Sarai at Toria

Panna National Park, India

Destinations

India

Accommodation

Sarai at Toria

A beautiful barefoot eco-lodge close to Panna Tiger Reserve and Khajuraho. The Sarai at Toria has just eight rooms, making it a truly tranquil retreat surrounded by nature.

Created by a conservation biologist and his wildlife photographer wife, preserving and celebrating nature was key to the design of the hotel. There is plenty to do here: paddle on the River Ken at dawn or sunset, watching the abundant birdlife on the shore, take walks through the grassland and forest, visit the sandstone temples of the UNESCO World Heritage site Khajuraho and explore Panna in search of tiger, leopard and more.

There are organic gardens which provide the kitchens with delicious fresh produce, and an in-house bakery serving up daily treats. Meals are a blend of delicately spiced Indian cuisine interspersed with continental dishes and fresh salads. Each room is an individual cottage, built village-style from thick mud walls with high ceilings, to keep temperatures regulated. They are comfy and spacious, with mezzanine cottages offering additional space for families.

What we love

A small, peaceful lodge with just eight rooms, surrounded by nature
Owner-run by Joanna and Raghu and their team, the service is excellent and you feel more like part of the family than a hotel guest
Expect great food, with fresh ingredients harvested from the on site organic gardens
A birder’s paradise – the grasslands, forest and riverine ecosystems are home to a wide variety of species – bring your binoculars!
Don’t miss the boat trip on the river, equally wonderful at sunset or sunrise

Consider staying three nights (or more) to soak up the tranquil surroundings as well as enjoying the activities in the area – one of the only complaints we ever receive from travellers is that they wish they had stayed longer

Families are warmly welcomed here. We recommend the mezzanine cottages which has plenty of space and options for extra beds for children.

The Sarai at Toria has been built with great sensitivity to the environment, using natural materials and traditional methods. The owners have backgrounds in conservation biology and wildlife photography, and their goal was to create a comfortable property built in an environmentally and socially responsible way, while protecting the natural environment. The property has tall grasses and indigenous plants flowing between the buildings, and the rewards are visible in the abundant birdlife found around the property.

Half an hour’s drive from Khajuraho, The Sarai sits on the banks of the River Ken. It is only two kilometres’ drive from the Madla entrance to the Panna Tiger Reserve. Khajuraho train station and airport are only twenty minutes’ drive away.

What our travellers say

We went to Sri Lanka as a three-generation family of three. The superb trip was organised by Samanthie and the team and it's difficult to see how it could have been bettered.

Roy Wood (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Red Dot organised the most wonderful 3-week holiday for us. Samanthie built a trip around the amazing sights we had requested visiting, together with her own suggestions and a wide mix of hotels, which gave us the flavours of both traditional Sri Lanka and the sleek, stylish contemporary version of the country. Our Driver made the whole experience incredibly special for us.

Alie C (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

I can’t thank Cherylle and the Red Dot team enough for their meticulous planning of our family holiday to India travelling through Rajasthan over Christmas. As a family of all adults, every suggestion from daily activities to hotel choices was simply perfect. We travelled through Delhi, Ranthambore (an unforgettable tiger safari!), Jaipur and Agra and I truly feel we experienced the very best of each destination while moving at a relaxed, well thought out pace

Daisy Stanton (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

My partner arranged a holiday trip at fairly short notice to Sri Lanka with Red Dot on a recommendation, Samanthie was so patient & helpful with her suggested itinerary which we followed with some minor amendments. On arrival at Colombo we met Manjula our chauffeur/guide who was absolutely brilliant!

Andrew S (February 2026) Read the whole review here Trip Advisor

Dulmini and the Red Dot Team arranged a fantastic trip for us around Assam and North East India. Faultless service. I cannot recommend them more highly.

Martin Thomas (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

Wonderful company. Our holiday in Sri Lanka was perfect. Local knowledge made all the difference

Sandra Nicholson (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

We looked up, and communicated with umpteen tour operators. Though Red Dot seemed to have offices in Sri Lanka and the UK, they seemed to have the best reviews. We were fortunate enough to correspond with Cherylle, who not only assured us of the safety of our friend, but created a personalised, and flexible, itinerary which we could not have done ourselves.

Jayant Banerji (February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

A 14-day tour with Red Dot Tours was the perfect antidote to the bleak UK winter. After a glowing recommendation from a friend, we contacted Red Dot Tours and were not disappointed. Our consultant, Lahiru, curated a seamless itinerary. Throughout the planning phase, Lahiru was incredibly responsive; the final itinerary—delivered via a user-friendly 'Guest Portal'—was impressively detailed, covering every hotel stay and excursion.

Phil Blair ( February 2026) Read the whole review here Google

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