Our next South India photo journey is scheduled for February 9–24, 2027. Full trip details, including a new brochure and rates, will be posted soon. Sign up here to receive updates.
UNDISCOVERED
SOUTH INDIA
with optional North India trip extensions to Varanasi and Agra
New February 2027 Details Coming Soon
An immersive journey through South India’s living traditions.
In February 2027, journey deep into the cultural heart of South India on a photography-focused expedition guided by renowned photographer and South India expert David H. Wells, alongside Open Sky Expeditions’ Temu Nana. Crossing three distinct states, this carefully crafted itinerary reveals a remarkable range of landscapes, rituals, and daily life, from bustling flower markets and ancient temple complexes to misty tea estates, coastal villages, and tranquil backwaters.
Along the way, you’ll photograph sacred pilgrimage sites, witness the powerful Theyyam rituals of Kerala, explore wildlife-rich national parks on safari, and experience India from a deeply local perspective shaped by decades of on-the-ground knowledge. With time built in for spontaneous moments, village encounters, and patient observation, this journey offers a rare opportunity to engage with South India’s layered rhythms, traditions, and visual richness in a way few travelers ever do.
Bangalore 3 nights · Hassan 1 night · Mysore 2 nights · Coonoor 2 nights · Bandipur National Park 1 night · Kannur 2 nights · Cochin 2 nights · plus pre-trip extensions to North India, including Varanasi and Agra
TRIP OVERVIEW
Traveling in India is a potent, perspective-shifting experience like no other, assured to present photo opportunities that leave a lasting impact on your worldview. On this trip you'll discover lesser-known, more relaxed, incredible southern India with a true expert: award-winning photographer David H. Wells, who has logged over 60 trips in two decades of traveling and living in the subcontinent. Explore diverse landscapes, languages, & cultures across three states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Below are select highlights from our main trip's itinerary:
-
Discover Bangalore—where David lives part time with his wife—from a local’s perspective, including the KR Market, one of the largest flower markets in Asia.
-
Visit and photograph the cultural icons of South India that Indians pilgrimage to, such as the temples of the Hoysala dynasty at Halebid, known for their exquisite architecture and detailed carvings, and the Jain pilgrimage site of Shravanabelagola, including its 57-ft tall monolithic Gommateshwara Bahubali statue.
-
Experience and photograph the spectacular, rarely-visited (by Westerners) and very special Theyyam ritual.
-
Tour Mysore's incredible palace by day, and return on Sunday evening, when the palace and grounds are lit with thousands of lights.
-
Outside Mysore, enjoy a tranquil morning photographing the bird sanctuary at Rangnathittu.
-
Visit Bandipur National Park for an opportunity to photograph Royal Bengal Tigers on a safari.
-
Enjoy multiple visits to villages and markets, both in cities and the countryside.
-
Spend two nights enjoying—and capturing—the tranquility of the highlands on a tea estate.
-
Enjoy an afternoon cruise in the Backwaters, after exploring Kochi, capital of Kerala.
Also available as a part of this journey, we've designed optional pre-trip extensions to visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, and to explore the ritual-rich banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi. Detailed day-by-day itineraries for these extensions, and the main trip, are available in the full trip brochure.
This brochure reflects a previous edition of our South India journey. Our 2027 itinerary will be nearly identical, with updated dates, rates, and refinements, and will be published here soon. In the meantime, we invite you to explore this version, which includes:
-
An overview of the trip
-
A map of the route we take
-
Select trip highlights
-
A detailed day-by-day itinerary of the main trip in India, from February 10-26, 2026.
-
Details for the optional pre-trip extensions offered in Agra and/or Varanasi
-
Leader bios for photo pro/instructor David Wells, and tour leader Temu Nana.
-
Accommodations
-
Rates & inclusions
-
How to sign up
-
Terms & Conditions
WORDS FROM OUR PAST TRAVELERS
“You guys are great - so organized and helpful...everyone at Open Sky made this a seamless journey. I had never used a
tour company before...I think the level of detail and care allowed me to focus on photography and trust the rest would
be handled. Loved it - would highly recommend you and would go anywhere with Temu.”
“Well done! Excellent team - David Temu Dennis - couldn't have asked for more - we dipped in to so many of the sights, sounds, and smells of India - I feel full (for now) Thank you!!”
“Open Sky Expeditions truly cares about their clients; they make us feel comfortable and at home even when we’re in the other side of the planet!”
BOOKING THIS TRIP
Have More Questions?
We're happy to assist! Please contact us at info@openskyexpeditions.com, or call us at 1.844.OPENSKY or +1.212.441.0024.
Trip Requirements
To participate on this trip, you will need to:
-
Passport: Carry a passport valid for at least 6 months after the trip ends
-
Travel Insurance: Have travel insurance that at least covers emergency medical evacuation. This can be obtained after booking the trip. CLICK HERE to view details on the options offered via our partners Travel Insured International and Wanderwell.