Tigers, Birds and the Taj

You shall be welcomed on arrival at Delhi’s International airport by your driver.

You shall then proceed in your air-conditioned vehicle directly to your resort in Corbett National Park. This is a long drive of 6-7 hours but there will be rest stops along the way to stretch your legs and have lunch.

*We expect that your flight will land before noon at Delhi. Please advise us if this is not the case, and we can alter the itinerary for you.

Check in to your nature resort and relax for the rest of the evening.

What better way to let go of any tiredness than a refreshing morning birding walk along the picturesque banks of the River Kosi, accompanied by a local expert birding guide? You’ll be on the lookout for the elusive Ibisbill, among other species.

Later, enjoy an afternoon safari in Corbett National Park.

Explore Corbett’s Bijrani zone on a morning Jeep safari  for birding and Wildlife.

After breakfast, checkout of your resort and transfer with packed lunch to the Dhikala Forest Lodge which is located right at the heart of the Corbett National Park.

A visit to Corbett is incomplete without staying at the Forest Rest House. The drive from the entry gates of Corbett National Park to the Dhikala Forest Rest House is in itself an excellent safari of about 2 hours through the jungles, with opportunities of encountering Elephants and Tigers.

After checking in to the Forest Rest House, enjoy an afternoon jeep safari to the meadows of Dhikala Zone.

Spend the whole day in the lap of nature in Dhikala.

Enjoy morning and afternoon safaris in Dhikala.  The rest of the time is easily spent gazing at animal activity by the river from the elevated plateau of the Forest Rest House.

After dark, enjoy the pure sounds of the wild, with the faint gurgling of river waters and the alarm calls of langurs and deer warning of big cat movement deep in the jungles.

Enjoy your final morning safari in Dhikala.

After breakfast, check out of the Forest Rest House and drive out of Corbett. The drive from the Dhikala Forest Rest House to the main exit gate of Corbett itself is a safari of about 2 hours through the jungles, with excellent chances of encountering Elephants and Tigers en-route.

On exiting the National Park, you’ll transfer to your air-conditioned vehicle and proceed to Delhi (07 hours). Check in to your hotel on the outskirts of Delhi.

After breakfast drive to Agra (4 hours). En-route visit the Wildlife SOS Centre.

For anyone interested in wildlife conservation and welfare, the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care facility near Agra is a great educational visit that will help understanding these gentle giants and their vulnerability to unethical treatment. Wildlife SOS’s Education Officers will show you around the centre, answering your questions and providing much information about each of their elephant ‘residents’.

Top off your visit with a delicious traditional vegetarian lunch here before continuing your journey to Agra.

Arrive in Agra and check in at your hotel with a Premier Taj view Room.

Enjoy a guided tour of the majestic Agra Fort & the delicately inlaid Itmad-Ud-Daulah’s tomb (also known as the Baby Taj).

Tonight’s dinner is not included in your itinerary, allowing you to choose from the multiple in-house restaurants at your hotel or the several good restaurants nearby. The concierge will be happy to help you select one.

Rise early for a spectacular early morning guided tour of Taj Mahal at Sunrise.

Return back to the hotel for breakfast.

Drive south to Dholpur (2 hours) and check in at your rooms.

Rest of the day at leisure. Walks in and around Dholpur Palace complex are often rewarding for birding.

This morning you’ll visit the National Chambal Sanctuary for a 3 hour boat safari on the Chambal River with an expert guide. Get up close to Crocodiles, Gharials and turtles. The birdlife is excellent, and the much sought-after Indian Skimmers are often spotted. If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the highly endangered Gangetic River Dolphins.

Return to your hotel for lunch. After lunch, we will head westwards for Bharatpur (3 hours). Arrive Bharatpur and check in at your hotel to enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Spend the whole day birding inside Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary accompanied by our expert local birding guide.

Inside the sanctuary, you’ll be taken on your own Battery Rickshaw to various locations from where walking trails lead deeper into the reserve.

A packed hot lunch will be provided inside the National Park.

A morning birding session will be conducted either inside or outside Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, depending on the recommendation of our expert local birding guide.

After lunch at your hotel, drive to Ranthambhore and check in to your hotel.

You’ll explore the dry forests of Ranthambhore National Park in morning & afternoon safaris in your own exclusive jeeps, accompanied by an expert naturalist who’ll be happy to share secrets of what is perhaps the best known tiger reserve in the world.

The day’s routine begins early, as the park gates open around 6am (exact times depend on the month of travel). After the morning safari, you return to your hotel for a hearty breakfast followed by a few hours of relaxation.

Enjoy a dip in the hotel pool, a book or a power nap under the shade of a tree.

After lunch on the first day, you leave for the afternoon safari around 1430.

Return to your hotel, put your feet up and enjoy a refreshing drink while admiring the photographs you’ve taken so far.

On the second day in Ranthambhore, you’ll go for another morning safari.

After the morning safari, you return to your hotel for breakfast and then visit a local village where you’ll have a chance to interact with the village ladies at their handicraft centre. Drive back to your resort for lunch.

After lunch, visit the World Heritage Site of Ranthambhore Fort for magnificent views of the National Park and a peek in to the royal history of the region.

On the penultimate day on your trip, enjoy your last safari in Ranthambhore this morning by exclusive jeep.

Early lunch at the resort, then drive to Delhi and check into your hotel near the airport. Enjoy the last evening of your adventure at your leisure.