Forthcoming Tours Itineraries
Taj and Tiger Tour
Sandwich Bird Tours
presents
TIGERS AND TAJ- OUR NORTHERN INDIAN SAFARI TOUR
November7-22 2010
This tour, although designed by Sandwich Bird Tours, is actually not a specific birding holiday. You will be seeing birds of course including spectacular Eagles, Storks and other very colourful species but the focus will be on finding and hopefully photographing mammals in two very different but very beautiful Tiger Reserves. To see ”the King of the Jungle” is an unforgettable experience and I still dine out on my first Tiger in Nepal several years ago. Since then I can not get enough of them and I have now seen twenty different Tigers. Other spectacular mammals we will look for are the Leopard, Gaur (ancient and the largest and dangerous cattle), Wild Elephants and buffalo, several species of deer and monkeys.
Imagine sitting in the lodge in the evening round a campfire talking about your experiences of the day with fellow guests over a Gin and tonic. I promise there is little better.
We will combine this trip with a visit to the incredible Taj Mahal without which no Northern Indian tour would be complete.
Following all of this we will travel north to the foothills of the Himalayas where we will be able to see the snow-covered mountains of Kashmir, Tibet and Nepal all in one view. We will walk through the forests near Pangot and Nainital, close to the Nepal border. We will also visit the world famous and beautiful Corbett National Park where after a night in our own cottages at Tiger Camp we will again board jeeps and make our way to the grasslands of Dhikhala where we will not only do some jeep safaris but may also do an elephant ride. This is subject to them being available at the time. Corbett is a beautiful Sal forest transversed by lovely little rivers which we will cross as we drive through to our next destination.
ITINERARY
Sunday Nov 07: Overnight flight from London
Monday Nov 08: Arrive Delhi in the morning. Transfer to hotel Star Grand Villa (check-in time is 1200 hrs and you might have to wait to get the room. Afternoon guided tour of Delhi. Overnight stay at Hotel Star Grand Villa
Tuesday Nov 09: Morning transfer to airport to airport to connect flight to Jabalpur at 0600 hrs. Arrive Jabalpur at 0900 hrs. You will me met and transfer to Bandhavgarh (5 hours). PM Safari (jungle visit in open jeep) in search of our first Tiger. Overnight in Bandhavgarh
Bandhavgarh is a small Tiger Reserve with a high density of Tigers. It is one of the best places in India to see this wonderful cat and here the focus will be entirely on seeing and hopefully photographing this feline.
Wednesday Nov 10: AM & PM Safari. Overnight stay at Bandhavgarh. Lunchtime siesta
Thursday Nov 11: AM Safari. Drive to Kanha after lunch. Overnight in Kanha. Elephant ride in Kanha for “Tiger Show”
Kanha too is a wonderful and more open Tiger Reserve where other mammals are perhaps easier to see than at Bandhavgarh. As well as Tigers, we will be looking for Leopard, Gaur, the huge and ancient cattle, the rare Swamp Deer (Barishinga) as well as Spotted Deer (Chital) and Sambar. Sloth Bears and Indian Wild Dog (Dhole) are also possible but a little more elusive.
Friday Nov 12: AM and PM Safaris. Overnight in Kanha
Saturday Nov 13: AM safari. PM drive to Jabalpur to connect overnight train to Agra
Sunday Nov 14: Arrive Agra in the early morning. Visit Taj Mahal. We will have lunch in Agra before driving to Chambal. PM Birding or relaxing in this wonderfully quiet lodge. Overnight stay at Chambal Safari Lodge.
Monday Nov 15: Morning boat Cruise and birding. We will be looking for Gharials (Fish-eating crocodiles) and Marsh Mugger crocodiles and may be the Gangetic Dolphin. After lunch, we drive to Delhi to connect with overnight train to Kathgodam at 2230 hrs. Overnight in train
Tuesday Nov 16: Arrive Kathgodam at 0600 hrs. Drive to Pangot (2 hours). Rest of the day birding or relaxing in Pangot. Overnight stay at Jungle Lore Birding Lodge.
Wednesday Nov 17: Pre-breakfast drive to the ridge from where we can see the snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas in Kashmir, Tibet and Nepal, all in one view. After breakfast we can walk through the forests nearby before returning for lunch.
After Lunch we can partake in some retail therapy in the historic “lake city” of Nainital, or birders may wish to continue birding.
Thursday Nov 18: Morning birding/walking in Pangot. After lunch, drive to Corbett via Kaladhungi and Corbett Falls. After dinner we can enjoy a Gin and tonic or a beer round the camp fire.
Overnight stay at Tiger Camp.
Friday Nov 19: After breakfast, drive onward for Dhangarhi gate for entry to Dhikala tourism zone. Jeep safari through the stately dense Sal jungle and the wildlife adventure of Corbett begins.
We travel the lower jungle track along the Ramganga River accompanied by an expert guide. A great opportunity for viewing wildlife, especially the tiger in its natural habitat. Cross the river at Gethia Rao Bridge for the Kanda Range, where Jim Corbett shot the famous Kanda man-eater. Arrive at the main tourist complex, Dhikala. Lunch and relax a bit in the serene, lingering quietness of the park and capture the panoramic expanse on your camera. Visit one of the best wildlife libraries of India. We may opt for an elephant ride, if available otherwise an afternoon Safari on a track along the periphery of the core area. An exciting drive through the unforgettable, sylvan beauty of the Khinanauli range offers wildlife viewing in plenty and a chance sighting of the elusive Tiger and wild Elephants. Return to the tourist complex. Dinner and overnight stay at Dhikala (Please note that the accommodation in Dhikala is not luxurious.)
Saturday Nov 20: Morning in Dhikala. If we have not done an elephant ride the previous afternoon, we may opt for an elephant in the morning at dawn through the open chaurs (grasslands) and dense forests by an unconventional route. This is the best mode of transport for wildlife viewing. Return for breakfast and then again we will be going on a jeep safari. Visit the Jhirnajhali area for viewing the famous gharial - fish eating crocodile.
Please note, it will be useful to leave the bulk of our luggage at Tiger Camp as we will be away for just one night. After lunch we drive back to Tiger Camp where we will spend the night.
Sunday Nov 21: Morning birding at Kumeria. After lunch, drive back to Delhi where the tour concludes.
Overnight stay at Delhi. Meals on own.
Monday Nov 22: Transfer to airport to connect flight back to home arriving London evening the same day
FANTASTIC FOOD WHEREEVER WE GO
Cost of tour £1975 based on twin sharing plus international flight.
Guide price of international price London to Delhi return is £500 including taxes (Feb 2010 price)
Tour price based on 10 people travelling.
Please note that the exact itinerary may change slightly when logistical circumstances dictate. The dates could also be subject to flight availability.
Tour price includes:
Transport from Sandwich to London Airport and back
All surface transport within India including airport transfers
All accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
All park entrance fees and permits
One Elephant ride in Bandhavgarh and one in Corbett
All guiding and tracker fees
Not included:
Visas
Insurance (Comprehensive insurance compulsory if travelling with Sandwich Bird Tours)
Laundry, tips, phone calls, bottled water, alcohol, camera fees and all items of personal nature
Optional tours/excursions
John van der Dol
Sandwich Bird Tours
January 2008
01304 612175
07956 226 311
John@sandwichbirdtours.co.uk
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