Photography Tours to Bhutan
There are real advantages to choosing a dedicated photography tour company. It should at least mean that you are traveling with like minded people who are happy to get up early for the best light rather than sleep in and get there too late! It should ideally mean an itinerary designed specifically for photographers with specially arranged photographic opportunities. In Bhutan a good photographic tour will use a number of four wheel drives rather than a bus, each with their own driver and guide. This means that you can stop where and when you want along the road and that the whole group can go to different sites in the same location rather than all arriving at once. Some tours have more emphasis on teaching/learning than others. Usually any level of experience is welcome, so don’t assume you have to be an ‘expert’ to join a photography tour.
Bhutan: Capturing the Secrets Within
I will be leading a photography tour on 5-18 November 2011 with my wife Libby Lloyd in conjunction with an Australian based company, My Secret Bhutan . Michelle Hogan, one of the directors of the company, is an ambassador for RENEW (a not-for-profit supporting disadvantaged women and children of Bhutan) and we are keen to support RENEW’s work in Bhutan. It will be an exquisite small group photographic journey into the heart of this mysterious Himalayan kingdom and includes special intimate cultural opportunities for participation and photography. I will coach technique and vision and Libby will help develop narrative possibilities with participants. Unique activities include:
• Joining a local family as they purchase offerings from the village shops and present them to the monks for blessings. Spending time at Tango Monastery to visit a monk, looking at his home and speaking with him about his daily life.
•Visiting Tshangkha for a unique village experience interacting with villagers of all ages. Learning about their lives, sharing stories, visiting their homes and having an intimate and memorable experience. Wandering through an old family monastery and learning about ancient Buddhist texts stored within.
•Visiting the Jampa Khakang festival and the colourful smaller festival of Prakhar Tsechu in central Bhutan.
• Putting your boots on for the spectacular Bumdra Trek (Optional). Dramatic landscapes and vistas will greet you after a beautiful walk through flowering forests. This experience will leave you with a lasting impression and provide fantastic photographic opportunities high above the clouds.
Contact Michelle Hogan from My Secret Bhutan michelle@mysecretbhutan.com.au for more information
If our tour dates don’t work for you there are a number of photography based tours on offer world wide. Here are three we can recommend, but there are others well worth exploring too.
We first went to Bhutan with Robyn Smiley‘s Tour. He has a lot of experience and also offers a tour that leaves via the East into India with a specially arranged Brokpa visit. His is a USA based company.
We met Kim Walker on our first visit to Bhutan and have since traveled with Kim and David in their Namibian tour which was very well organized with lots of added value and a personal touch. They offer Bhutan Photo Tours as well.
We went to Antarctica with the Cheesemans after having them strongly recommended and were more than happy with the month. The Cheesemans are real wildlife experts and offer Bhutan Nature tours especially for birdlovers.
An alternative to small group tours is to organize a one or two person tour just for you around your particular interests. With the right guide this can be a fantastic experience.
