India - Holi Festival Photo Tour.

The Tour.

Embark on a photographic odyssey through the kaleidoscope of India's vibrant Holi Festival, where colours come alive and traditions unfold before your lens. Our carefully crafted tour takes you on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, immersing you in the heart of the festivities across Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Varanasi, and Amritsar.

We begin our journey in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where we embrace the spirit of Holi in all its glory. Starting in the picturesque town of Barsana, we position ourselves at the epicentre of this incredible celebration that spans a week. Not only have we arranged the best, most central hotel in the region, but also the best and safest vantage points for you to take photos of these unique rituals and celebrations.

Prepare to be captivated by a plethora of extraordinary photo opportunities as we document the locals engaged in vibrant play with colours and water. Our experience will include traditional spectacles unique to the region, from the joyous Laddu (sweet) Holi to the playful Latthmaar Holi, where women humorously wield sticks against men. We’ll also witness the mesmerising Samaj rituals that feature a constant shower of colour, water, and flowers accompanied by heartfelt prayers recited by local men.

Our next stop is Varanasi, where a charismatic boutique hotel on the banks of the sacred Ganges awaits. Prepare to immerse yourself in the mystical morning rituals as hundreds of Hindus bathe in the holy river. Glide along the Ganges in a tranquil boat ride, on a private shoot with holy men, capturing the ethereal beauty of the moment, as well as another shoot with a Vishnu boy in a colourful doorway. As the day progresses, we'll delve into the city’s enchanting backstreets, where every corner offers a new story for your lens.

Our adventure doesn't stop there, however. We pride ourselves on being the only organised photo tour with the expertise to take you to Hola Mohalla, a sacred festival established by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh Ji. This unique celebration, occurring simultaneously with India's main Holi, showcases remarkable displays of horse-riding and sword-wielding, all infused with a riot of colours. Located in a small town in the heart of Punjab, Hola Mohalla presents an extraordinary combination of tradition and festivity, offering unrivalled opportunities to capture these remarkable spectacles.

No visit to the Punjab would be complete without exploring the magnificent Golden Temple in Amritsar. As the sun rises, witness the ethereal beauty of this sacred site, rivaling even the Taj Mahal. As you explore further, don't miss the chance to document the world's largest free kitchen, known as 'langar,' where 50,000 to 100,000 hot meals are served daily. Finally, we enjoy the quirky rituals of the Wagah, a marching ritual near the border with Pakistan known as the "silly walk ceremony", which is conducted each evening along with a flag ceremony.

We have designed this tour for moderate and advanced photographers who can keep up with the fast-paced itinerary, although Nathan will be on ha in nd to provide guidance throughout the journey, ensuring that you capture the most stunning shots possible. Join us on this memorable photographic voyage through the Holi Festival, Hola Mohalla, and the vibrant cities of Varanasi and Amritsar.

Tuition.

On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.

Nathan’s teaching approach is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.

We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.