What a tiger safari in India costs
The honest version, including the parts most operators leave off the headline number.
2027 rate card
What each journey costs
| Journey | With Lala | With a naturalist |
|---|---|---|
| A Tryst With Tigers — full-day permits | USD 9,000 | USD 7,900 |
| A Tryst With Tigers — regular permits | USD 5,300 | USD 4,400 |
| South India | USD 3,500 | USD 2,700 |
| Bandhavgarh — park stay | — | USD 1,200 |
| Kanha — park stay | — | USD 1,100 |
| Ranthambore — park stay | — | USD 1,500 |
| Tadoba — park stay | — | USD 1,300 |
| Kabini — park stay | — | USD 900 |
| Bandipur — park stay | — | USD 900 |
| Tiger Thali Tour | On enquiry | On enquiry |
Per person. The journeys are priced on a group of seven; Kabini and Bandipur on a group of eight. South India is itinerary-built — ask us for the detail.
Where the money goes
Four things you are actually paying for
A safari price looks opaque because it bundles four unrelated markets: park permits, a vehicle with a driver and a forest-department guide, a bed, and the person hosting you. They move independently, which is why two operators quoting the same park can differ by a factor of three.
Permits are the least negotiable. India's tiger reserves release a fixed number of core-zone vehicle permits per slot, and a full-day permit — which is what we buy — costs considerably more than the standard morning or afternoon drive because it occupies a vehicle's place for the whole day.
Lodging is where most of the spread lives. The same park has beds at every level, and the difference between a mid-range lodge and a premium one is far larger than the difference in the safari itself.
Itemised
What a per-person price includes
| Item | Included | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day safari permits | Yes | Core zone, the whole day rather than two short drives |
| Vehicle, driver, forest guide | Yes | Shared within your group only |
| Lodging | Yes | Tier confirmed per itinerary |
| All meals in the parks | Yes | While you're in the parks |
| Internal transfers | Yes | Airport to lodge and between parks |
| Domestic flights | On enquiry | Depends on the route |
| International flights | No | Booked by you |
| Visa | No | We help with the paperwork |
| Camera hire | No | Bring your own; see the gear page |
| Tips | No | Guidance given before you travel |
The questions people email
About the money
Why is a full-day permit more expensive?
It occupies a core-zone vehicle slot for the entire day rather than a three-hour window, and the reserves price it accordingly. What you get for it is the middle of the day, when almost every other vehicle has left the park.
Do you publish prices?
We intend to. Publishing beats withholding in this category: 'cost' is the third thing Google's autocomplete suggests for 'tiger safari india', and buyers who cannot find a number generally leave rather than write.
What currency do you quote in?
We quote international guests in USD or GBP and Indian guests in INR; a single rupee figure on an international page is a conversion problem for the customer rather than for us.
When do I have to pay?
We confirm the deposit and balance schedule when we quote your dates. See the cancellation policy for what happens if plans change.
Ask for a quote instead
Until the published rates exist, the fastest route to a real number is to describe the trip.