Tigers and Temples of India Safari
Tigers and Temples of India Safari - An 11 Day Tiger Tracking Holiday from £2,400 Per Person Sharing (Excluding International Flights)
Day 1
On arrival into Delhi you will be met by your private driver and guide who will transfer you to the Claridges Hotel. On arrival you will be brief on your upcoming safari before heading to your room to relax after your long flight.
Overnight: The Claridges – Deluxe rooms – Comfortable, en-suite bedrooms (B)
Day 2
After breakfast you will head out on a sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Old Delhi 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. You will see the famous Red Fort which is surrounded by shops and bazaars, the Jama Masjid with its tapering minarets and wonderful marble domes as well as the Chandni Chowk. In comparison, New Delhi is a city of wide boulevards offering ever changing perspectives of Lutyen's landscaped city. It is a city known for its formal parks, magnificent Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate as well as the Qutab Minar, and the Humayun's Tomb.
Overnight: The Claridges (B)
Day 3
This morning you will set off to Agra, home of the magnificent Taj Mahal. The afternoon will be spent on a cultural tour where you will visit the Agra Fort which stands near the gardens of the Taj Mahal. As the sun starts to set you will be taken to the beautiful Taj Mahal. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays). The Taj truly is one of the wonders of the world, and you’ll see it at its best, at sunset just when the light, playing on the marble of the tomb and the reflections in the stillness of the waters, presents this incredible building in all its beauty, majesty and splendour.
Overnight: Taj View – Superior Taj Facing Room – Comfortable, en-suite bedrooms overlooking the Taj Mahal (B)
Day 4
You will be driven to Agra Railway station this morning to board your train for your onward transfer to Khajuraho. On arrival you will have time to check in before heading out on a tour of the temples of Khajuraho. The famous Chandela Dynasty temples, built between 950 and 1050 AD, immortalised in stone a wealth of sensuous and erotic sculptures and are an exquisite depiction of human life and emotions. The sculptures, considered as the most perfect figures achieved in stone, depict Gods and Goddesses and amorous couples.
Overnight: Taj Chandela – Superior Garden View Rooms (B)
Day 5
This morning you will be driven to Bandhavgarh National Park (approximately five hours 30 minutes driving distance). One of the smaller National Parks in Central India, Bandhavgarh is set amidst the vindhyanchal ranges and covers an area of
437 sq km. The forest is tropical moist and mixed deciduous forest with bamboo at higher areas and grasslands and streams at lower areas. Because of the terrain, and the fact that the parks roads cut across the forests, your chances of spotting the tigers here are increased and on our last visit we spent the day with a mother and her three cubs! As well as the tigers, you may be lucky enough to spot sambhar deer, wild boar, barking deer Asiatic jackal and leopard.
As well as the park, the Bandhavgarh Fort is a must see. This beautiful fort sits right in the centre of the park and spending the afternoon here with a picnic, overlooking the park is something not to be missed.
Overnight: Tree House Hideaway – Tree House – Simple tree houses with en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning and a veranda which looks out towards the park. (B/L/D)
Days 6, 7
Spend two full days exploring Bandhavgarh National Park. The guides and naturalists are very knowledgeable about the tiger movements and therefore, having a couple days here means you can track and follow the tigers over the course of your stay if you are lucky enough to spot them! Being able to do this is fascinating as you may catch a glimpse of them playing, hunting, sleeping and drinking. As well as your morning and afternoon game drives, you also have the opportunity to visit the Fort!
Overnight: Tree House Hideaway – Tree House (B/L/D)
Day 8
Following your morning game and breakfast you will be driven to Kanha National Park. Morning enjoy a game drive in the National Park. After breakfast drive to Kanha National Park (approximately six hours driving distance).
Kanha is one the largest and most beautiful Central India Park, 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 commonly spotted being the langur, jackal, wild boar, spotted deer, swamp deer and sambhar deer, all of which let you know as soon as a tiger is about. Driving through the jungle listening out for their warning calls is extremely exciting! Less commonly seen are the tiger, Indian wild dog, sloth bear, jungle cat, panther and wolf. As well as the mammals, Kanha has some 200 species of birds including the peafowl, crested serpent eagle, hawk eagle and the grey hornbill.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp – Tents – A fantastic family run camp with individual tents all with large double bedrooms, air-conditioning and large en-suite bathrooms. (B/L/D)
Days 9, 10
The mornings will start with a wake-up call and tea before heading off for your morning game drive in the National Park. Make sure you wrap up warm as it can be quite cold first thing in the morning. Kanha is a fantastic park and the tigers here are doing exceptionally well. As well as the tigers, there is a whole host of wildlife which you could spot. Jungle cat, leopard cat, striped hyenas, wild dog, sloth bear,
and gaur are just some of the animals you may come across!
Breakfast will be taken in the park surrounded by the beautiful jungle. You will then continue with you morning safari before heading back to the camp around lunch time. The afternoon is yours to relax before heading out on your second game drive. Spending so much of your day in the park means you will come across a huge diversity of wildlife.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp - Tents (B/L/D)
Day 11
Enjoy your final game drive in the National Park. After lunch you will be driven to Nagpur (approx two hours drive) for your flight to Delhi. On arrival into Delhi, you will be transferred the hotel where you will be able to use the lobby level facilities before being transferred to the International Airport for your flight back home.
Notes: This safari combines perfectly with a beach extension to Kerala or Goa
