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  • Country Nepal
  • Duration 10 Days
  • Trip profile 9 night/ 10 Days red panda tour
  • Activity Wildlife & Tour
  • Max. altitude 3,200 meters/10,498 feet
  • Best season March-May and October - November
  • Accommodation Lodge and tea house
  • Meals B,L, D
  • Start / end point Kathmandu- Bhadrapur - Ilam - Dobate
  • Transportation Flight and 4WD Private Jeep
  • Age limit Above 6

Highlights of Red Panda Tour in Nepal

  • A Special Encounter with the Endangered Red Panda
  • Guided Nature Walks through Pristine Himalayan Forests
  • Experience Authentic Rural Village Life in Eastern Nepal
  • Explore the Scenic Tea Gardens of Ilam
  • Enjoy Spectacular Mountain Views on Your Flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur
  • Bird Watching with Opportunities to Spot Rare Himalayan Species
  • Visit Ilam Bazaar and Discover Local Culture, Food, and Markets

Overview of Red Panda Tour in Nepal

Red Panda Tour in Nepal

Red Panda is found in most of the Himalayas of South Asia. From Eastern Himalayas to Southwestern China its native area ranges around the Himalayas only. Like the giant panda, it is also mostly an herbivorous mammal that feeds mainly on bamboo. The red panda has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It is only slightly larger than the size of a domestic cat, though with a longer body and somewhat heavier. Growing from 50-65cm in length and weighing up to 6kg.

Red Panda Tour in Nepal

Red Panda Tour in Nepal, itinerary focuses on Dobate Village of the Ilam district for seeing the lesser pandas. Red Pandas are skillful climbers that spend most of their time in the trees curled up with their long, bushy tails wrapped around their heads. Their thick reddish-brown fur offers additional protection from the cold, often harsh, mountain weather. We'll give you a guide while you're on this itinerary. You can also experience the day-to-day activities of the typical rural village in the Ilam district of Nepal.

Red Panda Habitat

Living in 36 different mountain districts, there are around 1000 red pandas in Nepal. It is one of the most endangered species in the country as well as the whole world. The majority of the red pandas of Nepal are protected inside the national park. Also, there are some communities of red pandas in Eastern Nepal in districts like Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung where there are not any national parks or wildlife reserves yet is home to one-fourth of pandas. Some non-profit organizations are working to save the pandas of this region.

The Red Panda Community and Red Panda Network are organizations that have been working since 2007 to spread awareness among local people and take action to protect the various endangered species through habitat management, sustainable livelihoods, and awareness building.

Red Panda Tour in Nepal itineraries are customisable; according to your choice & the number of days you want to stay.

We, also run the red panda tracking trek in Langtang National Park, the nearest national park from Kathmandu to wirness the rare red panda in the wild. Simply, Contact Us

Itinerary of Red Panda Tour in Nepal

  • Accommodation 4/5 star hotel at Thamel
  • Transportation Flight and 4WD Private Jeep
  • Maximum altitude 1,350 meters/4,429 feet
  • Trek duration 30 minutes drive
  • Trek distance 5 km drive
  • Meals B,L,D

See for yourself if all that you have read and watched on the internet, about the tranquil beauty of Nepal and the warm hospitality of Nepalese. After flying through the beautiful view of this trekkers; paradise, you will meet our company representative at the airport. You must have an impatient heart for a breathtaking adventure. Get ready to experience Nepal up close and personal. But first, we will transfer you to your hotel.

If you have an early arrival, you may stroll around the hippest and happening area in Thamel, where you can find restaurants with varieties of cuisine to dine. This first night in the country, you will be staying in Kathmandu.

  • Accommodation 4/5 star hotel at Thamel
  • Transportation 4WD Private Jeep
  • Maximum altitude 1,350 meters/4,429 feet
  • Trek duration 8 hours sightseeing tour
  • Meals B,L,D

On your second day, you can go sightseeing to some of the famous religious and historical sites of Kathmandu.  After exploring this city of temples; you will meet your tour guide at the hotel. You will be briefed in detail about the wildlife adventure. The guide will also assist you with any last-minute shopping that you require for the safari.

Have a well-rested night at Kathmandu before heading off to the wildlife.

(You can dump the stuff you do not want during the trek at the hotel or our office store.)

  • Accommodation Best available Hotel
  • Transportation Flight and 4WD Private Jeep
  • Maximum altitude 1,627 m (5,338 ft)
  • Trek duration 45 minutes flight and 2 hours drive
  • Trek distance 65 km drive
  • Meals B,L,D

Morning flight to Bhadrapur. Bhadrapur is one of the most beautiful flights in Nepal. If you are lucky enough then you can see 7 mountains over 8000m on a clear sky day including Mt. Everest. After arrival in Bhadrapur, you will be transferred to Ilam by road for about 3 to 4 hours.

Once you reach Ilam, you can enjoy the scenic beauty of that place. One of the most beautiful places of Nepal, you can enjoy the landscape of tea plantation-covered hills in most parts of the place. We will stay overnight in a lodge here in Nepal’s tea capital.

  • Accommodation Lalbas Homestay
  • Transportation 4WD Private Jeep
  • Maximum altitude 2,660 meters (8,727 feet)
  • Trek duration 3 to 4 hours drive
  • Trek distance 40 km drive
  • Meals B,L,D

Today we will head toward the village of Dobate in the northern part of Ilam, driving 2 to 3 hours. Upon reaching the village, you will feel as if you have just been transported to paradise.

  • Accommodation Lalbas Homestay
  • Transportation Trek
  • Maximum altitude 2,660 meters (8,727 feet)
  • Trek duration 12 hours including lunch and wildlife watching breaks
  • Trek distance 10 km
  • Meals B,L,D

Begin your first full day of red panda tracking in the forests around Dobate. Accompanied by experienced local trackers, explore dense rhododendron, bamboo, and oak forests while searching for signs of this elusive Himalayan mammal. Along the way, keep an eye out for colorful birds, Himalayan squirrels, and other forest wildlife. Return to your lodge in the evening to share stories from the day’s adventure.

  • Accommodation Lalbas Homestay
  • Transportation Trek
  • Maximum altitude 2,660 meters (8,727 feet)
  • Trek duration 12 hours including lunch and wildlife watching breaks
  • Trek distance 10 km
  • Meals B,L,D

Today, venture into a different section of the forest to maximize your chances of finding red pandas. Your guides will follow fresh feeding signs, footprints, and other clues left behind by these shy animals. Spend the day enjoying the peaceful mountain wilderness, photographing the rich flora and fauna, and learning about local conservation efforts. Overnight in Dobate.

  • Accommodation Lalbas Homestay
  • Transportation 4WD Private Jeep and trek
  • Maximum altitude 3,636 meters (11,930 feet)
  • Trek duration 12 hours including lunch and wildlife watching breaks
  • Trek distance 10 km
  • Meals B,L,D

Wake up early for an excursion to Sandakphu (3,636 m), one of the finest viewpoints in the eastern Himalayas. Witness a spectacular sunrise over four of the world’s highest peaks—Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), and Makalu (8,481 m). After breakfast, continue your final red panda tracking excursion in another promising habitat. With several days dedicated to searching, you have an excellent opportunity to encounter and photograph this endangered species before returning to your lodge for the night.

  • Accommodation Best available Hotel
  • Transportation 4WD Private Jeep
  • Maximum altitude 1,627 m (5,338 ft)
  • Trek duration 3 to 4 hours drive
  • Trek distance 40 km drive
  • Meals B,L,D

We will spend a few times in the morning seeing the beauty of the village. After morning breakfast and speding few times, we will return back to Ilam bazar. Reaching Ilam bazar we have to say goodbye to our guide who helped and remained with us constantly during our red panda tracking period.

  • Accommodation 4/5 star hotel at Thamel
  • Transportation 4WD Private Jeep and Flight
  • Maximum altitude 1,350 meters/4,429 feet
  • Trek duration 45 minutes flight and 2 hours drive
  • Meals B,L,D

After this wonderful trip, drive to Bhadrapur and fly to Kathmandu.

Once you reach Kathmandu you will check-in at a nice hotel around the Thamel area. In the evening you can stroll around for souvenir shopping, drinks, and dinner. Walking around Thamel and nearby areas for shopping and self-exploring the narrow streets of this tourist hub is a good idea to spend your evening in Kathmandu.

  • Transportation Flight
  • Trek duration 30 minute drive to airport
  • Trek distance 5 km drive

We will drop you to the airport according to your flight schedule. Tiger Encounter hopes to take you to another exciting wildlife safari in Nepal soon.

Includes of Red Panda Tour in Nepal

  • International & domestic airport transfers as per the itinerary.
  • Flight ticket from Kathmandu- Bhadrapur- Kathmandu
  • Bhadrapur to Ilam bazar – Bhadrapur private transport
  • Ilam bazar to Dobate private 4wd jeep
  • Three night’s hotel accommodation in Kathmandu twin/single with breakfast at 4 stars hotel
  • Illam night’s hotel accommodation in Illam on twin sharing basis with AP plan at 3 stars hotel
  • Accommodation (local nice homestay) and 3 meals a day during the trekking (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) as mention in the itinerary.
  • Tea, coffee, hot or cold drinking water entire the tracking period.
  • Professional government license holder English speaking trekking guide.
  • The required number of porters to carry the luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests).
  • All program as mentioned in the itinerary
  • All salary, allowance, food & accommodation for guides
  • Insurance for Nepalese staff. (Guide and driver)
  • Government Tax and office service charge
  • Basic medical kits
  • Tiger Encounter Souvenir – t-shirt/ photography jacket

Trip Excludes

  • International airfare to/ from Nepal.
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Ilam
  • Insurance which covers, medical, emergency evacuation, lost, etc.
  • Beverages, alcoholic drinks, mineral water, boiled water during the red panda tour.
  • Hot shower during the trekking.
  • All food and beverages are other than on the itinerary.
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
  • Personal gear and expenses.
  • Tips and gratitude provided to staff.

Just Fill and Book

This is a pre-booking form for the lead traveler. We would send you the actual booking form after the confirmation


    Additional Info of Red Panda Tour in Nepal

    What to Bring

    1. Neutral colored clothing is recommended.
    2. Light clothing is needed for the daytime with a sweater and warm jacket for the evenings from November to March.
    3. Pants / Trousers are recommended for safari and jungle walks.
    4. Comfortable walking shoes, sun hats, sunglasses, etc. are essential.
    5. Insect repellent and personal medical requirements should be carried.
    6. It is highly recommended to travel light with only one small suitcase or duffle bag.
    7. During the warmer months, swimming suits are recommended.
    8. A small flashlight is recommended.
    9. Binoculars add greatly to your enjoyment of bird and wildlife viewing.

    Red Panda Behavior

    The family life of this attractive animal is obscure. A weak unearthly whistling or squeaking note is given out when it is disturbed or separated from its mate. This resembles the chirping of a bird. The whistling and chirping sound thus may be a means of communication. The courtship mating behavior of this animal resembles that of cats. It has been observed that stress and excitement give out a strong odor produced from the anal scent glands. The odor may be the means of defense and sexual attraction. The panda in captivity rubs the glandular area of the anal gland against a rough surface over which it moves living a scent trail that might well serve as a single to another individual.

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