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In the remotest corners of Ladakh at altitudes well above ten thousand feet, in places where the roads are nothing more than a patch of tyre marks in the grass, where telephone lines are unheard of and electricity is a dull flicker of tungsten bulbs powered by a tiny solar panel, a community of Changpa nomads have thrived for longer than a millennium rearing their livestock–Yaks, sheep and cows–and living with minimal resources.
The Life of Changpa Nomads Photography Tour is designed to understand and photograph the life of Changpa Nomads, staying among them by their camps in the highlands of Changthang, Ladakh. This unique photography experience is crafted and led by India’s finest travel photographers with years of experience travelling in the mountains, working closely with the nomad community.
Jump to ◆ Overview and itinerary ◆ Tour Highlights ◆ Is this tour for you? ◆ Tour Price ◆ Tour Mentors ◆ Detailed Itinerary ◆ Sign Up
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Darter ‘HIMALAYAN EXPERIENCES’ are photography holidays in the picturesque Himalayan highlands with rich immersive experiences of landscapes and culture. -
Tour Dates
October 8-16, 2022
Tour Price – ₹93,950/-(Shared Occupancy)
Max group size: 8 only
Who are the Changpa Nomads? And other questions are answered here, later in this page.
Photographs from the tour – Ladakh: Life of Nomads Photography Tour
Here is showcasing some of the photography opportunities on this tour. Click on any of the images (using a desktop browser) to see larger images.
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Changpa nomads – shepherds in the mountains of Ladakh
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Sheep and Pashmeena goats in the mountains of Ladakh
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Sheep and goats at the pen, at a Changpa settlement in Ladakh
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People of Ladakh
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People of Ladakh
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People of Ladakh
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A changpa woman weaving a blanket
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A changpa woman milking a yak
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A changpa shepherd in the mountains
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A changpa woman in her rebo (yak-wool tent)
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A Buddhist monk at a monastery in Changthang
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The landscapes of changpthang
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Portrait of a man from Ladakh
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A changpa woman with a goat
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A changpa man herding yaks
Overview & Itinerary – Ladakh: Life of Nomads Photography Tour
This unique and exclusive photography experience will have you staying with a fascinating community of nomadic shepherds in one of the remotest locations in India. During the tour, you will interact closely with Changpa people, learn and understand their culture and have opportunities to create interesting images of their way of life.
At the end of this tour, you will not only have made many beautiful images of extraordinary world of Changpas, you will also come back with a deeper understanding and a lot of respect for their culture and lifestyle. You would even have made some Changpa friends with whom you would stay in touch!
This tour is a part of our highly commended Himalayan photography tours, designed by mentors with considerable know-how in travelling and photographing in the region. Join us today on this unforgettable and exclusive experience.
Here is the tour itinerary in brief. To understand more about the places we visit and things we do, do not forget to see the detailed itinerary.
Tour dates: October 8-16, 2022
The itinerary is designed with a keen focus on photographing the life of Changpa People, and not centered on seeing well-known sights/places. The itinerary may be subject to change, depending on photography opportunities available, weather conditions and any other factors that may affect the journey.
Tour Highlights
Who are the Changpa nomads? And other questions answered
Tell us more about Changpa people. Who are they? What do they do? Where do they live?
Changpa are a nomadic community of pastoralists living in the Changthang Plateau in Ladakh and Tibet. They raise yak, sheep and cows and shift their location with season depending on the availability of grass and water. Most of their campsites are situated well above 10,000 feet, sometime as high as 15,000 feet! Despite the extreme altitude and severe weather, they have thrived in these inhospitable places for many centuries.
How do we get there? What is the mode of access?
Many areas of Changthang can be accessed by roads, sometimes little more than mud-tracks or tyre-marks in the grass. The places we visit are accessible by vehicles from Leh (around 5-6 hours) and don’t require us to go on treks.
What kind of places do we visit? What about accommodation?
We begin from Leh and steadily drive further up the mountains. We camp out while we are in Changtahng to enable us to stay among the changpa, allowing us to interact with them closely. While these aren’t exactly the most comfortable accommodation you have ever stayed in, you will totally love the experience.
What’s the weather going to be like?
This is a time when the summer has retreated and temperature is dipping, but the harsh winter has not yet arrived. Expect day-time temperatures in the range of 10C to 20C. It is usually single digits in the night and may touch zero and below. You should be packing for cold weather. The skies are usually clear this time of the year, and sunshine is abundant all through the day.
FAQ and Is This Photography Tour For You?
This tour is for everyone who would love to interact with, learn about and photograph at the changpa settlements high up in Changthang region. We will be travelling to places that are less visited by tourists.
The tour is designed to help participants learn the nuances of making beautiful photographs of people and their way of living. It’s as much about understanding the way of life as it is about photography. Note that the participants are not required to be experts in photography. Beginners and newbies as well as serious photographers benefit through our personalized attention to photography sessions and on field assistance. Non photographers interested in exploring the region are welcome too.
Can I bring my non-photographer partner with me?
Yes, you can. There is much enjoyable about this tour, in learning about the way of life of Changpa people. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group. However, non-photographers should note that our itineraries are designed keeping photography in mind. We are generally slower than typical travel itineraries and don’t make a long sightseeing list. Please note that we do not offer a separate non-photographer pricing.
I am not a keen photographer. But I want to join this tour with your group. Can I still join?
Yes. We visit many beautiful places in the region, and having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is. However, non-photographers should note that our itineraries are designed keeping photography in mind. We are generally slower than typical travel itineraries and don’t make a long sightseeing list.
Is there a lot of walking/trekking involved?
No, this is primarily a driving trip. Most of the places we go to will be reached through vehicles. But we may, depending on the needs, be doing some short-duration walking at a few places. There are no long distance walks or full-day hikes. Nor do we have walking as a necessity to reach a destination, which means that you may opt out and rest instead of going on a walk if you feel tired. We believe that most people in reasonably good health should not have any problems with most of the activities through the tour. Speak to us if you have any doubts.
Also refer to our photography tours faq for more information.
Tour Price
Tour price: Rs.93,950 per person.
The cost includes
The cost does not include
Accommodation
Accommodation will be in comfortable hotels when we are in Leh. On all other days we will be carrying camping equipment with us and camping out in the mountains.
Cancellation Policy:
– Cancellation at least 45 days before the date of tour commencement: 80% of the total tour fee is refunded
– 45 to 30 days before date of tour commencement: 60% of the total tour fee is refunded
– 30 to 15 days before date of tour commencement: 40% of the total tour fee is refunded
– 15 to 5 days before date of commencement: 20% of the total tour fee is refunded
– No refunds for cancellation made less than five days before tour begins.
Note:
Please note that the itinerary is subject to favourable weather and road conditions. In case of bad weather and inaccessibility to a destination, we will do our best to make alternate plans. The cost of the tour or any part of it will not be refunded in the event of unfavourable conditions anytime during the tour days.
Detailed Itinerary
The itinerary is designed with a keen focus on staying with, knowing about and photographing the changpa herders in Ladakh, and not centered on seeing well-known sights/places.
Day 01. Arrival in Leh.
We will arrive at Leh this morning and check-in to our comfortable hotel. This is a day for rest, acclimatization and an ice-breaker session in the evening.
Day 02. Drive to a small village near Leh.
After a leisurely breakfast, we check-out and head to a village near Leh. This is a day to take it easy and continue to acclimatize, though we will spend some time photographing people at the village, and also walking around the village with our cameras, interacting with people and enjoying the mountain weather. We will also have ample time for some photography discussions and to interact with the mentors and rest of the group. Overnight will be at Leh.
Day 03 to 07. Camping in changpa settlements.
On the morning of Day 3, after a leisurely breakfast, we start our uphill drive to Changthang. We should be there late afternoon, giving us ample time to settle down and perhaps plan a few quick rendezvous with changpa people. The process of getting to know our changpa friends, interact with them and perhaps making some images would have begun today.
On Days 4 to 7, we will spend the entire day hanging out with Changpa, meeting families and following the herders. Our Changpa tour leader and photography mentor will be with you all along, facilitating the interactions and helping you in all aspects of photography. Depending on the photography opportunities available, we may break camp and shift settlements as needed. Expect these days to be full of very unique experiences that you will never forget. And indeed, along the way, make photographs that you would never have imagined making until now!
Day 08. Drive to Leh with a smug expression originating from having made new friends and those beautiful images now stored in your camera!
We drive back towards Leh this morning. While you have enjoyed being in the middle of nowhere in amazing locations with interesting people, until now staying at campsites, you will again be relishing the luxury of creature-comforts this evening.
By now the group would have bonded so well, if our experiences in the past trips are to go by, we would already be making next travel plans. We spend the evening hours sharing our experiences and pouring over an awesome collection of images over dinner.
Day 09. End the tour.
Tour ends this morning.
Photography Mentor: Manish Lakhani
Few people can boast of having travelled the high Himalayas like Manish has. For more than 15 years, he has explored these mountains extensively on foot, on bicycles and on two and four wheels, often making his own path. He is a versatile photographer with a history of creating brilliant images of culture, heritage and landscapes.
He is renowned for his unique portrayal of remote cultures and traditions. He has photographed the cultural heritage across all the four corners of India, including the Changpa shepherds of the Himalayan Highlands, the native tribes of Nagaland, the nomads of Kutch and the rich traditions of Kerala.
He is Sony Artisan (Ambassador) in India for mirrorless camera system and Skylum Global Brand Ambassador for Asia. His works have been regularly featured in magazines across the world. He contributes to Adobe, BBC, WWF, CNN, Lonely Planet and many others regularly.
An avid cyclist, he has done an incredible solo bicycling trip of 15,000 kilometers across India. He visited many states of India, meeting different people, experiencing the diverse cultures and making some incredible photographs along the journey. He has since led many expeditions in the high altitude regions of Ladakh.
He has been mentoring photography enthusiasts for several years now and is known for his exuberant personality, in-depth knowledge of the terrain, expedition organization skills and, of course, his keen eye for photography.
You can follow him on Instagram,Facebook and on his website.
Registration
Contact us at the email/numbers below to book the tour.
email: photography@darter.in
Tel: 9740083260 (Shreeram)
Alternately, fill in the following form to get in touch with us regarding the tour.