Meandering Along the Brahmaputra: Stories Around Majuli

Dec 19-25, 2024 | An exploratory photography tour to the largest river island.

Majuli River Photography Tour

  • Join us this winter on an enthralling experience of river landscapes, culture and life on the largest river island in the world – Majuli in Assam. Nestled in the midst of the mighty Brahmaputra, Majuli is often considered the cultural capital of the Assamese for over 5 centuries.

    This photography tour will take you through some of the least-explored regions of India. Many extraordinary photography opportunities open up for you this winter, with the incredible landscapes and unique culture shaped by the great river Brahmaputra. Led by our photography mentor – Manish Lakhani – who is one of the finest travel and landscape photographers in the country, this tour will also feature unparalleled local knowledge offered by our fellow explorers and partners – GypsyFeet, who understand this region of India like no one else does.

  • Darter-Cultural-Logo
    Darter’s exclusive experience takes you to interesting and often isolated places where you get up close with unique landscapes, everyday life, and traditions of people with strong bonding to their roots.
  • Tour Dates

    Dec 19 – 25, 2024


    Tour Price – ₹79,950/-
    (Shared Occupancy) 

    Max group size: 8 only 

Jump to: ◆ OverviewItineraryTour HighlightsIs this tour for you?Tour PriceTour MentorDetailed ItinerarySign Up

Overview – Immerse into Riverscapes, Landscapes and Life around Brahmaputra 

Majuli River Photography Tour

In winter, the nights are cold and a thick grey fog hangs over the river Brahmaputra and the island of Majuli. As the sun rises, the fog acts as a magician, transforming the mustard fields as they emerge slowly into sight. Fields that were submerged under the monsoon flood turn yellow with mustard flowers and small water channels make the landscape interesting. Fishermen return from a night of fishing. Children head to school, sharing gossip as they meet their friends on a new day. The local markets start opening and the island springs back to life.

The island has been the hub of Neo-Vaishnavite culture since the 15th century, having been initiated by the revered Assamese saint Srimanta Sankardeva. Tribal communities, like the Mishing and Deor,i have been peacefully coexisting on the island for centuries. The communities have unique customs and traditions, lending colour to the cultural landscape. Fishing and farming are the main sources of income for the people.

Despite living in an idyllic landscape, life is difficult for the local communities. Erosion is a major issue, with a lot of fertile lands eaten away by the river year by year. During the monsoon months, the island gets cut out from the outside world by the flooded Brahmaputra.

Majuli, in winter, is a photographer’s paradise. This island offers plenty of opportunities to photograph river landscapes, culture, life and much more. We will explore various opportunities to photograph and learn more about the largest river island in the world.

Images from Majuli Island and around Brahmaputra, Assam

The slideshow below gives you a glimpse of what to expect during this exclusive photography tour to Majuli island. This is an exploratory type of trip and we will not follow any particular day-to-day plan. Your photography mentor and a local expert will work on the itinerary dynamically to make the best of photography opportunities.

Dates & Itinerary

Dates: Dec 19-25, 2024

Also, scroll down to see the ‘detailed itinerary’ section for more information on the tour plan and things we do.

  • Day 01 Arrive at Dibrugarh OR Jorhat airport and drive to Majuli. Please see the arrival/departure section for group pickup timings. Evening trip briefing and introduction.
  • Day 02 to 06 Exploration*
  • Day 07 Farewell to Assam and fly home and drive to Dibrugarh or Jorhat

*Exploration: The shooting style will be dynamic during this trip. Your photography mentor and a local expert will work on the itinerary constantly to make the best of photography opportunities. We will explore this island to shoot different river moods, landscapes, life, culture and much more. And yes, we will also experience local cuisines.

Tour Highlights

Majuli village life

The tour takes you to the incredible island of Majuli on the river Brahmaputra. We will explore, photograph and learn about the

  • Stunning river landscapes
  • The villages and people of Majuli
  • Monastic life on the island
  • Local cuisine, of course

This tour is designed to keep photography in mind. It is led and mentored by our award-winning travel photographer. Some photography-related aspects of this tour include –

  • Visit sights specifically chosen keeping photography opportunities in mind.
  • Expert help and advice with photographing culture and people of the region.
  • Constant interaction and assistance on the field by your photography mentor with experience of travelling in the region.
  • Insights into nuances of travel and outdoor photography during the tour – in theory and also on the field.
  • Image reviews by your photography mentor.

Is This Tour For You?

Majuli River Photography TourThis tour is intended for amateur as well as serious photography enthusiasts with an interest to visit and photograph the beauty of the island and experience a unique culture. No prior expertise or experience in photography is necessary, as our photographers will be there to assist you at every level. You may carry any camera – a simple aim-and-shoot or a DSLR. Travel enthusiasts who are not photographers but keen to experience the multiple facets of Assam can also benefit from the tour.

Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?

Yes, you can. We visit many beautiful locations on this river island. Having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group.

I am not a keen photographer. But I want to visit Majuli with your group. Can I still join?

Yes. The answer is exactly the same as in the case of the previous question. We visit many beautiful locations on the island. You will be having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is.

Have more questions? See our photography tours FAQ or contact us using the form at the end of this page.

Tour Price : Rs.79,950

The cost includes

  • Accommodation on a shared occupancy basis, if you want a single supplement let us know.
  • Group pick-up from Dibrugarh/Jorhat airport/train station at a predetermined schedule only
  • Airport/train station drop-off to Dibrugarh/Jorhat.
  • All meals during the tour start from dinner on the first day, ending with breakfast on the last day of the trip.
  • All permits and entry fees.
  • Local transports.
  • Photography sessions, expert advice and assistance, image reviews and critiques on all days.

The cost does not include

  • Transport from your location to your airport of arrival – Dibrugarh/Jorhat.
  • Addition beverages, snacks and mineral water.
  • Tips and other expenses are not mentioned in the inclusion mentioned above.

Book the trip: Rs. 30,000 advance to book your spot and the remaining payment one month before the trip.

Cancellation Policy:

– 25% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations earlier than 60 days before the start of a tour.
– 50% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 59 days and 45 before the start of a tour.
– 80% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 44 days and 31 days before the start of a tour.
– No refund for cancellation within 30 days of the tour start date or for a no-show.

Accommodation

Due to the nature of the place we are visiting, the type of accommodation during this tour is basic. We will be staying at a charming, simple and comfortable guesthouse in Majuli.

Arrival & Departure

We have organized group pick-up for participants from Dibrugarh and Jorhat on Day 01 at the following schedules.

  • 1.00 pm – Dibrugarh
  • 1.00 pm – Jorhat

On the last day, the following departure options are recommended.

  • We depart after breakfast in the morning from Majuli and drop you off at Dibrugarh/Jorhat airport. You can fly out of there to your next destination.
  • If you are planning to use another mode of transportation, please let us know.

Please contact us if you need any information on reaching Dibrugarh/Jorhat.

Detailed Itinerary:

The shooting style will be dynamic during this trip. Your photography mentor and a local expert will work on the itinerary constantly to make the best of photography opportunities. We will explore this island to shoot different river moods, landscapes, life, culture and much more.

And yes, we will also experience local cuisines.

Photography Mentor: Manish Lakhani

Manish Lakhani

Few people can boast of having travelled the high Himalayas like Manish has. For more than 15 years, he has explored these mountains extensively on foot, on bicycles and on two and four-wheels, often making his own path. He is a versatile photographer with a history of creating brilliant images of culture, heritage and landscapes.

He is renowned for his unique portrayal of remote cultures and traditions. He has photographed the cultural heritage across all the four corners of India, including the Changpa shepherds of the Himalayan Highlands, the native tribes of Nagaland, the nomads of Kutch and the rich traditions of Kerala.

He is Sony Artisan (Ambassador) in India for the mirrorless camera systems and Skylum Global Brand Ambassador for Asia. His works have been regularly featured in magazines across the world. He contributes to Adobe, BBC, WWF, CNN, Lonely Planet and many others regularly.

An avid cyclist, he has done an incredible solo bicycling trip of 15,000 kilometres across India. He visited many states of India, meeting different people, experiencing the diverse cultures and making some incredible photographs along the journey. He has since led many expeditions in the high altitude regions of Ladakh.

He has been mentoring photography enthusiasts for several years now and is known for his exuberant personality, in-depth knowledge of the terrain, expedition organization skills and, of course, his keen eye for photography.

You can follow him on Instagram,Facebook and on his website.

Registration

Contact us at the email/number below to book the tour.

email: photography@darter.in

Tel: +91 97400 83260 (Shreeram) / +91 99988 66669 (Manish)

Please fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.

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