India Tiger Safari

Our adventure begins in Delhi, a colourful and chaotic city full of architectural masterpieces. Around 6pm, say namaste to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. Want more time in Delhi? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Stay: Indus Biznotel (or similar) (D).

The group will transfer to Delhi Domestic Airport for a flight (around 1hr 40min) to Nagpur. The drive to Pench National Park, where your safari adventures begin, will take approximately three hours. Stay: Pench Jungle Camp (or similar) (D).

Spend two days exploring Pench National Park in the lower southern reaches of the Satpuda hills. It provided inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book and marks our first chance to see our very own Shere Khan. This designated tiger reserve is home to around 45 Bengal tigers, plus leopards, wolves, monkeys, deer, and nilgai (the largest antelope in Asia). Our two days include four game drives, in which we'll keep our eyes peeled for the incredible creatures that live here. Stay: Pench Jungle Camp (or similar) (B/D).

We depart in the morning and drive to Kanha National Park. Although the distance is not far, the journey usually takes approximately four hours.

On arrival, there is time to relax by the pool and share wildlife stories with your fellow travellers. Stay: Celebration Van Vilas (or similar) (B/D).

Created in 1974, Kanha National Park is often described as the greatest wildlife reserve in India – during our time here, we go on five game drives to explore it. The park is vast, encompassing expansive grasslands, plateaus and dramatic rocky escarpments that house hundreds of wildlife species. The tiger population – which currently numbers around 500 – has been affected by poaching in recent years but the huge abundance of animals makes the game drives a memorable experience. Stay: Celebration Van Vilas (or similar) (B/D).

We leave Kanha National Park after breakfast and drive to Bandhavgarh, stopping en route for refreshments. This journey will take approximately six to seven hours.

On arrival there is free time to settle in. Stay: Nature Heritage Resort (or similar) (B/D).

Bandhavgarh is one of the smaller national parks and enjoys an impressive setting with a cliff-top fort overlooking grasslands, birch forests and bamboo. It is home to a wide variety of game, including leopards, sloth bears, jungle cats, wild pigs and, of course, tigers. The healthy tiger population of approximately 60-70 means this park has the highest tiger density of any reserve in India. The park also hosts up to 150 bird species including many on the migratory trail, such as the steppe eagle. During our stay, we embark on six games drives. Stay: Nature Heritage Resort (or similar) (B/D).

This morning, we drive for approximately three hours to Katni Railway Station. We stop for refreshments, conveniences and photo opportunities along the way.

In the evening, we catch the overnight train to Agra. Stay: Overnight sleeper train (B).

Arriving in Agra in the morning, we transfer to our hotel. No stay in Agra would be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal, built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first-time visitor – the white marble exterior changing colour according to the position of the sun.

Nearby is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque, palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains. Please note: In December and January, our Taj Mahal visit is earlier in the afternoon to avoid fog that can limit visibility during sunset. Stay: Howard Plaza The Fern (or similar) (B).

After breakfast, we begin our journey (approximately four to five hours) back to Delhi, stopping on the outskirts of Agra to visit and support Wildlife SOS. Their work is dedicated to rescuing and caring for sloth bears and elephants. At the Agra Elephant Conservation and Care Centre, we meet an education officer to learn about their vital work and commitment to rehabilitating abused elephants and advocating for their conservation through public awareness campaigns. We take a tour and see some of the rescued elephants and hear their stories. After this informative visit, we resume our drive to Delhi and check into our hotel. It’s your last night together so the tour leader can help to arrange a group dinner Stay: Hotel Deventure (or similar) (B).

Our adventure draws to a close after breakfast. If you’d like a little more time in Delhi, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. (B).