Tiger Tiger - Lodges

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London for Delhi.

Day 2. Delhi [B]

On arrival in the early morning, you will be transferred to Claridges Hotel for a 2-night stay (including the night of arrival). Enjoy a tour of old and new Delhi (including the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the bazaars of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi and Qutub Minar, Humayun's tomb and Lutyen's beautiful buildings).

Days 3 & 4 Pench National Park [B, L, D]

This morning you fly to Nagpur and transfer by road to Pench National Park and Jungle Camp where you stay for two nights. Pench National Park on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra has been known through the ages for its rich flora and fauna. Many writers including Rudyard Kipling have described Pench as a place rich in flora and fauna. Named after the nearby river, Pench was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1983 and it covers some 760 square kilometers. Cheetal, Sambar and Nilgai are common sightings, Gaur, Sloth Bears and Dhole (Indian Wild Dog) are frequently seen but it is most famous for its Tigers.

Days 5 to 8. Kanha National Park [B, L, D]

After a morning game drive you head off to Kanha National Park (about a six hour drive) for a 4-night stay at Tuli Tiger Resort. Situated in central India in the Satpura Hill ranges, Kanha offers without a doubt, India's finest Tiger-viewing. Grasslands and deciduous forests also support Barasingha, Chital, Muntjac, Sambar, Common Langur, and Rhesus Monkeys, Wild Boar, Asiatic Jackal, three of India's four lowland antelopes (Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope and Blackbuck), and occasionally Leopard, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Wolf and Dhole. Birdlife present includes Painted Partridge, Shaheen Falcon, Golden Oriole and the omnipresent Red Jungle Fowl. Safaris are on Elephant-back and by jeep.

Tuli Tiger Resort, set in the buffer zone of the park, has eighteen air-conditioned cottages, each room having ensuite facilities. Public areas include an audio/video theatre, pool table, library, swimming pool and a restaurant.

Days 9 to 12. Bandhavgarh National Park [B, L, D]

Today you transfer by road (approximately five hours) to Bandhavgarh National Park and Tiger Trails Resort for a 4-night stay. Mammals found here include Chital, Sambar, Muntjac, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chowsingha, Wild Boar, Leopard, Dhole and of course Tiger. Birdlife also abounds with over 275 species of bird including hornbills, orioles, parakeets, peacocks, and eagles. Wildlife-viewing is on Elephant-back and by jeep.

Tiger Trails Resort consists of twelve two-bedroom cottages spread over a four hectare site, each with ensuite facilities. There is a well-stocked library, restaurant and bar area. The lodge overlooks a private lake which attracts a variety of resident and migratory birds. Another option is the new Kings Lodge.

Day 13. Bandhavgarh

You will be able to enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing today before heading off to Umaria train station for the overnight train to Agra.

Day 14. Agra

On arrival in Agra you will be met and transferred to the Trident Hotel, where you will be based for the night. The Trident is a first-class hotel set in beautiful landscaped gardens. Depart on a tour of Agra and the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal was built as a monument of love by the Mughal Emperor Shah-Jehan in 1630 for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal, to enshrine her mortal remains. For 22 years, 20,000 men laboured day and night to build this masterpiece which has held the world in awe ever since. Agra Fort and the nearby long deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri are also well worth a visit.

Day 15. Homeward [B]

After a leisurely morning, drive to Delhi (approximately four hours). After dinner and a short night's rest at the Uppal's Orchid Hotel, you transfer to the airport in the early hours, for your flight to the UK.

Day 16. Arrive home