Day 1: Arrival in Leh

Welcome to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, a small desert town at 11,800ft/3,600m encircled by a vista of Himalayan peaks.
Meeting with Alessandro and our representative for the transfer to the hotel which is about 10 minutes away.
Full day at rest. This 24-hour non-activity is essential to accustom the body to the high altitudes of the tour.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 2: Leh/Indus Valley

Our first day of adventures gets off to a pleasant start by exploring the Indus Valley, named after the river that
meanders through the valley to the north. We will visit the most magnificent of the Indus monasteries, the Shey
Palace and the Matho Monastery, famous for its ancient collection of ancient thangkas (Buddhist paintings on
cotton or silk depicting the Buddha or mandalas) and for its wonderful location on a hill and the majestic view
of the valley.
We will also visit Hemis Monastery, the richest and largest monastery in Ladakh, hidden in a gorge in the moun-
tains with an amazing lantern room blackened over time that will offer us amazing photo opportunities. Of
course we will also meet some Buddhist monks.
Return to Leh after sunset.

Day 3: Leh – Lamayuru

After breakfast, transfer to Lamayuru monastery, about 115 km from Leh.
Lamayuru is one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh, where the first monastic complex was built during the 11th century.
The views of the desert mountains here are like something from another planet and there will be plenty of opportunities along the way to stop and indulge in some landscape photography, such as the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers.
Here in Lamayuru we will have the opportunity to stay overnight, which very few tourists do, to photograph the
monastery and the landscape with the sunset light.
We will spend the evening relaxing and doing some photo editing at a local hotel/guest house.

Day 4: Lamayuru – Alchi – Leh

After breakfast return to Leh. In the afternoon we will arrive in Alchi (about 60km from Lamayuru) to visit the
precious Alchi monastery, one of the 7 wonders of India which contains among the most magnificent Buddhist
miniature paintings of the Himalayas which are more than 1000 years old. Alchi Temple was built by the great
Tibetan translator Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo. The great translator is responsible for building 108 such monasteries
from western Tibet to Ladakh and Alchi is one of the finest works of his.
Before arriving in Alchi stop to visit Likir Monastery, Basgo Castle, which has some amazing murals. The imposing
fortress of Basgo houses the precious one-and-a-half-storey high gilded copper statue of the Maitreya Buddha
erected by King Sing-ge Namgyal (ca. 1590-1640). Basgo was the capital of Ladakh between 15-16th century.
In the late afternoon visit of the Shanti Stupa for breathtaking photos of all the valley at the sunset.
Back to the hotel after the sunset.

Day 5: Bazaar – Nomadic Camp

After breakfast, we’ll visit the bustling city bazaar, where we’ll find many opportunities for street and portrait photography: bakers, tailors, street vendors, women in traditional clothing, etc. will be our photographic subjects.
In the afternoon, until sunset, we’ll visit a nomadic camp at the foothills of the Himalayas, during the best light conditions and as the herders return to their camp with the livestock. We’ll have the exclusive opportunity not only to document pastoral activities but also to visit their tents and meet their families. EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE!
Dinner and overnight stay in Leh.

Day 6: Leh – Morning Prayer – Namgyal Tsemo

Today we wake up at dawn: at 6 in the morning we will visit the Thiksay monastery to photograph the monks during the morning prayer. The monastery alone is already extremely photogenic and varied, and given the large number of Buddhist monks, novices and non-novices, who live here, success is practically guaranteed.
Return to the hotel mid-morning and rest until lunch.
In the afternoon visit the Namgyal Tsemo (15th century) which will offer us an incredible panoramic view of the valley below, the royal palace of Leh and the Shanti Stupa, a pagoda built on the top of a small hill, an ideal place for photographing the city and the valley with sunset light.
Dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 7: Phyang Tserup festival

Another early start today as we head to Phyang Monastery, one of the oldest in Ladakh and a key center of the Drikung Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Just a few kilometers from Leh, it sits against a dramatic mountain backdrop and houses ancient murals, sacred relics, and a deeply spiritual atmosphere.

Each year, Phyang comes alive during the Phyang Tsedup Festival, a celebration of Guru Padmasambhava’s teachings. The festival features mesmerizing Cham dances performed by masked monks, vibrant rituals, and traditional music — a rare opportunity to witness Ladakhi monastic culture in its full ceremonial glory. It’s a true feast of color, motion, and devotion, ideal for both cultural and portrait photography.

Today, we’ll be there to fully immerse ourselves in this unforgettable event, capturing the energy and emotion of the festival. Monks in elaborate costumes and pilgrims in traditional attire will be our main subjects, along with scenes from the atmospheric lantern room and the monastery’s rustic kitchen, where monks can often be seen preparing butter tea for the gathering crowd.

Day 8: Leh – Nubra Valley

After breakfast, transfer to the Nubra Valley (125km) climbing the Himalayas through the Khardongla Pass, which with its 5,359m above sea level is the highest motorable pass in the world.
Stop for lunch at Khardong Village in a small local restaurant, which for us photographers will be an opportunity to get in touch with the locals.
Arrival Hundar Villages to photograph the double-humped camels on the sand dunes which in India are found only here in Nubra.
Nubra valley is also called the orchard of Ladakh because it has a lot of agricultural land. Here we will also visit the picturesque Hunder Monastery, perched on the face of a mountain, built following the true Tibetan style.
Overnight stay in hotel.

Day 9: Nubra Valley

In the morning we will head towards the village of Sumur on the other side of the Nubra valley to visit the Samstaling monastery, where with a little luck we will photograph the young monks of the Buddhist school.
The village itself is a very picturesque place: it is a green oasis, a place without other tourists, where we can freely walk around and interact with the locals and photograph people in front of the prayer wheels.
In the afternoon we will organize a photo shoot in an ancient house with women in traditional Ladakhi clothes. EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE!
Next photo stop the 14th century Diskit monastery and the imposing statue of Maitreya Buddha approximately 32m high.
Return to the hotel after the sunset.

Day 10: Nubra Valley – Leh

After a relaxing start to the morning, return to Leh with arrival in the early afternoon. Stops along the way to capture the beauty of the  .
After checking into the hotel and some rest we will work on our computers, with review and discussion of the photos and a session on Lightroom, to learn some of the secrets of post-production that will help bring the images we have captured so far to another level.
Overnight at Hotel. 

Day 11: Leh – Stok, the Royal village of Ladakh – nomad camp

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy some time at a local market. Here we’ll see local sellers, bakers, and a whole host of other people going about their daily business. At lunch time we’ll head to Gyab-Thago Heritage Home in Stok, the Royal Village of Ladakh. Here we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch with a local family before proceeding to photograph them in their incredible, old home. Many of the family members will be wearing traditional Ladakhi clothing, making for a truly unique local experience. EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE!

In the late afternoon, we will reach another nomad camp, set in a completely different landscape from the previous one. Here, three families live and move with their cattle, offering us a fresh perspective on nomadic life. As the light softens, we’ll focus on capturing intimate portraits, scenes of daily routine, and the powerful bond between people, animals, and land, a rich photographic opportunity in golden hour conditions. EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE!

We’ll enjoy our final meal together in Leh in the evening, before saying our farewells.

Day 12: Leh departure

After an early breakfast, transfer to Kushok Bakula terminal for your flight to Delhi.
Time to say your final farewell to Ladakh.