India – Tiger Volunteer Adventure

Northern India is home to a dazzling array of cultures, religions & ethinicities. Simply walking through the bustling streets of New Delhi, you’ll encounter towering Hindu temples, ornate Islamic architecture and food stalls selling treats from all over South Asia. The area is also the epicenter of some of the last remaining wild tigers in the region.

Once the private hunting grounds of the Maharajas of Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park is now one of India’s largest protected sanctuaries for tigers where populations are rebounding after years of decline. Amongst the ruins of 1000 year old forts, these tigers live in their natural habitat hunting, sleeping and protecting their territory. The villages that surround the park are home to traditional communities where women in colorful saris can be seen tending the fields, camels and cows dot the roads and bustling outdoor markets hum with activity through the day.

Experience the unique opportunity to lend a hand at one of Ranthambore’s leading tiger conservation organizations. Between game drives searching for the elusive Bengal tiger in the wild, learn from some of the area’s most influential voices on tiger conservation. The projects will vary from laying and collecting camera traps to record tiger movements in the area to helping the staff analyze the images compiled from the traps.

We’ll also have the unique opportunity to work with the communities displaced by the creation of the Ranthambore National Park. Once tiger hunters, the local indigenous men are now being trained as guides, while the women are learning to create crafts for the local markets. Spend time engaging the youth with educational games, and lend a hand at the women’s groups with their colorful craft projects.

Begin in New Delhi visiting the city’s main sites including the towering Red Fort, the bustling markets of Old Delhi, Parliament, and some of the oldest mosques in South Asia. Along the way, sample some of the cuisine that India is famous for. Continue on to Ranthambore National Park via train for four days of safari and hands-on volunteering with Tiger Watch, a leading organization working to protect Ranthambore’s tiger population. You may even spot other wildlife in the sanctuary including leopards, hyena, crocodiles, deer and hyena.

Following our time in Ranthambore, continue on to the pearl of the desert, Jaipur. Known as the “Pink City” for the color of its ornate buildings, uncover the extravagant palaces and forts that dot the picturesque hills around the city. We’ll also take time to explore Jaipur’s famous art and spice markets. Continue back to New Delhi for you flight home or onwards to the Taj Mahal with our post-trip extension to Agra.

Begin your India journey with two nights at a 5-star hotel in central New Delhi. Unwind after the long flight by the hotel’s outdoor pool and explore the main sites of New Delhi just outside your door. During our five night stay in the Ranthambore area, spend your nights in a stunning heritage hotel overlooking the plains of Ranthambore National Park. Ornate courtyards make way to a massive in-ground pool and views of the mountains in the distance. Rooms are designed in a colonial style with fresh food served each evening. Continue on to a boutique hotel in the center of Jaipur for a night and finish off the trip with an hotel adjacent to the airport in New Delhi before you depart.