After breakfast, enjoy a full day dedicated to Bhubaneswar and its surroundings. Begin with the Tribal Museum, an essential introduction before entering Odisha’s tribal areas. Its galleries display clothing, ornaments, weapons, household utensils and musical instruments from various ethnic groups, while reconstructed tribal houses behind the galleries illustrate traditional village life. Later visit the Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, two hills west of the city with shelters carved by Jain ascetics in the 1st century BC. Continue to Dhauli to see the famous Ashokan edict commemorating the Kalinga War, whose bloodshed led Emperor Ashoka toward Ahimsa, or non-violence. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart for Nuapatna, a weaving village famous for “ikat,” a traditional fabric created through a reserve-dyeing technique in which parts of the yarn are tightly bound before dyeing. Continue to Joranda for a unique encounter with the Mahima Sadhus, a Hindu sect whose members oppose idolatry and live an austere spiritual life. Participate in or observe the evocative ceremony before continuing to Dhenkanal. Arrive in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, depart south towards Puri. En route, stop at Hirapur to visit the Temple of the 64 Yoginis, a rare open-air circular shrine with 64 niches containing black chlorite statues of female deities. Only a few temples of this type exist in India. Continue to the charming village of Raghurajpur, where classical arts and craft traditions are practiced across the village. Raghurajpur is especially known for pattachitra, cotton canvas treated with a mixture of gum and plaster, smoothed and painted with refined images of animals, flowers, deities and demons. Continue to Puri for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, drive to the renowned Konark Sun Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an architectural marvel dedicated to Surya, the Sun God. Built in the 13th century, probably by King Narasimhadeva I, the temple was conceived as the cosmic chariot of Surya. Seven mighty horses symbolize the days of the week, while twenty-four stone wheels symbolize the hours of the day. The site was designed so sunlight could illuminate the shrine at dawn, noon and sunset. Return to Puri and visit Jagannath Mandir from outside only, as non-Hindus are not allowed entry. The imposing temple is dedicated to Jagannath, Lord of the Universe and an incarnation of Vishnu. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Mangalajodi, a wetland on the northern shore of Lake Chilika. Chilika is India’s largest coastal lagoon, separated from the Bay of Bengal by a long strip of sand and famous for migratory birds arriving in winter. Enjoy a rowing boat excursion to observe the natural habitat and birdlife. Small oar-towed boats and a local ranger help identify different species. Continue through panoramic landscapes and traditional Hindu villages along Lake Chilika before reaching Gopalpur, once an important port town linked to Southeast Asian routes. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, head north towards Phulbani and enter Odisha’s tribal territory, especially the area associated with the Malliah Kondh ethnic group. Tribal communities in Odisha are descended from the Adivasis, among the earliest inhabitants of India. Visit villages near Phulbani and continue to a simple hotel in Baliguda for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, head southwest towards Rayagada. Stop near Baliguda at a Malliah Kondh village known for facial tattoos. Among Kondh communities, traditional beliefs included stories of people transforming into tigers or leopards to attack enemies, often linked to vengeance and conflict. Facial tattoos with three straight lines on each cheek were traditionally placed on prepubescent girls and are believed to represent a tiger’s moustache for protective purposes. Continue to the vibrant weekly Kotagarh market, frequented by Kutia Kondh communities. Arrive in Rayagada by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive north through green mountainous terrain to Chati Kona to visit the Wednesday weekly market frequented by the Dongariya Kondh ethnic minority. Women from remote Niyamgiri Hills settlements can often be seen walking down the main road near the village carrying local produce and goods. Depart in the early afternoon for Jeypore, the commercial hub of Koraput district. Dinner in the field and overnight at a Spartan camp with modest amenities in a natural setting.

After breakfast, drive south to the Thursday Onkudeli market for a morning devoted to learning about the Bonda tribe. Bonda women are known for long rows of beads covering the chest, heavy metal collars around the neck, wrists and ankles, and a simple strip of cloth around the hips. Due to their self-sufficient lifestyle and challenging spoken language, they remain among the least integrated tribal communities of the region. Walk through the market and meet groups of women from villages hidden in the surrounding forest. In the afternoon, see a traditional dance performance in a Dhuruva Kondh hamlet. Return to camp in the late afternoon. Dinner outside at the camp and overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for Kunduli Market, a large weekly market divided into product areas such as livestock, fruits and vegetables, clothing, baskets, spices, street food and handcrafted liquors. The market is visited by Paroja and Olla Godha communities. In the afternoon, visit a Paroja village where skilled artisans work with ceramics. Arrive in Semiliguda by late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Vizag, also known as Visakhapatnam, a fast-growing coastal city and industrial hub. En route, make a short stop at the livestock market held every Saturday near the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border. Reach Visakhapatnam Airport in the afternoon in time for your flight to Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, board your flight for the onward destination. Tour ends with memorable experiences of Odisha’s temples, crafts, tribal regions, markets, landscapes and coastal heritage.