16
33 024
Those on the group flight will arrive in Delhi sometime during the morning and be transferred to the start hotel. Land only need to make their way to the hotel and check in is usually around 12.00. There will be information at reception advising of the when your leader will be providing the Welcome briefing. Jivitesh Hotel or similar
The group will transfer to Delhi Domestic airport for a short flight (around 1 hour 40 minutes) to Nagpur. From here the drive to Pench National Park where your safari adventures begin will take approximately 3 hours. Pench Jungle Camp or similar
Pench National Park, nestling in the lower southern reaches of the Satpuda hills is named after Pench River, meandering through the park from north to south. The undulating terrain of Pench is covered with small hills and well stocked Teak (Tectona Grandis) forest. Pench is one of the tiger reserves included in Project Tiger. Besides tiger, there is a huge array of other wildlife such as leopard, monkey, deer, nillgai and bird life. Together with the scenery, the game drives will make for a fascinating and exciting days. During our time in Pench we include 4 game drives in the itinerary. Pench Jungle Camp or similar
We depart in the morning and drive to Kanha National Park. Although the distance is not far, the journey usually takes approximately 4 hours. On arrival there is time to relax by the pool and share wildlife stories with your fellow travellers. Celebration Van Vilas or similiar
Created in 1974 and often described as India's greatest wildlife reserve, Kanha is vast. Covering approximately 1,945 sq. km of undulating terrain, the elevation ranges from 450m to 900m with expansive grasslands, plateaus and dramatic rocky escarpments providing a home to literally hundreds of species of wildlife. The tiger population has been affected by poaching in recent years but the huge abundance of animals make the game drives a memorable experience. Kanha is an Indian wildlife park of the imagination whose atmosphere and apparently endless landscape can rightly be described as Kiplingesque. The park signifies the start of India's attempt to protect the tiger and was the site of the first ever scientific study by the zoologist George Shaller. Nowadays the park is seen throughout India as a model for excellent wildlife management. During our time in Kanha we include 5 game drives in the itinerary.Celebration Van Vilas or similar
We leave Kanha National Park after breakfast and drive to Bandhavgarh, stopping en route for refreshments. This journey will take approximately 6 - 7 hours. On arrival there is free time to settle in. Nature Heritage Resort or similar
At only 437 sq. km. Bandhavgarh is one of the smaller National Parks and enjoys an impressive setting with a stunning cliff-top fort overlooking grasslands, birch forests and bamboo that provide cover for the plentiful indigenous wildlife. In common with many other parks, Bandhavgarh is home to a wide variety of game including leopard, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, chital, jungle cat, wild pig and of course tiger. The healthy population of approximately 60-70 animals means that this park has the highest tiger density of any of India's reserves. Aside from the game and the tigers, the park also plays host to up to 150 species of birds including many on the migratory trail, such as the Steepe eagle. During our stay in this beautiful rugged national park the itinerary includes 6 games drives. Nature Heritage Resort or similar
This morning we drive to Katni Railway Station; this drive is approximately 3 hours. We will stop for refreshments, conveniences and any photo opportunities along the way. This evening we will catch the overnight train to Agra.Overnight Sleeper Train
Arriving in Agra in the morning we transfer to our hotel. Of course, no stay in Agra would be complete without a visit to the beautiful white marble Taj Mahal, built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631. The Taj is serenely beautiful and never fails to amaze a first time visitor; the white marble exterior changes colour according to the position of the sun during the day and is matched by the rich interior detail. Within striking distance is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. Howard Plaza The Fern or similar
After breakfast we will leave for Delhi. En route we will stop for lunch, and we will arrive at our hotel in the afternoon. You are then free to relax or explore the sites of New and Old Delhi. Your Tour Leader can organise an optional sightseeing trip if you prefer. Jivitesh Hotel or similar
Those on the flight inclusive package will depart for London this morning for the daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel.
14 nights standard hotels, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper trainTravel by
4WD, train and air-conditioned private bus Group normally 4 to 16, plus
leader. Min age 16 yrs
Breakfast and 11 dinners are included.You should allow around £3 (US$5) per
day for lunch and £10 (US$15) for dinner (when not included). You can eat
out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants,
you will spend more than the suggested amount. In Agra and Delhi there is a
good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western style
food. If you are a vegetarian India is probably one of the best destinations
to travel to with a wide range of dishes on offer; whilst at the national
parks there are usually some non spicy curries but these are in limited
supply. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is
approximately £3 (US$5). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that
service in restaurants can be quite slow.
14 nights standard hotels, 1 night air-conditioned sleeper trainTravel by
4WD, train and air-conditioned private bus Group normally 4 to 16, plus
leader. Min age 16 yrs
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely).This tour is not physically demanding, and
therefore graded leisurely, however some of the days can be busy especially
where travelling is combined with sightseeing. Please note there are a lot of
very early morning starts as this is the best time to see tigers. There are
some long days travelling, especially when taking the overnight train and
when driving from park to park; this is generally down to the condition of
the roads. The roads are generally pretty good, but local traffic and/or road
damage after the monsoon can sometimes slow us down. The road between Pench
and Kanha is known to be bad. We travel on comparatively quiet roads for at
least half of the journey.Please note that the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI) are responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India,
including the Taj Mahal, and very occasionally this may mean that work is
taking place at sites visited on this trip. The ASI’s schedule is never
published so it is not possible to forewarn our clients of when work will be
taking place.GAME DRIVE REGULATIONS - BOOK EARLYPlease note, that due to new
regulations in national parks, booking game drives for groups has become
increasingly difficult. In order to secure the game drives, and continue to
operate the best tiger trips, we have had to introduce some new guidelines
and conditions. The management of national parks by the Indian authorities
and the system for booking game drives has changed significantly in the
last 18 months. As a result the number of jeeps that can nowenter national
parks has been reduced, and all game drives need to be booked and paid for
much further in advance. In addition, we must provide a list of client names
and passport details at the time of booking each game drive. Once game
drives are booked, they are non‐refundable and name changes are not
permitted. This means that you cannot change or swap jeeps during the trip.
With this in mind, since it is 4 people to a jeep, please let us know at the
time of booking if you are a group of 5 (or more) travelling together with
separate bookings, to ensure that you are seated appropriately in the
jeeps.Due to on‐going changes in the system, the following guidelines and
conditions now apply to all bookings:1) We cannot guarantee the operation of
any departure until we have the necessary game drives secured. Our aim is to
secure game drives from a variety of gates/zones as per the itinerary, but
please be aware that this is subject to availability. The date at which we
book the game drives will vary depending as to when the booking system
allows us to do so for your departure.2) It will sometimes be possible to
book clients on to a departure of this tour after the game drives have been
booked, but large supplements are likely to be incurred. If we have made
initial game drive bookings for a departure we may need to wait until we
have a further 3 or 4 clients ready to book before we can secure an
additional jeep.3) At the time of booking we will ask you for the standard
Exodus deposit plus £400 towards the game drives as once these are booked,
they are non‐refundable. If for any reason we are unable to secure the
game drives and we have to cancel the trip, you will of course receive a
full refund.4) We want to encourage all clients to book this trip as far
in advance as possible; we are confident that we should be able to secure
the game drives needed on most occasions if clients book 4/5 months in
advance of the departure date.5) It is important that we have your correct
passport details at the time of booking. If you end up travelling on a
different passport it is imperative that you carry your old passport, or
a photocopy of it, with you. If this isn't possible you will need a letter
from the passport agency regarding the change of passport, specifying the
details of the old passport and the details of the new passport issued.We
regret that these measures are necessary, but we are of course keen to
ensure that we secure the game drives as early as possible and to ensure
this we must work within the parameters of the Indian government's current
systems.
Hotels and Sleeper trainDuring your trip you will spend 14 nights in en suite hotels and 1 night on
an air conditioned sleeper train. In Pench, Bandhavgarh and Kanha National
Parks we will stay in forest lodges with fully equipped modern facilities and
attached bathrooms; standards between the 3 lodges can be different. Please
note that at times if our lodge/hotel is overbooked the accommodation will be
arranged in well-made comfortable tents fitted with electric lights and
attached toilet with shower with hot and cold water readily available.
Overnight Train Journeys - The overnight train from Katni to Agra will be
booked in 2-tier sleeper A/C (or 3-tier if 2-tier is not available). There
are many excellent trains in India; however the standard of seating and
sleeping is not in line with European standards. Single accommodation
available on request from GBP 360 (excludes sleeper trains)
Our Indian team has proved very popular with clients with their incredible
knowledge, passion and hospitality adding greatly to the experience. There is
no better way to experience Indian culture than having a local guide show you
around their country.
Breakfast and 11 dinners are included.You should allow around £3 (US$5) per
day for lunch and £10 (US$15) for dinner (when not included). You can eat
out very cheaply in India, but if you go to the more expensive restaurants,
you will spend more than the suggested amount. In Agra and Delhi there is a
good choice of restaurants and a choice between Indian and Western style
food. If you are a vegetarian India is probably one of the best destinations
to travel to with a wide range of dishes on offer; whilst at the national
parks there are usually some non spicy curries but these are in limited
supply. Tea and soft drinks are very cheap. A (large!) bottle of beer is
approximately £3 (US$5). Mineral water is widely available. Please note that
service in restaurants can be quite slow.
We use a combination of private minibus, SUV's and a train for our journey as
well as using jeeps in the national parks. Jeeps are exclusive to Exodus
guests with only 4 allocated to each. All vehicles except jeeps will be
air-conditioned.Train journeys: the overnight train from Katni to Agra will
be booked in second-class (2 tier) A/C sleeper (occasionally we may have to
use 3 tier if this is unavailable). See accommodation section for further
information.Game drives: At Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh, we use jeeps
(please note we only put 4 group members in each jeep allowing you extra
space and comfort). During the game drives each jeep will be accompanied by a
local forest guard; please note that they are not local guides and their
english skills and wildlife knowledge may not be at the same level as your
Exodus leader. The Exodus leader will rotate between jeeps throughout the
trip.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 17 daysThe group flight from London
is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. The
group flight is from London to Delhi and on arrival you will be transfered to
the start hotel where you will stay for the night. Please note flight
schedules can change so it is a good idea to check flight details two weeks
before departure. Travelling land only: 16 days starting and ending in
DelhiYour trip begins at the start hotel in Delhi on the afternoon of Day 1
of the itinerary. You will need to make your way to the start hotel which
is listed on your joining instructions. Check in is usually around 12.00.
Your leader will be meeting up with the whole group sometime later in the day
and there will be information at the hotel reception about this meeting
time.
September to April is the ideal time to visit these areas of northern India.
Days are normally warm to hot and nights cool or mild. Humidity is very low
and little or no rain can be expected. In March/April and September/October
it can get very hot during the day. Evenings in Delhi and at the game parks
can be surprisingly cool, so bring a jumper or lightweight fleece as well as
sun hat, sun cream and sunglasses. It gets very cold in the early mornings
and evenings between December and February and you should be prepared for
this. You should bring additional warm clothing such as good fleece jackets,
gloves and a scarf as it can drop to near freezing.
SunhatSun cream and lip salve with sun protectionSunglassesLight casual
clothingWarm sweater/fleeceCotton scarf or bandanaTorch Trainers/Walking
shoesSandals/Flip-flopsAnti-bacterial hand gelSmall personal first aid
kitAdditional warm base layer (for Winter departures)Scarf and gloves (for
Winter departures)Cable lock, or small chain and padlock, to lock your bag up
on the trainMens and womens clothing should cover shoulders and be on or
below the knee. Women especially should always dress conservatively to avoid
unwanted attention and not to cause offence; vests, tight fitting trousers,
short skirts and shorts are not recommended.It gets very cold in the early
mornings and evenings, particularly between November and February, and you
should be prepared for this. You should bring additional warm clothing such
as good fleece jackets, gloves and a scarf as it can drop to near freezing.It
doesn't matter what type of bag or case you use on this trip although it is
preferable to use a soft holdall (with wheels if necessary) or
rucksack/travelsack as they tend to be easier to manage on the overnight
trains. You should also bring a small day bag for your valuable items.Please
note:As of November 2019 the Indian government has announced a ban on
e-cigarettes and related products. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes
in India or bring them into the country. Please ensure you do not pack these
in your luggage.
Light waterproofEarplugsMoney beltTravel pillow
Money change facilities are available at the hotel in Nagpur and they offer a
better rate than the airport does. So please change most of your money here
as there will be few opportunities to do so as we travel between the National
parks. You can change money back from Rupees into Pounds or Dollars at Delhi
airport; this has to be done before you go through security and please note
that only 1 or 2 small outlets accept Rupees in the departure lounge (the
Duty Free shop does not accept Rupees), you must produce an exchange receipt
showing that you changed money in India. It is recommended that you allow at
least £5 (US$8) per day for personal expenditure such as stamps, postcards
and soft drinks. There is now very little opportunity for optional game
drives but if there is a chance they will cost approximately £65 - £90
(US$86-119) per jeep depending upon the zones/gates you will access in the
park (based on 1- 4 persons per jeep). Recently, the park charges have been
revised and some zones have been declared as premium zones with higher
entrance charges. This has been done to regulate the game drives and the park
managements aim at reducing pressure on the park. All optional game drives
should be booked and paid for locally (Please note the cost of game drives
can change without our knowledge: the prices are correct at the time of
publication).
Tipping is very much part of the culture in India and is usually expected.
Tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar
country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour
leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty which will
be used to tip hotel staff, drivers as well as any other support staff used
throughout your trip. Your leader will suggest how much to contribute,
depending on group size, but it is usually in the region of 3000 INR (approx.
GBP£34 or US$45) per person. At any time during the trip your leader will be
happy to show you an account of how the kitty is being distributed. Please
note that for smaller groups the leader may have to collect more than the
above amount.Tipping of leaders is not included in the kitty and is at your
own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation a tip of around £2-3
(CAD $3-5, USD $3-4, AUD$4-6) per person per day would be appreciated. By
definition, gratuities are not something that can be included in the tour
price.
Travel insuranceVisas and vaccinationsSingle supplement
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.