Tour overview

This 12-day trip searches for tigers and other wildlife in the national parks of central India, with a local leader and a group of up to twelve. You stay ten nights in simple hotels, guesthouses and homestays and one on an overnight train, with breakfast most days and several lunches and dinners at the parks.

After an Old Delhi walking tour, rickshaw ride and visits to the Jama Masjid and a Sikh temple, an overnight train takes you to Khajuraho for an evening safari in Panna. In Bandhavgarh, known for its tigers, you head out with a naturalist guide.

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You watch the evening aarti ceremony on the Narmada river at Jabalpur, then explore Satpura by boat and on a safari, before a rickshaw safari at the Bharatpur bird sanctuary, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

The physical rating is low, with early starts for the safaris. This trip suits wildlife lovers who also want to see India's great sights.

Trip highlights

  • An Old Delhi rickshaw ride (Day 2)
  • Panna National Park (Day 3)
  • Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Days 4–5)
  • The Narmada aarti ceremony (Day 6)
  • Satpura by boat (Day 7)
  • The Taj Mahal (Day 10)

Your route

9 stops from Delhi to Keoladeo National Park

12-day route: Delhi – Panna – Bandhavgarh – Jabalpur – Satpura – Agra – Delhi
  1. Delhi Days 1–2 & 11–12
  2. Khajuraho Day 3
  3. Panna National Park Day 3
  4. Bandhavgarh National Park Days 4–5
  5. Jabalpur Day 6
  6. Satpura National Park Days 7–8
  7. Bhopal Day 9
  8. Agra Days 9–10
  9. Keoladeo National Park Day 10

Why choose this tour

Three tiger parks in one trip. Safaris with naturalist guides.

Best suited to

  • Wildlife lovers
  • Photographers
  • Solo travellers
  • Returning visitors to India
A tiger resting in Bandhavgarh National Park

Day-by-day itinerary

12 days from Delhi, India to Delhi, India

  1. Day 1 · Delhi Delhi

    Welcome to India.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Old Delhi, Jama Masjid, Sheeshganj Gurudwara Overnight train

    Old Delhi and the night train.

    Hotel
    Overnight train
  3. Day 3 · Khajuraho, Panna National Park Panna

    An evening safari.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Bandhavgarh National Park Bandhavgarh

    Tiger country.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Bandhavgarh National Park Bandhavgarh

    A safari with a naturalist.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Jabalpur, Narmada River Jabalpur

    The aarti ceremony.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Satpura National Park Satpura

    A boat safari.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Satpura National Park Satpura

    An afternoon safari.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Bhopal, Agra Agra

    North to Agra.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Taj Mahal, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Agra

    The Taj and the birds.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Agra Fort, Delhi Delhi

    Agra Fort and Delhi.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Delhi Delhi

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A track through dry forest in central India

Where you stay

  • Delhi (1 night) Hotel
  • Delhi to Khajuraho (1 night) Overnight train
  • Panna (1 night) Hotel
  • Bandhavgarh (2 nights) Hotel
  • Jabalpur (1 night) Hotel
  • Satpura (2 nights) Hotel
  • Agra (2 nights) Hotel
  • Delhi (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 10 nights in hotels and guesthouses and an overnight train
  • Meals 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 5 dinners
  • Safaris in Panna, Bandhavgarh and Satpura
  • Satpura boat safari and Bharatpur rickshaw safari
  • Taj Mahal and Agra Fort
  • Old Delhi walk and rickshaw ride
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals not included 2 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Optional extra safaris
  • Indian visa
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Ghats and a temple on the Narmada River

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury lodges
  • You dislike early starts
  • You want guaranteed tiger sightings
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 3–10 and 12 · Lunch: Days 5, 7–8 and 11 · Dinner: Days 3–5 and 7–8
A white-throated kingfisher at Bharatpur

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,836 per person, twin share, tour only. 31 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for India?

Yes, UK citizens need a visa; most travellers apply for an e-Visa before departure.

Will I see a tiger?

Bandhavgarh has one of the highest tiger densities in India, but sightings can never be guaranteed.

What is the overnight train like?

A sleeper carriage from Delhi to Khajuraho, a classic Indian rail experience.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast most days, plus several lunches and dinners at the parks.

Can I have my own room?

A single supplement may be available; otherwise solo travellers share with someone of the same gender.

How many people travel together?

No more than twelve, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary
From £1,836
See dates & prices