India Tiger Safari
India Tiger Safari
India Tiger Safari
16 Days Starting and ending in Delhi
Visiting: India
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WIW
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Seeing one in the wild is intoxicating, that is why this comprehensive safari visits three of the best parks in India for this striped cat. There are many other animals to enjoy, but tigers remain top of the agenda throughout this itinerary. Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh National Parks are teeming with a variety of wildlife and all have something different to offer. All are ideal for viewing both predator and prey, and with fifteen game drives included the chances of seeing the magnificent Bengal tiger are greatly increased.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Delhi
The group flight arrives at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and we transfer to our hotel approximately 30 minutes away. You can normally check in around midday. Those not travelling on the group flight, please ensure you provide your flight details at least 2 weeks prior to arrival to secure your airport transfer.
There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, your Leader will advise the time and location on your arrival (the information will also be posted in the hotel lobby).
Accommodation: Hotel Deventure (or similar)
Day 2 : Fly To Nagpur; Transfer To Pench National Park
Meals Included: Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Pench Jungle Camp (or similar)
Day 3 - 4 : Four Game Drives Over Two Days In Pench National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Pench Jungle Camp (or similar)
Day 5 : Transfer To Kanha National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Celebration Van Vilas (or similar)
Day 6 - 8 : Five Game Drives Over Three Days In Kanha National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Celebration Van Vilas (or similar)
Day 9 : Transfer To Bandhavgarh National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Nature Heritage Resort (or similar)
Day 10 - 12 : Six Game Drives Over Three Days In Bandhavgarh National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Accommodation: Nature Heritage Resort (or similar)
Day 13 : Drive To Katni; Overnight Train To Agra
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Overnight sleeper train
Day 14 : Arrive Agra; Visit Agra Fort; Sunset At The Taj Mahal
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
Accommodation: Royal Regent Hotel (or similar)
Day 15 : Drive To Delhi; Free Afternoon
Meals Included: Breakfast
We leave for Delhi after breakfast, stopping en route for lunch and arriving at our hotel in the afternoon. You are then free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi. Your Tour Leader can organise an optional sightseeing trip if you prefer.
Accommodation: Hotel Deventure (or similar)
Day 16 : End Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our adventure draws to a close after breakfast.
Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport. If you are not travelling on the group flight, please ensure you provide your flight details at least 2 weeks prior to arrival to secure your return airport transfer. Alternatively, if you’d like a little more time in Delhi, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
What's Included
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Meals
9 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 6 dinners.
* All breakfasts and 11 dinners included
* All accommodation
* Transfer for group flights
What's Not Included
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Single supplement
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Travel insurance
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Visas and vaccinations
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Travel insuranceVisas and vaccinationsSingle supplement
Food
Breakfast and 11 dinners are included.You should allow around £3 (US$5) per
day for lunch and £10 (US$15) for dinner (when not included). You can eat
out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants,
you will spend more than the suggested amount. In Agra and Delhi there is a
good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western style
food. If you are a vegetarian India is probably one of the best destinations
to travel to with a wide range of dishes on offer; whilst at the national
parks there are usually some non spicy curries but these are in limited
supply. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is
approximately £3 (US$5). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that
service in restaurants can be quite slow.
Accommodation
We spend 14 nights in en suite hotels and one night on an air-conditioned sleeper train. In Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanha national parks, we stay in forest lodges with modern facilities and attached bathrooms (standards between the three lodges vary). On the rare occasion that a lodge/hotel is overbooked, the accommodation in national parks will be in comfortable safari fixed-tents fitted with electric lights and attached toilet with shower with hot and cold water readily available.
Overnight train journey
[caption id="attachment_120297" align="alignnone" width="470"] Sleeper Train[/caption]
The overnight train from Katni to Agra will be booked in two-tier air-conditioned sleepers (or three-tier if unavailable). There are many excellent trains in India; however, the standard of seating and sleeping is not in line with Western standards. Seats are allocated when the tickets are issued, meaning we cannot guarantee the whole group is together in the same carriage; your leader will manage this as best as possible and will always check on you during the journey.
Indian trains are safe but we recommend you keep valuables with you at all times as the sleeper compartments are open with curtains for privacy along the aisle. Snacks are often offered on board (at an additional cost) but you may wish to purchase your own food before the journey. While some trains have Western-style facilities, the majority of services are equipped with squat toilets.
Please note, trains are sometimes delayed for reasons beyond our control, but we endeavour to minimise the impact of these delays on the overall itinerary.
Worth knowing
Hotels in India usually do not have heating as there are only a couple of months when the weather can get cold. You can, however, request more blankets if needed or the hotel may be able to provide a standing heater for your room. Please talk to your tour leader if you need help in this matter.
Its common for hotels in India to have limited times in the day for hot water use to save energy. If you find your shower is cold, please let your leader or reception know so they can make sure the water heater is on.
Sleeper trains are not enclosed compartments, bed bunks are set up within a carriage with curtains for some privacy.
Within the sleeper train, you may be sharing a compartment of four beds with members of the public depending on how the seats are allocated.
Single accommodation excludes sleeper trains
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.