5N / 6D Hills & Wildlife Uttarakhand

Nainital & Jim Corbett

Nainital · Jim Corbett — A lake and a jungle in one easy loop from Delhi — Nainital for the boating and the Kumaon hill air, then down to Jim Corbett, India's oldest national park, for the jeep safaris. It is one of the most accessible wildlife breaks in the country, which is exactly why we're honest about the one thing that matters: tiger sightings are never guaranteed. Corbett is dense forest and its tigers are shy; the safari is a genuine thrill of tracking and birdlife and terrain, and any sighting is a bonus, not a promise. Zones and safari permits are limited and booked ahead.

Duration5N / 6D

StartsDelhi / Kathgodam

EndsDelhi

Best seasonNovember to June

Ideal forFamilies · first-time wildlife · lake-and-jungle short breaks

Duration: 5N / 6D
Cities: Nainital, Jim Corbett (Ramnagar)
States: Uttarakhand
Distance: ~600 km round trip from Delhi
Start → End: Delhi / Kathgodam → Delhi
Transport: Private air-conditioned car; jeep safari inside the park
Hotels: 3★ / 4★ hill hotels & jungle resorts
Meals: Breakfast & dinner (MAP)
Best season: November to June
Ideal for: Families · first-time wildlife · lake-and-jungle short breaks

Day by day

Complete itinerary

Tap any day to expand. Drive distances and times are realistic approximations, stated up front and traffic-dependent — never hidden.

Day 1 Delhi → NainitalDelhi → Nainital

Route: Delhi → Nainital
Distance: ~300 km
Travel time: ~7 hrs (approx.)
Mode: Private car (or train to Kathgodam + drive)
Depart: Early
Arrive: Afternoon
Alternative: Kathgodam rail option shortens the drive

EarlyDepart Delhi (or train to Kathgodam & drive up)
AfternoonArrive Nainital & check-in
05:00 PMNaini Lake boating & the Mall Road

Up from the plains to the Kumaon hills. Many travellers take the train to Kathgodam and drive the last stretch, which is gentler than the full road journey. The reward on arrival is the Naini Lake at the softest hour — a boat on the water, the Mall coming to life along the shore.

✓ Naini Lake boating✓ Mall Road

🛏 Overnight: Nainital

Day 2 Nainital sightseeingNaina Devi → the lakes

09:00 AMNaina Devi temple by the lake
10:30 AMSnow View Point by ropeway
12:30 PMTiffin Top / Land's End viewpoints
03:00 PMThe lake district — Bhimtal & Naukuchiatal

A full Nainital day. The lakeside Naina Devi temple and the ropeway to Snow View — clear days reveal the high Himalaya — are the classics; in the afternoon the quieter satellite lakes of Bhimtal and Naukuchiatal give the busy town some breathing room. Gentle, scenic and family-easy.

✓ Naina Devi✓ Snow View ropeway✓ Bhimtal & Naukuchiatal

🛏 Overnight: Nainital

Day 3 Nainital → Jim CorbettNainital → Corbett

Route: Nainital → Jim Corbett (Ramnagar)
Distance: ~65 km
Travel time: ~2h30m (approx.)
Mode: Private car
Depart: 10:00 AM
Arrive: 12:30 PM
Alternative: Corbett Museum & Garjia temple en route

10:00 AMDepart for Corbett
12:30 PMArrive & jungle-resort check-in
03:00 PMCorbett Museum (Jim Corbett's old home) & Garjia Devi temple
06:00 PMRiverside evening at the resort

Down out of the hills to the forest edge at Ramnagar. The afternoon is gentle — the little museum in Jim Corbett's former home, the riverside Garjia temple — saving your energy for the early safari tomorrow. Corbett's resorts sit along the Kosi river, and the evening is best spent simply listening to the jungle.

✓ Corbett Museum✓ Garjia temple✓ Kosi riverside

🛏 Overnight: Corbett

Day 4 Corbett — jeep safariBijrani / Jhirna zone

06:00 AMMorning jeep safari (zone as per permit)
10:00 AMBreakfast & rest
01:00 PMLeisure at the resort
03:00 PMOptional second safari or a nature walk

The heart of the trip. An early-morning jeep safari into one of Corbett's buffer zones (Bijrani, Jhirna or Dhela, by permit) — the best hours for wildlife, with elephant, deer, langur, crocodile and superb birdlife along the grasslands and riverbeds. We say it plainly: the tiger is present but shy, and a sighting is a stroke of luck rather than a scheduled event. The safari is a genuine pleasure either way.

✓ Morning jeep safari✓ Grassland & riverbeds✓ Rich birdlife

🛏 Overnight: Corbett

Day 5 Corbett — second safari / leisurePark zone / resort

06:00 AMOptional second morning safari (different zone)
10:00 AMBreakfast
AfternoonResort leisure — pool, river, nature trail
EveningFarewell dinner

A second safari in a different zone genuinely improves the odds and shows a new stretch of the park — well worth it for keen wildlife-watchers. Those who'd rather slow down can spend the day at the riverside resort. Either way it is an unhurried final full day before the drive back.

✓ Second safari (optional)✓ Riverside resort✓ Nature trail

🛏 Overnight: Corbett

Day 6 Corbett → DelhiCorbett → Delhi

Route: Jim Corbett → Delhi
Distance: ~250 km
Travel time: ~6 hrs (approx.)
Mode: Private car
Depart: After breakfast
Arrive: —
Alternative: Ramnagar rail option available

BreakfastAt the resort
—Drive back to Delhi (or train from Ramnagar)

The drive back to Delhi, around six hours, or the train from nearby Ramnagar if that suits your onward plans better. A last morning of jungle air before the plains.

✓ Return to Delhi

Where you stay

Hotels

Destination	Nights	Category	Meal plan
Nainital	2	3★ / 4★	Breakfast + dinner
Jim Corbett	3	3★ / 4★ jungle resort	Breakfast + dinner

Specific hotels are confirmed against your dates and budget at quotation — we never claim a named property is included unless your package explicitly specifies it.

Meals

What's included, day by day

Day	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Day 1 · Delhi → Nainital	—	Optional	Optional
Day 2 · Nainital sightseeing	✓	Optional	Optional
Day 3 · Nainital → Jim Corbett	✓	Optional	Optional
Day 4 · Corbett — jeep safari	✓	Optional	Optional
Day 5 · Corbett — second safari / leisure	✓	Optional	Optional
Day 6 · Corbett → Delhi	✓	Optional	Optional

✓ Included · Optional add-on · — not included. Meal plan (CP / MAP / AP) is configurable per booking.

Inclusions

What's in the price

✓Accommodation on twin sharing
✓Breakfast & dinner (MAP)
✓All transfers by private air-conditioned car
✓One jeep safari with permit & naturalist (as per itinerary)
✓Toll, parking & driver allowance
✓Applicable taxes (GST)

Exclusions

Not included

✕Train fares & any flights
✕Additional safaris & zone permits
✕Ropeway, boating & entry fees
✕Lunches & personal expenses
✕Travel insurance
✕Anything not listed under inclusions

Good to know

Important information

•Tiger sightings at Corbett are never guaranteed — it is dense forest and the tigers are shy. The safari is rewarding for its terrain, birds and other wildlife regardless.
•Safari permits and zones (Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, Dhikala) are limited and booked in advance; the assigned zone depends on availability.
•Corbett's core Dhikala zone has separate rules and seasonal closures; buffer zones stay open longer. Monsoon (roughly mid-Jun to mid-Nov) closes several zones.
•Carry a government photo ID for safari permits, plus neutral clothing and binoculars.
•The Delhi–Nainital road day is long (~7 hrs); the Kathgodam/Ramnagar trains are a comfortable alternative.

Who is this for

Ideal travellers

👨‍👩‍👧Family

💑Honeymoon

👴Seniors

👥Friends

🏢Corporate

🧳Solo

Make it yours

Customize this trip

Change hotel category · add or remove nights · extend the route · upgrade transport · add flights, activities, meals or travel insurance. This is the default; almost everything is configurable.

Pricing

Starting from

Figures on enquiry · priced for your dates

On enquiry / per person · twin sharing

We price the real configuration — your exact party, dates, hotel category and inclusions — rather than publish an average that changes the moment you ask.

Occupancy	Price / person
Single occupancy	—
Double / twin sharing (per person)	—
Triple sharing (per person)	—
Child with bed	—
Child without bed	—

Price varies with travel dates, hotel availability, season, number of travellers and selected inclusions. The occupancy grid above is the live structure; figures populate from configurable pricing fields — never hard-coded.

Questions

Package FAQs

Will we see a tiger?

Honestly, maybe — and anyone who promises otherwise is not being straight. Corbett has a healthy tiger population but dense cover, so sightings are luck. A second safari improves the odds. The jungle, birds and other wildlife make it worthwhile either way.

How many safaris should we book?

One is included; we recommend two across different zones if wildlife is your priority, since each zone shows a different landscape and improves your chances.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes — it is one of India's most family-friendly wildlife breaks. The lake at Nainital and the jungle resort both work well for kids; safaris are open to children with the usual park rules.

When is the park open?

Buffer zones run most of the year; the core Dhikala zone and some others close during the monsoon (roughly mid-June to mid-November). November–June is the reliable window, with summer best for sightings near water.

Can we start from the train instead of driving?

Yes — many travellers take the train to Kathgodam (for Nainital) or Ramnagar (for Corbett) and we drive the rest. It is more comfortable than the full road journey; we'll build it around your tickets.

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