Private journey · Tiger reserves
Luxury Wildlife Odyssey: Tigers of Central India
Eighteen nights through three tiger reserves, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Ranthambore, with Khajuraho, Agra and Jaipur in between.
- Duration
- 18 nights · 19 days
- Route
- Delhi · Kanha · Bandhavgarh · Khajuraho · Agra · Ranthambore · Jaipur
- Best months
- November to April
- Hotels
- Taj Safari lodges and Oberoi hotels
- Pricing
- Tailored to your choices
Why this journey
Why this tiger safari
This tiger safari crosses central and northern India in nineteen days, with game drives in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Ranthambore. Between the parks there is time for the temples of Khajuraho, the Taj Mahal and Jaipur. Like every tiger safari we plan, it can be shaped around your dates, pace and interests. For background, see our guide to Kanha National Park.
01
Three great reserves
Kanha’s meadows, Bandhavgarh’s hills and Ranthambore’s ruined fort give you three very different chances to see a tiger.
02
Lodges made for safari
Taj Safaris’ Banjaar Tola and Mahua Kothi, then The Oberoi Vanyavilas, make the early starts and long days easy.
03
Culture between the parks
The carved temples of Khajuraho, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and Jaipur’s Amber Fort break up the forest days.
The route
Your route
A long loop through Central and North India. You fly to Jabalpur for Kanha, drive to Bandhavgarh and Khajuraho, take the train to Agra, then drive to Ranthambore and Jaipur before returning to Delhi.
Day by day
Your tiger safari, day by day
Day 1 Arrive in Delhi
You are met at the airport and driven to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Overnight: Taj Palace, New Delhi
Day 2 Delhi
Old Delhi with your guide: the Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and a cycle-rickshaw through Chandni Chowk. Humayun’s Tomb in the afternoon, and the Qutub Minar later in the day.
Overnight: Taj Palace, New Delhi
Day 3 Delhi to Kanha
Fly to Jabalpur and drive to Kanha National Park, the largest in Madhya Pradesh.
Overnight: Banjaar Tola, a Taj Safari, Kanha
Days 4–5 Kanha National Park
Early morning and afternoon safaris each day, looking for tigers, leopards, the rare hard-ground barasingha and a great variety of birds. Meals at the lodge between drives.
Overnight: Banjaar Tola, a Taj Safari, Kanha
Day 6 Kanha to Bandhavgarh
A final morning safari with a forest guide, then drive to Bandhavgarh National Park. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight: Mahua Kothi, a Taj Safari, Bandhavgarh
Days 7–8 Bandhavgarh National Park
Dawn safaris through forest and grassland, a rest at the lodge with the spa or a village visit, and an afternoon drive each day.
Overnight: Mahua Kothi, a Taj Safari, Bandhavgarh
Day 9 Bandhavgarh to Khajuraho
A last morning safari and breakfast, then drive to Khajuraho. The evening is free.
Overnight: The Lalit Temple View, Khajuraho
Day 10 Khajuraho
A guided visit to the Western group of temples, including Kandariya Mahadev and Chitragupta, and the Eastern group of Hindu and Jain temples. A sound and light show in the evening.
Overnight: The Lalit Temple View, Khajuraho
Day 11 Khajuraho to Agra
Take the train from Khajuraho to Agra, where you are met and driven to your hotel.
Overnight: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
Day 12 Agra
The Taj Mahal at sunrise, then Agra Fort and the tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah. A walk through Kachhpura village in the afternoon and sunset over the Taj from Mehtab Bagh.
Overnight: The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra
Day 13 Agra to Ranthambore
Drive to Ranthambore, stopping at Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone Mughal city.
Overnight: The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambore
Days 14–15 Ranthambore National Park
Morning and afternoon safaris for tigers, leopards, sloth bears and birds, with the spa and the lodge gardens in between.
Overnight: The Oberoi Vanyavilas, Ranthambore
Day 16 Ranthambore to Jaipur
A morning safari, a visit to a village near the park, then drive to Jaipur.
Overnight: The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
Day 17 Jaipur
Amber Fort, the Jantar Mantar and the City Palace and Museum, ending with a henna session at the hotel.
Overnight: The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur
Day 18 Jaipur to Gurugram
A free morning, then drive back towards Delhi.
Overnight: The Oberoi, Gurgaon
Day 19 Depart Delhi
Transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your flight home.
Where you’ll stay
Hotels on this tiger safari
The hotels below are our usual choices for this route. We can suggest alternatives at a similar level, or a mix of styles, if you prefer.
Banjaar Tola, a Taj Safari
Kanha · 3 nights
Mahua Kothi, a Taj Safari
Bandhavgarh · 3 nights
The Oberoi Amarvilas
Agra · 2 nights
The Oberoi Vanyavilas
Ranthambore · 3 nights
The Oberoi Rajvilas
Jaipur · 2 nights
The Lalit Temple View
Khajuraho · 2 nights
Taj Palace
New Delhi · 2 nights
The Oberoi, Gurgaon
Delhi · 1 night
Make it yours
Shape it around you
This tiger safari is a starting point. These are some of the changes our travellers most often ask for.
Questions
Questions about this tiger safari
When is the best time for tigers?
The parks open after the monsoon, usually from October, and close again around the end of June. November to February is cool and comfortable; March to May is hotter, with thinner cover and often the best sightings.
How many safaris are included?
Usually two a day in each park, morning and afternoon, apart from travel days. Park rules limit the number of vehicles, so we book permits as early as possible.
Are tiger sightings guaranteed?
No. These are wild animals in large forests. With several days in three of India’s best reserves, your chances are good, and the forests are rich in other wildlife and birds.
Is the journey tiring?
Safari days start early. The lodges are designed for rest between drives, and you can skip a drive whenever you like.
Is there a train journey?
Yes, Khajuraho to Agra, in the best class available on that route. It replaces a long road journey and shows a different side of the country.
Luxury Wildlife Odyssey: Tigers of Central India
Enquire about this tiger safari
Tell us when you would like to travel and who is coming. We will reply personally to arrange a call at a time that suits you.
Prefer to write directly? contact@alluring.travel · WhatsApp +91 92119 13735
