Vanasafaris
Vanasafaris
5
Paint & Pottery StudiosCultural ToursCooking ClassesPrivate ToursFood ToursNature & Wildlife Tours
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
Full view
About
Avijit & Monika created Vana Safaris to share their knowledge and enthusiasm of their homeland with discerning travelers. They offer international tour operators & direct clients slow experiential tours lead by expert guides & a experienced set of handlers.
Avijit is a naturalist & Monika is foodie, a destination expert - they work with a small team of specialists who help run the Vana Safaris.
New Delhi, India
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5.0
8 reviews
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KellieMcK
Belmont, CA289 contributions
Mar 2022
My two safaris with Avijit Sarkel from Vanasafari are highlights of my life. They were both perfect in every respect. I wouldn't change a thing!
I traveled with Avi in a group of about 12 people on a tiger safari in India in March 2015 and a safari in Nepal in March 2018. In addition to safaris in 3 tiger reserves, we visited the incomparable Taj Mahal. In addition to the safari in Nepal, we did sightseeing in Kathmandu and took a breathtaking sightseeing flight over the Himalayas including an amazing view of Mount Everest. Some photos from my trips are included in this review.
Avi is amazing at creating trips that match the needs and interests of his clients. He takes care of every detail and all the accommodations and food are top notch. In addition, he has an incredible knowledge of the animals and where to go to see them and how to best view them. He is also a world class photographer. Avi is also a great person and a lot of fun.
I highly recommend Avijit Sarkel from Vanasafari for any trip to India especially a safari. It will be a highlight of your life as it is for me.
I traveled with Avi in a group of about 12 people on a tiger safari in India in March 2015 and a safari in Nepal in March 2018. In addition to safaris in 3 tiger reserves, we visited the incomparable Taj Mahal. In addition to the safari in Nepal, we did sightseeing in Kathmandu and took a breathtaking sightseeing flight over the Himalayas including an amazing view of Mount Everest. Some photos from my trips are included in this review.
Avi is amazing at creating trips that match the needs and interests of his clients. He takes care of every detail and all the accommodations and food are top notch. In addition, he has an incredible knowledge of the animals and where to go to see them and how to best view them. He is also a world class photographer. Avi is also a great person and a lot of fun.
I highly recommend Avijit Sarkel from Vanasafari for any trip to India especially a safari. It will be a highlight of your life as it is for me.
Written 14 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Kellie,
What a pleasure to host you twice. And the memories of those travels always remain fresh in the mind. Thank you for your kindness, time & thanks again for this wonderful review. Will look forward to your next meeting - wherever it be.
Written 22 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarayu Kamat
Mumbai, India125 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
We have been travelling with Vanasafaris for over 10 years now - with family and with friends. They are amazing at designing the tours as per our requirements and truly give us experiences that very few other tour operators will offer. We love our natural and cultural heritage. This is exactly what Vanasafaris has been able to give - experiences that touch our hearts and keep wanting for more.
We do two trips every year with Vanasafaris - and we have covered North East, Kashmir, Andamans, Khajuraho, Rann of Katchh, Sunderbans, Shantiniketan, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Vrindavan, Mathura, Sarnath, Varanasi Kannauj, Kaziranga, and more. The diversity that Vanasafaris is able to offer with indepth understanding of the area and the perfect guides makes our experiences truly enriching.
The last trip we did was to the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland where all the tribes from Nagaland come to showcase their culture - their dances, the way they live and their food. Sharing recent pictures at the Hornbill Festival
We do two trips every year with Vanasafaris - and we have covered North East, Kashmir, Andamans, Khajuraho, Rann of Katchh, Sunderbans, Shantiniketan, Ayodhya, Lucknow, Vrindavan, Mathura, Sarnath, Varanasi Kannauj, Kaziranga, and more. The diversity that Vanasafaris is able to offer with indepth understanding of the area and the perfect guides makes our experiences truly enriching.
The last trip we did was to the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland where all the tribes from Nagaland come to showcase their culture - their dances, the way they live and their food. Sharing recent pictures at the Hornbill Festival
Written 24 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yamini
2 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
Going with friends is always a pleasure. Added to that, trip curated by Vana safaris is abslolute bonus. Avijeet and his team do an exemplary job of curating all our trips. Hornbill festival was one to remember.
From boarding our flight till we return everything runs like a well.oiled machine. The homestay and hotels are very comfortable. He chooses such unique ones to stay in.
Since most of us are veges and vegans, he takes extra care to make sure we get the right food which is very important. It helps us stay healthy throughout the trip.
Through Vana Safaris we see our holidays as heaven on earth.
Looking fwd to more trips with Vana safaris.
Very very highly recommended for those to want to holiday different
Regards
Yamini Ravichandran
From boarding our flight till we return everything runs like a well.oiled machine. The homestay and hotels are very comfortable. He chooses such unique ones to stay in.
Since most of us are veges and vegans, he takes extra care to make sure we get the right food which is very important. It helps us stay healthy throughout the trip.
Through Vana Safaris we see our holidays as heaven on earth.
Looking fwd to more trips with Vana safaris.
Very very highly recommended for those to want to holiday different
Regards
Yamini Ravichandran
Written 25 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin.C.H
2 contributions
Nov 2021
I’ve been travelling to India for over forty years, usually visiting twice a year, and have visited many places as well as some favourite places again and again Usually I arranged the trips myself.
However there are areas where this is not easy, especially in little visited places.
This is when I started using Vana safaris.
I have certainly seen many things which I would never have seen if I hadn’t travelled with Vana safaris, have had rare experiences and I am about to do another trip with them.
Another trip to India’s NE to some areas I certainly would not feel confident in trying to organise myself.
Vana Safaris have a great deal of experience in this area of India. A lot of thought research goes into the plans.
In recent years I have also used Vana Safaris to organise trips to well known historic sites in South India, Maharashtra and Gujarat. This has made it so much easier for me.
Vana safaris is a small company so one has personal individual attention and they make a real effort to very much tailor the holidays according to their customer’s requirements and tastes.
I throughly recommend them, whether one’s interests are wildlife, historic sites, other cultural riches, including textiles, or Indian cuisine.
However there are areas where this is not easy, especially in little visited places.
This is when I started using Vana safaris.
I have certainly seen many things which I would never have seen if I hadn’t travelled with Vana safaris, have had rare experiences and I am about to do another trip with them.
Another trip to India’s NE to some areas I certainly would not feel confident in trying to organise myself.
Vana Safaris have a great deal of experience in this area of India. A lot of thought research goes into the plans.
In recent years I have also used Vana Safaris to organise trips to well known historic sites in South India, Maharashtra and Gujarat. This has made it so much easier for me.
Vana safaris is a small company so one has personal individual attention and they make a real effort to very much tailor the holidays according to their customer’s requirements and tastes.
I throughly recommend them, whether one’s interests are wildlife, historic sites, other cultural riches, including textiles, or Indian cuisine.
Written 22 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Robin Cosmo H..so very kind of you to post a review. North-eastern India or other remote areas are indeed a challenge and it makes us happy to be able to organise tours into this area which is still an almost virgin forest.
Look forward to many more journeys to the beautiful forests.
Thank you
Vana Safaris
Written 23 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kristen Mori
3 contributions
Feb 2025 • Friends
Cannot say enough good things about my experience with Vana Safaris. Every need was taken care of, and our guides went above and beyond. They were very knowledgeable about the local wildlife. When I return to India, I'll definitely be using Vana again!
Written 10 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
peter19492015
Sydney, Australia9 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
My wife and I joined 5 others on a 16-day textile tour of Gujarat. It was outstanding in every respect. We visited major collections, exhibitions and many craftsmen and women plying their traditional skills in often very remote corners of Gujarat. Visiting weavers, dyers, block makers, embroiderers, cultural and teaching institutions, block printers, tie dyers, collectors, historic sites and specialist shops.
It was a wonderful deep dive into the culture of Gujarat through the lens of textiles but also enjoying the landscape, hospitality, lifestyle and food of this wonderful area.
We were received very warmly into the workshops and homes of very humble but outstanding craftspeople and had the opportunity to purchase their textiles. They were sometimes amongst the last people practicing a particular technique, such as double ikat weaving, and it a privilege to be able to support their work and their exceptional skills - often gained over many generations of a single family.
The organisation of the tour by Vanasafaris was exceptional as were the guides and accommodation.
We were generally the only foreigners in many places we visited and it felt like travelling some 50 years ago where we were greeted warmly by local people in the streets and villages.
The whole experience was rich, authentic, rewarding and very humbling.
It was a wonderful deep dive into the culture of Gujarat through the lens of textiles but also enjoying the landscape, hospitality, lifestyle and food of this wonderful area.
We were received very warmly into the workshops and homes of very humble but outstanding craftspeople and had the opportunity to purchase their textiles. They were sometimes amongst the last people practicing a particular technique, such as double ikat weaving, and it a privilege to be able to support their work and their exceptional skills - often gained over many generations of a single family.
The organisation of the tour by Vanasafaris was exceptional as were the guides and accommodation.
We were generally the only foreigners in many places we visited and it felt like travelling some 50 years ago where we were greeted warmly by local people in the streets and villages.
The whole experience was rich, authentic, rewarding and very humbling.
Written 28 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally E
Sydney, Australia11 contributions
Nov 2024 • Friends
Avijit and his team of excellent guides
( Nirav and Pravin) and every Vana Safaris team member made our 3 weeks in Gujarat extraordinary for our group of 8 textile enthusiasts.
Notable:
Meeting the families of expert crafts people in their workshop homes in traditional villages.
Variety of excellent unique accommodation - old merchant house sensitively updated /safari mud brick cottages/ a 1930’s palace/ 150 yr old family home set around courtyard oasis.
( Nirav and Pravin) and every Vana Safaris team member made our 3 weeks in Gujarat extraordinary for our group of 8 textile enthusiasts.
Notable:
Meeting the families of expert crafts people in their workshop homes in traditional villages.
Variety of excellent unique accommodation - old merchant house sensitively updated /safari mud brick cottages/ a 1930’s palace/ 150 yr old family home set around courtyard oasis.
Written 25 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
June A
4 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
In 2003 I decided to go to India. I must admit , I was apprehensive as well as excited . Would I be safe travelling as a single female? I had food-allergies - how would I cope with the food?
I needn’t have worried at all. The group I joined - met the tour leader & naturalist who would curate my holidays for several years. The now owner of Vana Safaris, ( formed in 2016) , Avijit Sarkhel(Avi) was the perfect tour leader and ensured that everything went well & we were safe at all the places we visited- the glorious Taj Mahal, at sunrise & when the full moon lit up this breathtaking building. He went out of his way making the holiday very special, taking us to small villages - well before this was a trend - to see the real India where the children were so excited to see their photos on our cameras and were rather taken aback that I was so tall with “yellow” hair!
All the hotels and palaces in which we stayed were to a high standard - clean , comfortable and serving great food wherever we went. Nothing was too much of a bother.
I was surprised at how at peace India made me feel despite the fact that we visited bustling cities. What strikes you are the vibrant colours, glorious sandstone buildings - a photographer’s paradise. Although I enjoy architecture, the rural visits , birds and wildlife got me hooked!
I have been travelling with Avi for several years as he made his way towards setting up his own company , Vana Safaris. It is a superb company especially for those of us who want a tailor made holiday, staying in a palace in Rajasthan or in the heart of a forest in a beautiful tent & driving around in search of the stunning tigers & other wildlife.
India is a magical country, with lovely people, architecture and fantastic wildlife. The food is amazing!
We always come home feeling relaxed, excited and so much better educated in a new culture
If you want 5* holidays, choose Vana Safaris. You will not be disappointed!
I needn’t have worried at all. The group I joined - met the tour leader & naturalist who would curate my holidays for several years. The now owner of Vana Safaris, ( formed in 2016) , Avijit Sarkhel(Avi) was the perfect tour leader and ensured that everything went well & we were safe at all the places we visited- the glorious Taj Mahal, at sunrise & when the full moon lit up this breathtaking building. He went out of his way making the holiday very special, taking us to small villages - well before this was a trend - to see the real India where the children were so excited to see their photos on our cameras and were rather taken aback that I was so tall with “yellow” hair!
All the hotels and palaces in which we stayed were to a high standard - clean , comfortable and serving great food wherever we went. Nothing was too much of a bother.
I was surprised at how at peace India made me feel despite the fact that we visited bustling cities. What strikes you are the vibrant colours, glorious sandstone buildings - a photographer’s paradise. Although I enjoy architecture, the rural visits , birds and wildlife got me hooked!
I have been travelling with Avi for several years as he made his way towards setting up his own company , Vana Safaris. It is a superb company especially for those of us who want a tailor made holiday, staying in a palace in Rajasthan or in the heart of a forest in a beautiful tent & driving around in search of the stunning tigers & other wildlife.
India is a magical country, with lovely people, architecture and fantastic wildlife. The food is amazing!
We always come home feeling relaxed, excited and so much better educated in a new culture
If you want 5* holidays, choose Vana Safaris. You will not be disappointed!
Written 23 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
junea448 - thank you! What fun to design these amazing tours! And those memories - each one is just pure gold! Thank you for the kind & generous praise & hoping to have you back in the near or distant future!
Dhanyavad!!!
Vana Safaris
Written 24 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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