Photo Expedition

India by Rail Photography Expedition – Feb 9-19, 2026

March 11, 2025

EXPEDITION OVERVIEW

Click HERE to Learn more about the Expedition on Nat Geo Expeditions

India overwhelms the senses in the best possible way — a vivid collision of ancient and modern, color and chaos, stillness and spectacle. This 11-day photography expedition is designed to put all of it in front of your lens. Traveling aboard the Palace on Wheels, a luxury train built in the royal style of the Maharajas, we’ll roll through Rajasthan on one of the most photographically rich rail journeys on earth.

The Journey

We begin in Delhi, where the contrast between New Delhi’s grand colonial architecture — the India Gate, Parliament buildings — and the layered, frenetic energy of Old Delhi sets the photographic tone immediately. From there we head to Jaipur, the “Pink City,” and ascend to the hilltop Amber Fort before boarding the Palace on Wheels for five nights on the rails. Our route takes us deep into Rajasthan: searching for tigers at dawn in Ranthambhore National Park; photographing the sweeping sand dunes and folk dancers of the Thar Desert around Jaisalmer; honing portraiture skills in Jodhpur’s blue-hued old city in the shadow of the 15th-century Mehrangarh Fort. If the timing aligns with Jaisalmer’s Desert Festival, the streets fill with snake charmers, puppeteers, and dancing camels — the kind of scene that doesn’t need any staging. We close the journey in Agra with sunrise and sunset at the Taj Mahal, including a rare early-morning crossing of the Yamuna River to photograph from the Mehtab Bagh gardens — one of the finest vantage points in the world.

Photography Focus

Throughout the expedition, photo shoots are built into each day: wetland birds — egrets, flamingos, and more — in Keoladeo Ghana National Park; a private folk dance performance in the desert; portrait sessions with local Rajasthani residents; and six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in total. Every location is chosen with the photographer in mind, whether you’re working on landscapes, wildlife, portraiture, or architecture. As your National Geographic Photo Expert, I’ll be on the ground with you at every shoot — working through composition, light, and technique in real time, in some of the most compelling environments I’ve encountered in years of leading expeditions.

Accommodations

The Palace on Wheels is the journey’s centerpiece: 14 fully air-conditioned saloons with twin cabins, two restaurant cars serving Indian, Rajasthani, and continental cuisine, and a spa car for unwinding between stops. On land, we stay in high-end hotels matched to the character of each destination.

Who This Trip Is For

This expedition is suited to photographers of all skill levels who want a structured, immersive shooting experience — not just a sightseeing tour with a camera in hand. India rewards patience and curiosity, and the rail format gives us the rhythm to actually slow down and connect with the places we visit. For complete details on this departure visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/destinations/asia/train/india-train-photo-tour/

Tags: india, india by rail, jonathan kingston, national geographic, national geographic expeditions, national geographic photographer, photography tour, rajasthan, train