Asia’s Wild Wonders: Top Wildlife Itineraries

As the largest continent on Earth, Asia spans nearly a third of the planet's landmass, and is therefore home to an incredible range of natural wonders and biodiversity.

Ranging from expansive forests and frozen wilderness to vast deserts and the world's highest mountains, the continent has almost every type of landscape imaginable. And with a coastline stretching over 100,000, bordered by three oceans and 21 seas, Asia is surrounded by some of the richest and most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

With so many different habitats on offer, there are seemingly endless opportunities to experience wildlife in their natural habitat. To help plan your next luxury Asia wildlife itinerary, we’ve shared a summary of our tried and tested Asia wildlife itineraries below:

Elephant Experiences in Thailand

This itinerary combines many of Thailand’s natural highlights, including the opportunity to experience wildlife firsthand. Starting in the Golden Triangle, learn how to guide an elephant by riding on its neck and using soft commands and light touches behind its ears.

Continue to Thailand's oldest National Park, Khao Yai for jungle walks, night safaris and possible sightings of elusive wild elephants and tigers. Since 2005, the tropical forests of Khao Yai (meaning 'big mountain') have been renowned as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so should be on any nature lover’s list. Over 2,000 varieties of plants can be found here, as well as 320 species of birds, including the Great Hornbill. 70 mammal species also roam the wild terrain, including barking deer, gibbons and macaques.

Kirimaya is the place to stay within Khao Yai National Park with its idyllic views of the surrounding hills and a variety of activities on offer.

Black necked cranes in Bhutan

This exciting journey takes you through some of the most beautiful valleys of Bhutan and is perfect for those wanting to experience the country’s unique landscapes and wildlife.

Phobjikha Valley is a wide and gently sloping glacial valley, scooped out on the western slopes of the Black Mountains, and is one of the most important wildlife preserves in the country due to the large flocks of Black-Necked Cranes that winter here.

The best time to see these incredibly rare birds in the wild is from November to mid-March, during their migration from the Tibetan Plateau. Each November the arrival of these magnificent birds is celebrated in the courtyard of Gangtey Goenpa at the vibrant Black-Necked Crane festival. Wildlife lovers may have the chance to spot barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan black bears and leopard in the surrounding hills.

Whale watching in Sri Lanka

The east coast of Sri Lanka is home to some of the best beaches in the country, especially in the northern stretch of 'Trinco', known as Nilaveli. Snorkel and scuba-dive here to join the colourful marine life, or visit the Pigeon Island National Park nearby if you’re after particularly good sightings. We highly recommend visiting Trincomalee for blue whale and dolphin watching. While this is mostly done by boat, we would say that the best way to witness the movements of these magnificent animals is from a helicopter, where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view.

This particular tour was created for families, young or old, who love little adventures and wildlife wonders. Stay at Chaaya Blu hotel for a relaxed, family-friendly feel or venture further up the coast to Kuchchaveli and spend a night or two at Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes for a more luxurious stay.

Leopard spotting in Sri Lanka

For such a small island, Sri Lanka offers some of the best wildlife and birdlife experiences in Asia; both ancient and contemporary Sri Lankan rulers have made it a priority to preserve the land and its wildlife.

Gal Oya National Park, on the eastern reaches of the island, is home to forest-dwelling tribes, swimming elephants, and Gal Oya Lodge, a sustainable, luxury eco-lodge set in the heart of the wilderness.

Further east, Kumana National Park is great for leopard and elephant spotting, and Kumana Mobile Tented Camp has some of the best guides and naturalists in the business for a special and unique wildlife experience!

This luxury holiday focuses on Sri Lanka’s amazing wildlife and birding opportunities; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your very own tailor-made tour.

The ultimate sea safari in Indonesia

Tiger Blue is a breathtaking phinisi yacht, built by two friends with the dream of adventurous holidays for their young families. With its charming pirate-ship aesthetic, it offers a truly unparalleled way to explore some of the most remote and untouched reefs in the world, including Raja Ampat and the Flores Sea.

Guests can encounter manta rays and turtles, dive through underwater canyons and chimneys and explore crystal-clear lagoons. Beyond the water, there are beautiful islands to trek, peaks to climb, and diverse wildlife to observe including Komodo dragons and sea eagles.

The yacht accommodates up to 12 guests in five cabins, making it ideal for travelling with a group of friends or family.

Tiger Spotting in India

Our luxurious tented safaris in Ranthambore National Park are ideal for those wanting to experience tigers in the wild, with reliable sightings particularly in the hotter months of March and April. There’s also plenty of other species to see, including leopards and other jungle cats, sloth bears, honey badgers, striped hyenas, sambar deer, chital, nilgai, jackals, marsh crocodiles and the Indian wild boar.

The dry deciduous forest and tropical wetlands also means that the park is an excellent spot for bird watching, with more than 300 species of bird species, including the Sarus crane, the imperial eagle, the oriental white-backed vulture and the long-billed vulture.

There are several accommodation types within the park, ranging from the most charming and rustic camps, to splendid and opulent lodges. Our favourites are the exclusive Aman-i-Khas and the ultra-luxurious tented camp SUJÁN Sher Bagh, both of which feature on our Top 10 Safari Lodges.

Itineraries:

India with Aman: A Sophisticated Journey

The Golden Triangle & Rajasthan

Essential India: Our Comprehensive Tour of North & South India

Grand Tour of North India

Rajasthan & The Golden Triangle