India Tiger Photo Expedition

Limited To 6 Travelers

An important feature of our India photography safari is the very small group size. With only six travelers, and just two per vehicle on wildlife drives, you can expect far superior nature encounters and better tiger photo opportunities, away from crowds, in a quiet, intimate, low-impact context.

• Trip price includes: Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s), local guides and lodge staff, all meals from breakfast on Day 2 through lunch on final day, some gratuities, still camera fees, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees, optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, required medical evacuation insurance, optional travel protection insurance. Note: India requires additional fees for video camera usage in parks, which is not included in your trip fee.

Easy to Moderate
In order to participate in this trip, you must be able to walk unassisted (without the use of walking aids) at a steady pace for two miles over uneven terrain, climb a short ladder to get into and out of our safari vehicles, climb multiple stairs at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, and tolerate daily excursions in extremely hot conditions. Although we generally avoid the hottest part of the day during our outings, note that temperatures can be very high and may exceed 110°F. Activities include city walking tours that could be as long as three miles in total, walking with luggage through a crowded airport and train stations, and walking on sometimes dark and uneven paths at our accommodations. Wildlife drives in the park take place on very rough and bumpy dirt roads with many ruts and potholes, in extremely dusty conditions. Travelers with back problems or other health issues that could be exacerbated by such conditions should take this into consideration. The trip also involves very early morning starts (before dawn) and long days filled with activities, which can be very tiring, especially in the heat.

Wildlife Encounters
Most of our guests travel to India to encounter the country’s wildlife. While nature experiences in India are indeed outstanding, there is a fundamental difference between a safari in the Indian jungle and a typical African safari. At times, guests lured to India by tourist brochures promising “tiger safaris” can be disappointed to see fewer animals than they expected, or at least fewer than they might normally expect to see in Africa. It is not that India's surviving jungle habitat is thinly populated with wildlife, but, similarly to places like Costa Rica where the forest vegetation is very dense, animals have mastered the art of camouflage and can be difficult to spot, even during the summer season when foliage is thinner.

That said, we have carefully designed our India itinerary to capitalize on the best conditions to spot and photograph tigers. We don’t think you'll find a better opportunity to maximize your chance to photograph tigers than this trip affords. But various factors can affect potential sightings, including inclement weather, which creates small pockets of water that allow the animals to remain hidden in the forest, rather than being forced into the open to frequent waterholes. The secret to a successful Indian nature adventure lies with the expertise of our Expedition Leaders and park rangers, as well as your knowing what to expect as a traveler, and in understanding that the privilege of stepping into a wild and untouched natural realm is a reward in itself.

Safari Vehicle Routes
Rather different than in nearly every other country we travel to, in India the driving routes in national parks are pre-assigned and must be followed. In most parks this is generally not a problem, but when searching for tigers, this can be frustrating as they simply may not be visible on a given route on a given day. There are five different driving routes inside Ranthambore National Park, and our hope is that we are able to utilize different routes on different days. For three of our safari days, the park service will allocate routes at random for each vehicle. We understand that the main purpose of your journey is to photograph tigers, but please understand that there is a chance on these days that the vehicle to which you are assigned could take the same route multiple times. However, on two days, we have secured special half-day safari permits that will allow us more time in the park along with flexible access between zones, allowing us to move freely during our drives.

Also, on rare occasions, you may see film crews during your time inside the park. These crews have special permits in order to film inside park boundaries and, as a result, they do enjoy certain advantages that a regular tourist does not, such as spending the entire day inside the park and having access to places where others cannot go. Please know that while there are indeed limiting factors to the tiger-viewing experience in India, we have taken great pains to ensure that this special India tiger safari provides the very best viewing and photography opportunities possible.

Mandatory Insurance

Arrive in Delhi at any time on Day 1 of the itinerary. You are free to depart Delhi anytime after 8 pm on the final day.

We can best serve you if our Natural Habitat Adventures Travel Desk makes your reservations, as we are intimately familiar with the special requirements of this program and can arrange the most efficient travel. Please call us at 800-543-8917. Note that while we offer you the best possible rates available to us on airfare and additional nights' accommodations, you may find special web rates or better fares online.