Day 1:Arrive at Camp Forktail Creek

Arrive at Camp Forktail Creek by lunch. After wash and change and a sumptuous lunch, we would take you on an escorted nature and bird walk into the Sal forests surrounding camp. It is an excellent opportunity to walk in the cool of the forest, to be so close to nature and to appreciate the varied plants, insects, birds, mammals and reptiles that inhabit this part of the country. THE QUIETER YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU WILL SEE.

Back to camp by sundown for campfire followed by dinner, which is leisurely and personal. Along with the excellent cuisine, your guide and hosts will amuse and amaze you with their stories of exciting experiences. Then it is time to relax once again and enjoy carefree chatter by the fireside whilst feasting on the unique sounds and smells that your exclusive location offers, before retiring to bed with only canvas separating you from the Indian jungles.

Day 2: Camp Forktail Creek to Lohachaur

Early morning depart for the Durgadevi gate by jeeps. Meet the "Lord of the jungle" with the mahouts and enter the Tiger Reserve through the Durgadevi Gate. The journey on elephant back takes us through a stretch of about 16 kms through the Ramganga valley to Lohachaur - an old forest rest house built in the early 1900's. We will pass some excellent patches of fern laden, moist sub tropical jungles and would encounter a variety of wildlife and birds. Lunch is served at Domunda - the confluence of the Ramganga and Mandal rivers. Post lunch we trudge up the Mandal valley where we visit the 'Chunars' - a hill tribe who carve pots out of wood.

Arrive at Lohachaur by evening. Overnight in the forest rest house / safari tents.

Day 3: At Lohachaur

Early morning elephant safari along the Mandal River and then back to the FRH for breakfast. Drive to Domunda post breakfast for angling on the Ramganga River. The Ramganga River is famous for the "mighty Mahasheer" - a great sport fish. Other fish found in these waters include the Goonch and Malee.

Picnic lunch, specially prepared by our chef, by the river. Post lunch join the elephants for a dip in the river - as we get deeper in the forest and find a river pool deep enough, it is time to bathe the elephants a must participate activity of the safari and of course an enthralling experience. Clambering about on elephant terrain we scrub away every square inch. One purpose of such care is hygiene, to keep the animals free of parasites and to cleanse any scrapes or wounds to ward of infections, but more than anything else to reinforce the bond between the titans and us humans. 

Back to Lohachaur FRH for a refreshing cup of tea. The remainder of the day can be spent bantering and sharing stores with the mahouts and naturalists.

Overnight in the forest rest house / safari tents.

Day 4: Lohachaur to Kanda

Depart early morning, upstream along the Mandal River towards Maidavan chowki. The Mandal River forms a part of the northern boundary of the Tiger Reserve. We would have packed breakfast on the way and then travel on through small hamlets and patches of thick Sal forest to arrive at Maidavan chowki. Lunch is served at Maidavan, post, which we drive in jeeps to Kanda the highest forest rest house in the Tiger Reserve. Kanda is located atop a ridge on the Shivalik ranges and is at an altitude of about 1100m. It commands a breathtaking view of the Dhikala "chaur" - grasslands and the Ramganga reservoir.

Overnight in the forest rest house/safari tents.

Day 5: Kanda to Dhikala and back

Early morning game drive into the national park with a packed breakfast. Explore the grassland and some excellent Sal forests on the drive to Dhikala. Lunch at Dhikala and evening game drive back to Kanda.

Overnight in the forest rest house/ safari tents.

Day 6: Kanda to Halduparao (Palain Valley)

Early morning breakfast and depart by jeeps to the Vatanvasa Gate, where we meet the elephants with their mahouts. Once on the elephants we carry on downstream along the Palain River. This is elephant country - in addition to the typical wildlife in the region be ready to spot herds of wild elephants!

Arrive at the Haldupardao forest rest house by noon. Post lunch a game drive into the Sonanadi wildlife sanctuary - a buffer sanctuary to the Corbett National Park.

Overnight in the forest rest house and safari tents.

Day 7: At Haldupardao

Early morning, elephant safari along the Palain River and then back to Halduparao FRH for breakfast. Post breakfast travel by elephants/ jeeps to a Gujjar dera (a Gujjar settlement). The Gujjars are a semi nomadic tribe that coexist in these forest. They are cattle herdsmen and provide milk to small towns nearby. They depend on these forests for cattle fodder - one of the main reasons they face criticism from those around. They are warm people and are great hosts - we could spend the rest of the afternoon with them, sharing experiences of their lifestyles and listening to their jungle lore.
Back to Halduparao FRH by evening.

* One could optionally choose to live a night with the Gujjars in their "dera".

Day 8: Depart for Delhi

Bid goodbye to the elephants, mahouts, naturalists and the rest of the team and depart for your onward destination after breakfast. Packed lunch would be provided for your journey.

Each elephant would only carry two persons. Our resident naturalist, cooks and camp staff would escort the whole trip. Game drives would be in by 4X4 jeeps.

The costs include all boarding, lodging and all activities as mentioned in the tour plan. Mineral water and aerated drinks are included in the cost, however alcoholic beverages and other such expenses of personal nature are not included in the cost.

For those with not so much time in hand, please refer to a shorter version of the same trip for 3 nights and 4 days.