India - Kashmir & Ladakh Tour - full itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Delhi
We will arrange for you to be picked up from the airport and transferred to our hotel in Delhi Aerocity. Ash runs the optional pre-tour technical and aesthetic workshop from around 3-5pm for those new to travel photography or who feel they would benefit from a refresher course. There’s a pre-tour meet ‘n’ greet with Ash, starting at around 6pm, followed by dinner with the group.

Day 2:
Delhi — Srinagar
Depending on our flight timing we have breakfast either packed or at the hotel and then leave for the airport for our flight to Srinagar, the capital of India’s northernmost state, Jammu & Kashmir. With its serene lakes and beautiful gardens ringed by the majestic Himalayas, Srinagar is a picture-perfect destination to start our tour.

Upon arrival, we head to our houseboat on Dal Lake for lunch before we check in at around 2pm. After lunch, we head to the old town of Srinagar, visiting the local craftsmen and coppersmiths. Walking past the bustling bazaar will provide plentiful opportunities to photograph the local life, then we head to our houseboat for our overnight stay.

Day 3:
Srinagar — Peer Ki Gali — Srinagar
Today we embark on a road journey (roughly 180km) in search of the nomadic tribes who travel every year from Jammu to the Srinagar valley. Jammu is a hot region and a winter home for the nomads and their cattle, whereas the Kashmir valley is their summer paradise.

August is the ideal time of the year for our tour, as they are travelling in the lower regions, camping from place to place along the roadside. We hope to encounter several camps and the nomads are generally friendly and are happy to have their photographs taken. We return to Srinagar by late evening and spend another night at our houseboat.

Day 4:
Srinagar — Sonamarg
This morning we are up before dawn, and we soon find ourselves gliding on the gentle waters of the lake to a place quite unique in this part of Indian Himalayas. We visit the vegetable market in the heart of the lake, where for hundreds of years the lake farmers have traded their goods using a barter system.

We arrive at the marketplace, packed with country boats that enthusiastically buy and sell the food that is later distributed around the city. We spend the morning here, after which we paddle back to the houseboat for coffee and a late breakfast at the porch overlooking the lake.

After a short rest, we visit a couple of gardens that were built by the Emperors of the Peacock Throne – the Mughals of 16th century India who ruled for almost six hundred years. Later we drive to the mountain valley of Sonamarg where we check into our hotel and in the evening we take a walk around the hamlet in search of photographic opportunities.

Day 5:
Sonamarg — Naranag
Early this morning, we set off again in search of the nomads. They change locations every day, so we use scouts to help us locate them. Morning is a beautiful time to take pictures as the nomads start their day, making chai on stone ovens and rolling breads.

We then return to the hotel for breakfast, after which we drive to visit the 5th century BC temple ruins that are laid in between the picturesque valley of Naranag. The ruins are surrounded by a small village where we can enter the houses to take pictures of the local people here. We stop for lunch, after which we take more photographs of life in the village before heading to our hotel for a well-deserved break.

Day 6:
Naranag — Lamayuru
After breakfast, we meet our driver and set off towards the mountains, climbing the Zojila pass and crossing into the neighbouring region of Ladakh. On the way to the pass, we stop from time to time as we see the light changing which creates wonderful photographic opportunities.

From the first pass, we drive to the small and scanty village of Drass and onwards to Kargil, where we stop for Lunch. We then continue for another couple of hours to the majestic and picturesque monastic village of Lamayuru.

On arrival, we transfer to our guesthouse and in the early evening we visit the famed monastery, founded in the 11th century by the Indian scholar Mahasiddhacarya Naropa. Lamayuru is also home to one of the largest and oldest gompas in Ladakh, with a population of around 150 permanent resident monks.

Day 7:
Lamayuru — Dah
After breakfast, we drive to Dah Valley, making a detour en route to visit a small village called Skurbuchan. Here we spend a couple of hours wandering through the small lanes and houses of the village, after which we continue our drive to Dah.

Dah village is known for its people, who claim to be direct descendants of Alexander and whose looks and features are very different from the rest of the Ladakhi people. They have a unique ornamentation style as well as interesting headgear including hats made from flowers that make for great pictures. We arrive here and stay overnight in a local camp.

Day 8:
Dah — Leh
This morning we retrace our route and continue onwards to Leh, the administrative capital of Ladakh. On the way we stop to visit the Likir monastery, founded in the 11th century by King Lha-chen-rgyal-po and converted to a Ge-lug-pa establishment by Lama Lha-dbang-chos-rje.

Later we drive on to Leh, where we check in to our hotel before visiting the market area of the town and enjoying some free time, with the option of eating out in one of the small cafés.

Day 9:
Around Leh
We have an early start today and visit a local monastery to witness the morning prayers, which typically start around 6am. We spend an hour or so here before heading back to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, we set off to walk the local streets, which are very different to most other parts of India, being less crowded but still interesting.

We walk through the shops and eventually reach a place where the local bakers are in action. Here we can some dark and smoky backdrops that lend a dramatic tone to a frame. Later we walk uphill to Leh Palace, heading inside to get a better understanding of the culture of Leh, as well as providing a great view of the town below.

Later we take a local taxi to the market area and walk in the other direction to reach our hotel, and the afternoon is free for everyone to spend time at their leisure. In the evening we visit a castle on a hilltop, where we are presented with a bird’s eye view of the town with the mountains surrounding it from all the corners. We can take the classical shots of the prayer flags, castle and mountains in one frame, and this is also an ideal place to set up our tripods to get some night shots of the town.

Day 10:
Leh — Nubra
Today we set off on an exciting drive, featuring beautiful landscapes as well as the impressive Khardungla pass which is located at 5300m above sea level. The pass is supposedly the highest driveable pass in the world, twisting and turning while offering vista after spectacular vista.

We gradually head up the pass, making stops for photography which also help us to get used to the altitude. Despite being sparsely populated, there are several comfort stops along the way. From the pass, we drive along the Shyok river basin towards the Hunder region, which is located in the Nubra Valley.

The scenery here is raw, almost primaeval even, but ever-changing, and the area is famous for its farms, sand dunes and Bactrian camels. On arrival, we settle into the resort and later we set off for a photography session in the nearby sand dunes.

Day 11:
Nubra Valley
Before breakfast we visit the spectacular Diskit monastery, with its breathtaking sceneries and rich Buddhist culture. The Shyok River and the lofty mountains against the backdrop of the blue sky surrounded by lush green meadows, combine here to provide a phenomenal view.

We spend an hour or more here before heading back to our hotel for breakfast, after which we have some free time until lunch. Afterwards, we set off to visit a local cooperative where we meet the women in their traditional attire. They are very photogenic and are happy to give us ample time for some great portrait photography.

Day 12:
Nubra — Leh
Today, after breakfast, we drive back to Leh and check into our hotel. Later this afternoon, we visit the Tsemo Gompa which is situated on top of a hill from where we once again get a bird’s eye view of the city below. The sunsets here are usually wonderful and if the winds are blowing across the prayer flags they make a beautiful frame. We then enjoy a farewell dinner with the group at a local restaurant.

Day 13:
Leh — Delhi
Today we have free time until our driver transfers us to the airport for our flight to Delhi, from where you will either fly home or perhaps continue your adventure in India?

Either way, we hope you have had an enjoyable and memorable experience!