Mumbai: on the surface, nowhere could be more strikingly different from the rest of your trip than this mile-a-minute megacity. For us, the contrast is delicious – from the fishing docks at dawn to massive open-air laundries and old textile mills. Watching life go by, waiting to see what unexpected encounters change the course of your day is the best way to go beyond Mumbai’s landmarks.

Of course, Mumbai is a little bigger and more crowded than a national park, but with one of our expert local guides to show you the ropes and demystify the culture, it’s every bit as mesmerizing.

Today, begin your wildlife immersion as you make the journey to Bandhavgarh: India’s premier destination for tiger-watching. In no other park are sightings more common, but tigers are far from the only attraction. Here, as throughout your trip, it’s about the whole wildlife experience – and that begins at your lodge. In between safaris, there’s a whole raft of extra activities to choose from. Head out on guided nature walks to appreciate the smaller wonders of the jungle (animal tracks, medicinal plants, butterflies), opt for a cooking class with the lodge’s chef, go birdwatching at dusk with an in-house naturalist, or take a guided visit to a local tribal village.

Far larger and less visited than Bandhavgarh, Kanha provides a new cast of characters and an altogether quieter, more secluded experience. The setting of your lodge here is straight out of an Indian fairytale: right on the River Banjar, with lantern-strung verandas from which you can watch sambar deer drinking or birds skimming on the water. Quiet luxury and a connection to nature is the ethos here, with plenty of time in between safaris to enjoy your surroundings, practice yoga, or meet the indigenous Baiga and Gond people who still live on the fringes of Kanha. Jeep safaris in the early morning, afternoon, and evening ensure your best chances of seeing the whole range of local wildlife.

Completing your triumvirate of national parks is Pench. Primarily teak forest, with a great lake at its heart, it’s a totally different kind of landscape from sal-dense Bandhavgarh or Kanha. As in the other parks, however, your lodge is absolutely at the heart of the experience, providing a menu of extracurricular activities to fill your time between safaris. As well as nature walks and birdwatching, that means horse riding or cycling through the lodge’s 38-acre ecological park, exploring the lodge’s organic farm and joining in a cooking session, or gathering around a campfire under a blanket of stars for an evening of storytelling. Jeep safaris into the park are just the icing on the cake.

After a final morning to relax at your safari lodge, it’s onwards to Delhi for one night before your flight home. You’ll be arriving fairly late in the day, but your accommodation by the airport is luxurious, with all the facilities you need to unwind after a long afternoon traveling.