Odisha Tribal Tour: Discover the Hidden Indigenous Communities of Rayagada, Koraput and Jeypore with Alternative Tours India
Imagine walking through misty hills where time seems to stand still. Women with striking facial tattoos balance brass pots on their heads, men play traditional flutes, and the air carries the scent of forest honey. This is the real Odisha – home to 62 tribal communities, many still living the way their ancestors did centuries ago. At Alternative Tours India, we take you deep into this world on our carefully crafted Odisha tribal tour.
Our journey begins in the southern highlands of Rayagada, Koraput, and Jeypore – regions where mass tourism has not yet arrived. Here, you’ll meet the fascinating Bondo (also known as Bonda) people, one of India’s most distinctive tribes. The women wear incredible silver neck rings and colourful beaded skirts, while their shaved heads adorned with white flower garlands make them instantly recognisable. Every Thursday, join them at the lively Onukudelli weekly market – a riot of colour, barter trade, and homemade rice beer.
A short drive away lies Chatikona, where the fierce yet warm Donga Kondh and Desia Kondh tribes welcome visitors into their villages. Watch the women create intricate Kondh embroidery on shawls and learn about their unique justice system that still settles disputes under ancient trees. Spend a night in a traditional mud-house homestay, fall asleep to the sound of drums, and wake up to fresh mahua flower tea.
In the Koraput region, visit the gentle Gadaba and Saora communities. The Saora are famous for their sacred Idital wall paintings – beautiful white designs made with rice paste that tell stories of gods and ancestors. If you’re lucky and visit during the right season, you might witness the dramatic Dangar Nritya buffalo dance of the Bhumia tribe.
What makes Alternative Tours India different? We don’t just show you tribes from a distance. We introduce you properly, with local tribal guides who speak the language and know every family. You eat the same red-ant chutney and millet porridge they do. You learn a few words in Kui or Gutob. You contribute directly to the community through fair payments and small projects we support.
This is not just a tour. It’s a rare chance to step into living cultures that have resisted change for generations. With Alternative Tours India, your Odisha tribal tour becomes more than sightseeing – it becomes a genuine human connection.
Ready to meet India’s most colourful hidden communities? Write to us at Alternative Tours India today. Spaces fill fast because we keep groups tiny and authentic.