The remarkable country of India is the only nation in the world where you have the chance to observe red panda, Indian rhino and Bengal tiger alongside a rich diversity of other fascinating species.
On this extensive and specially-designed small group tour, we visit three of the country's finest wildlife locations to hopefully observe and enjoy encounters with some of the Indian subcontinent's most iconic species in the company of an expert naturalist guide.
Our first port of call is the forested Himalayan slopes in West Bengal on the Indo-Nepalese border. These montane and often cloud-laden forests are the perfect habitat for red panda, an endearing animal that is a favourite for so many wildlife enthusiasts.
Staying in North-east India, we continue to the state of Assam and the renowned Kaziranga National Park. Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River and home to the world's largest population of greater one-horned or Indian rhinoceros, we head out on game drives in Kaziranga to encounter these leviathans. Other species we could view on safari here include swamp deer or barasingha, Asian elephant, oriental honey buzzard and Pallas's fishing eagle.
Lastly, we travel to Central India and the state of Madhya Pradesh (via Kolkata). Our destination here is Kanha National Park, which is one of the prime locations in India for spotting tigers. Kanha is known for its healthy tiger population and should hopefully offer opportunities to observe these majestic felines. Indian roller, gaur, nilgai and crested serpent eagle, as well as sloth bear and dhole if we're lucky, are just some of the other species we may encounter as we explore the park.
Every effort has been made to make this itinerary as seamless as possible, whilst also allowing us to combine these fascinating locations and experience their wildlife. From the forested mountains of the Indo-Nepalese border to the banks of the Brahmaputra and finishing in the forests of Kanha National Park, this extensive itinerary will provide opportunities to enjoy some of the very best wildlife that can be found within India’s borders.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
Today, we depart the UK on an overnight flight to Delhi.
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Day 2:
Arrive Delhi
On arrival in Delhi, we are met on arrival and transferred to our overnight accommodation nearby.
Accommodation: Vivanta by Taj Dwarka, 1-night
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Day 3:
Fly to Bagdogra & transfer to Manebhanjang
This morning we return to the airport for a domestic flight across to Bagdogra. From here, we are be transferred to the small town of Manebhanjang on the border between India and Nepal in the Himalayas.
Accommodation: Shikhar Tarry Lodge, 4-nights
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Days 4-6
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Search for red pandas & birdwatching
The forested hills around Manebhanjang are a stronghold for the red panda and in recent years this has become a reliable location to see this charming creature who feed on the bamboo which thrives in these montane forests.
Each day in Manebhanjang is likely to follow a similar pattern. After breakfast, we are collected from the lodge and then driven to a nearby location where red pandas have been spotted or have been seen recently. Once at the location, we set out on foot with our guide and naturalist tour leader. A dedicated team of trackers will have been up early in search of red panda.
When not searching for red pandas or these endearing creatures are proving to be a bit more elusive, we can spend time enjoy the region’s abundant birdlife as we can scan the forest and wander along the trails. Some of the bird species we may encounter include chestnut-crowned and scaly laughing thrush, verditer flycatcher, yellow-billed magpie, blue whistling thrush and white-browed fulvetta.
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Day 7:
Drive to Bagdogra
This morning, we have one final chance to head out in search of red pandas before transferring back to Bagdogra after breakfast. We head to our overnight accommodation, and the rest of today's free to spend as we wish.
Accommodation: Courtyard by Marriott Siliguri, 1-night
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Day 8:
Transfer to Kaziranga National Park
Early this morning, we depart Bagdogra and catch a train to Guwahati. From here, we switch to a car and are transferred the remaining distance to Kaziranga National Park, a fascinating national park which is home to a substantial population of greater one-horned rhinoceros. We hope to arrive in the evening and enjoy a relaxed dinner at our accommodation.
Accommodation: Infinity Resort Kaziranga, 3-nights
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Days 9-10
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Explore Kaziranga National Park
For the next two days, we explore Kaziranga National Park by enjoying early morning and late afternoon game drives in this stunning landscape. Of course, our target species will be the greater one-horned rhinoceros (also known as the Indian rhinoceros) and we hope to have multiple encounters with these fascinating creatures.
However, Kaziranga is home to a wealth of fascinating wildlife and other species we may observe are great hornbill, barasingha or swamp deer, Indian roller, black-necked stork, Asian water buffalo, Asian elephant and Bengal florican to name just a few.
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Day 11:
Fly to Kolkata
This morning, we enjoy our last game drive in the Kaziranga National Park, giving us a final opportunity to find and observe some of the park’s incredible wildlife. We hope for one more sighting of a greater one-horned rhinoceros.
After breakfast, we are driven back to Guwahati to catch our onward flight to Kolkata. Once we reach Kolkata, we will be met on arrival and transferred to our nearby accommodation.
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport, 1-night
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Day 12:
Fly to Raipur & transfer to Kanha National Park
This morning we catch the early flight from Kolkata to Raipur. From here, we are transferred to Kanha National Park where we should arrive in time for lunch at our next accommodation.
There will also be some time to freshen up before heading out on our first game drive in this famous national park and our search for tiger begins.
Accommodation: Chitvan Jungle Lodge, 4-nights
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Days 13-15
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Explore Kanha National Park
Over the course of the next three days, we enjoy game drives in the early morning and late afternoon to experience this beautiful national park and its wildlife. The Bengal tiger will be our principal focus and with two drives each day we are maximising our chances of encountering these majestic felines.
The birdlife is prolific in this national park and some of the avian highlights could include blue-bearded bee-eater, Indian peafowl, orange-headed thrush, painted francolin and Indian scimitar-babbler. There are also other mammals to spot including chital, sambar, gaur, barasingha and, if we're lucky, we may come across sloth bear, blackbuck, leopard and dhole (Indian wild dog).
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Day 16:
Transfer to Nagpur
After a leisurely breakfast, we depart Kanha National Park and drive to Nagpur.
When we reach Nagpur, we check-in at our hotel where the rest of the day is free to spend as you wish.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur
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Day 17:
Departure
We depart Nagpur on return international flights to the UK (via Doha) arriving the same day.
Please note: We have an excellent and experienced team of naturalist tour leaders guiding our groups in India. The exact leader for each departure will be confirmed once the group has been guaranteed to travel.
