Showcasing the best of India's culture and wildlife, this itinerary takes you to some of the most outstanding forts and mausoleums that India has to offer, not to mention providing potential for exceptional wildlife encounters.
This trip idea visits the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, before a revitalising stay at Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary where you can experience a hugely successful rewilding project. From Chambal, head south to the historic cities of Gwalior and Orchha with their marvellous ancient architecture before venturing into the forests of Panna National Park in search of the unmistakable Bengal tiger. The adventure concludes with a tour of Khajuraho’s ancient temples before returning to Delhi.
Following the road less travelled means that your trip will be full of incredible wildlife experiences without the crowds of the more well known national parks and attractions, with the time spent in Agra as the exception. Chambal is full of unique species such as Gangetic river dolphin and gharial which are regularly seen here, despite being difficult to find elsewhere. Panna has undergone a resurgence with its tiger population; no tigers were left in the park as recently as 2009, but careful reintroduction practices have resulted in their numbers growing to over 50 individuals. The towns and cities of Gwalior, Orchha and Khajuraho are hidden gems when it comes to central India’s illustrious history with unique structures and mythical tales to captivate you during your visit.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
Fly from London to Delhi. Once you've collected your bags and cleared immigration, a driver expecting you at Arrivals is ready to transport you to your overnight hotel.
Accommodation: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, 1-night
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Day 2:
Visit to Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal
Your first morning in India begins with breakfast at your hotel, followed by a transfer to the train station in Delhi where you're escorted to the platform to catch an hour and 40 minute train to the city of Agra.
Upon arrival in Agra, you're collected for your tour of Agra Fort and of course the iconic Taj Mahal. An interpretive guide accompanies you, and provides a fascinating insight into the history and construction of the remarkable structures whilst answering any questions you may have along the way.
Following the conclusion of your tour, you're transferred about one hour by road to Chambal Safari Lodge.
Accommodation: Chambal Safari Lodge, 3-nights
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Days 3-4
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Chambal River Safaris & Nature Walks
One of the highlights of a stay at Chambal is undoubtably the morning boat safaris. Waking at a leisurely time to allow the mist to clear over the Chambal River, you enjoy a delightful breakfast before being transferred through the undulating hills of the Chambal Sanctuary, keeping eyes peeled for a plethora of bird species along the way, including crested bunting, purple sunbird, jungle bush quail, grey-breasted prinia and Indian robin.
The meandering river soon comes into eyeshot with chances to see many aquatic birds such as Indian skimmer, green heron, ruddy shelduck, Pallas’s gull, black-winged stilt, painted and woolly-necked storks. Your expert local guide helps to identify any and all species whilst giving an interesting insight into the surrounding topography and how the conservation success of the area has resulted in the return of the Gangetic river dolphin. Each 35-kilometre stretch of the river is limited to just three boats, which most importantly means that wildlife remains undisturbed by the presence of boats and also that sightings are kept intimate. Other species you can hope to see from the water include gharial, Indian softshell turtle, red-crowned roof turtle, smooth-coated otter and those with a great degree of luck on their side may even spot striped hyena or leopard from the boat.
After a spot of lunch in the stunning lodge gardens, spend the afternoons on a guided nature walk around the lodge’s extensive grounds. A resident colony of Indian flying foxes can be found close to some of the accommodation as they rest during the day before becoming active in the evenings where they can sometimes be seen taking off as you sit around the fire shortly before sunset. The walk takes you to various habitats around the property including the lake, open and forested areas and farmland. Having such variation enables numerous species to thrive here, including Egyptian vultures, rose-ringed parakeet, Scops owl, white-breasted waterhen, knob-billed duck, white-throated kingfisher, red-breasted flycatcher, grey hornbill and red-whiskered bulbul. Rhesus macaque can be seen patrolling the perimeter of the surrounding villages and Indian civet can often be spotted around the lodge at night, other mammals possible include golden jackal, jungle cat and striped hyena.
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Day 5:
Transfer to Orchha via Gwalior
Your day begins with breakfast at the lodge before a road transfer of around three hours to the historic city of Gwalior, famous for its rock fortress which forms the centre of the city also known for its architecture, classical music and royal heritage. You have time to have lunch (own account) and explore Gwalior Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a guide who explains the rich history of this ancient city whilst taking you through the many palaces, temples, and other historical structures within the fort. Once your tour has concluded, you're returned to your driver and transported another two and a half hours to the town of Orchha.
Accommodation: Amar Mahal, 2-nights
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Day 6:
Orchha Day Tour
Today, you have a full day of touring Orchha with an interpretive guide as you visit sites such as Orchha Fort (including Jahangir Mahal, Raja Mahal, Rai Praveen Mahal, Hammam Khana, Dauji Ki Kothi), Chaturbhuj Temple, Laksmi Mandir and the Royal Chhatris.
The town is steeped in history, with legends of feudal chivalry and romance packed into every inch, making it a fascinating destination for those with a historical and architectural interest.
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Day 7:
Transfer to Panna National Park
After breakfast, you're collected by your driver and transported for roughly three hours to Panna National Park. Upon arrival, you're treated to lunch before embarking on your first private jeep safari into the park in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Sarai at Toria, 5-nights
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Days 8-11
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Safaris in Panna National Park
Over the next four days you venture into Panna National Park on early morning and afternoon game drives to search for species such as Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, desert cat, palm civet, spotted deer, nilgai, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, crocodiles and many other mammals and reptiles along with over 300 species of birds.
Panna is prime tiger country with over 50 tigers; the big cats having made a significant comeback in the last 15 years due to the efforts of Project Tiger. Also of note is the local population of sambar deer which are some of the largest in India due to vast calcium deposits in the area.
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Day 12:
Return to Delhi via Khajuraho
Spend your final morning in Panna on a tranquil boat safari on the River Ken at dawn searching for species such as mugger crocodile, stork-billed kingfisher, woolly-necked stork, ruddy shelduck and bar-headed goose. Then, depart the lodge with your belongings in the direction of Khajuraho around 30 minutes away, and embark, once again, on a temple tour accompanied by an expert guide.
Fashioned from sandstone, the Western Group of Temples in Khajuraho is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing the grandeur and intricacies of medieval Indian architecture. Remarkably, 85 of these 10th-11th century temples were constructed within a 200-year period, with only 20 temples remaining to this day. The Kandariya Mahadeva temple is the largest and most impressive, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples are known for their Nagara-style architectural symbolism and erotic sculptures, however they make up just 10% of all the carvings.
Following the conclusion of your tour, you're transported to the airport for your flight to Delhi, where you're collected and transferred to your airport hotel.
Accommodation: Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, 1-night
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Day 13:
Return to UK
Following breakfast, you're transferred to the airport for your onward travel arrangements.
