DAY 1 DELHI

On your arrival at the airport in Delhi you will be met and transferred to your hotel, then it’s up to you, spend the rest of your day exploring or relaxing.

DAY 2 DELHI

A guided sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi will enable you to soak up the fascinating sights and sounds of the city on our full day tour.

Delhi’s mix of old and new is sure to awaken the senses. Emerge yourself in Old Delhi and find the energy and colour of this walled city that’s filled with the hustle and bustle of bazaars and narrow lanes which twist and turn between tall, leaning houses. Contrast old with new as you enter, cosmopolitan New Delhi, Luyten’s landscaped city. It is known for its formal parks, the Rashtrapati Bhawan (the official residence of the President of India designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen) and the India Gate. Visit the Qutab Minar, the 72.5 m high tower dating back to 13th century and Humayun’s Tomb, built in the 16th century and architecturally the fore runner of the Taj Mahal.

Delhi Highlights

• Full day tour of Old & New Delhi
• Jama Masjid
• Qutab Minar
• Humayun’s Tomb

Accommodation & Meals

2 nights at Vivanta by Taj Ambassador or similar, inclusive of breakfast

DAY 3 AGRA

Today, after breakfast, you’ll head to Agra by car, it takes around 3.5 hours.

Agra, the home of 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri: Established as a city in 1475 but it was after its capture by Lodis that the foundations of the Mughal Empire were laid.

Agra Fort: Emperor Akbar built the first red sandstone fort of North India in the form of Agra Fort which provides a fascinating fusion of Hindu and Islamic influences throughout its construction. It was here the Emperor Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal was imprisoned after being deposed by his son.

Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, is architecturally stunning and you’ll get the chance to see it at its best through both a sunset and sunrise visit. Sunrise will give you the best light to take photos of this truly memorable site. The Taj is a white marble memorial built by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to be completed.

Accommodation & Meals

1 night at ITC Mughal (Chamber of Emperor) or similar. (B)

DAY 4 & 5 RANTHAMBORE NATIOAL PARK

After absorbing the breath-taking sight of the Taj Mahal at sunrise and enjoying breakfast at the hotel you’ll be transferred to Bharatpur Railway Station to board your train to Ranthambore (10:30-12:55 Golden Temple Mail, air conditioned, chair car).

Ranthambore National Park is one of the best parks to get up close and personal with tigers, the tigers here are more used to tourists than in many other Indian parks. Tigers are often seen during the day and are famous for hunting in full view of safari vehicles.

A huge fort, after which the park is named, towers over the park atop a hill and ruins of bygone eras are scattered all over the jungle, which give it a unique, wonderful and mixed flavour of nature, history and wildlife.

Starting with an afternoon jungle safari on day 4, each day you’ll enjoy jungle safari’s at dawn and dusk, the best times for viewing and photographing tigers. The rest of your time can be filled enjoying a leisurely swim, a relaxing walk or catching up on your sleep.

Finding tigers requires acute hearing rather than a reliance on sight. The resident naturalists listen for the distinctive warning calls chital deer and monkeys when they sense a tiger approaching. The call alerts the wildlife and our guides to the tiger’s location. Other wildlife seen here includes leopard, striped hyena, jackals, sloth bear, macaques, langur monkeys, sambar and chital deer, and wild boar.

Accommodation & Meals

2 nights at Sherbagh or similar (B, L D).

DAY 6 SHAHPURA BAGH

After a morning game drive you will drive to Shahpura Bagh, approximately 4 hours.

Shahpura Bagh with its large heavily wooded estate is surrounded by two lakes in north and west and the town in the east providing a unique setting in rural Rajasthan.

On arrival you’ll have the option of taking any of the following activities:

• Nature Walks
• Cycling
• Excursion to the farm
• Bird watching
• Excursion to Dhikola Fort

Accommodation & Meals

1 night at Shahpura Bagh or similar (B).

DAYS 7 & 8 JAWAI

This morning we’ll make the 4 hour drive to Jawai Leopard Camp set in the Aravalli Hills. A stay here means avoiding the crowds and getting a front row seat on a very traditional way of life where white bearded temple priests and red turbaned Rabari herdsmen live as their ancestors did for centuries sharing their rocky surroundings with the wildlife.

Leopards are regarded as sacred guardians of the ancient temples and there are somewhere between 30 and 50 leopards in the area. There are also Nigai antelope, crocodile, langur monkey, wild boar and more than 100 bird species.

On arrival you’ll get your first chance to see Jawai’s leopards on an afternoon game drive and you’ll do three more on days 8 and 9, maximizing your chance of seeing leopards.

Accommodation & Meals

2 nights at Jawai Leopard Camp or similar (B L D)

DAY 9 DELHI

After one last game drive you’ll make the 3.5hr drive to Udaipur in time to connect to your flight to Delhi

Depart: Udaipur at: 1630 hrs by: 9W2632
Arrive: Delhi at: 1805 hrs

Accommodation & Meals

1 night at Holiday Inn or similar (B)

DAY 10-12 DELHI

Early this morning transfer from hotel to airport in time to connect flight to Jabalpur and onwards to Bandhavgarh (4 hours)

Depart: Delhi at: 07:50 hrs by: SG2441
Arrive: Jabalpur at: 09:45 hrs
(Flights subject to change)

Bandharvargh National Park was once a Shikargah, or game preserve, of the Marharaja but became a national park in 1968. Bandharvargh boasts a high density of Bengal tigers. There are in the region of 50 tigers here and the chances of finding one are good.

Set amongst the Vindhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh is one of India’s smallest national parks but it’s teaming with wildlife. There are at least 150 species of birds in the park, along with other mammals such as sloth bear, langur monkeys, wild boar, mongoose, 3 kinds of deer – chital, sambar and barking.

Wildlife isn’t the only draw to this park, the Bandhavgarh Fort, offers breath taking views, a 35 ft reclining statue of Lord Vishnu and the 10th century rock images of the incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that this fort was made by Lord Rama for his younger brother Laxman.

Each day enjoy misty mornings and the sound of birds as you get ready for your dawn jungle safari and a picnic breakfast amongst the wildlife. In the winter months morning safaris require warm clothes. We provide blankets and sometimes even a hot water bottle to help keep the wind chill at bay.

An optional tour to the fort is available.

Accommodation & Meals

3 nights at &Beyond Mahua Kothi or similar (B L D – no dinner Day 13)

DAY 13 DELHI

After one last game drive you’ll make the drive to Jabalpur Airport to board your flight to Delhi.

Depart: Jabalpur at: 18:35 hrs by: SG2452 (Economy class)
Arrive: Delhi at: 20:35 hrs

Upon arrival in Delhi, transfer to the international airport in time to connect your flight back home. Dependent on the departure time for your international flight you may need to spend your last night in Delhi (at extra cost).

Subject to availability we will use the following hotels for our guests:

STANDARD CHECK IN TIME IS 14:00 HRS AND CHECK OUT TIME IS 12:00 NOON AT MOST OF THE HOTELS.

B = Bed & Breakfast
L = Lunch
D = Dinner

What’s included:

• Accommodation on twin sharing basis at hotels mentioned or of a similar category. Rooms will be their standard ones unless otherwise specified. We reserve the right to substitute accommodation of an equivalent standard if the accommodation shown is not available during your travel dates.
• Meals as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch & D=Dinner). Meals as specified above in the itinerary.
• Locally branded alcoholic and soft drinks and laundry are included at Mahua Kothi Camp.
• All transfers, sightseeing and overland trips by air-conditioned Toyota Innova car.
• Services of an English speaking guide for the sightseeing in Agra and Delhi.
• Services of an English speaking naturalist during game drives.
• Entrances fees with still camera fees.
• At Ranthambore game drives will be provided in exclusive jeeps (subject to availability). Failing which game drives will be provided in a deluxe canter.
• At Jawai game drives will be provided in exclusive jeeps .
• Game drive in Bandhavgarh on shared basis in jeep.
• Train fare in best available air conditioned class for Bharatpur – Ranthambhore sector.
• Domestic flights
• Travel journal.
• Mineral water during sightseeing and overland trip.
• All current taxes as on date.

What’s not included:

• International flights. We are happy to help you book these or you can arrange your own.
• Insurance.
• India visa fee.
• Meals or drinks except those specified above.
• Any services of accompanied escort (supplement advised, if required).
• Tips and gratuities.
• Purchases of a personal nature.
• Any expenses incurred due to any unforeseen situation or any other reason beyond our control including acts of god, change in government tax policy etc.
• Two night Udaipur extension with guided sightseeing staying at the wonderful Lake Palace Hotel £817 pp on a bed and breakfast basis in a lake view room.