Satark Journeys (2025)

20/05/2024

Poovar packed!

“Welcome to the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram district, Poovar. Poovar drains Neyyar River into Arabian Sea. During monsoon, Neyyar River carries sand and mud and mineral deposits to Poovar, resulting in the formation of an estuary.

The crowning glory of Poovar is its serene backwaters and the mangroves flourishing in them. Dotted with islands, the backwaters are rich in flora and fauna.”

In 2 hours we saw swaying palm trees, simmering sea, crimson sunset, lush green vegetation, a snake swimming past our boat, many interesting & colourful birds, horses grazing next to the backwaters, goats & cows being washed in the river and camel on the golden sands beach.

If there is a beach involved on the western coast, you can trust us to plan it during the sunset.

20/05/2024

A Himalayan frame.

Simplicity and Himalayan life goes hand in hand. It exists in each village and is represented by the quintessential Himalayan home. It is embodied by the Himalayan folks and the omnipresent cattle outside each and every household.

Some houses are different. Some villages look different. But the soul is always the same.

Come discover hidden gems of Himalayas during our upcoming trip ‘Himalayan Hermit’.

18/05/2024

The roof above the roof.

AKA The Himalayas.

To be pronounced as ‘He-maah - luh-Yaah’ and not ‘He-muh-le-yah’ if you would like to know how the pronoun sounds in Hindi. 😉

The constant weather changes means the roofs of the Himalayan houses have to be sloped/slanted to tackle the rain and the snow. The lack of central heating system (a pariah in India outside the offices, malls and city hotels) means you need a wood fired ‘bukhara’ in the house and a chimney at the top.

That is what you see in this picture. But real roof is above the chimney roof. The snow clad roof hanging in the clouds. The quintessential Himalayan beauty.

The roof above the roof.

13/05/2024

The Himalayan Hermit.
(Our flagship Himalayan experience combining the green scenery of lower Himalayas and the cold desert of Higher Himalayas).

Himalaya is a Sanskri word comprising of ‘Him’ (हिम) which means snow and ā-laya (आलय) which means home or dwelling.
The Hinalayan moutain ranges together are known as the ‘Himalayas’.

The entire northern India from left to Right comprises of the Mighty Himalayas. We will start our journey with the lower Himalayan ranges of Pravati valley which is 2000m to 3000m above the sea level. Having acclimitized we ascend to the heights of higher Himalayas of Spiti Valley which is 3500m to 5000m above the sea level.

Spiti Valley is one of the most picturesque and dramatic landscapes in India. This cold Himalayan desert welcomes summer for just 4 months. This region shares border with the ‘Tibetan Autonomous Region’ of China and has an amalgamation of both Indian and Tibetan culture.

We have designed a few a variations of this itinerary depending on your preferences.
Write to us to know more about it.

13/05/2024

Lake Pichola sunset, Udaipur.

The opulent white skyline of Udaipur is a mix of regal white marbles and off-white sandstone structures. The exquisite architecture and the intricate carvings as well as the embedded stones in the marble, are enough to mesmerize those who appreciate true beauty and craftsmanship.

Add to it the twilight tinge and the skyline glows like a radiant bride. Add to it the lake Pichola reflections and fauna and you have a magnetic sunset city.

Are you even doing Udaipur right if you don’t peep out from the windows and rooftops during the sunset?

13/05/2024

Ready for the desert safari?

The Thar desert in India has a unique identity in more ways than one. Even if you have been to deserts across the world, Thar feels different.

It is the most densely populated desert in the world and has an active wildlife. Especially on the fringes where the sand dunes are located sporadically.

A visit to Rajasthan is incomplete without a safari in Thar. You can jump aboard the safari during our ‘October Fullmoon’, ‘Festive November’ & ‘Desert Artisans’ experiences lined up for the upcoming season.

12/05/2024

Is it a farm or is it a river?

Kerala AKA God’s own country epitomises the tropical vibe in India. It’s green throughout the year only the temperature varies. The summer feels like a hotbox but the view is still mesmerising.

This was clicked at 9 AM on April 1st. We were drenched with sweat already and 35 felt like 40 degrees.

But we weren’t complaining. Summertime is the time for water hyacinth to take over the backwaters! Which means this is not the farm but backwaters and we are on a boat.

Join us for this magical experience in our December, January & February trips. Details soon. Keep watching this space.

12/05/2024

Indian Kaleidoscope 2024
was successful and colourful indeed.

We are grateful that Stuart & Donna booked our flagship travel experience during the festival of Holi. This year the holiday destination chosen for the ‘Holi Festival’ was Udaipur and it was euphoric to say the least.

This was our 7th day of the 16 day long travel and the build up was perfect. The day started with Holi celebrations in the hotel but the real & raw celebrations began when we hit the streets armed with colours and colours. 😉

Everyone was friendly and respectful even at the crowded Jagdish Temple square. Sharing some excerpts from the Holi - day.

(Bookings open for Holi 2025 AKA Indian Kaleidoscope 2025).

06/05/2024

Lamas, Landscapes & Lakes.

‘PLANET LADAKH’ is open for bookings for trips between June to September.
DM us for detailed itinerary.

The Land of High passes : Ladakh, boasts of jW dropping landscape. It is truly astonishing to see the mountains, snow, cold desert, alpine meadows and lakes at a short distance from each other. Landscapes change dramatically in Ladakh.

It is an absolute delight for nature lovers as well as adventurers.

Ladakh has many monasteries where monks and Lamas live and celebrate their Buddhist rituals. His Holiness Dalai Lama has frequented some of them regularly.

Adorned with the lofty barren mountains, Ladakh is home to some of the highest motorable passes like Khardung La (5359 m), Marsimik La (5582 m), and Chang La (5360 m), and alpine lakes like Pangong Tso (4350 m) and Tso Moriri (4522 m).

Ladakh is amongst the top trekking destinations in India with amazing and unmatched in addition to mountaineering, motor biking, mountain biking, white water rafting and more.

30/04/2024

Varanasi Sunrise.

Can you spot the monochromatic sun in the horizon?
Very few experiences in India match the character, energy and vibe of the morning boat ride on the holy river Ganga.

Varanasi is not just the cradle of Hindu & Buddhist ethos but the entire human civilisation.

Don’t take our word for it. Visit it in more than one of our travel experiences between October to March.

30/04/2024

High Himalayan views.

Key Monastery is one of the pit stops during our flagship Himalayan exploration - ‘The Himalayan Hermit’. The view is breathtaking to say the least but then again, breathtaking views is the status quo during the trip.

Keep checking this space for details regarding the trip.

30/04/2024

Quintessential Kerala sunset.

Palm trees, backwater rivers & lakes, chirping bird, clear reflections and the sunset horizon is a deadly combination.

30/04/2024

Thar crossing!
En route Sand dunes of Thar Desert.

The livestock herd crossing the roads, canals, mountains, junctions, etc in India is always a photographic delight. Even in the remote parts of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India.

Doesn't matter how remote the place in India, there is a always a civilization close by and where there is civilization there is the livestock. Cows, camels, goats & sheeps galore!

30/04/2024

Grand entrance.

The quintessential Rajput charm is incomplete without the opulent palaces, forts and structures built with inimitable design and intricate details. The thought which went behind every scratch on the wall to every tiny pendant engraved in the marble stone to the standard of murals & paintings which adorn it's numerous walls are each worthy of its own ecyclopedia.

The most notable of the Rajput charm though, are it's huge entrances and doors. Designed to keep enemy at bay as well to let the elephants pass.

This one is from City Palace in Udaipur.

21/09/2023

Pushkar chill.
(Streets of Pushkar)

Pushkar is one of the oldest cities in India. This holy town/city feels more like a hamlet and is situated around the holy lake of Pushkar. Since, it is a holy pilgrimage site for Hindus and Sikhs, meat and eggs consumption is forbidden here.

Pushkar has many temples and ringing bells and chanting is usually in the air, especially during the sunrise and sunset. Though, an ancient city, most Pushkar temples standing today we're built in the 18th century. This is because most of the temples were destroyed during the Muslim conquests.

Pushkar market is a world of its own. Colourful, vibrant and photographic. Turning form lanes into the bylanes and from bylanes into the by-by lanes will take you to narrow streets which are not as busy but still active. You will find small (and old businesses) thrive here.

This man here sells only Mawa (condensed milk) used to make Indian sweets. He keeps his shop open for a few hours and didn't seem to have a lot of Mawa. Which means runs his business like he used to 20 years ago.

In this day and age to be untouched by capitalism and greed is while new level of chill. Pushkar chill.

21/09/2023

November vibes.

Festive November starts with a bang with the celebrations of India's biggest festival Diwali - 'the festival of lights'.

That too in the ancient city of Varanasi (Kashi) which is considered a holy city and is one of the important destinations for Hindus and Buddhists across India (and the world).

From the north we directly cut across to south in Kerala for an 8 day scenic exploration. An ayurvedic retreat and backwaters exploration has been included in the itinerary.

The final phase of our trip involves travelling to the desert state of Rajasthan, the land of kings and palaces.

We will travel to Pushkar to celebrate the world famous ‘Pushkar Camel Festival’ which is the largest congregation of camels in the world. Horses and camela are traded at this fair with much fanfare and cultural events including moustache competition, camel race, etc.

Festive November is devoid of any dull moments. So write to us only if you are willing to have fun 24/7.

09/09/2023

'Ingenious Indigenous' is an ecosensitive tour which takes you on the scenic, tribal and natural euphoric regions of India.

Northeast India, fondly called the land of seven sisters is known for its scenic beauty, raw tribal culture and unspoiled environment.
Ethnically, this diverse and heterogeneous region boasts of 209 tribes and 192 languages and dialects.

The indigenous people, culture, rituals and methods of India are not only sustainable but also community oriented. Come get a glimpse of India's tribal geniuses by exploring our very own 'Pandora'.

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is one of the most ecologically aware events in India. It is seemingly the best place to experience the culture of all Naga tribes.

Kindly, DM us or whatsApp us for detailed itinerary.

07/09/2023

"A mountainous cold desert freckled with green patches over a dry weather-beaten face, fascinating valley, windswept landscapes and quiet villages", is how the Himachal Tourism describes Spiti Valley on its official website. This might be our favourite first line on a government website

Spiti Valley, located in Himachal Pradesh, has an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level, and gets just around 250 days of sunshine in the year, making it one of the coldest places in the country.

The term Spiti means 'The Middle Land', as Spiti Valley separates India from Tibet. True to its name, Spiti is home to several monasteries. Notably the stunning Key Monastery that is over a thousand years old and is also the largest monastery to be found in the entire Spiti Valley.

Spiti Valley region has the world's highest post office, world's highest village and until recently the highest motorable village in the world.

Join us on our flagship trip -'Himalayan Hermit' to spend a week in Spiti Valley.

04/09/2023

A divine sunset silhouette.

As the dusk approaches, channelise the energy to pierce through the rustic, divine, ancient and picturesque lanes of Vrindavan to emerge on the Banks of river Yamuna and recite a prayer.

The holy town of Vrindavan has many temples and landmarks dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Krishna and his eternal lover Radha. Considering Krishna spent most of his childhood here, it is only apt. Which also means that Vrindavan is one of the oldest inhabited regions of India (can be said about a lot of places in India indeed).

The Yamuna though has existed in Vrindavan for longer and much before Krishna. Imparting the place her own energy. What better to thank this force of nature than by venerating her during the sunset. So when you do end up on the ghats/banks of Yamuna, take a boat ride. And you don't have to recite a prayer. 😉

The sunset baotride in itself is a prayer.

02/09/2023

DESERT DAZE & ARTISANS’ is designed to highlight the artisanal, textiles, handicrafts, women led cooperatives and cultural landscape of the state of Rajasthan & Gujarat. Both have various & unique forms of embroidery, block prints, weaving techniques, etc. practiced by various communities since centuries.

We begin with gracing the rugged yet mesmerizing landscape of Jaisalmer which lies in the heart of India’s only desert - Thar Desert. Brace yourself for one of the best glamping experiences the second night.

From there we hop to another unique landscape, the majestic ‘Jodhpur’ AKA ‘The Blue City’. Jodhpur’s charm is validated by the fact that both Wes Anderson & Christopher Nolan shot ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ & ‘Dark Knight Rises’ respectively here.

Having explored Jodhpur for 2 nights, we will make a pit stop at the Aravalli mountain ranges at Kumbhalgarh - The longest wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. You can be rest assured that the hotel here will give you a princely experience and view.

The next 3 days will be spent at the Lake City - Udaipur which epitomizes the royal aristocratic charm and opulent architecture as seen in its many palaces and forts built around the lakes with white marbles and luxurious appeal.

Our final destination is 'Rann of Kutch' in Gujarat. We will spend a few nights at the Tent city at the festival of 'Rann Utsav'. The trip culminates with the surrealistic full moon at the ‘Great White Rann’ - the largest salt flats in the world.

This trip lays a special emphasis on the culinary diversity of the region. Any adjective given and pictures used to describe this trip experience or itinerary is an extreme understatement.

TRAVEL DATES: 16 to 28 Dec 2023,
15 to 27 Jan 2024
& 14 to 26 Feb 2024

02/09/2023

The Thar-way.

Thar desert might be the world's most densely populated desert but it still is deserted. 😬

The shrubby thorny desert gives way to more dunes as you venture deep on the thar-way. It sports enough wildlife to track a path and probably not get lost. Odd tyre marks of the Jeep Safari rarely coincide with the hooves of camel.
But if they do, just honk. It's the thar-way after all.

Can't honk if you are on the camel? You don't need to. The ship of the desert walks at leisure. Breaking the wind with the camel-bells (around its loopy neck) with each twerky step.

28/08/2023

OCTOBER FULLMOON is a unique curated travel experience which gives an authentic introduction to Western & Northern India's culture and celebrations. You will be staying at boutique heritage & luxury properties (& palaces) throughout your travel which eventually leads up to the October full moon at a special destination.

The trip highlights include textile, embroidery and artisans visits along with block-print, tie-dye workshops, etc.

'October Fullmoon' starts with the auspicious ‘Durga Pujo Festival’ where numerous Durga Pandals pop-up across the city to venerate goddess ‘Durga’ - an embodiment of Shakti & divine feminine. ‘Pandals’ are like mini movie sets where an elaborate production based on a theme is built around the ‘Durga idol for 9 days. On the 10th day this idol will be submerged in a water body.

Udaipur - The city of lakes and the erstwhile capital city of the Mewar Kingdom is our next destination. Udaipur is known as the city of lakes and is considered to be one of the most romantic destinations in the world. It has an international appeal and it's cityscape could easily have been a kingdom backdrop in Game of Thrones.

We will witness the effigy burning of ‘Raavana’ on the festival of Dussehra (OG Burning Man of India since eons). It is celebrated in remembrance of lord Rama killing the 10 headed ‘demon’ Ravana to rescue his wife Sita and signifying the victory of good over evil.

Our next destination will be Jodhpur - The Blue City. It has one of the most unique cityscapes in Rajasthan & India and has its own royal family - Rathore clan. They organize & curate 'Rajasthan International Folk Festival' (RIFF) which is India’s best folk music festival. It is organised to juxtapose with the brightest full moon in Northern India. The penultimate climax of our 2 week long trip.

The next few days will include Gamping, Camel Safari, Tiger Safari, a quick visit to Taj Mahal and an essential visit to the longest continuously inhabited city in the world - Varanasi. Which sits at the confluence of the oldest civilisation and is an important destination for both Hinduism & Buddhism.

Kindly, message us or reach out on Whatsapp or email to get the detailed itinerary & cost.

The itinerary is available for 7, 10 & 14 days.

26/07/2023

Holy Pushkar Sunset.

This quaint hamlet which wears India on its sleeve has one of the most unique vibes and energy. It welcomes pilgrims from all across India, especially during the November fullmoon.

The temple town is centered around the holy Pushkar lake, which attracts pilgrims from all across the country for a holy dip. The most notable being the fullmoon of Novemeber during which the 'Pushkar Camel festival' is organsied.

Pushkar is one of the five dhams revered by Hindus and is considered to be older than the legends. It even finds mention in the Hindu epics of 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' as Adi Tiratha'.

Pushkar is one of the main destination during our trip 'Festive November'.
Link in bio for more details.

13/07/2023

An artistic respite.
Holi Festival, Udaipur Streets.

Holi, the festival of colours is perhaps the biggest export of India. Yet, the best way to celebrate it is to celebrate in India.

'The festival of colours' is celebrated all across the country in different ways but two characteristics remain common - 'the numerous Bonfires every 100 metres' on the Full moon night and the 'Colour-play' the next morning.

The colour play can get hectic and chaotic which makes it important to chose the Holi destinaitons mindfully.
In 2020, we chose Udaipur for Holi. The beautiful streets of Udaipur are laden with archaic door frames and folk art everywhere. The city of lakes is one of the picturesque destinations in India and Holi in Udaipur is photographer's paradise.

Are you curious about the Holi festival in 2024? We have a Holi celebration lined up already.
Its called the 'Indiab Kaleidoscope 2024'.
Link in bio.

12/07/2023

The Himalayan Hermit.
(Our flagship Himalayan experience combining the green scenery of lower Himalayas and the cold desert of Higher Himalayas).

Himalaya is a Sanskri word comprising of 'Him' (हिम) which means snow and ā-laya (आलय) which means home or dwelling.
The Hinalayan moutain ranges together are known as the 'Himalayas'.

The entire northern India from left to Right comprises of the Mighty Himalayas. We will start our journey with the lower Himalayan ranges of Pravati valley which is 2000m to 3000m above the sea level. Having acclimitized we ascend to the heights of higher Himalayas of Spiti Valley which is 3500m to 5000m above the sea level.

Spiti Valley is one of the most picturesque and dramatic landscapes in India. This cold Himalayan desert welcomes summer for just 4 months. This region shares border with the 'Tibetan Autonomous Region' of China and has an amalgamation of both Indian and Tibetan culture.

We have designed a few a variations of this itinerary depending on your preferences.
Write to us to know more about it.

11/07/2023

Pink Orange sunset.
Thar Desert edition.

The January sky in Rajasthan is never disappointing and the sunset at sand dunes is always an outlandish experience.

We had been on the road for a week and spent time with the community and surrounding villages. This evening sunset was the culmination of another great outing in the Jodhpur district.

What better way to start your new year than the umbrella of Pink Orange Sunset while the camel bells rustle through the desert wind.

This serendipitius location is a pit stop during the tour of 'October Fullmoon', 'Festive November', 'Six Senses', 'Tropical Winter' and 'Royal Rajasthan'.

Check link in the bio.

04/07/2023

Pandora incoming.

The indigenous people, culture, rituals and methods of India are not only sustainable but also community oriented. Come get a glimpse of India's tribal geniuses by exploring our very own 'Pandora'.

Northeast India, fondly called the land of seven sisters is known for its scenic beauty, raw tribal culture and unspoiled environment.
Ethnically, this diverse and heterogeneous region boasts of 209 tribes and 192 languages and dialects.

It is a fascinating place with enchanted frontiers. Bounded by China on the North, Bangladesh on the West and Myanmar on the South East, the region encompasses about 8% of India's land and 4% of India’s population.

The ethnic,linguistic and cultural diversity of the region is as breathtaking as the awesome cloudstack hills, meandering rivers and the lush valleys.

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland is one of the most ecologically aware events in India. It is seemingly the best place to experience the culture of all Naga tribes.

Kindly, DM us or whatsApp us for detailed itinerary.

03/07/2023

PLANET LADAKH, 2023.
(Bookings open for July & August).

The Land of High Passes, Ladakh, boasts of jaws dropping landscape which changes dramatically at short distance. The Ladakhi way of life has been gaining prominence since the turn of the century.

Adding to its exceptional beauty are the ancient Buddhist monasteries that are mostly nestled in the mountains and are thousands of years old. These monasteries make for the Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in Ladakh and also act as important cultural centres where major religious festivals take place.

Adorned with the lofty barren mountains, Ladakh is home to some of the highest motorable passes of which we will drive through Khardung La (5359 m) and Chang La (5360 m).

High Himalayan lakes are outlandish and we will spend a night each at the alpine lakes like Pangong Tso (4350 m) and Tso Moriri (4522 m) to feed the soul and soothe the mind.

Ready to take off for Planet Ladakh? Write to us. 🙂

Monday	14:00 - 23:00
Tuesday	14:00 - 23:00
Wednesday	14:00 - 23:00
Thursday	14:00 - 23:00
Friday	14:00 - 23:00
Saturday	14:00 - 23:00

Satark Journeys

20/05/2024

20/05/2024

18/05/2024

13/05/2024

13/05/2024

13/05/2024

12/05/2024

12/05/2024

06/05/2024

30/04/2024

30/04/2024

30/04/2024

30/04/2024

30/04/2024

21/09/2023

21/09/2023

09/09/2023

07/09/2023

04/09/2023

02/09/2023

02/09/2023

28/08/2023

26/07/2023

13/07/2023

12/07/2023

11/07/2023

04/07/2023

03/07/2023

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