Encounter India’s Icons Tour (12 days) BT128

Introduction

What will be your most memorable experience of this trip?  Will it be the Taj Mahal, lit in mellow evening light, or the excitement of coming face to face with India’s supreme predator, the majestic Bengal Tiger?  The internationally-acclaimed wetland of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary will not fail to impress.  Here you can see four species of owl, four species of stork, three types of Bittern, three species of crane and two leaf-trotting Jacanas (Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed).  A boat safari along the Chambal river offers Marsh Crocodiles and weird, fish-eating Gharials; quirky Indian Skimmers add a touch of bizarreness to the tranquil scene and it is a good place to see Black-bellied Tern, listed as endangered by BirdLife International. Or perhaps it will be the cultural depths of India’s great city, Delhi, brought alive with visits to Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and Jama Masjid.  Memories to last a lifetime.

Note: This itinerary combines the previously separate BT128 and BT128B.  We can add days and locations to lengthen this tour in a way to suit you, so please do get in touch with us.

Itinerary and price

For help with your flight arrangements and to receive a no obligation quote, you can complete the enquiry form on our website or call 0800 280 8947 to speak to a flight advisor at StudentUniverse (in partnership with Gapyear.com), part of the Flight Centre Travel Group, a leading retailer of airfares and worldwide flights.

Meals: Payable directly today Arrive at Delhi International Airport.  You will be welcomed by our representative and taken to check in at local hotel. If time permits you can spend the remainder of the day exploring Delhi  sites with your driver (any entrance fees and guides on direct payment today). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner After breakfast (served from 0700 hours) your driver will take you to Bharatpur (approx. 5 hours). Check in to your hotel, close to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary entrance.  Explore Sanctuary for rest of the day with experienced guide. Night at hotel.

Day 4: Bharatpur

Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner Explore Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary for the whole day with an experienced guide for nightjars, owls, Black Bittern and even Siberian Rubythroat is possible.  Have packed lunch inside the Sanctuary. Pack your bags tonight, as you’ll be leaving early next day.  Relax for the evening at your hotel. Meals: Breakfast and packed lunch Leave for the Chambal River (Dholpur) after an early breakfast, with bird guide accompanying.  The journey will take approx. 1¾ hours.  Enjoy a one-hour boat safari on the Chambal river. Note: Supplement for a longer safari on the river is available on request.  Species here might include Indian Skimmer, Gharial, Marsh Crocodile, many species of bird and a glimpse of the rare Ganges River Dolphin if you are lucky.  Spend a few hours birdwatching along the banks of the Chambal River with your guide.  After lunch drive to Agra and say good-bye to your bird guide.  Check in at hotel and relax for the evening.  Night in Agra. Meals: Breakfast After breakfast spend several hours exploring Agra.  First visit Agra Fort World Heritage Site, then have lunch and consider ordering a packed dinner for the train journey later; we can recommend a restaurant.  A stay in this bustling city is not complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal (closed on Fridays).  A mid-afternoon viewing is recommended when the marble often turns from brilliant white to peach-tinted.  You will then be transferred to the railway station to catch the Mahakoshal Express departing Agra at 1918 hrs.  Night on air-conditioned sleeper train (pillow, sheet and blanket provided). Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Your train should arrive in Jabalpur at 0935 hrs and your driver will meet you and take you for breakfast at a local hotel before continuing the drive to Kanha (3½ hrs). Check in at safari lodge (from 12 noon) and relax or enjoy birdwatching in and around the lodge environs on your own or with the resident lodge naturalist if one is free.  Or you may add an extra safari to increase your chance of seeing Tiger and we can supply a supplement for this. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner Enjoy morning safari (Kanha zone) and afternoon safari (Kisli zone) inside Kanha National Park, home to the ultimate of predators, the Bengal Tiger.  Kanha is also an excellent place for Gaur, Swamp Deer, Wild Dog and Jungle Cat.  Sloth Bear and Leopard are occasionally seen, but require more luck.  Kanha boasts an impressive bird list and species might include Scarlet Minivet, Black-hooded Oriole, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Plum-headed Parakeet and Red Spurfowl.  Nights at your safari lodge. Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and packed dinner Relax for part of the morning or explore (on foot) locally on your own or with the resident lodge naturalist if one is free.  If you would prefer to add an extra safari this may be possible and we can provide you with a supplement.  Later in the morning you will be transferred to Jabalpur station to connect with the 1745 hours Jabalpur New Delhi Super Express train to Delhi.  Night on train in air-conditioned sleeper carriage (pillow, sheet and blanket provided). Meals: Payable directly today Your train will arrive in Delhi at 1140 hours. Your driver will meet you at the station platform (scan the placards for your name).  You will have the car and driver at your disposal for local sightseeing in Delhi in the company of a guide to include visits to Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar and a cycle rickshaw ride to the narrow streets of Old Delhi (with entrance fees included).  Check in at hotel is after 12 noon. Night at hotel. Meals: Breakfast (served from 0700 hours) On this day we have included a departure transfer to the airport to connect with your international flight home (to be booked by you directly). Tour ends Prices for different hotel categories, the names of hotels and a list of inclusions/exclusions are shown below. Tour extensions available. Please ask for details. Price per person for standard hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1195 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1050 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £950 Single room supplement £225 Standard price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Deluxe Room	2
Agra	The Retreat, Superior Room	1
Agra - Jabalpur	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Kanha	Tuli Tiger Resort, AC Cottage	3
Jabalpur - Delhi	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Delhi	Hotel Lohmod, Executive Room	1

Price per person for deluxe hotels option: 2 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1375 3 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1225 4 people travelling together (on a twin share basis) £1120 Single room supplement £385 Deluxe price is based on the following hotels:

Place	Hotel name	No. of nights
Delhi	Justa The Residence, Gurgaon,  Superior Room	1
Bharatpur	Hotel Sunbird, Super Deluxe Room	2
Agra	Crystal Sarovar Premium, Premier Taj View Room	1
Agra - Jabalpur	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Kanha	Tuli Tiger Corridor, Luxury Cottage Tent	3
Jabalpur - Delhi	2nd AC overnight sleeper train	1
Delhi	Justa The Residence, Panchsheel, Superior Room	1

Price includes

• Accommodation in the above mentioned hotels with meals as listed
• All mentioned transfers by air-conditioned vehicle
• Car at disposal on Day 2 and Day 11 in Delhi
• 4 jeep safaris inside Kanha National Park (2 in Kanha Zone and 2 in Kisli Zone) on an exclusive basis with mandatory park guide and lodge naturalist inclusive of entrance fee
• One part afternoon and one part morning walks with the lodge naturalist, subject to availability and at the discretion of the lodge manager
• 1 1/2 days birding at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary with local guide and entrance fee paid once each day
• A 1-hour boat safari on the Chambal river with entrance fee and two hours birding in the vicinity of the Chambal river with guide accompanying from Bharatpur - supplements available for longer boating experiences
• Entrance fee to Agra and Delhi monuments as listed in the itinerary with English speaking local guide
• 2nd class air-conditioned train from Agra to Jabalpur and the return from Jabalpur to Delhi - see supplement for 1st class.
• Extra lunch and packed dinner from Kanha
• All currently applicable taxes

Price excludes

• Any international airfare to/from India including International airport tax
• Meals not specified
• Tourist visa and travel insurance
• Camera fee
• Any additional taxes levied by the Government of India on the tourism sector in future
• Any expenses of personal nature such as hard/soft drinks, laundry, phone/fax calls, tips etc.
• Any item not mentioned in the price includes section.
• Any increase in the entrance fee to National Parks or Sanctuaries in the future. The price is based on the current entrance fee
• Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary/stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather, ill health, roadblocks and/or any factors beyond control

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