Over Mountains, Across Rivers - Photography Expedition to Ladakh, India

Over Mountains, Across Rivers
Trans-Himalayas Photography Expedition to Ladakh, India
August 2011

The itinerary of this 12 day photographic expedition to Ladakh is almost similar to "Ladakh Essentials", minus the monastic festival. However, the timing of this trip (August) will see us visiting Ladakh at a time when the number of tourists will have declined, offering us the opportunity to photograph the local populance in a more relaxed and natural manner.

With a focus on landscapes, architecture, people, travel & cultural photography in one of the most beautiful & remote regions of India, this is one photography trip that no serious photographer can afford to miss.

Nature of Trip : This trip falls into the category of a "photography expedition / tour" - Our Photo Workshops, while geared towards photographers at all levels, differ from tours & expeditions in the amount of time devoted to theory and image reviews. Workshops are geared towards learning, while tours emphasize location. This being a tour / expedition, the focus is more towards exploration and photography. The trip leader however, is always available for those who wish to further their photographic learning.

Before signing up for this trip, you should know that Ladakh ranks amongst one of the most remote regions of India; quality "creature comforts" are usually restricted to the district capital of Leh. A trip of the nature of this one involves us heading out of Leh at times into the hinterland, where accommodation is very basic - usually restricted to tents or Tibetan guest-houses. Culinary delights will be simple, baths mostly restricted to every other day (which is when we head back to Leh). Rest assured, the photographs will be worth it.

Objectives :

The sheer wealth of photo-ops in Ladakh can challenge the best of photographers, given the wide spectrum of photographic subjects available - landscapes, culture, festivals and people - Ladakh has it all.

With its breathtaking landscapes, ancient culture & medieval towns, Ladakh covers almost all the domains that the travel photographer needs to develop his skills in. Backed up by expert instruction (if needed), you will be photographing medieval monasteries, stunning landscapes, mystical dance festivals & ancient towns that lie along what was once The Old Silk Route.

What to carry :

From a photography viewpoint - a choice of lens covering the range of focal lengths from 20-300mm (in 35mm terms - please check the crop factor of your sensor if you plan to be shooting on digital) is ideal to help you capture everything from sweeping landscapes to close-up story-telling details. Tripods are recommended for situations where you may need to step your lens down, as well as for shooting in low-light conditions. Since the use of tripods may not be possible in some of the monasteries which we may visit, fast lenses would be an additional bonus.

If shooting digital, we recommend that you shoot RAW on this trip; what with the associated image sizes , we suggest that you carry sufficient media to last you for at least two or more days if not the entire trip. A laptop or other form of digital storage to transfer your digital images onto at the end of every day is highly recommended.

The electricity supply outside Leh is few and far between, and while this trip is designed to get you back to Leh every other day (at the least) to charge your batteries, have a hot shower, shake a leg and what-have-you-not, we suggest that you carry an extra battery for your camera. The regions we will be visiting can get cold in the night and batteries do tend to discharge faster in the cold.

For those of you planning to shoot on film (slide film, we presume. Yes, even we still do that at times!) - the probablity of sourcing slide film in Ladakh is as high as that of bumping into Elvis! You'll have to carry your film from wherever it is you're traveling, or stock up in Delhi. If you need any assistance on this front, please let us know.

Health pre-requisites & Insurance :

Most of Ladakh is situated at altitudes above 13000 ft, and during our visit to the region, we will at times be ascending to heights in excess of 18000 ft. At such altitudes, one may experience the onset of a range of symptoms that are collectively clubbed under the synonym "AMS" - Altitude Mountain Sickness.

The symptoms of AMS include headaches, nausea, flatulence, breathlessness, and disorientation. Most visitors to Ladakh encounter a mild bout of AMS over the first two days. Symptoms usually ease after that, as long as visitors take care not to exert themselves too much, consume lots of water, and desist from alcohol and excessive smoking.

In a worst-case scenario, a later onset of severe AMS (unlikely but not unheard of) can occur at higher altitudes and may necessiate emergency evacuation to a lower altitude - usually Leh. It is mandatory that participants carry appropriate medical insurance that covers emergency evacuations for this trip.

Considering the rarified atmosphere and studies that show that AMS significantly increases the risks of cardiac arrest in people over the age of 60 and those with a history of previous cardiac problems, we do not advocate this trip for such people.

For more details about AMS, please refer to Princeton University's Outdoor Action Guide to High Altitude : Acclimitization & Illness

Itinerary :

Day 1: Depart from Delhi early in the morning by road; we drive through the verdant plains of the Punjab before begining our scent into the foothills of the Himalayas. We will arrive in the quaint town of Manali by nightfall (B,L,D)

Day 2: Early morning and late afternoon photography in Manali, highlights include a visit to a Tibetan monastery, the ancient temple dedicated to Hidimba, and the Vashisht temple. If you've requested mentoring in advance, you can also use this opportunity to clear any doubts you may have regarding both the technical as well as art aspects of photography (B, L, D)

Day 3: Following an early breakfast, we begin our ascent up the mighty Rohtang LA (Rohtang Pass). The Rohtang is but one of the many high-altitude passes that we will cross on our journey, and the altitude (12000 ft asl) may see you experiencing a mild headache as your body begins the process of acclitisation. We pause to to make images at Marhi and Rohtang top before descending into the Bhaga valley, passing through picturesque countryside dotted by Buddhist settlements and ubiquitous stupas.

We arrive at the small settlement at Jispa by late afternoon, where we will make images of this delightful paradise. We will spend the night in Jispa, either at a guesthouse or a hotel (B,L, D)

Day 4: Early morning photography at Jispa after which he press onwards, pausing to make images at and around the Baralacha La. We arrive at the incredibly scenic settlement of Sarchu before nightfall in time enough to make images of the play of light on the surrounding moutains and cliffs that ring our campsite, watching in awe as they seem to change colors on a minute-to minute basis. Stay in tents at Sarchu (B,L, D)

Day 5: You may wake up experiencing some fatigue and a mild body ache owing to the altitude; be sure not to exert yourself too much and imbibe lots of water to keep yourself hydrated - your body should acclimatise in toto by the next day.

Following early morning at Sarchu, we move on, pausing to make images at the Moray plains - a forty kilometer tableland - before crossing several passes. We will cross the mighty Tanglang La; the scenic beauty - and altitude (17000 ft asl) - is sure to leave you you a little bit breathless! We then descend to a more comfortable altitude of 12000 ft asl, arriving at Leh - the district capital of Ladakh - by late afternoon. Stay in comfort hotels in Leh, and you might just decide to look a little bit more presentable by availing of a hot water shower and getting rid of that stubble! (B,L, D)

Day 6: Early morning photography at Stakhna monastery, followed by a visit to Thiksey monastery - the most photographed monastery in Ladakh. Make images there of the giantstatue of the Maitreya Buddha, maybe witness and photograph the monks conducting a religious ceremony. Return to Leh for lunch, followed by a late afternoon visit to Stok palace and Gompa. We return to Leh again by nightfall; you are free to dine on your own, either at our hotel or at an establishment in the market.(B, L)

Day 7: Depart for Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake) - the largest seawater lake in Asia, halting for lunch at a Tibetan guest house. Reach the lake by mid-afternoon, stop "ooohing" & "aaahing" long enough to get your cameras out and start making some memorable landscape photographs. Camp by the lake (or, stay in a guest house) for the night. (B, L, D)

Day 8: The early morning will be spent photographing around the lake. Enroute back to Leh, stop to photograph Asia's largest chorten field. Arrive in Leh by the evening, you are free to dine by yourself in the hotel or in an estaqblishment in the town (B, L)

Day 9: Begin our ascent up the mighty Khardung-La. We will be on the world's highest motorable road, and will summit the mighty Khardung at a breathtaking (literally - you may experience breathlessness at the summit!) altitude of 5680m (18380 ft) above sea level. We will stop enroute to have our permits checked (a whiff or two of bottled oxygen from the army medical camp there won't hurt either!), make some photographs. Huddle together to yell "Ki Ki Soso Lha Gyalo" - the traditional Tibetan yell of exultation and thanks to the gods on summiting a pass, before descending into the Nubra (green) valley - a veritable oasis!

Afternoon photography around the sand dunes of Hunder - expect some great landscape shots here. Don't forget to shoot (with your camera, of course!) the two-humped bactrian camels - descendants of the camels that plied the Old Silk Road to China. The night will be spent in tents or in a guest house either at Hunder or Diskit. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Photography around Hunder. Make believe you're a trader on the Old Silk Route and ride a camel from Hunder to Diskit (costs extra). If you're up to a bit of walking, visit the monastery at Diskit. Maybe visit a traditional Ladakhi home. Evening photography again at Hunder. Night in tents or in a guest house at Hunder or Diskit (B, L, D)

Day 11: Early morning photography around Hunder & Diskit, then begin to drive back to Leh. On arrival we will as usual decide to get rid of that stubble (now where have you heard that before, we wonder?). A bath is advisable - you don't want your roommate holding their breath when around you, do you? You may choose to dine on your own at the hotel or in the marketplace (B, L)

Day 12: After breakfast we get dropped off to the airport to catch our respective flights back to Delhi. Trip ends (B)

Dates : August 2011, precise dates to be announced - please email us to inquire should you be interested.

If your dates don't coincide with ours, or, would rather have us customize a private photography tour or workshop for you, do contact us. You may also wish to check our photo tours calender to see if other trips are available around the time of your visit.

Pricing :

The Over Mountains, Across Rivers Photography Expedition to Ladakh is priced at US $2200 (INR 88,000) for 3 participants, and $2060 (INR 82,500) for four participants.

This trip is limited to a maximum of four participants. The cost covers tution (if requested in advance), all ground transportation in Ladakh (except for camel rides at between Hunder & Diskit), twin occupancy accommodation in top-tier hotels in Leh and tents / guest houses in the rest of Ladakh, most set meals in Ladakh,

Not included in the price are flights (you can book them on your own, or have us do it for you at actuals), beverages, laundry, tips, cost of film or developing, media backup costs (for digital shooters), personal expenses, camel rides between Hunder & Diskit, and any other costs that are not listed above. Photographers are expected to carry their own cameras, lenses and other photographic gear & media and are responsible for the safety of the same.

Booking terms & conditions :

To book this trip please contact us.

A deposit of $800 (INR 32,000) is required to confirm your reservation and block a seat for you. Payments can be made by Wire Transfer (or via a Demand Draft / Banker's Cheque if paying from within India). The remainder is due 21 days before the trip.

If you choose to cancel at least 30 days prior to the scheduled departure, your total tour payment remitted to us (minus the non-refundable deposit) will be refunded in full, less a 3.9% transaction fee. If we've already made hotel or travel bookings / deposits on your behalf, those will be refunded to you upon us receiving the same from the concerned parties.

Should we choose to cancel a trip on our own accord, your deposit will be refunded in full.

To book this trip, please email us at info@nevillebulsara.com