Upon arrival in Varanasi, participants check into the hotel, followed by introductions and a brief orientation. This is a relaxed start, allowing everyone to settle in and get acquainted before heading into the city’s intense visual rhythm.

After lunch, we gather for a detailed briefing covering the cultural fabric of Varanasi, ethical considerations, shooting etiquette, and the overall photographic approach for the tour. The session focuses on how to observe light, anticipate moments, and work with layers, movement, and emotion in crowded environments.

Later, we step into the heart of the city to begin our first photographic exploration, leading up to the iconic evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Participants will photograph the ceremony’s dramatic interplay of fire, smoke, chanting priests, rituals, devotees, and reflected light—learning how to compose powerful frames in fast-changing, low-light conditions.

A short tea break allows time to rest, review images, and discuss observations before continuing with night photography around the ghats and surrounding streets, focusing on atmosphere, candid moments, and visual storytelling.
The day concludes with a return to the hotel for dinner and rest, preparing for deeper explorations in the days ahead.

The day begins early with a guided morning photowalk through the ancient lanes of Varanasi. As the city slowly awakens, participants photograph everyday life unfolding in narrow alleys—priests preparing for rituals, locals starting their day, pilgrims moving through temples, and quiet moments of devotion. The soft morning light and calmer streets provide ideal conditions for layered street photography and intimate visual storytelling.

During the walk, we share practical guidance on festival photography along with essential do’s and don’ts for working within the streets and sacred spaces of Varanasi, ensuring ethical, respectful, and informed image-making.

After returning to the hotel for breakfast, there is time to rest, review images, and recharge before the evening session.

Later in the day, we head out for an extensive photowalk along multiple ghats to photograph Dev Deepavali in its full grandeur. As dusk gives way to night, the riverfront transforms into a vast sea of light—millions of diyas illuminating the steps, rituals unfolding across the ghats, floating lamps on the river, and an atmosphere filled with chants, smoke, reflections, and movement. Participants receive guidance on positioning, timing, composition, and handling complex low-light conditions to create powerful, impactful images.

The day concludes with a return to the hotel for dinner and rest after an intense and visually rewarding experience.

The day begins before sunrise as we head to Assi Ghat to witness and photograph the serene Prabhat Aarti. As the first light of day appears over the Ganges River, participants capture the gentle rhythm of morning rituals—priests performing prayers, devotees offering salutations, yogic practices by the river, and the soft glow of dawn reflecting on the water. This session focuses on calm compositions, subtle light, and spiritual atmosphere.

After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we set out on a photowalk through the old, narrow lanes of Varanasi, where history, belief, and daily life intertwine. During the walk, we visit Mukti Bhawan, often referred to as the “Death House,” a hospice where people nearing the end of life come seeking liberation (moksha). This visit is approached with sensitivity and respect, with photography conducted only where appropriate. The walk continues through ancient temples and sacred spaces, offering opportunities to document faith, architecture, and human presence in a deeply meaningful context.

Later in the day, we head out for an exclusive and carefully guided photography session at Manikarnika Ghat, one of the most sacred cremation grounds in Hindu tradition. This session is conducted with strict ethical guidelines, focusing on atmosphere, symbolism, fire, smoke, light, textures, and the profound relationship between life, death, and faith—without intrusion or sensationalism. Participants are guided on what may and may not be photographed, emphasizing dignity, distance, and storytelling through abstraction.

The evening concludes back at the hotel with a dedicated image review session, where photographs from previous days are discussed in depth—covering composition, intent, editing approach, and narrative strength. The day ends with dinner and rest after a deeply moving and visually powerful experience.

The final day begins on the Ganges River, with a sunrise photography session from a boat. As early light spreads across the river, participants photograph the ghats from a unique perspective—priests performing morning rituals, devotees bathing, boats gliding through mist, reflections on the water, and the city slowly coming to life. This session emphasizes composition, framing from movement, layered storytelling, and capturing mood from the river.

After returning to the hotel, we gather for breakfast, followed by the distribution of participation certificates. This closing moment offers time to reflect on the journey, share experiences, and discuss key learnings from the tour.

The experience concludes with a final lunch together, after which the tour formally comes to an end. Participants check out and depart with a deeper understanding of Varanasi, a refined photographic vision, and a meaningful body of work that reflects the spirit, rhythm, and soul of the city.

Absolutely. While this is a photography-focused tour, non-photographers are very welcome. The journey is designed as a deeply immersive cultural and spiritual experience through Varanasi, and many participants join purely for the richness of the place rather than photography alone.

Some guests travel with photographer partners, while others join out of a strong interest in history, spirituality, rituals, and everyday life in one of the world’s oldest living cities. Over the years, we have hosted several non-photographers on our Varanasi trips, and they consistently find the experience just as meaningful and rewarding.

During previous journeys, many non-photographer participants chose to spend hours simply engaging with local people on the ghats—observing daily life, walking alongside pilgrims and residents, and absorbing the rhythm of the city—rather than actively photographing. These quiet, unhurried moments often became some of the most memorable parts of the experience.

Non-photographers are fully included in all walks, boat rides, cultural experiences, rituals, and city explorations. Many find that experiencing Varanasi without the pressure of making images allows for deeper presence, stronger human connections, and a more personal understanding of the city and its people.

In short, whether you photograph every moment or simply live it, this journey offers a powerful and lasting impression for everyone.

Not at all. Our photo tours and workshops welcome participants at all levels—from enthusiastic beginners to experienced professionals.

Every participant has a unique learning curve, and the tour is designed so that everyone benefits. Whether you are just starting out or looking to refine your visual approach, composition, and storytelling skills, guidance is provided throughout the journey.

You will also gain valuable insights through shared discussions, image reviews, and the collective experience of the group, making the learning process both supportive and enriching as you photograph Varanasi.

This is not an especially cold-weather trip so you don’t have to bring warm clothing. But in the early mornings, it will be slightly cold. So it’s better to bring light warm clothes like a windcheater.

This is a suggested packing list to make your trip a fulfilling and comfortable experience.

• Backpack or suitcase
• Comfortable light boots for walking
• Sunglasses
• Suncare cream
• Wet tissues
• Insurance confirmation copy
• Emergency contact number
• Carry your essential and basic medicines for headaches, fever, stomach upset, etc.
• Extra battery for the camera
• Adequate storage media
• Windcheater

You should bring cameras, a laptop (for editing in free time), and extra batteries for the camera. These kinds of things instantly spring to mind. Once you confirm your booking, we will send you all the information you need to fully prepare yourself for this epic journey.

This is just an idea about the suggested camera and accessory:

• One or two DSLR or Mirrorless (Full Frame or Crop Sensor) cameras. If you use a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera, for much of the time, when photographing devotees or sadhus, you will want to cover focal lengths of around 24-70mm or 24-105mm. A 16-35mm lens in a full-frame camera is also a very good choice. However, a kit lens (18-55/3.5 or 4.0) will also work.
• If you bring a good quality bridge camera instead of a DSLR or mirrorless camera, it will be best if it has an optical zoom of 18-20x or more, combined with a reasonable wide angle at the other end of the zoom range.
• Protector for your lens.
• Extra battery for your camera and external hard drive with adequate space and a card reader
• Adequate memory card.
• A Computer with photo-processing software [Lightroom, Photoshop]. (If you do not have this software, don’t worry, we’ll provide it.)
• A tripod is not required because there will be a large number of people, you’ll not be able to put your tripod but if you can carry your tripods, you can try some slow shutter speed images on Dev Depawali.

A normal level of physical fitness is sufficient to join the Varanasi Photo Tour. The experience does involve a fair amount of walking, as we explore ghats, narrow lanes, and riverfront areas on foot.

Participants should be comfortable walking approximately 5–8 kilometres a day, and occasionally more, often on uneven surfaces and steps along the ghats of Varanasi. No strenuous activity is involved, but a reasonable level of stamina and adaptability will ensure you enjoy the experience comfortably.

• Dev Deepavali evening is extremely busy, with very large crowds across the ghats and surrounding streets of Varanasi.
• Mobile networks may be slow or temporarily unavailable on the ghats during Dev Deepavali due to congestion and network restrictions.
• Expect high noise levels from chants, music, announcements, and firecrackers, especially in the evening.
• Smoke from incense, diyas, and firecrackers is common and can be heavy at times, particularly near the ghats.
• Movement during peak festival hours can be slow, with frequent stops and gradual walking through dense crowds.

In November, Varanasi experiences pleasant daytime temperatures, typically reaching up to 25°C, while nights are cooler, with temperatures dropping to around 15°C. Overall, the weather remains comfortable for extended outdoor photography sessions.

How to Reach

Varanasi is well connected to all major parts of India by air, rail, and road, offering convenient and comfortable travel options for visitors.

By Air

Varanasi is served by Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, located approximately 22 km from the city center. The airport operates both domestic and limited international flights.

Domestic connections include major cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, and more.

International connections are available to select destinations including Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, and Sharjah.

By Train

Varanasi is a major railway hub with excellent connectivity across India. The primary railway stations serving the city are Varanasi Junction (BSB) and Banaras Railway Station (BSBS), both well connected to major cities nationwide.
Additionally, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction (formerly Mughal Sarai Junction), located around 18 km from the city, is another key junction with frequent trains from all parts of the country.

By Road

Varanasi is well connected by road to nearby cities such as Prayagraj (Allahabad), Lucknow, Patna, Gorakhpur, and Ranchi via well-maintained national highways. Regular state-run and private luxury bus services—especially from Lucknow—offer comfortable travel options, with journey times typically ranging between 6 to 7 hours.

• Participants may choose any flight or train arriving on Day 1, ideally between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, to allow smooth check-in and orientation.
• If you prefer to arrive a day earlier to rest or adjust, we can arrange additional accommodation in the same hotel and room (subject to availability), so you won’t need to change rooms later.

• This photo tour requires a minimum of 3 participants to operate. If the minimum is not met, the trip may be postponed or cancelled, and all deposits will be fully refunded.
• This is not a luxury tour. The experience involves extended time outdoors, walking on the Ghats in crowded areas. A reasonable level of physical fitness, adaptability, and patience is required.
• Participation is confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to email confirmation. For any questions or assistance, please feel free to contact us.

To reserve your spot, a 30% deposit of the full tour amount is required at the time of booking. The remaining balance must be paid 90 days before the tour. You can pay via the online payment link on our website, or request our account details or PayPal information for the transfer. Your reservation may be cancelled if full payment is not received by the specified deadline. After making the payment, please send us a copy or screenshot of the bank receipt. Upon confirmation, we will email you the Rules and Regulations of the tour, securing your spot on the photo tour.

All cancellations must be made in writing (email is acceptable) and will take effect on the date of receipt (by standard mail or electronically). Once the tour begins, there can be no refunds for any unused portions, including rooms, meals, flights, tour days, events, or services. Please note that the cancellation penalties outlined below are based on costs incurred by EXPOSURE on your behalf, including non-refundable deposits or payments to agents, hotels, airlines, etc.

In the event of a cancellation or modification of your confirmed booking, EXPOSURE’s Cancellation and Refund Policy will apply, and you must fully agree to be bound by it. Any refunds will be processed within 15 working days from the date of written confirmation of cancellation, via the same method used for payment.

Cancellation fees are as follows:

• 40% of the total fee if cancelled 90 days or more before the start of the trip.
• 100% of the total fee if cancelled 59 days or less before the start of the trip.

Please carefully read all details on this page and the Detailed Terms and Conditions, as well as the Disclaimer/Undertaking in the Registration cum Booking Form.

Trip cancellation by EXPOSURE:

• In the unlikely event that EXPOSURE must cancel a tour or workshop due to a lack of participants or any other reason, a full refund, including the deposit, will be issued.
• We will notify you in advance if a cancellation is being considered. If a photo tour is cancelled, 100% of your deposit and payments will be refunded.
• However, EXPOSURE is not liable for any expenses incurred, such as airfare, accommodations, or equipment costs. For this reason, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage.

Registration is open from 15th January 2026 to 25th September 2026 or till the seat reservations end.

Participants will stay in a comfortable, well-located air-conditioned hotel situated very close to Dashashwamedh Ghat, allowing easy access to the ghats and major photography locations.

Accommodation is provided in well-furnished deluxe rooms, available on double or single occupancy, ensuring a comfortable stay after long and immersive photography sessions.

Hotel Facilities Include:

• 24-hour hot and cold water supply
• In-house restaurant
• 24-hour Wi-Fi access in the hotel lobby area
• Doctor-on-call and taxi services available on request
• Laundry service

The hotel has been carefully chosen for its location, comfort, and convenience, making it an ideal base for exploring and photographing Varanasi during Dev Deepavali.