Tiger safaris
Tiger safaris are overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in India, and this pursuit of the beautiful also involves a lot of bureaucracy these days. Because there are so few tigers left in the wild, safaris book up well in advance, which is why traveling with a specialist operator, who knows the when’s and where’s of it all is more than worth it. They will also ensure that you have a wildlife expert traveling with you so that you can make the most of these extraordinary habitats and help you have the best experience possible. And help you find your tiger feet.
There are now 47 tiger reserves in India, but 98 percent of visitors go to fewer than ten of them, the most well-known ones.
– Julian Matthews, founder and chair of tourism action charity Travel Operators for Tigers and Tiger Nation
Our India wildlife Vacations
Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
Tiger tour in India, land of the Tiger tour
Wildlife tour through India
From
US $3079 to US $3349
15 days
ex flights
Rajasthan cycling vacation with Taj and tigers
Enjoy cycling tour in Royal Rajasthan with Taj and Tiger.
From
US $2060
16 days
ex flights
Wildlife vacation in Central India
Best of Indian wildlife with tiger, leopard and sloth bear.
From
£2120
12 days
ex flights
Tiger watching vacation in India
A chance to see the majestic tiger in the wild
From
£825 to £1050
9 days
ex flights
Tadoba National park tiger safari, India
Tadoba the best tiger reserve of India
From
£1000 to £1500
8 days
ex flights
History, culture & wildlife of India vacation
From the Nilgiri Hills to the beaches of Goa
From
£1336
15 days
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Rajasthan 15 day tour
A well crafted northern Indian and Rajasthani experience
From
£1749
15 days
ex flights
India vacation, small group
Vibrant, intoxicating, inspiring and dramatic India
From
US $1340 to US $1575
15 days
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Kerala birdwatching vacations, Western Ghats
An endemic birding tour through the Western Ghats of India
From
US $1580
8 days
ex flights
Central India vacation, culture and wildlife
The very best of central India's wildlife and history
From
Rupee 145000 to Rupee 195000
16 days
ex flights
Snow leopard tracking in Ladakh, India
A quest to spot the rare snow leopard in Ladakh
From
£4895
14 days
ex flights
Snow Leopard tracking in the Himalayas
Join expert guides and track snow leopards in the Himalayas
From
£2395 to £2675
17 days
ex flights
Rural India vacation, culture & wildlife
Authentic exploration of Central Indian village life
From
£2500 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
India bird watching vacation & Taj Mahal
Bird watching at two of India’s premier wetland reserves.
From
Rupee 165000
9 days
ex flights
Tigers and rhinos tours in India
Go on safari & see Bengal tigers and Rhinoceros
From
£1200 to £1400
10 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle & tigers in India
Rajathan's palaces, the Taj Mahal & tigers
From
£800 to £950
9 days
ex flights
India wildlife safari tour of Kaziranga
Kaziranga- home of the one horned rhino
From
£1750
10 days
ex flights
India wildlife and culture tour, Rajasthan
Your stay in Jungle core, erstwhile hunting lodge of king.
From
£1270 to £2150
18 days
ex flights
Golden Triangle with Ranthambore tour, India
Brilliant experiences including Tigers and Temples
From
£1199 to £1299
11 days
ex flights
India cycling vacation and tiger safari
Off road cycle adventure through wild India to help tigers
From
£1695
8 days
ex flights
Satpura tiger reserve safari in India
Wlderness experience at Satpura Tiger Reserve.
From
US $1300 to US $2400
6 days
ex flights
Satpura Reserve Tiger safari in india
Adventure vacation in the jungles of Satpura Tiger Reserve
From
Rupee 185000
7 days
ex flights
Gujarat wildlife vacation, India
Explore Gujarat for rare wildlife including striped hyenas
From
£3145
15 days
ex flights
Central and Western India vacation, rural life
Truly rural India: Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, hidden Goa
From
£3000 to £3500
20 days
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North India wildlife vacation
Big Cats, Myriad Birds and the Magical Taj Mahal
From
Rupee 269189
14 days
ex flights
Alternative Delhi to Kathmandu vacation
Stunning scenery & spectacular diversity from India - Nepal
From
£3995
19 days
ex flights
Ganges tour, Delhi to Calcutta, India
Explore spiritual India sailing on the Ganges
From
£2635 to £2795
12 days
ex flights
Rajasthan small group tour, India
See the Taj Mahal, temples and tigers on this Rajasthan trip
From
£2635 to £2765
15 days
ex flights
Tiger country
There are plenty of tiger habitats in India, with the number of national reserves about to reach 50. To really have a good chance of seeing them, however, you need to spend several days in tiger habitats such as Ranthambore or Bandhavgarh National Parks, or you can also spend time at the only private tiger reserve in the country – Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan. Ideally you will be staying in a local lodge or homestay, so that you can head off early and avoid the day trippers. Alternatively, you can camp on the edge of Corbett National Park or in Kanha Tiger Reserve.Transport on safari
Tiger safaris generally take place in an open jeep that carries four to six people; a minibus known as a canter that may have up to 20 people; or sometimes on the back of an elephant. Known as ‘tiger shows’, elephant riding is controversial, and we talk more about this in the Responsible Tourism page of this guide and in our elephant conservation guide. We do recognise, however these ‘shows’ generate important conservation funds in some national parks, such as Periyar in Kerala. Outside national parks, where animal welfare might be less well monitored, however, we are not fans. At the privately owned Jalore Wildlife Sanctuary, you can go on a walking and night time safaris, too.
Taking your cubs
As if seeing a tiger in the wild isn’t emotional enough, spotting one with your children is something that goes way beyond words. Devastatingly, they may be the last generation to see tigers in the wild, so it is vital to educate these budding young conservationists, so do go on a safari that has a naturalist guide. Most tiger reserves don’t allow children under five, so wait until they are old enough to appreciate this extraordinary experience and don’t go when it is too hot. Staying locally in a homestay will be the icing on the cake for adventurous families. Or check out the camping facilities in Kanha Tiger Reserve, which is run by a family with children, so they fully embrace the cub ethos.For more details on tiger watching vacations, the issues and opportunities, see our tiger safaris travel guide.
Our top India wildlife Vacation
Kerala tailor made vacation, 11 days
Revitalize in Kerala - A most wonderful and balanced trip
From
£1349 to £1779
11 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about India wildlife or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Tiger safari tips
Paul Goldstein , top tiger safari guide and expert at one of our leading suppliers, Exodus:
“The best parks for seeing tigers are Ranthambore, Karna, Bandhavgarh and Tadoba. For tiger safaris, it is important to give yourself more time in one or two places than just a tour that ticks off four or five reserves, because there are big distances between them. Also, be prepared for appalling bureaucracy in the parks. You just have to be patient. Most importantly, it’s about moments. It might just be one moment as a tiger walks through a beam of light and then looks straight through you. It’s not just about chalking off six of them.”
“The best parks for seeing tigers are Ranthambore, Karna, Bandhavgarh and Tadoba. For tiger safaris, it is important to give yourself more time in one or two places than just a tour that ticks off four or five reserves, because there are big distances between them. Also, be prepared for appalling bureaucracy in the parks. You just have to be patient. Most importantly, it’s about moments. It might just be one moment as a tiger walks through a beam of light and then looks straight through you. It’s not just about chalking off six of them.”
Shanane Davis, Director of our supplier, True Luxury Tours, specialising in Rajasthan:
“We have the only privately owned wildlife sanctuary in India as all the other sanctuaries were nationalised. We also offer, unusually, walking safaris as well as night safaris, so it is similar to safaris in Africa. You can see the animals up close on foot during the morning, and then at night by jeep. We have the highest number of Asian wild cats in the country, as we have brought back the numbers ourselves, so we are proud of that.”
“We have the only privately owned wildlife sanctuary in India as all the other sanctuaries were nationalised. We also offer, unusually, walking safaris as well as night safaris, so it is similar to safaris in Africa. You can see the animals up close on foot during the morning, and then at night by jeep. We have the highest number of Asian wild cats in the country, as we have brought back the numbers ourselves, so we are proud of that.”
Belinda Wright, OBE, Executive Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI):
“India is about the only place in the world where you are likely to see tigers in the wild, and only in a few tiger reserves where these secretive big cats are now fairly used to tourists in vehicles. Some of the tigers have become surprisingly bold and these reserves are now popular destinations for huge numbers of tourists both from within India and abroad. Despite this, you must always remember that these are wild predators and that it is an extraordinary privilege to see these glorious and extremely rare big cats in the wild. Allow at least three or four days to increase your chances.”
“India is about the only place in the world where you are likely to see tigers in the wild, and only in a few tiger reserves where these secretive big cats are now fairly used to tourists in vehicles. Some of the tigers have become surprisingly bold and these reserves are now popular destinations for huge numbers of tourists both from within India and abroad. Despite this, you must always remember that these are wild predators and that it is an extraordinary privilege to see these glorious and extremely rare big cats in the wild. Allow at least three or four days to increase your chances.”
More about India wildlife
There really is no best time to go on an India wildlife vacation.
We hope that this India wildlife vacations guide has a few surprises in it for you.
When working out where to go on an India wildlife vacation, you may want to start with looking at where the Bengal tiger can be seen, and then see all the other glorious animals that live here too.
India’s Kaziranga National Park has played a huge role in bringing the endangered greater one-horned rhino back from the brink of extinction.
India wildlife vacation tips usually remind us to calm down and just take it all in.
There are many issues when it comes to seeking out responsible India wildlife vacations, but there are also many expert vacation companies that offer ethical options.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Aditya "Dicky" Singh] [Intro: Soumyajit Nandy]
[Transport on safari: SeppFriedhuber]
[Paul Goldstein quote: Soumyajit Nandy]
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