Entry luxuryDelhi · From $9,000 / person
Classic Private India
The essential north, without the rush. Delhi · Agra · Ranthambore · Jaipur · Delhi.
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Our journeys · Wildlife flagship
Kingdom of the Tiger
A luxury safari journey through Central India · 11 days · Delhi, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Pench
Starting at $11,699 / person
- Length
- 10 nights
- Route
- Delhi · Bandhavgarh · Kanha · Pench · Mumbai
- Pace
- Structured around dawn and dusk safaris, with rest built in between
Per person, two sharing, excluding international flights. Private, on your dates.
Overview
Wild tigers, exceptional lodges and time to enjoy the forest.
Central India's forests are popularly associated with Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. Three forests, three personalities, and three of the finest jungle lodges in Asia, linked by a route that plans twelve game drives, subject to permits and park schedules, enough rest between them, and an arrival and departure designed around long-haul travel. You fly into Delhi, you fly out of Mumbai, and you never retrace a step. It is built for travelers who want the thrill of wild tigers without roughing it: private open vehicles, expert naturalists, exceptional lodges, and memorable meals in settings chosen with the lodges.
Pace: structured around dawn and dusk safaris, with rest built in between. Like all of our journeys it is private throughout, with your own car and chauffeur, private guides in each place and someone to call from the first day to the last.
Journey highlights
- Three forests, three personalities: Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench
- Twelve planned private game drives with expert naturalists
- Ten nights across four bases, with three nights at each safari lodge
- Arrive in Delhi and depart via Mumbai, without retracing the route
- Time between drives for rest, birdwatching and local art encounters
Itinerary
10 nights, stop by stop.
A designed route, not a fixed one. Each stop can be lengthened, shortened or swapped before we confirm your journey.
Day 1 · Delhi
Arrive and Rest
Day 1: Delhi: Arrive and Rest
Most long-haul flights arrive late at night or in the early morning after a very long journey. Subject to airport permissions and service availability, you are met at the aircraft door, assisted through immigration, and driven to The Oberoi New Delhi or The Taj Mahal Hotel. Sleep, and let your body clock catch up. Nothing is scheduled today except a short evening briefing with your wildlife specialist, who explains how safaris work, what you are likely to see, and what to wear.
Moments
- A chauffeured arrival transfer
- Rest after your flight
- An evening briefing with your wildlife specialist
Stay · 1 night
The Oberoi New Delhi or The Taj Mahal Hotel
Days 2–4 · Bandhavgarh
Dense Tiger Country and Ancient Fort Ruins
Day 2: Into Bandhavgarh
A morning flight from Delhi to Jabalpur, then a drive of about three to four hours to Bandhavgarh National Park. Check in to The Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort, a luxury tented wildlife resort at Bandhavgarh, with the quiet, attentive service for which Oberoi is known. Your first game drive, if time allows, takes place in the late afternoon. An arrival-day drive is optional and additional to the twelve planned drives.
Day 3: Reading the Forest
Bandhavgarh is among the most celebrated tiger parks in India, set among rocky hills, sal forest and grassy meadows. Each day follows the same rhythm: a pre-dawn start for a morning drive, a late breakfast and rest at the lodge, then an afternoon drive.
Your naturalist will read the signs: alarm calls, fresh pugmarks, the sudden silence of langurs. Between drives, the resort can arrange a private picnic where permitted, a spa treatment, or a visit to the park's ancient Bandhavgarh Fort, which crowns the hill above the forest and holds ruins, rock-cut caves and temples (access is regulated, so we confirm in advance).
Day 4: Another Day in Tiger Country
A second full day follows the same rhythm: a morning and afternoon game drive, with a long breakfast and rest at the lodge between outings.
The evening ends with dinner by a fire, often a traditional meal cooked in a clay oven under the stars.
Moments
- Delhi–Jabalpur flight and private transfer
- Four planned private game drives over two full days
- Fort access and private picnics where permitted
- Dinner by the fire when conditions allow
Stay · 3 nights
The Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort
Days 5–7 · Kanha
Sal Forest and the Jungle Book Landscape
Day 5: The Road to Kanha
A morning drive of about six to seven hours, with a long scenic lunch stop. Arrive at Banjaar Tola, a luxury tented camp on the banks of the Banjaar River, with spacious tented suites, glass doors opening onto private verandas, surrounded by private sal forest and grassland near the park. The tents are designed in the colours and crafts of the Bastar and Gond traditions.
Day 6: Mist over the Meadows
Kanha is one of India's largest and most beautiful reserves, a mosaic of sal forest, bamboo and wide grassy meadows. It is popularly associated with Kipling's Jungle Book, and as you drive through the meadows at dawn, with mist lifting off the grass, it is not hard to see why. It is also the last refuge of the hard-ground barasingha, or swamp deer, and a home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaur and wild dogs.
Day 7: Wildlife and Living Traditions
Two drives a day, the early start and the late afternoon, with time between for the lodge's spa, a nature walk in the buffer zone with your naturalist, or a visit to a Baiga or Gond village, where you can meet local artists and see traditional Gond painting being made. Gond art makes a thoughtful and beautiful souvenir. The two full days at Kanha allow four planned drives in total.
Moments
- Four planned private game drives over two full days
- Hard-ground barasingha and Kanha’s open meadows
- A guided buffer-zone nature walk, where permitted
- Baiga or Gond village and art visits, where arranged
Stay · 3 nights
Banjaar Tola, Kanha National Park
Days 8–11 · Pench
Quiet Forest, Leopards and Birdlife
Day 8: South to Pench
A morning drive of about four to five hours south to Pench National Park, on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Check in to Baghvan, a lodge of twelve stand-alone bungalows built along a dry riverbed, just minutes from the park entrance and widely loved by birders. After lunch, an optional afternoon drive. Any arrival-day drive is optional and additional to the twelve planned drives.
Day 9: Pench at Dawn and Dusk
Pench offers a peaceful final base for this forest journey. Its rolling teak forest and rocky hills are known for leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears and an extraordinary variety of birds. With a third night here you have two full days: two drives each day, plus a walk or a bird-watching session with your naturalist and, if you wish, a visit to a nearby village to see rural life. On the second evening, a farewell dinner under the stars, with a bonfire and your naturalist's best stories from the week.
Day 10: A Final Full Day in the Forest
Two further private game drives give you another morning and afternoon in Pench. Between outings, choose rest at the lodge, birdwatching with your naturalist or a nearby village visit, where arrangements allow.
Day 11: Nagpur to Mumbai and Home
A relaxed breakfast and a final morning at the lodge, then a private transfer to Nagpur airport (about two hours) and a flight to Mumbai, where a representative meets you and helps with your onward connection. Mumbai has direct long-haul connections to many international cities, which makes it a convenient exit point. Because domestic flights can run late, we recommend booking an evening or night departure from Mumbai so the day has comfortable margins.
Moments
- Four planned private game drives over two full days
- Birdwatching with your naturalist
- A farewell dinner under the stars
- Private transfer to Nagpur and onward flight to Mumbai
Stay · 3 nights
Baghvan, Pench National Park
Planning this journey
Plan a tiger safari around time in the forest.
For the service and design process, explore private India journeys. For accommodation choices and price considerations, see luxury travel in India.
A wildlife-first choice
One Delhi night is followed by three nights each at Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench. The eleven-day route ends with a transfer to Nagpur and a flight to Mumbai for your international connection. This is a safari circuit, not a Golden Triangle journey with a wildlife stop. Leave room for early starts and lodge downtime rather than expecting full days of city sightseeing as well.
Permits before promises
Park dates, safari sessions, zones, vehicle arrangements and guide requirements must be checked for your travel dates. A preferred lodge does not establish access to a particular zone. Your proposal should state the included drives and arrangements; sightings are never guaranteed.
Consider fewer reserves
Moving between reserves uses road time even when each stay feels restful. Fewer parks with longer stays may suit photographers or families better than covering all three. If culture is equally important, compare Classic Private India’s Ranthambore extension before choosing a wildlife-focused circuit.
A typical safari day
- Pre-dawn: A wake-up call with tea or coffee, then out in an open four-wheel-drive vehicle as the forest wakes.
- Morning drive (about three to four hours): The best time for tiger activity. Your naturalist and driver track pugmarks and alarm calls.
- Late morning: Back to the lodge for a long breakfast, rest, the pool or a spa treatment.
- Afternoon drive: Out again from around mid-afternoon until dusk, when the cats become active again.
- Evening: Dinner under the stars, with a campfire when conditions allow.
What to pack
- Neutral clothing in greens, khakis and browns (no bright colours)
- Layers: early mornings can be cold, especially from November to February, and afternoons warm up quickly
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
- Binoculars (or borrow a pair from the lodge) and a camera with a telephoto lens
- A light scarf or buff for dust
- Comfortable closed shoes
Stays
Where you would stay.
The safari lodges are small, so availability is limited, especially in the peak months. Your lodge and room category are confirmed against your dates; alternatives are discussed before booking.
- DelhiThe Oberoi New Delhi or The Taj Mahal HotelSupporting stay1 night
- BandhavgarhThe Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife ResortAlternative: Mahua Kothi, a Taj Safari lodge.Hero stay3 nights
- KanhaBanjaar Tola, a Taj Safari lodgeHero stay3 nights
- PenchBaghvan, a Taj Safari lodgeHero stay3 nights
Indicative price
From $11,699
per person, two travellers sharing
- Length
- 10 nights
- Departures
- Your dates, private
- Travel dates
- Advised for your route
- Festive periods
- Priced on request
An indicative starting point in the proposed accommodation, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, rooms and final inclusions.
Included
- A dedicated trip designer who plans and manages every detail, from booking to your return home
- 24/7 in-country support, with a named contact you can reach by phone at any hour
- Private chauffeured transfers at every stage, with airport meet-and-greet and Delhi immigration assistance where permitted
- Private guiding as arranged in Delhi and resident expert naturalists at the lodges; twelve private game drives planned across six full safari days, subject to permits
- Safari permits and park entry for the confirmed drives, arranged in advance
- Domestic flights, ten nights of accommodation and lodge meals, with a pre-departure briefing on safaris and packing
- Emergency planning and guidance on arranging travel insurance with evacuation cover; insurance itself is not included
Not included
- International flights to and from India
- Visas, travel insurance and vaccinations
- Meals not described in the itinerary, and drinks
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Festive-period supplements, quoted individually for travel over Christmas and New Year
Questions
Before you enquire.
How many game drives are planned?
Twelve private drives are planned across six full safari days: four each at Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Pench. Arrival-day drives are optional and additional, subject to time and permits. Park operating schedules and permits determine the confirmed sessions; sightings are never guaranteed.
How does the journey end?
On day eleven, a private transfer takes you from Pench to Nagpur airport for a flight to Mumbai. A representative assists with your onward connection. An evening or night international departure allows more comfortable margins; we confirm timings against your flights.
Which is better: Ranthambore or a central India safari circuit?
Ranthambore fits naturally into the northern city routes we offer. Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench form a separate wildlife-focused circuit with more time devoted to safari outings. Choose by your interests, available nights and tolerance for transfers rather than a promised chance of seeing a tiger.
Can we choose our safari zones and departure dates?
Share your preferences, but park operating calendars, permits and available sessions determine what can be confirmed. Some areas or activities may not operate on your chosen dates. We will set out the confirmed arrangements in the proposal rather than promise unrestricted access.
When can we visit Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench?
Madhya Pradesh Tourism describes October to June as the main season for these reserves, with core zones closed during the July–September monsoon. Buffer-zone arrangements can differ. Winter comfort and summer heat call for different planning; exact operating dates, zones and permits must be checked before confirming your journey.
Are tiger sightings guaranteed?
No. Every sighting is wild. We plan twelve private drives across six full safari days, with expert naturalists, but cannot guarantee particular animals. Permits, park schedules and any additional arrival-day drives are confirmed in your proposal.
Is this a fixed departure?
No. Every journey is private and travels on your dates, with your own car, chauffeur and guides. The route on this page is a designed starting point; the stays, pacing and experiences are refined around you before anything is confirmed.
What does the from-price cover?
It is an indicative starting point per person, based on two travellers sharing a room in the stays listed, in the proposed accommodation and room categories, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, room categories and final inclusions.
Can the hotels be changed?
Yes. The stays listed are the ones we propose for this route, subject to availability when we design your journey. We suggest alternatives of similar character where a property is full, or where a different one would suit you better.
Are the journeys suitable for families?
They can be. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we will adjust the pace, rooming and experiences accordingly. Children's pricing depends on ages and room arrangements and is confirmed in the proposal.
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Make Kingdom of the Tiger yours.
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what matters most. We will shape this route, its stays and its pacing around you, and confirm the price against your own design.
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