Expeditions to India

Award-winning photographer Carole Devillers, the expedition leader, first went to India in 1989 on a spiritual quest and since then has returned to the Indian sub-continent over thirty times for different purposes, among them leading fabulous and out of the ordinary photo tours.

MONSOON MAGIC - GREEN RAJASTHAN & VALLEY OF THE GANGES - Embark on a trip tailored especially to photography and nature enthusiasts, that will open your eyes on how fabulous and incredible India is.



DATES: September 01 - September 17, 2015, 17 days/16 nights
PRICE: $5,775 (land arrangements and domestic flights, based on double occupancy). Add $625.00 for single accommodations.
ARRIVAL: September 01, 2015 in Delhi. You need to leave the USA on August 30, 2015 to arrive Delhi in the night of 8/31-9/01.
DEPARTURE: September 17, 2015 from Delhi if your flight leaves shortly before midnight; September 18 if your flight leaves after midnight. (Flights leave Delhi in the middle of the night). You will arrive in the USA on September 18. Please check with us before you book your flight, to avoid any error!
GROUP SIZE: 2 to 6.
This expedition is also a great trip for non-photographers.

NOTE: HURRY! DEADLINE TO REGISTER: MAY 31, 2015!!!
Please email us after that date to check availability.

Highlights of this tour:

- Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola surrounding the Lake Palace rendered famous by James Bond movie "Octopussy"
- Witness spectacular lakes and waterfalls full from the monsoon rains
- View 15,000 year-old wild cave paintings
- Capture with your lens the many species of birds at a famous Bird Sanctuary
- Watch the Taj Mahal glow under the rising sun
- Delight in the refined sculptures of the Khajuraho temples
- Photograph from a boat at dawn on the Ganges River

In Rajasthan the monsoon does not bring about floods, mud and dread. It is rather a welcomed event, anxiously awaited by the inhabitants of this parched land. We'll be there at the end of the monsoon season, and may only experience rain once in a while - and when it rains, it is for a short time. What we'll experience is the magic of greener fields, and the joy and exuberance of rejuvenated life.

"Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity."
Henri Cartier-Bresson (French photographer 1908-2004)

Tuesday, September 01: Delhi - 1 night
Arrival of participants in Delhi. You probably will arrive during the night of August 31/September 01.
Transfer from airport to B&B and check-in.
Afternoon flight to Udaipur - 2 nights
Transfer to Heritage hotel for check-in. Rest of afternoon at leisure.
Enjoy an evening program of traditional Rajasthani dances at Museum Bagore Ki Haveli.

Wednesday, September 02 : Udaipur
Morning visit of the magnificent Saheliyon Ki Bari gardens.
Visit of the City Palace.
In the afternoon we enjoy a boat ride on Lake Pichola, with a stop at Jag Mandir island.
Late afternoon drive to the Monsoon Palace, built in 1874 by Maharana Sajjan Singh basically to watch the monsoon clouds, where we capture the panoramic view over Udaipur at sunset.

Thursday, September 03: Bijaipur - 1 night
Following breakfast we drive to Bijaipur and check into Pangarh Lake Retreat, the tented camp of Bijaipur Castle, by the lotus lake of Pangarh. Photography of the tribal peoples' activities (harpoon fishig, lotus gathering) and wild birds.

Friday, September 04: Bundi - 3 nights
After breakfast we leave for the small charming traditional town of Bundi.
The City of Springs, as Bundi was named in the past for its dozens intricately carved stepwells, is like walking back in time to the medieval era. A traditional small town, it offers to the photographic eye its old streets lined with blue buildings, its many murals, street scenes and bazaars.
Check into Heritage hotel.
Bundi is the place that gave Rudyard Kipling, who lived there, his inspiration for his novel "Kim".
Afternoon excursion outside of Bundi, exploring the countryside (rural villages, potters, bird watching)...

Saturday, September 05: Bundi
Strolling through Bundi before breakfast, we get to experience the residents' friendly demeanor towards their visitors.
Day excursion to the prehistoric cave paintings dating 15,000 years back.
In the afternoon we visit one of the 10 best monsoon waterfalls of India, the Bhimlat waterfalls, that fall 100 m into a pool.

Sunday, September 06: Bundi
Exploration on foot of the interior streets of old Bundi and their many murals. Optional visit of the City Palace and/or Tarangarh old abandoned fort.
Afternoon excursion to the countryside (rustic village life, ruins, temples, stepwells, the choice is ours).

Monday, September 07: Karauli - 1 night
After breakfast we drive to Karauli, a 600-year old city off the tourist path.
Check into Heritage palace hotel (the Maharaja's residence). Afternoon visit of the old city and its City Palace.

Tuesday, September 08: Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary - 1 night
Morning on foot in Karauli, enjoying this traditional city and friendly inhabitants.
Drive to Bharatpur and check into hotel near the park reserve.
Keoladeo Ghana National Park, formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is India's best known bird sanctuary, ranking as one of the best waterfowl preserves in the world, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This 18 square miles park of mixed wetland, woodland and grassland is said to be home to over 400 species of birds, resident as well as migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia and Central Asia to spend winter in Bharatpur, before returning to their breeding grounds.
The major attractions are several species of painted storks, pelicans, geese, ducks, eagles, falcons, vultures, hawks, warblers, flycatchers, herons, egrets, cormorants, owls and hoopoes.
We spend a couple of hours in the Bird Sanctuary before sunset.
There are well-defined forest trails, which can easily be covered by rented bicycle, however for our first visit we'll hire cycle rickshaws as their drivers have been trained by the park management in bird watching and are quite knowledgeable.
Birds are generally easy to approach, providing good photo opportunities.

Wednesday, September 09: Bharatpur
Early morning at the Bird Sanctuary, taking a flat-bottom boat to ride through the canals and enjoying a very serene and tranquil ride, on the lookout for bird activities.
After lunch in the nice safari restaurant of our hotel, we leave for Agra in Uttar Pradesh state, a drive of about one hour.
Check into hotel in Agra - 1 night
This medieval city located on the banks of the river Yamuna was founded in 1504 by Sultan Sikandar Lodi.
Photograph the Taj Mahal in late afternoon from across the Yamuna river.
The Taj is a mausoleum built by ruler Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Finished in marble, it is perhaps India's most fascinating and beautiful monument. This perfectly symmetrical monument took 22 years (1630-1652) of hard labour and 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers to build and is set amidst landscaped gardens. Fantastic inlay works using semi-precious stones decorate the interiors.

Thursday, September 10: Gwalior - 1 night
Visit and photograph the Taj Mahal at dawn and watch the sun rise over this monument of love.
Return to hotel for breakfast. Check-out.
We leave for Gwalior.
Check into hotel.
Visit of Gwalior Fort, an impressive 1000 year-old fortification.

Friday, September 11: Orchha - 2 nights
After breakfast we drive to Orchha with stops in Datia and Sonagiri (time allowing), two photogenic villages off the beaten path.
Orchha, called the "Jewel of Madhya Pradesh state" and the "soul of India", is a tiny medieval town, off the beaten path, very serene and peaceful, set in a decor of greenery by the banks of the Betwa river, an affluent of the Yamuna river. It is the ideal place to relax and take a break from the Indian city bustle.

Saturday, September 12: Orchha
Day at leisure in Orchha, photographing along the river, mingling with the friendly villagers.

Sunday, September 13: Khajuraho - 2 nights
After breakfast we drive to Khajuraho.
Afternoon visit of the famous Khajuraho temples of the West side which are said to be the best ones. Superb examples of Indo-Aryan architecture, the temples of Khajuraho, liberally embellished with erotic sculptures of gods and goddesses, are one of India's major attractions - close behind the Taj Mahal and Varanasi.


Monday, September 14: Khajuraho
Nature excursion in Panna National Park to the serene Pandav falls and the spectacular Raneh Waterfalls comprised of a series of waterfalls falling into a 30 m deep canyon of granite.
This is a day in nature with picnic, spectacular views, and potential wildlife.

Tuesday, September 15: Varanasi - 2 nights
Morning at leisure, to explore the small village of Khajuraho.
Optional additional visit of the Khajurho temples to catch the morning light on the statues, if you haven't had enough.
After lunch, transfer to Khajuraho airport for our afternoon flight to Varanasi (formerly Benares).
Check into hotel, rest of afternoon at leisure.
Sunset on Ganges river.

Wednesday, September 16: Varanasi
Boat ride on the Ganges at dawn, offering the opportunity to view the long string of bathing ghats (a hundred of them) where people take their early morning dip into the Ganges waters to cleanse off their sins. Ghats are the steps that lead down to the river.
Day spent exploring Varanasi, the old city and the Chowk market. Benares was a major stop on the silk route and is also well-known for its silk.

Thursday, September 17: Delhi
In late morning we leave for Varanasi airport for our return flight to Delhi, arriving in early afternon. Transfer to B&B where we have rooms before night flight home.
Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner at B&B.
Transfer to Delhi airport for late night/early morning departure (such as 1:00 am or later - it then becomes September 18th).

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to slight changes as necessary and flexibility is appreciated from all participants. There is no pressure on anyone to visit all the sites mentioned and participants who wish to take time off or rest may do so whenever we stop at a destination. However no refund will be given on excursions or services not taken.
Our meals will be taken either at our hotels restaurants, at local restaurants or at roadside restaurant stops when en route.

Expedition Cost: $5,775 (land arrangements and domestic flights, based on double occupancy). If you are a single person who cannot be paired with a roomate, the cost is $6,400.
Reservations: A $1,000 per person deposit (non-refundable after deadline) is required to secure a place on this expedition which can be paid via Paypal (with 3% fees) or by certified check. The balance is due 120 days prior departure.
Group Size: minimum 2, maximum 6.
Under 4 sign-ups, a small-group supplement of $400 p.p. will be requested.

Expedition Cost includes:
Heritage hotel accommodations (equivalent to 4-star) with attached cold and hot water bathroom or deluxe tent; nice B&B in Delhi; economy class air from Delhi to Udaipur, Khajuraho to Varanasi and Varanasi to Delhi; chauffeured transportation by Indigo or Innova car (2 to 4 participants) or mini-van (for bigger group - with a window for each passenger); transfers from and to Delhi, Khajuraho and Varanasi airports; all meals (beverages and water bottles not included); Bundi guided excursions; entrance fees at Udaipur gardens, Udaipur dances, Udaipur City Palace, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, Agra Taj Mahal, Khajuraho temples, Panna National Park; boat ride in Udaipur and Varanasi; tips to hotel staff (2 pieces of luggage per person); services of chauffeur and expedition leader.

Cost does NOT include:
Airfare to/from your home city and Delhi, taxis or public transportation taken on your own, meal beverages, meals taken on your own (no refund given on meals included in itinerary), snacks and tea breaks en route, room service, items of personal nature and incidentals, laundry and telephone charges, entrance fees not mentioned above, audio-guides, camera and video fees charged at various sites, tips to local guides, mandatory travel insurance, passport and Indian visa fees; gratuities.

NOTE: A tourist visa is needed to enter India. The Indian Government has recently activated a website for the citizens of 43 countries (USA is included) to apply for tourist visas on their official website through their Visa on Arrival programme. You will need to apply online 4 to 30 days before your India arrival date. Go to Indian Visa Online for complete details.

Once you are registered, we will send you additional information necessary for your visa application and for your trip.
Please let us know if you have questions.

For complete details, see our General Information page.

To register for this expedition go to the Registration page.