Itinerary

The Waiting Is Over. Adventure Starts Now.

Having arrived the previous day at the beautiful Temple Tree Hotel, been welcomed by the PhotoJourney team and met fellow photographers, you will be aching to start this amazing nine days of learning and adventure.

Day One | Temple Tree, Pokhara

28.2380° N, 83.9956° E

Day One heralds the start of a well-balanced three days of photographic theory and application, with some inspirational speakers adding to the mix. Before lunch we hear how improving your relationship with your camera will add significant value to your images.

The conference room of the Temple Tree is just the perfect calm space in which to absorb the theory, as well as try out some new techniques.

After lunch we have the first of our interest talks, listening to a story of personal photographic growth from one of our amazing instructor team.

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Then we have one of our outstanding guests talking about their photographic journey. Completing this awe-inspiring day we have an “Evening with the Gurkhas”. A chance to find out more about these incredible soldiers. There will be portrait opportunities, and a chance to meet a mixture of serving and retired Gurkhas over dinner.

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Day Two | Temple Tree, Pokhara

28.2380° N, 83.9956° E

For the early risers we offer the opportunity to head up to nearby Sarangkot viewpoint to witness the first sun rays of a new day illuminate the snowy peaks of the Annapurna. It can be a staggering sight. Dreamy photographs before you’ve even had breakfast!

During the rest of the morning we discover some of those photographic techniques that make all the difference to your photography. Sometimes it’s the things you didn’t know you didn’t know!

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After lunch, we will continue building our knowledge with a talk on the best effects and utility of Social Media, followed by a lecture on commercial success. In the evening, we start our package of critiques where we will constructively discuss some the images you have already taken.

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Day Three | Temple Tree, Pokhara

28.2380° N, 83.9956° E

Another chance to capture a Himalayan sunrise and this time, the location is just a short walk from the hotel. We take up positions on the shore of the glassy waters of Phewa Tal and get creative with reflections as well as the enchanting juxtaposition of lake and mountain.

Through the rest of the morning we look at some of the post-production techniques that can take your images to the next level.

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After lunch, we start the preparation to get ourselves ready for the Hill Village adventure that awaits over the next 4 days. We will also continue with critique discussions, and preparing for the adventure that awaits over the next four days

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Days Four to Ten

This is where it really gets exciting! The moment you embark on an adventure to suit your needs. We will be driven for around 4 hours in a comfy 4x4 Jeep to the incredible Gurung village of Sikles - right in the very heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary; experiencing the photogenic nature of life in a Nepali hillside village. We will stay at a very austere, but very beautiful traditional Gurung cottage. From here you will be able to choose to hike up to a view-point with staggering views of the high Himalayas of Annapurna; contour round to the fields surrounding the village where eagles and vultures nest; or simply take in life in this incredible place. The views even from the cottage are breath-taking.

Here are those options in detail:

The High Trail

The High trail takes us to a magical hill top where the majesty of the Annapurna mountains shows itself.

From the cottage, before sunrise, Johnny guides us as we climb from the bottom of the village through the cobbled alleys between the houses until we are surrounded by the field above Sikles. From here, there is a local path with steps that guides us towards the top of the hill. The scenery even here is simply stunning.

Passing through a wood, you'll begin to get a sense of the majesty that is about to reveal itself. and hitting the final destination makes the climb worthwhile

Once we have explored the area and the views, we'll head back down for a late breakfast and talk of the views we have just seen.

The day continues exploring Sikles. It's a large village and there is simply so much to see and do.

Sikles - the epitome of Gurung culture

Have you ever wondered what life is like in the hill communities of rural Nepal? Well, these days, it’s a rich and complex mix of traditional subsistence living and the influence and impact of globalism and modernity.

PhotoJourney not only offers a unique opportunity to observe and experience this compelling environment but we guide you in capturing the essence of it through photography.

Johnny draws upon a veritable wealth of experience from both his work for the Gurkha Welfare Scheme and countless shoots in rural Nepal.

At golden hour the light does some of the work for us. It is a magical time in Nepal, and capturing in to best effect is what we are all about. Johnny expertly guides us in how to get the most of these rare moments, optimising whatever conditions Mother Nature sends and perhaps capturing something beautiful to hang on a wall for years to come.

In the evenings we can review the day's photography, prepare for the next days shoots or simply relax and enjoy good company and perhaps a glass of locally distilled raksi.

Village life wakes early and for those quick off the mark there are great photographic opportunities to not only capture the essence of the waking village but also the first rays of sunlight touching the white topped mountains and dark, forested hilltops.

During the course of each day we learn from Johnny some of the secrets of portraiture, including the use of natural light and flash. You’ll be surprised just how quickly your shots assume a more professional quality.

Learning and Sharing

Photography links us powerfully to people and place, providing a means of capturing not only moments but the passage of time and the changes it brings.

Being able to capture what is in front of you takes skill, patience and practice. At Photo Journey, we have experts to guide you through the process to make the absolute most of the image. Johnny, Saraya and our guest photographers are very experienced in passing on what they have learnt over many years. How to "see" an image, how to capture it, and how to process it to enhance the power of it.

Guiding us not only to the iconic locations but also into the lesser known nooks and crannies (where some might say the real gems are found) is Fuji ambassador and award winning portraiture and travel photographer, Saraya.

With her experienced eye Saraya helps us identify subjects we might otherwise have missed, to tap into our curiosity and to see the extraordinary in the everyday. She passes on techniques, tricks and tips learned over years of wide-ranging travel and assignments.

Opportunities abound to capture some of the essence of village life, from industrious ladies spinning thread from soaked nettles, to the curious old man sitting in a doorway drinking masala chiya and watching life go by.

Aglow with the healthy satisfaction of days well spent, we enjoy the luxury of retiring each evening back to the cottage to reflect on the day, processing and review the images and decide on what to do for the next day.

At the end of the 4 days, we head back by jeep to the Temple Tree Hotel for one more night to celebrate our photographic adventure, and talk with new-found friends about the life-changing experience we have just undertaken.