*Includes Diwali in Varanasi and the famous Pushkar Camel Fair and Mela*

Join us for this unforgettable 20-day journey through Northern India. From the oldest city in the world, Varanasi, through Royal Rajasthan’s desert to the greatest monument of love ever created, the Taj Mahal, this is a tour that will awaken your visual senses and overwhelm you with photographic opportunities.

During this trip you will explore the highly spiritual side of Indian life, observing and taking part in fascinating rituals, ceremonies and visiting the pilgrimage sites of Varanasi and Pushkar.

After flying into Delhi and meeting up with your guides and group you will start your incredible adventure by witnessing Diwali (The Festival of Lights) in bustling Varanasi. Considered the holiest city in India, Diwali is celebrated here with extraordinary fervor. The place becomes a blaze of candles and fire with music and fireworks filling the night air.

After the crazy fun of Diwali comes the reverent beauty of the Taj Mahal. Listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, this stunning example of Mughal architecture lives up to its reputation. Shooting here on sunset will take your breath away.

From there you venture onwards into Royal Rajasthan. Visiting the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur with its elephants, forts and markets.

In Shekhawati you will experience the "open art gallery" as it is popularly known. No other region in the world has such a large concentration of exquisite frescoes, a vibrant juxtaposition against the flat, arid landscape of the area.

An overnight camel trek into the Thar Desert will provide a unique insight into the life of the desert nomads who wandered Rajasthan for centuries and visiting the Gajner Wildlife Sanctuary, will allow endless shooting opportunities.

Making your way through the vibrant desert communities of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur (the ‘Sun City’) you will feel as though you have stumbled into an Arabian Nights fable. Spectacular sand dunes and desert oasis’s combine with the warmth and color of the local people for a fascinating few days full of incredible imagery.

Then comes a respite from the desert environment as you head into the lush hills and the wondrous ‘City of Temples’: Ranakpur.

After an overnight stay you then get to explore what is considered the most romantic city in all of India: Udaipur, the ‘City of Lakes’ or ‘Venice of the East’ as it is affectionately known. Here you will find marble palaces literally floating on water and sunset views not to be missed.

Finally your tour concludes with three unbelievable days spent at one of the world’s most spectacular festivals: The Pushkar Fair.

This annual religious festival and cattle fair brings extraordinary color and life into the Thar Desert. Pushkar’s picturesque lake is taken over by thousands of Hindu devotees who come from all over India to dip in the tranquil and holy waters during the Mela.

Ashen covered Sadhus from the Himalayas mix with turbaned camel traders from the desert, while the local women dress in their best finery and colorful clothing during the five-day celebration.

Stalls selling all kinds of goods are set-up on the roadside and approximately 25,000 camels are traded during the Pushkar Fair, making it the world’s largest camel fair.

Come and join us for this unforgettable adventure in exotic India!

Rachelle Fox is an award winning fine art photographer with a passion for adventure. She has spent ten years wandering the globe, immersing herself in diverse cultures, geographic regions and spiritual beliefs.

She has backpacked around the world solo, lived in a tent in the wilderness of Canada, scrambled and hiked to the top of mountains, participated in meditation retreats and is experienced in photographing under extreme conditions.

Her knowledge and understanding of wildlife, cultural philosophies, religions and security concerns in regards to adventure travel ensure participants receive the highest level of care. A fine art photographer, teacher, writer and travel expert Rachelle’s passion for her work and love of India is infectious.

Visit Rachelle's website for more information and to see her beautiful photography:

www.rachellefoxart.com

Nikhil Pandit is a local Indian travel expert and tour guide. His company TGS Jaipur was responsible for the arrangements for Bill Clinton’s Presidential visit to Jaipur and Ranthambhore in 2000.

A consummate professional, world traveler and avid photographer Nikhil will ensure you arrive at the best locations at the best time for spectacular images.

A font of local information he will show you the true heart of India and take care of any issues or special arrangements so you are free to concentrate on nothing other than the ‘perfect shot’.

Level:

Basic photography knowledge required.

Enrollment:

Maximum 12 participants.

Equipment Needed:

Bring your film or digital camera and at least 1 lens.
Optional: additional lenses, camera flash, tripod or laptop.

We Provide:

* Tuition for photo tour
* Expert leadership by Rachelle Fox and Nikhil Pandit
* Itinerary as described in above
* Local guides
* Double occupancy accommodation (single occupancy available on request)
* Meals as described above
* All ground transportation including airport transfers
* Entrance fees and permits

What is not included:

* Film and processing costs (if you are not shooting digital.)
* Airfare to and from India
* Travel Insurance, including health and trip cancellation insurance
* Optional tips to guides, local staff etc
* Meals and drinks not noted as included in the above itinerary
* Visas (if necessary)
* Excess baggage charges, airport taxes and other service charges
* Personal items (alcoholic beverages, laundry, film, batteries, etc)

What to expect:

In October, the climate in India is warm to hot with cooler evenings. Expect temperatures to be in the lower to mid 30's Celsius dropping to the high teens overnight. October is considered the Post-Monsoon season and so is usually dry (especially in Rajasthan), however, we may still encounter some rain in Delhi and Varanasi.

It is recommended to bring a light fleece and jacket and at least one pair of long pants. Be prepared to do a lot of walking, some of it at higher elevations, so bring comfortable shoes.

Other essentials include sunscreen (and/or hat). Although we plan to follow the itinerary very closely, changes may occur so you must be flexible and prepared for the unexpected.

Vaccinations are highly recommended for travel to India and we suggest you consult with your doctor to ensure you are properly protected prior to traveling. There is risk of Malaria in India. In the North the risk is lower than in other parts of the country, however, it is recommeded to bring mosquito repellent and use whatever methods you can to avoid mosquito bites.

Photography Restrictions:

Expect to freely photograph in most venues without restrictions. In some instances, however, the use of a flash or tripod may be prohibited, so please be prepared for low light shooting (fast lenses, high ISO film if you choose to work with film cameras). We will alert everyone of any such specific restrictions before we get to the shooting locations.

Please check the detailed trip schedule above to see where restrictions may be in effect.

Waiver:

Each participant is required to sign our waiver of limited liability before leaving on this trip. It is strongly recommended that participants purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including medical and trip cancellation coverage.

The waiver will be sent to all participants and we expect it to be returned by 2 weeks before departure at the very latest. Any questions, please contact our office.

In order to provide the best photographic tours possible VPW keeps tour sizes limited to 10-12 participants (depending on the tour).

If you must withdraw for any reason please be aware of our refund policy as follows:

For our Photo Tours (both in Canada and abroad), 1 to 10 days in length, VPW requires 60 days written notice (before the event start date) of your withdrawal in order to provide a refund. VPW may retain 15% of fees paid or $150 minimum in processing your refund. If the tuition is less than $500 the minimum fee drops to $75.

Note: Each tour requires a minimum number of participants. Should the trip fail to achieve minimum participation, VPW reserves the right to cancel the tour and refund any deposits received or to apply a small group surcharge to each traveler. All participants will be notified a minimum of 30 days prior to departure of any changes to the advertised itinerary.

Read complete refund and liability policy