India - Kashmir & Zanskar Photo Tour.

The Tour.

Join us for an unforgettable photographic journey to the beautiful lands of Kashmir and Zanskar, offering a perfect blend of natural beauty, culture, and adventure. We have designed this exclusive new tour for photography enthusiasts who want to capture the breathtaking landscapes and portraits of the local people.

Starting in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, we explore the famous Mughal Gardens and take a shikhara ride on the Dal Lake, capturing the vibrant life of the locals. From there, we embark on a road journey in search of the camps of the nomadic tribes who travel yearly from Jammu to the Srinagar Valley, where we witness their daily life and culture.

Along the way, we pass through the picturesque town of Sonamarg, known as the golden meadow, and explore the ruins of a 5th-century (BC!) temple in the valley of Naranag. We also cross the Zojila pass and visit Kargil, a village located in the remote Zanskar region, where we can photograph the dramatic landscapes, ancient monasteries, and unique way of life of the local people.

From Kargil, we pass through the beautiful Suru Valley and onwards to Padum, the main town and administrative centre of the Zanskar Valley, one of the most remote regions in Ladakh. We stop at Pume, a small village famous for its Phuktal (Cave) Monastery, before retracing our steps to Padum for the night. In the morning we set off early on a picturesque drive to Leh, the capital of Ladakh.

In Leh, we visit the renowned Thiksey monastery for morning prayers, explore the local bazaar, and take an evening tour of the Tsemo gompa, set on a hill that offers a fabulous view of the town below. This is a rare opportunity to visit one of the least-travelled regions of India, where you can immerse yourself in the area's rich history and ancient Buddhist culture, and come home with a portfolio of images to make anyone proud. The tour is limited to just eight photographers so early bookings are strongly advised.

This adventure tour will be led by Ashfaq Rah, a native of Kashmir who is not only a seasoned photographer but also a second-generation tour operator with a deep understanding of the culture, history, and traditions of the region. He'll provide valuable insights and guidance to help you capture the essence of Kashmir and Ladakh through your lens.

Tuition.

On any of our tours, our primary objective is for you to go home with a collection of images that anyone would be proud of. In fact, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.

Nathan’s teaching approach is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.

We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.

If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Nathan’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential skills for travel photography. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 1-5pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and prepare to take your photography skills to the next level.