About This Tour
Overview
This 18-night journey is India's definitive big-cat safari circuit — pairing four of the country's finest tiger reserves with the heritage heartland of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Begin in Delhi with the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb. Drive south to Sariska Tiger Reserve in the Aravalli hills, where leopards, nilgai and the rare striped hyena roam the dry forests around the ruins of Kankwari Fort. Continue to Ranthambore, the most famous tiger park in India, where the big cats pad around the ancient fort and the lotus-covered lakes of Padam Talao. Then the splendour of the Pink City — Amber Fort by elephant back, Hawa Mahal and Jantar Mantar — before the Taj Mahal at sunrise, Agra Fort and the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri. Head into Bundelkhand for Orchha's riverside palaces and the erotic stone masterpieces of Khajuraho, then plunge into the heart of tiger country: Bandhavgarh, with its dense tiger population and hilltop fort, and Kanha, the lush sal-forest that inspired Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, where the endangered hard-ground barasingha still grazes. Fly home from Jabalpur, leaving with the memory of stripes in golden grass.
Duration
18 Nights / 19 Days
Tour Type
Wildlife Safari · Heritage · Private
Region
Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh
Safaris
8 Included · Sariska, Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh, Kanha
UNESCO Sites
Taj Mahal · Fatehpur Sikri · Khajuraho · Qutub · Jantar Mantar
Languages
Hindi, English, Rajasthani, Bundeli
Top Experiences
Highlights
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Rajasthan's oldest reserve in the Aravalli hills — leopards, striped hyenas, nilgai and rhesus macaques around the Mughal-era Kankwari Fort
Ranthambore — Tiger Kingdom
India's most famous tiger reserve — the big cats lounge by Padam Talao and the 1,000-year-old Ranthambore Fort towers over the park
Pink City of Jaipur
Amber Fort by elephant back, the wind-palace of Hawa Mahal, City Palace and the stone observatory of Jantar Mantar
Taj Mahal at Sunrise
The marble mausoleum in rose-gold dawn light, Agra Fort's red sandstone ramparts, and the abandoned capital of Fatehpur Sikri
Orchha & Khajuraho
Bundela river palaces on the Betwa and the 1,000-year-old Chandela temples — the greatest surviving monuments of medieval India
Bandhavgarh & Kanha
Madhya Pradesh's tiger heartland — Bandhavgarh's dense cat population and Kanha's sal forests that inspired The Jungle Book
Visual Journey
Tiger Country at a Glance
What's Covered
Includes / Excludes
✓ Included
- All 8 jungle safaris — 2 each in Sariska, Ranthambore, Bandhavgarh & Kanha
- 18 nights accommodation with breakfast
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the entire tour
- Jabalpur → Delhi internal flight
- Entry tickets — Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Orchha monuments, Khajuraho temples
- Taj Mahal at sunrise + local guides at all monuments
- Airport transfers (Delhi & Jabalpur) & all road taxes, fuel and tolls
✕ Not Included
- International airfare to / from Delhi
- India visa fees & travel insurance
- Lunches, dinners & beverages
- Elephant ride at Amber Fort (direct payment)
- Camera fees at monuments & parks
- Personal expenses, tips & gratuities
Day by Day
Itinerary
Day01
Arrive Delhi
Welcome to the capital
- Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport; meet your representative and transfer to your hotel
- Evening at leisure — unwind after your flight or take a first stroll around the neighbourhood
- Overnight in Delhi
Day02
Old & New Delhi
Seven centuries in one day
- Morning: the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, then a cycle-rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk's bazaars
- Afternoon: the soaring Qutub Minar, the garden-tomb of Humayun's Tomb and India Gate
- Evening: drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Secretariat
- Overnight in Delhi
Day03
Delhi – Sariska
~200 km / 5 hrs into the Aravallis
- Morning drive south into Rajasthan's Aravalli hills
- Afternoon: first safari into Sariska Tiger Reserve — watch for leopards, nilgai, sambar and peacocks
- Visit the 17th-century Kankwari Fort inside the park, where Aurangzeb once imprisoned his brother
- Overnight in Sariska
Day04
Sariska Safaris
Two game drives
- Dawn safari along Pandupol and the lake circuits — tiger country in the first golden light
- Afternoon safari towards Siliserh; return via the wildlife sanctuary's bird-rich grasslands
- Evening at your jungle lodge — sundowner on the terrace
- Overnight in Sariska
Day05
Sariska – Ranthambore
~160 km / 4–5 hrs
- Drive across the Shekhawati plains towards the Chambal river valley
- Arrive at Ranthambore in time for an afternoon safari — the park's famous tiger matriarchs are often seen at the lakes
- Keep an eye out for sloth bear, caracal and the marsh crocodiles of Padam Talao
- Overnight in Ranthambore
Day06
Ranthambore Safaris
Two game drives
- Dawn safari through zones 3–6 — the legendary Guda, Raj Bagh and Lakarda territories
- Afternoon drive up to the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort — tigers, langurs and panoramic Chambal views
- Photography stops at Padam Talao's lotus-covered water for kingfishers and crocodiles
- Overnight in Ranthambore
Day07
Ranthambore – Jaipur
~180 km / 4 hrs to the Pink City
- Morning at leisure — optional final safari before breakfast
- Drive through Dausa's hills to the walled Pink City of Jaipur
- Evening: stroll the bazaars of Johari Bazaar and the famous Lassiwala for a sweet lassi
- Overnight in Jaipur
Day08
Jaipur — The Pink City
Amber Fort & the city palaces
- Morning: ascend to the honey-coloured Amber Fort — by elephant back or jeep — with its Sheesh Mahal mirror hall
- Afternoon: City Palace, the wind-palace of Hawa Mahal and the stone observatory of Jantar Mantar
- Evening: sunset at Nahargarh Fort over the walled city's grid of rose-pink streets
- Overnight in Jaipur
Day09
Jaipur – Agra via Fatehpur Sikri
~240 km / 5–6 hrs
- Drive east through Dausa and Bharatpur towards the Yamuna
- Stop at the red-sandstone ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri — Akbar's abandoned capital — Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal and the Diwan-i-Khas
- Arrive in Agra for the evening; rest before tomorrow's early start
- Overnight in Agra
Day10
Agra — The Taj Mahal
Sunrise at the white mausoleum
- Dawn: enter the Taj Mahal as the marble glows rose-gold — the world's greatest monument to love
- Morning: the red ramparts of Agra Fort and the riverside tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, the 'Baby Taj'
- Afternoon at leisure — optional marble-inlay workshop visit
- Overnight in Agra
Day11
Agra – Orchha
~390 km / 8 hrs via Gwalior
- Long drive into Bundelkhand past the Chambal ravines; photo stop at Gwalior's hilltop fort as you pass
- Arrive in Orchha — the medieval capital of the Bundela rajas on the banks of the Betwa
- Evening: walk to the river ghats as the Chhatris (cenotaphs) catch the last light
- Overnight in Orchha
Day12
Orchha – Khajuraho
~175 km / 4 hrs
- Morning: the Jahangir Mahal and Ram Raja Temple of Orchha
- Drive through Panna's forests to the temple town of Khajuraho
- Evening: the sound-and-light show at the Western Group of temples
- Overnight in Khajuraho
Day13
Khajuraho — The Temple City
Chandela masterpieces
- Morning: the Western Group — Kandariya Mahadeva, Lakshmana and Chausath Yogini, the greatest of the Chandela temples
- Afternoon: the Eastern Group and the Jain temples, followed by the Archaeological Museum
- Optional: village walk through the crafts lanes of Khajuraho
- Overnight in Khajuraho
Day14
Khajuraho – Bandhavgarh
~300 km / 7 hrs
- Drive south through Panna and Katni into the Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh
- Arrive at Bandhavgarh National Park — the reserve with India's densest tiger population
- Evening at your jungle lodge; briefing on tomorrow's safari zones
- Overnight in Bandhavgarh
Day15
Bandhavgarh Safaris
Two game drives
- Dawn safari — Bandhavgarh's valleys and grassy plateaus are tiger country at its best
- Afternoon: drive to the ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, with the Shesh Shaiya reclining Vishnu and Badi Gufa cave shrines
- Watch for dhole (wild dogs), Indian wolf and over 250 bird species
- Overnight in Bandhavgarh
Day16
Bandhavgarh – Kanha
~250 km / 5–6 hrs
- Drive through the teak and sal forests of the Maikal range
- Arrive at Kanha National Park — Kipling's inspiration for The Jungle Book
- Afternoon at leisure by the lodge; spot spotted deer from the verandah
- Overnight in Kanha
Day17
Kanha Safaris
Two game drives
- Dawn safari across the vast Kanha Meadows — the park's famous open grasslands
- Search for the rare hard-ground barasingha, India's state animal of Madhya Pradesh
- Afternoon: Kanha's hill streams and the Kanha Museum; evening jungle walk (permit permitting)
- Overnight in Kanha
Day18
Kanha – Jabalpur ✈ Delhi
~170 km / 4 hrs + flight
- Morning drive to Jabalpur; if time permits, a quick stop at the marble rocks of Bhedaghat on the Narmada
- Fly Jabalpur → Delhi (internal flight included)
- Transfer to your Delhi hotel for a final night
- Overnight in Delhi
Day19
Depart Delhi
Farewell to India
- Morning at leisure — last-minute shopping at Dilli Haat or Khan Market
- Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your flight home
- End of the Tiger Trails of North India tour — with stripes, forts and temples to remember.
Where You'll Stay
Hotels & Jungle Lodges
Delhi — 5★ City Hotel
2 nights on arrival · 1 night on return
3 Nights Total
Sariska — Heritage Jungle Lodge
2 nights · 4★ wildlife lodge in the Aravalli hills
2 Nights
Ranthambore — Safari Resort
2 nights · by the park gates near Sawai Madhopur
2 Nights
Jaipur — 5★ Heritage Palace Hotel
2 nights · city-centre property near the walled city
2 Nights
Agra — 4★ City Hotel
2 nights · minutes from the Taj Mahal's east gate
2 Nights
Orchha — Riverside Heritage Hotel
1 night · on the banks of the Betwa river
1 Night
Khajuraho — 4★ Resort
2 nights · landscaped gardens near the Western Group
2 Nights
Bandhavgarh — Wildlife Lodge
2 nights · at the park's Tala gate
2 Nights
Kanha — Forest Lodge
2 nights · deep in the sal forest near the Kanha gate
2 Nights
We will arrange and confirm your hotel stays as per the trip and budget — hotel options are not fixed and can be customised to your preference. Contact us for details
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see tigers?
The dry months of October to June are ideal. From April to June the heat drives tigers to the waterholes, making sightings most reliable — especially at Ranthambore and Bandhavgarh. The parks close for the monsoon, roughly July to September.
Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities can apply for the India e-Tourist Visa online before travel, valid for 60 days with double entry. We'll share the application link with your booking confirmation; your passport must be valid for at least six months.
How are safari permits handled?
All 8 safari permits are booked in advance by us and included in the package. Each park allocates a limited number of zones per day, so we lock them in as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Safaris run at dawn and late afternoon in open 4×4 gypsies.
What should I pack for the safaris?
Wear neutral colours (khaki, olive, brown) — avoid bright clothing that startles wildlife. Layers for the cold dawn drives, a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a telephoto lens. Carry your passport for safari permits and a light jacket for the Marble Rocks of Jabalpur.
Are the heritage sights optional on a wildlife tour?
No — they're the perfect foil to the parks. The Taj Mahal at sunrise, Fatehpur Sikri and Khajuraho are short, unhurried visits that break up the long drives, and the Amber Fort's elephant ride is a highlight of Jaipur. If you'd rather skip any monument for a rest day, just tell us.
Can I extend the tour?
Easily. Popular extensions add Pench (en route between Khajuraho and Kanha), the birdlife of Bharatpur, or a coastal finish in Goa or Kerala after Delhi. We'll tailor the safari zones and lodges to your dates.
Full Route
Tour Map