India
The Big 5 of India
It’s a little-known fact that India possesses its own Big Five, like Africa. This 16 days/15 night enthralling journey takes one through the country’s most diverse national parks with opportunities to spot the Indian Big Five – Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard and the One-horned Rhinoceros. Our game drives with a trained naturalist and wildlife expert are a great way to experience and learn about the local wildlife. Club this with an exclusive glamping experience in the wilderness and our exceptional experiences for a memorable wildlife holiday.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 & 2: Kolkata
Arrive in Kolkata. Upon arrival, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
During your stay, you will explore the highlights of Kolkata – Dalhousie Square, Flower Market, Howrah Bridge, Neveh Shalom & Magen David Synagogue, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Victoria Memorial, and the Indian Museum.
Meals: B
During your stay, you will explore the highlights of Kolkata – Dalhousie Square, Flower Market, Howrah Bridge, Neveh Shalom & Magen David Synagogue, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Victoria Memorial, and the Indian Museum.
Meals: B
Day 3 & 4: Kaziranga
You will take a flight to Guwahati and then drive to Kaziranga (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
In the evening, you will witness an exuberant dance performance by the locals around a bonfire.
The next day – early in the morning and again in the late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Kaziranga National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.
In between drives, you may like to bathe a domesticated elephant along with her handler in Diphlu River or take a cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra River and stop for a picnic lunch at an isolated sandbank.
You will also take a stroll through the tribal village nearby to meet and interact with the locals and gain an insight into the three different tribes in the area – Bodo, Mising and Karbi.
Meals: B, L, D
In the evening, you will witness an exuberant dance performance by the locals around a bonfire.
The next day – early in the morning and again in the late in the afternoon, you will be taken for “game drives” inside Kaziranga National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.
In between drives, you may like to bathe a domesticated elephant along with her handler in Diphlu River or take a cruise on the mighty Brahmaputra River and stop for a picnic lunch at an isolated sandbank.
You will also take a stroll through the tribal village nearby to meet and interact with the locals and gain an insight into the three different tribes in the area – Bodo, Mising and Karbi.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Jaipur
You will drive to Guwahati Airport (approximately 4.5 hours, excluding stops) and take a flight to Jaipur.
On exiting the terminal building, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Meals: B
On exiting the terminal building, you will be met by our colleague who will escort you to your hotel and help you to check-in.
Meals: B
Day 6 & 7: Ranthambore
You will drive to Ranthambore (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops). During your stay, you will be taken for three “game drives” inside Ranthambore National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist.
After your morning drive, you will return to your resort to freshen up and have breakfast. You will have enough time to relax before you venture out for your afternoon drive.
You may also like to visit the Ranthambore Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or spend time at the “Dastakar Kendra”, a local self-help employment center which was set up to rehabilitate people who were dislocated when the park was established.
Meals: B, L, D
After your morning drive, you will return to your resort to freshen up and have breakfast. You will have enough time to relax before you venture out for your afternoon drive.
You may also like to visit the Ranthambore Fort (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or spend time at the “Dastakar Kendra”, a local self-help employment center which was set up to rehabilitate people who were dislocated when the park was established.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8 & 9: Shahpura
You will drive to Shahpura (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops).
In the evening, you might like to take a river boat cruise on the private lake surrounding the hotel.
The next morning, you can go bird watching. Alternatively, you may like to participate in a yoga session at your hotel. Note: Yoga is best practiced on an empty – or at any rate, light – stomach. You may like to have a banana, some fruit juice or some warm water mixed with lemon and honey before you leave your hotel (you should not have anything else). You can place your order with room service the night before (direct payment).
Thereafter, you will visit Ram Dwara, the revered ancient temple in the area, the village’s largest lake, Nahar Sagar and your host’s 140-acre organic orchard
Also on the tour, you will explore the local villages to interact with its people and get a glimpse of the everyday nuances of village life and take a jeep safari to Fort Dhikola, a battle fort built over 450 years ago by the ancestors of the Shahpura family.
Meals: B, L, D
In the evening, you might like to take a river boat cruise on the private lake surrounding the hotel.
The next morning, you can go bird watching. Alternatively, you may like to participate in a yoga session at your hotel. Note: Yoga is best practiced on an empty – or at any rate, light – stomach. You may like to have a banana, some fruit juice or some warm water mixed with lemon and honey before you leave your hotel (you should not have anything else). You can place your order with room service the night before (direct payment).
Thereafter, you will visit Ram Dwara, the revered ancient temple in the area, the village’s largest lake, Nahar Sagar and your host’s 140-acre organic orchard
Also on the tour, you will explore the local villages to interact with its people and get a glimpse of the everyday nuances of village life and take a jeep safari to Fort Dhikola, a battle fort built over 450 years ago by the ancestors of the Shahpura family.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10 & 11: Jawai
You will drive to Jawai (approximately 5 hours, excluding stops).
During your stay, you will be taken for two “game drives” into the scrubland of Jawai to spot the elusive leopards. In between drives, you may like to take an excursion to the villages nearby or perhaps take a guided walking safari with a local tribesman.
In the evening, you will be taken to a secluded spot in the wilderness for a unique dining experience.
Meals: B, L, D
During your stay, you will be taken for two “game drives” into the scrubland of Jawai to spot the elusive leopards. In between drives, you may like to take an excursion to the villages nearby or perhaps take a guided walking safari with a local tribesman.
In the evening, you will be taken to a secluded spot in the wilderness for a unique dining experience.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12 & 13: Mumbai
You will fly to Mumbai via Udaipur and during your stay, you will participate in many different experiences, each engaging one of the five senses so that you get an immersive perspective of the city – see the highlights of Colonial Mumbai, hear Bollywood Music, taste a typical meal from the coastal belt of India, smell the heady aroma of spices and touch the lives of the less fortunate.
Meals: B
Meals: B
Day 14 & 15: Sasan Gir
You will take a flight to Rajkot and then drive to Sasan Gir (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops). During your stay, you will be taken for two “game drives” inside Gir National Park. All your drives will be in a private jeep, along with a naturalist. In between drives, you might like to take a nature walk through the Gir forest, along with an eminent naturalist.
In the evening, you will watch the Siddis (the African-origin tribe who live in the periphery of Sasan Gir) perform their traditional dance, Dhamal.
Meals: B, L, D
In the evening, you will watch the Siddis (the African-origin tribe who live in the periphery of Sasan Gir) perform their traditional dance, Dhamal.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 16: Sasan Gir – Rajkot – Mumbai & Depart
After breakfast, you will drive to Rajkot Airport (approximately 4 hours, excluding stops) and take a flight to Mumbai.
As you exit the terminal building, you will be met by our colleague who will help you to check-in for your homeward flight (details to be advised).
Meals: B
As you exit the terminal building, you will be met by our colleague who will help you to check-in for your homeward flight (details to be advised).
Meals: B
Snapshots from the itinerary
