The Ganges Valley, Bengal Tigers & Hidden Gems in the Heart of India

You'll be transferred privately to the heart of the city, close to the great Maiden Park, for two nights at The Oberoi Grand. A legendary hotel in Calcutta, it is considered the most beautiful establishment in the city. Added to the charm is The Oberoi hotel's touch: luxurious rooms, impeccable service, and a beautiful swimming pool.

Included in the itinerary - A one-day private tour exploring Calcutta's colonial past, with a guide and driver who speaks your language. A cultural city par excellence, it is home to charming houses of yesteryear, elegant monuments, and grand buildings. You'll also visit the Jain Pareshnath Temple, built by one of Calcutta's great jewellers, whch covered with semi-precious stones and small mirrors; the Kumartuli district, where Hindu idols are created and seen at festivals; the Tagore House, which is an unusually shaped dwelling that includes a ballroom, a theatre and an Indian music centre; and the Marble Palace, designed by a French architect and home to a private zoo. In the afternoon, head to the India Museum, the first major museum built in this part of the world, and then to the College Street Book Market, where intellectual book lovers and students meet.

Private transport to the airport and flight to Varanasi. You'll be transported to the heart of the city for a two-night stay at the Nadesar Palace, a small palace renovated into a prestigious hotel by the Taj group, on a vast estate planted with fruit trees.
Included in the itinerary - Discovering the Varanasi bazaar followed, at dusk, by a Ganga Aarti ceremony, a religious ritual using fire as an offering to the Goddess Ganga, a spectacular sight which you'll witness from a private boat. Young Brahmans, during a very codified ritual around small earthenware lamps (dipa), incense sticks (dhupa) and rose petals (pushpa), pay tribute to the Ganges.

Included the itinerary - Tour of the ghats with a private guide. These are riverside steps leading down into the water, where Hindu worshippers perform water-related rituals, such as cleansing ceremonies and various offerings. In Varanasi, more than eighty ghats have been built on the banks of the Ganges. Dashashwamedh Ghat is the oldest and Manikarnika Ghat is the city's great cremation centre (Shiva would whisper the prayer of passage in the ear of the dead).

Private airport transfer and flight to Khajuraho. The village, which was the ancient religious capital during the Chandela era, was in turn abandoned and then swallowed up by the surrounding jungle and still houses twenty-two temples built according to the four cardinal points of the compass.
Included the itinerary - Half-day private tour of the temples, with a private guide and a driver. The first tour, in the eastern region, includes four Jain temples within a surrounding wall. Three other Hindu temples are scattered across the ancient village of Khajuraho. Continue the tour to the southern part where the Duladeo and Chaturbhuja temples are located.
Stay overnight in a modern hotel surrounded by beautiful verdant gardens. The rooms are comfortable and some have views of the temple tops.

Included in the itinerary - A second half-day private tour of the temples, again with a guide and driver. The western part of the city is home to the main temples. The one in Lakshmana, dedicated to Vishnu, built around 950, houses a sacred image of Vaikuntha-Vishnou from Tibet. Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, built in the years 1025-1050, is dedicated to Shiva who, in her ascetic form, meditates in a cave. It is 100ft tall and the largest of the site in terms of size and ornamentation with almost 900 yellow sandstone statues.
After the visit, you'll journey east to Panna National Park in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. Overnight stay at Pashan Garh, an exceptional refuge near the park gates in the Vindhya Hills. The private cottages in the heart of the 172-acre private jungle are superb, inspired by the region's stone architecture and with refined and cosy interiors, discreet luxury and modern comfort. You can dine by candlelight, in the heart of the jungle, by the lit pool, or in the seclusion of its private verandah. The organic garden supplies much of the food here, so the cuisine is fresh and seasonal. Special mention should be made of the friendly and professional staff.

Included in the itinerary - Half a day of private safari in Panna Park, a magnificent wildlife sanctuary that includes a tiger conservation project. Other species that can be observed here include crocodiles in the Ken River, which crosses the reserve from one side to the other, as well as leopards, deer, antelopes, reptiles, wolves, monkeys and many multicoloured birds.
The second leg of the safari is in Bandhavgarh, which you'll be privately transported to. Accommodation for two nights in a peaceful and refined ecolodge, which fits perfectly into its environment: the Samode Safari Lodge. The rooms - villas - are South African-inspired but feel perfectly in-keeping with the surroundings. The service is impeccable, the cuisine excellent, and the naturalist guides are passionate about their work.

Included in the itinerary - half-day private safari in Bandhavgarh Park, which has one of the highest population densities of tigers in India. This national park extends to over 173 square miles and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. While Bandhavgarh is known for its tigers, it is also home to panthers, Indian bison, deer, bears, hyenas, and monkeys.

Private airport transport and flight to Delhi. Another private transfer to the new business district and overnight accommodation at The Oberoi Gurgaon. A truly peaceful setting, away from the bustling city; luxurious accommodation with a modern charm of its own, where the vast swimming pool and service are exceptional.