8 days North India wildlife tour

Tigers in Ranthambore, migratory birds at Bharatpur and the Taj Mahal at the end — North India's best wildlife and its best-known sights in one private week.

At a glance

Duration

8 days, 7 nights

Start / end

Delhi / Delhi

Parks

Ranthambore, Keoladeo (Bharatpur)

Safaris

Two jeep safaris in Ranthambore

Transport

Private AC car throughout

Tour type

Private

Best season

October to April

What makes this one worth it

• Morning and afternoon jungle safaris in Ranthambore, home of the Bengal tiger
• Keoladeo bird sanctuary at Bharatpur with a naturalist — over 350 species in winter
• Amber Fort, City Palace and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur
• Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
• Mathura and Vrindavan on the way back to Delhi

Your day by day

1. Day 1

   Arrive in Delhi, city sightseeing

   Airport pickup and hotel check-in. Guided sightseeing of Raj Ghat, India Gate, the President's House, Humayun's Tomb, the Lotus Temple, Qutub Minar and Chhatarpur Temple.

2. Day 2

   Delhi to Jaipur

   About five hours to Jaipur. Check in, then an evening at Chokhi Dhani for Rajasthani folk music, dance and a village-style dinner.

3. Day 3

   Jaipur sightseeing

   Amber Fort on the hill, then the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Birla Temple and a photo stop at Hawa Mahal.

4. Day 4

   Jaipur to Ranthambore

   About three and a half hours to Sawai Madhopur. Check in at a jungle resort beside the park and spend a quiet evening there.

5. Day 5

   Ranthambore safari day

   A morning and an afternoon jeep safari into the national park — Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, sambar and a ruined thousand-year-old fort above the lakes.

6. Day 6

   Ranthambore to Bharatpur

   About four and a half hours to Bharatpur. In the afternoon, explore Keoladeo bird sanctuary with a naturalist by cycle-rickshaw — painted storks, sarus cranes and winter migrants.

7. Day 7

   Bharatpur to Agra via Fatehpur Sikri

   Early birding if you want it, then the deserted Mughal capital of Fatehpur Sikri on the way to Agra. Evening free.

8. Day 8

   Taj Mahal, Mathura, Vrindavan and Delhi

   The Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, a stop at Akbar's tomb at Sikandra, then Mathura and Vrindavan before the drive to Delhi and drop-off at your hotel or the airport.

What the price covers

• 7 nights hotel with daily breakfast
• Private AC car and driver from Delhi and back
• Licensed English-speaking guides for sightseeing
• Two jeep safaris in Ranthambore with park permits
• Naturalist and rickshaw at Bharatpur
• Tolls, parking, fuel, driver allowance and taxes

What it does not cover

• Flights
• Monument entry tickets
• Lunch and dinner
• Camera fees in the parks
• Tips and personal expenses

Questions people ask

Is a tiger sighting guaranteed?

No one can promise it, but Ranthambore is one of the best parks in India for tigers, and two safaris give you real chances.

When is Bharatpur best?

November to February, when the migratory birds are in. The resident birds are there year-round.

Can we add more safaris?

Yes. An extra night in Ranthambore adds two more drives — tell us when you enquire.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. The safaris are three hours each and the drives between parks are four to five hours at most.

What time do the Ranthambore safaris start?

The morning drive leaves around sunrise and the afternoon drive a few hours before sunset, each lasting about three hours. Exact gate timings shift with the season, and your driver will have you at the gate in good time.

Is Ranthambore open all year?

The core zones close for the monsoon, roughly July to September, which is why we run this tour from October to April. Within that window, the warmer months towards April often bring tigers out to the water.

What should we wear on safari?

Neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Winter mornings in an open jeep are surprisingly cold, so bring a warm jacket, gloves and a scarf for the dust.

Will we see the Taj Mahal if our last day is a Friday?

The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so we set your start date to keep Day 8 clear of it. If your dates cannot move, we adjust the Agra plan so you still see it on the way.

Are vegetarian meals easy to find on this tour?

Very easy. Lunch and dinner are not included, so you eat where you like, and every hotel, jungle resort and roadside stop has plenty of vegetarian choice. Mathura and Vrindavan on the last day are almost entirely vegetarian.

On the route