Birdwatching, Taj Mahal & Tiger Tour (13 days) BT3

Introduction

Seek out the beautiful and endangered Bengal Tiger, still king of the jungle in Bandhavgarh National Park.  Here you may also come across a Sloth Bear or, if you are very lucky, a Striped Hyena which would be an exhilarating experience.  Relax on a boat safari along the calm waters of the Chambal river and photograph prehistoric-looking Marsh Crocodiles and rare fish-eating Gharials, then be thrilled by an encounter with Gangetic River Dolphins.   Marvel at the vast array of stunning birdlife throughout the tour including wonderful days at one of India’s premier wetland and woodland birdwatching sites, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, where you’ll look for the often-vocal Sarus Crane, up to three species of Bittern including Black Bittern, wintering Bar-headed Geese, Pelicans, Ibises, Cormorants and Darters… and the list continues.  See one of the modern wonders of the world on a late afternoon visit to the majestic Taj Mahal and watch the marble turn from white to pale peach in the changing light.

Itinerary and price

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Meals: Payable directly today Arrive at Delhi International Airport.  You will be welcomed by our representative and taken to check in at a local hotel. Spend remainder of day exploring Delhi sites with your driver (any entrance fees are on direct payment today). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner After breakfast your driver will take you to Bharatpur. The journey usually takes approx. 5 hours, sometimes more, depending on traffic. We recommend leaving early if you can (breakfast served from 0700 hours), to avoid the worst of the rush hour. Check in to your hotel, just a few hundred metres from the entrance to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the sanctuary with an experienced guide. Bharatpur is a tremendous wetland, not just for birds, but other animals too.  Nilgai, Sambar, Spotted Deer and Golden Jackal are almost guaranteed to be seen.  Although primarily known as a wetland, there are large areas of grassland within the sanctuary that are excellent for Weavers and roosting Harriers.  Woodlands provide an inviting home for two or more species of Nightjar, Dusky Eagle Owl, Thrushes, Tailorbirds, Woodpeckers, Indian Grey Hornbill and more. The many aerial predators often provide a spectacular show as they flush a host of birds from the lagoons and marshes.  Crested Serpent Eagles perch in full view and Painted, Woolly-necked, Asian Open-billed and Black-necked Storks as well as Ibises, Egrets and Bitterns all feed beside the main track.  Bharatpur’s wildlife is so tame and accommodating, it has become a paradise for photographers.  Guides will know where to look for Greater Painted Snipe in adjacent arable land and sometimes it’s possible to see Indian Courser and Yellow-wattled Lapwing in fields next to your hotel. Return to your hotel to relax  for the evening. Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Explore Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary for the whole day with an experienced guide. Bluethroats hop around in wet woodland, extensive grasslands attract brightly coloured Red Avadavats and a whole range of other species including Indian Silverbill, Larks, Pipits and Prinias.  On prominent perches along main tracks and narrower trails you’ll see Pied Bushchats, Shrikes, Drongos, Fantails and Bulbuls.  Siberian Rubythroat can be found with a bit of time and perseverance.  If you wish, your guide can take you to see an Indian Python basking beside its burrow in dry acacia scrub. Late afternoon is a wonderful time to sit by a stork colony and watch the setting sun.  As you head out of the sanctuary a Golden Jackal, a mongoose or perhaps some Nilgai and Sambar Deer will cross the track infront of you. Relax for the evening at your hotel and pack your bags tonight, as you’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch After an early breakfast you will leave for the Chambal River at Dholpur with your bird guide accompanying for the day. The journey, in part through typical Uttar Pradesh countryside, will take approximately 1¾ hours. You will see people at work in the fields and rural businesses such as brick furnaces.  Enjoy a relaxing one-hour boat safari on the Chambal river where there is so much to see (if you’d like longer we can provide a supplement).  Indian Skimmer could be one of today’s star attractions or a glimpse of a rare Ganges Fresh Water River Dolphin, a really thrilling experience.  Gharial (an uncommon fish-eating crocodile), Marsh Crocodile and various Turtles hauled out on the sandy islands alongside Black-bellied and Indian River Terns are all easy to see.  Your sharp-eyed guide may well spot the attractive Black Francolin along the river banks where Red-naped Ibis and Small Pratincole also feed. The latter is a delight to watch as it hawks for insects.  If time permits, it may be possible to explore the dunes and dry areas where White-capped Bunting, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Desert Wheatear and Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark occur.  You’ll have your packed lunch here then return to Agra in the afternoon where you will say goodbye to your bird guide. Check in at your hotel and relax for the remainder of the day. Night in Agra. Meals: Breakfast Today you’ll visit not only the Taj Mahal but also one of the finest Mughal forts in India, both being World Heritage Sites . You could either visit the Taj Mahal at dawn returning to your hotel for breakfast, or we recommend a mid-afternoon visit when the colour of the marble often seems to change from brilliant white to a beautiful shade of pale peach.  Just let us know in advance which time you’d prefer to visit and we’ll arrange this for you.  Please note, the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays.  Don’t forget to appreciate the wildlife, too.  There’s Five-striped Palm Squirrels in the grounds, River Lapwings on the banks of the Yamuna behind the Taj Mahal and Black Kites soaring overhead. Lunch and dinner are payable directly today and we recommend you eat in Agra where there are plenty of restaurants to choose from, or take snacks with you to eat on the train. You will be transferred to the railway station to catch the Mahakoshal Express departing Agra at 1930 hours. Overnight on the air-conditioned sleeper train (pillow, sheet and blanket provided). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Your train is expected to arrive early in Katni at 0755 hours, though sometimes it can run late, so you should ask other passengers or the ticket checker and they will advise accordingly. Your driver will be waiting for you on the station platform, so look for your name on a placard. From here the journey to your safari lodge at Bandhavgarh will take approximately three hours. Check-in is usually from 12 noon, earlier if rooms are available but if not, you can relax in the communal areas of the lodge. In the afternoon you can explore around the lodge environs.  The lodges have resident naturalists so please ask if one may be available to accompany you.  Whilst we have requested, this isn’t guaranteed and is at the discretion of the lodge management.  Please enquire at your lodge on arrival. Please contact us if you’d prefer to add in an extra jeep safari this afternoon and we’ll supply you with a supplement. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Enjoy morning and afternoon jeep safaris inside Bandhavgarh National Park. Whilst you may wish to focus on Tiger, Bandhavgarh has a diverse bird and mammal list. If you are lucky you might see Indian Gazelle (Chinkara) or Jungle Cat as well as the more common Spotted Deer (Chital), Wild Boar and Sambar. You’ll see Common Langur monkeys, but Sloth Bear, Leopard and Striped Hyena require much more luck athough they are seen occasionally.  Birds are in abundance and you might see Golden-fronted Leafbird, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Alexandrine Parakeet, White-backed, Slender-billed and Egyptian Vultures, White-bellied Drongo, Brown Fish-owl, Tickell’s Blue and Verditer Flycatchers. Back at the lodge you will have a few hours in the middle of the day to relax and have lunch before setting off on your afternoon jeep safari. Nights at your safari lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and packed dinner Explore for a few hours around your lodge (on foot) – the availability of the resident lodge naturalist is the same as on previous days. Alternatively you can take it easy and relax, or we can add in another jeep safari and confirm the supplement for this. Then in the afternoon you will be transferred to Katni station to connect with the 1625 hours JBP NZM Express train to Delhi. Overnight on the air-conditioned sleeper train (pillow, sheet and blanket provided). Meals: Payable directly today Your train will arrive in Delhi at 0515 hours. Your driver will meet you at the station platform (scan the placards for your name).  You will have the car and driver at your disposal for the remainder of the day for local sightseeing in Delhi (monument/guide fees to be paid directly).  Check in at hotel is after 12 noon. Night at hotel. Meals: Breakfast (served from 0700 hours) On this day we have included a departure transfer to the airport to connect with your international flight home (to be booked by you directly). Tour ends There are plenty of ways to extend this tour. Please ask for details. Price per person for standard hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1315 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1145 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1020 Single room supplement £210 Standard price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Deluxe Room	2
Agra	The Retreat, Superior Room	1
Agra - Katni	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Bandhavgarh	Nature Heritage Resort, AC Cottage	4
Katni - Delhi	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1

Price per person for deluxe hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1445 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1270 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1150 Single room supplement £385 Deluxe price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Justa The Residence, Gurgaon,  Superior Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Super Deluxe Room	2
Agra	Crystal Sarovar Premium, Premier Taj View Room	1
Agra - Katni	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Bandhavgarh	Syna Tiger Resort, AC Cottage	4
Katni - Delhi	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Delhi	Justa The Residence, Panchsheel, Superior Room	1

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
• Car at disposal on Day 2 and Day 12 in Delhi
• 6 jeep safaris inside Bandhavgarh National Park (3 in Tala Zone and 3 in Maghdi Zone) on an exclusive basis with mandatory park guide and lodge naturalist
• One afternoon exploring around the lodge and we will request the services of the lodge naturalist, subject to their availability and at the discretion of the lodge management
• 1 1/2 days birding at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary with local guide and entrance fee paid once each day
• A 1-hour boat safari on the Chambal river with entrance fee and two hours birding in the vicinity of the Chambal river with guide accompanying from Bharatpur - supplements available for longer boating experiences
• Entrance to Taj Mahal and Red Fort in Agra with English speaking local guide
• 2nd class air-conditioned train from Agra to Katni and the return from Katni to Delhi - see supplement for 1st class.
• Extra lunch and packed dinner from Bandhavgarh
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any international airfare to/from India including International airport tax
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Camera fee
• Any additional taxes levied by the Government of India on the tourism sector in future
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section
• Any increase in the entrance fee to National Parks or Sanctuaries in the future. The price is based on the current entrance fee
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

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