Sapana Village Lodge

What Sapana Village Lodge does

Sapana Village Lodge is a privately-held, founder-owned eco-lodge located in Bachhauli (Sauraha), Chitwan District, Nepal, operating adjacent to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge offers traditional Tharu-style accommodation across six room configurations (Deluxe Single, Double/Twin, Triple, Family, Honeymoon Suite, and Personalized Bungalow with jacuzzi) priced between US$70 and US$130 per night, all-inclusive of breakfast, Wi-Fi, and amenities. It targets international leisure travelers — particularly nature enthusiasts, ethical-tourism seekers, cultural immersion travelers, couples/honeymooners, wellness seekers, and families — through a direct-to-consumer booking model via website, WhatsApp, and email, supplemented by third-party platforms such as TripAdvisor.

The business generates revenue across six streams: accommodation, an on-site Tharu Restaurant and bar, multi-day safari and adventure packages (2-day to 7-day programs), wellness/spa services (Ayurvedic and Western massage modalities), community homestays in Tharu villages, and jungle tree-house stays. Ancillary verticals include Tharu-style weddings, the Jalmanjari swimming pool with jacuzzi, birdwatching tours, Chepang Hills trekking, canoeing, and mountain biking. Eco-friendly infrastructure — solar water boilers, solar electricity, water-bottle refill stations, and on-site organic gardens supplying ~25% of restaurant produce — anchors the brand's sustainability positioning. The lodge channels tourism revenue into Sapana Village Social Impact (SVSI), a separate organization executing community development projects reaching 10,000 people annually, and collaborates with Sapana Elephant Care on a chain-free sanctuary housing five rescued elephants. The company was founded by Dhruba Giri with initial funding from the Dutch Hummels family and operates with 14 employees; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Sapana Village Lodge

Legal name

Sapana Village Lodge

Website

https://sapanalodge.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sapana Village Lodge is a privately-held eco-lodge in Chitwan, Nepal, near a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers traditional Tharu-style accommodations, wildlife safaris, ethical elephant programs, wellness services, and cultural experiences to international leisure travelers seeking sustainable and community-impact tourism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Eco-Tourism Lodge & Wildlife Hospitality

NAICS

Accommodation (721)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Lodges (Sustainable/Nature-Based) (THAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rainforest & Jungle Lodges (THAGAIAD), Safari Lodges & Tented Camps (THAAAHAC)

Keywords

• Eco lodge accommodation
• Jungle safari tours
• Elephant sanctuary experiences
• Cultural heritage tourism
• Wellness retreat packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Sauraha

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Accommodation: Room rentals including Deluxe Single, Double/Twin, Triple, Family Rooms, Honeymoon Suite, and Personalized Bungalow accommodations in traditional Tharu-style huts
2. Restaurant and Bar: On-site Tharu Restaurant serving traditional Nepali and Tharu dishes, Sapana Specials, sizzlers, steaks, fresh fish, and beverages including organic Nepali coffee
3. Safari and Adventure Packages: Jungle safari packages including wildlife tours, elephant experiences, canoe rides, and cultural activities ranging from 2-day to 7-day programs
4. Wellness Services: Spa services including Ayurvedic therapy, deep tissue massage, Nepali Tharu massage, Swedish massage, hot stone therapy, reflexology, and yoga retreats
5. Community Homestay: Overnight stays in Tharu villages with local families, including cultural activities and meals
6. Jungle Tree House Stay: Overnight accommodation in jungle tree houses with naturalist guides and park permits

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sapana Village Lodge runs a Tharu-style eco-lodge in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, selling overnight accommodation, restaurant meals, guided jungle safaris in Chitwan National Park, and an on-site ethical elephant sanctuary offering close-up visitor experiences. It complements these with cultural immersion programs (Tharu dance, homestays, weddings), adventure activities (canoeing, trekking, mountain biking), wellness and spa offerings, and packaged multi-day escapes marketed primarily to international nature and culture travelers.

Product overview

Sapana Village Lodge is a sustainable, ethical safari resort in Chitwan, Nepal offering a unified hospitality experience combining accommodations and immersive activities. The core product consists of traditionally-styled Tharu rooms (Deluxe Single, Double/Twin, Triple, Family Rooms, Honeymoon Suite, and Personalized Bungalow) with modern amenities. Add-on modules extend the offering to include wildlife experiences (jungle safaris, elephant sanctuary programs, birdwatching tours, canoeing), cultural activities (Tharu village visits, cooking classes, stick dancing), adventure experiences (Chepang Hills trekking, mountain biking, treehouse stays), wellness services (yoga retreats, spa treatments), and dining (Tharu Restaurant). A separate social impact organization (SVSI) channels tourism revenues into community development projects. The integrated approach combines lodging, activities, dining, and cultural immersion into a cohesive responsible tourism experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deluxe Single Room Deluxe room configured for single occupancy within the lodge's main Tharu-style building; includes breakfast and standard lodge amenities for individual leisure travelers.
• Deluxe Double / Twin Room Deluxe room configured for two guests with either one double bed or twin beds; includes breakfast and is the lodge's most common couple/twin booking unit.
• Deluxe Triple Room Deluxe room configured for three guests, suitable for small groups or families adding a child to the booking.
• Deluxe Family Room Deluxe room configured for family occupancy with bedding suited to parents and children; includes breakfast.
• Honeymoon Suite Premium suite with jacuzzi and special couple-oriented amenities; targeted at honeymooners and couples seeking an upgraded stay.
• Personalized Bungalow Standalone bungalow offering private living areas and upgraded amenities; targeted at guests seeking more privacy than the main lodge building.
• Community Homestay Homestay accommodation arranged through the local Tharu community, sold as part of the lodge's social-impact tourism offering.
• Jungle Tree House Stay Overnight accommodation in a jungle tree house, offered to guests seeking a distinctive nature-immersive stay rather than a conventional hotel room.
• Jungle Safari Excursions Guided jungle safaris into Chitwan National Park, sold per person and operated by the lodge's guides.
• Elephant Sanctuary Program On-site ethical elephant sanctuary housing rescued, chain-free elephants and offering visitor interaction experiences such as feeding, candy-making, and bush walks; positioned as the lodge's flagship differentiator.
• Wellness Package and Spa Combined spa treatment and wellness package offered to lodge guests alongside their stay.
• Mindfulness Yoga and Wellness Package Structured package combining yoga, mindfulness sessions, and accommodation, sold as a multi-day retreat.
• Birdwatching Tours Guided birdwatching tours led by the lodge's expert birder, targeting visitors to Chitwan's bird habitats.
• Chepang Hills Trek Multi-day trek through the Chepang Hills with related adventure activities such as mountain biking, sold to active travelers seeking day or overnight excursions from the lodge.
• Canoeing Adventure Guided canoeing excursion on the rivers around Chitwan, sold as a stand-alone activity.
• Tharu Cultural Experiences Cultural-immersion product showcasing Tharu dance, food, and village life for guests wanting deeper engagement with the local community.
• Tharu Restaurant On-site Tharu-themed restaurant serving traditional and standard cuisine to lodge guests and external visitors.
• Jalmanjari Swimming Pool On-site swimming pool facility available to lodge guests as part of the lodge amenities.
• Tharu Style Weddings Destination wedding product built around Tharu cultural traditions, allowing couples to host ceremonies on lodge grounds.
• Elephant, Forest and Cultural Escape Package Bundled multi-day package combining elephant interaction, jungle safari, and Tharu cultural experiences, sold as a single inclusive product.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000 people benefit annually from SVSI community projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sapana Elephant CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner operating the elephant sanctuary and ethical elephant programs. Through combined efforts with Sapana Village Lodge, established a chain-free shelter for rescued elephants.
• Sapana Village Social Impact (SVSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeparate organization executing social projects to benefit the community. Sapana Lodge channels tourism revenue to support SVSI's poverty alleviation initiatives reaching 10,000 people annually.
• Chitwan National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO World Heritage Site adjacent to the lodge, providing wildlife habitat access and enabling safari experiences for guests.
• Tharu CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous Tharu people in whose village the lodge operates. Community benefits from tourism through homestays, cultural programs, and SVSI development projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Meghauli Serai (Taj Safaris): Branded luxury safari lodge in Chitwan operated by Taj Hotels. Comparable on safari product and Chitwan geography, but with corporate backing and broader portfolio distribution — a larger-scale incumbent in the same niche.
• &Beyond: Global luxury safari and lodge operator with a community-and-conservation-led brand similar in philosophy to Sapana's ethical/community positioning. Comparable on eco-lodge model and impact-driven branding, though at much larger scale and broader geography.

Regional players

• Mahoora Safari Camp (Sri Lanka): Tented safari camp operator in Sri Lanka focused on ethical wildlife experiences and naturalist guiding. Comparable on small-scale, ethical safari product and nature-tourist customer base, but in a different geography.
• Jungle Lodge Bardia (Sukarma Resort): Jungle lodge in Bardia National Park, Nepal, offering safari and community-based tourism. Comparable on Nepal eco-lodge model and community-tourism positioning, but in a different national park geography.
• Tiger Mountain Lodge: Boutique lodge in Nepal combining wildlife, culture, and community engagement. Comparable on Nepal-based boutique lodge positioning and community-tourism ethos, though located in a different region.

Direct peers

• Green Park Chitwan: Resort property near Chitwan National Park offering safari, accommodation, and cultural programming. Comparable on location, safari product, and small-resort positioning.
• Barahi Jungle Lodge: Eco-lodge located near Chitwan National Park offering Tharu cultural experiences, jungle safaris, and community-linked tourism. Most directly comparable to Sapana on product, geography, customer base, and pricing band.
• Tiger Tops Chitwan: Historic jungle lodge inside Chitwan National Park offering wildlife safaris, elephant experiences, and nature-based tourism. Comparable on category (Nepal jungle lodge), safari product mix, and target traveler segment.
• Kasara Resort Chitwan: Mid- to upper-scale resort in Chitwan offering jungle safaris, spa, and cultural activities. Comparable on product mix, geography, and target customer (international nature and cultural tourists).
• Rhino Lodge Chitwan: Small eco-lodge in Chitwan offering safari packages and nature-focused stays. Comparable on property size, Nepal location, and target safari-traveler segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/strikingly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sapana-village-lodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sapana Village Lodge