Big Six of India

India

Wildlife

Spot tigers, lions, leopards, buffalo, rhino & elephants

15 days Ask us for pricing This is the price per person for a private tour (based on 2 people travelling) excluding international flights. Contact us for pricing for other group sizes including individuals.
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Intro, Dates & Prices

Intro

Experience the rich and varied wildlife of India in some of its best national parks. The enigmatic tiger may be India`s biggest draw, but the rare Asiatic lion and endangered one-horned rhino also roam this land. Starting in Gir National Park in Gujarat, home to the Asiatic lion, we head down to Central India`s prime tiger territory - Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves. Finally, we head to India`s remote Northeast, where you come face-to-face with the one-horned rhinos of India.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Look out for rare Asiatic lions in Gir
  • Tiger spotting in Kanha & Pench
  • Leopards, elephants, monkeys & more
  • Stay in luxury jungle lodges
  • Diverse range of endemic birdlife
  • One-horned rhino in Kaziranga

Places Visited

Mumbai - Gir National Park - Kanha Tiger Reserve - Pench Tiger Reserve - Kolkata - Kaziranga National Park

What's Included

Airport transfers
Domestic flights
Ground transport with drivers
Accommodation
Breakfasts and full-board in parks
Entrance fees to sites & parks
Local guides
Activities and safaris as per the itinerary

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Itinerary & Map
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Overview Itinerary Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1 : Mumbai

Depart from London on morning flight to Mumbai. 

Overnight in Waterstones, Mumbai

Meal plan: n/a

Mumbai is the most populous city in India, the economical and commercial centre of the country and the home of Bollywood, the Hindi film industry. Mumbai's most famous site is the Gateway of India, a 26-metre-high arch built to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary in India in 1911. Other important landmarks include the Marine Drive boulevard, known as the 'Queen's Necklace' due to its resemblance to a pearl necklace when viewed at night from above; Dhobi Ghat, the world’s largest open air laundry; Crawford Market, the largest market in Mumbai,  named after  the first Municipal Commissioner of the city, Arthur Crawford; and the Victoria Terminus railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The latter is famous for its blend of Gothic Revival and traditional Mughal architectural styles, and was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee. In 1996 it was renamed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, after the founder of the Maratha Empire.

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Day 2 : Mumbai - Rajkot - Gir National Park

Arrive in Mumbai at 00:30 and catch connecting flight to Rajkot where you will be met by your representative and transferred to your hotel in time for breakfast. Later on, drive to Gir National Park. Relax over a leisurely lunch at the safari camp where you will stay in a luxury tent overnight.

Overnight in Lion Safari Camp, Gir National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 3 : Gir National Park

In the morning enjoy a game drive in Gir National Park. In the afternoon take lunch at the safari park before continuing to explore Gir National Park by car. Dinner and overnight in the safari camp.

Overnight in Lion Safari Camp, Gir National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Home to the rare Asiatic lion, Gir National Park is comprised of 1412 square kilometres of deciduous forest interspersed with semi-evergreen and evergreen flora, acacia, scrub jungle, grasslands and rocky hills.  Outside of Africa, Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world where you can spot lions roaming free in the wild.  While there were approximately only 20 lions in the park during 1913, the 2015 census indicates there are now 523 of these magnificent creatures.  Gir Forest also provides homes to the chousingha – the world’s only 4-horned antelope, jackal, striped hyena and India fox.  The park, home to 200 species such as white-backed and long-billed vultures, has also been declared an important area by the Indian Bird Conservation Network.  Keep an eye out for more than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians near Kamleshwar, a large reservoir where you may spot a Marsh crocodile or snakes. 

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Day 4 : Gir National Park

Second day spent exploring Gir National Park on morning and afternoon game drives. Enjoy the scenic surroundings for a leisurely lunch and dinner in the safari park. Overnight in the safari camp.

Overnight in Lion Safari Camp, Gir National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 5 : Gir National Park - Mumbai

Take an early morning game drive in the park to see the Asiatic Lions in their natural environment. Have a packed lunch in the safari park, before driving to Rajkot in the afternoon for your flight to Mumbai. Arrive in Mumbai for the evening where you will be transferred to hotel for an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch

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Day 6 : Mumbai - Nagpur - Khana Tiger Reserve

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to Nagpur. Upon arrival, drive to Kanha Tiger Reserve, where you will enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Tuli Tiger Resort. In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in Kanha Tiger Reserve, before returning to the resort for a leisurely dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight in Tuli Tiger Resort, Kanha Tiger Reserve

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

The tiger reserve in Kanha Tiger Reserve is a stunning natural area filled with dense forests, scenic mountain areas and crystal-clear streams and situated in the Madhya Pradesh central-highland area of India. Preserved as a ‘reserve forest’ as early as 1879, the beauty of the natural landscape and wealth of animal life inspired Rudyard Kipling’s ‘The Jungle Book’. Overlooking the luxurious landscape of meadows, streams and forest areas is ‘Bomm Dader’ or Sunset Point – the most scenic area of the park. The reserve has one of the largest populations of Indian tigers across the country, and is also home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. As well as tigers, the park is home to many bird, reptile and mammal species, including spotted deer, antelopes, flying squirrels and buffaloes. The ‘jewel’ of the park however is the ‘Barasingha’ or swamp deer, which have become endangered and feed on the park’s rich grass-land areas.

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Day 7 : Kanha Tiger Reserve

Take a morning game drive to see the tigers in their natural environment, breaking for lunch at the resort before returning to the reserve on an afternoon game drive to see tigers and other wild animals in the afternoon. Dinner at Tuli Tiger Resort.

Overnight in Tuli Tiger Resort, Kanha Tiger Reserve

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 8 : Kanha Tiger Reserve

Morning and afternoon game drives in Kanha Tiger Reserve. Lunch and dinner at the Tuli Tiger Resort.

Overnight in Tuli Tiger Resort, Kanha Tiger Reserve

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 9 : Kanha - Pench

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in the reserve. Break for a packed lunch, and then drive to Pench Tiger Reserve. Leisurely dinner and overnight at the Tuli Tiger Corridor.
 

Overnight in Tuli Tiger Corridor, Pench Tiger Reserve

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 10 : Pench Tiger Reserve

Spend the morning and afternoon enjoying game drives in Pench Tiger Reserve, with a break for lunch. Dinner at the Tuli Tiger Corridor.

Overnight in Tuli Tiger Corridor, Pench Tiger Reserve

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

The Pench Tiger Reserve is a haven for a wide range of wildlife species. Named after the Pench River, which winds its way through the park from north to south, there is a wealth of plant-life, fish as well as 285 varieties of bird including the Indian Pitta, the White-eyed Buzzard and the endangered White Scavenger and King Vulture. Tigers are the main predators in the park but there are also leopards, wild dogs and wild Indian cats. The wildlife population also includes numerous herds of ‘Gour’ or wild bison, deer, sloth bears and an enormous range of butterflies and fish.

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Day 11 : Pench Tiger Reserve - Kolkata

After breakfast take a morning game drive in the park. The morning is when tigers are most likely to be seen wandering the park. Then, after lunch at the Tuli Tiger Corridor, drive to Nagpur for your flight to Kolkata. Overnight at hotel in Kolkata.

Overnight in The Pride Hotel, Kolkata

Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch

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Day 12 : Kolkata - Johrat - Kaziranga

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Jorhat. Upon arrival drive to Kaziranga and enjoy a leisurely evening and overnight at the Wild Grass Lodge (or similar).

Overnight in Jupuri Ghar, Kaziranga National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 13 : Kaziranga

Early morning wake-up for an elephant-back safari in Kaziranga National Park. Spend an hour on the elephants and get up close to the endangered unicorn rhino. The morning is the best time to spot animals in Kaziranga. Return to the cottage for breakfast, and then spend the morning at your leisure. After lunch, embark on afternoon game drive for more wildlife spotting. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and then spend overnight at the Wild Grass Lodge.

Overnight in Wild Grass Lodge, Kaziranga National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Kaziranga National Park is home to two-thirds of the world's population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros at just under 2000. A few centuries ago, the Indian one-horned rhino ranged across the north Indian plains in the wetlands of the rivers Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. Today it is found only in pockets of Assam and in Nepal. Kaziranga also boasts a range of other wildlife and harbours about 15 species of India's threatened mammals including the most dense population of Royal Bengal tigers, Indian elephants, sloth bears, Gangetic dolphins and an extraordinary bird population. Kaziranga National Park is located partly in Golaghat District and partly in the Nagaon District of Assam and covers an area of 430km2. It lies in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra and annual flooding and burning has maintained the grasslands predominant in the west. It became an official national park in 1974, but was established as a reserved forest in 1908, a game sanctuary in 1916, a wildlife sanctuary in 1950, and as a World Heritage site in 1985.

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Day 14 : Kaziranga

Full-day to explore Kaziranga National Park and to spot the Unicorn Rhino and Tigers. Game drives broken by lunch at the Wild Grass Lodge. Relaxing dinner and overnight at the Wild Grass Lodge.
 

Overnight in Jupuri Ghar, Kaziranga National Park

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

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Day 15 : Kaziranga - Mubai - Departure

After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game-drive. Packed lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon transfer to Guwahati airport for your flight to Mumbai, where you will connect to your return flight home.

Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch

Accommodation

Accommodation

All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.

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Waterstones

Mumbai (1 night)

Just 5 minutes from Mumbai International Airport, Waterstones Hotel is an excellent modern hotel offering cosy rooms with flat-screen TV, mini-bar and other mod-cons. It also features a variety of recreational facilities and a superb restaurant.

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Lion Safari Camp

Gir National Park (3 nights)

The Lion Safari Camp is a luxury jungle safari camp in Gir National Park – the last remaining bastion of the Asiatic Lion. It is located in a private mango orchard overlooking the Hiran river. The location presently has around 900 mango trees with only 2% of the entire land area being built on. The accommodation consists of twenty luxury tents, with large en-suite bathrooms. There is also an open-air river-facing restaurant.

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Tuli Tiger Resort

Kanha Tiger Reserve (3 nights)

Gracing the bank of Banjar River, Tuli Tiger Resort in Kanha represents the rich, vibrant heritage of rural India. The resort offers 26 ornate, air-conditioned cottages with twin beds, internal and external sitting areas and soothing interiors that ensure space and privacy. The surrounding is covered with big green buffer zone of 22 acres and home to several species of birds. Watch the wildlife through large windows of your private cottage, traditionally designed with a canopy roof.

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Tuli Tiger Corridor

Pench Tiger Reserve (2 nights)

The Tuli Tiger Corridor is a luxurious jungle camp situated close to Pench Tiger Reserve. Set in 22 acres of lush green, the Corridor is well placed in the buffer zone of the park. With 15 luxury cottages, each ethnically designed in keeping with the native culture, the Corridor showcases a pastoral jungle theme making it a great place to retreat after your game drives in Pench.

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The Pride Hotel

Kolkata (1 night)

The Pride Hotel is conveniently located close to Kolkata airport. It is a modern hotel with each room featuring a twin/queen bed, desk, tea-coffee maker, minibar, complimentary fruit basket, cookies and an electronic safe. It is a good place to stay when transiting through Kolkata.

Visit hotel's site
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Jupuri Ghar

Kaziranga National Park (2 nights)

Located at the centre point of Kaziranga, Jupuri Ghar offers well appointed accommodation equipped with all the basic amenities for a comfortable stay. Also known as Kohra Hotel, it has 8 rooms surrounded by greenery and a refreshing view of the tea gardens from the restaurant.

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Wild Grass Lodge

Kaziranga National Park (1 night)

Wild Grass Lodge is situated on the fringes of Kaziranga National Park, amidst a traditional rural Assamese landscape. The colonial-style lodge sits within large grounds, which has more than 40 species of full-grown trees and over 200 species of tropical climbers, creepers and shrubs. It is the ideal place to relax whilst exploring Kaziranga. The interior of the lodge has a simple and rustic decor, which complements its remote location. Each bedroom in the jungle lodge features an ensuite bathroom and modern amenities required for a comfortable stay. 

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Extensions

On The Tiger Trail (9 days)

On the tiger trail through Bandhavgarh and Kanha

The Golden Triangle (5 days)

Marvel at India's most incredible forts and palaces

Kolkata & Sunderbans (6 days)

Discover colonial Kolkata and the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve

Wildlife of Tadoba & Pench (9 days)

A real life Jungle Book.

Kolkata & Darjeeling Snapshot (7 days)

Ideal extension to Bhutan

Himalayan Extension: Ladakh to Kashmir (5 days)

Travel across the spectacular Himalayan Highway

Beaches (1-7 days)

After exploring the busy cities, there's no better place to relax than one of India's paradisiacal beaches

Treks & Walks (1-12 days)

Himalayan treks, village walks and more

Hill Stations & Mountains

Escape the city and unwind among some of the most breathtaking mountain and hill scapes the world has to offer.

City Extensions (1-4 days)

Visit the must-see sights and the hidden depths of India's most vibrant cities.

Monks, Tribes & Rhinos (20 days)

Himalayan mountains, unseen tribes & amazing wildlife

Journey through the Indian Himalayas (20 days)

Travel through the Himalayan foothills via Shimla & Amritsar to Ladakh

Classic Bhutan & Assam Cruise (18 days)

Experience Bhutan's rich culture, colonial Kolkata and rural life in Assam

Glimpse of India & Nepal (16 days)

Golden Triangle and the Himalayas

The Himalayan Silk Road (16 days)

Travel India's Silk Road from Kashmir to Ladakh

Textile Tour of India (16 days)

Textile tour of Gujarat & Rajasthan including the Mewar Festival

Taste of South India (15 days)

Experience the flavours and exotic spices of South India

Treasures of Maharashtra (15 days)

Mighty sea fortresses, rock-cut cave temples, and verdant hill stations

Kerala Calling (15 days)

Tropical mountains, tea & spice plantations, and backwaters

Best of Bhutan & Bengal (15 days)

Experience the culture and landscapes of India & Bhutan

Assam & Nagaland Hornbill Festival (15 days)

Wildlife, tribes & rural life in Assam and Nagaland

Journey Through Rajasthan (15 days)

Discover Rajasthan's forts, palaces and rural villages

Big Six of India (15 days)

Spot tigers, lions, leopards, buffalo, rhino & elephants

Best of Assam & Meghalaya (14 days)

Wildlife, diverse cultures & rural life in hidden North East India

Birds & Wildlife of Rajasthan (14 days)

Uncover the regal wildlife of Rajasthan

Hampi and Beyond (14 days)

Discover Karnataka's stone temples, wildlife and coffee farms

Taj, Tigers & Temples (14 days)

Perfect mix of classic sights and off-beat places for first-timers to India

Spirit of South India (14 days)

Temple towns of Tamil Nadu to backwaters of Kerala

Big Cats of India (14 days)

Experience the thrill of the Indian jungle ...

Himalayan Wildlife of Ladakh (14 days)

Track the Himalayan brown bear & snow leopard on a once-in-a-lifetime trip

Heart of India (14 days)

Take in the highlights of central India

Delicacies of North India (14 days)

Discover the huge diversity of North India's cuisine

Wildlife of North East India (14 days)

Diverse wildlife in Assam and the Sunderbans

Tribes of North East India (14 days)

Remote tribal cultures in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Nagaland

Kerala & Karnataka Explorer (14 days)

Idyllic backwaters, tropical forests & ancient temple towns

Tribes & Temples of Eastern India (14 days)

Visit remote tribal villages of Orissa & Chhattisgarh

Roof of the World - Ladakh to Kashmir (14 days)

Experience dramatic Himalayan scenery, Buddhist and Islamic cultures

Best of Bengal & Sikkim (14 days)

Colonial Kolkata, Darjeeling toy train & Buddhism

Kerala - Trekking the Western Ghats (13 days)

Explore this UNESCO biodiversity hotspot on foot

Maha Kumbh Mela Festival (13 days)

Once in 12 years - the largest gathering of humanity on earth

Gujarat's Tribes & Wildlife (13 days)

Gujarat's Asiatic Lions, Salt Flats & Textile Villages

Glories of Gujarat (13 days)

Tribal villages, temples, salt flats & the world's last Asiatic lions

Hidden Rajasthan (13 days)

Rural villages, grand forts & wildlife

High Indus Valley of Ladakh (12 days)

Attain lofty heights over soul-soothing Ladakh

Glimpse of India (12 days)

Golden Triangle, tigers & exotic Kerala

Markha Valley Trek (12 days)

Set foot in Ladakh's hidden Himalayan valleys

Essential Rajasthan (10 days)

Discover the forts, palaces, villages and desert of Rajasthan

Living Bridges of Meghalaya (7 days)

Waterfalls, hills and living bridges in North East India

Classic Kerala

Tea, spices, backwaters & beaches

Reviews

This trip was very well put together and ticked all the boxes that we had requested. The accommodation throughout the tour was of a high standard and our experiences in the national parks was wonderful spotting many different animals including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, lions, jungle cat plus countless number of birds. Thank you Rahul for tailoring this trip to our requirements.

Nigel & Margaret Turner , Tailormade India Wildlife & Birding tour

I have been on 3 tailor made trips with Travel The Unknown and have found them to be knowledgeable and reliable. We`ve stayed in some wonderful places and have had some unusual and satisfying experiences that go beyond the standard tours.

Joan Edmunds (USA) , Tailormade India

I would highly recommend Travel the Unknown to anyone visiting India. The service we received both prior to, during and following our travels was always timely and excellent. We were able to customize our trip to our liking and to enjoy a wide variety of activities. The guides in every location were outstanding! Honestly. Having travelled through much of the world I can truly say that we have never been more impressed with the quality of the guides arranged for us in each location, as well as the service we received. Similarly, the hotels were excellent and allowed us to live very comfortably while, at the same time, enjoy an authentic Indian experience. If you haven`t already booked your trip with Travel the Unknown, then either do so now....or at least give them a chance to show you what they can offer.

Tracey & Gary , Tailormade India

I thought I missed the name of this tour when I was looking for wildlife trips, lions in India! Not only was I lucky to see a tigress and her cubs in Kanha, Satpura was also magical, particularly the walking safari. I saw a leopard dragging its kill away. Gir was so different, and yes, I can confirm lions do live in India! Thank you Travel The Unknown for a very different wildlife trip.

Danny , Tigers, Lions & Rhinos of India, India

Neither of us had ever been to India before. This trip was a wonderful introduction. The trip you arranged responded precisely to our request to spend most of our time seeing wild life in National Parks and also provided us with the opportunity to visit Delhi, Agra and Kolkata. The drivers and guides were excellent, the accommodations excellent and they accommodated both my husband`s preference for highly spiced food and my lamentably bland preferences. Thank you!

Jane McCormmach , Tigers, Lions & Rhinos of India, India

Thanks for organising such a great trip to NE India Rahul - everything went seamlessly! We loved the fact that we could book an individual tour but still have flexibility with our itinerary once we were there, enabling us to take in the Si Donyi Festival at Daporijo and also be the first guests to stay overnight in a local village hut with our hosts in Papi, which was fantastic. Our guide was super. He had a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humour! It’s hard to pick a highlight as the whole trip was both fascinating and at times, humbling. We’ll never forget the amazing people, scenery & culture we experienced whilst there and are glad we had the opportunity to visit such an intriguing part of the world. We would certainly consider travelling with you again in the future.

Hazel Fairall , Tribes of North East India, India

I`m sure I could not have found a better operator for the type of complicated Indian tour I wanted to undertake on a limited budget. India is an intimidating country to visit, and I suspect that some operators look down on the first time visitor, or disparage their requirements. Travel the Unknown, by contrast, helped me all the way, and their local guides were superb.

Andrew Martin , Tailormade North East India

We went on the Spirit of South India Tour and had a great time on our honeymoon. There was a good variety of places visited and the hotels, drivers and guides were all very good. We would definitely recommend this tour.

Rachel , Spirit of South India, India

This was my first experience of using Travel the Unknown having enjoyed small group adventure holidays for many years. I was attracted to the company because it seeks out the more unusual and lesser known areas of a country and I was not disappointed by my visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. There is a clear contrast between the people and the scenery of these two regions and we saw very few western tourists particularly in Arunachal Pradesh. The tour was well organised with plenty to see and do.

Keith Lewis , Monks, Tribes & Rhinos, India

This was a very varied and interesting trip to a forgotten part of India. If you like off the beaten track travel it is definitely worth the effort but go with an open mind and keep a smile on your face.

Richard Williams , Monks, Tribes & Rhinos, India

Thank you for organising our holiday in Kerala. I certainly wouldn`t have had the time or the knowledge to put together such a trip. Munnar was my favourite and the accommodation throughout was excellent.

Vik , Kerala Calling, India

A really well planned trip. We experienced life in Northeast India in just the way we wanted to. We loved the game reserves and saw a rock python which thrilled our guides as it is even rarer than the tiger! We visited villages and were able to interact with local people and loved the busy markets in Delhi and Calcutta. A special highlight was the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland; shown to us by our very own Naga guide Kezo. Kezo accompanied us for 15 days of our trip and ensured that we had many very special experiences - even taking us to the home of one of his Aunts where we spent a couple of hours sitting by the bonfire chatting.

Ann Holgate , Tailormade India
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