Birds, Lions and Tigers of India

Day 1 - Welcome to India! An Active India Holiday representative will greet you at the arrival hall at the Delhi International Airport. As you drive to the hotel in comfort, enjoy the sights along the way while our representative briefs you about the experience that awaits you. Check in at the hotel and freshen up. Rest of the day is free to explore the national capital with its many attractions, be it monuments, museums, galleries or bazaars. You may also choose to visit Lodi Gardens, a tranquil green space where you can take a stroll and discover historic tombs and monuments.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 2 - Early in the morning we leave for Agra, a bustling city on the banks of the river Yamuna. Agra became the capital of the Mughal empire between 1526 and 1628 and boasts of many magnificent Mughal-era monuments, making it a major tourist destination. Upon arrival, we check-in at the hotel and freshen up. We head to the Agra Fort, a fortress, palace, and prison made of red sandstone by Mughal emperor Akbar in 1565. It was partly transformed into a palace during the reign of Shah Jahan. Our day concludes with a visit to the stunning Taj Mahal at sunset, a magnificent structure standing on the southern bank of river Yamuna. The ivory-white mausoleum was built by 5th Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal who died in the 16th century. The allure of the magnificent Taj Mahal never ceases to captivate a first-time visitor. Overnight stay in Agra.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 3 - After a leisurely breakfast, we leave for Bharatpur. En-route we stop at the Fatehpur Sikri, the abandoned royal city founded by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. For 14 years this magnificent and well-preserved citadel was Akbar's political capital. Akbar abandoned Fatehpur Sikri in 1585 due to a shortage of water. After the visit, we continue to drive to Bharatpur, known for its famous UNESCO listed Keoladeo National Park. The national park is filled with new shallow wetlands, water marshes, and bogs, and is one of the world's richest bird habitats, known for breeding of native birds and visiting migratory birds. Upon arrival we check-in at the hotel. Late afternoon we head out on a rickshaw ride to visit the sanctuary and get a glimpse of the birds - a mix of native and migratory species. Besides the birds, the Bharatpur Sanctuary is also inhabited by wildlife such as hyenas, sambhar, chinkara and blackbuck deer, wild boar, wildcat and nilgai (blue bull) antelopes. Overnight stay in Bharatpur.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 4 - After breakfast we drive to the national park situated at the confluence of the Aravalli and Vindhya ranges and considered to be one of the finest places to see a large variety of animals and birds. On the way we stop in Abhaneri, a village known for its extraordinary stair-well Chand Baori. Built around the 11th Century, this baori or stair-well provided access to drinking water and was used to easily collect rainwater during the monsoon. Set in front of the Harshat Mata temple, the Chand Baori is the most impressive and is considered to be one of the deepest (30 meters) and widest wells in India. We continue our drive to the Ranthambore National Park which has the largest population of tigers in India. Other wildlife inhabiting the area includes several species of monkeys, deer, crocodiles and birds such as purple herons, kingfishers, cormorants, parakeets, jacanas, waders and partridges. We arrive at Ranthambore by afternoon and check-in at the hotel. Later, we visit the majestic 1,000-year-old Ranthambore fort. The fort offers an enchanting view of the wildlife reserve and the city. Overnight stay in Ranthambore.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 5 - Today we take two game drives into the park in open jeeps (on a seat-sharing basis) to enjoy unobstructed views of the animals and birds around. We take our first safari into the park early in the morning to try our luck at spotting the elusive tiger in its natural habitat. After this unique experience we return to the hotel for breakfast and unwind. Post lunch we head for our second safari, trying to catch a glimpse of the tiger and other animals and birds. At the end of this adventurous day, we return to the hotel. Overnight stay in Ranthambore. Duration of the jeep safari is 3- 3 ½ Hrs

Overnight - Hotel

Day 6 - Post breakfast we drive to Jaipur, the colourful capital of Rajasthan, founded in 1727. It is one of India's most important heritage towns with a vibrant and colourful history. Also known as ‘The City of Victory’, Jaipur was the first planned city of its time, with imposing forts, dazzling palaces, beautiful gardens, lakes, and busy markets. Upon arrival we check-in at the hotel. In the evening we have the option to explore Jaipur's vibrant bazaars or take a Village Jeep safari. Overnight stay in Jaipur.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 7 - Today we explore the Pink City starting with a drive to the ancient capital of Amer, 11 km from Jaipur. Amer was the capital of the Kachhawaha Dynasty for six centuries and is famous for its majestic Amber Fort. We have the choice of either walking up or taking a short jeep ride to reach the Fort. On the way to the Amer Fort, we cross Jaipur’s most distinctive landmark, the ‘Hawa Mahal’ (Palace of Winds), a five-storied facade of pink sandstone.. After visiting the Amer Fort, we explore the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Our next stop is Jantar Mantar, a solar observatory constructed in the 18th century. It is an astronomical treasure house that measures time according to the movement of the Sun, with an error of just 2 seconds, as well as solar instruments that give precise astrological forecasts to this day. Later, we also meet the local artisans of Jaipur and with their help, learn the art of block printing, one of the oldest printing techniques in India. We make our own handkerchiefs using Rajasthani woodblocks, while chatting with the artisans about their lives. Return to hotel and overnight stay in Jaipur.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 8 - In the morning get transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Ahmedabad- home to many fine museums and art galleries. As you drive to the hotel in comfort, enjoy the sights along the way while our representative briefs you about the experience that awaits you. Check in at the hotel and freshen up. The rest of the day is free to explore the historic city of Ahmedabad, a major centre of traditional and contemporary textiles. Depending upon your arrival time, you may choose to have a traditional Gujarati dinner in the evening with an entertaining live show at the Vishala Village Restaurant.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 9 - Morning after a leisure breakfast, drive to Dasada, a small village occupied mainly by farmers, nomadic cattle holders and is an ideal starting point for exploring the little Rann of Kutch, famous for wild asses and many varieties of birds. It is a vast expanse of flat wilderness that is seasonally flooded by the monsoon and dries into vast expanses of salt flats and desiccated low grassland. The Wild Ass Sanctuary of the Little Rann of Kutch is spread across nearly 5,000 square kilometres and is also India's only sanctuary for the Asiatic Wild Ass, a stylish, toffee and cream-colored member of the horse family. On arrival check-in at the resort upon arrival in Dasada.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 10 - Today we leave for a full-day excursion to discover the unique wildlife at the Rann of Kutch. We begin our safari in open jeeps at dawn, driving into the wetland area of the Little Rann of Kutch to see the amazing desert wildlife and bird species that surround the lake. During the jeep safari we may spot Indian gazelles, black buck, blue bull (Nilgai), jackals, Indian foxes, and jungle cats. If we are fortunate, we might also catch a glimpse of an Indian wolf. Later, we drive to nearby villages to visit families of women who are experts in embroidery, using herringbone stitches interspersed with small mirrors and occasional chain stitches to create peacock motifs.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 11 - After breakfast we drive to Velavadar in the Bhal region of Gujarat's Saurashtra region. The beautiful 34-sq-km Velavadar National Park is an hour’s drive north of Bhavnagar and encompasses large areas of pale, unique grassland ecosystem, stretching between two seasonal rivers. The park is famous for Blackbucks – beautiful, fast antelope that sport elegant spiralling horns as long as 65 cm in mature males. Other mammals spotted in Velavadar include the fox, jackal, jungle cat, wild pig, nilgai, the black naped hare and several rodents. Upon arrival we check-in at the lodge. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 12 - In the morning we leave for the first safari with the hope of spotting the park’s incredible range of wildlife followed by breakfast. The park is home to some 1,800 inhabitants, alongside blue bulls (India’s largest antelope) and birds such as wintering harriers from Siberia. There are over 120 species of birds that can be found at the park. If we are lucky, we may even spot wolves! The best time to visit the sanctuary is early in the morning when chances of catching a glimpse of the wolves are high. We return to the lodge and rest for some time. Post lunch we leave for an afternoon safari, on the lookout for Blackbuck, wolves and hyenas. The Blackbucks are easy to spot during the day, when the wolves are elusive. The pale gold grassland is dotted with clusters of Blackbucks. Return to the lodge after the safari.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 13 - This morning after breakfast, drive to Sasan Gir, Gujarat’s most applauded wildlife park, and host to about 400 of the only wild Asiatic lions left in the world. A safari trip here is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. A lavish mix of deciduous forest and semi-evergreen flora, acacia, scrub, grassland, and rocky hills. This is the land of the lion and its main protagonist will hold a firm sways over your senses. On arrival check in and relax at the hotel.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 14 - Today is an adventurous day as we get to go on two game drives (morning/afternoon) into the Gir Forest National Park to spot the Asiatic Lions. We head out early morning for a dawn safari into the national park. While waiting for access to be granted to the park, we spend some time looking at the engaging interpretation centre, providing an insight into the park and its flora and fauna. Gir's 2,375 distinct fauna species include approximately 38 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles, and over 2,000 species of insects. The carnivorous group mainly comprises Asiatic Lion, Indian Leopard, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, King Cobra, Jungle Cat, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Indian Mongoose, Indian Palm Civet, and Ratel. Return to hotel for breakfast. Post lunch we head out for our next exploration game drive into the national park

Overnight - Hotel

Day 15 - After an early breakfast we drive to the Rajkot airport from where we board a short flight to Mumbai. Mumbai is one of India's main hubs for art, culture, music, dance, and theatre. Upon arrival we check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day is free for last minute shopping.

Overnight - Hotel

Day 16 - After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and leave for a guided sightseeing tour of Mumbai. Our tour starts with a walk around the streets of Colaba to get a glimpse of the colonial era buildings. We then visit Mumbai’s most prominent landmark, the Gateway of India, built by the British to celebrate King George V and Queens Mary visit to the Delhi durbar in 1911. Next we visit the Prince of Wales Museum, which was a hospital during the World War I and now houses a priceless collection of art that is considered one of the finest arts in India. We drive past the university of Bombay, the High Court and Crawford market in Colaba, as well as the hanging gardens on Malabar’s Hills crest. Our tour ends with a visit to Gandhi memorial Museum, Dhobi Ghat (the popular city laundry) and Victoria Terminus- a historical train station and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following this, our Wildlife and Birding tour comes to an end and it’s time to pack our bags and head back with memories of a lifetime. Following tour, get a transfer to the Mumbai Airport for onward travel.

Tour Ends