INDIA Land of the Tiger A Wildlife Photo Safari with Lewis Kemper

Transcription

1 INDIA Land of the Tiger A Wildlife Photo Safari with Lewis Kemper April 24 - May 6, 2018

2 INDIA Photographer s India: Land of the Tiger A Wildlife Photo Safari with Lewis Kemper A Photo Cultural Journey with Lewis Kemper India s jewels are the parks, palaces, temples, bazaars and, of course, the wild animals which define her exotic past. On this photographic safari we spend a week in the renowned Bandavgarh National Park, one of the best wildlife sanctuaries in India that houses the Royal Bengal Tiger. The parks of central India were the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling s The Jungle Books, and all of the animals described in the books are to be found here. Bandavgarh, a relatively smaller park with stunning landscape, has the highest concentration of wild tigers per square mile. We have ample time to thoroughly explore and photograph wildlife in exclusive 4-wheel drive vehicles. Before reaching the tiger park, we delve into ancient India visiting religious Benares (also known as Varanasi). Built on the banks of the holy river Ganga (Ganges), Varanasi is the oldest living city of the world and could well be thought of as the Soul of India - a fitting start to our photography journey. We will also visit the millennium old intricately carved temples at Khajuraho before reaching the wildlife park. Although their emphasis is on photography, our photocultural tours are suitable for any adventurous traveler looking for a vacation that is out of the ordinary.

3 Y O U R J O U R N E Y DEPARTURE DATE(S): APRIL 24 - MAY 6, 2018 RECOMMENDED FOR: Travelers with a passion for photography who want to view India through the lens of their camera and capture unforgettable images. HIGHLIGHTS: The holy city of Varanasi Millinium old temples at Khajuraho 7 days of game drives and excursions in Bandavgari National Park, home to many endangered species, including tiger. ACCOMMODATIONS: 2 nights at Gateway by Taj (Varanasi) 1 night at Radisson Jass (Khajuraho) 7 nights at Pugdundee King s Lodge (Bandavgarh) 2 nights at Pullman Airport hotel (arrival/departure Delhi) Day 1 WELCOME TO DELHI You will be arriving at Delhi s Indira Gandhi International Airport late at night. Proceed through Immigration and Customs to the Arrivals area, where you will be met by a Nomadic Expeditions representative and transferred to the airport hotel, a convenient 5 min away. Expect to reach your hotel room approximately 2-3 hours after landing. (Airport Hotel Pullman) Day 2 FLY TO VARANASI After an early breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Varanasi. Varanasi is a holy city, its life dedicated to Siva. Like Jerusalem, Rome, and Athens, Varanasi is one of the world s ancient living cities. Nineteenth-century missionary M.A. Sherring was overwhelmed by the antiquity of Benares (Varanasi) when he wrote: Twenty five centuries ago, at least, it was famous. When Babylon was struggling with Nineveh for supremacy, when Tyre was planting her colonies, when Athens was growing in strength, before Rome had become known, or Greece had contended with Persia, or Cyrus had added luster to the Persian monarchy, or Nebuchadnezzar had captured Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of Judea had been carried into captivity, she had already risen to greatness, if not to glory. Mark Twain in his Following the Equator observed: Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together! Varanasi is the center of Hindu culture; like Jerusalem it is seen as a holy land and has survived the centuries because of its sanctified place in Indian religious life. To die in Kashi (Varanasi) insures release, or moksa, from the endless karmic cycle of rebirth and suffering. Varanasi is India in microcosm, both the beautiful and the repellant. This afternoon we begin our exploration of Varanasi by visiting the ghats for which the city is so justly famous. At sunset we will have the wonderful experience of a sunset boat ride on the Ganga River, during which we will witness the evening arthi. Day 3 EXPLORE VARANASI (Gateway by Taj Hotel; B, WD) We will rise early this morning to take our sunrise boat ride on the Ganga past the ghats. Here, pilgrims gather on the steps that lead down to the river to bathe in the waters of the sacred river as the city begins to come alive in the magical misty light of dawn. You will walk through the streets and visit some of Varanasi s many temples before returning to the hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, we take a short drive to Sarnath. It was here at the Deer Park of Sarnath that Sakyamuni Buddha, having achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, delivered his first message of the middle path to final nirvana. Also of interest are excavated pillars from the time of the Maurya Dynasty ( B.C) and stupas from as late as the 12th century. These were unearthed during the British archaeological explorations in 1836 and are housed in the museum on site. (Gateway by Taj Hotel; B)

4 Day 4 FLY TO KHAJURAHO We have the morning for one final photo shoot along the banks of the Ganga. Mid-morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Khajuraho. Khajuraho, now a quiet little town, was once the religious capital of the Chandela kings. The Chandelas were devout tantric Hindus and were prolific patrons of religious architecture. They built numerous, elaborate temples to serve as emblems of their piety and strength. Khajuraho is also famous for its beautiful Hindu temples, considered to be some of the finest examples of Nagara style architecture. The temples are well known for their lavish use of erotic carvings, which shocked Victorian Britishers described as a little warmer than necessary, but to the ancient devotee they symbolized the joy of life and the joy of spiritual liberation through Tantric ritual. We spend the afternoon photographing the temple, returning to our hotel after sunset. (Radisson Jass; B) Day 5 TO BANDAVGARI NATIONAL PARK After our sunrise foray to the Khajuraho temples, we start our 5-6 hour drive to Bandavgarh National Park. The drive passing through small farming villages, teak forests offers many photo ops that we will take advantage off. Arrive at our lodge before dinner. Bandhavgarh National Park is located in one of India s last remaining areas of substantial forest, in what was originally part of the princely state of Rewa, home of the rare white tiger. Contrary to popular belief, white tigers are neither a subspecies of tiger, nor are they albinos - they are actually white-colored Bengal tigers (currently there are no wild white tigers). Though small, the park abounds in many of India s endangered animals spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, nilgai, blackbuck, four-horned antelope, gaur (Indian bison and largest of the world s oxen), sloth bear, leopard and the Royal Bengal Tiger. Bandavgarh was designated a Tiger Reserve and comes under the protection of Project Tiger the single largest conservation project mounted by the Government of India. PLEASE NOTE: All National Wildlife Parks in India, shut down for visitors in the middle of the day and every Wednesday afternoon. We take sunrise excursions, departing our lodge pre-dawn that last 4-5 hours. Afternoon excursions starting between 2-3 pm, last about three hours, with all visitors required to leave the park boundaries by sunset. All park excursions will be in exclusive, open-air, 4-wheel drive vehicle, with a maximum of 4 participants per vehicle. All vehicles will be accompanied by a park-certified naturalist. (Pugdundee King s Lodge; B, L, D)

5 Days 6-11 BANDHAVGARH NATIONAL PARK We have six days to explore Bandhavgarh, with sunrise and sunset game excursions in this fantastic wildlife park. Daytime sightings of tiger are more likely at Bandhavgarh than at any other preserve in India. The Park remains closed to visitors between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and accordingly, your will have sunrise and sunset excursions in private 4-wheel drive vehicles, accompanied by attentive and knowledgeable naturalists, who will expertly introduce you to the area s rich and varied wildlife. After an early-morning game drive, we picnic at the old fort situated on a hilltop overlooking hundreds of miles of forest. Abandoned in 1935, the complex was once the thriving home for thousands of residents, ruled by the Maharaja of Rewa. Beautiful statuary and buildings overgrown by grass and trees dot the hilltop ruins. We explore and photograph the remains of temples dedicated to the incarnations of Vishnu and marvel at the beauty and serenity of this remote archeological treasure. (Pugdundee King s Lodge; B, L, D) Day 12 DRIVE TO JABALPUR FLY TO DELHI We head out early morning for our last excursion in the Tiger Park. We will be back at our hotel for an early lunch, last minute packing before driving to Nagpur for our flight to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi transfer back to the Airport Pullman Hotel for a few hours of rest. We will have a Farewell Dinner, our last as a group, before heading back to the airport for your return flight (most are after midnight). All participants will be transferred to the airport based on their flight departure time (you will have access to your hotel room until your departure). (Airport Pullman Hotel; B, FD) Day 13 DEPARTURE Departing India, you arrive in the U.S. later the same day. B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner Nomadic Expeditions reserves the right to change the above itinerary if necessary.

6 ABOUT YOUR TRIP LEADER LEWIS KEMPER Lewis Kemper is widely recognized as a photographer, writer, and instructor, lecturing throughout the United States. He currently is a Contributing Editor to Outdoor Photographer. He was the photographer for, Ancient Ancestors of the Southwest, published by Graphic Arts Center Publishing. Kemper s monograph, Capturing the Light won the People s Choice Awards in Fine Art in the 2009 Photography.Book.Now competition. His publication Photographing Yosemite Digital Field Guide was voted in the top 20 field guides. Lewis DVD, My Stretch of the River: A Photographer s Journal, features a years worth of photography and journal entries on the American River in Sacramento, CA. His latest publications are photo guide apps, Yosemite National Park SNAPPGuide and Yellowstone National Park SNAPPGuide. An excellent photographer, Lewis is also a skilled teacher, and will assist you in every way, enabling you to bring home wonderful memories, suitable for framing.

7 LAND PRICE 6 9 Participants: $5945 per person Participants: $5600 per person Single Supplement: $925 (if you require single accommodation on tour) Internal India Airfare: $360 per person Economy Class Delhi Varanasi Khajuraho; Jabalpur Delhi LAND PRICE INCLUDES: All accommodations in hotels/room category, as listed in the above itinerary, based on double occupancy, inclusive of all taxes and service charges All transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles All arrival/departure airport/hotel transfers Bottled drinking water during meals and also during the day as needed by clients All Park entrance fees, conservation fees at Bandhavgarh National Parks Private sunrise and sunset game drives at Bandhavgarh National Parks in open-air, 4-wheel drive vehicles, accompanied by Park Naturalist Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day in National Parks All entry fees at all temples, museums and monuments on sightseeing excursions Services of photography expert Mr. Lewis Kemper from Delhi to Delhi (Day 2 Day 13) All Govt. Service Taxes as applicable LAND PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: International airfare and en route stopovers to and from Asia Certain Lunches and Dinners as listed in the above itinerary Gratuities to Trip Leader WHY TRAVEL WITH NOMADIC EXPEDITIONS? Unrivaled Expertise Nomadic Expeditions was founded in Nothing can compete with the experience we have attained over 25 years of designing luxury adventure travel to Asia. While each trip we design is slightly different than its predecessor, our breadth of knowledge, network of contacts, and experience in the field is unrivaled. Our People We hire the best in the business to create and execute memorable journeys for our clients. From our Expedition Specialists in the United States, Ulaanbaatar, Lhasa, and Thimpu who turn wish lists into reality to our English-speaking, professionally trained guides who share their extensive knowledge of the culture and natural history of our destinations, our staff is what makes Nomadic Expeditions successful. Passion for Travel While our journeys open your eyes to a whole new world of experiences, we understand that choosing to book a trip with us requires time spent away from friends, family, and work. Your time is precious and we take that to heart. It s why we design journeys that go beyond a checklist of attractions. When you travel with us, we want you to remember drinking tea with a nomadic family or digging for fossils with a renowned paleontologist. We imbue our trips with encounters, whether it s with a local resident, a high-ranking government official, or a renowned wildlife conservationist, so you take home more than a set of photographs to frame on your nightstand. Our Philosophy Nomadic Expeditions was founded on the principle of treading lightly long before sustainable travel was a buzz phrase. Every expedition is undertaken with the greatest respect for the lands we explore and the local people we meet. Those who travel with us do so with the assurance that the preservation and protection of the ecosystems and cultures we visit is of the utmost importance to us, both as individuals and as a company. Respect for the places we travel to is at the heart of everything we do, but over our 25 years we have realized additional opportunities where we can lend a hand. We have gone beyond simply treading lightly and have wholeheartedly partnered with local communities and regions. Read more about our sustainable practices and philanthropic efforts here. Items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone calls, etc. Still camera and video fees Trip cancellation, travel delay or baggage insurance. Charges incurred as a result of delays beyond Nomadic Expeditions control Photographs Lewis Kemper. All Rights Reserved. We would love to share this exceptional adventure with you! Our Expedition Specialists are available from 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM EST, Monday thru Friday Nomadic Expeditions Inc., 1095 Cranbury-South River Road, Suite 20A Monroe Twp., NJ USA Phone: or Fax: info@