Actress Amanda Holden recently accompanied six tigers, an endangered species, on an epic five-day adventure spanning two continents and thousands of miles, from London to India, where the animals will be re-inserted into their natural environment.

"It was overpowering," says the 31-year-old, who lives in London with her husband Les Dennis. "My time with the tigers has had a huge impact on my life."

Amanda, who is currently appearing on TV in Cutting It, was appalled to learn how precarious the situation is for tigers in the wild. Recent figures estimate that fewer than 3,000 exist in India, but many who work in the field believe the figure is nearer 2,000. "It is important for us to try and save these animals."

For the full set of exclusive photos of Amanda´s trip of a lifetime, see this week's issue of HELLO!.