Day 1
New Delhi
- Day 1
Arrive New Delhi
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International. Private transfer to your hotel.
Tiger with Temples
12 nights
A 12-night journey that pairs the UNESCO Khajuraho temple complex with three of the central India tiger reserves. Begin with the Chandela temples and Panna's Ken River gorge, then move into Bandhavgarh and Kanha for serious time in tiger country. Built for travellers who want both architectural depth and a strong wildlife focus.
Tour at a Glance
- Duration
- 12 nights
- Route
- New DelhiKhajurahoPannaBandhavgarhKanha
- Highlights
-
- A UNESCO temple complex paired with central India's flagship tiger reserves
- Khajuraho's 10th-century Chandela sculpture in fine detail
- Panna's Ken River gorge and reintroduced tiger population
- High-density tiger sightings in Bandhavgarh and Kanha's sal landscapes
Who this tour suits
Is this the right tour for you?
For travellers who want both heritage architecture and a serious wildlife focus, without compromising on either. Two days at Khajuraho is enough to absorb the Chandela sculpture in real detail, and nine nights across Panna, Bandhavgarh, and Kanha give a full central India tiger arc. A natural fit for second-time India travellers and culturally curious wildlife enthusiasts.
Best time to travel
When to do this tour
- October to March: Cool weather, ideal for unhurried temple sightseeing and comfortable safari days.
- April to June: Peak tiger window. Khajuraho is hot, but morning and evening visits remain pleasant.
- Avoid July to September: Bandhavgarh and Kanha core zones close for the monsoon.
Day by Day
Tiger with Temples Itinerary
A starting-point itinerary, requoted and adjusted to your dates and pace.
Days 2–3
Khajuraho
- Day 2
Delhi to Khajuraho
Morning flight to Khajuraho. Afternoon at leisure or evening sound and light show at the Western Group.
- Day 3
Khajuraho temples
Privately guided morning at the Western Group, afternoon at the Eastern and Southern Groups.
Days 4–5
Panna
- Day 4
Khajuraho to Panna
Short transfer (about 30 minutes) to Panna. Afternoon jeep safari.
- Day 5
Panna safaris
Morning safari and afternoon Ken River boat ride for gharial and waterbirds.
Days 6–8
Bandhavgarh
- Day 6
Panna to Bandhavgarh
Road transfer to Bandhavgarh (about 4 hours). Evening at the lodge.
- Day 7
Bandhavgarh safaris
Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the Tala or Magdhi zones.
- Day 8
Bandhavgarh safaris
Continued safaris with rotation across the core zones for varied terrain.
Days 9–11
Kanha
- Day 9
Bandhavgarh to Kanha
Road transfer to Kanha (about 6 hours). Evening at the lodge.
- Day 10
Kanha safaris
Morning and afternoon safaris in Kisli or Mukki zones, focused on tiger and barasingha.
- Day 11
Kanha safaris
Continued safaris with Bamni Dadar viewpoint visit if open.
Days 12–13
New Delhi
- Day 12
Kanha to Delhi
Drive to Jabalpur, fly to Delhi. Evening at leisure.
- Day 13
Departure
Private transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Inclusions
What's included, and what's not
Indicative inclusions for the Tiger with Temples. Final inclusions are confirmed in your costed plan.
What's included
- All accommodation in safari lodges and a heritage Khajuraho hotel, on a twin-sharing basis
- All meals at safari lodges; breakfast at the Khajuraho hotel
- All private 4x4 jeep safaris at Panna, Bandhavgarh, and Kanha
- Senior naturalist on every safari
- Senior heritage guide for both Khajuraho days
- Khajuraho temple entrance fees and Panna boat fees
- Domestic flights Delhi to Khajuraho and Jabalpur to Delhi
- All private vehicle transfers between parks
- A dedicated tour manager reachable 24/7
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 (Khajuraho sound and light show, photography upgrades, Bandhavgarh full-day Tala)
- 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 (Pench, Bharatpur, the Taj Mahal), 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 Tiger with Temples
Tell us your dates and party size and we'll send a costed plan within one working day.
FAQs
Common questions about the Tiger with Temples
Is two days enough for Khajuraho?
Yes for most travellers. The Western Group takes a full morning, and the Eastern and Southern Groups are a comfortable afternoon. We can extend to a third Khajuraho night if you want unhurried photography or to visit the smaller Jain temples in detail.
When is the best time to travel?
October to March is the most balanced window: comfortable for both Khajuraho and the safari days. April to June is best for tiger sightings but Khajuraho days are hot, so we shift sightseeing to early morning and late afternoon.
How far is Khajuraho from Panna?
About 30 minutes by road. The two are routinely combined, and many of the Panna lodges sit close to the Khajuraho road, which is why this circuit works so cleanly.
Can we add Pench to extend the trip?
Yes. Pench is a natural southern extension after Kanha (about 5 hours by road) and adds another tiger reserve plus a closer Nagpur airport for the return flight. Typical extension is 3 nights.
Are tiger sightings guaranteed?
No. Across Panna, Bandhavgarh, and Kanha you will do 8 to 10 jeep safaris, which gives a strong trip-level probability, but each individual drive is wild and uncertain.
Is the Khajuraho sound and light show worth it?
For most travellers, yes. It runs at the Western Group on most evenings (subject to season) and gives useful historical context. We can include it on the evening of day 2 if you would like.
How many safaris will we do in each park?
Typically 2 to 3 jeep safaris at Panna, 4 to 5 at Bandhavgarh, and 3 to 4 at Kanha. We can rebalance the count between parks based on your priorities.
How far in advance should we book?
We recommend 5 to 6 months ahead. Bandhavgarh's Tala zone permits open 90 days out and the premium lodges fill earlier than that, especially over October to March.