Musings of a Wandering Mind

Mountains and Monasteries – A Photography Tour of Ladakh

Darter Photography is excited to take you to the land of the high passes this summer. Explore the mountains as you photograph the stark yet beautiful landscapes of Ladakh, capture the beauty of super-blue lakes, see the views from the highest motorable road in the world, watch wildlife that can be seen nowhere else in the country and witness rituals of a culture that has kept its traditions alive for almost a millennium. Darter’s Mountains and Monasteries Tour is specially designed to maximize photography opportunities and capture the deeper essence of Ladakh.

Be ready to be blown away by this grand tour and come back with images like you have never taken before!

Scroll down for Detailed Itinerary below for more information on the tour.

Tour Dates: 9th to 16th June 2012 (starting and ending at Leh)

Itinerary

• Day 01 09-June Saturday Rest day in Leh for acclimatization, evening visits to Leh Market. Stay at Leh.
• Day 02 10-June Sunday Drive to Thiksey, Stakna Monastery and Shey Palace in the morning; Shanti Stupa at Leh in the evening. Stay at Leh.
• Day 03 11-June Monday Drive to Pangong Lake. Great scenery and photography along the way and at Pangong Lake. Overnight stay at Pangong
• Day 04 12-June Tuesday Explore the incredible landscapes around Pangong Lake. Stay at Pangong Lake.
• Day 05 13-June Wednesday Drive from Pangong Lake to Leh. Relaxed evening for exploring the town. Overnight stay at Leh.
• Day 06 14-June Thursday Drive to Nubra Valley with a stopover at Khardung La. Night at Nubra Valley.
• Day 07 15-June Friday Drive from Nubra Valley to Leh. Overnight stay at Leh.
• Day 08 16-June Saturday Depart from Leh after breakfast.

Optional Itineraries

1. If you intend to travel by road from Manali, please check with us for help in arranging your logistics.
2. If you would like to extend the tour by another day along with Darter Photographer, please get in touch with us.

Scroll down for Detailed Itinerary below for more information on the tour.

Tour Highlights

Visit to sites specifically chosen keeping photography opportunities in mind at an easy pace suitable for photography

• Sessions during the tour that enable you to capture best images of Ladakh
• Insights to nuances of travel and outdoor photography during the tour
• Constant interaction and assistance on field by photography experts having considerable experience travelling in Ladakh
• Image reviews by photography experts at the end of day, every day

Is This Tour For You?

This tour is intended for amateur as well as serious photography enthusiasts with an interest to visit and photograph the beauty of Ladakh. No prior expertise or experience in photography is necessary, as our photographers will be there to assist you at every level. You may carry any camera – a simple aim-and-shoot or a DSLR. Travel enthusiasts who are not photographers but keen to experience the multiple facets of Ladakh can also benefit from the tour.

Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?

Yes, you can. We visit many beautiful places in Ladakh and having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group.

I am not a keen photographer. But I want to visit Ladakh with your group. Can I still join?

Yes. The answer is exactly same as in the case of previous question. We visit many beautiful places in Ladakh and having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is.

Is there a lot of walking/trekking involved? Is this a difficult tour?

Not really. We will be travelling in Ladakh in four wheelers as all the places we are going to are connected by road. We may do some pleasant walks in the mornings/evenings without straining ourselves. The trip is meant to be easy on your legs. But for those who want to, there are some days in the trip where you can go on long walks on your own in the wide open landscapes of Ladakh.

Ladakh’s high-altitude mountain air is thin and our bodies need to be acclimatized to the environment. We will spend the first day on arrival resting and getting used to it, to ensure that you will not have any difficulties during the tour.

What is the fitness level required for this tour? Are there any age restrictions?

People who are generally fit to manage their day-to-day life independently should normally not have any problems attending this tour. People of any age group can visit as well – visitors over the age of 60 are routinely seen walking around in several places across Ladakh.  However, we suggest that you check with your doctor once, especially if you are suffering any chronic illnesses.

Also refer to our tours faq for more information.

Tour Cost

Tour Cost: Rs.33,500/- per person

The cost includes

– Accommodation on twin sharing basis
– Transportation on all days of the tour
– Breakfast and two meals at the hotel or on the way on all days
– Inner line permits and all entry fees
– Photography sessions, expert advice and assistance, image reviews and critiques on all days

The cost does not include

– Travel to Leh and return travel from Leh to your location
– Additional snacks or beverages ordered
– Anything else that is not part of the includes list above

Please contact us for single occupancy rates.

Please note that the itinerary mentioned in this page is subject to favourable weather and road conditions. In case of bad weather and 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 the event of unfavourable conditions anytime during the tour days.

Registration Information

Contact us at the email/numbers below to book the tour. Like all our tours, Mountains and Monasteries tour of Ladakh will have a limited number of participants. We recommend booking early, which also helps you get cheaper flight tickets.

email: register@darter.in

Tel: 9880006460 (Arun) / 97400 83260 (Shreeram)

Alternately, fill in the contact form at the end of this page.

Accompanying Photography Experts: ARUN BHAT

Accomplished travel and landscape photographer Arun Bhat’s works have been used by publications in India and across the world, all the way from Japan to USA. He is a professional photographer who has extensively travelled across India, creating some of the finest imagery of India’s landscapes and has spent years capturing the essence of India’s cultural diversity. Having travelled the country many times over and being used to waking up at 5am in bitter cold winter days, he has seen and captured finest landscapes all the way from Himalayas to the peninsular India and has mastered the art of travel, outdoor and landscape photography.

Arun has spent nearly three months in Ladakh exploring varied landscapes and the Buddhist culture of Ladakh in different times of the year. His in-depth knowledge of Ladakh will come handy throughout the tour as he introduces you to the beautiful places, helps you photograph and understand the culture and traditions of Ladakh. People who have travelled with Arun on tours never forget to mention his friendly approach and a willingness to be available to everyone all the time through the tour.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01. Saturday. Rest Day at Leh. Evenings walks in the town.

You will arrive at Leh in the morning after a flight over snowy mountains. Don’t forget to arrive early in Delhi Airport and demand for a window seat at the check-in counter. Not everyday does one get to see 15,000 feet high mountain peaks from miles above them. We recommend taking the first flight available in the morning and take the right-side window to see first rays of sun kissing the snowy peaks.

We will spend most of the day in the hotel, letting the body adjust to rarefied air and Leh’s altitude of 11,500 feet. You can go out for short walks in the evening, strolling in the town and visiting the market area, also getting the first glimpse of the mountains around Leh.

Day 02.  Sunday. Thiksey and Stakna Monasteries, Shey Palace and Shanti Stupa

Early in the morning, we will head to Thiksey Monastery, a short drive to the east of Leh. The monastery gives us a good introduction to the religious and cultural Ladakh. Thiksey Monastery is home to more than a hundred monks and is one of the largest religious centers in the region. It is a haphazardly spread group of buildings on a crag and its structure is sometimes compared to giant Potala Palace in Lhasa. We will see and capture the beautiful array of small stupas outside the monastery, visit the room hosting two-storey Maitreya Buddha statue and try to decipher some colourful paintings in the monastery’s prayer hall. On a lucky day, we may be able to see extended prayers by a gathering of lamas.

Our next destination today is another monsastery, a short hop across Indus River. We will be driving over a cute, tiny bridge along a narrow section of the river to visit Stakna Monastery. Built on a hill overlooking a bend of the Indus, the monastery is located in one of the most scenic locations in Indus Valley.

From the monastery, we will head back to the hotel and rest through the afternoon. In the evening, we visit Shanti Stupa just outside Leh to witness the sunset and see the last rays of sun go over Leh Town and on the distant mountains of Zanskar Ranges. At the Stupa, our photographer will give you practical ideas on photographing the majestic landscapes of Ladakh.

Day 03 to 05. Monday to Wednesday. Drive to Pangong Lake.

This is our day of driving through high passes in a landscape that keeps changing by the hour. After driving upstream Indus River for an hour, we will leave the Indus Valley and head towards the high-altitude plateau of Changthang region. On our way is the formidable Changa La. We get across the pass with our jeeps wading through many icy and clear streams. As we climb up, it is another opportunity to see and photograph a different view of Zanskar Ranges. Soon after we cross Chang La, you will be surprised to see a lot of green grass, unlike the stark slopes we have just left behind. You might see cute and cuddly-looking marmots playing in the slopes. They are timid and some of them may even come and stand next to you expectantly. We recommend not to feed them, but photograph them instead.

Sometime after we cross Chang La, we will see a small but beautiful lake with clear blue waters. We will then follow the stream running off the lake and descend to reach the village of Thangse. Further ahead, we will drive through a narrow valley carpeted with rich green grass and a stream flowing by. Lookout for colorful flowers along the stream bed. But this is not all; the first view of deep-blue waters of Pangong Lake will force you to halt there and gawk at its beauty forever. We will be staying next to the lake tonight, watching the sun go down the mountains across the lake.

We will be spending the full day of Day 04 in Pangong Lake and around.   Be ready for a great day of fun and photography, with some amazing lake-scapes, landscapes, stream-scapes, animal and bird life playing in front of your camera.

On Day 05, we spend some time on the bank of the lake in the morning hours and make a slow and easy drive back to Leh. You will again find some time to rest and explore Leh this evening.

Day 06. Thursday. Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La.

Having gotten used to 10,000+ feet heights, we will now head towards the highest point that we will ever reach during the tour. Be ready to see the mountainscapes like you have never seen before. As we slowly climb up the Ladakh Ranges towards Khardung La, you will see jagged snowy peaks of Zanskar Ranges challenging the heights we are climbing. Once on top, you will no longer have to crane your neck to see all the mountains rising tall in the distance; those peaks appear almost at your height. Besides the thrill of having gone up the world’s highest motorable pass, you will get to see vistas that you will never forget for the rest of your life.

We will continue driving past Khardung La and descend on the other side at Nubra, known for its wide valley, green landscapes, a gushing river, gentle streams, lush agrarian landscapes and shepherds herding their sheep in the evening hours. There is more! In these mountain landscapes with greenery unusual for Ladakh, you will also see a stretch of white-sand dunes that springs a sudden surprise. If we are lucky, we may even see wild Bactrian Camel roaming the Seabuckthorn jungles of Nubra. It is going to be a pleasant evening today in Nubra, amidst the greenery at the river bed and a beautiful sunset.

Day 07. Friday. Return to Leh.

We will make a slow and easy drive back to Leh today, stopping whenever we wish to capture the landscapes as we pass via Khardung La. We will be back in Leh by afternoon. You can rest through the evening or walk around Leh’s market area and do some shopping if you wish to.

Day 08. Saturday. Tour ends.

Fly out of Leh after breakfast.

Registration Details

Contact us at the email/numbers below to book the tour. Like all our tours, Mountains and Monasteries tour of Ladakh will have a limited number of participants. We recommend booking early, which also helps you get cheaper flight tickets.

email: register@darter.in

Tel: 9880006460 (Arun) / 97400 83260 (Shreeram)

Alternately, fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.

[contact-form 1 “Ladakh Tour”]