India - Ladakh Photo Tour.
Take dazzling portraits in the Land of High Passes.
The Tour.
Join us on an unforgettable photographic adventure through Ladakh, a region nestled between China and Kashmir, where ancient monasteries and nomadic tribes coexist against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and cobalt-blue skies.
Our carefully crafted itinerary takes us beyond the bustling state capital of Leh, into the heart of the enchanting Alchi, the mystical Lamayuru, and the untouched serenity of the remote Dah Village. As we navigate through the breathtaking expanse of the Nubra Valley, we’ll find abundant opportunities to frame the stark beauty of this region. Our expedition culminates at the awe-inspiring Tsomoriri Lake, where the tranquil azure waters set against the rugged terrain promise unforgettable photographic moments.
We have timed the tour to coincide with two Buddhist monastic festivals, offering an unparalleled opportunity to capture traditional dances performed by monks wearing colourful silk garments and different facial masks. The stark yet beautiful landscapes contrast significantly with the rich décor found in the monasteries, and the light that plays on the mountains will delight any photographer.
The people here live very tough lives, but we have found them to be some of the friendliest folk in the region, and with Nathan's help, many are willing to engage with you as you take their portrait photographs.
Transportation is vital to any tour, especially on a photography tour in as remote a location as Ladakh. We break the group into a convoy of Innova cars to ensure your safety and comfort on inevitably long drives. Compared to many other photography tours, we assume photographers will want private rooms and won't like to share. We do not charge a single-person supplement, but we can offer a discount if you prefer to share a room with a friend or partner.
Ladakh will be an unforgettable photographic adventure, where the ancient and modern collide amid stunning landscapes and vibrant traditions. The tour is not just about capturing beautiful images, but an invitation to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of experiences that only this unique part of the world can offer.
Photo Highlights.
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Festivals
In remote locations
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Portraits
Nomadic tribes
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Nubra Valley
Private camel shoot
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Lamayuru
A dramatic monastery
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Alchi
11th century monastery town
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Dah Village
Tibeto-Mongolian people
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Leh
Monastery vantage point
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Diskit Monastery
Large Buddha
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Landscapes
Endless variety
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Lakes
Azure blue
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Monasteries
Breathtaking locations
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Thicksey Monastery
Early morning puja
Check out our photo book below:
Here’s a photo book we made from the tours in 2022/23. We’ll provide you with templates (including suggested text) and help you to upload your own images, so that you can make your own on the tour and print it when you get home.
Tour Details.
Est. 2015
Duration: 13 days, 12 nights, 11 days of shooting
Dates and Prices
2025
July 18 - 30
US$6950
Past participants will get a special discount.
Our fee includes hotels, breakfast, seven lunches and dinners, bottled water throughout the tour, as well as all transport including airport transfers. This tour also includes two internal flights. We base our fee on accommodation in a single room, (always with private bathroom) though we offer discounts for couples sharing rooms, as well as for non-photographers. If you need help with insurance for this tour, please let us know and we can put you in touch with a broker that should be able to help you.
Our Itinerary.
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Day 1
Arrive any time: Enjoy free transfer to your hotel
PM: Optional technical and aesthetic travel photography workshop for those who need it
Sunset: Tour briefing and dinner
Sleep: Delhi Aerocity hotel
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Day 2
Sunrise: Flight to Leh
AM: Alchi drive (photo stops)
PM: Acclimatisation
Sunset: Dinner
Sleep: Alchi boutique hotel
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Day 3
Sunrise: Alchi village walk
AM: Lamayuru drive (photo stops)
PM: Lamayuru monastery walk
Sunset: Lamayuru village walk
Sleep: Lamayuru boutique hotel
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Day 4
Sunrise: Lamayuru vantage point
AM: Scenic drive
PM: Dard portraits in Dah Village
Sunset: River vantage point
Sleep: Deluxe tents near Dah Village
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Day 5
Sunrise: Breakfast
AM: Skurbuchan village
PM: Rest
Sunset: Leh Palace and Peace Pagoda
Sleep: Leh boutique hotel
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Day 6
Sunrise: Breakfast
AM: Leh Palace/ back street walk
PM: Horse Polo Finals
Sunset: Prayer flags on bridge
Sleep: Leh boutique hotel
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Day 7
Sunrise: Free time
AM: Khardungla pass drive
PM: Nubra valley
Sunset: Bactrian camels on sand dunes
Sleep: Hunder boutique yurt
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Day 8
Sunrise: Sand dunes
AM: Diskit monastery
PM: Teggar Village
Sunset: Sumur Monestery
Sleep: Boutique Bungalows
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Day 9
Sunrise: Free time
AM: Visit 400 year old house
PM: Lightroom class
Sunset: Cultural dance in sand dunes
Sleep: Boutique Bungalows
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Day 10
Sunrise: Breakfast
AM: Leh Drive
PM: Free afternoon in Leh
Sunset: Free
Sleep: Leh boutique hotel
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Day 11
Sunrise: Thicksey monastery
AM: Tsomoriri drive
PM: Korzok Gustor festival - masked
Sunset: Tsomoriri lake
Sleep: Tsomoriri hotel
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Day 12
Sunrise: Pashmina goat herders
AM: Leh drive
PM: Chemrey Monastery
Sunset: Farewell dinner
Sleep: Leh boutique hotel
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Day 13
AM: Delhi flight
Either continue your international departure from Delhi or perhaps spend a few days exploring the city.
We know you will have had a fabulous time.
Make the dream a reality.
Tuition.
On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, 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.
Hotels and Transport.
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Comfortable rooms
We have gone to great lengths to secure the best accommodation available in most locations to enhance your overall sense of being in Ladakh. In Leh, Alchi and Lamayuru, we will stay in very comfortable hotels, and in the Nubra Valley we are sure you will love our luxury stone-walled yurts.
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Great locations
Our accommodation options are far more limited whilst visiting the Dah Village and Korzok Gustor festival. Nevertheless, we have gone out of our way to secure the best alternatives, usually luxury tents with built-in bathrooms. In these cases we rejoice in location, location, location.
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Private transport
Always using the latest model Toyota Innova we give you a window seat to let you appreciate the views and enable you to jump out quickly if there is anything you want to photograph. We find the generous seats are big enough to keep your camera bag conveniently close and safe, and we limit the number of photographers to three a vehicle.
TripAdvisor.
Millsiemex - September 2018
A photographer’s dream. This was the first organised photography tour I have ever done. Not only did I see a spectacular part of the world but this tour exceeded all I could have dreamed of. Nathan is so experienced and well-travelled that every day there were more wonders to photograph and people to meet. The tour is well organised and fun. I learned so much about photography in general and came out of this tour a much more confident photographer. Loved every minute of it! So much so that I’m already eyeing off my next tour with Nathan.
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