From the Streets of Kathmandu to the Majestic Annapurna Mountains

Days 1-2 | Arrival in Kathmandu | 4600’
Our meeting point is Kathmandu, where we get to meet each other and go over final details before heading west into the Annapurna Ranges. Airport transfers are included. We have a full day together in Kathmandu to talk about photography and share a session on capturing light. We visit a couple of our favorite temples for dawn and dusk, when the light is doing lovely things. If you haven’t been to Nepal before we recommend arriving a day or two early to acclimate to the culture and time zone.

Days 3-4 | Bhaktapur | 4600’
We spend two nights in the city of Bhaktapur, one of the former kingdoms in the Kathmandu Valley. “The City of Devotees” still retains its medieval charm and we explore the laneways and Newari architecture with the benefit of late afternoon and early morning light. Bhaktapur gives us a glimpse of what Kathmandu Valley was once like, before it became so busy. At dusk and dawn the streets fill with local produce vendors selling their goods to residents, adding an intimate range of subjects for our photography.

Day 5 | Pokhara | 2700’
We get in one more dawn shoot in the Durbar Square of Bhaktapur before heading to Pokhara. There are no afternoon flights into the mountains, so we have to overnight in Pokhara before heading on the next morning. We make sure we have a nice hotel room and one last chance to shop for any additional warm gear.

Days 6-7 | Marpha | 8925’
The pace is easy for these two days, but there are opportunities for short hikes for those who want to stretch the legs. Accommodation for these two days is clean but simple, taking advantage of some local guesthouses that offer good food and great access to photographic inspiration. Aside from a special scenic location in the village, we also plan on walking through the village of Tukuche lower down the valley, and capturing scenes of the river and ancient streets.

Days 8-11 | Kagbeni | 9200’
We now head deeper into the former Mustang Kingdom where the landscape presents ever changing views of the Annapurnas and their peaks. Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri present themselves in various facades as we head into and out of Jomsom. We share some of our favorite photographic locations along the way, making the most of the morning light. Some sections of the road are better suited to trekkers than jeeps, so hold onto your pack and enjoy the ride. Once we arrive in Kagbeni we’ll have some stunning sunrise opportunities, colorful vistas and a Tibetan monastery to photograph. Kagbeni sits at an altitude of 2750m.

Day 12 | Jomsom | 9000’
We spend the morning visiting another village near Jomsom with stunning Himalayan views, then return to our accommodation near the airport after lunch. We have a favorite guesthouse here that serves great fresh crushed apple juice, fluffy pancakes and potato & cheese momos. We catch up on some image processing before flying out very early the next morning. We also get one last chance to shoot the peaks of Nilgiri at dusk and dawn as our guesthouse in Jomsom provides excellent views of these ranges.

Days 13-15 | Kathmandu | 4600’
We fly from Jomsom to Kathmandu and enjoy a little pampering after the dust and elevation of the Annapurnas. Our final full day in Kathmandu will give us a chance to explore the most significant and chaotic Hindu temple of the valley, Pashupatinath. We’ll meet the holy men and learn about the art of cremation. It’s a unique and very public sacred site.

Day 15 | Departure
On the final day we head to the airport at Kathmandu and fly home. Your transfer to the airport is included and we recommend you arrange flights to depart around lunchtime or soon after.