Beyond Taj – the name tells you everything. We're about what lies beyond the Taj Mahal, beyond the obvious. You'll see India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal in depth, not just tick off the famous landmarks.
Yes, we'll show you how to capture iconic sites when the light's perfect. But that's just the beginning. We want you to experience the Chhau Mask Festival deep in Bengal, catch Sundarbans fishermen working their nets at first light, watch warriors practice ancient Kalaripayattu on Kerala's shores. The mix of celebrated and secret – that's what sets these journeys apart.
Six people maximum. Two photographers leading every trip – one who understands what you need as a photographer, one who knows every corner of the region. Years of building relationships with Earthen Experiences means doors open for us that stay closed for most travelers.
This is for photographers and explorers who want the real experience – but not at the expense of safety, comfort, or a decent bed at night.
Runa splits her life between Delhi and Jaipur, though really, India just is home now. Seventeen years of exploring India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal with a camera – what started as travel turned into something permanent.
Her photographs have shown internationally. She's written travel guides, contributed to tourism publications, created a coffee table book on Rajasthan for the tourism board. The kind of work that comes from really knowing a place, not just passing through.
She runs Beyond Taj Tours alongside her marketing consultancy and Airbnb. That combination works – creative eye meets practical mind, someone who knows where the perfect morning light hits old stone walls and how to actually get everyone there on time.
Runa gets what serious photographers need. Not hand-holding, not rigid schedules. Time to work, space to see, someone who understands the craft pointing out what you might miss. That's what these tours deliver.
Beyond Taj Tours is her way of sharing what seventeen years taught her. Not as a guide reciting fact, but as someone who genuinely loves these places showing them to people ready to see them properly.
This started the way good things often do – organically. Photography trips with friends who shared the obsession. Nothing formal, just chasing light and moments in places most tourists miss.
By 2019, word got around. Friends brought friends. What started as spontaneous adventures turned into small workshops, then proper photo tours. People kept asking, kept coming back. The message was clear: photographers wanted something different from cookie-cutter group tours.
So, it became official. We brought in Earthen Experiences as our ground partner – they'd been doing exceptional travel in India for years and understood what we were after. Then came the photographer network: local experts we'd worked with, trusted completely, knew could deliver.
That's Beyond Taj Tours now. Professional logistics and organization where it count. Personal touch and insider access where it matters. The best of both worlds.
Orange DMC is your premier destination management company specializing in tailor-made journeys and authentic travel experiences across Asia and beyond. We connect travelers with curated adventures, sustainable travel solutions, and local insights for unforgettable memories. We are a full-service destination management company specialising in Asia. Himalayan hideaways to romantic isles in the Indian Ocean, tiger habitats to whale migration routes, the Taj Mahal to Angkor Wat, we craft customised private journeys across the Indian Subcontinent, South-East Asia, and Japan, with a focus on seamless operations and authentic engagement that turn dreams into the journey of a lifetime.
