Tigers and Leopards of India and Sri Lanka

We fly from London Heathrow to Doha, arriving on Day 2. From here we fly to Delhi, our home for 2 nights. A sightseeing tour awaits us on Day 3. We begin in Old Delhi, travelling through its narrow streets by rickshaw. We see Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Gandhi and pass by the iconic Red Fort. After lunch, we make our way to New Delhi where we visit India Gate that commemorates Britain's fallen Indian allies from WWI. We also explore the President's Palace, the Tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, and Qutub Minar, a UNESCO-listed site.

This morning we travel by train to Jaipur. After checking into our hotel for 2 nights, we take a guided tour of the Albert Hall Museum which displays artefacts from ancient, medieval, and modern India. Later, we witness the Hindu ritual of 'aarti' at the Birla Temple, during which the priests offer prayers to the deities with fire. We embark on a sightseeing tour on Day 5, travelling to the opulent Amber Fort, set atop a hill and overlooking Maota Lake. We also see the City Palace, Jantar Mantar, an 18th- century astronomical observatory, and the Palace of Winds.

On Day 6 we transfer by coach to Ranthambore National Park. We spend 2 nights at Sawai Vilas on the edge of the reserve. This evening we attend a talk by a local naturalist, the perfect precursor to our game drives on Day 7. We set out the next morning and afternoon in canters exclusively for the use of our customers. We hope to spot some exotic wildlife, including deer, diverse species of birds, and most excitingly, the Bengal tiger.

We take the train to Bharatpur today, continuing by coach to Agra for a guided tour of Agra Fort. Afterwards, we visit the iconic Taj Mahal just as the last rays of the setting sun are reflected off the white marble. On Day 9 we return to Delhi by coach for our flight to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. On Day 10 we explore the city on a short tour, before transferring to the scenic city of Habarana. We travel by coach to Sigiriya on Day 11 to the Lion's Rock Fortress, an iconic rock structure whose ancient walls are covered with colourful frescoes. Later, we have the option of visiting Polonnaruwa, known for its ancient stupas.

This morning we make our way by coach to the UNESCO-listed Dambulla Caves, a set of 5 cave temples hidden away from the outside world by an overhanging rock whose rugged interiors are bedecked with Buddha statues and ornate frescoes. Later, we transfer to Kandy, a city surrounded by mountains and rainforests, for 2 nights. On Day 13, we see the Royal Botanical Garden of Peradeniya before taking a guided walking tour of Kandy. In the evening, we visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth, home to one of Buddha's teeth, and witness an authentic prayer ceremony.

Day 14 takes us to Nuwara Eliya, set amidst a backdrop of lush forests and steamy waterfalls. Here we take a tour of a tea plantation before boarding our train to Demodara that spirals the famous Demodara Loop through tea plantations and forest-clad hills. We travel via Ella, an idyllic Sri Lankan town with green hills and cascading waterfalls. We reach Tissamaharama by coach, our base for 2 nights.

This morning we take a game drive into Yala National Park, the largest in the country, where we hope to spot elephants, wild boars, and leopards. Another game drive this afternoon maximises our chances of an animal sighting. On Day 16 we travel to Galle, a city founded by Portuguese colonists. We enjoy a walking tour, visiting UNESCO-listed Galle Fort before making our way to the sea-side town of Beruwala for the night. On Day 17, we travel by coach to Colombo for our flight to London Heathrow, travelling via Doha.