Tour details
Basic information
Group size
Max 5
Duration
14 days
Price
€6495
Fitness Level
Medium
Our base
Marshyangdi Hotel, Tibet International + others
Upper Mustang Nepal Photography Tour & workshop
A 14 day photography tour of the incredible
landscapes of Upper Mustang in Nepal
The high mountain peaks of the Annapurna range
Why Travel with Me to Nepal’s Upper Mustang on a Photography Tour
The Upper Mustang region of Nepal is one of the last truly remote and culturally preserved corners of the Himalayas. Also known as the Last Forbidden Kingdom or Mini Tibet, it’s a place that few travellers ever see, let alone photograph in depth. It is almost impossible to describe its beauty in words, and it enthrals all who visit.
Travelling with me on this carefully designed photography tour means you’ll experience an extraordinary landscape of wind-carved canyons, ochre-coloured cliffs, ancient, untouched Tibetan monasteries, and stark high-altitude deserts in the company of a professional travel photographer who knows how to get you in the right place at the right time.
The Upper Mustang Nepal photography tour isn’t just a sightseeing trip; it’s an immersive photography workshop in one of the most remarkable environments on Earth. And whereas many other photography tours stop at Lower Mustang around Kagbeni, this photography tour will take you far into Upper Mustang.
My photography tours are deliberately small-group, ensuring everyone gets personalised tuition, from mastering exposure in challenging light to composing dramatic landscapes or capturing intimate portraits of local life. We’ll work together to unlock your creative vision, whether you’re a dedicated hobbyist or a semi-professional looking to expand your portfolio.
Upper Mustang is also a living museum of Tibetan culture. Cut off from the world for centuries, this Upper Himalayan region still feels like a hidden kingdom. We’ll visit remote villages where traditional ways of life continue, ancient caves with centuries-old Buddhist art, and the walled city of Lo Manthang, with its labyrinthine alleys and vibrant monasteries. These are locations rarely photographed in depth, so now is your chance to make work that is truly your own.
Logistics are critical in such a remote area, and that’s where my experience comes in. Having scouted this region extensively, I know the best vantage points for dawn and dusk light, the seasonal weather patterns, and the practicalities of moving through Upper Mustang comfortably and safely. I work with trusted local guides and drivers to ensure you’re supported throughout the journey, so you can focus on photography instead of logistics.
A photography tour with me is not about rushing from viewpoint to viewpoint, ticking off Instagram shots. Instead, it’s about slowing down, engaging with the landscape and its people, and developing a body of work that tells a real story. We’ll have time for reviews, critiques, and practical instruction in the field. If you want to improve your landscape photography, learn to use light creatively, or refine your approach to travel portraiture, this trip is designed for you.
You’ll also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow photographers who share your passion for exploration. Many of my clients come back again and again for the supportive, enthusiastic atmosphere on my tours. Whether we’re sharing ideas over dinner in Lo Manthang or standing quietly together as the morning sun ignites Mustang’s red cliffs at Dhakmar, these are the experiences that make photography travel so rewarding.
If you’ve ever dreamed of capturing the stark beauty of the Himalayas, of walking in a lost kingdom where time seems to stand still, and of returning home with images you’re truly proud of, this Upper Mustang Nepal Photography Tour is for you. Join me for an unforgettable adventure that will transform both your photography and the way you see the world.
What You’ll Photograph in Upper Mustang
The high mountain landscapes of Upper Mustang, or as it’s also known, the Forbidden Kingdom, are well known for their spectacular grandeur.
Sat in the rain shadow of Annapurna, this beautiful landscape is also home to several villages which are in themselves photogenic, along with various Buddhist temples and stupas. We’ll capture the morning and evening light out in the landscape whilst our day will be sent discovering the local people and culture.
Why Choose This Photography Tour
If you’re looking for something that’s more off the beaten path and away from the hordes, then this is the trip for you. It is more of an adventure photography tour as there are no high-end hotels in Upper Mustang. However, this does not detract from the experience that you’ll have up there.
I’ve been visiting the area since 2022 and have a good knowledge of the area from a photographic point of view. Where we should go during the golden hours, as well as more of the history of the Kingdom of Lo.
Itinerary Highlights
Our journey into the heart of Upper Mustang will see us spend several days in the area. During our time there, we will get up close to the culture of this fascinating area of Nepal. From the breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna mountain ranges, the 10th and 7th highest peaks on the earth, to the untouched Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Upper Mustang
Only opened to outside visitors since 1992, access to Upper Mustang is heavily controlled. During the first days of our Nepal photography tour, the permits required for our entry into the Upper Mustang region will be prepared for us.
Nepal offers many photographic opportunities from the cultures of both the Hindu and Buddhist religions, to the stunning mountain landscapes and the people that we’ll meet during our photography tour.
Colourful characters
During April, the mornings can be cold in Mustang and the daytime can be a pleasant 20°c or so. The area is also at an altitude of around 4000m and we will be monitoring every person to ensure that altitude sickness doesn’t strike.
We will make the very best of the morning and evening light. You will be taken to some of the very best photography locations for the first light and sunset. Our local guide will also be on hand to help with the street photography that we will encounter.
Accommodation & Getting around
Our stay in Kathmandu is based in both three and four-star hotel accommodation where the hotels provide us with breakfast in the morning. In Upper Mustang though the accommodation is basic but comfortable with western style facilities.
Transportation during the photography tour will be in the form of 4×4 jeeps when we are in Upper Mustang. The roads are mostly unmade and so the jeeps will help us easily navigate the terrain that we’ll be encountering. The road network is definitely a challenge but your comfort during the photography tour is my priority.
During the Nepal photography tour which encompasses Kathmandu and some of the surrounding towns we will either be on foot or transport will be provided by our ground agent.
Photography techniques covered during the workshop
- Exposure and understanding of how to get the best out of the light
- Composition techniques to create balanced images
- Lens choice and focal length. Typically people head for the wide-angle in a landscape but up in the mountains telephoto lenses are also heavily used.
- Panoramic photography. How to best compose the beautiful panoramas that we’ll see during the photography tour
- Using Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw to process our images
- Using luminosity masks in Adobe Photoshop
- Colour correction
- Stitching panoramic images
Upcoming Nepal Photography Tours
FAQs
Why choose a Nepal Photo Tour with me?
My Nepal Photo Tours will help you get off the typical tourist trails and help you discover the real and authentic Nepal.
We’ll explore villages in the north nestled amongst the stunning landscapes of Anna-Purna and beyond. If we can, then you’ll also be able to participate in the Nepalese New Year festival to which is a riot of colours.
My tours of Nepal are designed to immerse you in the local cultures and traditions of this stunning Asian culture that help make it such a melting pot.
What is the experience of the photography tour leader accompanying the tour?
I have been a professional travel photographer since late 2010. Having travelled in 40 countries and counting I have extensive experience of the genre in a variety of situations.
You’re in good hands and I’m here to help you get the most out of your photo tour of Nepal.
What is the best time of year to visit Nepal for photography?
This is a very broad question because so much depends on what you want to see and do.
Nepal is a diverse country and has varying climates depending on where you go. In April, for example, it can be humid in the Kathmandu valley, but in Upper Mustang you can get sub-zero temperatures during the early morning leading into temperatures in the mid-20s.
Do you offer tours focused on specific themes, such as street photography or landscape photography?
Absolutely! The Nepal photo tour is designed to get you immersed in landscape photography in Upper Mustang as well as street photography in the bustling streets of Kathmandu.
Can we photograph local cultures and communities?
We sure can! The tour will visit areas where we can photograph local people at work and going about their daily lives.
Our guide will help us get closer to the people and get more intimate shots as not everyone likes to be photographed.
Are there any cultural customs or etiquette I should be aware of when photographing people in Nepal?
Every community and culture has its own cultural customs and etiquette. Our guide will always be on hand to help us navigate each scenario we find ourselves in so you’ll always be in safe hands.
Will there be opportunities for sunrise and sunset photography?
Where a subject demands it then yes, we will be up for sunrise or out for sunset photo shoots.
Of course, it is always weather dependent and when we are up in the mountains the weather can be more changeable but we’ll do our best to get out there and be getting as much as we can.
Do I need any special permits for photography in certain areas of Nepal?
The Nepal photo tour enters into the restricted zone that is Upper Mustang. Our ground agent will collect our passports on arrival and work with the local authorities to get the authorizations that we’ll need.
Is it safe to travel with expensive camera gear in Nepal?
Nepal is a very safe country. In all the years that I have been travelling here, I have never felt unsafe when travelling around either in cities such as Kathmandu or out in the countryside.
Of course, you should always exercise the usual cautions wherever you go and never assume you can just leave your precious camera gear lying around.
What kind of camera equipment should I bring for a Nepal photography tour?
On a Nepal photography tour you could quite happily have two lenses with you and capture everything you see.
Ideally, if you had the 24-105mm and a 100-400mm focal lengths, then you wouldn’t struggle to be capturing images. Very rarely do I go wider than 24mm and I don’t think I’ve ever gone beyond 400mm.
Outside of this, a good sturdy tripod will serve you well if shooting the landscape and sunrise or sunset.
Will there be local guides to help with language barriers and cultural interactions?
All of my Nepal photo tours are assisted by a local guide who will help us converse with the locals where needed.
Are accommodations and meals provided, and what type of food can I expect?
All of your accommodation and breakfast are provided on my Nepal photography tours. Lunch and dinner is at your own expense.
Personally, I am a vegetarian and have never experienced any issues with eating here.
You can expect a variety of foods depending on where you are in Nepal. Each region has its own specialities so you’ll be getting the chance to eat a huge variety of dishes if you wish.
All accommodation is provided on a single occupancy basis so you won’t be sharing with a stranger or be paying extra just because you’re a solo traveler. Unlike other companies, I don’t charge a single supplement. The price you see is the price you pay.
Do the tours include transportation between photography locations?
From the time of your arrival to the time of your departure, all of your transportation during the photo tour will be taken care of.
We will pick you at the airport and transport you to the first hotel and upon departure to so you can have no worries about getting to and from where we are staying.
How physically demanding are the tours? Will we be hiking or trekking?
There are no strenuous walks during the photography tour so you don’t have to be supremely fit to join.
You do have to be aware of the high altitude that we will be going to in Upper Mustang. The highest elevation is around 4000m or 13123ft high.
It is highly advised for you to seek the opinion of your doctor to ensure that this tour is for you.
Will there be time to explore local markets and capture street life?
Throughout the photo tour there are opportunities for free time. If we are getting up early everyday or having to travel then it can be demanding on the body. So there are certainly times when you will be free to explore some of the local area we are in in your own.
Can I participate if I’m a beginner, or are the tours suitable only for advanced photographers?
All of my photo tours are open to beginners and advanced photographers alike.
Some people just want to be taken to a location and left to their own devices whereas some people want tuition when we are out. In either situation, I’m happy to help you where you need it.
The aim of my photography tours are to ensure you have a great time and go back home with images you can be proud of?
What should I pack for a photography tour in Nepal's climate?
I tend to pack two suitcases for Nepal. One small case that has my clothes for the Kathmandu area and another for Upper Mustang.
Kathmandu can be humid with temperatures around 30°c or 86°f, but when the tour visits Upper Mustang, then expect temperatures in the morning to be around 0°c or 32°f.
Do I need a visa to enter Nepal?
A number of countries require a visa in order to enter Nepal. You should check with the necessary embassy to see the requirements.
To shorten the process on arrival, you can apply online. The paperwork can be taken to the visa desk on arrival into Nepal.
It is advisable to pay the fee in US dollars based on past experience.
I'm ready to book, how do I book a spot?
To book a spot on one of my Nepal photo tours, then please feel free to visit the specific page of the dates that you are wanting to go.
There is the usual checkout process that you find on websites.
Payments are securely processed using WooCommerce and Stripe so your credit card details are safe at all times.
You can either pay a deposit to secure your place or you can pay the whole amount upfront if you choose.
My website is set up to take transactions in Euros, US Dollars and GBP.