Wild India – Big Cat Safari

2025 dates coming soon

Delhi – Pench – Kanha – Delhi- Taj Mahal – Ranthambore – Delhi

 

On this specially created TIKKA TOURS small group journey, you will be experiencing the true meaning of ‘safari’, an overland journey to observe wild animals, as you explore 3 of the best game reserves in India. Stay in these wilderness areas located in Central India & Rajasthan. Here you will have the opportunity to spot tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears & a diverse range of deer, as well as birdlife. Accommodation will be in a range of Luxury tented camps and Safari lodges. You will also get the opportunity to stay in Agra to visit the magnificent Taj Mahal. And also, a train ride to scenic Ranthambore National Park. For those who like to go ‘off the grid’ for a while & enjoy the best nature has to offer, this is the perfect holiday for you. It is time to GO WILD in India!

 
I have just had the most amazing life experience on my recent Wild India trip with TIKKA TOURS. This was my first safari and it won’t be my last. We were blessed with many tiger and wildlife sightings, largely due to our amazing naturalists guiding us along the way. Claudia and our local guide, made sure our every need was catered for, from luxury tents and lodges to post safari spa treatments. As a solo traveller, TIKKA TOURS small group journeys are the perfect fit for me. I have made some lovely new friends on tour and I cannot wait for my next TIKKA TOURS adventure this September.
— Karen, Central Coast

SEE BELOW FOR TOUR DETAILS

 

 
1340850-city-palace-jaipur.jpg

Overview

Delhi ( Novotel Aerocity – 4 star hotel – Standard room )
 Pench ( Jamtara Jungle Lodge – Luxury safari lodge – Luxury tent )
 Kanha ( Kipling Camp – Wilderness lodge – Cottage )
• Agra ( Taj View – 5 star hotel – deluxe room – *Taj Mahal view room option )
• Ranthambore ( Khem Villas – Wilderness lodge – Cottage )

VARANASI – PRE OR POST TOUR EXTENSION
• Delhi ( Novotel Aerocity – 4 star hotel – Standard room )
• Varanasi ( Taj Ganges – 5 star hotel – Standard room )

RAMATHRA FORT & RIVER SAFARI – POST TOUR EXTENSION
•Ranthambore ( Khem Villas – Wilderness Lodge – Cottage )
Ramathra ( Ramathra Fort – Heritage hotel – Deluxe room )
Chambal ( Chambal Safari Lodge – Wilderness lodge – Cottage )

Novotel Aerocity

Novotel Aerocity, Delhi

Kipling Camp, Kanha

Jamtara Jungle Lodge, Pench

Khem Villas, Ranthambore

Chambal Safari Lodge, Chambal

Kipling Camp, Kanha

Jamtara Jungle Lodge

Jamtara Jungle Lodge, Pench

Khem Villas, Ranthambore

Taj View, Agra

Ramathra Fort, Ramathra

 

Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival / Delhi  VIP meet & greet service upon arrival off flight at airport. Transfer to the hotel. Rest of the evening at your leisure. Overnight at the Novotel Aerocity hotel.

Day 2

Delhi / Pench Breakfast at the hotel. Morning flight to Nagpur. Lunch en route. Drive 4hrs to Pench. Check in to luxury tented camp. Each of the 12 luxury tents overlook the forest which set the perfect background to this jungle experience. Evening at leisure. Dinner at the lodge. Overnight at the Jamtara Jungle Lodge.

Day 3

Pench Morning safari to Pench National Park, one of the premier reserves for the Tiger Project of India. Breakfast and lunch at the camp. Go adventuring on an afternoon safari. Exploring the local village is another nearby activity. Dinner at the camp. Overnight at the Jamtara Jungle Lodge.

Day 4

Pench Breakfast, morning at leisure, optional safari or explore the local village. Lunch at the camp. Go adventuring on an afternoon safari. Dinner at the camp. Overnight at the Jamtara Jungle Lodge.

Day 5

Pench / Kanha Breakfast at the lodge. Drive 5 hrs to Kanha to check in to the jungle camp. Enjoy lunch at the camp. Afternoon at your leisure or spend time walking with and bathing the resident Elephant, Tara. Dinner at the camp. Overnight at Kipling Camp.

Day 6

Kanha Morning safari to spot wildlife. Lunch at the camp. Go adventuring on an afternoon safari. Dinner at the camp. Overnight at Kipling Camp.

Day 7

Kanha Breakfast at camp. Morning at leisure or optional safari. Lunch at camp then afternoon safari. Dinner at camp. Overnight at Kipling Camp.

Day 8

Kanha / Delhi Breakfast at the lodge. Drive 4.5 hrs to Jabalpur airport for flight to Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to airport hotel. Overnight at the Novotel Aerocity.

Day 9

Delhi/Agra Breakfast. Drive 4 hrs to Agra. Free time for lunch and leisure time. Late afternoon, visit Agra Fort. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at Taj View hotel.

Day 10

Agra / Ranthambore  Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal. Return to hotel for breakfast. Drive to Bharatpur, lunch at heritage hotel, before boarding train for 3 hr journey to Sawai Madhopur. Upon arrival transfer by jeep to hotel. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at Khem Villas.

Day 11

Ranthambore Morning and afternoon safaris to spot wildlife. Lunch and dinner at hotel. Overnight at Khem Villas.

Day 12

Ranthambore / Delhi / Departure Breakfast. Drive 5.5hrs to Delhi International airport for your flight home. VIP meet and greet assistance upon arrival at airport.

 
 

VARANASI pre tour EXTENSION
3 Days /2 Nights

Varanasi A visit to the holy city of Varanasi are a must for any Indian neophyte. Take a sunrise stroll along the river to see the morning fire ceremonies or a wooden boat ride at sunset. Arrive in Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India. This sacred, soulful, spectacular city is one of the most colourful and fascinating places on earth. Your journey here will live within your soul forever. This extension will take in the highlights of the sacred river Ganges and the life which surrounds it in this captivating, timeless and magical city. Visit ‘Sarnath Stupa’ museum, the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma – Buddha's 'School of Smile' and in the evening time witness the Aarti Ganges Ceremony. Dawn boat ride along the historic River Ganges. Then explore the city on a ghat and bazaar tour.

Day 1

Arrival / Delhi VIP meet & greet service at airport. Transfer to the hotel. Rest of the evening at your leisure. Overnight at the Novotel Aerocity hotel.

Day 2

Delhi / Varanasi Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Delhi Airport to board local flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival at Varanasi visit Sarnath Stupa & museum. Lunch at Local café. Check in to your luxury heritage hotel located on the banks of the Ganges River. Afternoon visit to nearby Ghats. Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the River Ganges. The city has 88 ghats. Most of the ghats are bathing and puja ceremony ghats, while two ghats, Manikarnika and Harishchandra, are used exclusively as cremation sites. Witness evening ‘Aarti Fire Ceremony’ at the famous ghat. Overnight at the Taj Ganges hotel.

Day 3

Varanasi / Delhi Early morning boat ride along the river from a Ghat. Breakfast at the hotel. Free time to explore local markets and this ancient city. Transfer to Varanasi Airport to board local flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi airport, pickup and transfer to The Imperial hotel to join the TOUR.

RAMATHRA FORT & CHAMBAL RIVER post tour EXTENSION
6 Days /5 Nights

Day 1

Ranthambore  Breakfast, morning at leisure or optional safari. Lunch at hotel Afternoon safari. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at Khem Villas.

Day 2

Ranthambore / Ramathra Fort Breakfast. Drive 2 hrs to the village and fort of Ramathra. Check in to heritage fort hotel. Lunch at hotel.  Sunset boat ride on nearby lake, known for its abundant birdlife. Dinner at hotel. This evening set off on a night safari in the nearby buffer zone, known for its sightings of deer, blue bulls, wolves, jackals, hyenas, foxes, wild boar and if lucky leopard. Overnight at Ramathra Fort.

Day 3

Ramathra Fort Breakfast. Morning village walk. Lunch at hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a wilderness drive to surrounding hamlets, and explore a cavernous gorge and old cave temple. Look out for wildlife sightings along the way. Return to hotel for evening at your leisure. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at Ramathra Fort.

Day 4

Ramathra Fort/Chambal River Breakfast. Drive 5 hrs to Chambal. Check into safari lodge. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner at lodge. Overnight at Chambal Safari Lodge.

Day 5

Chambal River Breakfast. This morning, enjoy a river safari and nature walk in Chambal Sanctuary with a trained naturalist. Return to hotel for lunch. This afternoon, visit ancient Bateshwar for a guided tour in this heritage village with its medieval temples overlooking the ghats. Dinner at lodge. Overnight at Chambal Safari Lodge.

Day 6

Chambal River/ Delhi / Departure Breakfast. Drive 4 hrs to Delhi International airport for your flight home. VIP meet and greet upon arrival at the airport.

 
 

Prepare for your trip

 India is everything, and more, all at once.

It's a sensory potpourri; a visual explosion of bright saris, lumbering cows, marigolds, incense, spices and bursts of sunlight - where you're guaranteed to craft your very own Darjeeling Limited experience.

As for the language, Hindi isn't spoken by everyone in India - in fact there are more than 20 languages spoken throughout the country and English tends to serve as a common one.

A few Hindi phrases will definitely help along the way: "Namaskar" (hello), "shukriya" (thank you), "aap kaise hai" (how are you), "kitna hai" (how much) and "naam kya hai" (what's your name), may come in handy on your trip.

As for money, you'll be dealing in Indian rupees - there are about 55 rupees to each Aussie dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted, but make sure you know all your pin codes as signing has been phased out around the country.

WILDLIFE IN CULTURE

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book An Indian black panther named ‘Bagheera’ is featured in Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 novel ‘The Jungle Book’, as well as in Disney’s 1967 and 2016 film adaptations.

Life of Pi In the fantasy adventure novel ‘Life of Pi’ and in its 2012 film adaptation a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker is the lead character.

Marvel Comics character ‘Bengal’ wears the costume of a Bengal tiger and publish several superheroes who go by the name ‘White Tiger’.

The Reserve Bank of India chose the Bengal tiger as its emblem and Indian currency notes and coins have carried the tiger’s portrait.

 
 

WHAT'S INCLUDED

All tours include domestic flights, accommodation, transport, air conditioned mini coach with refreshments, sightseeing entrance fees, special tour events and activities, local guides, most meals and tipping (includes: baggage at airport, bell boys at hotel, any activities, paid meals, driver and his assistant and accompanying local guide). Prices may be subject to currency fluctuation or surcharges.

As part of a conscious initiative to reduce the use of single use plastic bottles, TIKKA TOURS ground operator now provides alternatives to plastic bottled water. Re-usable metal water bottles with re-filling facility are part of our guest’s vehicles.

wild map.jpg

TOUR PRICE

12 Days /11 Nights
On Request 
( twin share per person )*
On Request  ( single supplement )*
Locally escorted by founder of TIKKA TOURS, Claudia Wolf
( Based on 8 passengers )


VARANASI pre or post tour EXTENSION
3 Days /2 Nights
On Request 
( twin share per person ) 
On Request 
( single supplement )
Private tour


RAMATHRA FORT & RIVER SAFARI post tour EXTENSION
6 Days /5 Nights
$3,875
( twin share per person ) 
On request
( single supplement )
Private tour


mandala orange.jpg