Compare India – Tiger Volunteer Adventure by Discover Corps vs India’s Golden Triangle Featuring Oberoi Hotels by Sky Vacations
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 2,995 | $ 3,135 |
| Price Per Day | $ 300 | $ 348 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches and 9 Dinners |
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| Description |
Over the course of the trip, we will assist one of India’s leading conservation organizations in the effort to protect Bengal tigers, and empower the villages surrounding Ranthambore National Park. The relationship between India’s wild tigers and a rapidly growing urban population are complex. Just a couple decades ago, India’s tigers were on the verge of extinction due to hunting, poaching, environmental degradation and urban sprawl. Today, numbers are rebounding as the government and society become increasingly aware of the fragility of these creatures. Once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park is now one of India’s largest protected sanctuaries for wild tigers. On the verge of extinction in the area, the tiger population has now returned to sustainable levels and has inspired communities to join in solidarity to protect these vulnerable creatures. Over ten days, we’ll lend a hand to Ranthambore’s mission to protect the park’s tigers, helping lay camera traps to record tiger movement outside of the park. We’ll also work with members of the local Mogya tribe, who have been displaced by the creation of the park. Our journey will take us to the bustling Indian capital of New Delhi and the desert city of Jaipur, allowing us to explore some of India’s oldest temples, forts and markets. |
You’re invited to explore the best of India’s Golden Triangle while staying at the luxurious, award winning Oberoi Properties. The readers of Travel+Leisure magazine voted the Oberoi hotels as the ‘Best in the World’, and it’s easy to see why – these spectacular properties exudes elegance and sophistication, while retaining an authentic Indian flavour. Not to be missed, this 8-night luxurious experience across Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur comes with a host of preferred exclusives. |
Day 1: Arrive in New Delhi
Meals: Dinner
Touching down in India’s capital New Delhi, you’ll be met at the airport by a Discover Corps representative who will accompany you to our hotel in the city. There, you’ll meet your group and we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner together.
Day 2: Explore Delhi on a Guided Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we’ll explore the walled heart of India’s capital, Old Delhi. Stroll through the fabled Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s largest outdoor markets, visit the towering Jama Masjid mosque, and admire the imposing Red Fort. We’ll also visit the beautiful minaret Qutab Minar, and the grand parliament buildings of Central Secretariat.
Day 3: Travel by Train to Ranthambore National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll head to the station to catch our train to Ranthambore National Park. Traveling by train is a quintessential Indian experience; take in stunning views of the countryside, dotted with traditional villages, from your air-conditioned compartment. Upon arrival at Ranthambore, we will head to our hotel – an ornate heritage hotel overlooking the park.
Day 4: Scout for Tigers in Ranthambore National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today we’ll enjoy an open-air jeep safari through Ranthambore, spotting deer, crocodile, leopards and – if we’re lucky – tigers. Along the way, take in the stunning landscapes of the park, and spot the thousand-year-old Ranthambore Fort. After lunch, we’ll meet with Tiger Watch, a NGO that aims to protect the tigers of Ranthambore.
Day 5: Continue Scouting For Tigers
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Over the course of the next two days, we’ll continue exploring the park on jeep trips scouting for tigers. We’ll also lend a hand with Tiger Watch setting camera traps to record tiger movements around the permieter of the park.
Day 6: Visit Community Projects
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
In addition to continuing your time on safari searching for tigers, assist with local social projects that aim to empower youth through basic educational games and women through the creation of crafts that are sold in the local markets.
Day 7: Say Goodbye to Ranthambore with a Final Game Drive
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
This morning we’ll finish our projects with Tiger Watch, collecting the last of the camera traps and bidding the women and children of the community projects farewell. Enjoy a relaxing mid-day lunch in town followed by a late afternoon safari ride through the park, giving us one more chance to hopefully spot a majestic tiger.
Day 8: Visit the Pink City of Jaipur
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, we’ll hit the road to the Pink City of the desert, Jaipur. Known for its grand palaces, the capital of Rajasthan is a sight to behold. After checking into our hotel we’ll take a tour of the city, visiting the exquisite courtyards and gardens of the City Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the vast sundials of the Royal Observatory. Enjoy some free time to explore Jaipur’s famous markets, before dinner and a traditional dance performance.
Day 9: Explore the Extravagant Amber Fort on a Guided Tour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll ascend a hill overlooking Jaipur to the Amber Fort, one of India’s most extravagant castles. This fort has stood guard over the city for centuries and was recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After our guided tour, we’ll return to Jaipur for lunch and enjoy some last minute shopping before we hit the road, heading for New Delhi.
Day 10: Return Home or Agra & Taj Mahal Extension
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
If you’re leaving the trip at this stage, we’ll enjoy a final tour of Delhi’s sights, including the Lotus Temple, before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Welcome to Delhi. Upon arrival and immigration clearance, you will be met by our Sky Vacations ambassador to assist you with your transfer to the hotel. Sprawling on the banks of the River Yamuna, the capital city of India – Delhi typifies the soul of the country. The legacy of that past survives in the many monuments left behind by a line of Kings and Emperors – each a chronicle of the glory of its time and an imprint of each ruler’s character. Today, the city is a curious blend of modern and traditional- skyscrapers, beautiful gardens and wide tree-lined avenues that perpetuate. Rest of the day at will be at leisure.
Day 02: Delhi
This morning, proceed for tour of Delhi starting with Old Delhi. Your first stop for the day will be Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque, Jama Masjid, which can hold a mind- blowing 25,000 people. Towering over Old Delhi, this 17th century mosque has three gateways, four angle towers and two minarets standing 40m high. It is constructed of alternating vertical strips of red sandstone and white marble. Enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride through the famous Chandni Chowk Bazaars, once the shopping avenue for Mughal royalty and the oldest marketplace of the city. Later drive past the Red Fort, also built by Emperor Shahjahan.
Afternoon proceed for tour of New Delhi visiting the Qutab Minar is built in Indo- Islamic style and has five stories. It is one of the highest stone towers in India and has a diameter of about 14.32 meters/47 feet at the base and about 2.75 meters/9 feet the top, Humayun’s Tomb, built by the orders of Humayun’s widow, Hamida Banu Begum, starting in 1562. Later proceed for drive past tour of India Gate, The war memorial arch, India Gate, was built by the British in the honor of the 70000 Indian soldiers, who lost their lives in the First World War and Second Afghan War, Rashtrapati Bhavan (President Palace) and adjoining Government Buildings, Parliament house. Post the sightseeing return to the hotel.
Day 03: Delhi / Agra
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Agra this morning. Agra is a medieval city, located on the banks of the Yamuna River, founded by Sultan Sikandar Lodi in 1506. It was during the Mughal reign, began the golden age in Agra. It remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan later shifted his capital to Shahjahanabad in 1649. Arrive and check in the hotel.
Afternoon proceed to visit The Agra Fort. The Fort was built by Akbar in 1565 and further developed by successive generations. This well-preserved fortress built of red-sandstone dominates a bend of the river Yamuna– with a magnificent view of the Taj. The interior boasts of many grand buildings which include the Royal Pavilions, the Diwan-e-Am (hall of public audience) and Diwan-e-khas (hall of private audience) usually reserved for other kings and dignitaries. Post the sightseeing return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 04: Agra / Fatehpur Sikri / Jaipur
At sunrise visit The Taj Mahal – a monument of love from the Mughal Emperor Shāh Jahān, which took 22 years to build and was completed in 1653, in memory of his beloved wife, Arjumand Bano Begum, also known as Mumtāz Mahal. Situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, the Taj Mahal stands at the northern end of formal gardens. The white marble came from Makrana in Rajasthan and the red sandstone from Fatehpur Sikri. Precious stones like jade, crystal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, sapphire, jade, coral and diamonds were brought from far-flung places in Tibet, China, Sri Lanka, Persia and Afghanistan. It is believed that a fleet of 1000 elephants was used to transport the material.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and then continue to Ranthambhore. Enroute visit Fatehpur Sikri – the Ghost Capital of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The fortress is a UNESCO world heritage site and built entirely of red sandstone, except the tomb of the saint Salim Chisti, which in stunning contrast, is made of pristine white marble. Arrive Jaipur and check in the hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 05: Jaipur
This morning proceed to visit Amber Fort, enroute visiting the honeycomb designed Hawa Mahal also known as the “Palace of Winds” built in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, and one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. The “Palace of Winds” was built to enable the ladies of the royal household to watch the processions passing on the street without showing themselves. Continue to Amber Fort. The Fort is known for its exquisite mirrored halls and lofty ramparts and is a superb example of Rajput architecture.
Afternoon continue your sightseeing trip and visit The City Palace, the formal residence of the royal family, built in a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. A complex of courtyards, gardens and buildings, the impressive City Palace is a center-point of the Old City. The outer wall was built by Jai Singh. The interior of the palace has been enlarged and adapted over the centuries. Continue to the amazingly accurate Jantar Mantar Stone Observatory, the largest of Maharaja Jai Singh’s remarkable Observatories – still in perfect working condition.
Day 06: Jaipur / Udaipur
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Udaipur. Upon arrival at Udaipur airport you will be met upon and transferred to the hotel.
In the afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the old town where you can walk around and see the artists painting the famous miniatures depicting the glory of the Mughals , we shall arrange for a short tuk tuk ride in the old town. This evening enjoy boat ride [sharing basis] on the Lake Pichola (subject to water level in the Lake permitting). View the Lake Palace from outside the Palace – a Palace established at the center of Lake Pichola, now converted into a luxurious heritage. After the boat ride return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 07: Udaipur
This morning visit the grand large City Palace complex which stretches along the eastern shore of Lake Pichola and encompasses several palaces added by the various Maharanas between the 16th to 20th centuries. Also visit the lively Jagdish Temple built in 1651 with an entrance flanked by stone carved elephants. Your next visit will be to Sahelion Ki Bari built by Maharana Sangram Singh, which is a beautiful garden with large flowerbeds, lawns, pools, fountains and trees. It offers fantastic glimpses of the lifestyle of the yesteryear court ladies. In the afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the old town where you can walk around and see the artists painting the famous miniatures depicting the glory of the Mughals.
Afternoon proceed for tour of Udaipur visiting the Crystal Art Gallery, the world’s single largest private collection of crystal under one roof, housed in the Fateh Prakash Palace is the world-famous Crystal Gallery. It’s spread across the upper-gallery of the glittering The Durbar Hall Sabhaghar. Crystal Gallery has been hailed as probably the single largest private collection of crystal anywhere in the world. The visitors here are privy to one of the most exclusive and exquisite crystal collections.
Later a short vintage car ride around Fatehsagar Lake awaits you. Post the ride return to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 08: Udaipur / Delhi
Morning is at leisure. This afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi airport you will be met upon and transferred to hotel . Rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 09: Depart Delhi
This day you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
