India - Ladakh (Zanskar) Photography Tour.

The Tour.

Join us for a photographic journey through the Indian Himalayan regions of Ladakh and Zanskar, blending landscape, culture, and adventure. We designed this exclusive new tour for photography enthusiasts who want to capture dramatic mountain scenery and portraits of local people.

Starting in Delhi, we fly to Leh and spend a quiet day acclimatising in the village of Nimmu. We then drive to Kargil before day-tripping to Drass; both towns trade heavily with Kashmir, and their bazaars are a vibrant mix of Kashmiri traders and produce.

From Kargil, our route winds through the Suru Valley, where we photograph the towering peaks of Nun and Kun. We continue to Padum, the main town of the Zanskar Valley, one of the most isolated regions in Ladakh. Here, we visit Sani Monastery and Karsha Monastery, the largest in Zanskar and home to a community of monks and a Buddhist school.

Leaving Padum, we cross the high-altitude Sirsir La at around 4,800m, making numerous stops along this spectacular route. The road brings us to Temisgang, where we photograph the chortens in early morning light, then explore the historic palace and the traditional village of Tia.

Our journey continues to Leh, Ladakh's capital, where the 17th-century Leh Palace rises in tiers above the town. We explore the bustling bazaar and the narrow lanes and mud-brick houses of the old town, and end our day at the Tsemo gompa, perfectly positioned for golden light over the town and surrounding mountains.

Next, we cross the Chang La pass (via picture-perfect Chemrey Monastery) to Pangong Lake, whose waters shift through shades of blue throughout the day. We spend the night on the lakeshore to photograph it at sunset and again at sunrise, with a few Yaks as foreground interest, then return to Leh.

Back in Leh, we spend a full day at our own pace. After some long drives, the capital is a perfect place to shop, get lost in the back streets, and find a rooftop coffee shop. If you feel up for it, we can drive you out of town to explore various points of interest we have known for years.

This is a rare opportunity to photograph one of India's most remote regions, where Buddhist culture thrives amid extraordinary beauty. Ashfaq Rah, a native of Kashmir, seasoned photographer, and second-generation tour operator, leads the tour with a deep understanding of the region's culture, history, and traditions. His guidance helps you capture the essence of Ladakh and Zanskar through your lens and return home with a portfolio to be proud of.

Tuition.

On any of our tours, our primary objective is for you to go home with a collection of images that anyone would be proud of. In fact, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.

Ash’s teaching approach, like Nathan’s, is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.

We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.

If this is your first tour with us, you can also join Ash’s pre-tour workshop, designed to equip you with essential skills for travel photography. Covering technical competence, creative observation, and ethical responsibility with a focus on people and culture, this workshop is perfect if you’re new to travel photography or need a refresher. The workshop runs on the first day of the tour from around 2-5pm. Enhance your photography skills and capture breathtaking moments to treasure forever. Apply via our tour request form and take your photography skills to the next level.