Photography tour

Photography tour

Whether you are an enthusiast, beginner or professional photographer, we invite you to join us on a
truly amazing photographic adventure tour of a lifetime. This a spectacular vacation with a wonderful
creative learning experience in a geographically diverse land. Being a landlocked country; Nepal offers
many more natural scenarios, species and wildlife, indigenous tribes, multi-culture and tradition which
cannot be found in any other parts of the World. Most importantly, it provides you with the
opportunity to photograph the tallest mountain in the World i.e. Mount Everest (8848 m) along with
the other seven tallest mountain namely; Mount Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Mount Lhotse (8516 m),
Mount Makalu (8481 m), Mount Cho Oyu (8201 m), Mount Dhaulagiri I (8167 m), Mount Manaslu
(8156 m) Mount Annapurna I (8091 m).

Nepal is undoubtedly a photographer’s delight, a land of eternal fascination. Among several countries
in the world, Nepal is also one of the must-visit countries in your lifetime. An ancient Hindu
manuscript describes Kathmandu, Nepal as the “Land of Gods surrounded by beautiful mountains”.
Among the top highest mountains, the eight tallest mountains are located in Nepal. There are more
than thousands of temples inside the capital city only and each of the temples has its legend and own
religious belief. Most above Nepal is a true paradise for Photographers. It has become one of the dream
destinations, where being in one country, a photographer can experience and click pictures of diverse
natural beauty and landscapes, countless historic monuments, temples, Stupas, beautiful villages,
Mountain views, hill station, wildlife and many more. Our casual format provides a unique blend of
hands-on learning

Photography tour organized by Nature Trail Travel & Tours, Trekking & Expedition offers you a
combined tour package which includes a day tour in the historical sites rich in the archaeological and
religious perspective, ancient bazaars and medieval palace squares, explore ancient Newari villages
which are living museums and shrines of the local deities, hiking around the beautiful villages, and visit
to the National parks of the country for wildlife photography and trekking along the most forbidden
area of Nepal. Though this is a combined tour package this tour is entitled all about taking photos.
This tour takes you to some of the inherent destinations of scintillating eco-cultural heritages. Starting
from the complex cultural practices of Kathmandu valley this tour extends to magical landscapes and
wild lives of Pokhara and Chitwan and finally to picturesque mountain sceneries from Muktinath. We
will get to marvel and photograph surreal places such as Daman, Chitwan, etc. The sunrise view in
Daman photographed during the first rays of the early morning light and fog creates nothing short of
breathtaking photography.

You will be accompanied by our English speaking tour/trekking guide and professional photographers
who will teach you and if you are an expert yourself, then they will be eager to learn some new ideasfrom you as well. They will guide you with the best landscape from where you can have picturesque
shots. If you are a beginner then our Professional Photographer will help you understand the basics
requirements of photography like composition, light, exposure, and depth of field, shutter speed and
many more.

Day 1

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to the hotel
Flying to the country of Mountains is a wonderful experience in itself. On a clear day, the views of
snowcapped mountain peaks will take your breath. Your flight lands at Tribhuvan International
Airport which are located in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is a small town and the capital of the country
surrounded by hills from all sides. It is the historical and cultural heart of Nepal. The capital of
modern Nepal is nestled in the middle of the snow-capped Himalayan Mountains, in a valley
surrounded by gentle, green terraced hills, ancient temples, shrines and red tiled-roofed houses.
Proceed for the customs and luggage’s clearance and then exit from the Airport Departure lounge. As
soon as you exist you can see a number of peoples outside holding a placard. Among them, one of the
representative of Nature Trail Travels & Tours, Trekking & Expedition will be holding a placard with
your name on it. So, closely look at them. He will then escort you to your respective hotels. Or else,
you can visit our office and after the full description of your trip, you will be driven to your hotel.

Day 2
Photography tour inside Kathmandu valley including Kathmandu City, Swayambhunath and Patan
The distinctive cultural and historical identities of the Kathmandu Valley make it an extraordinary
place to photograph. With your camera in hand, discover the enchanting cities of Kathmandu, Patan
and Swayambhunath. Early morning, we visit Swayambhunath to witness the rituals of monks,
pilgrims and worshippers. Swayambhunath is known as the “Monkey Temple” since you can see
numbers of monkeys around the surrounding areas of the temple. Keeping in this mind, the small
swimming pool has been made for monkeys to cool themselves in the escorting heat of summer. After
strolling around the area and clicking some pictures of Stupas, temples, monuments and of course
monkeys, we drive towards Kathmandu Durbar Square. Kathmandu Durbar Square is listed as
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several buildings in the Square collapsed due to a major earthquake
on 25 April 2015. But construction has already been started and efforts have been made for its
restoration. Further, we drive to another historical town of Patan. Patan Durbar Square is regarded as
the culturally and historically richest Durbar Square among three Durbar Squares. It is also listed in
UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Patan, the city of Artists, offers many visual treats for your camera.

Day 3
Photography tour inside Kathmandu valley including Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Bhaktapur
Durbar SquareWork on portraiture and capturing scenes from everyday life during a fantastic photography tour
today. Today’s program will include Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Pashupatinath is the holiest Hindu temple and a must-visit site for the Hindu devotee. This temple is
dedicated to Lord Shiva and is also listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Afterwards, we will visit
Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world. In these UNESCO World
Heritage Sites, we can observe Buddhist monks absorbed in prayer surrounding the Stupa. Further, we
drive east of Kathmandu towards Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur town is an ancient Newari town and is a
cluster of the prehistoric temple.

Day 4
Drive Kathmandu to Daman via Kulekhani Dam site – 4/5 hrs drive
After breakfast at the hotel and we drive towards Daman via Kulekhani Dam Site. We ride through the
pine forest and pass by many small villages. Kulekhani Dam was completed in 1982 and is the first
reservoir Hydropower system of Nepal which is enormous. It is a peaceful place where the beauty of
the water reservoir adds up even more beauty to the area. This picturesque lakeside is a paradise for a
photographer. Capture these magical vistas and wonderful landscapes in your camera. Then we drive
towards Daman through Markhu village. The turning for Markhu and the Kulekhani Reservoir
appears on the left 4 kilometres past Tistung. Further drive for about 5 kilometres, takes us to the
Newari village of Palung, which is situated at the height of 1745 meter. From Palung, we drive further
12 kilometres in order to reach Daman, a beautiful hill station. Daman is a village in the central part of
Nepal, located in the district of Makwanpur in Thaha Municipality. 2322 meter above sea level,
Daman offers unimpeded views of the entire range from Dhaulagiri to Mt Everest stretching from
west to east. From Daman eight of the ten worlds highest mountain can be seen in the 360 Degree
panoramic view from the View Tower. For a photographer, this place is ideal for Mountainous views
as well as important for cultural belief. One can click photos of some of the tallest peaks of Nepal like
Annapurna I, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Lang tang, Dorje Lakpa, Gaurishankar, Cho Oyu and Mt
Everest This place is also famous for Mountain Botanical Garden which comprises over 78 hectares of
forest. February to March is the best time to visit this place when varieties of rhododendrons (the
national flower of Nepal) are in bloom. During the winter season, snowfalls here which welcome more
domestic as well as international tourist here. Since the village lies on the outskirts of Kathmandu, it
provides a great opportunity for the people residing in Kathmandu to observe its beauty and use it as
means of recreation. An individual can also fly to this place since one of the resorts (Panorama Resort)
has a helipad in its surrounding.

Day 5
Drive Daman to Chitwan – approx. 3 / 4 hrs drive
Early in the morning wake up and proceed for a short hike 1 kilometre south of the village towards
Risheshwor Temple. About an hour walk through forests leads you to this temple. This temple has aface shaped carved in a stone. People worship this stone as Lord Shiva. Unlike various Shiva Temple,
this temple does not have Shiva Linga but a face of the God Shiva. People from various countries and
state visit this temple in the belief that their wish comes true. There is a very small pond where people
worship and throw the coins on its hole making their wish. According to the locals, during the great
festival of “Thulo Ekadashi”, there is a light enlightened automatically during mid-night above the
Shiva’s statue. So, on this day there is a huge festival in this place and is crowded with the devotees
offering their prayers. On the way to the temple, you can see many prayer flags which makes the
environment peaceful. You can also see a Tibetan Monastery where Lamas practice meditation for
several years. This little Gompa is situated in glade of trees draped with thousands of prayer flags.
Enroute, there is a sleeping stone where it is believed that whoever sleeps here for a moment won’t
have any back pain problems. Along with religious and cultural belief, Daman is famous for its View
Tower fitted with long range telescopes from where one can see widest panoramic views of the
Himalayas. It has a great view of the mountains from Dhaulagiri to Mt Everest. For the view of the
Breath taking grandeur of the world’s highest peaks extending in one glittering are from far-east of
Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) there is no better place than Daman. After short sightseeing around this
place, we travel overland from Daman towards Royal Chitwan National Park. You will enjoy the
views of enormous plains of the Terai region while driving towards Chitwan. Chitwan National Park
is declared as World Heritage Site under the category of Natural Sites by UNESCO. Chitwan is one of
Asia’s best’s wildlife – viewing spots and the place to don your safari togs, clamber atop a lumbering
elephant and head into the dawn mist in search of rhinos and tiger. 8% of the world bird species, rare
mammals including one horned rhinoceros and the Bengal tiger makes it exclusive. Once reaching
your destination, you will be briefed about the elephant activities and Jungle Safari. You can later
enjoy the sunset in Rapti River, elephant back safari and stroll around the Tharu villages. Once the
night falls down, we entertain you with cultural performances (Tharu stick dance, peacock dance)
including bonfire before getting in bed.

Day 6
Full day wild life activities in Chitwan
With a wakeup call along with tea or coffee, we have the great time to witness the wildlife and click
some amazing pictures at its best in Royal Chitwan National Park. This includes Elephant Safari,
Canoeing, visit to elephant breeding center and cultural show. Sal forest, open grassland and riverine
jungle will accompany you during elephant safari. The ride is far from ‘smooth’ but there are plenty of
photo ops as long as you communicate to the mahout (elephant driver) that you want to make a
photo. We’ll be traveling through dense elephant grass that can grow up to 18-20 ft. in height and is
the favorite habitat for rhinoceros and other animals. The elevated vantage point is a great advantage
and provides a good safety margin in case a Bengal tiger shows up. After doing elephant safari, your
delicious breakfasts will be waiting for you. We will then head to the grasslands and forests near theNarayani River. If you are lucky, you will see many amazing creatures that you spend most time to
looking for; rhinoceroses, Chitwan’s royal Bengal tigers, leopards, monkeys, many types of deer and
reptiles. Check your camera gear – preferably with a telephoto lens and you will not miss any shots. In
later afternoon, a traditional dug-out canoe takes you on a silent trip down the Rapti River to view
aquatic birds and the crocodile along the river banks. We then head towards the elephant breeding
center to see them being raised to re-populate their dwindling numbers and disperse them over various
regions where they have a chance for survival, to see these majestic animals and understand how they
live and what they do. You can click cute pictures of newly born calf. We will also go to the
observation tower, then later in the evening head back to the resort for dinner. We hope that this day
will be the finest day for those who loves wildlife photography.

Day 7-8
Drive Chitwan to Pokhara – approx. 4/5 hrs drive
Early in the morning, we wake up and proceed for Nature walk and bird watching. Don’t forget to
bring your camera as you will have a marvelous opportunity to click various species of birds today.
Among those, some of these birds are migrating birds, which have flown thousands of miles and
sheltered in this national park. Our guides will help you identify some species of birds, plants and other
wildlife that you may encounter. Getting back to the hotel, we take breakfast and then drive to
Pokhara, another beautiful town and a center of tourist attraction. Pokhara is a striking scenic lake
town where nature is amplified with the views of majestic peaks, sparkling water lakes with boating
and canoeing thrills will add on a greater value to your photographic tour. Witnessing some natural
wonders of nature in waterfalls and gorges and magical dawns that light up the sky and the snowy
Himalayan spires in hues of the rising sun and capturing these magical vistas and wonderful landscapes
in your camera will obviously fulfill the expectations of an ideal Photographic tour. Upon arrival, you
will be transferred to the respective hotel where you get refreshed and proceed for an hour boat ride in
Phewa Lake and visit Tal Barahi Temple, a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Kali. Day 08: Early
morning visit to Sarangkot. Rest day sightseeing & photography tours in Pokhara city Early in the
morning we will drive to Sarangkot hill for viewing and clicking some snaps of sunrise and stunning
snowcapped mountain ranges. There’s a non-descript village just before the view point. The village is
located on Sarangkot mountain at an altitude of 1600m and is renowned for its panoramic Himalayan

Day 9
Drive to Phedi and trek to Dhampus village (1650 m)
On the following day, we will have few hours hiking in the beautiful village of Dhampus after an hour
drive to Phedi. We walk through sparse villages, farm terraces and forests. A close face to face view of a
long range of Annapurna and other mountains greets us on reaching Dhampus. Besides the
breathtaking mountain views, Dhampus will also offer you an opportunity to experience the peace and
beauty of Nepalese countryside , watch the daily lives of the villagers , see them work on the farms andinteract with local people . Dhampus is a gateway to Annapurna Conservation Area so this place is full
of trekkers. This village is settled by mid hill tribe Gurung. Gurungs are the well-known Gorkha
soldiers in the Indian, British & Nepalese Army, yet back home in the high hills, they are shepherd and
farmers. From Dhampus one can also clutch the outstanding view of Pokhara valley with all its natural
loveliness Fewa Lake and word peace Stupa. The landscape gets even better as the sun sets and you will
have a chance to click this amazing moment.
 

Day 10
Trek Dhampus to Sarangkot and drive to Pokhara
Wake up early for the glorious sunrise view. The first rays of sun striking the top of the snowcapped
peaks of Dhaulagiri and Machapuchare are worth capturing. After sunrise view, you can stroll down
the village and click some pictures with the local people. They are neither camera-shy, nor camera-
weary and they will be glad if you take some of their snaps. This place has the natural beauty, ancient
traditions and friendly people unlike other places. You can see the real Nepalese’s life style far
untouched by western civilization. After breakfast, we will hike towards Sarangkot and then drive to
Pokhara.

Day 11
Fly Pokhara to Jomsom and trek to Marpha – approx. 3 hrs. walk
Early in the morning, transfer to airport for the Pokhara / Jomsom flight. It is a scenic flight which
passes through massive Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ridge. The flights from and to Jomsom usually
takes off before noon since there blows a strong wind in Jomsom during noon and flying over during
this period is very risky. So, a few numbers of flights only takes place in this route. Thus, we
recommend you to book your flight in advance. Or else we could also drive to Jomsom via Beni which
usually takes about 8 to 9 hours to reach there. Upon your arrival at Jomsom, you will meet some of
our other team members who will assist you as a porter. Our trekking guide will fly with you from
Pokhara. After assembling your stuff and having breakfast, we will have a short walk to the charming
town of Marpha. Upon your arrival at Marpha, you will be amazed by its geographical structure.
Marpha huddles behind a ridge for protection from the up-valley wind, and exhibits typical Thak
Khola architecture of flat roofs and narrow paved alleys. The low rainfall in this region makes these flat
roofs practical; they also serve as a drying place for grains and vegetables. There are lots of photogenic
landscapes here. On this day, we could directly hike to Jomsom but as our tour’s aim is to provide you
with the ample of photogenic landscape of Nepal, this town serves to be one of them.

Day 12
Trek Marpha to Kagbeni (2750 m) – approx. 6 hrs. walk
Our journey today will be in the Mustang Kingdom where the landscape presents ever changing views
of the Annapurna and their peaks. The trail is better suited to mountain trekkers than photographers,
but once you reach there, you will forget the entire hard trail walk behind. Once we arrive in Kagbeniwe’ll have some stunning sunrise opportunities, colorful vistas and a Tibetan monastery to
photograph. This village is so peaceful that you will find an inner peace here. This place will provide
you an opportunity to capture awesome beauties of enticing peaks and virgin surroundings.

Day 13
Trek Kagbeni to Muktinath – approx. 4 hrs. walk
With a beautiful sunrise view beside the mountains, we will continue our trek to Muktinath, a
religious site for both Hindu and Buddhist devotee. This sacred temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu
and is famous for its 108 spouts fashioned in the shape of bull heads. People from various countries
visit this pilgrimage area in a belief that they will get salvation and get rid of miseries and sorrows once
they take a holy bath in all these spouts and two holy Kunda which is located in front of the temple.
There are also various places which can be visited around the surrounding areas. These sites have their
own historic importance and an ideal spot to click some photographs.

Day 14
Trek Muktinath to Jomsom – approx. 5 hrs. walk
Local villages can be visited which are situated below Muktinath. You can enjoy the delicious foods
along with the famous apple wine made by the locals. Local people found here have their own
tradition and hospitality. Though the entire Nepal has become a democratic country but in this place
the local still follows the order given by their King. So, this place is still known as the majestic
kingdom. They are far from the modernization.

Day 15
Drive Jomsom to Pokhara
Instead of driving, you could fly from Jomsom to Pokhara. But while you are flying you won’t be able
to capture the rural part of this area. Thus, we have designed this itinerary so that on one way you
could fly in with the scenic mountainous views and on the way back you could click some rural areas
which are far beyond the present modernization. We will be hiring a private jeep so that we could stop
in different spot to do some amazing photo-shoot. In this way, you can also closely observe the rural
part of Nepal. Upon arrival at Pokhara, transfer to hotel and take some rest.

Day 16
Fly / Drive Pokhara to Kathmandu
You will have to make a decision for today’s journey. Either you could fly out of Pokhara or take a road
transport to Kathmandu. Both of these journeys are equally adventurous. We would like to
recommend you to drive from Pokhara as en route you could enjoy the rafting service in Trishuli
River. The drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu usually takes about 6/7 hours whereas by flight it only
takes 30 minutes to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara. The choice is yours.

Day 17
Leisure or optional sightseeing tourThis day is kept as a free day for your personal shopping. You might want to buy some token of love
from Nepal to your loved and near ones. So, this day is the opportunity to do some shopping. If not
then upon your request, we could add some sightseeing tour in some other important sites of Nepal.
Some of which are: Sanga (World’s tallest Lord Shiva Statue), Namobuddha (Famous Stupa), Kirtipur
(Ancient Newari Town), Dakshinkali (Temple of Goddess Kali), Godavari (Botanical Garden),
Changunarayan (Oldest temple of Nepal), etc.

Day 18
Departure
Your 17 days photography tour will end today. We hope this tour will be a life time memory and you
have been able to learn some exciting things from Nepal. We will be expecting to see you back in
future. We believe that you had a good time in Nepal, discovering the wonders of Nepal – a country
blessed with natural beauty and rich cultural history.