Few places on earth fascinate and capture the imagination more than India. This vibrant, breathtaking country offers a rich canvas on which to further develop your passion for photography.

With daytime temperatures of around 26c, its the perfect time of year to escape to the lower Himalayas and immerse yourself in the spectacular landscapes of McLeodganj & Kangra Valley - taking time to visit the home of the Dalai Lama, have a private visit with Tibetan monks in exile, plus capture the majestic cities of Delhi and Chandigarh.

Experience unforgettable nights in country mansions, hilltop retreats and beautifully restored havelis, using every imaginable mode of transport, from local toy-trains to rickshaws to good old-fashioned hiking boots.

ITINERARY

DAYS ONE/TWO

To kick-start your photography holiday, we'll whisk you direct to your boutique lodge in the heart of Delhi's 'Hauz Kaus' - the arty district - before next morning venturing north to Amritsar by express train, home to Sikism's holiest shrine, The Golden Temple. Here you'll get to grips with the basics of photography, before practising your new found skills around the narrow 17th-century zig-zag streets that form the historic centre, then a welcome dinner in the gardens of our heritage spa Haveli.

DAYS THREE/FOUR

Next morning, we shoot some killer architecture shots of the Golden Temple (we think easily as impressive as the Taj Mahal) then explore exposure, shutter speed and aperture back at our retreat hotel. That evening, we dine alongside the local pilgrims in the Langar Hall - an incredible experience - then together we witness the energy of the Palki Sahib ceremony. Next day, we're off to Dharamshala - the home of the Dalai Lama - with time after lunch to explore this breathtaking mountain village. Later, we walk the Kora, capturing Tibetan monks praying and chanting mantras whilst walking.

DAYS FIVE/SIX

Up early to catch the sunrise over the mountains, we spend the day practicing new skills in composition, lens choice and basic lighting, then try out some landscapes around McLeodganj - where the Dalai Lama actually lives - then venture through cedar forests and stunning countryside to visit locals in Naddi Village (stopping en-route at meditation caves where monks retreat for part of the year). After rounding off the day shooting sunset landscapes with the backdrop of the Himalayas, next morning we tour through the incredible Kangra Valley and head to Pragpur, the first certified heritage village of India, and chance to shoot some incredible images of rural Indian life.

DAYS SEVEN/EIGHT

Now we have mastered some of the basics of photography, and started to shoot better images more frequently, we now reveal some professional tips on creating different types of images, plus try understand your strengths and emerging style. Here, in the peaceful village of Pragpur, you'll get time to absorb all of the techniques and explore the quiet local village, then truly kick-back and recuperate. Next day, we board a local 'toy train' for a ride through a maze of hills and valleys, with chance to shoot portraits of local commuters.

DAYS NINE/TEN

This morning, we leave our mountain-hangout and drive south to Chandigarh, the Le Corbusier-designed architectural and creative gem - the perfect backdrop to planning, preparing and shooting a major photographic project, with our team on hand to guide you to produce a set of images you never thought you could take. Next morning, once again we board the Shatabdi Express back to our boutique luxe hotel in the heart of Delhi.

DAYS ELEVEN/TWELVE

We spend the day weaving through the streets of Old Delhi, through the incredible Chandni Chowk, climbing the turret at Jama Masjid, before lunching on lentil-laced crunchy puris, with chick pea and fenugreek curry. We will explore the narrow lanes on cycle-rickshaws, jump on the sparkling new metro and grab an eyeful of Lutyens Delhi, the city of grand buildings. We round off our 12-day exploration with a celebratory feast at our private lodge, before spending the morning before departure reviewing our crop of sparkling images and our new found skills. A perfect end to our Indian photography tour.