, or by a longer full overland journey. None of these routes pass through the Rasuwa disaster corridor or the Prithvi Highway's Krishnabhir closure, so getting to Bardia is unaffected by either issue currently being reported elsewhere in the country.
Bardia is Nepal's largest and most undisturbed wilderness area at 968 sq km, home to the country's second-largest tiger population after Chitwan, alongside wild elephants, one-horned rhinos, and over 230 recorded bird species. It sees a fraction of Chitwan's visitor numbers, which means quieter trails, less crowded safaris, and - according to guides who work both parks - some of Nepal's best current odds for a wild tiger sighting. See our Bardia National Park guide for itinerary options.
Is Bardia National Park safe to visit after the floods?
Yes. Bardia National Park sits in Nepal's far west on the Karnali river system, more than 500km from the Rasuwa flood zone and its Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system. Bardia had no reported impact from the August 2026 floods and is operating normally.
Is the Bardia safari season affected by the monsoon right now?
Bardia does not follow the same fixed annual closure as Chitwan. Reports from the 2026 monsoon season note that Bardia's jeep safaris continued operating because monsoon rains had not blocked its park roads, though the park can pause activities temporarily if heavy rain affects specific routes. Check current conditions with your operator closer to your travel date.
Getaway Nepal Adventure runs tiger tracking tours and multi-day safaris in Bardia, unaffected and running normally this season. Tell us your travel dates, and we'll reply within 24 hours with availability and a tailored itinerary. Visit www.getawaynepal.com to get started.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
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