Dreaming of a wildlife adventure without the stress of planning? IRCTC's all-inclusive wildlife tour packages from Mumbai offer a seamless way to explore Maharashtra's famed tiger reserves. Here’s what you need to know about these curated trips.
Your Gateway to Maharashtra's Wilderness
In partnership
with the Maharashtra Forest Department, IRCTC has launched a series of wildlife tour packages branded as 'Vandarshan'. These tours are designed to make wildlife tourism more accessible for residents of Mumbai and nearby areas by bundling travel, accommodation, and safari logistics into a single, convenient package. The initiative primarily focuses on the rich biodiversity of the Vidarbha region, which is home to several key tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. These organised trips are ideal for families, photographers, and anyone looking to experience nature without the hassle of coordinating multiple bookings for trains, hotels, and jungle safaris.
Featured Destinations from Mumbai
The Vandarshan packages from Mumbai cover some of Maharashtra’s most prominent wildlife hotspots. IRCTC has curated five distinct itineraries, each designed as a four-night, five-day tour. These packages often combine a major tiger reserve with a nearby sanctuary, offering a diverse wildlife experience. Key destinations include Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, famous for its high tiger density, Pench National Park, Bor Tiger Reserve, Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Umred-Paoni-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. For example, one package might pair Tadoba with Bor, while another combines Pench with Umred-Paoni-Karhandla, allowing travellers to choose based on their interests.
What's Included in a Typical Package?
The main appeal of these packages is their all-inclusive nature. A typical IRCTC wildlife tour from Mumbai covers most of the essential costs. This includes confirmed return train tickets, usually on the Vidarbha Express, with options for 2AC or 3AC classes. Upon arrival, the package includes accommodation in hotels or resorts, local road transfers between the railway station, hotel, and safari gates in an AC or non-AC vehicle, and most meals as specified in the itinerary (often breakfast and dinner). Crucially, the packages also include the jungle safari permits and the guided safari experience itself, which can often be difficult to book independently during peak seasons. Travel insurance is also frequently part of the deal.
Understanding the Exclusions
While comprehensive, the packages do not cover every expense. Travellers should budget for items of a personal nature, such as laundry, shopping, or telephone charges. Meals not explicitly mentioned in the itinerary, particularly lunch during sightseeing or meals on the train, are usually an extra cost. Additionally, entrance fees for still or video cameras, which are charged separately by forest departments at the entry gates of national parks, are not included. Tips for hotel staff, drivers, and safari guides are also at the traveller's discretion and are not part of the package price.
How to Book Your Wildlife Tour
Booking an IRCTC wildlife tour is a straightforward process done entirely online. You can visit the official IRCTC Tourism website, www.irctctourism.com, to get started. On the site, you can search for 'Packages' and filter by your origin city (Mumbai) or search directly for terms like 'Vandarshan' or specific destinations like 'Tadoba'. Each tour package has a detailed page with information on the itinerary, inclusions, exclusions, and cost. Prices often start from around ₹29,500 per person and vary based on the itinerary and accommodation class. Due to limited availability, especially with only a set number of train berths allocated for each tour, it is advisable to book well in advance.
