Take an unforgettable 13 day tour of India’s top attractions and get involved with a range of conservation initiatives.
This tour not only explores some of India's biggest attractions, but it also offers you the chance to complete some fantastic volunteer work in India for two days at the Agra Bear Sanctuary as well as at the elephant Rescue Centre in Mathura. As part of the tour, you will also have a local guide for city tours in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and you will have the opportunity to see the Taj Mahal, the Amber Fort and the Palace of Winds, among other beautiful historic architecture.
The highlight of this tour for wildlife lovers is most certainly the chance to see Bengal tigers in the famous Ranthambore tiger reserve.
Arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. You will be met at arrivals by an in-country representative, who will accompany you to the pre-booked ‘Park Hotel’, which is where you will spend your first night in India. Once there, depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day at leisure exploring the many cultural delights of India’s capital city.
Today, you will proceed on a full city tour of the bustling metropolis of Delhi! You will begin in Old Delhi, where you will be able to explore spellbinding sites, including the iconic Red Fort. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to visit New Delhi, where Humayun’s tomb, the inspiration for the Taj Mahal, is located, before being transferred back to your hotel.
Today, you will depart for Agra at 8am. The city is one of India’s biggest attractions and is still considered the epicentre of the ancient Mughal culture, particularly with the iconic Taj Mahal as a centre-point. After exploring Agra and visiting the Taj Mahal, you will return to the hotel for dinner.
Agra is home to the Agra Bear Rescue Centre, where you will spend the day assisting with feeding and enrichment tasks. This bear rescue centre is the world’s largest sloth bear rescue facility. It was founded by Wildlife SOS and is supported by International Animal Rescue. The centre’s aim is to provide the best quality of life for bears rescued from the dancing bear trade.
Today you will spend another full day volunteering at the Bear Rescue Centre. Indulge in a full day of activities at the centre, including assisting the keepers in the preparation of food and making enrichment treats for the bears. This will include setting up morning porridge for the bears (including picking up at the kitchen, pouring it, mixing it, transporting it and serving it). At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel for dinner and a chance to relax.
After an early breakfast, you will be driven to the Elephant Rescue Centre in Mathura, India’s first chain free Elephant Camp. Here, you will be able to walk with the Indian elephants through the lush fields whilst accompanied by trained elephant carers. You will also be able to help prepare food and enrichment for these most iconic of animals!
After breakfast, depart for Fatehpur Sikri and continue on to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, where you’ll explore one of the world’s most important bird feeding and breeding grounds on a leisurely e-rickshaw ride. Around 370 bird species inhabit the park, along with various mammals such as deer & nilgai, and reptiles including the basking python. Later, travel to Udai Vilas Palace Hotel for a set-menu lunch before continuing on to Sawai Madhopur, the gateway to the renowned Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve.
Today, you’ll embark on a dawn adventure through the legendary Ranthambore National Park, tracking sloth bears, leopards, dhole, macaque monkeys, and, of course, the magnificent Bengal tigers, the largest members of the cat family. In the afternoon, you'll visit Dastkar, an NGO supporting India’s craft heritage. Partnering with craftspeople, mainly talented rural women, Dastkar helps artisans turn age-old skills into sustainable livelihoods. Discover colourful markets, rich traditions, and inspiring stories, with handmade crafts in the spotlight!
Today you will visit ‘Dhonk’ Village, a unique local responsible community initiative encompassing the tigers, local communities and crafts of the region all under one umbrella. Formed with the support of ‘Tiger Watch’, this is a fantastic venture. In the afternoon, you will have another opportunity to go in search of tigers on another game drive in Ranthambore National Park, currently home to 43 tigers (22 male, 21 female).
You will have your third and final safari in Ranthambore this morning, and afterwards, you will be driven to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, a three-hour drive away. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore the wondrous city of Jaipur before heading back to the magnificent, five-star Jaipur Trident hotel.
After breakfast, you will spend the morning exploring the magnificent Amber Fort, which is constructed entirely of red sandstone and marble, one of Jaipur’s signature attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will then stop to see the stunning Palace of Winds, a five-story, 953 window addition to the titanic city palace. Lunch will then be served at the fantastic Spice Court - famous in Jaipur! Later, spend time in lanes & bylanes of the Pink City (old city) for its crowded bazaars selling everything under the sun.
Today, you will transfer back to Delhi. You will be able to explore one of Delhi’s signature attractions, Dilli Haat, an open-air bazaar where you can buy articles from all over India. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at Haveli Dharampura. This boutique heritage haveli is a great example of late Mughal-era architecture and offers views of the city, including landmarks such as Jama Masjid. Depending on the day, you may catch a Kathak dance performance with live classical music before sitting down to enjoy Old Delhi favourites and Mughlai dishes at the stunning on-site restaurant.
This will be your final day, and you will transfer back to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your return flight home or continue your independent travel plans.
To secure a place on this tour, a deposit of $245 is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due 60 days before your start date.
Flexible Payment Options: If you select a start date more than 3 months in advance, we offer convenient payment plans, allowing you to pay off your balance in instalments.
Note: If joining as a solo traveller, you will be accommodated with another person on a twin-share same-sex basis. If, however, you are not able to share a room, a single supplement charge of $1,209 will be applied to your booking, and the travel team can confirm this with you when booking. You can also opt to have a private room, subject to the single supplement charge.
Tour Comfort: Deluxe
This tour has been categorised as Deluxe. This is based on transport involved along the route, the prestige locations/accommodations that have been selected– including 4-5*hotels or equivalent - and the inclusion of modern facilities. It is most suited to those who are looking to experience the higher end of wildlife conservation and travel offered by The Great Projects. (As accommodations are subject to availability, you may stay at a different hotel than the ones listed, but they will always be of the same standard or higher.)
All accommodation is on a twin-shared basis. This luxury five-star hotel in Delhi is situated in the heart of the city’s entertainment hub - Connaught Place which allows you to easily explore the local area. The luxury rooms in which you will be staying have access to, a day gym, spa and salon.
Located en route to the famous Amber Fort, this hotel offers stunning views of the Mansagar lake and Jal Mahal. The rooms offer all the modern amenities including high-speed Internet access. An intimate 'jharokha', at the end of each room is perfect to take in the panoramic views of the gardens, with the Aravalli range forming a dramatic backdrop.
Aesthetically designed, the Ranthambhore Kothi boasts a scenic setting among emerald forests and a natural water lake. Your deluxe room features an English interior and a private balcony or terrace to enjoy the beautiful sight of verdant gardens and the attractive swimming pool. The room is equipped with an ensuite bathroom, air-conditioning and free Wi-Fi.
This hotel offers stunning views of the Mansagar lake and Jal Mahal. The rooms are well-lit and airy and offer all the modern amenities such as a spacious wardrobe, an LCD television, a personal bar and high-speed Internet access. An intimate 'jharokha', at the end of each room is perfect to take in the panoramic views of the lake or the landscaped gardens, with the Aravalli range forming a dramatic backdrop.
The tour starts and ends in Delhi, so you will need to arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport on your start date and depart on your end date. Airport transfers can be arranged for any flight arriving/departing between 7am and 5pm. Upon arrival, you will be met by a representative in the arrivals hall who will transfer you to accommodation in the city.
To join this tour you will need to obtain a tourist visa in advance of travel and all visa applications must be made online at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html. You will also need a valid passport with at least 6 months validity from your arrival date into India and at least two blank pages for stamping by the immigration office. Foreigners coming from or through Yellow Fever countries must also have a valid vaccination certificate. Please ensure you check with your local Indian Embassy for any additional requirements if you are unsure.
Meals served throughout the tour are mainly Indian food, which is a fantastic way of exploring the culinary delights of Rajasthan and Delhi. However, should this not appeal, you will be eating in many restaurants, and there is mostly always the option to have something different. If you have any special dietary requirements please inform us before you travel. Vegetarians needn't worry – India has some of the best vegetarian food on the planet! Please note that alcoholic and soft beverages are not included within the price.
As this is a tour open to both adults and children over twelve, there are no activities that require a very high level of fitness and no specific skills or experience are required.
The highlights for me was volunteering at the Agra Bear Rescue Centre and being able to spend time with the beautiful bears. Also at the Elephant Rescue Centre in Mathura going walking with the elephants.
My favourite moment was seeing the sloth bears and elephants happy at the sanctuary. Also seeing tigers in the wild at Ranthambhore however, I now need to do more tiger projects. They are amazing!
Ranthambore N.P. is a wonderfull site and I would like to spend more time there.
