Chitwan Travel Question

[James]

When traveling from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park what are the pros and cons of flying, tourist bus and hiring a car? We will be a family of four and we are thinking of adding a trip to the Park after completing a trek in early December. Unfortunately we will most likely only have time for the basic three day/two night package, so time and energy matter. I've read that it’s a five hour bus ride, does anyone know how long by car and how much it might cost? I have taken the tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and was very happy to fly back. Is traveling by car any faster or safer?

Thanks

[Escher]

I found the bus journey from Pokhara to Chitwan and Chitwan to Kathmandu as long and as boring as the one from Kathmandu to Pokhara, both journeys took 7 hours when I took them (one even longer because of a flat tire). The second time I went to Chitwan there was a bandh so we flew which only took 1/2 hour or so and costs about the same as Pokhara-Kathmandu.

The guy from the Chitwan lodge met us at the airport on a bike and he had a rickshaw driver with him, there were no taxies because of the strike. We convinced them to sit in the back of the rickshaw whilst me and my mate took turns riding the rickshaw and the bike. Nice flat roads there and it was good fun. The locals thought it was quite funny.

When I go again I will fly, in fact if its possible I will fly anywhere in Nepal. I hate buses and the view of the mountains can be spectacular and well worth the money.