6 Days / 5 Nights
Rajasthan Wildlife Tour
Bharatpur · Ranthambore · Jhalana — 6 Days / 5 Nights
This tour is designed around three animal groups — the waterbirds of Keoladeo, the tigers of Ranthambore and the leopards of Jhalana — all reachable from a single Delhi or Jaipur airport arrival. Most wildlife tours of Rajasthan bolt Ranthambore onto a Golden Triangle; we flip that around and make wildlife the point, with four tiger safaris rather than two, a proper morning at Keoladeo (not a drive-through stop) and the often-overlooked Jhalana leopard reserve as a bonus half-day. A single chauffeur handles all the road transfers; safari jeeps are booked separately through the Forest Department.
Tour highlights
- Morning and afternoon tiger safaris at Ranthambore (4 safaris, 2 zones)
- Dawn birding at Keoladeo Bharatpur — over 370 recorded species
- Jhalana Leopard Reserve morning safari — India's highest leopard density
- Jeep (Gypsy) seating on reserved zones — no shared-canter compromises
- Private naturalist accompaniment at Bharatpur and Jhalana
- Heritage stays at all three wildlife bases
Why we book 4 safaris at Ranthambore, not 2
Tiger sightings at Ranthambore are not guaranteed. Zone allocation is a government lottery, tigers move between zones, and a single unlucky draw can mean you see peacocks and deer only. Four safaris across two days raises your sighting probability from 40–50% (2 safaris) to 75–85% (4 safaris) based on our operating data across 200+ guests in the last three years. We book two morning and two afternoon slots, each in a different zone, using the online Rajasthan Forest Department booking system 90 days in advance.
Gypsy vs Canter — what we default to and why
Safaris at Ranthambore run in either 6-seater 4WD Gypsies or 20-seater canters. We always book Gypsies for this tour. The difference is not luxury — it is the ability to stop quickly, reverse, idle quietly and position for a photograph. On canters you share the vehicle with 18 strangers and are at the mercy of the loudest voice. Gypsy costs are 4x higher per seat; we think it is the most important money on this tour.
Bharatpur's Keoladeo — a half day, not a drive-by
Keoladeo (also called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the few places in India where you can walk a 4-km trail past 100+ species in a single morning. We book a cycle-rickshaw with a naturalist (rickshaw-wallahs at Keoladeo are licensed birders, not generic drivers) for a 3-hour dawn circuit. Dress in layers — early mornings in winter are cold, and the marsh mist lifts slowly.
Jhalana is the surprise stop
Most wildlife tours skip Jhalana because it is inside Jaipur city limits and doesn't feel 'wild'. It is, however, India's best-known leopard reserve outside Bera — a 36-sq-km forested pocket with roughly 35–40 resident leopards. Sighting rates are 90%+ in winter. The reserve opens at 6:30 AM, and we book the first safari slot so you are out by 9:30 and have the rest of the day for Jaipur sightseeing if you'd like. Many guests who come for tigers end up finding Jhalana the unexpected highlight.
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Arrive Delhi → Drive to Bharatpur
Delhi airport → Bharatpur
220 km · 4.5 hrs
- Meet at Delhi airport; drive to Bharatpur — 4.5 hours via the Yamuna Expressway with a tea halt.
- Check-in at a heritage property near Keoladeo. A quick evening stretch of the legs inside the park buffer — the walk alone is pleasant.
- Early dinner; early wake-up tomorrow.
Places: Delhi IGI Airport, Yamuna Expressway, Bharatpur
Overnight: Bharatpur
Meals: Welcome drink
- 2Day 2
Dawn Birding at Keoladeo → Drive to Ranthambore
Bharatpur — Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore)
180 km · 4 hrs
- 5:45 AM departure for Keoladeo. Cycle-rickshaw circuit with a certified naturalist — 3 hours covering the waterbird heartland, the heronry and the Shiva temple inside the park.
- Breakfast at hotel after the safari.
- Late-morning drive to Ranthambore (Sawai Madhopur) — 4 hours via Dausa.
- Afternoon check-in; evening free to settle in.
Places: Keoladeo National Park, Dausa bypass, Sawai Madhopur
Overnight: Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore)
Meals: Breakfast
- 3Day 3
Ranthambore Safari Day 1 — Morning and Afternoon
- 6:00 AM Gypsy safari pickup at hotel. 3.5-hour morning drive through one of Ranthambore's zones (zones 1–5 are the 'hot' zones; 6–10 are newer).
- Back to hotel for breakfast and rest.
- 2:30 PM afternoon safari — fresh zone allocation.
- Evening at hotel. Dinner at the heritage property's courtyard.
Places: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Overnight: Sawai Madhopur
Meals: Breakfast
- 4Day 4
Ranthambore Safari Day 2 — Morning and Afternoon
- 6:00 AM morning safari in a different zone from Day 3.
- Breakfast and rest; optional visit to Ranthambore Fort (inside the park, 10th century) between safaris — 2 hours.
- 2:30 PM final afternoon safari — last chance in case you haven't spotted a tiger yet.
- Early dinner; pack for tomorrow's drive.
Places: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
Overnight: Sawai Madhopur
Meals: Breakfast
- 5Day 5
Ranthambore → Jaipur (Jhalana)
Sawai Madhopur — Jaipur
165 km · 3.5 hrs
- Late-morning drive to Jaipur — 3.5 hours.
- Afternoon check-in at a heritage haveli in Jaipur.
- Evening free. Optional: Jaipur walled-city walk with a local guide (Hawa Mahal, Bapu Bazaar, Jauhari Bazaar).
- Early dinner; pre-dawn safari tomorrow.
Places: NH11B, Jhalana Leopard Reserve outskirts, Jaipur walled city
Overnight: Jaipur
Meals: Breakfast
- 6Day 6
Jhalana Leopard Safari → Departure
12 km or 270 km · 30 min (airport) or 5 hrs (Delhi)
- 6:00 AM Gypsy safari at Jhalana — 3 hours inside the reserve. Leopard sightings are 80%+ in winter, over 90% in summer (less dense foliage).
- Breakfast back at hotel.
- Late-morning or afternoon drop to Jaipur airport for onward flight. If you prefer to drive to Delhi instead, add 5 hours and depart right after the safari.
Places: Jhalana Leopard Reserve, Jaipur Airport (JAI) or onward drive
Meals: Breakfast
What's included
- Air-conditioned chauffeur-driven vehicle for all road transfers
- Professional driver familiar with wildlife-route logistics
- Keoladeo rickshaw and naturalist for the morning circuit
- Airport pickup at Delhi and drop at Jaipur (or reverse)
- Tolls, fuel, parking and driver allowance
- GST invoice in your name or company name
What's not included
- Hotel accommodation — quoted separately
- Ranthambore Gypsy safaris — booked 90 days in advance; we handle the booking, billed separately at actuals
- Jhalana Gypsy safari — booked 30 days ahead; billed at actuals
- Park entry fees and camera fees
- Private naturalist at Jhalana if requested — billed at actuals
- Meals not listed, flights, insurance
Vehicle cost for this tour
Rajasthan Wildlife Tour covers approximately 900 KMs over 6 days.
- •Per-km rate × total kilometers
- •Minimum 300 KMs per calendar day
- •Driver allowance per day
- •Toll, parking and interstate taxes at actuals
- •GST at 5% on invoice
Available vehicles: Sedan (Dzire) | SUV (Innova / Ertiga) | Premium | Tempo Traveller
Hotel accommodation is separate — we can arrange hotels at your preferred budget tier on request.
Vehicle options for this tour
- SUV — Toyota Innova Crysta5 adults + 5 suitcasesDefault vehicle for this tour. Higher ground clearance helps on the approach roads to Keoladeo and Jhalana.
- Luxury SUV — Fortuner / Hycross5 adults + 5 suitcasesLong photography lenses and tripods fit cleanly.
- Tempo Traveller — 12-seater9 adultsFor families or photography groups travelling together.
Hotel tier options
Booking on request — hotel rates vary by season and are quoted separately.
- 3-Star / ComfortHotel Sunbird (Bharatpur), Tiger Machan (Ranthambore), Lemon Tree (Jaipur)Clean, business-grade. Fine for wildlife-focused travellers not prioritising hotel character.
- 4-Star Heritage (default)Laxmi Vilas Palace (Bharatpur), Ranthambhore Regency / Vivanta by Taj (Sawai Madhopur), Samode Haveli (Jaipur)Our default — authentic and within walking distance of the park gates where possible.
- 5-Star LuxuryThe Bagh (Bharatpur), Aman-i-Khas / Oberoi Vanyavilas (Ranthambore), Rambagh Palace (Jaipur)Aman and Vanyavilas are among the best wildlife lodges in Asia. Book 6+ months ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tiger sighting guaranteed at Ranthambore?
No wildlife sighting is guaranteed. With four safaris in two different zones our guests' sighting rate runs 75–85% based on 2022–2024 data. If you only have one day and two safaris, budget for a 40–50% probability and plan for the chance of no sighting.
Is Ranthambore open year-round?
Core zones 1–5 close from 1 July to 30 September (monsoon). Buffer zones 6–10 stay open year-round. Best sightings are April–June when waterholes shrink and tigers come out for water — peak viewing despite heat. October–February is the most comfortable season.
What happens if our safari booking doesn't come through?
Forest Department safari bookings open 90 days in advance and fill in minutes for peak dates. We book online at the opening minute. In the rare case a slot is unavailable, we switch to an alternate zone or an alternate date and notify you immediately. We do not promise what we cannot deliver.
Can children do the safaris?
Yes — Ranthambore has no minimum age, but we advise 5+ because the 3.5-hour drive is long and rough. Keoladeo is pram-and-rickshaw friendly; Jhalana is fine for all ages. We can arrange child-appropriate binoculars on request.
What cameras and lenses do you recommend?
For tigers, 400mm+ on a full-frame body is the practical minimum; 100–400mm zoom is the most versatile. For birds at Keoladeo, 600mm helps but 400mm with a tele-converter also works. A monopod is more practical in a Gypsy than a tripod. Bean bags for the safari rail are sold at most lodge shops.
Can we add a Jaipur city day or the Golden Triangle?
Yes. A single extra day in Jaipur gives you City Palace, Amber Fort and Hawa Mahal. For the full Golden Triangle, add 3 days after Jhalana — Agra (Taj Mahal) and back to Delhi. We send a revised quote in 24 hours if you want this combination.
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