Highlights
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve - Search for tigers in Bandhavgarh, boasting the highest population density of tigers in the world. Kanha National Park - Spot wildlife on jeep safaris through Kanha, the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book'. Panna, Sariska and Chambal - Explore the rocky Aravalli Hills, boat along the River Chambal and drive through the forests of the lesser-known Panna.
Itinerary
Dive into the wild heart of India with the "India Tiger Safari," a 15-day wildlife tour designed for seasoned explorers. Beginning and ending in New Delhi, this journey leads you through five national parks—Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Sariska, and Chambal—in search of the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger and a host of other remarkable wildlife. Picture yourself on 4WD safaris, boat trips, and forest drives, encountering everything from dolphins to sambar deer amidst breathtaking scenery. The trip’s USP? Access to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, famed for the highest density of tigers worldwide, plus the chance to trace the landscapes that inspired Kipling’s 'Jungle Book.' This is a tour package that promises both suspense and awe at every turn.
day 1Join trip in Delhi. Evening prayer ceremony at Hanuman Temple
Arrive in New Delhi, the capital of India and the colourful, bustling centre of the nation. The city has been at the heart of numerous empires and dynasties over time from the Mughals to the British Raj, with each one having left its own unique mark on the city, resulting in the rich patchwork that is modern-day Delhi. For those arriving on time today, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for a welcome meeting. We'll then make our way out into the city on foot, arriving at Hanuman's Temple in time to witness the evening prayer rituals. Hanuman's Temple is a living temple and an active place of worship, and as such it can be busy and crowded, particularly at weekends. If possible, we will try to enter. Afterwards, we'll explore the bustling hub of Connaught Place - a colonial-era circus of shops, bars, restaurants and street vendors. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL), which is around 45 minutes from our hotel. Please note, that if you'd like to join the city tour today, you'll need to arrive at the hotel by 4pm. If you're booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. The drive from the airport to the hotel is then around 45 minutes, therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 2pm. If you miss the welcome meeting, your tour leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.
day 2Explore the sights of New Delhi including Humayun's Tomb, then drive to Sariska
day 3Morning and afternoon game drives searching for wildlife in Sariska National Park
day 4Drive to Dholpur to take a boat on the Chambal River to spot river-side wildlife
day 5Take a train to Jhansi, then drive to Khajuraho. Late afternoon free
day 6Early morning game drive in Panna National Park. Afternoon visit to the Jain temples of Khajuraho
day 7Drive through rural countryside, past the farmlands of Madhya Pradesh to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
day 8Morning and afternoon game drives in Bandhavgarh National Park searching for the elusive Royal Bengal Tiger
day 9Another morning and afternoon game drive in Bandhavgarh National Park
day 10Drive from Bandhavgarh to Kanha National Park
day 11Morning and afternoon game drives searching for wildlife in Kanha National Park
day 12Another full day in Kanha National Park, with morning and afternoon game drives
day 13Morning game drive in Kanha NP, then drive to Jabalpur to catch the overnight train to Delhi
day 14Free morning in Delhi, then explore the narrow lanes of Old Delhi on foot and by cycle rickshaw
day 15Tour ends in Delhi
What's Included
What's Excluded
Customer Reviews
An excellent trip and great fun. I took 1 star off because the food at the lodges was boring and unimaginative. Basically it was the same food for lunch and dinner at every lodge. A 2nd star was taken off because of the overnight train ride. It was long, 10 hours, uncomfortable and difficult for those over 60. All our bunks were at the top so no windows to see out. It was difficult to get in and out for those over 70. Uncomfortable to sleep on. One lady on our trip was in placed in a different carrage, fortunately our guide swapped with her but that meant the guide was not with us. The rest of the trip was incredible and we saw 14 tigers from 15 game drives.
This was an excellent trip into rural India and the magnificent wildlife parks. Veeru was an enthusiastic and entertaining leader who was able to sort out any issues without fuss. On safari you are split into different jeeps, 3 or 4 to a jeep and the drivers go separate ways...you may not, therefore, have the same sightings and experiences as everyone else. We were a lucky group, I saw 12 tigers, 2 leopards and a multitude of deer, jackals etc and so many colourful birds..bring a book on Indian birds if that's your thing. Accommodation was good throughout and the food was delicious.
Excellent overall, saw lots of wildlife, great accommodation and local food. Only criticism was few washroom stops on safaris (au naturel not allowed)- up to 4.5 hours between breaks.
We had a wonderful visit to India partly due to our excellent tour guide Pradeep Jain, enhancing our appreciation of all things Indian, culture, history, flora and fauna and for whom nothing was too much trouble. The accommodation and food throughout was great. We were fortunate enough to have five excellent close up sightings of tigers in Kanha and Panna National Parks, as well as leopards, striped hyena, wild elephant, dholes and gaur and a plethora of birdlife. As commented on in earlier reviews the quality of the Park Guides was very variable, some enthusiastic and knowledgeable, others mediocre at best. Our only slight issue was we were not advised before our trip that the use of mobile phones in the National Parks was prohibited which caused issues for some of our group. The rickshaw ride and walk through the markets of Old Delhi will live long in the memory and should not be missed.
An excellent holiday exploring 4 national reserves, together with a brief view of Indian life in the big city. Perhaps not the ideal for a first time visitor to India, but for me it was an excellent complement to previous visits. Thrilled to see number of tigers at close range.
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