India - Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Tour Code: IND06

A 9-day tour in search of the Tigers and other mammals that inhabit India's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve with an optional extension to Agra, Chambal and Bharatpur.

9 days from
£2,995 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£2,495

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Highlights

Summary

This wildlife holiday provides a thorough exploration of one of India’s finest Tiger Reserves, Bandhavgarh National Park in the heart of rural India. By spending time in one park, rather than racing between several, travelling time is minimised and an understanding of the reserve and its wildlife is maximised. The mighty Tiger is the star attraction at Bandhavgarh, and is regularly encountered during morning and evening game drives, but a wealth of other wildlife includes monkeys, Wild Boar, Spotted Deer, Sambar, Chousingha and Nilgai together with a wonderful selection of birds and reptiles. The high concentration of wildlife in a relatively small area, and the reserve’s fine scenery dominated by a spectacular hilltop fort, make Bandhavgarh a special place.

One of the most popular of Indian wildlife tours
100% success with Tiger sightings over 15 years & 100 tours
Five days of wildlife in Bandhavgarh, one of India’s top Tiger Reserves
Mammals include Wild Boar, Golden Jackal, deer, antelope & monkeys
Birdlife galore! Peacocks, raptors, bee-eaters, etc
Experience travel to & from Bandhavgarh on the Indian railway
Expertly escorted by an Indian Naturetrek naturalist

Grading

This is a standard wildlife viewing tour with no strenuous walking.

Bandhavgarh National Park, situated amid the airy Vindhya hills of Madhya Pradesh, has established a reputation as one of the best places in India to observe Tigers. Although a relatively small reserve when first established in 1968, it was enlarged 20 years later to include adjacent tracts of Sal forest and this extension has proved very beneficial for the Tiger population. The 105 square kilometres of park area, open for tourists was reported to have 22 tigers, a density of one Tiger for every 4.77 square kilometres (Population estimation exercise 2001). Like many Tiger Reserves in India, the area was formerly the hunting reserve of a Maharaja and contains much evidence of its royal associations, most spectacular being the ruins of a huge hilltop fort which dominates the centre of the reserve. Bandhavgarh is somewhat isolated in the rural heart of India but the long overnight train journey from Delhi is well worth the effort and visitors are richly rewarded by a fine selection of wildlife and the real chance of never to be forgotten encounters with the greatest of the big cats.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

In flight

Day 2

Train to Katni

Day 3/6

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Day 7

Train to Delhi

Day 8

Delhi

Day 9

London

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation: Included in the cost. We use comfortable lodge in Bandhavgarh, just 2 minutes away from the entrance of the Tala zone and in Delhi NCR we stay in a comfortable hotel.
Food: All included in the cost except for main meals in Delhi, any meals on train and in-transit. On extension meals are not included in Agra and Delhi.

Reviews

Another excellent holiday adventure from Naturetrek. We’ve now been with you on four trips and are already looking at the next destination. This latest trip to India exceeded our expectations and we had the most amazing time. The wonderful views of tigers were the icing on the cake. I would like to add that Bunty was a first class leader. He was exceptionally knowledgeable and provided an excellent service to us.
D.S. Belgium
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday with Naturetrek. Thank you again for a superb holiday. I would use Naturetrek again and recommend them to my friends.
A.E. Sussex
One thing that struck me most about the holiday was that everything was taken care of. There was no occasion during the entire trip where I felt anything could go wrong, or that something had been forgotten. From being met at the airport to being dropped off again at the end of the trip, I didn’t have to worry about anything. And the pre-departure information, and the support from Rajan Jolly in answering my questions and helping me to tailor my travel arrangements, was excellent. I felt very well-prepared. The skills of our tour leaders and of our dedicated drivers meant we had as good a chance as you can possibly get to see wild animals. We saw glimpses of, and heard tigers every day, and the rest of the time was spent enjoying the reserve and seeing a wide variety of species. On the final day our guides and driver worked their magic and managed to get us first in the queue for the elephants, so we had fabulous close-up views of a resting tiger. Later in the day we were perfectly positioned when two tigers crossed a field right in front of us. Our tour leaders had the patience of saints. They were so polite and considerate. I’m sure we wouldn’t have minded being told to be quiet, or to adjust our behaviour, to make it easier for the guides. Sometimes we got carried away chatting and laughing; as a first-timer to group travel I couldn’t have been with a nicer set of people. It was great fun. And care had obviously been taken to ensure that, as a single female traveller, I felt secure in terms of accommodation and company…Overall, I had an absolutely wonderful trip, and would thoroughly recommend Bandhavgarh and Naturetrek. Thank you.
A.T. London

This was my first wildlife holiday and it turned out to be excellent. Bunty was excellent. His knowledge and friendly disposition helped make this trip. Out of 9 game drives we saw tigers on 7, and on 4 of those we saw more than one, and I had two elephant rides tracking the tigers. It was fantastic. I enjoy wildlife photography and the pictures I managed to take I’m pleased with – from the tigers through to black kites in Delhi. I would recommend you to my friends!
C.B. Northamptonshire

We were very impressed with both our guides. Bunty was always calm under pressure and Harish very knowledgeable about all aspects of wildlife as well as Indian culture and society. We enjoyed every minute.
L.S. Middlesex

This was the best holiday experience of my life! For me it was a lifetime's dream come true to see Tigers in the wild, in their natural habitat. I was extremely impressed with the whole experience, from booking, helpfulness of Naturetrek staff, the organisation, the local agent, Hada, our driver, the reserve guides, the Jungle Lodge and staff, the flights and, of course, the wildlife. Everyone made us feel so welcome and at home. I arrived not knowing anyone, but left having made some new lovely friends. Hada's knowledge of the wildlife was inspiring. I really didn't want to leave and I have already decided to go back again next year.
D.J. Leicestershire

We enjoyed Bandhavgarh very much and Satpura was a special delight - I would recommend that extension especially. Seeing Tigers and the Taj Mahal was a life-long ambition achieved, thanks to all at Naturetrek.
R.B. Staffordshire

A really wonderful holiday. At every stage of the various journeys the local agents were there to help with baggage. Our tour guides/leaders were very knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. Both lodges were very good. And we saw Tigers!
L.J. Kent

Remi Pani Jungle Lodge was excellent - the surroundings were beautiful and we could have happily stayed several more days here. It was so tranquil, with excellent food and great local and wildlife knowledge. Our guide was excellent with great knowledge all-round. He made our trip run very smoothly and we really enjoyed his company.
Mr & Mrs C. Devon

A fascinating and memorable experience that exceeded all our expectations. The tour leader was Harish Sharma, what a gem you have there! He was professional, polite and pleasant throughout our whole time with him. What a great knowledge he has, mammals, reptiles, bird life, Indian history, mythology, he could speak freely on all these and we were captivated by him. A great asset and credit to the Naturetrek company. On occasions he was assertive when he needed to be, with local guides, drivers and porters, always having our best interests in mind, and influencing them to ensure we as the guests got the best out of it. Our main objective for the trip was to view the magnificent tiger in its natural surroundings, and that was achieved - in fact we had 7 sightings on 3 different drives - indeed on one occasion we were the only vehicle to view, and were only about thirty metres from the tiger on a path before it "strolled" into the forest. We were also lucky enough to see the leopard and sloth bear as well as the "usual" Samber, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, bison, monkeys and all the different bird life. The trip to Agra was also very memorable, the guide Tarun was very knowledgeable and informative for the whole time he was with us, we learnt a great deal about the Taj Mahal, Baby Taj and Agra Fort - another great day.
C.M. Lincolnshire

Harish is a charming young man and was very attentive to all members of our group. He had good knowledge of the wildlife and birds and imparted it in an interesting way.
A.A. Herefordshire

Both the lodges in Bandhavgarh and in Satpura were excellent; food service, staff, comfort. The lodge we stayed in was lovely, well run, helpful staff, hot water bottles provided for early morning game drives, and a delightful naturalist, Virun.
P.P. Hampshire

The travel arrangements ran very smoothly even when the trains were late or the road closed, Dilip had a second plan that ensured the itinerary was not interrupted. The accommodation was good. I liked the difference in the two accommodations in that one was more traditional with very good ‘more Indian’ food and second more luxurious, with more activities on offer and the food Indian with a touch of more international style food I would say. Both were very food. Dilip was an excellent tour leader. It really helped that he handled all the tips etc. for us so we didn’t have to worry as to who to pay and how much all the time. He made life easy for us and he is very knowledgeable on birds, and tried to educate the rest of our group who were all keen to see the Tiger/Sloth Bear etc. more than the birds.
J.M. Gloucestershire

One of the best trips we have had. All arrangements for travel on various forms of transport worked like clockwork. Being lucky enough to see Tigers was one of the many highlights on the trip, but meeting such enthusiastic and passionate naturalists and excellent helpful staff was very enjoyable too. It was particularly helpful for the tour leader (Dilip) to arrange a ‘kitty’ for tipping for the various people as we progressed through the tour. We enjoyed the contrast between Bandhavgarh and Satpura. Food in both reserves was outstanding. The elephant safari on the last reserve day was absolutely amazing.
Mr & Mrs O. Leicestershire

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Extensions

Agra, Chambal & Bharatpur extension

After spending morning at the Taj Mahal, we will travel to Chambal, where we will spend a couple of nights at the Chambal Safari Lodge. The National Chambal Sanctuary, on the Chambal river, is a refuge for the rare and endangered Gharial and the Ganges River Dolphin. We spend a night in Bharatpur before travelling back to Delhi.

3 days from £1,295

View Details

Dates & Prices

2026

Departures Availability Cost

Sat 7th Feb – Sun 15th Feb SPACES £2,995

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£2,495

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£595

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            [description] => Tiger Safaris – Unparalleled 100% Record of Success
Naturetrek has nearly 30 years of experience leading Tiger watching holidays to the Indian subcontinent. With a 100% record of success on our top tours, we’ve shown Tigers to more people than any other wildlife specialists.
Arguably the most iconic and charismatic species on the planet, this enigmatic big cat is a vision of natural perfection. The opportunity to observe the animal in its natural habitat on a dedicated Tiger watching tour is at the top of many people's wildlife wish lists. With almost three decades of expertise leading in India, and the widest range of itineraries available, we have a Tiger tour to suit all interests.
We visit some of the most wildlife-rich reserves in this astonishingly diverse country. Accompanied by the best local naturalist guides and enjoying the security and intimate experiences that come with small group travel, participants enjoy the ultimate thrill of encountering these magnificent wild animals in their own environment.
Superb Tiger Watching with Naturetrek
As the leading operator of natural history tours in India, Naturetrek has a long and proud tradition of enabling clients to experience the very best wildlife viewing opportunities in the subcontinent. Over the past three decades, many hundreds of nature lovers have enjoyed the benefits of our renowned small group itineraries to gain multiple sightings of this beautiful animal in the wild.
Our professionally organised tours take in some of the most famous and wildlife-rich reserves in India, including Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Panna National Parks. Our expert naturalist guides provide the best opportunities for sightings of a wide range of species in these spectacular natural environments.
Two other fantastic national parks – Tadoba and Satpura – can be visited on optional extensions to several of our top Tiger tours. Tadoba is an excellent Tiger watching destination, while Satpura is renowned for intimate encounters with Sloth Bear, Leopard and Dhole (Indian Wild Dog); the park also offers walking safaris and night game drives.
Some of the reasons our tours are so successful:

100% sightings on our four top safaris in the last five years
Small groups escorted by India’s best naturalist guides
Up-to-date information from wildlife reserves
Scrupulous attention to detail in choosing a high standard of accommodation
Excellent local guides monitor the animals’ movement daily to ensure the best sightings

What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek Tiger holiday?

A comfortable lodge within a convenient distance from the reserve
Twice-daily excursions by vehicle (or by foot in Satpura) into the reserves
A focus on sightings of this wonderful big cat, while also enjoying culture and other wildlife
The enjoyment of like-minded travelling companions in a small group

Further information on when, where, and how to see Tigers can be found here.

Our specialist recommends...



"I’d recommend our Tiger Marathon tour, which takes you straight into the heart of the jungle on a 13-day safari that combines Pench, Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Panna National Parks, four of India's finest reserves. Since we began the tour we've had 100% sightings! Alternatively, our Tiger Direct itinerary encompasses less travel and also has 100% success rate.” 

Rajan Jolly - Operations Manager

  
All Tiger Tours
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Naturetrek offers a wide selection of long-haul wildlife holidays primarily focusing on mammals. These tours offer an intensive mammal-centred focus, outstanding value for money and top quality sightings. They are led by at least one expert local English-speaking naturalist, and visit countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and more.
Naturetrek Bargain mammal Holidays
These tours are best suited to keen, active mammal-watching enthusiasts – whether expert or beginner – and people looking for an action-packed mammal-focused tour.
Our bargain mammal-watching tours offer:

An expert English-speaking local naturalist leader
Outstanding value for money
Dawn-to-dusk mammal-watching with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
Enviable mammal lists!
Focused searches for endemic species, while also looking for non-endemics

Naturetrek’s selection of bargain mammal-watching holidays includes tours to the Americas in Brazil, Peru and Panama. In Africa our selection includes Botswana, Zambia, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in Asia we offer bargain mammal tours to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Borneo.

Our specialist recommends...




“I’d recommend Ecuador – Amazonian Mammals for a good introduction to South America’s rainforest mammals. In Africa, it’s hard to beat our Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park holiday for its combination of Leopards, other ‘big game’ and first-class accommodation! In Asia, try India – Bandhavgarh National Park for Tigers and other Indian mammals.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

 
All Bargain mammal Tours

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Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:

India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears 
A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert

Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.

Our specialist recommends...




"Africa is perhaps the greatest continent for mammal-watching. I would recommend 'Botswana’s Desert & Delta (Mammals)' for combining stunning scenery and wildlife. We also offer a tour to Uganda which includes a chance to see Mountain Gorillas. And India, along with Tigers, has a superb variety of mammals. Closer to home, short breaks to Spain in search of Wolves and Iberian Lynx are hard to beat.”

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

  
All Mammal Watching Tours
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Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.  

Our specialist recommends...


"Naturetrek has been instrumental in designing, researching and pioneering many of the big cat safari tours on the market. Our dedicated Tiger-watching trips have an unparalleled 100% success record with sightings, while if you want an experience dedicated to looking for Jaguars (also with a 100% success rate), you can’t do any better than our 'Brazil – Just Jaguars!' holiday. Additionally, our 'South Africa – Just Cats!' holiday offers a chance to see a wide variety of species in stunning scenery and for a real adventure, well off the beaten track, our 'Borneo's Mammals - Deramakot Forest Reserve' holiday is hard to beat for sheer excitement as we go in search of Sunda Clouded Leopard with extensive night time spotlighting outings encountering a wonderful number of mammals as we search for this elusive cat. Finally, if you wish to combine two holidays in one, our 'South America's Big Cats' holiday, first goes in search of Pumas in Chile followed by Jaguars in Brazil with a wonderful chance now for Ocelot in the Pantanal. "

Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
 

ALL BIG CAT TOURS
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Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Tour Reports

Tour report - April 2011

Tour report - March 2011

Tour report - December 2010

Tour report - March 2010

Tour report - February 2010

Tour report - November 2009

Tour report - March 2009

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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