Welcome to India! Upon arrival in Nagpur a travel-to-nature Asia guide/representative will be at the airport to greet and take us to Pench National Park which is about two and a half hours away. Please look out for your name-card once you exit out of arrival area.

Check into our rooms in the lodge which is in the park itself and start our first jeep safari in the afternoon. Together with our English-speaking guide, we keep an eye out for tigers and other inhabitants of the national park.

Accommodation: Tuli Tiger Coridor
Meal: Dinner

After breakfast we will drive to Kanha Tiger Sanctuary. Here we will spend the next two days enjoying adventurous wildlife viewing. Kanha National Park is one of the most popular in the country.

Founded in 1955, it is considered the original setting of Kipling’s world bestseller “The Jungle Book”. Our guide is also the driver of our jeep and knows all about the national park and its inhabitants. Besides the Royal Bengal Tiger, there are leopards, sloth bears, the typical South Asian Gaur cattle and lots of deer specie.

Accommodation: Tuli Tiger Resort
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Jeep safari in Kanha National Park | Canoe trip

Jeep safaris are also on the daily schedule today on our North India group tour. Kanha National Park covers a huge area of 940 square kilometers plus a buffer zone of over 1,000 square kilometers. It has a steadily increasing tiger population. There are currently over a hundred of the “cuddly cats” living in the park, which means that our chances of encountering Shir Khan live and in color are good.

Accommodation: Tuli Tiger Resort
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Visit an Indian village | Bird watching tour

On our way to the next national park, Bandhavgarh National Park, typical Indian villages line the way. They are separated by dense forests. As the drive is a bit longer today, we travel according to the motto “the way is the goal” and make one or two stops along the way. We explore a village and learn from the inhabitants how they share their habitat with the tiger. After arriving at our hotel, we are served lunch. We have time for a nap before heading out on a birding tour of the resort grounds in the afternoon. Dinner tonight will be a romantic meal under the stars, accompanied by a cozy campfire (only in autumn & winter).

Accommodation: Infinity Resort
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunrise safari | School visit | Evening entertainment

As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worms, today we set out before sunrise to look for the beautiful, striped cats of prey. The Bandhavgarh National Park was once the hunting ground of the Maharaja of Rewa, who caught a white tiger cub here, brought to his court and later tried his hand at breeding white tigers. Mohan, the name of the Maharaja Martand Singh’s tiger, was initially mated with a normal coloured Bengal tigress. However, the litter did not produce the desired white coat colour. This was only achieved by inbreeding with the mating of Mohan and one of his daughters. Today, all captive white tigers can be traced back to Mohan and his daughter.

In the afternoon we visit a local school and return to our lodge for dinner and evening entertainment.

Accommodation: Infinity Resort
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Optional yoga class | Visit to an Indian village | Optional excursion | Jeep safari

Today we can join a traditional yoga or meditation class before breakfast. Afterwards we have coffee before we start our official day program with a village tour. The villagers’ stories add a very personal touch. We learn first-hand what everyday life is like on the other side of the world.

Afterwards, we go to a lake for a swim and picnic. We have the opportunity to join a bird watching tour or learn more about local irrigation methods in another village. Towards afternoon we set off on our second safari, this time by jeep. The evening is at leisure: you can visit the local library or relax around the campfire.

Accommodation: Infinity Resort
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Head of a Nile Gau antelope

It takes four hours to drive to the Vindhya Mountains, where the relatively unknown Panna National Park is located. It was declared the country’s 22nd tiger sanctuary in 1994 and for a while the tiger population remained constant. Currently, it is rather difficult to get to see the beautiful animals. There is a great variety of other animals in the national park however. Besides wild cats like the marsh fox, leopard, rusty cat and others, many hoofed animals are native here. There are the four-horned antelope – Chausingha – the Nile Gau antelope and sambar deer.

Along the Ken River there are not only an enormous number of bird species, but also the long Ganges gavials. After stowing our luggage at the lodge, we go on a jeep safari through the park in the afternoon. We hope to sight some of the animals living here during this tour.

Accommodation: The Ken River Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike through the Panna National Park | Drive to Khajuraho | Remaining day at leisure

After our breakfast we have another opportunity to explore the national park on foot or by jeep.

Afterwards we will drive to Khajuraho, about an hour away, where we will check into our accommodation.

You are welcome to explore the village on your own in the afternoon. Tomorrow we will have a closer look at the temples of Khajuraho.

Accommodation: The Radisson Hotel
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Temple visit | Light show

India is famous for its imposing temples. Today we visit the dazzlingly ornate Hindu temples of Khajuraho. A total of twenty temples remain from the original eighty. Most of them are dedicated to the main Hindu gods. The facades of the temples are decorated all over with sculptural figures – many depicting erotic scenes. Even inside the temples you can find the detailed sculptures. A very informative excursion, not only for Kamasutra fans but everyone who is interested in history, art and culture. In the evening we attend a light show directly at the temples. We end this culturally impressive day with a traditional, delicious dinner.

Accommodation: The Radisson Hotel
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive to Gwalior | Stop at Alipura | Explore Gwalior-fort

Today we have a slightly longer transfer distance ahead of us. So feel free to have an extra cup of coffee and a good breakfast before we load our luggage into the bus and set off towards Gwalior. The journey takes between five and six hours, so it is all the more important to have a change of pace in between. The best place for this is the palace of Alipura. We reach the town after about two hours of driving and can stretch our legs, freshen up and enjoy a delicious Indian tea. We arrive in Gwalior in the afternoon and start directly with a short sightseeing tour. There is a lot to see in this historically and culturally very important city in India.

Accommodation: Clarks Inn Suites
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

 Temple visit 

We leave the megacity of Gwalior after breakfast and drive to Mela Kothi, three hours away. Here lies the Chambal Safari Lodge, surrounded by lush green nature. Ram, the lodge owner, is a friend of Krishna & Rainer, the managing directors of travel-to-nature. If it can be arranged, he will definitely make time for us and tell us about his conservation projects.

After lunch we visit the medieval temples of Bateshwar, guided by a local tour guide. The entire complex comprises more than a hundred temples, all dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. On a subsequent boat tour through the gorges around the complex, we pass small caves and temples of the Naga Sadhus. The ascetics worshipped snakes and dug the temples and caves into the clayey walls of the gorges. In the afternoon we relax on the terrace of the Kunj at Bateshwar with a wonderful view of the river and the temples. Back at our lodge, we have a delicious dinner and refreshing cocktails by the open fire – the perfect ambience to end the day.

Accommodation: Chambal Safari Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Boat trip | Optional camel ride | Walk around the lodge grounds | Night hike

After fortifying ourselves at the sumptuous breakfast buffet, we embark on a boat safari on the Chambal River. Our aim is to spot the endangered Ganges dolphins, turtles and Ganges gavials. It is not uncommon to see swamp crocodiles lurking on the river banks and a wide variety and rare of bird species chirping, i.e Indian Skimmer, Black-necked Stork, etc . If you like, you can take a camel ride after the boat tour (not included).

In the afternoon we take a closer look at the extensive (total of 35 acres) grounds of our lodge. Many mammals, reptiles and almost two hundred bird species live here. During our walk through the paths and fields we get a great impression of the original landscape. As on the previous day, we end the evening with a delicious meal and cocktails around the campfire. If you still feel like a late-night adventure, you can also take part in a night hike.

Accommodation: Chambal Safari Lodge
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Sightseeing through Agra | Visit of a marble workshop

Today we drive to Agra – certainly a highlight and an absolute must-do. Here we will find the most beautiful monument of love: the Taj Mahal. And that is exactly what we will have a closer look at during a sightseeing tour. We will also visit the Red Fort, where we will see how marble is used to inlay furniture in a workshop.

The Agra
Agra was the Capital city of Sikander Lodhi, the second ruler of the Lodhi dynasty, who was defeated by the Persian King Babur in 1526 A.D. Babur too made Agra his capital city and so began the great Mughal rule. it was Babur who build the first monument in Agra, a planned garden called Gul-e-Afgaan or the Aaram Bagh.After Babar in (1530 AD) HUMAUN took over the thrown of Agra. Sher Shah Suri also continued Agra as his Capital. During the rule of Akbar (1556 to 1605 A.D.) Agra earned fame all over the world and was counted one of the great and beautiful cities of Medeavial  India. Emperor Akbar constructed many beautiful buildings. In the premises of famous Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort. During his rule, people of all caste and religion living friendly upon which Akbar declared the concept of “Sulah Kul” in making the personality of Akbar the great. His “NAVARATANS”-  (The  Nine Important Ministers)  Raja Man Singh, Raja Toder Mal  Hakeem Lukman, Raja Birbal, Mullah-Do-Pyaza, Abdul-Fazal-Feuzi, Abdul Rahim Khana Khan and Miyan Tan Sen Played an important role. For developing feeling of harmony and brotherhood among the people of various religions, Akbar started new religion named Deen-E-Elahi.

Accommodation: The Clark Shiraz
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Morning at leisure | Drive to Delhi | Visit mausoleum

There is time for individual pursuits in Agra before we set off for Delhi. In the afternoon of our North India group tour we drive to the metropolis Delhi. On the way we stop in the village of Sikandra, where we visit the mausoleum of the Great Mogul Akbar. In Delhi we will have dinner together and fall into bed early, as tomorrow we have sightseeing on the agenda.

Accommodation: Jaypee Vasant Continental
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Sightseeing

Delhi is a metropolis that has to be seen and experienced to be fully understood. Rich and poor, old and new are closer together here than anywhere else. You could walk around Delhi for weeks and still not have explored every corner of the city. We will therefore concentrate on a few selected stops. We start with the tour through Old and New Delhi. Here we also visit the Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Ghandi’s mortal remains were cremated and a monument erected to him. Passing the largest mosque in India – Jama Masjid – we take a rickshaw ride that takes us through the bustling streets and alleys of Chandni Chowk Market.

In the afternoon we visit the 72.5 meter high minaret tower “Qutb Minar”, also known as the Lotus Temple. The India Gate, known as the “All India War Memorial”, is also on our sightseeing programme, as is the President’s House “Rashtrapati Bhavan”. Those who still have energy left after this tour, and if time permits, can make a detour to a Sikh Temple, a place of prayer and school. We end the evening with a farewell dinner. We say goodbye to our tour guide, who has long since become part of the family.

Late in the evening transfer to the airport for our homeward-bound flight.

Meal: Breakfast