Ladakh Photography Tour September, 2023

Nine nights/Ten days - (11/09/2023 to 20/09/2023)

Overview

Ladakh is rugged, raw and barren though it’s enthralling. The epic vista is filled with lofty colourful mountains, pristine blue lakes, wonderful valleys, cold deserts, meandering rivers and tiny hamlets with its cheerful inhabitants. It also amazed us through its culture. Almost in every nook we find monasteries, some of those are ancients and grandeur. The desolated highland really is a surreal area.

I ask you to join me on a photography tour of a lifetime.

Who Can Join?

I offer you all, experience of photography doesn’t an issue.

Who adores high mountains and intend to explore beautiful landscapes, people and cultures in the trans-Himalayan zones are mostly welcome. Beginners to serious enthusiastic photographers all are appreciated. I think a good mix of experience levels mean we can share our knowledge and vision.

Let your aesthetic senses flow.

Mentorship

I shall bring you to appropriate vantage points where you can capture the breath-taking vistas. I shall attend to all participants individually at the time of taking photographs. I look forward to share my vision but will not force them on. Monasteries and monks, cultures and cuisine, villages and their delightful inhabitant are also our subjects.

Tour Highlights

  • Travel through some of the splendid landscapes and enjoy the splendour of it.
  • Let the adrenaline rush pump through your veins as you drive up some of the world’s highest motorable roads at renowned Khardung-La, less travelled Kaksang-La and enormous Tanglang-La.
  • Experience sand dunes in the core of a lovely vale besides meandering river with surrounding elevated mountains.
  • Overnight stay on the banks of high altitude pristine, holy lakes.
  • Be astonished to see the architectural marvel and realize the cultural traditions of majestic Buddhist monasteries.
  • Test palatable local cuisine which doesn’t fade quickly.
  • Insights to nuances of travel and outdoor photography during the tour.

Physical Requirements

It’s important to note that though this photography tour is so designed where hiking/trekking is not essential as we shall travel almost all places through non-AC comfortable vehicle but the physical and obviously mental ability is required to face the high altitude (above 3000 meters) challenges.

Itinerary

Day 1
Since Leh lies at an altitude of 11,500 ft., breathing becomes difficult because you're not able to take in as much oxygen. So, we’ll spend whole day in the hotel/homestay before going to higher altitude. This will be our acclimatization day as well as our meet and greet. Overnight at Leh.
Day 2
Whole day outing to Indus-Zanskar confluence, Magnetic hill, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. Overnight at Leh.
Day 3
We start after early breakfast and crossing over the Khardung-La. Evening spend at Hunder sand dunes. Overnight at Hunder.
Day 4
We start after breakfast and drive to Sumur, a charming location of Nubra Valley. Overnight at Sumur.
Day 5
This day we take the route beside the bank of Shyok River and move towards Pangong Tso. Overnight at Merak village.
Day 6
Drive to Tso Moriri via Mirpal Tso, Kaksang-La, a breath-taking route seldom travelled before. Overnight at Korzok Village.
Day 7
We explore less travelled places of Tso Moriri. Overnight at Korzok Village.
Day 8
This day we travel towards Leh via Puga hot spring, Tso Kar and Tanglang-La. This region is a gem of Rupshu valley. Overnight at Leh.
Day 9
This day is reserved for Monastery tour. We also spend this evening at a beautiful location from where we can capture the stunning view of Leh and surroundings. Overnight at Leh.
Day 10
After having breakfast our vehicle drops us at Leh airport.

Photography Tour Cost

  • Photography tour cost per person – Rs. 32,500/- (INR)

What’s Included?

Accommodation
  • Nine nights’ accommodation in double bedded room (double sharing basis) in hotel/homestay/cottage
Meal
  • Breakfast with tea, evening tea and dinner (day 01 to 09)
  • Breakfast with tea (day 10)
Transportation
  • Transfer from Leh Airport to our hotel/homestay at Leh (day 01)
  • All transfers within tour (day 02 to day 09) in a non-AC comfortable vehicle
  • Transfer from hotel/homestay at Leh to Leh Airport (day 10)
Mentorship
  • Photography guidance fee
Others
  • Tourist Inner Line Permit
  • Monastery & Palace entry fees
  • Emergency oxygen and First-aid kit

What’s Not Included?

  • Travel from/to your locality to/from Leh
  • Travel, camera gear and personal insurance
  • Expenses of personal nature including, extra food & beverages, tips, laundry or similar
  • Any expenses incurring for Medical emergency of any participant
  • Any expenses incurring if there is an increase in the number of days due to natural calamity, civil unrest or anything beyond our control
  • Any other services & goods not mentioned in “What’s Included”

What to Bring?

Photography Gear - Necessary
  • A DSLR/Mirrorless camera with lens
  • Tripod
  • Memory card
  • Spare camera battery with charger
Photography Gear - Recommended
  • A wide-angle zoom lens (e.g., 16-35mm equivalent to FF sensor camera)
  • A telephoto zoom lens (e.g., 70-200mm equivalent to FF sensor camera)
  • Filters, such as ND, CPL
  • Laptop or tablet with charger
Personal Gear – Recommended
  • Govt. issued photo ID card - Original and photocopy (Passport/Aadhar Card)
  • Certificate for Covid-19 vaccination (Booster dose/Second dose)
  • Mobile Phone with charger, power bank
  • Different clothing layers will be necessary in the varied temperature in Ladakh. Warm clothes will be dressed with jacket (the weather in Ladakh is hot/mild warm at day and cold at night)
  • Cold cream, moisturiser lotion, sunscreen lotion, soap, hand sanitizer
  • Cap/hat, sunglass, hand gloves, muffler and balaclava
  • Glass, spoon
  • Well-gripped shoes with enough pair of shocks, flip flop/chappal
  • Medicine - regular and as necessary

Booking and Payment Procedure

Booking a Slot
  • Booking is made through first come, first serve basis. You send an email from your email id sharing your name, full address with PIN, phone number, date of birth, gender and ask to join the “Ladakh Photography Tour September, 2023” (make sure you have read all description written here).
  • In reply, I shall send you an email whether slot is vacate and information about our bank details.
  • After receiving my email, you have to pay the booking amount within two days and send the payment details via email.
  • Upon receiving the payment details, I will confirm whether I have received your payment and if received will subsequently send the money receipt via email.
  • All payment will be materialized through bank transfer.
Payment for Booking
  • Amount to be paid to our bank account at the time of booking of the photography tour - 25% on tour cost.
Full & Final Payment
  • Amount to be paid to our bank account 30 days before photography tour starts (day 01) - 75% (i.e., rest amount) on tour cost otherwise your booking will be cancelled.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • Cancellation of your slot can be made through an email of cancellation request.
  • 25% of booking amount is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation prior to 30 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • 50% of tour cost is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 29 to 15 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • 75% of tour cost is charged as cancellation fee on cancellation between 14 to 07 days before tour starts (day 01)
  • No refunds for cancellation within 06 (six) days before tour starts (day 01)
  • Whether cancellation of tour will be happened from my side full amount of payment which you have paid already to me for this tour will be refunded within one month of sending cancellation email.

Other Notable Points

  • My role in this photography tour is to mentor photography and guide you to great locations. You are responsible for your safety. I make no effort to scrutinize your co-traveller of the tour and you need to make sure you are safe in their companionship.
  • This is not a lazy vacation. We will most likely be shooting from early morning through sunset and possibly at night for astrophotography for those who will be interested.
  • Any disobedience or misconduct by any participant during the tour like causing distress and annoyance to co-travellers, any kind of damage to property of any supplier or travel companions, any kind of sexual harassment or misconduct or misbehave, the participant will be terminated from this photography tour without any kind of refund of the tour cost and he/she also has to bear the cost of him/her going back home.
  • While traveling, participants can click from vehicle windows. While it would be needed to stop and get down to capture something, it will be decided by me.
  • Under no circumstance, a double sharing accommodation will be given to opposite sex people. I will decide feasible alternative.
  • Weather and road condition will play a huge role in this photography tour. For that reason our itinerary will be flexible. In case of bad weather and/or bad road condition inaccessibility to a destination, we will do our best to make alternate plans. The cost of the tour or any part of it will not be refunded in these unfavourable conditions.
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