Pench and Tadoba Tiger Reserves - part of India's sprawling system of National Parks - are home not only to the regal Bengal Tiger, but to dozens of keystone species, from King Cobra to Sloth Bear, Indian Leopard to Cheetal, and from Civet to Crested Serpent Eagle.
Special inasmuch as being fine examples of southern tropical dry deciduous forest, once covering much of central India, these remaining pockets of pristine wilderness are wonderful examples of an India that arcs back to a mythic past blanketed in forest and teeming with animals straight out of Kipling's Jungle Book.
Come with us on a nine-day odyssey into India's wild interior. Spend seven of them in the company of local naturalists at Pench and Tadoba, staying in cosy lodges and, when not venturing deep into the lair of the Bengal Tiger, tasting the best cuisine Maharashtra has to offer.
These parks may be only two among dozens of tiger reserves dotted throughout the Subcontinent, but because of thriving big cat populations, they stand out as real prospects for those desperate to witness at close quarter the planet's most majestic animal.
Delhi - Nagpur - Pench National Park - Tadoba National Park
On your arrival, after clearing immigrations you will be met by a Travel The Unknown representative and escorted to your hotel.
Once there, rest and relax for the remainder of the day.
Overnight in Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, Delhi
Meal plan: n/a
Breakfast at your Delhi hotel before catching the morning flight to Nagpur on Indigo Air. Arrive Nagpur late morning to meet with your driver who will transfer you 3-4 hours north by road to Pench National Park.
Check in at the park lodge and remain at leisure for the rest of the day. Choose from local varieties of cuisine over dinner at the lodge.
Overnight in Pench Tree Lodge, Pench National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Whole day dedicated to spotting an elusive zootopia of classic Indian wildlife. After breakfast at the lodge, you'll join a morning game drive into this real-life Jungle Book. Lunch back at the lodge, followed by an afternoon game drive back into the far reaches of the park to observe an abundance of flora & fauna.
Evening dining at the lodge.
Overnight in Pench Tree Lodge, Pench National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Today's programme runs on parallel lines to that of yesterday. What you failed to spot yesterday, you have another chance to see today on morning and afternoon game drives. New varieties of plant and animal will become apparent. This could be the day to spot the monarch of the big cats, the tiger.
Relaxing evening at the lodge with dinner.
Overnight in Pench Tree Lodge, Pench National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Breakfast and departure from Pench N.P. Your driver will take you 5hrs south to Tadoba National Park to embark on safari at this other landmark tiger reserve.
After lunch at your eco lodge, you'll head out into dry deciduous wilderness in the first of your Tadoba game drives.
Dinner at the eco lodge. Evening at rest.
Overnight in Waghoba Eco Lodge, Tadoba National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Marathi breakfast at the lodge, followed by your first full day of exploration through this 500 square km reserve, hosting some 50 tigers and many more keystone species, including Indian leopard, sloth bear, hyena, civets and jungle cats.
Morning and afternoon game drives broken up by lunch back at the lodge. In the evening, savour regional delicacies, such as Varadhi and Maharashtri thali, or for more adventurous taste buds, the regional variety of Saoji curry. No alcohol is permitted in at the Waghoba Eco Lodge.
Overnight in Waghoba Eco Lodge, Tadoba National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Enjoy another typical Maharashtra breakfast before embarking on your final full day at the park. The programme is much like yesterday. Aside from the much-lauded felines that prowl the undergrowth, the park also plays host to a fabulous array of aquatic birds, which dwell along the Andhari river. Sambar and cheetal are but two of the deer on which the big cats predate.
Having seen a fair chunk of what Tadoba has within its confines, enjoy an evening of regional food and relaxation.
Overnight in Waghoba Eco Lodge, Tadoba National Park
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Breakfast at the lodge, followed up by a last game drive to farewell the wildlife. A 4-hour transfer by road to Nagpur to catch your domestic flight back to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi you'll be collected and taken to your hotel where you may rest and make your own dinner arrangements.
Overnight in Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, Delhi
Meal plan: Breakfast
Once breakfast is concluded, check out of hotel and be transferred to the international airport for either an onward flight, or an extended stay elsewhere in the great Subcontinent.
Meal plan: Breakfast
Located at just a 7-minute drive from the Delhi International Airport - Novotel New Delhi Aerocity offers 6 restaurants and bars, a full service spa and salon, and an outdoor swimming pool. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. The Delhi Aerocity Metro Station is 450 yards away and Worldmark that consists of premium offices, shopping outlet and eateries is about 200 yards from the property.
Your luxurious abode in the jungle includes 06 spacious cottages on the ground and 06 tree houses perched on top of the Mahua trees that are supported by stilts. Your luxurious abode in the jungle is perched on top of the Mahua trees and supported by stilts. Large French windows allow for an uninterrupted view of the deciduous forest and grassland and let you observe the multitude of birds, butterflies and the wild animals at the lodge. Our guests have so far seen wild boars, civets, jungle cats, jackals and spotted deer as they sat sipping their morning tea or the evening sundowner on the private deck. Breaking away from the monotony of oft-repeated safari lodgings, they have been designed with an eclectic mix of vintage and natural aesthetics.
Located in Maharashtra, Central India, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve or Tadoba National Park is one of the most preferred tiger destinations in India and the largest in the state. Tadoba has gained immense popularity in recent years as the top park for tiger sightings, and is one of India’s forty-seven project tiger reserves. This pristine, wild habitat is located in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, also referred to as Vidarbha region. Connectivity to Tadoba is excellent as it is just 2-1/2 hours from Nagpur International airport. A quaint, beautiful jungle with hilly terrain and undulating landscape, Tadoba is among the top parks known for tiger and wildlife sightings galore, in addition to many more activities, one can indulge in.
Remote villages & jaw-dropping scenery
On the tiger trail through Bandhavgarh and Kanha
Marvel at India's most incredible forts and palaces
Discover colonial Kolkata and the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve
A real life Jungle Book.
Ideal extension to Bhutan
Travel across the spectacular Himalayan Highway
After exploring the busy cities, there's no better place to relax than one of India's paradisiacal beaches
Himalayan treks, village walks and more
Escape the city and unwind among some of the most breathtaking mountain and hill scapes the world has to offer.
Visit the must-see sights and the hidden depths of India's most vibrant cities.
Discover iconic sights of India, Nepal & Bhutan
Travel through the Himalayan foothills via Shimla & Amritsar to Ladakh
Himalayan mountains, unseen tribes & amazing wildlife
Experience Bhutan's rich culture, colonial Kolkata and rural life in Assam
Travel India's forgotten Silk Road from Kashmir to Ladakh
Golden Triangle and the Himalayas
Textile tour of Gujarat & Rajasthan including the Mewar Festival
Spot tigers, lions, leopards, buffalo, rhino & elephants
Mighty sea fortresses, rock-cut cave temples, and verdant hill stations
Experience the culture and landscapes of India & Bhutan
Aoling Festival, wildlife in Assam & natural beauty of Manipur
Experience the flavours and exotic spices of South India
Discover Rajasthan's forts, palaces and rural villages
Idyllic backwaters, tropical forests & ancient temple towns
Temple towns of Tamil Nadu to backwaters of Kerala
Experience dramatic Himalayan scenery, Buddhist and Islamic cultures
Wildlife, diverse cultures & rural life in hidden North East India
Uncover the regal wildlife of Rajasthan
Take in the highlights of central India
Tribal villages, temples, salt flats & the world's last Asiatic lions
Discover Karnataka's stone temples, wildlife and coffee farms
Visit remote tribal villages of Orissa & Chhattisgarh
Perfect mix of classic sights and off-beat places for first-timers to India
Wildlife, tribes & rural life in Assam and Nagaland
Charming towns, spice plantations & idyllic backwaters
Diverse wildlife in Assam and the Sunderbans
Colonial Kolkata, Darjeeling toy train & Buddhism
Discover the huge diversity of North India's cuisine
Remote tribal cultures in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Nagaland
Once in 12 years - the largest gathering of humanity on earth
Explore this UNESCO biodiversity hotspot on foot
Rural villages, grand forts & wildlife
Expert-led trip through Kashmir and Ladakh
Track India's tigers, leopards & lions
Gujarat's Asiatic Lions, Salt Flats & Textile Villages
Golden Triangle, tigers & exotic Kerala
Set foot in Ladakh's hidden Himalayan valleys
Attain lofty heights over soul-soothing Ladakh
Discover the forts, palaces, villages and desert of Rajasthan
Waterfalls, hills and living bridges in North East India
Track the rarest animals in remote Ladakh
Tea, spices, backwaters & beaches
Hazel Fairall , Tribes of North East India, IndiaThanks 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.
Dewi Evans , Tailormade North East IndiaI`m very pleased with the way the trip was arranged for me, it was well organised and went very well. The itinerary was just the right pace to enjoy everything without rushing too much. It was never going to be cheap for 1 person travelling alone but I thought it was very reasonably priced.
Nigel & Margaret Turner , Tailormade India Wildlife & Birding tourThis 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.
Rachel , Spirit of South India, IndiaWe 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.
Tracey & Gary , Tailormade IndiaI 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.
Keith Lewis , Monks, Tribes & Rhinos, IndiaThis 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.
Richard Williams , Monks, Tribes & Rhinos, IndiaThis 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.
Vik , Kerala Calling, IndiaThank 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.
Ann Holgate , Tailormade IndiaA 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.
Penelope Smith , Assam & Nagaland Hornbill Festival, IndiaWhat an excellent service! Rahul adapted, extended and improved our trip so many times without a qualm and we ended up with the trip of a lifetime. The destinations are unusual and interesting but everything has been checked out by the team and works brilliantly. I can`t wait to do another trip.
Elaine & Neil Smith , Delicacies of North India, IndiaThe tour was an amazing experience for our first visit to India. The country, its people and its cuisine were friendly,delightful, colourful and exceeded all our expectations. Travel the Unknown have put together a superb unique package that we have no hesitation in recommending to anyone with an interest in food and culture.
Andrew Martin , Tailormade North East IndiaI`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.