To and from Home. Every date is a guaranteed departure.

Jan. 3 – Jan. 18
Jan. 10 – Jan. 25
Jan. 17 – Feb. 1
Jan. 24 – Feb. 8
Jan. 31 – Feb. 15
Feb. 7 – Feb. 22
Feb. 14 – Mar. 1
Feb. 21 – Mar. 8
Feb. 28 – Mar. 15
Mar. 7 – Mar. 22
Mar. 14 – Mar. 29
Mar. 21 – Apr. 5
Mar. 28 – Apr. 12
Apr. 4 – Apr. 19
Sep. 19 – Oct. 4
Sep. 26 – Oct. 11
Oct. 3 – Oct. 18
Oct. 10 – Oct. 25
Oct. 17 – Nov. 1
Oct. 24 – Nov. 8
Oct. 31 – Nov. 15
Nov. 7 – Nov. 22
Nov. 14 – Nov. 29
Nov. 21 – Dec. 6
Nov. 28 – Dec. 13
Dec. 5 – Dec. 20
Dec. 12 – Dec. 27
Dec. 19 – Jan. 3
Dec. 26 – Jan. 10
 

To and from Home | Every date is a guaranteed departure

Jan. 02 – Jan. 17
Jan. 09 – Jan. 24
Jan. 16 – Jan. 31
Jan. 23 – Feb. 07
Jan. 30 – Feb. 14
Feb. 06 – Feb. 21
Feb. 13 – Feb. 28
Feb. 20 – Mar. 07
Feb. 27 – Mar. 14
Mar. 06 – Mar. 21
Mar. 13 – Mar. 28
Mar. 20 – Apr. 04
Mar. 27 – Apr. 11
Apr. 03 – Apr. 18
Sep. 18 – Oct. 03
Sep. 25 – Oct. 10
Oct. 02 – Oct. 17
Oct. 09 – Oct. 24
Oct. 16 – Oct. 31
Oct. 23 – Nov. 07
Oct. 30 – Nov. 14
Nov. 06 – Nov. 21
Nov. 13 – Nov. 28
Nov. 20 – Dec. 05
Nov. 27 – Dec. 12
Dec. 04 – Dec. 19
Dec. 11 – Dec. 26
Dec. 18 – Jan. 02
Dec. 25 – Jan. 09
 

To and from Home | Every date is a guaranteed departure

Jan. 01 – Jan. 16
Jan. 08 – Jan. 23
Jan. 15 – Jan. 30
Jan. 22 – Feb. 06
Jan. 29 – Feb. 13
Feb. 05 – Feb. 20
Feb. 12 – Feb. 27
Feb. 19 – Mar. 06
Feb. 26– Mar. 13
Mar. 05 – Mar. 20
Mar. 12 – Mar. 27
Mar. 19 – Apr. 03
Mar. 26 – Apr. 10
Apr. 02 – Apr. 17
Sep. 17 – Oct. 02
Sep. 24 – Oct. 09
Oct. 01 – Oct. 16
Oct. 08 – Oct. 23
Oct. 15 – Oct. 30
Oct. 22 – Nov. 06
Oct. 29 – Nov. 13
Nov. 05 – Nov. 20
Nov. 12 – Nov. 27
Nov. 19 – Dec. 04
Nov. 26 – Dec. 11
Dec. 03 – Dec. 18
Dec. 10 – Dec. 25
Dec. 17 – Jan. 01
Dec. 24 – Jan. 08

The Holy City of Varanasi ​And the River Ganges

If a country can have a soul, India’s is here, in this astonishing city on the banks of the sacred river Ganges. Varanasi is a nexus of Hinduism, simultaneously a religion and an everyday way of life. Indelible is the experience of a slow, misty morning boat ride along the Ganges ghats, thronged by women in pink saris, businessmen in grey suits, skittering children, old beggars, and Brahmin grandees doing intent puja in the holiest waters in all creation. We will overnight at the Taj Ganges Varanasi during our visit to the city.

The Kingdom of Bhutan - 8 Days from Delhi or Mumbai

“When it comes to lovely countries,” Micato’s old friend Seamus O’Banion once wrote, “Bhutan is a country more unlike any other country than any other country.” To wit: It has wisely and successfully avoided the mass tourism that would erode its unique, vibrantly intact culture. It is endlessly lovely: its Himalayan foothill air is clear, its environment untrammeled, its countrysides and little towns idyllic. And as the world’s only Buddhist monarchy, its program of Gross National Happiness is a moral beacon. In short, Bhutan gets it right.

Aman, one of the world’s most luxe hoteliers, is beautifully in synch with the kingdom’s thoughtful ways; we’ll be ensconced in three Aman properties: in the capital, Thimphu; in the historic old capital of Punakha, and in the serene Paro Valley.

Ananda in the Himalayas - 4 Days from Delhi or Mumbai

North of Delhi, in the pine-scented Himalayan foothills, auspiciously overlooking the sacred river Ganges, not far from Nanda Devi, the jewel in India’s Himalayan crown, lies Ananda in the Himalayas, a luxuriously visionary spa-retreat dedicated to what its Oberoi-trained founder Ashok Khanna, calls “one thing, and one thing only—holistic wellness for the mind, body and soul.”

From the moment we enter Ananda’s reception area in what’s known as the Viceregal Palace, former home of the Maharajas of Tehri Garhwal, we know this is an experience like no other: a combination of traditional, yet up-to-the minute luxury with a deeply informed and heartfelt commitment to fostering what Ananda calls “the synergy of mind, body and intellect not just through the natural Himalayan locales…but through the rejuvenating and ancient processes and philosophies of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta combined with contemporary international therapies which enhance and augment the original.”

Why Choose Micato India?

Micato’s beguiling luxury tours in India are inspired by our Indian heritage, by decades of experience, and by an enduring fascination with this endlessly engaging country. We’re intent upon presenting India in its most sparkling and enchanting light, and so:

Toppest-Notch Travel Directors

All our luxury Indian Journeys are accompanied every step of the way by a highly-trained Indian Travel Director. We stress Indian, because of the advantages of being escorted by someone deeply knowledgeable about the land and its customs and dialects, not to mention its lesser-visited wonders, including unique encounters with local people our guides have known for years, marvelous people in all walks of life, engaged in all kinds of fascinating endeavours, from India’s skyrocketing movers and shakers, to traditional artists, cosmic thinkers, and tea shop proprietors with a love for Hitchcock movies.

As journalist Becca Hensley writes, “Our Micato Travel Director was a miracle worker, following one magic trick with the next.”

All Gratuities Always Included

No tipping is necessary or expected in Micato’s India, ever, from the beginning of your trip to its end (this includes tips to your Travel Director and drivers). We are happy to take care of this often nagging detail for you.

An Indian Company

Micato India’s home base is in India, not in an office two oceans away. Upon arrival you are given key phone numbers, which you can call anytime, day or night. So, if your Travel Director isn’t in attendance, and you need a prescription filled, a question answered, or a car at your hotel’s front entrance, we’re on-the-24-hour-ball. Plus, Micato is a well-known and respected partner of India’s champion hotels, making life all the sweeter for our guests.

Upgrades

We fly business class in India whenever possible. If—as sometimes is the case—there is no business class, we purchase an extra 12 pounds of baggage allowance per sector, per guest.

We Pick Up the Check, Always

All meals are included everywhere, every day. If you choose to dine at one of your hotel’s restaurants, you’re not—this is very often the case—limited to a buffet or minimal menu. And if you want to sample one of Jaipur’s famous eateries, or follow your Travel Director’s tip on a hip new Delhi café, Micato takes care of the check.

Refreshing Travel

We only use the most up-to-date, air-conditioned vehicles (and our cars and vans are carefully supplied with iced water, hand sanitizers, snacks, and whatever you need).

Frankly, there was a time when many people were a little leery of travelling to India. Sure, it was surpassingly fascinating, heart-trippingly colourful, and its monuments and sceneries were magnificent beyond compare, but what about the creaky infrastructure, the bureaucratic hassles, and—this is an ongoing question—the country’s widespread poverty?

Let’s take the last question first. Indeed poverty is still widespread in India—as it is just about anywhere one looks or travels. But India, as we know, is surging economically. It’s estimated that 20% of Indians live under the global poverty line, down from 51% in the late ‘70s and 36% in the mid-‘90s. That’s still far, far too many impoverished people, but the country’s middle class numbers in the many hundreds of millions, and the ways and means to climb out of poverty have never been as available in India as they are today. For a first-hand account of travelling through this new India with Micato, you may enjoy this read in The Telegraph‘s UltraTravel publication.

As for the old nagging difficulties of travel in India, those days are past. Especially, if you don’t mind us saying so, in Micato’s expertly escorted India. Infrastructure—roads, electricity, air travel—is vastly improved (as, for just a couple of examples, a swift ride on the Yamuna Expressway from Delhi to Agra or a look at Mumbai’s new airport will prove).

Our Indian born-and-raised resident Travel Directors, who accompany every Micato journey in India from beginning to end, are adept at navigating any and all impediments to smooth travel—as you’ll notice when your Travel Director strides to the desk at one of our sparkling modern or regally traditional five-star luxury hotels, and says “Micato,” and the staff snaps to attention. And if you want to change your return flight reservations or hunt down something you left in your room, our 24-hour Concierge Team is at the ready, 365 days and nights of the year.

Micato’s roots are in India, and we’ve been introducing our ancestral home to travellers for more than three decades. Our theory matches seamlessly with our practice: India is a stupendous destination, fun, entrancing, friendly, and enriching, and travelling in India with us should be, and is, the same, in spades.

Whether your interest lies in Tiger Safaris, visiting palaces and monuments, shopping and dining excursions or going deep into India’s colourful history, culture and traditions, Micato’s team of India experts are ready to help you realize your travel dreams. To connect with one of our India travel experts to discuss custom planning a tour of India or joining one of our guaranteed, small-group luxury tours of India, schedule a consultation by clicking below.

What to Expect on Your First Luxury African Safari

We know it can be somewhat intimidating at first. A luxury African safari is at or near the top of most traveller’s wish list, but the ins and outs of actually going on safari may seem a little vague. We understand this, and Micato’s safari specialists are adept at transforming your perhaps hazy safari dream into a brilliant, very achievable reality.

So they’ll offer highly informed guidance and make sure they truly understand—and fulfill—your wants and needs. We answer many Common Safari Questions elsewhere on this site, but here are some queries we’ll put to you and some you might want to put to us… just to begin the discussion:

What happens on safari? What is it like?

Africa’s incredible wildlife is the central reason to go on safari, of course. We say incredible, because—after a lifetime of exposure to African images—most of us can barely believe the thrilling immediacy and newness of seeing these charismatic animals up close, wandering freely in their beautiful, ancient homeland.

We design all our safaris for variety and richness of the unique gameviewing experience (almost invariably including the fabled Big Five: lion, leopard, Cape buffalo, rhino, and grandly gamboling elephants), typically making a morning and afternoon game drive in comfortable, well-provisioned and expertly guided safari vehicles. We usually fly from one camp to another (in itself a splendid and timesaving experience). Depending on the camp or lodge, we can choose between a wide range of activities, from classic game drives, mountain biking, swimming, bush picnics, cultural exchanges, bush walks, candlelight dinners to optional balloon rides, helicopter flights, spa treatments, wine tasting, and, that rare luxury in modern life: deep, quiet, untroubled repose.

And, as an African-born company, we’re inspired to craft our safaris with a deep appreciation for the continent’s sometimes overlooked joys, its varied and dramatic landscapes: snowy mountains (Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya—but there are others), vast, acacia-dotted plains, lush inland deltas like the incredible Okavango, the sparkling white beaches of Zanzibar, the idyllic, bonsai-like kopjes of the Serengeti, gargantuan Victoria Falls. If you have a sight you’d like to see and savour, we’ll find the right safari for you.

What kind of safari do you want?

You can choose between three kinds of Micato safaris in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda) and Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa).

First: Custom Safaris—fully private, individually planned, short, long, sky’s-the-limit. And: Classic Safaris—small group trips with many guaranteed departures (an average of 44 dates a year for East Africa, and 27 for Southern Africa). Or: Private Classic Safaris—completely privatized Classic Safaris, ideal for families, friends, and with whomsoever you want to enjoy Africa. (Click here for more on the three ways to safari with Micato). Depending on your budget, we offer safaris that are simply sublime or over-the-top luxurious and anything in between. And in every case—whether it’s on a luxe, small-group Classic Safari or a fully private, hand-crafted Custom Safari—you’ll be treated, as Travel+Leisure magazine says, “like well-loved, out-of-town relatives.”

Where would you like to Safari?

Our four Southern and three East Africa safari countries are six times larger—and, with all due respect, quite a bit more varied than Texas, so this is a wonderfully large question. Elsewhere on this site, we celebrate the allures of each region and country and yet elsewhere we provide detailed guidance on safari planning.

When is the best time to safari?

A major question. But not so easy to answer. Our almost 400 small group Classic safaris operate throughout the year, and private Custom Safaris launch whenever you want them to. Our safari experts at 800-642-2861 will offer detailed suggestions based on your schedule and preferences—and, only a click away, we discuss weather in the varied regions in which we safari, along with many commonly asked safari questions.

How much time do you have?

Of course we recommend taking as much time as you can on safari, so wondrous is the African experience. Our regularly scheduled, guaranteed departure Classic Safaris average 13 days, door-to-door, and our Custom Safaris can be any length from a week to a month or more. As always, your schedule and preferences dictate our planning

What are the camps and lodges like?
Each has a colourful personality and a lovingly chosen location, but we’re not believers in amenity-free roughing it. So every one of our safaris is truly, thoughtfully, and imaginatively luxurious. Examples abound on this site, but take a look at the individual itineraries for our stellar collection of Classic Safaris. And, if you’re in the mood for more tantalization, see our Custom Safari Collection of camps and lodges in Southern Africa and East Africa and our growing collection of Private Villas.

And what’s the difference between a camp and a lodge?

Lodges typically consist of permanent cottages and a traditional manor house, or individually decorated rooms in that welcoming house, which often has multiple dining areas, outside and inside, and lush landscaping for carefree moseying. Without losing a smidgen of luxury, camps usually feature a main house, and a number of luxuriously appointed, refreshingly airy tents (with en suite bathrooms, verandahs, and sitting areas). We like to say that these tents—tent design is high art in Africa— resemble the tents of our youth like a humble Timex resembles a Patek Phillipe.

Our (absolutely gorgeous) Private Villas and Estates take Micato’s traditional commitment to thoughtful luxury to elegant heights. We call them “exclusive use,” which means they–and their entire staffs’ attention–are reserved for your group and your group only. They vary in style and location, but like all Micato camps, lodges, and hotels, they embody a core idea: the greatest of luxuries is serenity.

What are the advantages of a Micato Safari versus a plan-it-yourself safari?

A big, internet-era question! You certainly don’t want to arrive in Africa only to find that the lodge with the nice website isn’t quite as lovely as advertised, or that the Cape Region wineries are closed for a holiday. You don’t want to scramble all alone when a bush flight is cancelled, or a hotel or lodge has misplaced your reservation. And you definitely don’t want to miss out on an experience or place you might never have heard of back home.

Micato’s 60 years in the safari business and our extensive nuclear and extended family throughout Africa allow us to squash potential problems before they arise, and solve them decisively, on the spot, if they do. We’re proudly, unfailingly committed to service—it’s a hallmark of our family-founded, family-owned-and-operated business. And after reading about our extensive inclusions and meticulous planning, imagine subtracting a few of those many Micato Differences from your safari—the arrival-to-departure presence on every safari of a highly credentialed Safari Director, or our 365 x 24 Concierge Service, let’s say. Peace of mind is an essential ingredient of any great trip, and ensuring it is our unstinting mission.

Who will be joining you?

Families, groups of friends, and solo safariers—all are welcome, and our safari experts will help you choose a luxury safari that best fits your interests, schedules, and enthusiasms.

And what about African culture?

We have a saying, tried and true: People come to Africa to see its wildlife, but they leave in love with its people. Our roots in Africa are deep and we delight in introducing our guests to its village and city people, Maasai and Samburu, San Bushmen and Zanzibaris, all of whom greet your Micato Safari Director as an old friend, and you as an honoured friend of a friend.

Why Choose a Luxury Safari with Micato

For 60 years we’ve been relentlessly refining our craft. The result? Micato Safaris has redefined the all-inclusive safari

Great Reasons to Travel With Micato

Voted #1 World's Best Safari Outfitter a Record 10 Times
Micato has been voted #1 by Travel+Leisure a record 10 times and is the only travel company in T+L's Hall of Fame.

For Every Guest on Safari, We Send a Child to School.
Our non-profit arm, AmericaShare, has changed the lives of thousands of African children for more than 35 years.

No Tipping, Ever.
All gratuities included, to Safari Directors, Driver-Guides, Concierges, waiters, porters… in short, everyone.

Every Departure 100% Guaranteed
We have never cancelled a trip.

24-Hour Concierge Team
Micato Concierges are poised to meet last-minute, unexpected, and unusual requests.

A Micato Safari Director Accompanies Every Safari
Africa is no place for a patchwork itinerary.

Our Family Is There to Help
Founders Felix and Jane Pinto are native Kenyans who live in Africa, along with the rest our team, are always available.

Award-Winning Sustainability
We've won five Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards, three for Education and two for “Doing It All”

Free Valet Laundry Service, Every Day
Pack less and even return home with a bag of clean clothes… now that’s luxury.

Unsurpassed Inclusions

All Meals and Mealtime Beverages Included

We pick up the tab for meals in any local restaurant on all Custom Safaris. At mealtimes, regional wines, beer, and bottled water are included; spirits are included in Southern Africa

Luxurious Safari Vehicles

Every Micato 4-wheel drive custom safari vehicle has cool beverages and snacks, a pair of Nikon binoculars for each guest, animal and bird guidebooks, and bean bags for stabilizing long lenses.

Complimentary Wi-Fi Everywhere

Micato safari vehicles throughout Africa have complimentary Wi-Fi. Micato guests also receive complimentary Wi-Fi wherever else it exists, including every luxurious camp and lodge.

Custom-Designed Luggage

A lightweight safari duffel with a retractable handle and wheels, specially designed for the luggage holds of bush planes. And it’s a looker…the pride of every luggage carousel!

Gym in a Bag

Work out in the privacy of your room with our handy kit, equipped with a yoga mat, jump rope, and various stretch bands and weights. Your Micato Safari Director is happy to make this available.

And…

• Luxurious safari camps and lodges—obsessively, continually evaluated by Micato.
• We don’t own or operate the lodgings we use: We put our guests’ interests first, not ours.
• No needless driving between camps: Myriad internal flights save you many, many hours.
• Non-groupy group departures rarely numbering more than 12 guests and can be as small as two.
• Delicious privacy beckons on Private Classic and expertly-tailored Custom Safaris
• Extensive safety protocols perfected by 60 years of on-the-ground expertise.
• Itineraries perfected by generations of experience and local knowledge.
• More than 550 Five-Star Google and Tripadvisor Reviews from Micato travellers
• There will be many surprises along the way!

Solo Safaris: A Micato Speciality

Going on safari in Africa is one of the shiniest and most common travel dreams. Many of us caught the bug in our youth, and Africa’s golden joys have beckoned ever since. Yet some of us are a little skeptical about travelling in a group, perhaps especially as a solo traveller.

Enjoy Yourself on Safari

We’ve been monitoring this for the past 50-plus years, and we and our ever-present Safari Directors are particularly attentive to the special needs of single safariers…though we’ve found, and they’ve found, that the initial skepticism of solo travel is almost invariably replaced by a deeply satisfying realization of the dream of safari. Groups, especially small groups like those on our guaranteed departure Classic Safaris—one of the Three Ways to Safari with Micato—tend to coalesce smoothly and nicely and hearty acquaintances are made and, often, enduring friendships forged.

Trust Us to Give You the Solo Experience of a Lifetime

Since single travellers are a Micato speciality, our safari experts are happy to discuss with you the simple ins and outs of solo safari—single supplements, special needs, etc.—on one of our Micato Classic Safaris, or on a fully-customized, private Custom Safari, or even a single departure of one of our Private Classics. In every case, you’re guaranteed the Pinto family’s pledge of unstinting care and friendliness, not to mention an enchanting experience of those ever-enticing golden joys.

I’ve always wanted to visit Africa, but could never find the right time and opportunity, and when I did, I couldn’t rustle up someone to travel with. I’ve never travelled in a group before, but when the stars lined up I thought what the heck, and signed up. It was a wonderful, revelatory experience, and, frankly, I look back on my reluctance as a kind of uninformed prejudice. - Joe Zondlo