Please help me find a reliable tour operator for a tiger safari!

JungleBride

We plan to depart US on 12/23/05, arrive in Delhi 12/24/05 or 12/25/05.
Leave Delhi on 1/5/06 or 1/6/05 for the return to the US.

We'd like to spend one day in Delhi, see the Taj Mahal and spend the rest of the time immersed in nature on wildlife safari. We really interested in doing an elephant back safari for part of the time.

There are tons of travel agents and I'm having a really hard time picking on. Any recommendations? Thanks!

ddevadatta

You talking about agents here in US or in India???

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JungleBride

I actually haven't been able to find ANY in the US or in my area (PA) that specialize in trips to India, so I'll probably choose a tour operator located in India or a web based operator.

-m2-

Hi JB, just a quick caution.

Your original post is sort of like throwing raw meat into a shark tank. No doubt your PM folder is filling with eager offers from agent hopefulls as I type.

Most of our regular contributors here haven't had much, if any, experience using tour operators so knowledgeable recommendations may well be scarce. It is even possible that a 1st time poster or two will show up in this thread with a glowing recommendation for some obscure travel agency; they could well be 'shills'. If you are going to take advice from an internet forum then you should make the effort to check the posting background of the recommendor. (you can look up profile, then look at some of his/her previous posts).

You have lots of time before you go, don't be in a hurry to lock yourself into something would be my advice.

m2

JungleBride

Thanks for the advice! I'll definitely fully investigate the travel agency before booking anything. I think we may go ahead and book our flight soon, but wait at least 3-4 weeks before selecting a travel agent so we'll have time to do a full background check. The problem is that there are dozens of tour operators out there with great websites, but not much distinguishes one from another... and they're all based in India while where in PA.

Mistral

Hi junglebride,
I travelled in India several times and usually I don't want to reserve in advance to get more freedom from my journeys.
Anyway when I need to reserve some services I usually contact a good and reliable agency based in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
Their link is the following:
http://www.swagatam.com/
the operation manager in Delhi is mr. Parthi a lovely man to work with.

Anyway you have plenty of time to look around and compare services and proposals.
Enjoy!

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hfot2

We too traveled in Rajasthan and beyond for 5 weeks with Swagatam.
Lajpat Kumar, the manager, and Vishi both in the Delhi office arranged our indepedent trip following our suggestions. E-mails were a perfect and easy way to organize the trip. They have several offices throughout India.
They can be reached at <sales@swagatamtour.com>

crvlvr

Jungle Bride,

If you have not booked your tickets to India, do it right away. You happen to be travelling in the peak season and if you wait much longer 1. Tickets will be more expensive or 2. you may not be able to get any tickets.

dhananjay

Hi,
I would recommend this independent guy Dr Chauhan in delhi ... he s a naturalist and worked previously in corbett .... An expert in wildlife, One of my friends recommended him to us ... try your luck .... Mr Chauhan in delhi phone number 098182-05690 ... chauhan.devendra@gmail.com .... I hope this helps

Cheers,
Dhananjay

cyberhippie

Would you consider doing this under your own steam?? Contrary to what your imagination is telling you this is easy to do and you can travel in whatever style suits your needs!!
Most parks have an infrastructure for tourists. The hotels that do trade around and in the parks have all the contacts you need to go on Safaris, though usually by jeep, there may be one or two parks offering elephant safaris I'm not too sure on that one but my understanding is most just offer elephant rides of short duration usually to where a tiger has been spotted by local guides!!
All the tour agencies do is hook you up with these people and charge you a fee, I'm not criticsizing this in anyway it's a perfectly viable way of making money and it is hassle free or should be!!??
However the option to do all this on your own is easy, you can do most of the leg work before you go!!
Anyway I just thought I'd ask, feel free to PM me on this and I'll put a few ideas to you!!

akshay2101

hi

you can talk to suneel rao, his email is: tigerbob.suneel@gmail.com

he's a great guy and generally goes out of his way to help.

do mail him for a comparison quote. you might find him to be quite cost effective.

cheers
akshay

ddevadatta

If in the south JB I recommend either Kabini River Lodges or Jungle Inn, in Mysore area. Look at India Mike/Lodgings/ karnataka link for both.

I have stayed in both places and my own preference is Jungle Inn because of superb service. Wildlife viewing, expecially Tiger viewing, is illusive. It is more a game of luck than something precise.

If need assiatnce with jubgle Inn let me know and I can assist. i know the folks there very well and they are simply superb.

lonelyaztec

Pls. read my article on Indiamike on tigers and tiger safaris. it can be of help to u.
http://www.indiamike.com/india/article.php?a=38

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