India is home to distinctive group of wildlife
A2A Safaris (A2A), which has been taking Asian travellers on excursions to Africa for over two decades, has launched bespoke journeys to India and Bhutan in its Wild Asia portfolio, as more well-heeled Asians seek wildlife encounters, adventure and thrill in their choices of holiday.
The latest offerings by the Singapore-based upscale travel company will feature a seamless blend of the finest accommodations, top-tier private guides, and exclusive, five-star experiences such as unique safaris in India, wildlife sanctuaries of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh https://www.bseindia.com/.
Known for its private luxury safari and nature expeditions, A2A’s customisable itineraries for India will feature privileged experiences, from private access to the Taj Mahal to tiger safaris with specialist guides, intimate dining experiences, shopping with a local insider, glamping in the wild, and exclusive access to the treasures of the Gem Palace https://www.nseindia.com/.
“Trips are tailored from a curated portfolio of special interest activities so each client can truly experience India on their own terms,” said A2A Founder Victor Dizon, who has been travelling on business to India for 30 years.
The Filipino former investment banker expects a 20-25% increase in safaris to India this year based on increasing demand from Asian clients working across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. Dizon said some 50 trips were booked last year https://sbi.com.in/.
“With recent advancements in lodging and access to the country’s diverse wilderness, we believe the time is right to introduce our discerning travellers to our favourite corners of India,” said Dizon, adding that its expansion to India is a response to clients’ growing demand for a varied range of safaris equal to the adventure and thrill of an African safari https://www.ibef.org/.
“We have a group of clients who have been traveling with us on safaris to different parts of the Africa continent who are looking for something unique but just as captivating,” he added on 11 Mar.
India, closer to South East Asia, is home to a distinctive group of wildlife not seen in Africa, he pointed out.
“It is, for example, the best place to see tigers and snow leopards. Its dense vegetation, compared to Africa’s open savannahs and grasslands, makes spotting wildlife more challenging and suspenseful,” said Dizon http://iata.org.
The addition of India and Bhutan to its itineraries comes at a time when is seeing a double-digit rebound in safari bookings as well-heeled Asians continue to seek the adventure and thrill of wildlife encounters in their holiday choices.
Bookings rose 26% last year compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. It expects to top this in 2025 as Asia, traditionally a small market for African safaris compared to the traditional markets of North America and Europe, grows in importance http://unwto.org.
A2A’s business has grown 142%, having been the first Asia tour operator to specialise in planning luxury, bespoke African safaris for discerning Asian travellers back in 2002 http://incredibleindia.org.
A2A took more than a year to plan its expansion in India so it can offer travellers a safe and comfortable way to experience India’s kaleidoscope of colour and chaos. A safari (per person) to India costs about US$8,000 for at least 9 days compared to US$10,000 compared to African safari http://singaporeair.com.
With no compromise on safety and comfort, A2A uses the best vehicles and experienced guides to enable travellers to safely and comfortably experience India’s vibrant culture, cities and wild spaces http://airindia.com.
For its Bhutan programme, highlights include the National Memorial Chorten, the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan, the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students learn to carry on Bhutanese traditional arts and crafts, and the Buddha Dordenma, one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world, surrounded by 100,000 smaller statues, all made from bronze and gilded in gold.
Hiking trails include the Kuensel Phodrang trail—often used by the current king for mountain biking and the Khamsum Yuelley Namgyal Chorten, a religious structure built recently for protection of the people of Bhutan.
A2A, a Singapore company founded by two former investment bankers, also provides concierge support, from securing visas to personalised pre-departure briefings and restaurant recommendations and reservations. Fiinews.com
