2 Day Bandipur Safari and Mysore Palace Tour

Fantastic trip of animals and palaces

Hidden Gems Tours were brilliant - Praveen was really attentive and shaped the tour around my interests. The wildlife safaris were much more than I could hope for - I saw tigers (twice!) which was incredibly lucky. Elephants were commonplace! Just being in the jungle was amazing. The accommodation at Bandipur was great - rustic with monkeys hanging around. Mysore was majestic and Praveen’s knowledge and insights really brought the place to life. An unforgettable trip.

via Tripadvisor

had potential but didn't live up to our expectations

TLDR: I believe that the tour operator does have visitors best interests in mind and hope that future people have a better experience than we did. This had the potential to be a great trip, but it was severely impacted by the current suspension of safaris in Karnataka State, including Bandipur National Park. Also, please beware that there are captive elephants at Mysore Palace. We were unaware and would have selected a different itinerary had we known before going. Here is the full, detailed review of our experience: The 3 stars are for the people and customer service we were provided, however, truthfully we had a poor experience on this trip. Praveen (with Hidden Gems) did his best to provide us with a positive experience given the current suspension of safaris in Karnataka State, however, the replacement safari we went on in Kerala run by Tholpetty Ecotourism at Wayland Wildlife Sanctuary was so un-enjoyable that we cancelled the second one. The vehicles we rode in were extremely loud and bumpy to the point where our backs hurt and our ears rang by the time we were finished. The driver hurried through the 1.5 hr drive and hardly spoke to us the entire time. The vehicle was so loud I honestly believe it would have scared off any animals besides the deer we saw from a distance. The operation at Wayland Wildlife Sanctuary is a joke, and I would highly recommend against anyone taking this specific safari. I hope that Hidden Gems Tours can find a different and better safari operator in Kerala or suspends this tour offering until safaris in Karnataka are restored. We were provided a refund for the safaris, and I appreciated the good customer service we were provided given these circumstances. Luckily, on the drive home through Nagalore Tiger Reserve, we did have the chance to see wild elephants, a peacock, monkeys, and deer which was somewhat redeeming. The farmstay we stayed at overnight, called Nature Nook, was really lovely. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. Mysore Palace itself was magnificent and our tour guide was extremely knowledgable. Things took a turn for us when we saw the elephants that live at the palace. Although captive elephants have a cultural and historical significance in India, it was difficult for us to see the two elephants at the palace chained by their ankles to posts, anxiously swaying side to side, and forced by their handlers to pose for photos. It was very sad to see and stark contrast from seeing wild elephants the day before. To summarize, this tour didn't live up to our expectations, but I do believe that the tour operator had our best interests in mind. We appreciated the customer service we were provided and hope this tour can be improved for the future.

Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and balanced review. We genuinely appreciate your acknowledgement of the care, effort, and customer service we extended, especially under circumstances beyond our control. The temporary suspension of safaris by the Karnataka state government significantly impacted the original intent of the itinerary. We did our utmost to adapt responsibly, including offering refunds after the tour concluded where experiences did not meet expectations. Your positive feedback on the accommodation, the guiding in Mysore, and our overall handling of the situation is noted and valued. We take your observations seriously and will use them to reassess our partners and on-ground teams. Thank you again for recognising our intent to act in our guests’ best interests, even when outcomes fell short. Best wishes

via Tripadvisor

Great experience - a must do when in Bengaluru

This tour was, without a doubt, the highlight of our short stay in Bengaluru. From jeep safaris with enthusiastic naturalists that ventured deep into the jungle - unlike the larger buses commonly used- to comfortable accommodation on the forest periphery serving delicious local food, every detail was thoughtfully planned. We were fortunate to spot herds of elephants twice, along with gaurs, the great Indian bison. The following day brought a wonderful contrast: an immersive walk through Mysore’s old, bustling markets with a local guide, followed by a visit to the awe-inspiring Mysore Palace. Our guide skilfully navigated us past long queues, allowing us to fully admire the grandeur of this magnificent building. Although the big cats remained elusive this time, the sheer serenity of the Indian jungle and the richness of the overall experience make this a tour worth booking again.

via Viator

A peaceful getaway for nature lovers and a great place to unwind

Went on a tiger safari in Nagarhole National Park and visited Misore on the second day and had a great experience overall. We were well taking care of . The staff at the lodge were very nice and helpful, and the food was really good too. The park itself is beautiful and peaceful, and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Even though we didn’t spot any tigers this time, we saw plenty of other wildlife and enjoyed the ride through the forest. Definitely worth a visit for nature lovers!

via Tripadvisor

Experienced Rare Opportunity

What a fabulous day! I went on a day safari tour with Praveen in Bandipur National Park and Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. A great opportuniy to see spotted deer, tigers, gaur, langurs, and elephants in their natural habitat. While we did not see any tigers , the highlight of the tour was seeing a double tusked elephant by the road, which is very rare! Since I had limited time, Praveen was very accomodating to doing a day tour, however, I would recommend staying overnight at the resort for the full experience!

via Tripadvisor