India - Ladakh Tour - full itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Delhi
We will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport. Nathan runs the optional pre-tour technical and aesthetic workshop from around 2-5pm for those new to travel photography or who feel they would benefit from a refresher course (please confirm your interest). There will be a pre-tour meet ‘n’ greet with Nathan at the hotel starting at around 6pm.

Day 2:
Delhi — Leh — Alchi
We leave the hotel very early this morning for our flight to Leh. Upon arrival, we drive on the Indus River route to visit the lovely oasis of Alchi in the outer Zanskar region. The journey gets more interesting as we drive past colourful villages and hillside monasteries. 

We spend the afternoon and evening resting to acclimatise to the high altitude. Alchi is 500m lower than Leh, making acclimatisation easier, and has one or two relaxing cafés where you can kick back and watch the world go by. Nestled amid the majestic Himalayan peaks, Alchi is a treasure trove of ancient Buddhist art and architecture, offering endless opportunities for captivating images. We can acclimatise by taking it easy and exploring the renowned Alchi Monastery.

Here we’ll witness the remarkable wall paintings and intricate wood carvings that have withstood the test of time for more than 1000 years. Although we are not allowed to photograph the paintings themselves, the serene, meditative atmosphere of the monastery will provide the perfect frame of mind for future endeavors.

Day 3:
Alchi — Lamayuru
Early this morning, we embark on a gentle village photo walk around Alchi homes and fields. Wandering through the village of Alchi we’ll encounter the charming mud-brick houses and quaint local markets, where the rhythms of daily life unfold. We also venture out to the serene Alchi Chorten, a stunning Buddhist stupa set against the backdrop of the Himalayas. The play of light on the white-washed structure and the breathtaking mountain vistas will provide an unforgettable photographic experience. The interplay of light and shadow, the vibrant textiles, and the friendly faces of the Ladakhi people will all contribute to a visual tapestry that is quintessentially Alchi.

After breakfast, we drive along the Indus Valley to Lamayuru, about 65 km away, passing en route through the 'moon land', a unique landscape of rock formations. After lunch at Lamayuru we visit the village and the monastery, one of the oldest gompas of Ladakh with more than 400 Buddhist monks undergoing training.

Perched atop a rugged, lunar-like landscape, the Lamayuru Monastery immediately captivates the eye and the lens. This ancient Buddhist sanctuary, dating back to the 11th century, offers a stunning visual feast, with its colourful prayer flags fluttering against the stark, weathered cliffs. 

Over the years, we have built good relationships with the resident monks, and they will be happy to let us take their pictures as we wander around the monastery. The so-called "Moonland" of Lamayuru’s undulating, otherworldly terrain will provide endless opportunities for dramatic, atmospheric shots. 

We then have time to explore the area. The monastery is located on a sediment rock hill cliff and appears precariously balanced by some strange mystical power unknown to humans. Next to the cliff is a deep gorge where the Lamayaru River meanders like a snake through the valley. The village is located below the monastery close to the river and starts to come to life as the locals return from work in the late afternoon. 

The green fields around the village and the stream flowing through the fields make a refreshing change from the other-worldly environment of Lamayuru.

Day 4:
Lamayuru — Dah
Before breakfast there is an optional sunrise walk to a hill above Lamayuru monastry. After breakfast, we drive to the Dah Valley, which takes about 4 hours, including some amazing landscape shots. Upon arrival, we check into our camp, and later in the afternoon, we visit Dah, which is popularly called the last Aryan village in India and is the only place to meet the Aryan tribe. The people here still follow their old traditions and marry within the community, as the people here believe that Aryans can marry only Aryans. We walk around the village and introduce you to some of the elders, still in traditional dress.

Throughout our time in Dah Village, we'll have the opportunity to engage with the local community and learn about their unique customs and traditions. The warm hospitality and friendly faces of the Brokpa people will add a heartfelt and genuine element to our photographic journey.

We’ll create a visual narrative that truly reflects the spirit and essence of this remarkable Ladakhi destination. The pristine, turquoise-hued Dah Hanu River, winding its way through the valley, will provide an additional serene setting for our images. Don’t forget your tripod for some slow exposures.

Day 5:
Dah — Leh
After breakfast, we take a different route back to Leh. Following the Indus River we will make a point of stopping in the well preserved village of Skurbuchan were the gentle way of life has remained unchanged for centuries and should see evidence of the harvest of wheat and apricots. We then continue to Leh, where we have time to explore the streets and markets around the hotel after lunch.

Leh is the capital of Ladakh and has, by far, its biggest mixed Muslim and Buddhist population. A pedestrianised high street makes for a natural centre of town, and wandering through the city’s streets and bustling market, we'll encounter a vibrant tapestry of sights, sounds and colours. 

In the evening, we visit Leh Castle for sunset shots amongst the flutter of colourful prayer flags and the peace pagoda. Each location offers both a great vantage point over Leh itself but also back over each other.

Day 6:
Leh
After breakfast, we explore Leh, dominated by the elevated Leh Palace. We drive you to the top first. Leh Palace itself is a majestic 17th-century structure that commands stunning views over the surrounding landscape. The intricate architecture, ornate detailing, and mix of Tibetan and Ladakhi influences will provide a rich subject for our lenses. As we wander through the palace's corridors and terraces, we'll immerse ourselves in this remarkable landmark’s rich history and cultural heritage.

On the way down, we explore the winding and dusty streets of the old area, which has many ancient houses and shops, including bakers making naan bread in the traditional tandoor ovens. Additional vibrant textiles, traditional handicrafts, pop-up fresh fruit and vegetable vendors, mosques, cafes, and the friendly faces of the locals will offer endless opportunities for candid, street-style photography, allowing us to capture the essence of everyday life in this Himalayan town. 

We leave the afternoon open to whats going on, but over the years we have been flexible to cover anything from the Dala Lama’s birthday celebrations to the the national horse polo finals.

Day 7:
Leh — Nubra
Today we drive up and over the impressive Khardungla Pass, at 5300m above sea level. It is supposedly the highest driveable pass in the world, and as you can imagine, it twists and turns, offering us vista after spectacular vista. But, despite being sparsely populated, we make time for a few landscape shots and comfort stops along the way. 

We then drive along the Shyok River basin from the pass towards the Hunder region in the Nubra Valley. The undulating hills of the Nubra Valley’s golden sand offer a unique and otherworldly landscape to explore with our cameras. The play of light and shadow across the dunes, the patterns created by the wind, provide the opportunity to capture the solitude and vastness of this desert environment. On arrival, we will settle into the resort before arranging a sunset photo session in the sand dunes with local archers next to small lakes with beautiful reflections.

The valley is also home to the iconic double-humped Bactrian camels, which have adapted to thrive in this harsh environment. As we encounter these majestic creatures, we'll capture their graceful movements, striking features, and interaction with the local herdersnin traditional dress. The contrast between the gentle nature of the camels and rugged mountain scapes will be a captivating subject for our lenses.

Day 8:
Nubra — Sumur
Early morning we visit the picturesque 14th-century Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary of Diskit monastery. As we explore the monastery's courtyards, temples, and prayer halls, we'll also have the opportunity to capture Ladakh’s largest statue of the Buddha.

Before lunch, we drive to visit another village called Sumur about 1 hour drive away and check-in to a new hotel. On the way we usually stop at some pools of water that relect the mountains .

Our hotel here is the nicest on our circuit so we want to stay two nights. Lunch is usually treat with a choice of Indian and European alternatives. Late afternoon we take a walk around a local Teggar village before visiting Sumur Monastery

Day 9:
Sumur
The village is remote even by Ladakh standards and only has 24 families on the official record, but their old way of life will be well preserved and authentic. Daily life here can be fascinating.

Early morning we visit a local women’s co-operative and take wonderful photos of these charismatic women in their kitchen/ dinning room which is suggested to be over 400 years old. We can take our time around lunch to do some Lightroom reviews of our work and latest techniques. Later in the afternoon, we arrange a local dance in the sand dunes - hopefully with a few camels to add to the scene.

Day 10:
Nubra — Leh  
After breakfast, we begin our long drive back towards Leh, which takes around 4 hours. We never tire of the views, however, and we can stop as often as you like to take photographs of mountain scapes, prayer flags, yaks, colourful truks and Royal Enfield tour groups . Upon arrival in Leh, we transfer straight to the hotel for a well-deserved rest. We are free this afternoon to explore Leh at our leisure.

Day 11:
Leh — Tsomoriri
Before breakfast, we visit Thiksey monastery, the largest gompa in central Ladakh. Set on top of a hill, overlooking the Indus River Valley, around 20km east of Leh, it’s one of the few monasteries that will let us photograph their early morning Puja. 

The Monastery it’self is a stunning 15th-century Tibetan Buddhist sanctuary that will captivate our creative senses. As we approach the monastery, the striking red and white architecture will immediately draw our attention, beckoning us to capture its majestic presence against the backdrop of the Himalayan peaks.

After dawn is broken by two monks blowing horns on the roof as a call to prayer, we witness the resident monks engaged in their early morning Puja. The rhythmic chanting, the graceful movements of the lamas, and the sincere devotion evident in their expressions will give us a rare glimpse into the monastic way of life. The intricate religious murals, thangka paintings, and intricate wood carvings adorning the monastery's temples and prayer halls will challenge us to convey the depth of their spiritual significance through our lenses.

On the way down we can explore the monastery's numerous courtyards and chapels, we'll also have the chance to capture one of Ladakh’s most beautiful Buddhas. After a packed breakfast, we start our long drive along the Indus Valley to one of the most spectacular lakes of the Himalayan region, Tsomoriri. The valley narrows, and we pass through some stunning mountain scenery.

The freshwater lake is approximately 40 km long and is situated at an altitude of 4500m, flanked by the Trans Himalayan and the Greater Himalayan ranges. We also explore the local village and its monastery. We have timed this tour to coincide with the Korzok Gustor festival, celebrated by the monks and villagers. The rest of the afternoon will be given over to photographing the fully masked Korzok Gustor festival. The performance and the audience provide endless photo opportunities and should be regarded as a real highlight of the whole tour.

At sunset we head to a small hill on the lakes edge which has either prayer stones or prayer flags to add foreground interest to the already stunning lake. We stay overnight in comfortable yet relatively basic hotel rooms ( This will be our only night without internet and we may lose electricity after around 10pm till the following morning - depnding on local supply) .

Day 12:
Tsomoriri — Leh
Before breakfast, we visit some nomadic sheep herders who will be nearby because of the festival. After breakfast, we check out from the hotel and retrace our journey back to Leh. Catching the light from different angles at different times of day, we hope to make some excellent stops along the way. When we reach Leh, we have free time to shop or grab some last-minute shots before settling down for our farewell dinner.

Day 13:
Depart for Delhi
Early in the morning, we leave for the airport to catch our flight to Delhi.

We hope you will have had an enjoyable and memorable experience, and look forward to seeing you again on another photographic adventure!