Best Big Cats Tour of India - 15 Days
- Visit three premier Tiger parks in Central India – Bandhavgarh, Satpura, and Pench
- Visit Gir National Park in search of the Asiatic Lion
- Learn and explore forest corridors and its importance for dispersal of tigers and maintaining a healthy genetic mix.
- Short Indian train journey an exciting and colorful adventure
- Canoe safari in Satpura – unique way of exploring the wilderness
- Night game drive.
- Long-distance transportation in comfortable Vehicles with captain seats
- Private Transfers
- Stay in eco-friendly
Detailed Itinerary
Day by Day
ARRIVE DELHI – Arrive into India
Arrive into India
Meet and greet on your arrival in Delhi. You will be received by an airport staff at the aerobridge. He will then assist you through the immigration and baggage. You will then be greeted by our company representative, as you walk out of the airport. He will accompany you to the car and transfer to your hotel close to the airport.
Rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.
Overnight at Roseate House – Deluxe Room
DELHI / JABALPUR / BANDHAVGARH – To Indias top tigers reserve
To India’s Top Tiger Reserve
After an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the domestic airport to board flight for Jabalpur.
Arrive at Jabalpur and drive about 4 hrs to Bandhavgarh National Park.
Bandhavgarh is a relatively small park 448 Square kilometres but is a vital stop for serious tiger safari. As it has the highest density of tigers nearly one for every 5 square kilometre in the area open to tourism. This forest has an ancient history, which is entwined with that of the kings of the Rewa dynasty.
Overnight at Kings Lodge – Cottage
BANDHAVGARH – Adventure Begins
Adventure begins!
Early morning assemble for tea / coffee and then set off for a game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist who sometimes is also the driver besides the local park guide.
Afternoon game drive by 4WD exclusive vehicle accompanied by lodge naturalist.
Overnight at the lodge.
BANDHAVGARH / KATNI / PIPARIYA / SATPURA – experience an enchanting train journey
Experience an enchanting train journey
Early morning transfer to Katni Railway station (97 Kms. 2.5 hrs approx.) on time to board train to Pipariya.
Time permiting today late evening we will go for a night drive in the buffer forest around the lodge.
On arrival at Piparia, transfer to Satpura (50 Kms. 1.5 hrs approx.)
Satpura National Park Central India’s Satpura Tiger Reserve represents the largest block of tiger-inhabited tiger habitat left in the world. The terrain is generally hilly with precipitous slopes, deep and narrow gorges ravines sheltered valleys and dense forests with many water falls. The area is uniquely diverse ranging from dry thorn forest to tropical dry deciduous, moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests. Teak, sal and mixed forest are the major compositions. Over 1200 varieties of flowering and non flowering plants are found in this area.
After an early dinner, proceed for late evening safari by four wheeled drive vehicle accompanied by a local naturalist.
Overnight at Denwa Backwater Escape – Tree House
SATPURA – Boat Safari
Boat safari on river Denwa
Morning go for a boat safari on the Denwa River. Boat safari is an excellent way to become harmonious with nature and there are chances of sighting of Crocodiles and even mammals sighting grazing close to river water.
After lunch, set off for a game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist who sometimes is also the driver besides the local park guide.
Overnight at the lodge
SATPURA / PENCH – to the Jungle that inspired Kipling
To the Jungle that inspired Kipling
Early morning we go for a walking safari accompanied by naturalist and local park guide inside the national park (2 or 3 hrs) depending on your ability. During the walk you will get learn about tracks and signs of Indian wildlife.
Later drive to Pench (240 kms, 5 hours) with packed lunch.
Pench National Park – Pench has been included under the umbrella of Project Tiger as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve. It comprises of 758 sq. kms out of which a core area of 299-sq-km is the National Park and 464-km the buffer area. It is a mix of Southern Indian tropical moist deciduous forest, tropical dry deciduous teak bearing forests and dry mixed deciduous forest. 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians and over 240 varieties of birds have already been listed.
Overnight at Pench Tree Lodge – Tree House
PENCH – Jungle Book Adventure begins
Jungle book adventure begins
Early morning assemble for tea / coffee and then set off for a game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist who sometimes is also the driver besides the local park guide.
Afternoon game drive by 4WD exclusive vehicle accompanied by lodge naturalist.
Overnight at the lodge.
PENCH / NAGPUR / MUMBAI – Overnight in City of Dreams
Overnight in city of dreams
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to Nagpur airport (130 kms, 3 hours) and board flight for Mumbai.
Arrive at Mumbai and transfer to a hotel close to the airport.
Premier Pool View Room
MUMBAI / RAJKOT / GIR – to the last kingdom of Asiatic lions
To the last kingdom of Asiatic Lions
Early morning transfer to the airport to board flight for Rajkot.
Arrive at Rajkot and drive to Gir National Park (160 kms, 3.5 hours)
Gir National Park – It is the last surviving habitat of the Asiatic lion in the world. From a population of approximately 20 lions in 1913, they have risen to a comfortable 523 according to 2015 census. We get to see these majestic beasts often called “kings of the wild” from close quarters, on a visit to the western state of Gujarat.
This evening take a guided nature walk through the forest paths to spot the amazing birdlife that Gir offers – over 300 species of birds, many of them migratory and rare.
Overnight at Woods at Sasan – Woods Studio.
GIR – On safari
On safari
Morning and afternoon game drive to discover the wildlife of Gir National Park accompanied by a personal guide. Gir is not only home to the last of the Asiatic lions in the world, but also hosts a myriad of exotic flora and fauna – Asiatic wild ass, Hyenas, Foxes, Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown Fish Owl and Black Buck to name a few.
Overnight at the lodge.
GIR / RAJKOT / MUMBAI / DEPARTURE – End of India Wildlife Journey
End of India wildlife journey
Morning go for your final game drive in Gir forest.
Later drive to Rajkot airport to board flight for Mumbai.
Arrive at Mumbai airport and transfer to the international terminal (30 mins drive) in time to board flight for your onward destination.
Inclusions
- Accommodation in a double share room in the hotels / lodges mentioned above
- Breakfast at the hotels in Delhi
- All meals at the jungle lodges in Bandhavgarh, Satpura, Pench and Gir
- Arrival & departure transfers and inter-city drives in private chauffeur driven AC vehicles
- Game drives by 4WD vehicles on exclusive basis as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the car during road journeys
- All presently applicable taxes
Exclusions
Domestic Airfares
International airfares, airport taxes
Visa Fee
Camera and videography fees at monuments
Room service charges (for meals, drinks etc.)
Other meals were not mentioned in the program
Drinks/beverages were not mentioned
All international airport taxes
Hotel early check-in / Late checkout
Any activity which has not been highlighted under inclusions
Overweight luggage (Free baggage limit for the internal flights is 15 kgs check-in baggage per person and 7 kg hand baggage per person)
Personal expenses – mineral water, telephone calls, laundry, etc
Travel and health insurance
Tips & gratuities
Supplement costs applicable for travel during peak periods like festivals, Christmas / New Year
Other services not listed in the inclusive column
On request – USD per person, based on double occupancy. Prices are subject to change. As itineraries are custom-designed for you, the final price will vary. Tour price is also based on the month of travel.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS TO PRE-BOOK GAME DRIVES IN NATIONAL PARK: Limited numbers of visitors are allowed inside the National Parks. Booking is done on first cum first serve basis. Therefore, we would request you please send us the following information at the earliest in order to enable us to book game drives or a scanned copy of the relevant pages of the passports.
Wednesdays – Bandhavgarh and Kanha National parks are closed for afternoon safari on Wednesdays. We can arrange alternate activities like a village visit, nature walks, cycling, visit a weekly tribal market in place of a safari on Wednesday afternoon.
July to September – National parks closed for rainy reasons.
Travel Insurance: Protect your travel booking – We recommend travel protection insurance. Between missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or medical emergencies, you want some peace of mind that your travel investment is well protected. No matter who you buy from, please consider purchasing a travel protection plan before you travel.