TIGERS & TAJ MAHAL

TIGERS & TAJ MAHAL

by | Feb 20, 2026 | Animal Communication

HAVE YOU EVER DREAMED OF A LIVE “JUNGLE BOOK” ADVENTURE?

Complete with Shere Khan the tiger, Baloo the bear, and Bagheera the leopard?

Not many people get to see a tiger in the wild so it’s truly a rare blessing.  There is no enclosure, no safety net, no feeding schedule. Just the jungle and you.

On this journey, we travel alongside some of India’s leading tiger conservationists and stay at top-tier eco-lodges across the country. We also have access to something very few travelers ever experience – a full day inside the park with opportunities of private tiger viewing, no other guests, no distractions.

Before we head into the national parks, we spend a couple of days settling into the time zone and soaking in the rich history of India, including the Taj Mahal and Old Delhi.

And then there’s the layer that makes this trip unlike any other. I bring my animal communication practice directly into the parks, offering optional guidance for anyone who wants to learn how to truly tune in to the tigers – not just observe them, but connect with them on a deeper level.

This is far more than a tiger safari. It is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that goes beyond the bucket list – it changes how you see the wild, and yourself.

You need to know

If you want to be on this trip, do not wait to reach out. I have secured a special rate that includes the exclusive full-day permit for one day at Tadoba National Park in addiitonal to the top Naturalists and exquisite eco-lodges.  There are not unlimited spots available.  I keep groups small because that way it stays what it is meant to be, only a handful of spots available. Reach out to me directly at karen  @  soulful.travel

Zoom information meeting June 25th, 530pm Pacific time.

SIgn up here for link.

Highlights

  • Pench National Park – The Jungle Book inspiration and a Project Tiger Reserve. We’ll search for elusive tigers, leopards, sloth bear, Indian gaur and more
  • Tadoba National Park – a Project Tiger Reserve. We’ll search for elusive tigers, leopards, bear, deer, and many bird species
  • The exclusive opportunity of a full-day park visit.
  • Expert local naturalists at all the parks
  • Explore the narrow maze of streets in Old Delhi by cycle-rickshaw
  • Stunning views of the Taj Mahal in Agra
  • Long-distance transportation in comfortable Vehicles
  • Stay in certified small eco-friendly lodges, with all modern comforts
TOUR OVERVIEW:

This journey moves through three distinct worlds.

In Delhi and Agra you are walking inside one of the greatest civilizations in human history. The Mughal emperors built the Taj Mahal out of love and grief, and it earns every superlative you have ever heard. Old Delhi

Then we fly to central India and everything changes. Tadoba and Pench are where Rudyard Kipling set The Jungle Book – there is no better way to describe what it feels like to move through those forests. Dense, alive, full of animals that have learned to live alongside the tiger. Every game drive is different, there seems to be something magical around each corner.

Optional post-tour excursion  with Karen to Varanasi available.
WHO THIS TRIP IS FOR

This trip is for the person who has thought about India and kept talking themselves out of it. Who knows there is a difference between traveling and actually experience somewhere, someone who is not afraid to be open to new possibilities.

The group is small. The lodges are eco-certified and genuinely comfortable without pretense. I am with you the whole way, and I know that the moments that matter most are not the moments we planned for, I will be there through it all.

Destinations

 Delhi –Historic, modern, vibrant, chaotic and intense, Delhi is a heady mixture of experiences. Old Delhi, is chaotic with medieval winding alleys, crammed with cycle rickshaws, colourful shops and noisy street traders; New Delhi, has spacious, sweeping boulevards and magnificent buildings built by the British in 1911. Old Delhi is home to the bustling shopping artery of Chandni Chowk, Shah Jahan’s Red Fort (Lal Qila) and India’s largest mosque, the Jami Masjid, whereas New Delhi is home to some of the capital’s most distinguished addresses. It has an array of museums, gardens, temples and mausoleums.

 Agra – the city of love, is home to the iconic Taj Mahal, a stunning mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.

 

 Tadoba National Park – The park has been referred to as “The Jewel of Vidharba”.  It is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, is a rich dry deciduous forest, a great place to walk and enjoy nature. This splendid park houses more than a thousand species of plants, 28 species of mammals, 181 species of birds, around 20 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, besides large variety of fishes, insects and other life forms.

 Pench National Park – Pench has been included under the umbrella of Project Tiger as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve. Located in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh is comprises of 758 sq. kms out of which a core area of 299-sq-km is the National Park and 464-km the buffer area of Southern Indian tropical moist deciduous forest mixed with tropical dry deciduous teak bearing forests and dry mixed deciduous forest. With the three types of forest a diversity of fauna abound within this natural system. 39 species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians and over 170 varieties of birds have already been listed.

Click Here to Join Us!

Detailed Itinerary

(Planned.  Itinerary may change to meet unexpected situations)

Day 1 – 22 Feb’27, Wed                      Arrival Delhi

VIP meet and greet on your arrival in Delhi. You will be received by meet and greet airport service staff at the aerobridge. They will then assist you through immigration and baggage. You will then be greeted by our company representative, as you walk out of the airport. They will accompany you to the car and transfer you to your hotel.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure at the hotel.

Overnight at The Park New Delhi or similar– Luxury Room

Meals – None

Day 2 – 23 Feb’27, Thurs                    Delhi

After breakfast at the hotel, start the sightseeing by heading to the apparent chaos which is Old Delhi. Take a cycle rickshaw ride through the narrow alleys and vibrant shopping bazaars, savour the aromas of the famous spice market. They are a true local’s form of transport, which still ply the lanes of Old Delhi picking people up and dropping them off, weaving almost impossibly in and out of the people, cows, motor bikes and hand carts. Also visit Jami Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Aftenoon visit: Vijay Chowk vantage point for grand sweep of British Raj Era Buildings; Humayun’s Tomb – first Mughal garden tomb and inspiration for several later monuments such as the incomparable Taj Mahal; Gandhi Smriti – museum dedicated to life of Mahatma Gandhi Bangala Sahib Gurudwara, Delhi’s largest Sikh temple and marvel at the kitchens which feed tens of thousands of people every day.

Overnight at the hotel.

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 – 24 Feb’27, Fri             Delhi / Agra (210 kms, 4 hours)

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Agra – home to The Jewel Box in marble.

Afternoon visit the impressive Agra Fort. Hand in hand with the Taj Mahal is the Agra Fort, undoubtedly one of the most impressive forts built by the Mughals. Where the Taj Mahal is about love and romance, the fort is about dominance and valour, a show of the might of the Mughals. More a walled city than fort, being 2.5 kms in circumference, the sheer scale of the fort is what astounds. Courtyard after courtyard built of sandstone and marble, this fort has been a military fortress, palace and prison.

End your day with an evening visit to Mehtab Bagh, the Mughal Garden opposite the Taj Mahal, from which a wonderful view can be seen.

Overnight Taj View Agra or similar– Deluxe Pool View Room

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 – 25 Feb’27, Sat            Agra / Jaipur (240 kms, 5 hours)

Early morning you will visit the Taj Mahal. Often cited as the most beautiful building in the world as well as being one of the world’s seven wonders, the exquisite Taj Mahal is as immaculate today as when it was first constructed. It is arguably at its most atmospheric during sunrise and we recommend an early start to be first through the doors.

Return to the hotel for a late breakfast.Rest of the morning at leisure.

After lunch, drive to Delhi.

Arrive at Delhi and check into your hotel close to the airport.

Overnight at Roseate House – Deluxe Room

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 – 26 Feb’27                    

Early morning transfer to the airport (with packed breakfast), to board your flight to Nagpur.

 Delhi / Nagpur – IndiGo – 6E 5022 – 7:10 / 09:00 hrs 

Arrive at Nagpur airport and drive to Pench National Park (2.5 – 3 hours) Arrive at check in to your lodge.

After lunch leave for afternoon game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle. On game drives you will be accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist and a local park guide.

 Overnight at Pench Tree Lodge – Cottage

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 – 27 Feb’27,                       

Early morning assemble for tea / coffee and then set off for a game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle. On game drives you will be accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist and a local park guide.

This afternoon will be free

Today evening we will organise a Farm Dinner Meal under the star-studded night sky, set in a village-like set up next to the sprawling organic garden. A setup that transports you to a rustic realm-the cow dung smeared floors, the mud walls with frescoes of wild animals and plant motifs, and corncobs or rice sheaves hanging from the ceiling during the harvest. The mini-village concept highlights the menu which is primarily local, cooked using earthenware black clay pots in a tandoor and an open hearth with fire bricks to create a chulha over it. There are two distinct flavours that come through, one from the earth used in the making of the pots, the other is from the kind of wood used in the firing up of the tandoor. The guests can also request for a live demo of some of the recipes like Angari Alu, Ajwaini Paneer Tikka & Barbeque Chicken Tikka in Farm Dinner Experience.

 Overnight at the lodge.

Day 7 – 28 Feb’27, Sun                       Pench / Tadoba 

This morning go on your final safari in Pench National Park by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle.

After lunch, drive to Tadoba National Park. Arrive at Tadoba and check into your lodge.

Overnight at the Wagoba Eco Lodge – Cottage

Meals – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 8 – 1 Mar’27, Mon                       Tadoba

A full-day “photographer’s permit” will be included today. This special permit allows you to stay inside the park from sunrise to sunset without any zone restrictions, giving you the flexibility to explore different areas throughout the day. Your entry and exit must be through the same gate. Additionally, with this permit, you are allowed to enter the park 15 minutes earlier and exit 15 minutes later than the regular safari vehicles, providing extra valuable time for photography and connecting with the tigers.

Overnight at the lodge.

Day 9 – 2 Mar’27, Tue                        Tadoba

Early morning assemble for tea / coffee and then set off for a game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle. On game drives you will be accompanied by English speaking lodge naturalist and a local park guide.

After lunch leave for afternoon game drive by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle.

Overnight at the lodge.

 

Day 10 – 3 Mar’27, Wed         Tadoba / Nagpur / Delhi / Departure

This morning go on your final safari in Tadoba by open top 4WD exclusive vehicle.

After lunch, drive to Nagpur airport (140 kms, 2.5 hours) and board your flight back to Delhi.

Nagpur / Delhi – IndiGo – 6E 6697 – 18:35 / 20:15 hrs

(Reporting time for domestic flight is at least 1.5 hour prior to flight departure time)

 

Arrive at Delhi airport and transfer to Roseate House hotel near the airport. Day use room will be booked for you and will be available till departure later today.

 

Later you will be transferred to the airport in time to board your flight back home.

 

Optional post-tour excursion with Karen to Varanasi available
You need to know

If you want to be on this trip, do not wait to reach out. I have secured a special rate that includes the exclusive full-day permit for one day at Tadoba National Park in addiitonal to the top Naturalists and exquisite eco-lodges.  There are not unlimited spots available.  I keep groups small because that way it stays what it is meant to be, only a handful of spots available. Reach out to me directly at karen  @  soulful.travel

EXPERIENCE COST

PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $5865

Single Supplement $1300

Payment plans available at checkout

We will automatically match you with a roommate if you don’t bring your own. However if you’re the last to register and there is no other roommate, you will need to pay the single supplement.

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

  • Accommodation in single / double room in above mentioned hotels / jungle lodges
  • All meals from breakfast on Day 1 till lunch on Day 10.
  • Exclusive all day safari at Tadoba
  • Arrival & Departure transfers in private air-conditioned chauffeur driven vehicles
  • Game drives in 4WD exclusive vehicles in the National parks as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Sightseeing tours in Delhi,and Agra as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Services of accompanying English speaking guide for Delhi / Agra  and English speaking naturalist guide for the national park.
  • Monument entrance fee in Delhi & Agra
  • Bottled drinking water in the vehicle during transfers and on road journeys
  • All presently applicable taxes

For more information contact Karen

karen @ soulful.travel

TOUR COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • Domestic airfares
  • Indian Visa
  • International Airfares
  • Travel & Health insurance
  • Other meals where not mentioned in the program
  • Any drinks/beverages at any place.
  • Overweight luggage (Free baggage allowance in the domestic flights is 20 kgs check in and 7 kgs hand baggage per person per sector)
  • Personal expenses – mineral water, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
  • Tips & gratuities
  • Camera Fees where applicable
  • Other services/activities which are not listed in inclusive column
  • Peak period supplement costs applicable for travel during Christmas – New Year period

Domestic airfares: at time of print $350. May change at any time

Passports & Visas:

All visitors to India require a valid passport. A visa for entry to India is required by most nationalities.

Cancellation policy: 

  • $500 non refundable regardless of cancellation date.
  • Cancel more than 180 days before departure : 100% returned less $500
  • Cancel more than 120 days before departure : 75% returned less $500
  • Cancel more than 90 days before departure : 50% returned less $500
  • Cancel less than 90 days before departure: no refund
  • We highly recommend you purchase travel and/or medical insurance the same day you make your deposit

COPY OF PASSPORT AND INFORMATION IS REQUIRED FOR PARK PERMITS NO LATER THAN 1 OCTOBER 2026.

There are no last-minute booking for this trip as it’s not possible to add on to our park permits once purchased. The last day to sign up is 15 September 2026.

Click Here to Join Us!

Zoom information meeting June 25th, 530pm Pacific time.

SIgn up here for link.
You might want to know:
  • Cell phones are not allowed in the parks. If you want pictures you’ll need to bring or rent a camera. Camera rentals are easily available in India.
  • Special diets are generally easy to accommodate if we know ahead of time
  • Karen is a strong advocate of No Wildlife Selfies, with very few exceptions. Travel with her implies your adherence to this.  Read why here and here and feel free to start a conversation with her about it. In addition, changing natural animal behavior for a photo falls in the same category.

This is an Animal Communication trip!

What Does Animal Communication Mean on These Trips?

 I have been a professional animal communicator for over a decade. On trips marked Animal Communication, I will guide you through optional practices that help you slow down, get quiet, and connect with wildlife on a level that most people never experience.

Here is what I know to be true: animals are not passive in this, they are willing participants in our personal transformation. They want to be heard. They know that when human lives shift, so do theirs. And when you get present enough to actually listen, what comes back can be extraordinary.

You do not need to believe anything in advance. You only need to be willing and open.

To learn more about my animal communication work, visit  karenclevelandandtheanimals.com