North India Wildlife Tour

From $1,450 pp

  • Duration

    12 days

  • Bookable From

    September 1st - April 15th

  • Trip Style

    Privately Guided

  • Country

    India

  • Physical Rating

    Easy

Overview

This 12-day tour of North India combines responsible wildlife experiences with a mix of luxury, city, and village tours.

Visit Delhi, Agra (home to the Taj Mahal), Sawai Madhopur, and Ghanerao over the course of your stay. Witness incredible wildlife like Indian elephants, tigers, and bears, and stay in luxury wildlife lodges and charming homestays that directly impact wildlife conservation, rehabilitation, and local community development projects.

For example, the wildlife lodge in Sawai Madhopur and the homestay in Ghanerao are working with tribal women and pastoralists to create alternative incomes by selling camel milk products, and wool products, in addition to supporting a local school.

You'll also see significant cultural sites such as the Taj Mahal, the India Gate, and numerous other temples, forts, and monuments.

Highlights

  • Visit a rescue and rehabilitation center for distressed wildlife
  • Stay in a luxury wildlife lodge for a guided safari in Ranthambore National Park
  • See Indian bears, elephants, tigers, leopards, camels, antelopes, and more
  • Spend time with pastoralists witnessing their nomadic life and camel conservation efforts
  • Hear lesser-known, unique facts about the famous Taj Mahal on our storytelling tours
  • Explore Delhi, including the President’s Palace and the India Gate
  • Discover craft, spice, textile, and jewel markets
  • Enjoy cultural tours at temples, forts, and prominent monuments
  • Optional: Walking tours for food tasting, visiting families working in artisanal products, and much more!
A camel covered in colorful garb is shown in a close up side profile in northern India on a responsible wildlife tour.
The top of the Taj Mahal is in a close up view with a lush green tree to the left of it in the foreground. The sky behind it is a pale blue.
A black Himalayan sloth bear rests on top of a wooden log in India. This is a big bear with fluffy black fur and long claws visible on his front two paws. Their mouth is slightly open. There is grass and greenery blurred out in the background. You can see such bears on a responsible wildlife tour of northern India when you visit a bear sanctuary.
The Ranakapur Jain Temple is shown from a slight distance and is offset from center. You can see the beautiful and ornate architecture of the beige building with a brown and green hillsite behind it. There are a couple trees to the left and right of the frame, and you can see several people walking up the red lined steps leading into the temple.
A tiger in Ranthambore National Park in northern India is seen swimming in the water, one of the animals you can see on a responsible wildlife tour of northern India. The tiger has classic orange-brown fur with black stripes and some white patches near his face. They are swimming toward the right side of the frame. The water is a dark green.
An Indian women in traditional pink garb - a pink headcover and a reddish pink dress - wearing a gold nose ring, necklaces, and bracelets or bangles, smiles broadly while looking down and to the left side of the frame. Her face is partially covered by the head cover.
A monkey near the Ranakpur Jain Temple in Rajasthan, India is shown; this is one of the animals you can see on the responsible wildlife tour of northern India. The monkey has light grey fur and a black face and black ears. The shot is a close up of its face, with greenery blurred out in the background.
The Ranakpur Jain Temple in Rajasthan, Northern India is shown face-on with its beautiful and ornate architecture. About 15 people are sitting and standing on the steps in front of it, and the sky is blue with some clouds. It's a sunny day.

The combination of wildlife safaris, conservation projects, and cultural experiences makes this tour equally great for families, couples, kids, and solo travelers.

Seasonal Notes

The best time to visit India is between September and mid-April. During this period, the weather is pleasant and comfortable. It is usually sunny and dry, with cooler temperatures in the north and more moderate temperatures in the south. Besides, India's important festivals, such as Diwali, Holi, and Dussehra, also take place during these months. Diwali is in November, and Holi is in March; exact dates vary every year.

Summers (May to August) can be scorching hot in Rajasthan. However, this season is great for the Himalayas and the North East.

This private tour happens on a date of your choice.

Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi [India] (Arrival)

Arrive in Delhi (Indira Gandhi International Airport). We receive, welcome, and assist you with transfer to the accommodation.

Spend a few hours relaxing and recovering from jetlag.

Evening half-day tour of Delhi city. We usually cover the President's Palace and the India Gate, followed by a traditional Indian welcome dinner. You can customize this evening according to your choice of destinations.
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Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Delhi City Tour

Walking tour of old Delhi where we visit the jewel, textile, and spice markets and taste some of the traditional and freshly made Indian snacks.

During the second half of the day, we cover any two of the following experiences: Akshardham Temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Qutub Minar, and Humayun Tomb. Each of these visits involves extensive storytelling where we share the history and cultural significance of the destination and have you immerse with the locals in community kitchens.
--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Delhi to Agra + Wildlife Rescue Experience

Note: All intercity transfers can be set up in either a private car or train depending on your budget and preference.

Overland transfer to Agra in a private car. Visit a project that works with the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife in distress, especially the Indian bear and elephant. The animals are rescued from amusement shows where they are exploited. Before they are rescued, the bears are usually kept in inhumane conditions without sufficient nutrition and not in their natural habitat. At this wildlife center, we'll see the community's efforts to cure and rehabilitate the animals in their natural habitat.

Evening available at leisure in Agra.

Optional: You can choose a hands-on experience with traditional weavers or visit the marble artifact makers.
--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Agra

Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal with storytelling on the lesser-known facts about the monument. Return for breakfast.

Note: Taj Mahal is closed on Friday.

After breakfast, visit the Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri monuments on a guided tour.

Optional: If you are an outdoor person, you can choose to do a countryside cycling experience and visit several villages and family homes.
--
Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Wildlife Safari

Drive to Sawai Madhopur, the home of the tiger. Your stay will be in a luxury wildlife lodge on a farm at the Ranthambore National Park.

Afternoon safari at the Ranthambore National Park.
--
Accommodation: Resort/Farm

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Wildlife Safari and Onward to Bundi

Morning safari at the Ranthambore National Park.

Drive onward to Bundi, a small yet charming town off the busy tourist destinations.

Optional: Do a hands-on miniature painting workshop with a family.

--

Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Walk the countryside

Morning visit to the Bundi Palace.

Afternoon experience in the Bundi countryside where we will visit several beautiful yet hidden medieval temples and tribal villages. This is also an opportunity to see wildlife such as the antelope in its natural habitat. Return to Bundi by evening.

--

Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Packed lunch

Days 8: Ghanerao

Drive to Ghanerao, a small town to spend the next two days with the pastoralists. First evening will be available at leisure.
--
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Cultural Tours & Leopard safari

Visit the pastoralists, a community that protects and conserves the camel. It gives you a perspective of the life of nomadic herders. This part of the tour follows the natural flow of the day as it is for the herders. We visit a camp and possibly travel with the community and even taste tea made with camel milk. Know about the conservation projects that include that use camel milk, poo, and wood to create livelihoods.

Afternoon safari in a private vehicle into the countryside known for leopards.
--
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Days 10-11: Jodhpur

Transfer to Jodhpur. Evening available at leisure to visit the Mehrangarh Fort.

On the second day, we do a morning walking tour of the Blue City with a visit to a family home for tea, and understand about several stepwells and temples in the area.

In the afternoon we'll go for a wildlife/village safari and visit the carpet weavers. Some of the animals that you may see on this safari are the antelope and black buck. End the day with an Indian traditional lunch with a family before returning to Jodhpur.
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Accommodation: Homestay

Meals: Breakfast, Indian traditional lunch on Day 11

Day 12: Jodhpur (departure day)

Drop to the Jodhpur railway station or airport for onward journey.

Note: We provide rail and flight tickets on request. If you require us to set them up, please let us know.

Customization

This tour is customizable according to your budget, the number of days, and your choice of experiences.

If you have a few more days to spare, we highly recommend that you add Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur to this tour. This can give you the opportunity to embrace a “slow travel” mindset and provide the time for an additional safari or to visit more wonderful cultural sites.

Route Map

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • All accommodations on twin-sharing basis at eco-friendly homestays, heritage homes, and farm stays

  • Breakfasts and special meals mentioned in the itinerary

  • Airport and railway station transfers

  • Private transportation in a sedan or SUV

  • Fees for all storytellers & activities

  • Entry fee for all wildlife experiences and safaris

  • Applicable government taxes

  • Stainless steel water bottles

  • Cost of opting for a higher grade of hotels

  • Meals that are not mentioned

  • Domestic/international flights

  • Entry fees to any monuments wherever applicable. The government-set rates are INR 500 (per person per monument) and INR 1300 (per person for Taj Mahal).

  • Travel Insurance

  • Visa

  • Tips and gratuities

  • Any changes in the itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control or an act of God

Pricing

Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.

Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

Price range is given for 2 to 10 travelers. Contact us with your group size for a quote.

Please contact us for solo traveler pricing.

Prices may vary during peak seasons such as during Diwali, Christmas, and New Year's.

  • Deposit per person

  • Group of 2 Travelers - price per person

    $1,850

  • Group of 10 Travelers - price per person

    $1,450

  • Single Supplement

    $680

Sustainability

We cap the number of travelers we host per year per destination to 500 to combat the risk of over-tourism. We stay free of touts (persistent salespeople) and do not do shopping for commission. Our trips support 8 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (#1, 5, 8, 10, 12-15). We promote tourism dispersal by spending only limited time at bigger cities and main monuments, with the majority of the tour in less-busy areas.

  • Environmental Initiatives
    Our many environmental actions include strict care of nature, using energy-saving electrical appliances in our homestays, and efforts to manage waste responsibly. We minimize plastic on this tour and provide safe and healthy alternatives to plastic plates, packaged items, and bottles. We leave behind zero waste. We locally source raw materials for meals.
    All accommodations are personally reviewed by our team. Our homestays and accommodations focus on local & organic food (vegetarian options available!), recycling waste properly, and striving to use energy-saving lights and appliances as well as solar thermal panels.
  • Sociocultural Initiatives
    We pride ourselves on propagating and reviving local folk tales through storytelling. We support local artisans by involving them in tourism. This tour focuses on ethical animal and wildlife tourism. We do not indulge in animal slavery, cruelty, or luring through bait during the wildlife experiences. We visit rescue centers and speak with those caring for the animals.

Health & Safety

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

FAQs

What does the physical rating of "Easy" mean?

This is not a physically demanding tour and those of average physical fitness will be able to enjoy it. There are some walking tours and visits to monuments for which you'll need to be on your feet, but there are no hikes or arduous activities involved in this tour.

What are the accommodations like?

This tour provides lodging at homestays, heritage homes, and farm stays. We audit and work with a specific set of accommodations that are inclined toward sustainability. However, if you have any special requests for accommodation(like upgraded hotels), we can arrange that (the cost may vary). Just let us know when you send the inquiry.

What is the best season to do the wildlife tour of North India?

We suggest that you take this tour anytime between September and mid-April. While the afternoon may be hot, the rest of the day is pleasant, and the nights have a nip in the air.

Is this a fully escorted wildlife tour?

This tour is a mix of guided and un-guided experiences. The walking tours and village experiences are with our storytellers whereas monument visits are self-tours. All monuments usually give an audio guide with the ticket which is a great way to know about the place. Your private car will be available 24/7. On special request, we can do this as a fully escorted tour (at additional cost).

What kind of a car do you provide?

We provide either a sedan or an SUV depending on the number of people. All the cars are air-conditioned as the weather and local terrain demand it. Our drivers are professional and well-trained.

I am a solo traveler. Can I use public transport?

Yes, we can setup tickets for all public transport available. However, you may have to follow the departure times defined by the service provider, in which case all the activities mentioned above may not be possible in the given time.

Is this wildlife tour safe for solo travelers and female travelers?

Yes, all accommodations, drivers, and storytellers we have are well-trained. This tour of Rajasthan is safe for solo travelers and female travelers.

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