Embark on a captivating journey through the heart of eastern India with our specially curated Odisha Tribal Tour, designed exclusively for photographers and cultural enthusiasts. This unique travel experience offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore the vibrant tribal heritage of Odisha, a state renowned for its rich cultural tapestry and indigenous communities. From weekly tribal markets to traditional rituals, colorful attire, and untouched landscapes, the Odisha Tribal Tour provides endless possibilities to capture rare and authentic moments through your lens. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or an avid traveler with a passion for culture, this tour is your gateway to witnessing the diverse lifestyles of Odisha’s tribes, including the Bonda, Gadaba, Dongria Kondh, and Lanjia Soura.
You can also check out our best selling odisha tribal tour today for best offers and deals .
Today you arrive at Bhubaneswar . Meet and assistance at Airport . Transfer to hotel . Later we will have a small orientation session of what we are going to see in the odisha tribal tour . The mentor or guide will suggest you which kind of camera equipment or gears to carry with you in this tour . Later in the day we will visit the Old town of Bhubaneswar where we can take pictures of daily life and people visiting the temples of Parshurameswar , Mukteswar , Lingaraj etc
As part of your immersive Odisha Tribal Tour, a visit to the mystical Joranda Monastery offers a rare chance to photograph the ascetic life of the Mahima Sadhus—spiritual monks who follow the unique Mahima Dharma. Located near Dhenkanal, this sacred site is home to a reclusive sect of holy men known for their austere lifestyle, saffron robes, and deeply meditative practices. For photographers, the Joranda Monastery presents a powerful visual narrative filled with raw emotion, spiritual depth, and compelling portraiture.
These sadhus live with minimal worldly possessions, practicing non-violence, celibacy, and a strict vegetarian diet. During your Odisha Tribal Tour, capturing their rituals, serene expressions, and symbolic fire ceremonies will add a profound spiritual layer to your photographic journey. Whether it’s during the annual Magha Mela or on a quiet day of worship, Joranda offers timeless frames that reflect Odisha’s lesser-known spiritual culture, perfectly complementing your tribal photography exploration.
Today we will drive to Baliguda , home of the tattoo faced kondha tribes .
A highlight of the Odisha Tribal Tour is photographing the tattoo-faced Kondha tribes, especially the Kutia Kondha women, known for their distinctive facial tattoos. These intricate designs, symbolizing identity and tradition, offer rare and powerful portraits for photographers. Set against the remote hills of Kandhamal, this experience provides a unique glimpse into a vanishing tribal art form, making it an unforgettable part of your Odisha Tribal Tour.
In the morning we will meet the tattoo faced kondha people . With permission we will try to make some pictures of their daily life , people working on the fields etc . Later we will drive to Rayagada , on the way we will stop at the cotton fields . Check into hotel . Day ends
After breakfast , make an excursion to Puttasing hills to meet the Lanjia Saura tribes
The Lanjia Saura tribe, known for their vibrant traditions and iconic wall paintings called Idital, is a fascinating subject for those on an Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers. Residing in the remote hills of southern Odisha, the Lanjia Sauras wear their traditional attire with pride, and their terraced villages offer rich opportunities for environmental and cultural photography.
Their geometric murals, often painted on mud walls to depict ancestral spirits, daily life, and nature, are a visual storytelling art form that draws photographers from around the world. Interacting with the Lanjia Sauras allows you to capture not just powerful portraits, but also the artistic soul of tribal Odisha—making this a must-visit stop on your Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers.
Later return back to hotel .
The Dongoria Kondh tribe, one of Odisha’s most iconic indigenous communities, offers a visually rich experience for those on an Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers. Inhabiting the Niyamgiri Hills, the Dongoria Kondhs are known for their distinctive appearance—men and women adorned with elaborate jewelry, traditional body tattoos, and vibrant attire that reflect their deep tribal identity.
Photographers will find compelling subjects in their daily life, rituals, and weekly markets, where Dongoria Kondhs descend from the hills to trade forest produce. Their harmonious relationship with nature, sacred reverence for the Niyam Raja (hill deity), and resistance to outside influence make them a fascinating subject to document.
A visit to a Dongoria Kondhs at Chatikona Weekly Market is not just a photo opportunity—it’s an intimate window into a resilient culture. For any Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers, capturing the spirit of the Dongoria Kondh people is an unforgettable highlight.
Later drive to Jeypore – En route Paroja tribal villages to see and capture the process of organic farming
No Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers is complete without an encounter with the Bonda and Gadaba tribes—two of the most visually and culturally fascinating communities in the Eastern Ghats of Odisha.
The Bonda tribe, residing in the remote hills of Malkangiri, is known for its striking appearance and centuries-old traditions. Bonda women wear heavy bead necklaces, brass and aluminum ornaments, and a small loincloth, presenting rare and powerful imagery for portrait photography. Their fierce independence and isolated lifestyle offer photographers a raw and authentic glimpse into one of India’s oldest tribal societies.
Just as captivating are the Gadaba tribes, who live in the Koraput region. Gadaba women are often seen in their traditional two-piece sarees, silver jewelry, and brass neck rings. Their rhythmic Dhemsa dance, performed in groups during festivals and community gatherings, provides dynamic and colorful photo opportunities that reflect the joy and strength of tribal life.
For photographers seeking to capture rare tribal expressions, vibrant attire, and deep-rooted traditions, documenting the Bonda and Gadaba people is a highlight of any Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers.
The Bastar region in southern Chhattisgarh is home to vibrant tribal communities like the Maria, Muria, Dhurwa, and Bhatra, known for their unique customs, traditional dances, and deep connection with nature. This culturally rich area offers travelers a rare glimpse into indigenous life.
As part of the experience, Alternative Tours India organises a day visit to the Lohandiguda weekly market, where tribal villagers gather to trade forest produce, handmade goods, and daily essentials. It’s a colourful and lively space perfect for photographers and culture seekers. The market provides a chance to interact with local tribes, witness traditional attire, and capture authentic moments of tribal life—all in a respectful and enriching way.
Later in the day we visit Chitrakut waterfalls and return back to the hotel
As part of our specially curated Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers, we take you across the border into southern Chhattisgarh to experience the rich cultural heritage of the Bison Horn Maria Gond tribes. These proud forest-dwelling communities are known for their vibrant traditions, rhythmic music, and one of India’s most spectacular tribal dances—the Bison Horn Dance.
In the heart of Maria villages, you’ll witness this energetic performance, where dancers wear buffalo horn headgear, colorful attire, and move in unison to the deep beats of traditional drums. For photographers, it’s a dream setting—raw, powerful, and full of movement and expression.
The tour also includes a visit to the Mardum weekly market near Jagdalpur, a bustling tribal gathering where locals come to trade forest produce, handicrafts, and daily essentials. It’s a perfect location to capture candid portraits, cultural interactions, and vibrant scenes of tribal life in motion.
This extension of the Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers offers a unique chance to document rare traditions and connect deeply with the tribal heartbeat of central India.
The Deer Muria dance is one of the most visually captivating tribal performances in central India, performed by the Deer Muria tribe of the Bastar region. As part of the Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers, witnessing this traditional dance offers a rare opportunity to capture the vibrant expressions of tribal identity through movement, costume, and music.
In this energetic group dance, male dancers wear elaborate deer horn headgear and tribal ornaments, moving in synchronized formations to the rhythm of indigenous drums and flutes. The performance symbolizes the tribe’s deep connection to nature, especially the forest and wildlife that sustain their way of life.
For photographers, the Deer Muria dance provides striking imagery—dynamic motion, traditional attire, and powerful expressions set against the earthy backdrop of village settings.
The tour also includes a visit to a bidi (traditional hand-rolled cigarette) factory near Kanker, offering a rare chance to capture scenes of rural labor, craftsmanship, and everyday life. The rhythmic work of women rolling bidis, the earthy textures, and the rustic setting make it a compelling subject for storytelling through photography.
This experience adds a unique industrial and human-interest layer to your Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers, balancing cultural richness with visual diversity.
As part of an enriching cultural extension to your tribal exploration, Alternative Tours India offers a special journey from Kanker to Shivrinarayan to meet the unique and deeply spiritual Ramnami Samaj of Chhattisgarh.
The Ramnamis are followers of the Bhakti saint Ravidas, known for their devotion to Lord Ram. What makes this community visually and spiritually striking is their practice of tattooing the name “Ram” across their bodies—even on their faces—as a lifelong symbol of faith and resistance. Born out of a history of caste-based exclusion from temples, the Ramnamis turned their bodies into sacred space, creating one of India’s most powerful expressions of personal devotion.
A drive from Kanker to Shivrinarayan takes you through serene countryside and into villages where the Ramnami tradition is still alive. Meeting these gentle, humble devotees in their homes offers a rare chance for authentic interaction and striking portrait photography.
This experience, curated by Alternative Tours India, adds a profound spiritual layer to your tribal and cultural journey—perfect for photographers seeking stories of resilience, belief, and beauty in simplicity.
As part of your Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers, start your day with an immersive morning photography session with the Ramnami people of Chhattisgarh. Known for their deep devotion to Lord Ram, the Ramnami community has an extraordinary tradition of tattooing the name “Ram” across their bodies, often on their faces, as a lifelong symbol of faith.
The early morning light provides the perfect opportunity to capture striking portraits of these spiritual individuals, where the soft sunlight highlights the intricate tattoos and expressive faces. The serene and peaceful atmosphere of the village, combined with the warmth of the Ramnami people’s hospitality, offers photographers a chance to create intimate, powerful images that tell a story of devotion, resilience, and cultural uniqueness.
This photography session not only allows you to capture rare moments of personal spirituality but also provides a meaningful insight into a community that has maintained its traditions for centuries. For photographers seeking to document authentic, culturally rich narratives, this session is an unforgettable addition to your Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers.
Later drive to raipur
On time transfer to Airport for final departure
An Odisha Tribal Tour for photographers offers a unique opportunity to capture the rich cultural diversity, traditional lifestyles, and vibrant rituals of Odisha’s indigenous communities. Here’s what you should know before embarking on this fascinating journey: