Mustang Photo Tour
Mustang Photo Tour
8th – 19th May 2026
View Dates & Prices
4 Participants
Location
Upper Mustang, Nepal.
MUSTANG PHOTO TOUR – OVERVIEW
Embark on an exhilarating journey through the vibrant landscapes of Mustang in Nepal during the Tiji Festival. Nestled in the mystical realm of the Himalayas, Mustang comes alive during the annual Tiji Festival, a celebration of ancient traditions and cultural richness. This immersive photo tour offers a unique opportunity to capture the essence of this remote region, showcasing its rugged terrain, ancient monasteries, and the fervour of the Tiji festivities. As the majestic landscapes serve as your canvas, witness the dynamic interplay of light and shadow, vibrant costumes, and traditional ceremonies.
As Tiji unfolds, witness the region’s rich cultural tapestry with its elaborate rituals, vibrant costumes, and ancient traditions. The Mustang Photo Tour is a perfect convergence of adventure and visual storytelling, allowing participants to capture the essence of Tiji’s spiritual fervour and the stunning beauty of the upper Mustang landscape in Nepal. Led by seasoned guides, photographers, and cultural experts, this tour promises not only exceptional photographs but also a deeper understanding of the cultural tapestry that makes Mustang and the Tiji Festival a truly unforgettable photographic experience. Immerse yourself in the magic of Tiji and create timeless memories with the Mustang Photo Tour.
MUSTANG PHOTO TOUR – OVERVIEW
Embark on an exhilarating journey through the vibrant landscapes of Mustang in Nepal during the Tiji Festival. Nestled in the mystical realm of the Himalayas, Mustang comes alive during the annual Tiji Festival, a celebration of ancient traditions and cultural richness. This immersive photo tour offers a unique opportunity to capture the essence of this remote region, showcasing its rugged terrain, ancient monasteries, and the fervour of the Tiji festivities. As the majestic landscapes serve as your canvas, witness the dynamic interplay of light and shadow, vibrant costumes, and traditional ceremonies. As Tiji unfolds, witness the region’s rich cultural tapestry with its elaborate rituals, vibrant costumes, and ancient traditions. The Mustang Photo Tour is a perfect convergence of adventure and visual storytelling, allowing participants to capture the essence of Tiji’s spiritual fervour and the stunning beauty of the upper Mustang landscape in Nepal. Led by seasoned guides, photographers, and cultural experts, this tour promises not only exceptional photographs but also a deeper understanding of the cultural tapestry that makes Mustang and the Tiji Festival a truly unforgettable photographic experience. Immerse yourself in the magic of Tiji and create timeless memories with the Mustang Photo Tour.
TOUR LIMELIGHT
- You’ll have the lifetime experience of exploring the walled City of Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang known as the “Forbidden Kingdom”.
- The enthralling experience of capturing different kinds of rituals every day.
- Special attraction – Tiji festival, a fascinating three-day annual festival consisting of Tibetan rituals that celebrate the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction.
- You will be feeling the spirituality and faith of Buddhism at the Tiji Festival held in a naturally isolated area.
- Monks preparing colourful Torma (Ritual cake).
- Visit one of the ancient monasteries Thubchen Lhakang built in the fifteenth century.
- You’ll be in the city of the paradise for Street Photography. You can shoot Tibetan people dressed in vibrant clothes on the streets of the ancient city.
- Portraits, yes… portraits! Without portraits in Nepal, it’s impossible. Shooting portraits of the beautiful old-aged Tibetan people will add a very good collection to your portfolio.
- For photographers, it is an unparalleled & an unforgettable experience to capture the vibrancy of the ancient Tibetan people in one place. The frame captures the culture, religious legacy, ancient flavour and mountain core people in natural beauty
ITINERARY
Day X:
Pre-tour briefing about the attractions of the tour, safety precautions for the equipment and photographer during the tour, travelling instructions etc. These discussions can be made via WhatsApp group, e-mail, or telephone after the reservation of a seat.
Day 1
After arriving on your international flight, our driver will bring you to the hotel situated in Kathmandu. After taking a shower and food, we’ll exchange money for local currency. In the evening, we’ll proceed to Pashupati Temple. Evening shoot near Pashupati Temple.
At night we will enjoy a traditional meal at a local restaurant. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 2
Morning (first hour of office) we will obtain the permit for Upper Mustang and afternoon (around 12:00) drive to Pokhara (220 km, 6 to 7 hours). Overnight accommodation will be in a 3-star hotel in Pokhara.
Day 3
Drive from Pokhara to Jomsom (2743m.) 160 km, 8 – 9 hours. Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge at Jomsom.
Day 4
Drive from Jomsom to Lo Manthang (3840m) is 55 km and 7 – 8 hours’ drive. Lo Manthang, the capital of Upper Mustang is our final destination for Tiji Festival. Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.
Day 5
First day of the Tiji Festival. Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.
Day 6
The second day of the Tiji Festival. Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.
Day 7
The third Day of the Tiji Festival.
Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.
Day 8
Explore Lo Manthang’s nearby areas and visit the ancient Thupchen Monastery.
Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Manthang.
Day 9
Drive from Lo Manthang to Jomsom (2743m), on the way back visit Muktinath temple, 55KM, 7 – 8 hours
Overnight accommodation will be in a local lodge in Lo Jomsom.
Day 10
Drive from Jomsom to Pokhara (820m). Overnight accommodation will be in a 3-star hotel in Pokhara.
Day 11
Drive from Drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 12
After breakfast, the tour comes to an end. Tearful goodbyes as our support team drops you off at the airport to connect with your international flight. Have a safe trip!
A note about this itinerary: Many factors can cause this itinerary to change.
For this reason, we have allowed a few days on either side of the trip.
DATE & PRICES
| Date | Double Occupancy | Single Occupancy |
|---|---|---|
| 8th - 19th May 2026 | 4000 USD Per Person | 4700 USD Per Person |
Meet your mentor
Apratim Saha
Apratim Saha is the ideal mentor for the Mustang Photo Tour, having successfully led numerous tours in Nepal for the last 9 years. With extensive experience in organizing workshops and photo tours, he is well-connected with many local people and the ritual, allowing him to guide you to the core of the festival. Moreover, his in-depth knowledge of people photography enhances the overall tour experience.
Internationally renowned photographer Apratim Saha has been living his dream of travelling to various countries for his photographic assignments and workshops for the past three decades. Apratim is a contributing photographer for National Geographic, Getty Images, and Stocksy United. He is a Canon Brand Ambassador and the Global Brand Ambassador and Mentor for Datacolor, Nisi, Godox, Vanguard, Dxo, and Blackrapid.
He has over 38 years of experience, from traditional film to digital photography. He is a commercial photographer specializing in people photography, portraiture, lifestyle & editorial clients. Read More…
Meet your mentor
Apratim Saha
Apratim Saha is the ideal mentor for the Mustang Photo Tour, having successfully led numerous tours in Nepal for the last 9 years. With extensive experience in organizing workshops and photo tours, he is well-connected with many local people and the ritual, allowing him to guide you to the core of the festival. Moreover, his in-depth knowledge of people photography enhances the overall tour experience.
Internationally renowned photographer Apratim Saha has been living his dream of travelling to various countries for his photographic assignments and workshops for the past three decades. Apratim is a contributing photographer for National Geographic, Getty Images, and Stocksy United. He is a Canon Brand Ambassador and the Global Brand Ambassador and Mentor for Datacolor, Nisi, Godox, Vanguard, Dxo, and Blackrapid. He has over 38 years of experience, from traditional film to digital photography. He is a commercial photographer specializing in people photography, portraiture, lifestyle & editorial clients. Read More…
FAQs
Can I join this trip as a non-photographer?
Sure! If your significant other wants you there by their side then be our guest! Similarly, if you just want to come alone without a camera then don’t feel that you need to be into photography. This photo tour is designed to be an immersive experience for everyone and we have hosted many non-photographers on previous photo tours. During my previous trips, our non-photographer guests spent many hours just spending time with the locals and walking alongside them rather than shooting photographs. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of things to occupy your time as a non-photographer.
What kind of things should I bring?
This is a moderately cold-weather trip, so you have to bring warm clothing. During the daytime, it’ll not be that cold; it’ll be around 15°C, but at night, it can be as cold as -3°C.
This is a suggested packing list to make your trip a fulfilling and comfortable experience.
- Backpack or suitcase
- Comfortable light boots for walking
- Warm Jacket
- Warm Trousers
- Wool socks
- Personal Medications
- Warm hat and gloves
- Sunglasses
- Suncare cream
- Wet tissues
- Insurance confirmation copy
- Emergency contact number
- Carry your essential and basic medicines for headaches, fever, stomach upset, etc.
Suggested Equipment
You should bring cameras, and a laptop (for post-processing during free time), these kinds of things instantly spring to mind. Once you confirm your booking with a 40% deposit, we will send you all the information you need to fully prepare yourself for this epic journey.
This is just an idea about the suggested camera and accessory:
- One or two DSLR or Mirrorless (Full Frame or Crop Sensor) cameras. If you use a full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera, for much of the time, when photographing the tribes or rituals, you will want to cover focal lengths of around 24-70mm or 24-105mm. However, a kit lens (18-55/3.5 or 4.0) will also work.
- For photographing portraits, consider bringing a prime telephoto lens of 85mm.
- If you bring a good quality bridge camera instead of a DSLR or mirrorless camera, it will be best if it has an optical zoom of 18-20x or more, combined with a reasonable wide angle at the other end of the zoom range.
- Protector for your lens.
- Power Bank & Electric Socket Extension.
- Adequate memory card and Card reader.
- Be sure to bring plenty of spare battery power for your camera and external hard drive with adequate space and a card reader.
- A Computer with photo-processing software [Lightroom, Photoshop]. (If you do not have this software, don’t worry we’ll provide it.)
- Carry a microfiber to wipe the lens.
- If you want you may bring a tripod, to shoot moody landscape and Astro-Landscape images.
- Foreigners must produce passports.
- For Indians, a Visa is not required but if you have a passport, please carry it with you.
- Your 8 Passport size photographs.
How fit do I need to be to join this photo tour?
All of the places we visit on this trip will be accessible either near our prebooked hotel, local lodge or in our vehicles so physical fitness is not a priority.
Physical Difficulty: Moderate. If you are in reasonable walking shape, you’ll be fine.
What should we expect?
- The altitude will be 3840 meters max.
- Risks: There is a very minimum chance of high-altitude sickness in Upper Mustang but you have to take enough rest, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol and smoking. If you experience any symptoms of altitude sickness, descend to a lower altitude immediately.
Climate
It will be pleasant and normal in the daytime with maximum temperatures of about 15°C but nights become cooler with a minimum of -3°C in the month of May.
Terms and Conditions
- Accommodation: Stay will be at the best-located hotel situated in Kathmandu and 3-star standard hotels in Pokhara. As there is no hotel in Upper Mustang, we will stay at the best available local.
- Upper Mustang restricted area trekking permit which is 500 USD.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit and TIMS fee.
- Accommodations in a Double Occupancy in Hotels. But we have the option of Single Supplements also, please check the price.
- During all transportation, we will use a private Scorpio jeep for every destination.
- Supporting staff, an experienced English-speaking trekking guide for the whole trip, as well as his necessary insurance.
- Expert guidance on the street, portrait, daily life, architecture and cultural photography with a particular emphasis on the Teji Festival.
- Three times Tea, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on all days. Nonveg and Veg food will be provided. There is no set food. You can choose whatever you like from the menu.
- All entry Fees, Camera Fees, and Tickets to any museum, or gallery are as per the itinerary.
- Packaged drinking water will be provided.
- Service of the photographic mentors from India and Kathmandu.
- Anything else other than mentioned in includes
- All expenses of a personal nature
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Airport pickup and drop
- Medical expenses
- All items of a personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills etc.
- Any alcoholic drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Laundry services
- Extra Activities not included in the Itinerary
- Any other actual expenses would be shared by all participants on an actual basis
- Gifts, personal treats, and all expenses of a personal nature
- Any tips
Important points to be noted
- The photo tour is designed from Kathmandu to Kathmandu.
- This tour is conceptualized in such a way that personal attention can be given to each and every photographer and for that, the group will be restricted to 8 photographers only.
- This tour has been specifically designed for the photographers. Non-photographer spouse/friend may be accommodated on the tour but at full cost and on agreeing to stick to the schedule of the tour.
- Indians do not require visas to enter Nepal, please carry your Aadhaar Card. If you have a passport, please carry it with you. Foreigners must produce passports.
- While all care would be taken to stick to the schedule, unforeseen circumstances and time consistency might lead to some changes.
- As it is a foreign country your mobile number will not work unless you have international roaming. A local SIM Card may be purchased against a passport.
- Please note that costs and dates are subject to change as not all our partner properties and local airlines have released their rates. Should we need to revise costs, we will endeavour to keep fees and dates as close to the original.
Acommodation
Stay will be at the best-located hotel situated in Kathmandu and a 3-star standard hotel in Pokhara. As there is no hotel in Upper Mustang, we will stay at the best available local.
Facilities at the hotel:
- Well-furnished Standard Rooms
- 24 hours Hot & Cold water
- Non-Veg & Veg Restaurant
- 24-hour Wi-Fi facilities in the entire lobby area of the hotel
- Doctor on call & taxi on requirement
- Laundry service / Shoe Polish
- Restaurant and Bar
- Wellness Spa
- Currency Exchange
Conditions
The maximum number of participants is listed under the price section; however, we reserve the right to add up to two to the maximum number of participants for this photo tour.
- Participants will be granted the photo tour based on email confirmation on a first-come, first-served basis.
- We reserve the right to amend, increase, and correct errors in the price of tours.
- Physical Difficulty: Moderate. If you are in reasonable walking shape, you’ll be fine.
Feel free to call +91 8509333385 or +91 8900702900, for any further assistance.
Booking
You need to pay 50% of the tour amount immediately. You can pay using the online payment link on our website or ask for the account details or PayPal to transfer the payment.
Balance amount to be paid 60 days before the tour. Once the payment is done, please send us a copy of the bank receipt (a screenshot is also fine) of your payment details. Once we confirm your payment, we will send you the confirmation email along with the Rules and regulations of the tour, which makes you, a confirmed candidate for the photo tour.
Cancellation and Refunds
In the event of a cancellation or modification of your confirmed booking, Exposure’s Cancellation and Refund Policy for Photography Workshops and Photo Tours will be applicable, and you need to fully agree to be bound by them. Any refunds will be made within 15 working days from the date of written confirmation of cancellation, via the same mode with which the payment was made to us.
Your reservation may be cancelled if full payment has not been received by the last date specified and communicated. All cancellation notices must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of the postmark (standard mail or electronic).
Cancellation deductions will be as per the following policy of full fees:
- 40% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 90 days before the start of the expedition or earlier than the expedition.
- 100% cancellation of the total fee if cancelled 59 days on or before the start of the expedition.
Please read all details on this page and the Detailed Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer / Undertaking in the Registration cum Booking Form.
Deadlines
Registration is open from 15th May 2024 till the seat reservations end.
Testimonials
We had an incredible experience on the Omo Valley Photo Tour with Apratim. From the moment he met us at the airport, everything was thoughtfully planned and professionally executed. We were given rare, immersive access to the tribal communities of...
