Indonesia: Warriors & Gods – A Photographic Journey through Bali and Sumba with Patrick Firouzian – Feb/Mar 2027

This cultural and photographic journey offers privileged access to two ancestral rituals, with carefully designed logistics that let you focus fully on capturing the stories unfolding before you: Melasti in Bali and Pasola in Sumba, located just two hours apart by air.

Pasola is a high-stakes ritual war game celebrating the beginning of the rice-planting season. Rooted in the ancestral Marapu belief system, hundreds of horsemen charge across open fields at full gallop, hurling wooden spears at their opponents. The timing of the festival is dictated by the arrival of nyale, sacred sea worms believed to be a divine omen for the coming harvest. Blood spilled during the ritual, historically human and today symbolically replaced by animal sacrifice, is believed to fertilize the land and appease the spirits to ensure prosperity. In addition to attending the exciting Pasola, we will explore this island incredible culture, from its architecture to its beaches, witness and photograph horses, markets, and majestic landscapes.

Melasti is a deeply spiritual Balinese Hindu purification ceremony held on the beaches around Bali, just before the Balinese New Year. Villagers in ornate ceremonial dress carry offerings, sacred objects, and towering temple effigies to the sea to cleanse them of negative energies. For photographers, Melasti is a feast of color, ritual, and emotion: golden coastal light, wet-sand reflections, incense smoke, chanting, and intimate human moments layered within grand ceremonial scenes. In addition, you will witness exclusive rituals arranged just for us, attend portrait sessions with lighting and models so that you learn or improve portraiture and bring back stunning images not only as memories but as testimonies of the incredible beauty of local culture and people.

This journey is for photographers who seek privileged access, cultural immersion, and meaningful portrait storytelling, with best available accommodations and photographic coaching as needed.

Required fitness and photography level: intermediate to advanced.

Day 1 (Feb 26): Welcome to Indonesia Our journey begins in Sanur, Bali, minutes from the beach and many coastal attractions, restaurants, and local amenities. We will gather to discuss our journey. Overnight in Sanur.

Day 2 (Feb 27): Bali to Sumba This morning we check out and transfer to the airport for a short flight (under 2 hours) to Sumba, in eastern Indonesia. Upon arrival and after check-in, we will explore and photograph portraits of the Sumbanese people in their daily lives. Overnight in Sumba.

Day 3 (Feb 28): Rural Sumba & Pasola Practice This morning we will explore Sumba markets and track down some horsemen getting ready by practicing their riding at high speed while throwing spears. An opportunity to photograph or film horsemen and local sumbanese. Overnight in Sumba.

Day 4 (Mar 1): The Pasola Ritual We start in the Indigo Hour, where the rugged coast of Sumba is a silhouette of hundreds wading into the surf. Under the glow of bamboo torches, Rato priests lift handfuls of emerald sea worms from the obsidian tide, the Nyale ritual, triggering the start of the ritual. As the sun breaks the horizon, the scene shifts to the high-contrast heat of the “battlefield.” We will visit villages witnessing people getting ready for the ritual, horses and horsemen, and later move on the practice grounds where riders challenge each other in preparation for the official ritual. In the afternoon, we move to the “battlefield” where tribes introduce themselves and priests give their speeches in front of warriors and thousands of villagers who came for the event. Following presentations, warriors go around the field challenging each other to prove the superiority of their riding and aiming, throwing wooden spears to their opponents. For photographers, there is overwhelming abundance of action on the grounds, and portraiture of the villagers, amidst the deep cultural significance of the ritual. Overnight in Sumba.

Day 5 (Mar 2): Portrait Sessions & Horses on the Beach Sumba exploration continues. There might be more Pasola to witness, based on Shama’s decisions, and we will arrange to attend of so. We will visit pristine sandy beaches to photograph horses running freely with the ocean as a backdrop, followed by setup portraits of horses with their horsemen. Overnight in Sumba.

Day 6 (Mar 3): The Road to East Sumba We embark on a scenic 6-hour cross-island journey, transitioning from the rugged west to the rolling savannahs of the east. This drive offers a glimpse into the changing topography and rural life of the island. Afternoon: Wairinding Hills. Private setup with 10–15 horsemen on the ridgelines. Sunset: Silhouette shoot. We capture the horsemen against the “chocolate hills,” so named for the deep brown hue the grass takes during the dry season. Overnight: Waingapu.

Day 7 (Mar 4): Ancient Weaving & Dancing Trees We delve into the artistry of Sumba’s heritage.
Morning: Prailiu Village. We witness the meticulous process of Ikat weaving, where intricate patterns are created using natural dyes and totem carvings that tell the ancestral stories of the village. Sunset: Walakiri Beach. We focus on long exposures of the famous “Dancing Trees.” These unique mangroves grow in the tidal zone, their twisted branches creating surreal, whimsical silhouettes against the colorful evening sky. Overnight: Waingapu.

Day 8 (Mar 5): Return to Bali Return to Bali Morning: Final street photography in the Waingapu market, a bustling hub where locals trade produce and traditional textiles. Afternoon: Flight back to Bali (DPS). Upon arrival, we transfer to Ubud, the island’s spiritual heart. The shift from the wild, dry landscapes of Sumba to the lush, tropical greenery of Ubud marks a new chapter in our visual narrative. Overnight in Ubud.

Day 9 (Mar 6): Exploring Ancient Balinese Villages We immerse ourselves in the spiritual preparations for Melasti, the great purification festival. In the ancient villages and temples surrounding Ubud, you will witness the community coming together to prepare “Banten” (elaborate offerings) and gather for communal prayers. This is a time of high energy and devotion. Later on, we conclude the evening with dinner and a private sacred Fire Horse ritual (Sanghyang Jaran), a mesmerizing trance dance where the performer “rides” a wooden horse through glowing coconut husk embers. Overnight in Ubud.

Day 10 (Mar 7): Ritual Preparations & Temple Traditions Instead of the sea, this day is centered on the temple courtyards and surrounding streets to witness preparations. We drive east to temples picked by our local expert, sites where activities are genuine, with fewer tourists and photographers. Women arrive balancing gebogan (towering arrangements of fruit and flowers) on their heads, while men prepare for the upcoming rituals. The light here features warm tones filtering through temple gates, casting long shadows across stone carvings. The storytelling potential lies in capturing the sequence: the meticulous assembly of offerings, the blessing of each object, and the rhythmic procession from temple to village, full of gamelan music, swaying banners, and incense smoke. You will also meet locals willing to pose for stunning portraits. Overnight in Ubud.

Day 11 (Mar 8): Landscape and Environment Sessions Sunrise shoot at the terraces; afternoon environmental portraits in a family compound. Overnight in Ubud.

Day 12 (Mar 9): End of Journey Today the journey ends; we will drop you off at the airport for a safe return home.