This a great itinerary for wildlife enthusiasts who want to maximise the opportunities of spotting tigers and other native Indian wildlife in their natural habitat. Combining the national parks of Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench provides a good contrast in scenery, activities and wildlife to ensure an all rounded safari experience. You will also visit the vibrant cities of Delhi and Mumbai which will certainly give you a taste of local culture.
Itinerary Highlights
Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites
Search for Tigers across 3 National Parks
Explore both Delhi and Mumbai
Take in the erotic sculptures of Khajuraho
What’s included
Private tours for most included activities (some safaris are shared basis)
Meet & greet airport service
Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
Expert wildlife guides in each national park
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
12
Nights
Price Guide
$6800+ pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Day 1
Fly to Delhi
Day 2
Full day city tour of Old and New Delhi
Your guide and driver will meet you this morning for your full day private city tour of Old and New Delhi. Highlights of the morning include visits to Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, drive past Red Fort and a traditional cyclo rickshaw ride through vibrant Chandni Chowk. This afternoon visit the highlights of New Delhi including a visit to Humanyun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar. You will also take a drive past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhawan – the President’s Residence, the Parliament House – the Government headquarters and other Government buildings.
If you prefer something more off beat than the usual traveller trail, there are multiple other interesting options also available in Delhi such as, Pigeon Flying, Craft Museum, Rails of Delhi, Delhi with Chai or a Culinary walk in Old Delhi.
Day 3
Fly to Khajuraho, afternoon visit the city’s World Heritage listed temple complex
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Khajuraho. On arrival you will be met and escorted to your hotel before heading out with your guide to visit the western group of temples. The temples are especially known for their Kama Sutra sculptures with intricate carvings covering every pillar and depicting different scenes of the bygone era.
Day4-5
Transfer to Bandhavgarh National Park & enjoy safaris
This morning you will be transferred to Bandhavgarh National Park, a relatively small park which boasts India’s highest density of tigers. In the afternoon take your first game drive by jeep with you expert National Park guide. Day 5, morning and afternoon game drives. An early start this morning for your first game drive of the day. You will have plenty of time to relax back at your resort for the rest of the day before heading out on another drive in the late afternoon.
Day 6-8
Safaris at Kanha National Park
This morning enjoy a final game drive in Bandhavgarh national park before transferring to Kanha, approximately 6 hours. Kanha is one of India’s largest and most popular National Parks, boasting over two hundred tigers and leopards as well as deer, antelope, sloth bear, Indian wild dog and langur monkeys. Day 7 Morning and afternoon safari’s through Kanha National Park. Today enjoy morning and afternoon game drives through Kanha National Park. Jeep safari’s around Kanha National Park take place twice a day, one in the morning from around 6am-11am and the other in the afternoon from about 3-6pm, with numbers limited to a maximum of 6 people per jeep. Day 8 continue your exploration of the native wildlife found in Kanha National Park by embarking on morning and afternoon safari’s. In-between safari’s you will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the superb facilities at your luxury accommodation on the edge of the park.
Day 9-10
Pench National Park – different experiences in search of Tigers
After your final game drive in Khana National Park you will be transferred to Pench which is thought to be the national park that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’. The drive will take approximately 4 hours/180kms. Day 10
This morning enjoy your first game drive into Pench National Park. Head back to your accommodation for breakfast and have a relaxing afternoon before heading out again on a further drive. As well as being dedicated to the protection of the tiger, Pench National Park is also a bird lover’s paradise due to its pristine teak forest environment.
Day 11
Morning safari through Pench National park, fly to Mumbai
Head out on your final game drive through Pench National Park this morning before returning to your hotel for breakfast and then transferring to Nagaur airport (approx 90kms/2.5 hours) for your afternoon flight to Mumbai. On arrival you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel.
Day 12
Mumbai city tour and visit the Elephanta Caves
This morning enjoy a private excursion to the stunning Elephanta Caves which are located across the sea from the Gateway of India and accessible by ferry. The rock cut cave temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. This afternoon take a private guided half day city tour around Mumbai. Highlights include visits to the Gateway of India, Prince of Wales Museum, the Jain Temple, The Hanging Gardens on the slopes of Mahabar Hills. Finish your tour with a visit to Mani Bhawan and Dhobi Ghat.
Day 13
Fly to next destination
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide $6800+ per person
When to travel
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India is such a vast country that climatic conditions in the far north have little relation to those of the extreme south. India’s climate is dominated by the great wind system known as the Asiatic monsoon which reverses direction at certain times of the year, for some months it will blow steadily from the southwest; for other months, from the northeast. Generally speaking, the country has a three-season year – the hot, the wet and the cool, with variations from region to region.
The coolest, driest time over most of the country is from December to February, when light northerly winds bring clear skies and very little rain. From March to May the climate becomes hotter and hotter with the southwest monsoon arriving in southern India around June time, heading north about a month or so later and continuing till October
North and Central India experiences an extreme range of temperatures with the mercury pushing 40 degrees on some summer days during April-June but winter nights from November to March can be almost freezing! The monsoon rains occur from May to September with heavy rain usually occurring in the morning or late afternoon.
Southern and Western India does not have a “cool season” as such, the summer is hot and humid with the rains coming in June and continuing through till September. The region also experiences winter rains from November onwards, although they are not as heavy as the monsoonal rains. From October onwards, the weather becomes pleasant with highs around 30 degrees Celsius and lows of around 25 degrees with minimal humidity making it an ideal time to travel.
India is an all year round destination; however, peak times to travel would be October through to April when the weather is generally cooler and dry. The abundance of spectacular colourful festivals in February and March makes this a great time to visit Rajasthan where as November and December is a great time for bird watchers with the return of the migratory birds.
The weather is dry and sunny in most parts of India, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit the hill stations, such as Shimla and Darjeeling, where the temperatures are cooler.
The weather is similar to January, but it can be a bit warmer in the southern states. This is a good time to visit Rajasthan, as the desert heat has not yet set in.
The weather starts to warm up in March, with average temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius in the north and 35 degrees Celsius in the south. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is hot and humid in April, with average temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius in the north and 40 degrees Celsius in the south. This is not the best time to visit India, but if you do, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and avoid strenuous activity during the day.
The weather is the hottest in May, with average temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in the north and 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the south. It is also the driest month of the year, so there is little relief from the heat.
The monsoon season begins in June, and it rains heavily in most parts of India. The rains bring relief from the heat, but they can also cause flooding in some areas.
The monsoon rains continue in July, and it is still hot and humid. The beaches are closed due to the rains, but the hill stations are popular destinations.
The monsoon rains are at their heaviest in August, and it is the wettest month of the year. The rains can be disruptive, but they also bring lush greenery to the landscape.
The monsoon rains start to taper off in September, and the weather becomes drier. This is a good time to visit the beaches of Goa and Kerala.
The weather is pleasant in October, with average temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. This is a good time to visit the hill stations and the beaches.
The weather is similar to October, but it can be a bit cooler in the northern states. This is a good time to visit the Taj Mahal, as the crowds are smaller and the weather is more comfortable.
The weather is generally dry and sunny in December, with average temperatures ranging from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. This is a popular time to visit India, as the weather is pleasant and the crowds are smaller.
Add on’s
There are a multitude of add on holiday options to this India itinerary, for example you could spend time exploring Rajasthan and Agra, visit the Himalaya or spend a few days relaxing at one of the beaches in Goa
India is easily accessed by the main flight hubs of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok making city stopovers or beach extensions on Asia’s fabulous sandy shores easy to arrange. There are now a few direct flights to Delhi and Bengaluru.
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