Tiger & Asiatic Lion Safari in India (10N/11D)
From $2,370£1,780€2,120A$3,400C$3,350
Prices are per person, twin share, private departure, and are rounded. They are estimates and vary with the accommodation you choose and the season. Contact us for a final price.
This itinerary is completely customisable, including accommodation that is not on our list. Speak to our safari specialists and they will design a fully bespoke journey around a romantic dinner in the forest, a family adventure or a serious wildlife photography expedition.
About This Tiger & Lion Safari
This tiger and lion safari in India brings together two of the world's great cats on one western India journey. In Ranthambore, tigers move through dry forest and past the lakes and pavilions of a thousand-year-old fort. In Gir, on the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat, lives the last wild population of the Asiatic lion anywhere on earth, a species that numbered only a handful at the end of the 19th century and has grown to 891 lions in the 2025 estimate.
Every safari is taken in a private 4x4 jeep, reserved for your party alone, with naturalists who know each forest intimately. You stay beside both forests, from a lodge or tented camp on the edge of Ranthambore to a retreat close to Gir's mango orchards and teak. A VIP welcome at Delhi airport, chauffeur-driven private SUVs and domestic flights make every transfer effortless.
Every journey is curated for you alone. Choose any hotel on our list in each destination, and your programme stays the same while the lodges change to suit the way you like to travel. Each journey contributes to TOFTigers, winner of a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award in 2025, supporting responsible tiger tourism and the communities beside the forest. In Gir, the lions' recovery owes much to the Maldhari herders who have shared the forest with them for generations. The best time to travel is November to April.
Destinations Covered
Delhi (3 nights across the journey), Ranthambore National Park (3 nights) and Gir National Park in Gujarat (4 nights), with Jaipur and Rajkot as your gateways by air.
What You Will Experience
- Tigers and Asiatic lions in one journey, from the forests of Rajasthan to the last wild home of the Asiatic lion.
- Private 4x4 jeep safaris, one a day in the morning or the afternoon, reserved for your party alone and led by expert naturalists.
- Ranthambore, where tigers roam among lakes, banyan trees and the ruins of a hilltop fort.
- Four nights in Gir, home to the world's only wild Asiatic lions, along with leopards and striped hyenas.
- The Maldhari herders of Gir, whose tolerance has helped the lions return from the brink.
- Somnath Temple on the Arabian Sea, one of the most sacred shrines in India.
Design your journey with a safari specialist
Every journey is private, bespoke and curated around you: share a few details and one of our safari specialists will be in touch within 24 hours.
Thank you
Your enquiry is with our safari specialists, who will be in touch within 24 hours to begin shaping your bespoke, curated journey.
Ranthambore & Gir Itinerary: Day by Day
Safaris included: five private 4x4 jeep safaris with an expert naturalist, one a day, alternating between morning and afternoon: two in Ranthambore (a morning safari on Day 3 and an afternoon safari on Day 4) and three in Gir (a morning safari on Day 7, an afternoon safari on Day 8 and a morning safari on Day 9). If time allows during the day and park tickets are available, we can add further safaris at an additional cost.
Day 1: Arrival in New Delhi
A VIP representative meets you at the aircraft and guides you swiftly through immigration, baggage reclaim and customs. Your chauffeur drives you to your hotel, where the rest of the day is yours to rest after your flight.
Day 2: New Delhi to Ranthambore National Park
Drive: about 3 to 3.5 hours (160 km) from Jaipur
Drive: about 3 to 3.5 hours (160 km) from Jaipur. A short morning flight takes you to Jaipur, where your chauffeur is waiting for the drive through the Rajasthan countryside to Ranthambore. Your lodge welcomes you with lunch, then the afternoon is yours to settle in. In the evening, dine beneath the stars.
Day 3: Ranthambore National Park
A morning safari takes you through dry forest, rocky ridges and grassland to the lakes of Padam Talao, Rajbagh and Malik Talao, where tigers come to drink and sambar wade among the water plants. Your naturalist follows alarm calls and fresh pugmarks, while mugger crocodiles bask on the banks and leopards rest on the rocky slopes above. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day 4: Ranthambore National Park
Spend the morning at leisure at your lodge, or visit Ranthambore Fort, part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan, where the walls and temples look out across the forest. In the afternoon, a final safari returns you to the lakes and ruined pavilions in the golden light.
Day 5: Ranthambore to New Delhi
Drive: about 3 to 3.5 hours (160 km) to Jaipur, then a flight of about 1 hour
Drive: about 3 to 3.5 hours (160 km) to Jaipur, then a flight of about 1 hour. After breakfast, drive back to Jaipur for your flight to Delhi. Tonight you stay in Delhi, ready for tomorrow's flight west.
Day 6: New Delhi to Gir National Park
Drive: about 4 hours (190 km) from Rajkot, after a flight of about 1 hour 50 minutes
Drive: about 4 hours (190 km) from Rajkot, after a flight of about 1 hour 50 minutes. A morning flight carries you to Rajkot, in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat, and your chauffeur drives you south through farmland and mango orchards to Gir. Your lodge lies on the edge of the forest. Spend the evening by the pool or on your veranda as peafowl call from the trees.
Day 7: Gir National Park
Set out at dawn on the Gir Jungle Trail, following forest roads through teak, scrub and grassland in search of lions. Prides often rest in the open or beside the track, and your naturalist explains how the population has recovered from just a handful of animals. Leopards, striped hyenas, chital, nilgai and chinkara also share these forests. The afternoon is at leisure at your lodge.
Day 8: Gir National Park
Begin the morning with a visit to a Maldhari settlement, where herders who have lived alongside the lions for generations share their way of life. In the afternoon, a safari takes you deep into the sanctuary to Kamleshwar Dam on the Hiran River, where mugger crocodiles bask on the banks. Dinner tonight is served outdoors in the grounds of your lodge.
Day 9: Gir National Park and Somnath
Enjoy a final morning safari in Gir. In the afternoon, drive about an hour to the coast at Somnath, where the great temple stands above the Arabian Sea, and stay for the evening aarti as lamps are lit at dusk.
Day 10: Gir to New Delhi
Drive: about 4 hours (190 km) to Rajkot, then a flight of about 1 hour 50 minutes
Drive: about 4 hours (190 km) to Rajkot, then a flight of about 1 hour 50 minutes. After a leisurely breakfast, drive back to Rajkot for your flight to Delhi. Your final evening is in the capital.
Day 11: Departure
Your chauffeur drives you to Indira Gandhi International Airport for your onward journey.
A note from our planners: Gir National Park is open from 16 October to 15 June, so this journey runs between those months. Safaris in both parks follow routes and permits set by the forest department, and we secure them well in advance.
Where You Stay
Every hotel and lodge for this journey is listed below by destination, each with a label that describes its style. There are no fixed packages: you may choose any hotel in each destination, and our safari specialists will gladly arrange a stay that is not on this list. Every property is handpicked and has been used by us over many years.
Delhi (Days 1, 5 and 10)
-
Colonel's Retreat (Boutique).
A family-run guest house in a townhouse in Defence Colony, on quiet, tree-lined avenues in central Delhi. It was begun some twenty years ago by a retired army colonel and is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, with dinner served on the roof terrace.
-
ITC Maurya (Luxury).
A landmark of the Diplomatic Enclave, known for its restaurants, among them Bukhara, long celebrated for its north-west frontier cuisine, and Dum Pukht. It offers established comfort and polished service in the heart of the capital.
-
The Oberoi, New Delhi (Luxury).
Opened in 1965 on Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, overlooking Humayun's Tomb on one side and the Delhi Golf Course on the other. Its interiors take their inspiration from Lutyens' New Delhi, and it has a wellness sanctuary, indoor and outdoor pools and several restaurants.
-
Roseate House (Luxury).
A contemporary hotel of 216 rooms in Aerocity, about 4.5 km from the international airport, which makes it a practical first or last night. It has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa and a fine dining restaurant, Kheer.
Ranthambore (Days 2 to 4)
-
Dev Vilas (Eco-Luxury).
A wildlife lodge close to the main entrance of Ranthambore, with rooms and tented bungalows among mango and guava orchards and views towards the Aravalli hills. It has a swimming pool, a courtyard and a relaxed dining room.
-
Khem Villas (Eco-Luxury · Recommended).
A lodge on about 30 acres at the edge of Ranthambore, where grassland, lakes and woodland have been carefully restored. Villas, thatched cottages and canvas tents are designed with the land in mind, with farm-style organic meals and naturalist-led activities on site.
-
Sujan Sher Bagh (Luxury Tented Camp).
A camp of twelve canvas tents and two suites in the style of the colonial-era hunting camps, only minutes from the park entrance. It has a pool overlooking the park's buffer zone, a spa and meals made with produce from its own gardens.
Gir (Days 6 to 9)
-
Asiatic Lion Lodge (Eco-Luxury).
Sixteen cottages with verandas, set between two forested hills beside a natural water pond, about ten minutes from the Bhambha gate. It has an outdoor pool and an open-air dining area.
-
Gir Serai (Luxury).
A hotel of 29 rooms on the edge of the forest, across the Hiran river, each with a private balcony facing the trees. It has a pool, a spa and a restaurant serving regional and international dishes.
-
The Postcard Gir (Boutique).
Fifteen rooms in 16 acres of mango orchard on the edge of the park, with a pool and a spa. The menus are inspired by Gujarati and Parsi cooking, and guests can join nature treks, picnics and day trips to Diu.
Prices
| Two guests sharing, per person | $2,370£1,780€2,120A$3,400C$3,350 |
|---|---|
| Two guests sharing, total for two | $4,740£3,560€4,240A$6,800C$6,700 |
| Solo traveller | $4,130£3,110€3,700A$5,930C$5,840 |
| Single supplement | $1,760£1,330€1,580A$2,530C$2,490 |
Estimated prices, per person, based on two guests sharing one room, one safari vehicle and one car. A solo traveller pays the per-person price plus the single supplement. Prices vary with the accommodation you choose and the season, and are rounded. Contact us for a final price. See what is included
Tailored Leisure & In-Lodge Experiences
- Spa Time Between Safaris: unwind with restorative treatments at your lodge, then cool off by the pool.
- Dinner in the Mango Orchard: a candlelit dinner among the mango trees at The Postcard Gir, or a table set in the grounds of your own lodge.
- Nature Trek and Picnic: walk the countryside around the lodge with a naturalist, followed by a picnic in the shade of the trees.
- A Day by the Sea at Diu: spend a day on the coast at Diu, a former Portuguese enclave with a seafront fort, old churches and quiet beaches.
- Somnath at Dusk: watch the evening aarti at the seaside temple of Somnath as the lamps are lit.
Something Else in Mind? Our safari specialists can arrange any activity you would like, depending on the destination and your accommodation, such as a guided nature walk around the lodge, an afternoon learning to read pugmarks and alarm calls with your naturalist, or a one-to-one wildlife photography session in the field.
Dining & Reservations: in Delhi, our private concierge secures reservations at the finest restaurants the city has to offer, including hard-to-book tables, and arranges private dinners for special occasions. Share your tastes, whether a celebrated tasting menu or classic Mughlai cuisine, and we will arrange every detail.
Popular Fauna
- Mammals: Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, sambar, chital, nilgai and chinkara
- Reptiles: mugger crocodile
- Birds: crested serpent eagle, Indian paradise flycatcher and painted sandgrouse
Sightings vary by season and are never guaranteed.
National Parks & Wildlife Reserves
- Ranthambore National Park: dry forest, rocky ridges and lakes in eastern Rajasthan, beneath a 10th-century fort that forms part of the UNESCO-listed Hill Forts of Rajasthan. It is home to some of India's most photographed tigers.
- Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary: about 1,410 sq km of teak forest, scrub and grassland in Gujarat, the only place in the world where wild Asiatic lions live. Once the hunting ground of the Nawab of Junagadh, it became a sanctuary in 1965, and the 2025 estimate recorded 891 lions across the wider Saurashtra landscape.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Ranthambore Fort: one of the Hill Forts of Rajasthan, inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2013, standing above the forest on a rocky hilltop.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Ten nights of handpicked accommodation, with breakfast in Delhi and full board at Ranthambore and Gir
- VIP meet and greet on arrival at Delhi Airport
- All transfers in comfortable, chauffeur-driven private SUVs
- Domestic flights: New Delhi to Jaipur, Jaipur to New Delhi, New Delhi to Rajkot and Rajkot to New Delhi
- Five exclusive private 4x4 jeep safaris, one a day, with expert naturalists, two in Ranthambore and three in Gir
- Visits to a Maldhari settlement and Somnath Temple
- All park entry fees, permits and conservation levies
Not included: international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, personal gratuities, premium alcoholic beverages, camera fees, additional safaris beyond those listed (arranged on request, subject to park ticket availability), and experiences marked “on request”.
Possible Extensions
Keoladeo Birding: add the wetlands of Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, a short drive from Ranthambore and Agra.
Golden Triangle: begin or end your safari with Delhi, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and the palaces of Jaipur.
Tiger & Asiatic Lion Safari FAQs
When is the best time for a tiger and lion safari in India?
November to April. Gir is open from 16 October to 15 June. November to March brings cool, comfortable days, while April is warmer and often excellent for sightings, as animals gather near water.
What are my chances of seeing lions and tigers?
Lion sightings in Gir are frequent, as prides often rest in the open beside the track, and Ranthambore is one of the best places in India to see a tiger. Wild animals can never be guaranteed, but with three nights in Ranthambore and four in Gir, you give yourself every chance.
How do we travel between Ranthambore and Gir?
The two parks lie in different states, so the simplest route is through Delhi. You fly from Jaipur to Delhi, spend a night in the capital, then take a morning flight to Rajkot and drive about four hours to Gir.
Is this tiger and lion safari suitable for families?
Yes. Both forests welcome families, and the shorter guided drives at Devalia in Gir suit children who are new to safaris. Our safari specialists can adjust the pace for your group.
How do I book a private tiger and lion safari?
Speak with our safari specialists, who will curate this itinerary around your dates, interests and pace. Every journey is private and bespoke, and we recommend booking six to nine months ahead for the best choice of lodges and park permits.