|
SATURDAY DEPARTURES
ITINERARY
1st day
Depart by British Airways for Delhi.
2nd day
On arrival transfer to the Sofitel Surya Hotel. Rest of day at leisure.
3rd day
Morning tour of Old Delhi; afternoon tour of New Delhi.
4th day
Today we depart by rail for Ranthambhor, a Project Tiger reserve which also
has excellent birdlife notably the crested serpent eagle. Stay at the Sawai
Madhophur Lodge.
5th and 6th day
Two full days of game viewing.
7th day
Drive to Jaipur and the Clarks Amer Hotel. Afternoon visit to Amber.
8th day
Morning drive to the Keoladeo Ghana Bird Sanctuary at Bharatpur. Afternoon
bird-watching.
9th day
Bird watching in this prolific reserve with open-bill stork, egret, painted
stork, darter, white ibis, spoonbill, Grey Heron, cormorant, migratory geese,
rosy pelican and Siberian Crane.
10th day
Drive to Agra. En route we will stop at Fatehpur Sikri built by Akbar in AD
1575 but deserted after a few years although the magnificent Moghul buildings
still remain intact. Overnight at the Clarks Shiraz Hotel, Agra.
11th day
Morning tour of Agra including the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Afternoon at leisure
until the evening transfer to the railway s1stion. Overnight train to Umaria.
12th day
On arrival in Umaria transfer by road to the Bandhavgarh National Park and
our accommodation at the Bandhavgarh Jungle Camp.
13th and 14th day
Originally the private forest and preserve of the Maharajah of Rewa, this National
Park has been established for over twenty years and offers excellent game viewing
with the possibility of sighting tiger, leopard, gaur, nilgai, wild boar and
sloth bear. Two days of game viewing.
15th day
Morning drive to Khajuraho. Overnight at the Jass Oberoi Hotel.
16th day
Excursion to the classical temples of Khajuraho and the archaeological museum.
Fly to Varanasi for overnight at the Clarks Varanasi Hotel.
17th day
Early morning ride on the Ganges where we watch the multitude of pilgrims purifying
themselves in this sacred river. Afternoon free. In the evening transfer to
the railway s1stion for the overnight train to Calcutta.
18th day
Arrive Calcutta and transfer to the airport for the flight to Gauhati in Assam.
Gauhati lies on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river. Overnight at the
Belle Vue Hotel (or similar).
19th day
Drive past numerous tea plan1stions to the Kaziranga National Park. This park
is famous for its one-horned rhinoceros and wild buffalo. Kaziranga has very
successfully increased the number of rhino over recent decades. Additionally,
tiger, swamp deer and hog deer may also be sighted. Accommodation during our
stay is at the Forest Lodge.
20th and 21st day
Game viewing in Kaziranga.
22nd day
Return drive to Gauhati to connect with the flight to Delhi. Overnight at the
Sofitel Surya Hotel.
23rd day
Morning departure by British Airways to London Heathrow arriving later the
same day.The Hotel and lodges used in the more remote area on this tour are hot first
class but the best available. Same long road and rail journey are involved.
MEALS:
Half board. Lunch included on days 4-6, 8, 9, 12-14, 18-21.
Please note:
permit of Assam have to be processed through the Government of
India in Delhi and passengers are advised to book on this tour in good time
before , departure to enable us to file application the Permit in sufficient
time. Permission visit Assam is usually finalized after arrival in India. We
cannot be held responsible for any refusals or delays in issuing permission
but should these arise we will do our best to make alternative arrangements.