• Mel (act) - March 25'

    Dana is a gem. Her serene and positive demeanour combined with ability to get things on track when necessary were exemplary. She set a beautiful tone for positive group cohesion. Her genuine caring nature and attention to detail for everyone’s individual needs made me feel warm and happy throughout the tour. The art sessions organised by Dana were fun, educational and informative, giving me a deeper understanding of the Indian culture. I loved the interaction with local women through these workshops. Dana’s choice of historical lodgings to stay in were exquisite. She certainly understood her audience. The quirks were what made them special and memorable (eg. difficult door locks at Bijaipur and Udaipur!)

    Javed is a very professional guide, organised, efficient, networked and knowledgeable. He made me feel safe, secure and well looked after at all times. I was fortunate to interact with him a fair bit, and enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of the Indian and Muslim culture through his personal accounts. He always took time to help me with individual needs that relied on local knowledge and translation. I appreciated his bespoke local knowledge, ie taking us to the local farming village to see the opium poppies, and attention to detail eg cups of chai and biccies along the village wall at sunset. His time focus and ability to keep us on track was key to fitting so much in the program, and no one dared to be late the entire tour which was appreciated as that has been lacking in some of my other tours. Things can fall apart quickly on tours without strict guidelines.

    I think the combination of Dana’s caring nature and Javed’s pragmatism and time focus work well together to collectively support the needs of all individuals in the group. I had to be careful about expressing any little need, desire or thought out loud, because like a genie, my wish became a command and it was done! I felt like a Queen the entire trip.

  • Angela (sa) - March 25

    Dana’s exuberance and deep love for India transferred to the group. Her curation of the creative workshops and all other activities transferred me to my happy place.

    Javed was such an asset, his local knowledge and sensitivity to individual needs and safety was second to none. Javed certainly gave me an insight to Indian culture.

    I can’t recommend this tour enough. Dana was an incredibly generous host, sharing her love and passion for India, and providing space and support for developing a cohesive and inclusive group of travellers. Her effervescent sense of joy and fun was infectious. All activities were well researched and provided a diverse range of experiences for all participants. Javed our tour leader shared his deep knowledge and insight into his culture as well as sensitively ensuring our safety needs. A once in a lifetime experience. My heart is full! 💓

  • Kim (sa) - March 25

    I was so drawn to the idea of going to India through an Arts lens and knew that your impeccable ability to organise and galvanise would make it an enriching experience. Well the experience exceeded all my expectations. The diversity of experiences kept me excitedly engaged and inspired and the professionalism in keeping us all safe and on time was next level.

    Loved the way you were able to manage challenges with so much charm and grace that we didn’t even realise that you were frequently negotiating for the best possible outcomes for us all. Also the range of workshop experiences was so rich in connection with local community, development of techniques and knowledge and jaw dropping in aesthetic.

    Javed was incredibly organised and great at keeping us all on track. His local knowledge and understanding of culture brought us closer to connecting with the diversity of this culture than we ever would have on our own. He tuned in to all our needs and came to the rescue a few times, so it was great to feel completely held, yet meeting the edge of creative culture and adventure

    Can highly recommend going on a DanaKinter Art tour. It was culturally diverse and an aesthetic kaleidoscope that was immensely inspiring.  The combination of seeing the big historic places and immersing in communities to have hands on workshops shared with a fantastic group of women was a life changing experience. I’ll cherish it forever and ever.

  • Sheree (wa) - March 25

    Dana's tour of India was so wonderful. We saw so many extraordinarty things and were able to participate in creative workshops that were culturally immersive ansd inspiring. I would go again in a flash! Dana looked after us and also gave us opportunitues to venture out unguided - the perfect mix

    Dana was perfect in her approach, looking after us and giving us space when needed. Javed really cared for the group as well as being very knowledgeable and humorous.

  • Alison (act) - March 25'

    Dana carefully curated a wonderful tour that incorporated all of the main attractions in addition to several really special artistic and cultural activities. I loved it and this is definitely the best organised tour I have ever been on. 

  • Anna (sa) - March 25'

    Exceeded expectations. Dana was obviously passionate about sharing the amazing places she had discovered in India. Her positive, friendly and thoughtful manner made the journey one of delight and fun. Dana has a flair for seeing the beauty in everything and caring for those around her. At the same time so well organised, knowledgable and practical. 

    Javed’s knowledge and skills in navigating us on a safe and insightful journey were exceptional. It was obvious that Javed and Dana worked tirelessly together throughout the trip to ensure we were provided the best possible experience at every step. 

    I especially enjoyed the various heritage properties we stayed in Instead of bog-standard hotel rooms the accomodation offered a delightful sense of history and culture, giving an overall cool vibe to the trip. A delightful and lovingly curated, art and culture focussed tour of Rajasthan. Perfectly pitched to be diverse and exciting, whilst maintaining a relaxed, cool vibe with friendly, personal care all the way.

  • Kristy and Ellie (wa) - March 25'

    Dana was a host extraordinaire. She brought the group together with her kind, fun and thoughtful spirit and somehow knew exactly how to walk the tightrope between over hosting and under hosting. I think I’d like Dana to host my life.

    Javed should be an Indian national treasure. He showcased India / rajasthan from all the right angles in all the right light. A perfect blend of history and insight, humour and knowing where to eat. He worked and adjusted the itinerary to make sure we got the most from every day and every location we visited. We always felt safe. Javed got to know the personalities, likes and dislikes of our group and was always responsive to this, going above and beyond, including finding us Gulab Jamon in the middle of the night during Holi. A master tour leader.

    This was our first experience of traveling on a tour and I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to find another tour that lives up to this. From the itinerary including all the workshops, castles, palaces, restaurants and fabulous accommodation, to the relaxed and happy vibes Dana and Javed fostered in the group. We loved not having to think about a thing and Dana and Javed being one step ahead always knowing what we wanted or needed before we knew ourselves! My daughter and I dreamed of visiting India together when she finished school,  this was the ultimate adventure and we can’t thank Dana and Javed enough for bringing this dream to life and making it better than we ever dared to dream.

  • Ann (usa) - March 25'

    I enjoyed the tour a great deal. I thought you were an excellent host. In the first days when I was unsure how I fit in, your cheerful friendly way was especially lovely. Javed exceeded my expectations. The trip ran so smoothly. As the guest everything was taken care of and I was free to enjoy and be in the moment.

  • Kelly-May (nsw) - March 25'

    I enjoyed the tour immensely; more than I could have possibly imagined. From start to finish; the tour exceeded my expectations, awakened my interest, and energized and invigorated me in ways I'd forgotten were possible.

    I am filled with gratitude towards Dana for curating this incredible tour. Her desire to share her experience, her sense of enthusiasm and passion for all things India; along with her thoughtfulness, her authentic, encouraging, accepting, supportive, and intuitive nature (I could very easily go on..), far exceeded any expectations I already had of her.

    I greatly appreciated Javed's local and professional experience and knowledge. Also his expertise regarding the history of India, guidance, passion, and street-smart ways. He seemed to be well-known and respected within the areas we visited, and the group benefited as a result.

    India captured my heart, and enriched my life, with its extensive and remarkable history, incredibly impressive historic sites, awe-inspiring architecture, fascinating people and culture, deeply respected faiths, time-honoured traditions, and simply amazing food.

    Each one of the tour group members were the icing on an already outstanding cake, and sincerely, more than I could have ever hoped for.

    I can say with confidence and grateful enthusiasm, that being a part of Dana Kinter’s North India tour was the best decision I have made in many years. If you are even considering joining her next tour; stop thinking and start booking!

  • Bec (qld) - March 25'

    I had no idea how much I would love India! Dana and Javed created an incredible tour itinerary for a wonderful India experience. I loved the group of fun, creative people this tour attracted and felt like we were genuine friends by the end.

    Dana is so lovely and joyful. She shared her knowledge and experiences of India with us all. I know her work so well and it was a privilege to get to know the person behind the art. She was very kind when I accidentally split my pants on Holi! We shared lots of laughs.

    Javed was amazing! He’s exactly the right person to lead this tour! He was knowledgeable about every place we traveled and explained aspects of Indian culture that we didn’t understand. He knows Australia well and that definitely helped him to understand us and what we needed. We felt safe with Javed and his team of guides.

    Travel with Dana is the experience of a lifetime. I had two wonderful weeks of laughs, learning and creativity. This trip brought me new cultural and artistic experiences and a welcome break from my busy schedule. Thank you Dana, I never would have had this opportunity without you. My heart is full!

  • Donna (sa) - March 25'

    I’m normally happy to plan my own trips but, was hesitant to tackle India, When I saw that Dana would be hosting a tour to Rajasthan, I jumped at the chance.  I’d met Dana a number of years ago through an art gallery that we were both involved in and trusted her judgement on places to visit and experiences to be had and, her ability to be well organised. I wasn’t sure what to expect but, the trip was beyond anything I could have imagined!  We visited and learned about some wonderful old architecture, had fantastic local art experiences, ate delicious food (some of which we cooked ourselves), had great conversations and lots of laughs. Dana was warm, caring and well organised and Javed, our local guide, was efficient, knowledgeble, made sure that everything was looked after and was happy to share his culture with us (along with being able to take a bit of teasing!). Travelling with our group, including Dana and Javed, was like travelling with friends but, with friends that, mostly, I hadn’t met before!