Bengal tigers are a highly seductive class-A predator; they are also desperately endangered. Seeing one in the wild is intoxicating, which is why this comprehensive safari visits three of the best tiger parks in India. Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh national parks are all ideal for viewing both predator and prey, and with 15 game drives included the chances of seeing the magnificent Bengal tiger are greatly increased. There are many other animals to see, too, but tigers remain top of the agenda throughout.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Embark on 15 game drives
•Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal
•Support the TOFTigers campaign to protect biodiversity and restore habitats

Important Wildlife Booking Information
Game drive regulations – book early!
The management of national parks by the Indian authorities and the system for booking game drives is very rigid. The number of 4x4s that can enter national parks has been reduced, and all game drives need to be booked and paid for well in advance.

We must provide a list of client names and passport details at the time of booking each game drive. Once game drives are booked, they are non‐refundable and name changes are not permitted. If you renew your passport after the game drives are booked, you must travel with both your old and new passports so the authorities can ascertain the authenticity of the previous passport mentioned in the booking.

You cannot change or swap 4x4s during the trip. It is four people per vehicle, so please let us know at the time of booking if you are a group of five or more travelling together with separate bookings to ensure you are seated appropriately.

Costa Rica is renowned for having proportionately more protected land than any other country, making it ripe for wildlife tourism. What is less known is the marvelous, often bizarre, variety of animals from catatonic sloths, screaming howler monkeys, screeching toucans and nesting green turtles. Throw in the Caribbean and Pacific coastlines and it is easy to see why so many return.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Unrivalled wildlife viewing: howler monkeys, caiman and sloths
•Visit the beaches and waterways of Tortuguero, an important nesting site for green turtles
•Verdant rainforest, lush mangroves, lava fields and serene cloud forests
•Wonderful naturalist guides who will share their love of Costa Rica with you
•Relax on idyllic Pacific coast beaches
•Stay in comfortable ecofriendly lodges and hotels

Sri Lanka is a wonderland for adventurers: Buddhist temples and colonial architecture; tea plantations and spice gardens; safari parks and palm-fringed beaches. Book this Premium trip with us, traveling with Exodus Adventures to explore it beyond the typical tourist track. Join a family to cook traditional curries (which you share with your hosts and local monks) and explore Gal Oya village with a chief from the forest-dwelling Veddha community. Of course, there are a few highlights you can't miss, including the rock fortress of Sigiriya and safari in Yala National Park, and downtime beachside on the south coast for a chance to kick back and relax.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Climb the ancient rock fortress at Sigiriya for breathtaking views
•Meet the last indigenous Veddha community, guided by their chief
•Take a boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya, the largest lake in Sri Lanka
•Enjoy a unique glamping experience in an indigenous village
•Hike through Ella Forest, stopping at the Nine Arches Bridge
•Seek out elephants and leopards in Yala National Park
•Entrance fees to all monuments and activities included
•Boat safari in Gal Oya
•Two Game drives in Yala
•Free arrival and departure transfers
•Premium trips have a named tour leader, chosen for their expertise and great customer feedback
•11 nights in premium hotels and two nights in an epic stay, wild glamping

Post Trip Stay

If you are keen to end your trip on a relaxed note, we can arrange a visit to the Maldives for you.

The flight from Colombo is around one hour and upon arrival you will be transferred by speedboat (approximately 20 minutes) to the Paradise Island four-star resort. Paradise Island is a beautiful coral island, covered with tropical vegetation and palm trees, surrounded by a wide sandy beach and an azure lagoon.

You can choose to add as many extra nights to your trip as you wish; your time on the island will be at leisure for you to do as you wish. The accommodation has a swimming pool, restaurant, bar, room service and all rooms are air conditioned. There is also access to scuba diving and snorkeling or the chance to swim in the wonderful, calm waters. Either way, it is a veritable paradise and a memorable end to the trip.

Uganda is renowned for its abundant wildlife. With landscapes ranging from savannah to lush forests, the animal count is high: more than 300 mammal species and more than 1,000 bird types. This trip is a true adventure into the heart of Africa. Kibale Forest is possibly the best place in the world to track chimpanzees while Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to hippos, elephants, buffalo, leopards and elusive tree-climbing lions, plus a huge variety of birds. Continuing on our journey, we reach Bwindi where we have the option of tracking the gentle giants of the forests, mountain gorillas.

10 nights in a mixture of hotels and lodges
Travel by specially designed 4×4 vehicles
Reasonable fitness required for chimpanzee and gorilla tracking

HIGHLIGHTS

•Track chimpanzees and other primates in Kibale Forest
•Search for the elusive tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park
•Spend a magical hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi
•Discover just how friendly and hospitable the Ugandan people are

Important Wildlife Booking Information
At the time of booking, a non-refundable deposit is required to cover the cost of the gorilla permit and the chimp permit. If for any reason we are unable to secure the permits and must cancel the trip, you receive a full refund.

If you would like a second gorilla or chimp trek, please request this at time of booking, an extra deposit is required. However, we only request the extra permits once the trip has been guaranteed as, otherwise, they must be paid in full even if the trip doesn’t run. Once the extra gorilla or chimp permits have been requested, the deposits are non-refundable.

Gorilla trek: Owing to the terrain and the need to explore to find gorillas, the trek doesn’t follow a path in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; instead, the guides cut a route through the undergrowth. Expect a minimum of three hours of walking on rough terrain, with the possibility of climbing up to 8,553ft (2,607m); steep ascents and descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand (porters are arranged and paid for locally on the day).

This is a busy and active trip with some early starts as you explore as much as we can of this wonderful country. There are some long drives, sometimes on bad roads, but you will be in comfortable safari vehicles and the fantastic scenery does make time on the drives go by.

Experience Ecuador in full glory, where the mainland combines natural and cultural wonders, and the Galapagos islands offer unrivalled wildlife watching. Beginning in Quito, we gaze over Cotopaxi volcano, experience indigenous culture and spend two nights in the Amazon Rainforest. It’s then off to the Galapagos, where we snorkel with sea lions, walk among giant tortoises and sunbathe on white sands with marine iguanas.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Combine the best of mainland Ecuador with Galapagos wildlife-watching
• Spend two nights in the Amazon Rainforest, exploring jungle trails with expert local guides
• Hike Cotopaxi National Park to see the iconic volcano
Snorkel the wildlife-rich Galapagos waters, hopefully with sharks, sea lions and turtles
• See pirate lava caves and giant tortoises in the highlands of Floreana
• Enjoy downtime on the white sands of Tortuga Bay and Isla Lobos

KEY INFORMATION

• Accommodation: 14 Classic nights (hotels, lodges and guesthouses)
• Travel by minibus, boat and internal flights
• Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Countries visited: Ecuador

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• All breakfasts, seven lunches and two dinners included
• All accommodation
• All transport and listed activities
• Tour leader throughout
• Arrival and departure transfers

Kenya and Tanzania are home to some of the most prolific game-viewing locations, not just in Africa, but the world. This itinerary takes in several national parks in and around the Great Rift Valley, giving you the opportunity to observe some of the best wildlife and scenery in Africa . It finishes in style on the spice island of Zanzibar, a tropical paradise with white-sand beaches and fascinating Stone Town.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Enjoy game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park searching for endangered rhinos
•Explore the Masai Mara a grassland teaming with wildlife
•See wildlife in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater
•Visit the exotic spice island of Zanzibar and chill out on the coast
•Nine nights of full-service camping with shared facilities and five nights in comfortable hotels
•Travel in specialist overland vehicle and fly to Zanzibar