A guided journey by electric bike through the heart of Kipling’s Jungle Book, from the teak forests of Pench National Park to the jungle and meadows of Kanha, both home to a thriving population of Bengal tigers.
- Duration
- 7 nights
- How We Travel
- Electric biking
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Activity Level
Graded between 1 (easiest) and 5 (most challenging). Click for more details
- Bike Type
- Front suspension electric mountain bike
- Price
- £4,740, including a £250 donation to TOFTigers per person
- Group Size
- 12
Journey Highlights
- Cycle with TOFTigers director Vishal Singh through the very forests of Seoni that inspired Kipling to write The Jungle Book, on a wonderful mix of paved and dirt roads amid rolling hills, and expansive deciduous and evergreen jungle.
- Search for elusive Royal Bengal Tigers with expert naturalists on game drives in two of India's most celebrated reserves.
- Wake up to jungle sounds in a range of charming accommodation, from beautifully appointed lodges to our very own luxury campsites.
- Visit village temples, tribal villages and homes, immersing yourself in a laid-back corner of India that very few outsiders are lucky enough to properly experience.
- Dine on exceptional, traditional Indian cuisine and imaginatively conceived local favourites: aromatic, full of flavour and often grown just a few metres from your plate.
Good to Know
- We will donate £250 on behalf of each rider to the charitable work of TOFTigers. Should you wish to support their efforts further we can provide an introduction to Founder Julian Matthews, who can provide more details on the work of the organisation.
- Two nights will be spent camping in jungle clearings in a luxury safari-style manner, with raised beds and private loos and showers for each tent.
- On game drives there is a chance you will see tigers, leopards and other large mammals. However, to increase the odds of an array of wildlife sightings, we recommend extending your stay either before or after the main itinerary. We can help arrange this by working with our partners.
- Although we will see plenty of wildlife on our bike rides - from indigenous species of deer to peacocks and other small mammals and birds - we will, as a group of up to 14 - be making plenty of noise so large mammals will stay away. You should therefore feel perfectly safe riding through the forests.
The Slow Cyclist in the Sub-Continent
In 2010, I cycled from Mumbai to Kolkata, and the experience left a mark on me that has never quite faded. Vast, varied and teeming with life, India captured my imagination and I've longed to return. So it brings me great joy to share this journey with you: our first Slow Cyclist adventure on the Indian subcontinent. Set in the heart of Kipling's Jungle Book, in Madhya Pradesh, this is rural India at its most evocative. We’ll ride in forests of sal and teak, through tribal villages and along dusty tracks that once served as access for royal and aristocratic hunting grounds. Our route winds between two of India’s most celebrated tiger reserves, Pench and Kanha, whose stories of revival are as inspiring as the landscapes themselves. Once heavily logged and stripped of life, these forests have, over the past three decades, been brought back from the brink. Thanks to tireless conservation efforts, they now offer a rare glimpse into what much of India’s wilderness once looked like. Here, we’ll have the chance to encounter not only tigers, leopards, and sloth bears, but also the extraordinary birdlife and the timeless rhythms of tribal communities like the Gonds and Baigas. This is a journey not just through wild landscapes, but into the soul of a place. And there’s no better way to experience it than by bike.
Oli BroomFounder, The Slow Cyclist
The Journey
Our journey takes place in and between two tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh: Pench and Kanha. These great swathes of sal and teak forests once covered large parts of Central India, before being depleted by hunting and timber cultivation. A remarkable restoration has taken place over the last 30 years, and today we can spot a fabulous array of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs and extraordinary birdlife. Between Pench and Kanha, we cycle through the last vestiges of unprotected forests. We will ride on a mix of tarmacked roads, forest trails and dirt tracks – possibly spotting animal prints along the way – and we’ll stop in timeless rural villages and farms. Visiting these communities, you’ll see the challenges they face but also how people are benefitting from tiger conservation and forest restoration.
Is It For Me?
Our journeys are built around friendship, exceptional hospitality and the great outdoors. The term 'Slow Cyclist' has, over the years, come to define something quietly radical: a way of travelling that values depth over speed, connection over convenience, and the joyful rhythm of moving through incredible landscapes under your own steam. We are curious travellers with a bit of juice in our legs, approaching our time on a bike - or on foot - as an opportunity to explore rather than test our fitness. That’s not to say we don’t pedal hard sometimes, just that we are often distracted by the food, history and people that make a place special. If this sounds like you, we're pretty sure you'll love your time exploring the jungles of central India’s Madhya Pradesh with us.
Climate & Weather
For much of the year, travel to Madhya Pradesh is to be avoided due to extreme heat or the monsoon. However, October to March are the best months to visit. Days are typically warm and sunny; you can expect temperatures of between 25-30°C, but this can reach closer to 35°C in March. Nights will be cooler, between 5-10°C. For this half of the year, rural life is active. With the monsoon long gone and the land refreshed, fields are busy with harvests and winter planting. Villagers are very much on the move, out working and socialising, so it’s a great time to be travelling through on a bike and seeing the rhythms of rural life unfold.
The Cycling
We will be cycling on a mix of dirt roads and quiet tarmac backroads, passing through abundant farmland, bustling villages and vast jungles. While car traffic is minimal, you’ll often share the road with bicycles, motorbikes and the occasional bullock cart, all moving at a relatively slow pace. The terrain is mostly gentle, with rolling sections that are well-suited to electric mountain bikes, which we provide as standard. Depending on the strength of the monsoon earlier in the year, there may be short sections that are a little more tricky and, depending on your cycling ability, you may wish to get off and walk. Whether you're a novice or experienced cyclist, our team is adept at reading your confidence and reacting accordingly. As always, this is not about racing; it’s about soaking up the sights, smells and sounds of rural India at a pace that allows for plenty of chai stops, conversations and spontaneous encounters along the way.
Tiger Safari
In 2004, India's tiger population was nearing extinction but, thanks to the work of organisations such as TOFTigers, the country now boasts more than 3,600 tigers. On our journey, we'll visit two tiger reserves in Pench and Kanha National Parks. These forests once covered large parts of India and were teaming with wildlife, before becoming the hunting grounds of the Maharaja and then the British Raj. These areas were degraded by poaching, cattle grazing and timber extraction, but have seen a remarkable restoration over the past 30 years. Today, we have the opportunity to see tigers, leopards, sloth bear, wild dogs and extraordinary birdlife although sightings, particularly of the larger mammals, are not guaranteed and to increase your chances we recommend either filling one or two relaxed afternoons with another game drive or two, or extending your time at the start or end of your journey. That said, on our drives, not only will you see fantastic wildlife, but your contribution will help TOFTigers' ongoing conservation work as well as support neighbouring communities.
Food & Drink
While Indian cuisine can be something of a mystery to first-time visitors, we’ve designed our menus with care. Expect classic Indian dishes alongside local favourites. Food in Madhya Pradesh is full of rich, regional character; it’s flavourful, aromatic and often grown just a few metres from your plate. Many of the vegetables and herbs we use are sourced from our own organic garden, and meals reflect a thoughtful balance between local authenticity and international familiarity. Breakfast might be served on safari in the park, accompanied by fresh coffee, a spread of teas, homemade bread, croissants and biscuits. All meals will be taken in accordance with hygiene requirements set by the Indian government and water provided will be bottled. You’ll have the chance to sample plenty of seasonal fruit and snacks during the day. As always, we cater to dietary requirements.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Wednesday 28 October - Arrival
Transfer 2.5 hours
You will be met on arrival at Nagpur airport and transferred to Pench Tree Lodge, a private camp set in 40 acres of jungle near the boundary of Pench National Park. The lodge has cottages at ground level and tree houses on stilts in the jungle canopy and will be your home for the next two nights. After your long journey to get here, today can be spent at leisure; perhaps you’d like to walk with a naturalist, learn some Indian cooking skills from the lodge chef or relax by the pool. In the evening, by the welcome bonfire, a member of TOFTigers will give a talk on the history of the charity and its vision for the future of tiger conservation in these jungles and across India. Dinner will be at the lodge.
Day 2 - Thursday 29 October - Pench National Park & Surrounding Villages
Cycling 30 kms
This morning we will be up before sunrise for a chance to see tigers, jumping into open-top 4WD vehicles with an expert naturalist and driving to Karmajhiri Gate, where we will enter Pench National Park. We will have a picnic breakfast in the jungle before returning to the lodge in the late morning. After lunch and some rest, this afternoon offers the opportunity to get to know your bike with a short ride along the Pench River. After a briefing on your adventure ahead, dinner will be at Pench Tree Lodge, a live cooking demo with a traditional tandoori oven.
Day 3 - Friday 30 October - Rukhad Gate to nr. Sarrati Reservoir
Cycling 50 kms
Today marks the beginning of our journey from Pench to Kanha. We begin with a 30-minute drive to Rukhad Gate, where we enter the corridor of jungle linking the two national parks. Our route weaves through forests and agricultural valleys, dotted primarily with Gond tribal hamlets. The Gond people have a diverse social profile. Many still lead a close-to-nature lifestyle that includes agriculture and pastoral activities. Their religious practices center on the worship of clan and village deities, alongside ancestor veneration. With virtually no tourism in this area, the local customs and traditions remain strong. After a picnic lunch in a forest house, the afternoon will be spent exploring Sonewani Conservation Reserve by open-top safari vehicle. We'll reach our camp for the night before sunset with plenty of time to see the 150-year-old Teak giant planted in 1867 by British forest officer Dietrich Brandis.
Day 4 - Saturday 31 October - Sarrati Reservoir to the Kanha Plateau
Cycling 45 kms
Mornings in camp are likely to be cool and your hot water bottle will have dipped in temperature, so you may have to drag yourself out from under warm blankets to begin your day in the saddle, but we promise it will be worth the effort. After a camp breakfast, we continue our ride eastwards, our route characterised by cultivated valleys flanked by forested hills and a succession of Gond and other tribal villages. After a picnic lunch in the lush forest, you can relax and enjoy the view on the 1.5-hour open-top safari to our camp for the night. If time permits, we may stop off at a local school, temple or village home for chai. Our second night camping will be spent in a sparse jungle adjacent to a farm owned and run by a young local tribesman and his family.
Day 5 - Sunday 1 November - Kanha Plateau to Baherakhar
Cycling 50 kms
Until now the forests will have mainly been deciduous teak, but today we ride through the enchanting, towering and evergreen sal forests of Kanha. It'll be noticeably less hilly as we spend the morning pedalling through tribal villages, the earthy aroma of the forest combining with the gentle rustling of leaves and the harmonious calls of birds. There will be late morning refreshments in a tribal home, before a late lunch once we arrive at the Bagh Villas for the evening. The permanent luxury tented camp has both a swimming pool and a massage room on the edge of Kanha National Park.
Day 6 - Monday 2 November - Baherakhar to Kanha Earth Lodge
Cycling 55 kms
After breakfast, we hop onto our bikes for the final leg of our epic journey, stopping briefly at the home of an extraordinary woman who has devoted her life to the empowerment of local tribal communities. Her story is one of compassion, resilience, and hope. Our adventure continues to a tribal museum and onwards to the Banjar River for lunch. In the afternoon, we'll soak up the final stretch of our journey through India's forested Central Highlands as we pedal through our final few villages before arriving at Kanha Earth Lodge, our home for our final two nights.
Day 7 - Tuesday 3 November - Kanha National Park
This morning, we will be up before sunrise for another chance to see tigers, jumping into open-top 4WD vehicles with an expert naturalist and driving to Kanha Tiger Reserve. We will have a picnic breakfast in the jungle before returning to the lodge in the late morning. The afternoon can be spent at leisure - there is a lovely pool to relax by. Alternatively, you may wish to do another game drive (at an extra cost) although this will need to be booked well in advance. Dinner will be at Kanha Earth Lodge.
Day 8 - Wednesday 4 November - Departure
After breakfast we will drive you to an airport of your choice: either Nagpur (5 hours) or Jabalpur (4 hours) for your onward domestic journey to either Mumbai or Delhi. If you are on the evening flight from Nagpur to the UK (via Doha), you may wish to enjoy another morning game drive (extra cost) in Kanha, for one last chance to see the Bengal tigers.
Extensions
If you would like to extend your time with us, contact us and we'll be happy to help.
Practical Information
Guiding & Support
This is a fully guided and supported journey, which means we do a lot more than move your bags each day you're on the move. Firstly, you'll be guided by a crack team with a vast array of skills and experience. Vishal Singh is a Director of TOFTigers and will lead your journey throughout, ably supported by a charming cast of drivers, cooks, wildlife guides and camp staff. In addition, a member of The Slow Cyclist team from the UK will act as your host throughout, ensuring your comfort. Finally, although this is, at its heart, a cycling journey, you will be accompanied by a support vehicle so that if things get too much at any point you can be picked up and given a lift.
Accommodation
Our journey begins with two nights at Pench Tree Lodge, a private retreat set amid 40 acres of teak forest with a mix of luxury treehouses and cottages. After two nights in Pench we are on the move, with two nights camping in two different jungle clearings as we move towards Kanha. Tents are large and safari-style, each with two single beds. Behind each one will be a private loo and a private shower. Hot water will be abundant and we will provide hot water bottles and plenty of blankets for chilly nights. Meals will be taken at a communal table arranged outside the tents. As we near Kanha we will spend a night at Bagh Villas, a luxurious tented camp with a yoga platform, massage room and swimming pool. Our final destination is Kanha Earth Lodge, home to 12 comfortable cottages set within 16 acres of pristine forest bordering Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Bikes & Safety
We take your safety seriously. You must wear a helmet when cycling and we cannot accept bookings from anyone unwilling to wear one. The bikes you'll be riding with us are electric mountain bikes. You will be given a brief lesson in how to use them effectively before we start cycling. If you have any technical issues during your time with us, from squeaky brakes to punctures, please let us know and we’ll fix it. And finally, please don’t worry if you feel you are too slow or too fast for others in the group. We have a guide at the front and one at the back precisely for that reason. Please remember, we're not here to race; this is a journey to take time over.
Packing & Reading
Well in advance of your travels we will send you an online Information Pack including various details you need to know in advance. This will include a suggested packing list but also a reading list, should you wish to soak up some of India's - and Madhya Pradesh's - vast literary and conservation history before you arrive.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Pricing & Booking
Price
£4,740, including a £250 donation to TOFTigers per person
Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Single occupancy supplement | £735 |
| Extra Game Drive, 9th December | £300 per jeep (each jeep takes up to 4 people) |
| Extra Game Drive, 10th December | £300 per jeep (each jeep takes up to 4 people) |
We are often told how nice it is that almost everything is paid for up front. So, while you are with us you can, for the most part, forget about your wallet, relax and enjoy yourselves. Included are:
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Support vehicle and luggage transfers
- Guide Vishal Singh, camp staff, drivers and a TSC host
- All accommodation, meals, snacks & soft drinks
- All activities, including 2 x game drives (1 at Pench, 1 at Kanha)
- Hardtail (front suspension) electric bike and helmet
- £250 donation to TOFTigers to support conservation work
- 100% financial security
- Flights
- Personal costs
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips (optional, of course)
- Travel insurance
- Visas (required for most international travellers)
We require a 30% non-refundable deposit on the core trip price (i.e. not on any extras) at the time of booking. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date. Please make sure you are familiar with our Standard Terms & Conditions before booking.
You will receive two emails shortly after booking. First, a payment receipt, then a second email explaining next steps. Within two working days you will then be contacted by a member of our Guest Services team who will look after and advise you in the lead up to your travels.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Flights and Visas
You are responsible for booking and paying for your own flights to and from India. Nagpur can be reached from the UK by flying with Qatar Airways via Doha, although the arrival in Nagpur is very late at night. Alternatively it can be reached via all major Indian gateway cities. If opting for the latter, we advise flying into Nagpur from Mumbai or Delhi, arriving at around 9am. When you leave, you have the choice of flying onwards from either Nagpur (international and domestic flights) or Jabalpur (domestic flights only). If you would like help researching and booking your flights we recommend contacting Liz Rees, who helps many of our guests with their supplementary transport requirements. Her contact details are liz.rees@travelcounsellors.com or +44 7816 936876.
Most visitors to India will require a 30 day tourist visa. Our team will advise how to obtain your visa.
Meeting Point & Transfers
Transfers at the start and end of your journey are included. We will transfer you from Nagpur to Pench Tree Lodge on Day 1. Transfer timings can be flexible but aim to leave Nagpur no later than mid-morning to allow you time to arrive for lunch. On departure, you can choose whether you'd like to be driven to Nagpur or Jabalpur Airport for your onward journey. If you require alternative transport options because you are arriving or leaving earlier or later please contact our team on +44 1865 587 994 and we can arrange this, although we may need to charge extra.
Extend Your Stay in India
From exploring the magnificent forts of Rajasthan, relaxing on Goa's laidback beaches, cruising Kerala's backwaters or trekking in the Himalayas, there are of course endless opportunities to extend your stay in India either before or after your journey with us. Our experienced and knowledgeable partners will take exceptional care of you, so if you wish to discuss this further, please speak to our team to get the conversation started.
Long home to the world's largest population of wild tigers, numbers in India began to fall in the mid-20th century, due to hunting, habitat loss and conflict. Conservation attempts began in the 70s with Project Tiger which saw nine reserves established. Despite early successes, the project faced setbacks in the 1990s and early 2000s and India's tiger population dwindled to just 1,400. A number of NGOs have also been established to work alongside the Indian government and protect the endangered species. One such organisation is TOFTigers, our partners for this journey. Founded by conservationist and sustainable travel advocate Julian Matthews, the charity advocates for responsible, well-managed tourism, demonstrating that it can be a force for good and benefitting both wildlife and bordering communities. ‘Tigernomics’ is the concept at the heart of TOFTigers: the idea that tigers are valuable for the economy and that their habitats are beneficial for the ecosystem, therefore encouraging local people and companies to protect the animals. The charity works with over 300 lodges, travel companies and other tourism providers to embed sustainability into India's tourism, ensuring that money stays in local hands and conservation efforts continue to be funded. There are now 53 tiger reserves and over 700 protected areas in India. Most importantly, the number of Royal Bengal tigers in India has gone from around 1,400 to over 3,600, and the population in Nepal has doubled. Communities around the reserves who were once marginalised now have access to jobs and opportunities that they never had before.
Unique Experiences
Travel is so often commoditised and unimaginative. We are the antidote, taking time to create beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind experiences to places that excite us.
Community & Connection
We cherish personal relationships and friendships and seek to strengthen cross-cultural bonds, respecting and supporting those who enter our orbit. All must feel our impact is positive.
Dedication to Excellence
We design experiences with passion, flair and innovation. We seek continual improvement, to offer the best experience possible.
Care for the Planet
We travel with a light footprint and we seek ways to protect and celebrate Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems.
Charitable Giving
Each year, we donate 1% of our revenue to a variety of causes across our destinations and in the UK, each aligning with our values.
Where It All Began...
It all began with a 28,000km cycle to Australia. Founder Oli Broom fell in love with watching the world roll by under his wheels and wanted to share that joy with others. Read more.