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, starting with “Zero to Hero” - Mark’s personal story of what allowed simple photography to become a commercial success.

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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, the mountain group will head off to start their adventure towards the breath-taking Mardi Himal, while the other two groups will continue with their 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 of your choosing; climbing towards Mardi Himal to arrive photographically face-to-face with the Annapurna, experiencing the photogenic nature of life in a Nepali hillside village, or launching each day from the comfort of the Temple Tree to experience the rich array of cultural and photographic delights in and around Pokhara.

Here are those options in detail:

Mardi Himal Trek

The Mardi Himal trek takes us closer to the great majestic faces of one of the world’s most beautiful mountains, Machapuchare, than any of its more mainstream counterparts.

From the roadhead at Kunde we climb steeply through the iconic terraced paddy fields of Nepal, gaining the beginning of an immense system of ridges and peaks.

Passing through small villages we pause when the mood takes us, experiencing local hospitality and fuelling our trekking legs with sweet masala chiya and wholesome Nepali dal bhat.

In the late afternoons our guides will seek out the best spots for golden hour shots of the Annapurna range as it unfolds tantalisingly before us.

Come evening we will stay in traditional Nepali ‘tea houses’ where local raksi (a distilled spirit from rice, millet or corn) can be sampled and we can enjoy some of life’s simpler pleasures: reading books, playing cards, good conversation and company and perhaps even some live music and song.

For those ready to brave the cold, clear skies there are excellent opportunities for dark sky photography and star gazing.

Gaining altitude we experience changing biospheres. Lush jungle gives way to drier forests that in turn give way to the high grasslands of the mighty Mardi ridge. At every crest and corner, anticipation builds for our first big view along the ridge to the jagged, snow-covered twin peaks of Machapuchare.

Following the sandy single-track we take in the full Annapurna range at a single glance, a cast of giants, among which lie two of the world’s 8000ers. We scan the skies for the soaring presence of griffon vultures and other great raptors whilst under our feet may be the tracks of wild cats including even the elusive snow leopard.

Guiding our experience is International Mountain Leader, Mark. He is ably supported by Gurkha-trained porters who look to your needs with humour and care, ensure the highest standards of hygiene are met in the tea houses. Porters will carry your 'night bag' so that you can focus on the photography.

The trek culminates, conditions permitting, at the Mardi Himal High Camp, 3500m above sea level and 2600m above Pokhara. Here we truly feel our proximity to Machapuchare which from Pokhara looked so distant yet now seems just beyond our fingertips.

KUNDE TO HEMJA VIA DHAMPUS

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.

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

From the roadhead at Kunde we climb on ancient stones staircases that ascend through iconic terraced paddy fields, gaining the Dhampus ridge and the village itself that we will call home for the coming days.

At golden hour the full spread of the Annapurna lies before us, its towering snow slopes tinged orange by the evening light. 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 rest in traditional Nepali ‘teahouses’ where we can review the days 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.

We also enjoy the input of a local naturalist who takes us to the right places to see the mighty griffon vultures. Johnny is on hand to guide you in capturing that dream shot of these rare, majestic raptors in flight.

When it’s time to leave Dhampus we walk the long ridgeline with the now familiar outline of the Annapurna range on our left. Towards the end of the ridge we pass through the picturesque village of Hyanja where hollowed out tree trunks hang from the eaves as beehives, and aspects of life are witnessed that appear not to have changed in millennia.

Finally, the ridge drops more steeply to our front and we descend back to the Pokhara valley floor. To the bustling modernity of Pokhara we bring back captivating images and powerful memories, both of which we can’t wait to share.

Pokhara Past and Present

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.

Nowhere perhaps encompasses this better than Pokhara, with its juxtapositions of old and new, from the awe-inspiring profile of the Annapurna, unchanged through millennia, to the fast paced transitions taking place in Pokhara itself, as a developing country strives to modernise.

With its rich overlays of new on old, urban on rural, Pokhara is a photographer’s dream.

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 urban life, from industrious ladies, flamboyant in saris, selling wares at market, to the curious old man sitting in a doorway drinking masala chiya and watching life go by.

But it’s not all about the urban. The beauty of Pokhara is its diversity. A stone’s throw from the bustling market places we find plots of land ploughed by oxen and hayricks built to impossible heights by pitchforks and elbow grease.

We also enjoy the tranquil beauty of Phewa Tal, the calm waters of which are flanked by the bars and bustle of Lakeside, home to generations of wanderers in search of something different.

From here, a row across the lake sets us back from our subject – Pokhara with the Himalaya backdrop – and for those wanting a little more exercise, we gain ever more dramatic views as we climb to the Peace Stupa.

Aglow with the healthy satisfaction of days well spent, we enjoy the luxury of retiring each evening back to the comfort and charm of the Temple Tree, where the delights of one of Pokhara’s finest resorts and spa provide an ideal setting for reflection on the day, processing and review of images and inclusive discussions on the next days agenda, always flexible, always shaped by you.