Day 1
New Delhi
- Day 1
Arrive New Delhi
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International. Private transfer to your hotel.
Central India Tour
16 nights
A 16-night Central India safari built around four of the most rewarding tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, and Pench. The pace allows multiple safaris in each park, with internal road transfers that keep the wildlife rhythm intact. Ideal for travellers who want serious time on the ground in tiger country.
Tour at a Glance
- Duration
- 16 nights
- Route
- New DelhiBandhavgarhKanhaPannaPench
- Highlights
-
- Four flagship Madhya Pradesh tiger reserves in a single curated loop
- Bandhavgarh's high tiger density and Kanha's vast sal grasslands
- Panna's Ken River gorge and Pench's Mowgli landscape
- Optional Khajuraho temple half-day en route between Panna and Bandhavgarh
Who this tour suits
Is this the right tour for you?
Built for travellers who want a deep, considered tiger circuit rather than a checklist tour. Sixteen nights buys multiple safaris in each park and time to absorb the differences between Bandhavgarh's sandstone ridges, Kanha's vast sal grasslands, Panna's Ken River gorge, and Pench's teak forest. Equally well-suited to keen photographers and to first-time wildlife travellers who want a single, well-paced loop.
Best time to travel
When to do this tour
- October to March: The most comfortable months. Sal forests are still green and birding is at its peak.
- April to June: Peak tiger window. Wildlife concentrates near water, especially Bandhavgarh and Kanha.
- July to September: Core zones closed; some buffer drives possible at Bandhavgarh.
Day by Day
Central India Tour Itinerary
A starting-point itinerary, requoted and adjusted to your dates and pace.
Days 2–5
Bandhavgarh
- Day 2
Delhi to Bandhavgarh
Morning flight to Jabalpur, then drive to Bandhavgarh (about 4 hours). Briefing in the evening.
- Day 3
Bandhavgarh safaris
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in Tala or Magdhi zones.
- Day 4
Bandhavgarh safaris
Continued safaris with rotation across the core zones for varied terrain.
- Day 5
Bandhavgarh safaris
Final morning safari and afternoon naturalist debrief or local village visit.
Days 6–9
Kanha
- Day 6
Bandhavgarh to Kanha
Road transfer to Kanha (about 6 hours). Evening at the lodge.
- Day 7
Kanha safaris
Morning and afternoon safaris into Kisli or Mukki zones, focused on tiger and barasingha.
- Day 8
Kanha safaris
Continued safaris across the core zones; Bamni Dadar viewpoint visit if open.
- Day 9
Kanha safaris
Final morning drive and afternoon flexibility for naturalist sessions or rest.
Days 10–12
Panna
- Day 10
Kanha to Panna
Long road day through central MP (about 9 hours). Arrive Panna in the evening.
- Day 11
Panna safaris
Morning safari and an afternoon Ken River boat ride for gharial and waterbirds.
- Day 12
Panna and Khajuraho
Morning safari and an afternoon visit to the Khajuraho UNESCO temples (30 minutes away).
Days 13–15
Pench
- Day 13
Panna to Pench
Road transfer to Pench (about 7 hours). Evening at the lodge.
- Day 14
Pench safaris
Morning and afternoon safaris through Pench's teak forest landscape.
- Day 15
Pench safaris
Final morning safari and afternoon naturalist session or local village visit.
Days 16–17
New Delhi
- Day 16
Pench to Delhi
Drive to Nagpur, fly to Delhi. Arrive in time for an evening at leisure.
- Day 17
Departure
Private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Inclusions
What's included, and what's not
Indicative inclusions for the Central India Tour. Final inclusions are confirmed in your costed plan.
What's included
- All accommodation in safari lodges and a city hotel, on a twin-sharing basis
- All meals at safari lodges (American Plan); breakfast at city hotels
- All private 4x4 jeep safaris with permits and forest department fees
- Senior naturalist guide on every safari
- Domestic flights Delhi to Jabalpur and Nagpur to Delhi
- All private vehicle transfers between parks
- A dedicated tour manager reachable 24/7 throughout your trip
What's not included
- International flights and India e-Visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses, alcohol, laundry, and tips
- Optional add-ons (full-day Khajuraho extension, photography hides, hot air balloon)
- Anything not explicitly listed under inclusions
How we tailor this
Every itinerary is requoted around you
The plan above is a starting point, not a contract. Once you share your travel window, party size, and pace, we requote the tour around your specifics: lodge tier, room configuration, vehicle preferences, optional extensions (the Taj Mahal, Bharatpur, Khajuraho add-ons), photography upgrades, and any rest days you would like. The number of safaris, the routing, and the lodges are tuned to your group, not a published group itinerary.
Every tour we run is privately guided and personally managed. You will speak with the same person from inquiry to your last evening on the road, and there is a dedicated tour manager reachable 24/7 throughout your trip.
Request Itinerary
Request the Central India Tour
Tell us your dates and party size and we'll send a costed plan within one working day.
FAQs
Common questions about the Central India Tour
Is this Madhya Pradesh tiger circuit the right tour for me?
If you want a single, deep loop through India's flagship tiger reserves with multiple safaris in each park, yes. It is the most popular itinerary we run for serious wildlife travellers. Add Khajuraho if you want temple architecture alongside.
What is the best month for tiger sightings?
April through June statistically offers the highest tiger-sighting probability across Bandhavgarh and Kanha as wildlife concentrates near water. October to March is more comfortable weather-wise and still strong, particularly for photography.
Are domestic flights included?
Yes. Delhi to Jabalpur (start) and Nagpur to Delhi (end) are part of the standard quote. Internal park-to-park travel is by private vehicle.
How long are the road transfers between parks?
Bandhavgarh to Kanha is roughly 6 hours, Kanha to Panna is the longest at about 9 hours, Panna to Pench is around 7 hours. We pace the days so transfer days are not safari days.
Can we visit Khajuraho on this tour?
Yes, Khajuraho is only about 30 minutes from Panna and is included as a half-day visit on day 12. We can extend it into a full day if you would like more time at the Western Group of temples.
How many safaris will we do in each park?
Typically 5 to 6 jeep safaris each at Bandhavgarh and Kanha, and 2 to 3 each at Panna and Pench. Sixteen nights gives us room to upgrade some half-day drives to full-day Tala or Mukki entries.
Are tiger sightings guaranteed?
No. With this many safaris across four reserves and senior naturalists, the trip-level probability is very high, but each individual drive is wild. We rotate zones and choose timings to maximise the odds.
How far in advance should we book?
We recommend 5 to 7 months for the April to June peak (premium lodges fill earliest), and 4 to 6 months for October to March.