Nepal Adventure Photography Tour

This day starts with an excellent breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we will head to Swayambhunath, popularly known as the “Monkey Temple.” Swayambhunath is one of Nepal's holiest sites, and the stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries for both Buddhists and Hindus. Located on a little hillock in the northwest of Kathmandu City, Swayambhunath offers a good vantage point to capture the city's panoramic view. 

Next, we will head to Pashupatinath, famous for Nepal’s most sacred burning ghats and a few of the remaining living cultural heritage sites globally. Built in the 5th century, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Lord Shiva. You will witness and capture some Hindu rituals, including puja ceremonies and cremation along the sacred Bagmati River.  

We will break for lunch (included) before proceeding on our tour to Kathmandu Durbar Square. The Durbar Square is one of the three old royal palaces of the former Kathmandu Kingdom, and it is Kathmandu’s most spectacular legacy of Newari traditional architecture. Here, you will capture the beautiful Nepalese architecture of ancient times with local people still worshipping in the shrines.  We will also organize a 30-minute private photo session with local Nepali dressed in traditional costumes or with Hindu Holy Men (Sadhu) for portrait photography in Durbar Square. 

We will do some street photography at the bustling local vegetables and spice markets in the evening. The local markets are often an integral part of daily life for locals, and it is the best place to capture candid shots. After visiting the market, we will send you back to the hotel. 

Today, we will head to Patan after breakfast at the hotel. We know Patan as the City of Fine Arts, displaying the extraordinary fine wooden and metal works of the Newari people. We will explore and capture the rich heritage culture such as the Golden Temple, Durbar Square filled with temples and statues, and Patan Museum.  

We will then adjourn for lunch at the Patan Museum Café or Rooftop Restaurant (included). After lunch, we will visit the ancient and traditional city of Bhaktapur. Among the three medieval old citadels of Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur is the most preserved one. It is known for its cobbled streets, narrow alleys, unique architecture, and storied history. We will look for photo opportunities while exploring the traditional Durbar Square, 55-window palace, Lion Gate, Golden Gate, and other ancient monuments and observing local potters spinning their wheels and drying out their terracotta wares at the Pottery Square. 

We will conclude this day with a walk around the Thamel area, a lively tourist hub, where you can enjoy a walk around old alleys and capture several monuments of significance for the locals. 

Optional: If you like, we can substitute the visit to Patan with Everest Short Flight (45 mins), so you can get a closer look at Mt Everest. However, this is optional depending on flight availability, and weather condition, and is subject to additional cost. 

On this day, we will leave for Bandipur after breakfast. Bandipur is located between Kathmandu and Pokhara, and it is one of Nepal’s most charming towns. A hilltop settlement, Bandipur is a living museum of Newari culture with beautifully preserved 18th-century architecture if it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas mountain and Marshyangdi Valley. 

We will have lunch (included) on our way to Bandipur. Upon arrival, we will check in at guesthouse/boutique hotels. Thereafter, we will take a stroll along the main street of Bandipur and the local temples, looking for photo opportunities with the locals. In the late afternoon, we can relax in one of the coffee shops that offer splendid mountain views and take sunset photographs. 

The day ends with dinner (included) and a photography-sharing session.  

On this day, we will wake up early and walk 30 minutes to the viewpoint at the Tani Mai Temple to catch the superb early sunrise views. Before sunrise, we will be there to capture the blue hour and first golden sun rays on the sweeping panoramic view of Himalayan peaks and Marshyangdi Valley below. Please bring a tripod for blue hour photography and a jacket to keep yourself warm. After sunrise, we will walk back to the hotel for breakfast and checkout. We will then drive back to Pokhara, check-in at the hotel, and have lunch (included). 

Pokhara City is the second-largest city in Nepal. The gateway to trekking in the Annapurna region is beautifully adorned with pristine lakes against a backdrop of the high Himalayas, snow-capped mountains. The reflection of Mt Machhapuchhre (famously known as the Fish Tail Mountain) and the Annapurna range on Phewa Lake is an enthralling moment that every photographer would love to capture.  

After exploring David Fall, Gupteshwor Cave, and Seti Gorge for landscape photography and some caving activities. 

After lunch in the evening, we will have dinner (included) and explore Pokhara's tourist town center.

Today, we will leave Pokhara for Jomson after breakfast in the hotel. The drive to Jomson will take approximately 6 hours and take you over the Kali Gandaki gorge to the town of Jomson. Kali Gandaki Gorge is the deepest gorge in the world carved by the Kali Gandaki River that flows from the Tibetan plateau to the Ganges in India. We can enjoy the beautiful view of Pokhara city and spectacular views of Mt Dhaulagiri, Mt Nilgiri, and the entire Annapurna range during the flight journey. As we approach Jomson, we will notice the change in a landscape resembling the Tibetan Plateau.

At the Mustang region's southern edge, Jomsom is the major hub for onward travel to Upper Mustang and Muktinath. Upon arrival, we will rest for a while and then again drive to Kagbeni.

Kagbeni is located upstream of Kali Gandaki, on the road to Lo Manthang. It is a medieval village that was once an important center of the Salt Trade Route between Tibetans and Indians. Today, it is a meeting point for traders from Lo Manthang, Manang, and Dolpo.

After some rest in the guesthouse, we will explore the village.  Kagbeni is immersed with Tibetan influence; hence, we will capture chortens (Buddhist shrines), prayer wheels, and colorful Tibetan flags flapping in the winds.  We will also visit the notable landmark–Red Monastery and take a tour inside. Before evening, we will walk to the vantage point near the end of the village, where there is a lookout point facing Lo Manthang and the lands of Upper Mustang for a breathtaking view of Kagbeni village.

We will overnight at the guesthouse, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided.

After breakfast, we will trek for about 3-4 hours to Muktinath together with our porters. Muktinath is a famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus. To Hindus, Muktinath is a sacred place for salvation as they believe that bathing in the waters here will guarantee salvation after death. 

Upon arrival in Muktinath around noon, we will check in at the guesthouse, have lunch, and rest from the journey. After that, we will visit the famous Vishnu temple where its outer courtyard has 108-bull-faces water sprouts, and explore the villages to gain insight into the life and traditions of the Lopa - local people with strong Tibetan roots. 

During August / September (full moon day) each year, one of Nepal’s unique festivals–Yartung will be celebrated in Muktinath and all over the Mustang region. Yartung is a three-day celebration comprising Tibetan-style horse racing, drinking, and dancing by the local Gurung and Thakali people. The Yartung festival will be an interesting photography subject, especially horse racing. 

Before dusk, we will walk to a vantage point to capture the picturesque sunset view over the Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna mountains. 

We will overnight at the guesthouse, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. 

Today, after breakfast at the guesthouse, we will descend to Marpha via a jeep ride of about 2 hours. 

Marpha is a historic town with a well-preserved unique heritage, Thak Khola architecture of flat roofs, and narrow cobblestone alleys. Marpha is also renowned as the “apple capital of Nepal”; it is home to many apple orchards and various food products made from apples, such as dry apple snacks, apple crumble, apple jam, sauce, juice, and most interestingly, apple brandy. 

After our lunch in the guesthouse, we can explore Marpha’s pretty and quaint stoned-lined village, looking out for interesting photography subjects, followed by visits to the monastery, apple orchards, the Tibetan refugee camp, and the Chhairo Gompa, the first Nyingma monastery to be established in the Mustang district. 

At night, if the weather is good, we can take photographs of the Milky Way (depending on the year) and starry nights. 

We will overnight at the guesthouse, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. 

We will leave Marpha to Taforpani today via a jeep ride of about 4-5 hours. We will descend through the valley, following the Kali Gandaki River to Ghasa, then onto Tatopani. 

Along the way, we can stop and capture some nice landscape photographs and have our lunch. 

Tatopani is famous for its natural hot spring. The hot spring's bubbling water sits in a large serene rock pool, and it resembles a Japanese-style hot spring. The hot spring’s water is coveted for having high mineral content and is believed to have healing elements. This is the best place to relax and rejuvenate our body after the long Jeep journey. 

We will have a relaxing day overnight at the guesthouse, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. 

Today, we will continue our descent to the Pokhara Valley and head towards Sarangkot via a jeep ride of 5-6 hours. 

Lies at 1,600m, Sarangkot is easily accessible from Pokhara and renowned for its panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks, including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Fish Tail, and Lamjung. It also offers a stunning bird's-eye view of the city of Pokhara and Phewa Lake. 

Dinner will be served at the hotel (included). You can then have an early rest as we will set out very early on the following day. 

We will start this day very early at around 4.00 am. We will walk up (about 15-20 minutes) to the Sarangkot viewpoint to capture the blue hour before sunrise. When the skies are clear, you will capture amazing night photography of the starry sky against the backdrop of the Himalayas or Phewa Lake. However, do note that you will require a tripod for night photography and a jacket to keep yourself warm. 

Following that, we will chase the dawn and wait for the morning sun's first rays on the mighty Himalayas. It is truly a mesmerizing moment to see golden sun rays transforming the mountain peaks from snow-white peaks into celestial gold. After sunrise, we will walk back to the hotel for breakfast and rest before checking out. We will then drive back to Pokhara, check in the hotel, and have lunch. 

After lunch, we shall head to the World Peace Pagoda for a sweeping panoramic view of Pokhara City and Phewa Lake. Upon descending from the World Peace Pagoda, we will go boating at Phewa Lake. The Phewa Lake offers great opportunities for landscape photography with its colorful boats and alluring reflection of the snow-capped Annapurna range. 

The long day will end with dinner (included) in the busy Pokhara town before heading back to the hotel. 

Before breakfast, we will start the day by chasing the sunrise and trying out long-exposure photography in Phewa Lake. After that, we will go back to the hotel for breakfast, checkout, and head to Chitwan National Park via tourist bus or private car. 

Chitwan National Park is 932 square kilometers of dense forest, marsh, and grassland, home to 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 56 species of reptiles, and amphibians, 126 species of fish, and many more. It offers opportunities to capture the sights of endangered one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, gharial crocodiles, and rare freshwater dolphins. It is a feast for nature lovers and wildlife photographers. 

We will provide lunch either on our way to Chitwan or upon our arrival there. After check-in at the hotel, we will visit the Tharu village for some local people and nature photography.  Thereafter, we will capture the beautiful sunset from the Rapti river bank.

The day will end with a scrumptious dinner (included) and a Tharu cultural dance performance at the hotel. 

After breakfast, we will take a jungle walk to experience the wilderness, follow by an adventurous canoe ride in the Rapti River. We will watch monkeys playing in the trees, the elephants washing in the pool, and deer grazing the grass as we move along the river. 

After lunch, we will further explore the inner jungle via jeep safari to capture exotic wildlife photographs. 

In the evening, we will visit the elephant breeding center or capture a beautiful sunset from the Rapti riverbank before dinner time. After dinner, we will share some general tips on photo-editing skills to further enhance your photos.  

Today, we will go back to Kathmandu via tourist bus. After breakfast, we will board the tourist bus and follow the scenic route along Prithvi Highway back to Kathmandu. On the way, we will stop for lunch (included). Upon arrival, we will send you to the hotel to test and review the photographs you have taken during the trip.  

In the evening, we will host a farewell dinner (included) and conduct a photo-sharing session among the participants. 

We will send you off to the airport three hours before your scheduled flight. We hope you had a great time with us. Thank you, and have a safe journey home.