£
  • £
  • $

Wild India

£2,795.00

Catching our first glimpse of orange and black as we look for tigers on an early morning jungle safari. Admiring the incredibly ornate carvings at Khajuraho’s UNESCO-recognised temples.

Our Wild India tour takes you into the heart of the parks said to have inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’. Jeep safaris and jungle walks across a trio of parks (Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh) mean you’ll have plenty of opportunity to spot tigers, leopards, sloth bears and more. You’ll also marvel at star-spangled skies, with an expert on hand to explain each constellation. Away from the parks, you’ll explore UNESCO-listed temples in Khajuraho, admire Mumbai’s art deco architecture and jump on the Jhansi-Delhi express train. A week by the beach in Goa makes the perfect optional add-on at the end of our wildlife tour.

  • 16 excursions & visits
  • 33 meals
  • Group size up to 20
  • Active traveller pace
Category:

Your itinerary

Day 1 – In flight

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your overnight flight to Mumbai.

In flight

Day 2 – Mumbai

After touching down in Mumbai, we’ll transfer to our hotel.

Trident Hotel, Nariman Point Mumbai (5-star)

Today includes…

Dinner

Gateway of India, Mumbai Maharashtra monument landmark

Day 3 – Elephanta Island

We’ll spend the morning on the island of Elephanta, an hour’s boat ride from Mumbai. Elephanta is famous for its UNESCO-listed cave temples, carved out of the rock between the 5th and 8th centuries. A walk through this maze of temples reveals pillars, courtyards and sculptural reliefs, including an impressive 7m-high shrine to Shiva. This afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps join us for a tour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), a Victorian Gothic masterpiece boasting turrets, painted arches, a huge central dome and decorative flourishes in iron, brass and marble. We’ll also admire Mumbai’s art deco architecture.

Trident Hotel, Nariman Point Mumbai (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Elephanta caves (morning)

Breakfast and Dinner

Free time

Elephanta Caves historical architecture in Mumbai, India

Days 4-5 – Pench National Park

After a short flight, we’ll drive to Pench National Park, in the lower southern reaches of the Satpura hills. Our lodge is just a kilometre from the park, so we’re perfectly placed to explore this wildlife-filled reserve – the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’. A guided nature walk introduces us to the local flora and fauna, while early morning and late afternoon Jeep safaris take us deeper into the park in search of its inhabitants. Sloth bears doze on rocky outcrops, flying squirrels leap between trees, and crocodiles wallow in the network of lakes. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for elusive leopards and tigers, too. An evening of stargazing will be led by a local expert, who’ll show you the wonders of the Milky Way.

Pench Jungle Camp, Pench National Park (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Nature walk (evening)2 jungle safari drives (morning and afternoon)Guided stargazing (evening)

2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

Leopard,Pench National Park, India

Day 6 – Pench National Park – Kanha National Park

After a final jungle tour in Pench this morning, we’ll drive to Kanha National Park, a 940-square-kilometre park famous for its population of tigers and deer.

Chitvan Jungle Lodge, Kanha National Park (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Jungle safari drive (morning)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Bengal tiger. Ranthambore National Park. India.

Days 7-8 – Kanha National Park

We’ll rise early on our days here and travel into the jungle by Jeep, accompanied by an experienced ranger. Heading into the park at sunrise allows us the opportunity to watch the wildlife wake and patrol in the cool morning temperatures. An afternoon safari might take us into a different park zone for further opportunities to spot the wildlife along riverbanks, in open savannahs or in ancient woods. Birdwatchers should keep binoculars handy – 200-plus species are found here, including the black ibis, hawk eagle and the red-wattled lapwing. We’ll also visit a Gond tribal village nearby, where we’ll have the chance to have a cup of chai with the locals, see traditional tribal paintings and perhaps learn a few skills from the artists themselves.

Chitvan Jungle Lodge, Kanha National Park (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: 3 jungle safari drives (morning/afternoon)Visit to Gond tribal village (afternoon)

2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

Tigers and tourists, Kanha National park, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Day 9 – Bandhavgarh National Park

Our final national park awaits, as we make our way north to Bandhavgarh. It’s a fairly long drive (five hours), but once we arrive, we’ll have time to unwind at our lodge and enjoy our lush surroundings. Relax beside the tree-shaded pool or sit out on your private terrace with a book and a coffee.

Bandhav Vilas, Bandhavgarh National Park (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Free time

Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

Days 10-11 – Bandhavgarh National Park

Another three jungle safaris punctuate our stay here. A former hunting ground for maharajahs, Bandhavgarh is now a protected reserve that’s home to white and Bengal tigers, leopards, elephants, sloth bears and a host of other creatures. More than 250 species of bird can be spotted here, too. We’ll also get a closer look at the flora as we explore the forest on foot, guided by an expert naturalist.

Bandhav Vilas, Bandhavgarh National Park (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: 3 jungle safari drives (morning/afternoon)Nature walk (afternoon)

2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 2 Dinners

Indian roller in  in the Bandhavgarh National Park in India

Day 12 – Khajuraho

Today, we’ll head for Khajuraho, where we’ll tour a selection of the UNESCO-protected temples. It’s another long drive (six hours), but well worth the effort. Built around 1,000 years ago by the ruling Chandella dynasty, they perfectly marry architecture and sculpture. We’ll see Mahadev, the largest and most ornate temple, wander through the circular Chaunsath Yogini temple, and admire the 11-headed sculpture of Lord Vishnu at Chitragupta Temple.

Hotel Chandela Khajurao (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Khajuraho temples (afternoon)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Western Group of Temple Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh India

Day 13 – Orchha – Delhi

The little village of Orchha is a bit of an underrated gem. Overlooked by many tourists, it’s home to an incredible array of palaces and temples – a reminder of this unassuming village’s past as the capital of a powerful kingdom. After lunch in Orchha, we’ll make our way to the train station at Jhansi, ready for our express service into Delhi. Rail travel is a huge part of life here and experiencing a train ride is a must on any trip to India. Enjoy city and countryside views as we speed through Uttar Pradesh, arriving into Delhi in the early evening.

The Leela Ambience, Delhi (5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Train ride from Jhansi to Delhi (afternoon)

Breakfast and Dinner

Royal cenotaphs of Orchha over Betwa river. Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India

Day 14 – Delhi – departure

Our India tour comes to an end today as you transfer to the airport for your return flight back. Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home. If you’ve booked our Goa extension, you’ll fly south from Delhi to begin your week by the beach.

Today includes…

Breakfast