Tiger conservation and astronomy safari: India

January 2026 - 11 days

Register now at tours@newscientist.com and we will contact you when we have confirmed the itinerary, dates and prices of this tour.

Explore India's magnificent wildlife and night skies on this immersive conservation safari. Visit the reserves of Tadoba and Pench in search of the illusive Bengal tiger, staying in award-winning lodges allowing you to the opportunity to immerse yourself in jungle life. You will also explore some of India's most important historical and modern observatories that have contributed significantly to the field of astronomy.  

Encounter India's varied wildlife and learn about the conservation issues and the positive impact tourism plays which has been measured in the Tiger and wildlife surveys which take place each year to monitor wildlife numbers. Explore the parks by jeep, bike and on foot accompanied by an experienced naturalist to discover the country's rich flora and fauna. This tour discovers wilderness at its best. 

In addition to focusing on the conservation efforts in India, this tour also allows you to opportunity to observe the beauty of the night sky. The skies above the forests of Tadoba and Pench National Parks are clear and free of light pollution, so there is good visibility and perfect for stargazing with the chance to witness the unobstructed splendour of the Milky Way and beyond. An astronomy expert will accompany you and offer guided stargazing sessions in the evening as well as giving a series of talks and walking seminars to enrich your astronomy knowledge.

This tour has been designed with built-in rest periods and various options, allowing you to set the pace and depth of your tiger experience.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel.

DAY 1: ARRIVE DELHI

Welcome to India! You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel located close to Delhi's international airport. You can spend the day at leisure in the pool or explore the city. Delhi is one of the world's largest metropolises. Hidden beneath Delhi's urban sprawl its many old and new architectural wonders fill the city. Mughal treasures, including the Red Fort and Jama Masjid, are complemented by more recent additions to Delhi's architectural heritage, such as the stunning Lotus and Akshardham Temples.

In the evening, you will meet with your tour leader who will introduce the tour and host a welcome dinner for the group.

DAY 2: NEHRU PLANETARIUM, LUTYENS AREA OF DELHI AND JANTAR MANTAR OBSERVATORY

Today you will enjoy a full day exploring some of the highlights of Delhi. Start by visiting Nehru Planetarium which, houses several exhibits relating to space science, astronomy, and the history of space exploration. These exhibits provide insight into the latest discoveries in space science and feature models of planets, spacecraft, and telescopic images of celestial bodies.

Following this, drive through the area of New Delhi that was designed and developed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens during the early 20th century. This area is known for its grand colonial architecture, wide roads, tree-lined avenues, and sprawling bungalows. See the Iconic India Gate, Parliament House and President House and continue your day to visit the Delhi Jantar Mantar Observatory. The most famous Jantar Mantar complexes are located in New Delhi and Jaipur, and they were constructed to observe and measure astronomical data such as time, the positions of celestial bodies, and to make precise calculations related to astrology and astronomy. Visit the Delhi observatory which was built between 1724 and 1730 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, a passionate astronomer and mathematician. 

In the evening visit the Sikh Temple, Bangla Sahib and witness one of the largest community kitchens in this part of the city. You will have the remainder of the evening at leisure.

DAY 3: FLY TO NAGPUR, VISIT THE RAMAN SCIENCE CENTRE AND CONTINUE TO  TADOBA NATIONAL PARK

Take the early morning flight to Nagpur, a short 1 hour 30 minutes south of Delhi. On arrival, you will have breakfast at a local restaurant.

Continue to The Raman Science Centre in Nagpur, named after the renowned Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his discovery of the Raman Effect. The centre is part of a network of science centers across India managed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), under the Ministry of Culture.

Afterwards, you transfer by road to your lodge in the Tadoba National Park which will take about two hours. You will stay here for the next 3 nights in a low impact eco-friendly lodge located close to the gates of the National Park.

In the evening, your accompanying expert will give the first of three talks.

DAYS 4 AND 5: SAFARI DRIVES AROUND TADOBA NATIONAL PARK

Over the next two-and-half days you will enjoy safari drives into both the buffer and core zones of Tadoba National Park. Accompanied by Kartikeya who will also give informal talks throughout the safaris.  

Tadoba is the largest wildlife reserve in Maharashtra. Part of the park contains Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of India’s most exciting and best-protected tiger reserves. Dominated by teak forest and bamboo, it’s a rugged landscape comprising cliffs, caves, marshes, perennial lakes and boulder-strewn streambeds that cater to a host of biodiversity, not least the tigers. 

During the 2023 tiger census Tadoba was found to be home to 93 adult tigers and over 120 leopards. Being a southern tropical dry deciduous forest, there is an excellent chance of sightings of tigers, leopards and the black panther. 

The day starts early, usually before sunrise, as this is when the wildlife is at its most active. Mornings begin with tea in bed, usually, before 6am. You will then jump in your private jeep and drive to the park gate, taking around 30 minutes in duration. Breakfast will normally be taken in the park, heading back to the lodge around mid-morning for lunch. Make sure you wrap up warm as it can be quite cold first thing in the morning. 

With both a driver and naturalist leading the drives, there is an excellent chance of memorable animal encounters. We are using small, private, open jeeps for this trip which are suitable for accessing all areas of the park. By limiting the number of people in each jeep you can be sure of having plenty of space for taking photographs. 

After the afternoon drive, you will return to the lodge in time for a pre-dinner sundowner. Meals are often al fresco around a fire pit, with classic cooking methods. 

In the evening there will be guided star gazing sessions which will also include the use of telescopes that have been hired for your trip. 

DAY 6: TADOBA NATIONAL PARK TO PENCH NATIONAL PARK AND EVENING STARGAZING

Before departing for Pench there is time for a final morning game drive. An early lunch will be served before moving on to Pench National Park. This drive is approximately five hours and you will check into the Pench Jungle Camp for the next four nights.

Pench, on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, has been known through the ages for its rich flora and fauna. Named after the river that flows nearby, Pench was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1983. In 1992, Pench was included under the umbrella of Project Tiger as the 19th Project Tiger Reserve and has a healthy population of tigers. It inspired Rudyard Kipling's famous work, The Jungle Book, where characters like Mowgli and Sher Khan come to life. In 2024, Pench Tiger Reserve became India's First Dark Sky Park.

After a long day of travel, enjoy dinner at the camp, there will also be the option to explore the night sky with star gazing sessions.

DAY 7: EXPLORE PENCH BY JEEP AND BIKE AND EVENING STARGAZING

After an early rise, explore the forest on an optional short supported bike ride of around 10 kilometres to the Pench River. A support vehicle will travel behind the last cyclist keeping a safe distance and will be carrying filtered water and soft drinks. They will also be there to pick up cyclists if there is a problem, or if you just wish to take some rest. The terrain is largely flat, but with a number of undulating forest sections, forest roads and over riverbeds. You may also be riding through and between villages using simple village roads that are largely used by bicycles, motorbikes or bullock carts, occasionally on a single-track tar road. An excellent way to slowly explore. For those not wishing to cycle you will have the morning at lesiure. 

After returning to the lodge for a leisurely lunch, you will head out to the Rukhad buffer zone on safari. It is a dense forest and is one of the quietest zones in terms of other explorers, so you can really enjoy the tranquility of the zone while searching for species.

In the evening, you will enjoy an astronomy lecture from the accompanying expert followed by dinner and a guided stargazing session afterwards.

DAYS 8 AND 9: GAME DRIVES IN AND AROUND PENCH AND EVENING STARGAZING

Pench is home to the Asiatic leopard and is still one of the best places in India to spot this creature. Other wildlife spotted here includes the Royal Bengal tiger, jackal, peafowl, wild dog, wild boar, sloth bear, Indian leopard, fox, striped hyena, monkey, gaur, barking deer, four-horned antelope and Indian wolf. 

The next two days will be spent searching for the many species twice a day on game drives in the park's core zone. At over 257 square kilometers, there is plenty of diverse ground to cover. 

Returning to the lodge at approximately 10am for a full breakfast. The rest of the morning may be spent walking in the buffer zone around the camp, spending time with the local naturalists and speaking with your tour expert about the serious issues surrounding tiger conservation.

In the evenings, return to the lodge, freshen up and meet with the group to discuss the day's sightings followed by evening stargazing.

DAY 10: JOURNEY BACK TO DEHLI

After a leisurely breakfast, you will take a fascinating 3-hour drive back to Nagpur airport, where you will fly back to Delhi. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Delhi (the tour leader can help arrange this) or enjoy some premium relaxation poolside.

DAY 11: DEPART DEHLI

A group transfer will be arranged for the short drive to Delhi Airport for your return flight.

If you wish to see more of this fascinating country, our tour operating partner Intrepid Travel can help arrange further exploration. This could include the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, including the Amber Fort and The Taj Mahal. Please ask for more details.