India | Birding and Wildlife

Depart the U.S. for your overnight flight to India.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be greeted and taken to your hotel. Please note that this is an arrival day and no activities or meals are included.

After breakfast enjoy a full day of sightseeing in the walled city, Old Delhi, and the cosmopolitan New Delhi. In Old Delhi, visit Jama Masjid and have the opportunity to ride in a rickshaw. New Delhi is a city known for its formal parks, magnificent Parliament Building, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (the official home of India’s president), and the India Gate. In New Delhi visit Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar, the 73-meter-high tower dating back to the 13th century.

After breakfast, begin your transfer to Bharatpur (approximately five hours). Upon arrival to Bharatpur, check in at the hotel and transfer to Keoladeo Ghana National Park. Here you can spot a wide variety of animals, including three types of wild cat (jungle cat, leopard cat, and fishing cat), sambar, chital, blackbuck, nilgai, and wild boar, among many others. The sanctuary is also home to a variety of reptiles and is home to more than 400 species of birds. The most prominent birds are the migratory Siberian Crane, the Grey Heron, pelicans, cranes, ibis, spoonbills, egrets, darters, cormorants, storks, ducks, eagles, hawks, pipits, warblers, wheatears, wagtails, flycatchers, buntings, larks, shanks, and stints. During the afternoon, explore the park by rickshaw/boat ride (boat ride is subject to water level in the lake).

This morning set out on an optional boat ride in the wetlands to see the heronries. Today spend a full day birding with your expert guide.

This morning transfer to Chambal Safari Lodge with an en route stop to the city of Fatehpur Sikri and the Buland Darwaza, or "Gate of Magnificence." Arrive in Chambal in time for lunch and check in at the lodge. The Chambal Valley is a world far removed from the chaotic madness of modern Indian cities. A birdwatcher’s paradise, the sanctuary currently boasts 264 species of resident and migratory birds including large numbers of the rare Indian Skimmer, Great Thick-knee, Small Pratincole, and lapwings. The Chambal is also home to marsh crocodiles (also known as muggers), gharials (or gavials), eight species of turtles, smooth-coated otters, and the rare and endangered Ganges river dolphin. This afternoon go birding around the lodge’s property and along the bank of Chambal River.

This morning enjoy a river safari on the Chambal River. Afterwards, begin your transfer to Agra. Here you will visit Agra Fort, a massive structure with 70-foot-high, 1.5-mile-long walls encompassing an astounding collection of well-preserved buildings. Next visit the Taj Mahal at sunset. Built by Shah Jahan, the Taj is a white marble memorial to his wife that took 22 years to complete. Apart from its stunning design and perfect symmetry, the Taj is also noted particularly for its elegant domes, intricately carved screens, and some of the best inlay work ever seen.

Transfer to the railway station to board your train to Jhansi. Upon arrival, proceed to Orchha. In this medieval city, palaces and temples built in the 16th and 17th centuries retain much of their pristine perfection. In the Laxminarayan Temple and Raj Mahal, vibrant murals encompassing a variety of religious and secular themes bring the walls and ceilings to rich life. After lunch at Orchha, transfer to Khajuraho. Khajuraho is well-known for its magnificent temples built between 950 and 1050 A.D.

This morning enjoy a tour of Kamasutra Temples, followed by an early lunch and an afternoon drive to Bandhavgarh (approximately five hours). Upon arrival, check in at the lodge. Bandhavgarh National Park is set amongst the Vindhya Hills in Madhya Pradesh and is home to at least 150 species of birds, as well as mammals such as tigers, sloth bears, langur monkeys, wild boars, mongooses, and three different species of deer: chital, sambar and barking deer. The rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Depart early this morning for your jungle safari accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guides in 4x4 Jeeps. After lunch continue your jungle safari before returning to the lodge for evening tea and time to relax.

Go on a morning and afternoon safari in an open 4x4 Jeep.

Early this morning, set out on a jungle safari. After breakfast transfer to Kanha (approximately six to seven hours). Enjoy the scenery while you drive through the rural countryside and colorful towns and villages before stopping at Mandla, the sacred city of the Gond tribe. After a picnic lunch continue your transfer to Kanha. Kanha National Park is located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and provides 366 square miles of breathtaking views of grassy plains and Sal forests. The park offers the chance to see a variety of species, including tigers, leopards, chital, gaur, barking deer, sambar, and the endangered barasingha deer.

Depart early this morning for a jungle safari, accompanied by a resident naturalist and forest park guides in 4x4 Jeeps. After a picnic breakfast in the jungle enjoy the rest of the morning at leisure to go for a nature walk or participate in a cooking demonstration. After lunch go on another safari by 4x4 open Jeep.

Morning and afternoon safari in an open 4x4 Jeep.

Begin your morning with a game drive in the park. After lunch proceed to the city of Jabalpur to board a flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for the opportunity to freshen up before returning to the airport for your flight back to the U.S

Arrive home to the United States.