Ranthambore and Jim Corbett tour
Ranthambore and Jim Corbett are the two best-known tiger reserves within reach of Delhi, and they could hardly look more different. One is dry deciduous forest around old fort walls; the other is sal forest and riverbeds under the Himalayan foothills. A week routed through Delhi lets you see both. Here is how we plan it.
Both reserves connect to Delhi, so Delhi is the hinge. Ranthambore is approximately 380 km to the south-west, roughly 4 to 5 hours by train to Sawai Madhopur or 6 hours by road. Corbett is in Uttarakhand, approximately 250 km to the north-east, roughly 5 to 6 hours by road or a train to Ramnagar. The two are not linked directly in any practical way, so the tour runs Delhi, Ranthambore, back through Delhi, then Corbett, or the reverse.
Day 1: arrive Delhi, evening train to Sawai Madhopur or overnight in Delhi. Day 2: arrive Ranthambore, evening safari. Day 3: morning and evening safaris. Day 4: morning safari, train back to Delhi, overnight. Day 5: drive to Corbett, evening safari where permitted. Day 6: morning safari in Corbett, afternoon drive or a second safari. Day 7: return to Delhi. Adding a night in either reserve makes it eight days and removes most of the rush.
Ranthambore is open, rocky and dry, with lakes, ruins and long lines of sight, which is why it has a reputation for photographable tigers. Corbett is denser and wetter, with tall sal, grasslands along the Ramganga, elephants, and a much larger bird list. Sightings in Corbett are generally less frequent per drive than in Ranthambore, but the forest itself is the reward. Seeing both in one trip is a good lesson in how varied Indian tiger country is.
The permit rules are not the same, and this matters when you plan. Ranthambore permits are issued by the Rajasthan forest department for fixed slots with zones allocated at booking; shared jeep seats are approximately Rs 2,200 to 2,500 per Indian visitor and canter seats approximately Rs 1,500 to 1,600, subject to revision. Corbett is run by the Uttarakhand forest department with its own zones, gates, timings and booking windows, and some zones require an overnight stay inside. We handle the Ranthambore permits ourselves and coordinate the Corbett side with a partner there. No sighting is guaranteed in either park.
November to April is the window when both reserves are fully open and the weather is manageable. Corbett zones open on different dates in the autumn and some close earlier in the summer, so the exact dates matter more there. December and January are cold at dawn in both parks. Ranthambore is hot but productive in April and May; Corbett becomes uncomfortable earlier. The Ranthambore core closes in the monsoon, and Corbett largely does too.
We quote the whole tour or just the Ranthambore section. A full quote covers hotels in both reserves and Delhi, train tickets between Delhi and Sawai Madhopur, a car with driver for the Corbett road legs, safari permits and vehicles in both parks, station and hotel transfers, and naturalists where available. Meals depend on the hotel plans. Pricing is on enquiry because hotel category, safari count in each park, and season all move it; you get a line-item quote.
Serious wildlife travellers and photographers who want to compare two very different tiger habitats in one trip, and overseas visitors flying in and out of Delhi. It is a lot of travel for a first-time visitor who mainly wants monuments; for them the Golden Triangle with Ranthambore is a better shape. Families should allow the eighth day so that no single day is only travel.
Tell us your Delhi dates and we will fix the Ranthambore permits first and coordinate the Corbett leg around them. Sending a request costs nothing.
6-seater gypsy, shared seat or private. From approx. ₹2,200 per Indian visitor.
20-seater shared canter, the lowest cost per seat. From approx. ₹1,500 per Indian visitor.
Send your date, slot, and visitor IDs. We check permit availability and confirm the price.
| Day | Place | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Delhi | Arrival, train to Sawai Madhopur |
| Day 2 | Ranthambore | Arrival, evening safari |
| Day 3 | Ranthambore | Morning and evening safaris |
| Day 4 | Ranthambore to Delhi | Morning safari, train back |
| Day 5 | Delhi to Corbett | Drive approximately 250 km, evening safari |
| Day 6 | Corbett | Morning safari, afternoon drive |
| Day 7 | Corbett to Delhi | Return drive |
| Months | Ranthambore | Corbett |
|---|---|---|
| October | Open, green | Zones opening in stages |
| November to February | Cool, cold mornings | Cool, all main zones open |
| March to April | Warm, good visibility | Warm, good birding |
| May to June | Hot, sightings near water | Hot; some zones close |
| July to September | Core zones closed | Mostly closed |
Not practically. Both connect to Delhi, so the tour runs through Delhi in the middle, approximately 380 km from Ranthambore and 250 km from Corbett.
Six at a minimum, seven comfortably, eight if you want two nights in each reserve without a day that is only travel.
No. Ranthambore permits come from the Rajasthan forest department and Corbett permits from the Uttarakhand forest department, each with its own zones, timings and booking rules.
Ranthambore generally offers more frequent sightings per drive because the terrain is open. Corbett offers a denser forest, elephants and richer birdlife. Neither guarantees a tiger.
We quote on enquiry for the full tour or just the Ranthambore leg, based on hotels, safari count in each park and season.
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