India - Gujarat Holi Photography Tour.

The Tour.

Join us on an unique photographic adventure through Gujarat, which we have carefully timed to coincide with Holi, India's exuberant festival of colour. Over the course of thirteen days, we travel from the architectural marvels of Ahmedabad to the remote villages of Kutch, capturing tribal festivities, vanishing crafts and the remarkable Jat women, whose huge gold nose rings make them some of the most striking portrait subjects in India.

We begin our journey in Ahmedabad with the pre-dawn flower market, then walk the old city past carved wooden havelis to the 15th-century Jama Masjid. Heading north, we photograph the 11th-century Modhera Sun Temple and Rani ki Vav in Patan, a stepwell descending seven storeys into the earth and lined with more than 800 sculptures.

From here we turn east to Jambughoda and the tribal heartland, where the Rathwa and neighbouring communities gather for the season's fairs and markets, adorned with distinctive silver jewellery. We continue to Kavant, where music, dancing and clouds of coloured powder fill the streets, while the ritual bonfires of Holika Dahan light up the night. This is Holi as few visitors ever see it: rural, unscripted and wonderfully photogenic.

We also document the ancient art of Pithora painting and explore the mosques, fortifications and pavilions of Champaner, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Travelling west, we pause in the former princely state of Muli to witness the evening aarti ceremony conducted by members of the royal family. From there we head to Bajana, on the edge of the Little Rann of Kutch, to photograph weavers, embroiderers and potters at work.

In Nirona we visit master artisans practising Rogan painting, copper bell making and lacquer work, and in Hodka we shoot the circular Bhunga mud houses with their mirror-work interiors. Then comes a real highlight of the tour: time with the Jat, a semi-nomadic pastoral community whose women wear heavily embroidered dresses and enormous nose rings, often so heavy that they are supported by a thread tied into the hair. We finish in Bhuj among its bandhani tie-dye, embroidery and handloom weaving.

Two threads set this tour apart. Holi is far more than a single day of celebration here: its fairs, rituals and bursts of colour accompany us from village to village. And in the Jat women of Kutch we meet subjects that few photographers ever have the chance to work with. This is a private, reserved community, and it is only through trusted local relationships that we have been granted special access to photograph them in their homes.

The tour is led by Nathan and supported by Ashfaq Rah, a seasoned photographer and second-generation guide who brings a deep appreciation of the local culture. Together they will help you return home with a portfolio that shows Gujarat at its most colourful.

Tuition.

On any of our tours, our primary objective is for you to go home with a collection of images that anyone would be proud of. In fact, 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 by the striking, 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.

If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Nathan’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential travel photography skills. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 2-5 pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and prepare to take your photography skills to the next level.