Embark on an extraordinary Women in Photography journey to Nepal in 2026, where culture, history, and breathtaking landscapes come together in an immersive photography experience.
From the bustling streets of Kathmandu Durbar Square to the serene beauty of Ghandruk’s mountain vistas, this carefully curated tour is designed to inspire photographers of all levels. Capture the golden glow of Bodnath Stupa at sunset, document the vibrant energy of Bhaktapur’s ancient alleys, and witness the spiritual rituals at Pashupatinath Temple.
With a dedicated on the ground photography guide, you’ll receive expert guidance, stunning locations, and a seamless travel experience, this adventure promises unforgettable moments both behind the lens and beyond.
Day 1: International arrival Kathmandu
We recommend booking your flights with Kerry Graham kerry@privatetravel.co.nz, our New Zealand travel advisor, who will coordinate your arrival time with the group. This ensures a smooth experience, as our Nepalese representative will be there to meet you at the airport, assist with immigration, and arrange your transfer to the hotel.
- Accommodation – Nepali Ghar
- Meals: None
Day 2: Kathmandu
Leisurely breakfast and meet your photo guide and receive your photography briefıng.
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE – with its old temples and palaces, epitomises the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that the kings of Nepal were crowned and solemnised. Interesting things for visitors to see are the gigantic idol ofKalbhairav (the god of destruction), and the temple of the Kumari, the living goddess. Nearby was the hippie haven of Freak Street back in the 60s and 70s.
BODNATH – at sunset you start with a visit of the imposing Bodnath , the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal. Hinduism has been dominant in Nepal but is inextricably intermingled with Buddhism. At this hour monks in red robes circle the stupas with the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. Drums beat and prayers are chanted at all times of the day and devotees can be seen taking up to a hundred and eight rounds of the structure, praying Om Mane Padme Om.
Later in the day – the OLD MARKET lying in the heart of Kathmandu city has a distinct character of its own, dating back many centuries. This traditional market leads to many intriguing sights and is a maze in itself, with narrow streets, alleys, temples, people milling about, and colourful shops offering an array of spices, dry fruits, colour powders, incense, and other local flavours. Asan, once the centre of the trade route from Tibet to India, remains a bustling market square and is often still the go to place for spices, fabrics, and brassware. Clamouring with people, it is a vibrant experience, filled with fruit and flower vendors, flautists, bead and spice vendors, three wheeled- rickshaws, the occasional sacred cow halting traffic, and devotees waiting to perambulate the numerous temples in the area.
- Accommodation: Nepali Ghar
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Kathmandu
PATAN DURBAR SQUARE – a short distance away is the city of Patan. The city with 1000 golden roofs, as it is known, is a veritable pile of pagodas, temples and palaces, predominantly Buddhist, and famous for its craftsmen, carpenters, and masons. Here, you visit the old palace complex and the renovated Patan Museum and the Golden Temple. After lunch afternoon is at leisure to review photos.
PASHUPATINATH – this evening, drive to the temple complex of Pashupatinath dedicated to Lord Shiva – the Destroyer. Life and death, the pure and the polluted, the sacred and the profane, all mingle here at Nepal’s holiest temple. Faith is an important aspect of Nepali life. The main gilded triple roofed temple was built in 1696 and is revered as one of the four cardinal Shiva shrines in South Asia with entry restricted to Hindus only. The holy Bagmati River which flows into the sacred Ganges, runs alongside the temple and is lined with cremation ghats where the last rites of Hindus are performed and their ashes scattered. Clouds of grey smoke rise above wooden pyres transporting the viewer into the midst of religious mysticism and the endless cycle of life and death. It is here on these holy banks that the evening prayers are held with lighted oil lamps and priests chanting hymns.
- Accommodation: Nepali Ghar
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Kathmandu – Bhaktapur by road
OPTIONAL EXTRA – MOUNTAIN FLIGHT [USD 250-275 per person] Starting at 6.30am, enjoy a one-hour flight from Kathmandu you will traverse the Eastern Nepal Himalaya – which comprises some of the earth’s loftiest summits. Between Langtang and Everest you will see 21 mountains of which 6 are over 8,000 meters. Each of the mountains you pass has a mythical past. You will see Everest, the highest mountain in the world. You are also invited one at a time to the cockpit by the captain, from where you have an exceptional experience and views. October / November, being the post Monsoon period, has the best views because of the snow on the mountain tops and the cleaner air than at other times of the year.
After breakfast, drive to Bhaktapur.
BHAKTAPUR – the last of the three sister cities of the Kathmandu valley – Bhaktapur is known today as an “open museum” and a “living heritage“. A UNESCO World Heritage Site it was Bertolucci’s choice for his film ‘Little Buddha”. The brick paved enclave of old royal palace buildings dating back 13th to 14th centuries, artistic temples and exquisite artwork all offer a picture of the grandeur of medieval Nepal. The houses with their tiled roofs and carved wooden balconies and brick walls are adorned with drying vegetables. Bricks made from the rich soil of Bhaktapur are used everywhere – houses, paved lanes and courtyards. Religious processions, dancers, musicians, holy chariots, funerals, marriages- they all pass by this beautiful square, appreciating the world as it keeps turning.
- Accommodation: The Nanee
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Bhaktapur
Explore BHAKTAPUR early in the morning to experience a very different scene from the previous evening.
BHAKTAPUNAM to NAMOBUDDHA
NAMOBUDDHA – Namo Buddha, meaning “Hail to the Buddha – is a sacred site which draws reverent pilgrims to commemorate the compassion of the Buddha. Drive two hours in the morning, with an optional 1.5-hour uphill climb along the side of the hill on a trail dotted with fragrant orange groves leads to the sacred shrine to Lord Buddha (elevation 1750 m). The monastery itself can be reached via a car. Legend has it that in a previous incarnation, Buddha gave himself as sacrifice to a hungry tigress and her cubs. A carved stone slab on the top of the hill depicts this moving story. Nearby are several Buddhist retreats and monasteries.
- Accommodation: The Nanee
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Bhaktapur – Pokhara (by flight) – Ghandruk (by drive and trek)
Drive to Kathmandu airport for flight to Pokhara this morning
Transfer by road and onwards over dirt road to Kimche. Trek 1.5 hours to the village of Ghandruk (2000 meters), arrive late afternoon. Enjoy magnificent close up views of the surrounding mountains from your lodge. Evening at leisure to explore Ghandruk.
- Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Ghandruk and surrounding villages
GHANDRUK – is a prosperous centre and the largest Gurung (characterised by high cheekbones) settlement in the area. This area is also the major recruitment centre for those who aspire to join the Gurkha regiment in the British and Indian armies. The process was formalised and the British began recruiting Gurkhas into their service in 1886, and they continue to serve the British Crown to this day. Being a Gurkha soldier is a position of great status in this region. Ghandruk’s sprawling split-level town is one of the biggest Gurung settlements in Nepal. The day is well spent roaming its maze of stone-paved paths among handsome slate-roofed houses. Ghandruk provides an unbeatable photo opportunity taking in Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, Fishtail and the step -sided Modi Khola valley leading into the Annapurna Sanctuary. It does get cold at night up at this elevation, but the lodge provides a heavy down jacket, gloves, and hat in your room, as well as Crocs for indoors, so the only footwear you need to bring is hiking boots. And things warm up immediately the sun comes up. With the terrific views and the very good cell signal, this is a great place for that video call to the family.
- Accommodation: Mountain Lodges of Nepal
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Ghandruk – Pokhara by trek and road
Easy trek downhill to Nayapul approx. 3.5 hours. It is a pretty route, partially along a river, followed by a drive to Pokhara (approximately 2 hours).
POKHARA – is the only place in the world to provide such dramatic views in a sub-tropical setting. Macchapucchre, forexample, is only 28 km from Phewa Lake and not a single mountain range intervenes between the two. With its tropical climate, irreplicable views of the Annapurna, and wide range of activities, the city promises to transform fatigue into exhilaration.
Spend the afternoon explorıng the laidback downtown and visiting the Gurkha Museum.
- Accommodation: Barahi
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Pokhara – Kathmandu by flight
Morning is free for OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES which your photography guide will be able to share with you.
Fly back to Kathmandu and spend the afternoon at leisure.
- Accommodation: Nepali Ghar
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Kathmandu – International departure late evening
SWAYAMBUNATH (early morning) – Believed to date back to 460 AD, the ancient sacred Buddhist site of Swayambunath sits atop a hillock on the western edge of Kathmandu and offers a panoramic view of the valley. The stupa and golden spire glitter in the sun and can be seen from every corner of the valley. Embedded on the sides are gilded shrines that house the Buddhas of the five directions. The eyes of the Buddha painted on the 4 sides of the main stupa have become a symbol of Nepal. The chatter of temple monkeys has given the stupa the popular tourist name of “monkey temple”. A brisk climb in the early morning and you will hear from inside the stupa, monks and devotees singing hymns and songs as has been done for centuries. Accompanying the singing are the slow beats of traditional drums and soft flute tunes flute, resonating with the vibrations with which the world began.
Continue your tour with a visit to a colourful local vegetable market, and return to the hotel for a late breakfast.
At leisure till departure. You may like to venture to Thamel at your own convenience.
THAMEL – Visit the energetic tourist hub of Thamel. Thamel contains a large number of lodges, restaurants, bookshops, and shops selling handicrafts. The vibrancy of Thamel is a mixture of energizing chaos in the main streets and quiet seclusion in the back alleys. The entire area has a distinct character of its own, and one can spend hours perusing the wares being peddled, or simply soaking in the atmosphere.
Later in the evening you will be transferred to the international airport.
- Accommodation: Nepali Ghar (your room is available till around 6pm to enable you to store your bags plus freshen up before your flight home)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
A selection of images which represent the scenery and locations you’ll expect to visit and see:
Pricing:
- Cost: US$5,900 per person, own room with ensuite, no sharing.
- Deposit: US$1,500 required to secure your place
- Balance payable: US$3,800 is due 150 days prior, payable on invoice
- Questions or bookings: mail lesley@travelwithlesleywhyte.com
Fitness level:
🔹 Fitness: Moderate to good level of fitness required with walks of 1.5 hours uphill and 3.5 hours downhill
🔹 Terrain: Generally well-defined trails with some uneven surfaces, steps, or slight inclines
🔹 Elevation Gain: Minimal to moderate (depending on location)
🔹 Pace: Comfortable walking pace with photography breaks
Group Size:
- Minimum of 6
- Maximum of 10
INCLUDES:
- Pre tour Women in Photography online mentoring where you’ll also meet your Nepalese photography guide
- Post tour Women in Photography online photography review and editing session
- English-speaking photography tour leader/guide
- Local cultural guides
- Hotel accommodation (own room with ensuite) for 9 nights + late checkout on last day
- Meals as per programme
- Transfers, sightseeing and surface travel asper itinerary by air-conditioned vehicle
- Entrance fees to monuments being visited as per itinerary
- ACAP and Trek permit
- Mineral water/soft drinks during drives
- Tipping for Guides / Drivers / Restaurants / Porters / photography subjects
- Current government taxes in Nepal (subject to change)
EXCLUDES:
- International Airfares
- Visa (Currently US$ 30 per person in cash for a 15-day, multiple entry tourist visa).
- Personal expenses like roaming, telephone calls, laundry etc
- Tip for photography guide – while tipping for all other guides is included, the tipping of your photography guide and mentor is not included
- Meals, other than indicated in the itinerary
- Alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks
- Mandatory travel and medical repatriation insurance is required – please discuss with Kerry the type of travel insurance recommended
- Any expenses other than mentioned in “inclusions”
Terms & Conditions:
- Refunds
- Deposit – is non non refundable
- Cancellation – balance when paid, is only refundable if we are able to fill your place. You can transfer your booking to another person at no cost
- Payments – you have the choice of paying using credit card or bank transfer
- Credit Card – credit card fees of 2% are included as a line item on your invoice.
- Bank Deposit – no fee charged
- While every effort has been made to ensure accurate pricing for accommodation, guides, and experiences as outlined, minor adjustments may occur. Any changes will be passed on and typically relate to fluctuations in internal airfare costs, visa fees, ACAP and trek permits, or Nepal Government taxes.
- This tour is operated by Women in Photography and organised by our Nepal / India travel partner Bindu Lall founder of Jasmine Trails, a registered member of Ministry of Tourism Government of India, Indian Association of Tour Operators.