Desert National Park, Rajasthan Photography Tour December, 2023

Four nights/Five days - (05/12/2023 to 09/12/2023)

Overview

The Desert National Park of Rajasthan state is dramatic example of the desert ecosystem with remarkable fineness with endless wideness of sand, sand dunes, broken rock formations and flat barren plains and an interesting array of unique flora and fauna.

The human population within the Desert National Park is extremely low (4/5 persons per km²). There are small villages and temporary settlements (Dhanis) existing within the Park. These communities have inhabited this area for hundreds of years and with their rich culture and tradition they are an integral part of this ecosystem.

I ask you to join me on a photography tour of a lifetime.

Who Can Join?

I offer you all, experience of photography doesn’t an issue.

Who adores nature and intend to explore beautiful eroded landscapes, sand dunes, people and cultures in Thar Desert are mostly welcome. Beginners to serious enthusiastic photographers all are appreciated. I think a good mix of experience levels mean we can share our knowledge and vision.

Let your aesthetic senses flow.

Mentorship

I shall bring you to appropriate vantage points where you can capture the breath-taking vistas; undulate, intimate desert landscapes. I shall attend to all participants individually at the time of taking photographs. I look forward to share my vision but will not force them on. Dunes and camels, cultures and cuisine, villages and their delightful inhabitant are also our subjects.

Tour Highlights

  • Travel through some of the splendid landscapes and enjoy the splendour of it.
  • Camel/camel cart safari.
  • Experience sand dunes in the core of Thar Desert.
  • Overnight stay at secluded sand dunes.
  • Test palatable local cuisine which doesn’t fade quickly.
  • Insights to nuances of travel and outdoor photography during the tour.

Physical Requirements

It’s important to note that though this photography tour is so designed where hiking is not essential as we shall travel almost all places through camel, camel cart and four wheeler but the physical and obviously mental ability is required to face the harsh atmosphere.

Itinerary

Day 1
Pick up from Jaisalmer at 12 noon and transfer to an internationally renowned home stay (Recommended by: Lonely Planet - UK, Rough Guides - UK and Stefan Loose – Germany) at a village within Desert National Park. After lunch we proceed to local sand dunes to observe and photograph. At evening we meet and greet one another. Overnight at village home stay.
Day 2
At morning we visit village and its people. After having breakfast host will portray local life and culture and will share his experience. After lunch we move forward to sand dunes. Indulge ourselves to observe a magical sunset in the middle of the desert. Overnight at sand dunes.
Day 3
Welcome a new day with the glory of sunrise. We start after breakfast and continue our journey to a dhani within desert. Witness life of semi nomad people in the core of the desert. Sit under a tree, relax, and eat lunch like a traditional nomad in Rajasthan. Evening spend at another sand dunes. Admire the beauty of sunset. Overnight at sand dunes.
Day 4
We start after breakfast and keep our tour to Village home stay. After lunch we move forward to local sand dunes. At evening preview our images. Overnight at Village home stay.
Day 5
After having Breakfast we proceed to Jaisalmer.

Photography Tour Cost

  • Photography tour cost per person – Rs. 12,500/- (INR)

What’s Included?

Accommodation
  • Four nights accommodation in double/triple sharing basis at the room at village home stay and double sharing basis at camping tent at sand dunes.
Meal
  • Lunch, evening tea/coffee and dinner (day 01)
  • Breakfast with tea, dry fruits and chocolates en-route, lunch, evening tea/coffee and dinner (day 02 to 04)
  • Breakfast with tea (day 05)
  • While non-availability of non-veg meal at village and sand dunes, non-veg meal cannot be arranged.
Transportation
  • Transfer from Jaisalmer bus terminus/railway station/hotel to the village homestay (day 01) in a comfortable vehicle
  • All transfers within tour (day 01 to day 04) in a local village vehicle/camel/camel cart.
  • Transfer from Village homestay to Jaisalmer bus terminus/railway station (day 05) in a comfortable vehicle
Mentorship
  • Photography guidance fee

What’s Not Included?

  • Travel from/to your locality to/from Jaisalmer
  • Travel, camera gear & personal insurance
  • Expenses of personal nature including, extra food & beverages, tips, laundry or similar
  • Any expenses incurring for Medical emergency of any participant
  • Any expenses incurring if there is an increase in the number of days due to natural calamity, civil unrest or anything beyond our control
  • Any other services & goods not mentioned in “What’s Included”

What to Bring?

Photography Gear - Necessary
  • A DSLR/Mirrorless camera with lens
  • Tripod
  • Memory card
  • Spare camera battery with charger
Photography Gear - Recommended
  • A wide-angle zoom lens (e.g., 16-35mm equivalent to FF sensor camera)
  • A telephoto zoom lens (e.g., 100-400mm equivalent to FF sensor camera)
  • Filters, such as ND, CPL
  • Laptop or tablet with charger
Personal Gear – Recommended
  • Govt. issued photo ID card (Original and photocopy) – Passport/Aadhar Card
  • Certificate for Covid-19 vaccination (Booster dose/Second dose)
  • Mobile Phone with charger, power bank
  • Different clothing layers will be necessary in the varied temperature in Ladakh. Warm clothes will be dressed with jacket (the weather in Ladakh is hot/mild warm at day and cold at night)
  • Cold cream, moisturiser lotion, sunscreen lotion, soap, hand sanitizer
  • Cap/hat, sunglass, hand gloves, muffler and balaclava
  • Glass, spoon
  • Well-gripped shoes with enough pair of shocks, flip flop/chappal
  • Medicine - regular and as necessary

Booking and Payment Procedure

Booking a Slot
  • Booking is made through first come, first serve basis. You send an email from your email id sharing your name, full address with PIN, phone number, date of birth, gender and ask to join the “Desert National Park, Rajasthan Photography Tour December, 2023” (make sure you have read all description).
  • In reply, I shall send you an email whether slot is vacate and information about our bank details.
  • After receiving my email, you have to pay the booking amount within two days and send the payment details via email.
  • Upon receiving the payment details, I will confirm whether I have received your payment and if received will subsequently send the money receipt via email.
  • All payment will be materialized through bank transfer.
Payment for Booking
  • Amount to be paid to our bank account at the time of booking of the photography tour - 25% on tour cost.
Full & Final Payment
  • Amount to be paid to our bank account 30 days before photography tour starts (day 01) - 75% (i.e., rest amount) on tour cost otherwise your booking will be cancelled.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • Cancellation of your slot can be made through an email of cancellation request.
  • 25% of booking amount is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation prior to 30 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • 50% of tour cost is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 29 to 15 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • 75% of tour cost is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 14 to 07 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • No refunds for cancellation within 06 (six) days before tour starts (day 01)
  • Whether cancellation of tour will be happened from my side full amount of payment which you have paid already to me for this tour will be refunded within one month of sending cancellation email.

Other Notable Points

  • My role in this photography tour is to mentor photography and guide you to great locations. You are responsible for your safety. I make no effort to scrutinize your co-traveller of the tour and you need to make sure you are safe in their companionship.
  • This is not a lazy vacation. We will most likely be shooting from early morning through sunset and possibly at night for astrophotography for those who will be interested.
  • Any disobedience or misconduct by any participant during the tour like causing distress and annoyance to co-travellers, any kind of damage to property of any supplier or travel companions, any kind of sexual harassment or misconduct or misbehave, the participant will be terminated from this photography tour without any kind of refund of the tour cost and he/she also has to bear the cost of him/her going back home.
  • While traveling, participants can click from vehicle windows. While it would be needed to stop and get down to capture something, it will be decided by me.
  • Under no circumstance, a double/tripple sharing accommodation will be given to opposite sex people. I will decide feasible alternative.
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