India tiger watching holidays
| country: | India |
| location: | Kanha, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve |
| departures: | This experience can be tailor made to suit your preferred dates of travel |
| price: | From £2100 (10 days) excluding flights. Price is based on two people sharing. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
India is a fantastic country for cultural and wildlife experiences and this itinerary includes some of the best of these, taking you to the Taj Mahal and two tiger parks.
Among the parks you will visit is Kanha; one of the largest National Parks in India extending over 1945 sq. km. of undulating country, which includes a core area of 940 sqkm. Kanha has some 22 species of mammals. The most easily spotted are the striped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pig, chital or spotted deer, barasingha or swamp deer, sambhar and black buck. Less commonly seen species are tiger, Indian hare, dhole or Indian wild dog, barking deer and Indian bison or gaur. Other animals found in the park are Indian fox, sloth bear, striped hyena, jungle cat, panther, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, porcupine and wolf. Kanha also has some 200 species of birds!
The other major park Bandhavgarh National Park. Set amidst the Vindhyanchal ranges, the park covers an area of 437 sq. km. and has a series of ridges running through it. About half the park is covered with fine stands of Sal while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands are found throughout. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds with the most famous attraction being the Bengal Tiger.
Among the parks you will visit is Kanha; one of the largest National Parks in India extending over 1945 sq. km. of undulating country, which includes a core area of 940 sqkm. Kanha has some 22 species of mammals. The most easily spotted are the striped palm squirrel, common langur, jackal, wild pig, chital or spotted deer, barasingha or swamp deer, sambhar and black buck. Less commonly seen species are tiger, Indian hare, dhole or Indian wild dog, barking deer and Indian bison or gaur. Other animals found in the park are Indian fox, sloth bear, striped hyena, jungle cat, panther, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, porcupine and wolf. Kanha also has some 200 species of birds!
The other major park Bandhavgarh National Park. Set amidst the Vindhyanchal ranges, the park covers an area of 437 sq. km. and has a series of ridges running through it. About half the park is covered with fine stands of Sal while mixed forests are found in the higher reaches of the hills. Stretches of bamboo and grasslands are found throughout. There are more than 22 species of mammals and 250 species of birds with the most famous attraction being the Bengal Tiger.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Delhi. Met upon arrival at Delhi International Airport by your private vehicle and driver and transfer to your hotel. A chance to relax after your flight and prepare for the adventures of the coming days... Overnight: Radisson – Superior rooms |
| Day 2: | Kanha National Park. This morning you will be escorted to the airport in time for your flight to Nagpur (0550 hrs; Arriving Nagpur at 0845 hours). Met upon arrival you will then transfer approximately 6hrs to Kanha National Park. Depending upon your time of arrival you will have a relaxing lunch, followed by your first game drive in the park to see what wildlife you can spot...alternatively have a leisurely nature walk around your lodge... Overnight: Tuli Tiger Resort Cottages (B/L/D) |
| Day 3: | Kanha National Park. An early morning game drive into Kanha National Park on your first tiger safari! A chance to relax at midday and enjoy your lodge surroundings prior to another tiger safari in the afternoon... |
| Day 4: | Bandhavgarh National Park. Your final game drive in Kanha National Park prior to departing on a long drive (approx 6hrs) to Bandhavgarh National Park. A packed lunch will be provided. Depending on your time of arrival you will have a chance for your first game drive in the park this evening... Overnight: King's Lodge (B/L/D) |
| Day 5: | Bandhavgarh National Park. An early start for your first game drive in the hope of spotting the elusive tiger! Smaller than Kanha, Bandhavgarh still has a high population of tigers however nothing is guaranteed! Alternatively you have a chance to visit the old fort that commands fantastic views over the park land, or even, on prior request, we can organise a days elephant safari for you! Overnight: King's Lodge (B/L/D) |
| Day 6: | Bandhavgarh - Agra. An early morning game drive to maximise your chances of successfully tracking the Bengal tiger...after a relaxing lunch you have another tiger safari in the afternoon prior to transferring to the train station (1hr) for your overnight journey to Agra! Train journeys are one of the highlights of India with a chance to meet the locals and watch the night drift by... (departs at 2100hrs and arrives 1045hrs the next day). Overnight: On the train in a 2nd air-conditioned sleeper! (B/L/D) |
| Day 7: | Agra. Arrive into Agra at 1045 hrs, having enjoyed a packed breakfast on the train. Met at the station your driver will transfer you to your hotel for a chance to freshen up after your journey. This afternoon you will enjoy a guided tour of Agra city – visiting Agra Fort and Itmad –Ud-Daula and the magnificent Taj Mahal at sunset! Near the gardens of the Taj Mahal stands the important 16th-century Mughal monument known as the Red Fort of Agra. This powerful fortress of red sandstone encompasses, within its 2.5-km-long enclosure walls, the imperial city of the Mughal rulers. It comprises many fairy-tale palaces, such as the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan; audience halls, such as the Diwan-i-Khas; and two very beautiful mosques. Later visit the tomb of Itmad-Ud-Daula also called “Baby Taj”. The Taj Mahal truly is one of the wonders of the world, and you'll see it at its best - at sunset. Overnight: Taj View - Superior Taj Faving Room (B) |
| Day 8: | Agra - Delhi. This morning you have a leisurely drive of approximately 5hrs to Delhi stopping at a variety of sites of interest along the way including the deserted Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri which was built by Emperor Akbar in 1569 and abandoned after fifteen years due to scarcity of water. See the graceful buildings including the Jama Masjid, the Tomb of Salim Chishti, the Panch Mahal and the other palaces. Overnight: The Claridges in deluxe rooms (B) |
| Day 9: | Delhi. Your final day to explore the beauty of Old and New Delhi! This morning visit Old Delhi, it pulses with the energy and colour, the hustle and bustle of thronged bazaars and is laced by a maze of narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses full of the sights, sounds and aromas of the Indian sub-continent. You will see the famous Red Fort surrounded by shops, and bazaars, the Jama Masjid with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes and the Chandni Chowk. In Old Delhi you will also have an opportunity to enjoy rickshaw ride. In the afternoon you will be taken on a tour of New Delhi. It is a city of wide boulevards which offers ever changing perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city known for its formal parks, magnificent Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen) and India Gate. In New Delhi you will also visit Qutab Minar, the 72.5 m high tower dating back to 13th century and Humayun's Tomb (built in the 16th century and architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal). Overnight: The Claridges in Deluxe Rooms (B) |
| Day 1: | Depart. This morning you transfer to the airport in time for your international flight back home |
how this holiday makes a difference
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All of our trips are conducted by local guides and drivers who specialise in this region of Asia. Through the employment of local staff, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism.
By visiting some of the cultural sights of India as well as the natural highlights the local communities see the benefit of these attractions and work hard to preserve them. Every year we choose a grassroots project that we can support with a percentage of our profits being donated. These projects vary year on year and usually involve the conservation of the Big Cats of the world. For more information regarding these projects please check our website. We aim to minimise our impact on the environment as much in the UK as we would do in any of our destination countries. We do this through recycling of any office waste including, paper, plastic, cans, glass, refuse, in partnership with the Borough of Brighton and Hove. The purpose of our safaris is to contribute to local populations, communities and projects. We give our travellers advice on how to interact with the local population, flora and fauna in order to minimise any negative impact. We advise people not to bargain just for the sake of it and because it is the “thing to do”; you should pay what you feel the object is worth to yourself and the vendor, bearing in mind local cultures, society and standard of living. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |