Nepal - Dashain Festival Photography Tour.
Take sensational portraits during Dashain - the happiest month of the year.
The Tour.
Join us on on an unforgettable photography adventure through Nepal, a land brimming with awe-inspiring landscapes, ancient kingdoms, and vibrant cultures — the perfect backdrop for your next photography masterpiece. This journey is designed to help you capture the essence of Nepal’s diverse heritage, stunning natural beauty, and vibrant traditions.
In the Kathmandu Valley, we explore three medieval kingdoms, starting with Bhaktapur, known for its well-preserved architecture. Here, you’ll photograph local potters, intricate wood carvings, and the grandeur of the 55-windowed Malla Palace.
The first day of our tour coincides with the unique Fulpati celebrations as one of the most significant days in the Dasiain calendar. The day involves local people buying auspicious plants, flowers and fruits and offering them to the goddess Durga. We also photograph larger military parades, traditional music and rituals at Kathmandu Durbar square, offering a unique cultural photo opportunity.
The following morning we visit the sacred burning ghats of Pashupatinath, where the spiritual atmosphere offers incredible opportunities for intimate portraits. The Golden Temple in Patan and the 'Monkey Temple' of Swayambhunath further immerse you in Nepal’s rich religious heritage.
From here, we venture to Chitwan National Park's subtropical plains, where we spend time photographing the traditional lifestyle of the Madi tribal villages. Wildlife encounters with rhinos, crocodiles, and possibly tigers await during our safari, while a special morning shoot captures the majestic sight of elephants bathing.
Our journey continues to the ancient Newari trading town of Bandipur, perched high in the hills, where we photograph traditional life in narrow cobbled streets against a backdrop of snow-capped Himalayan peaks. We'll even try our hand at food photography during a traditional momo-making demonstration.
In lakeside Pokhara, we capture stunning dawn reflections of the sacred Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) Mountain on Phewa Lake’s still waters. A visit to the Gurung village of Dhampus offers more intimate portrait opportunities engaging in Dashain activities with the majestic Annapurna range as a backdrop.
Throughout this journey, we help you to capture authentic, up-close moments with local people, with the help of our local guides, ensuring that you get a deeper understanding of their culture. We also understand your needs as a photographer, and we ensure safe, convenient space for your camera gear throughout the trip, including on internal flights and four-wheel drive transportation.
Timed to coincide with the vibrant Dashain festival in October, this tour adds an extra layer of colour and energy to your photography experience. We also offer optional add-ons such as paragliding, parasailing, helicopter rides, and even an Everest flight for those seeking an adventure beyond the lens.
Join us on this unique and unforgettable photographic adventure through Nepal, where the stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality of the Nepalese people will leave an indelible impression on your heart and your photographic portfolio. Nathan and his local guide will help you not only capture breathtaking images but also forge deeper connections with the local people and their culture. This is more than just a photo tour — it's an opportunity to enrich your photographic portfolio while immersing yourself in the soul of Nepal.
Photo Highlights.
-
Portraits
Yogis and holy men in their resident quarters
-
Festivals
Fulpati, part of Dashin festival
-
UNESCO sites
6 sites in Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu
-
Ancient villages
Overnight in the ancient Newari village of Bhaktapur
-
Monkey Temple
At sunrise
-
Wildlife
Tigers, elephants, rhinos and crocs
-
Elephants
Crossing River
-
Bandipur
Ancient ridge town
-
Dhampus
Overnight in the trekking village
-
Mountains
Magnificent views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Manaslu
-
Boudhanath Stupa
One of the largest ancient stupas in the world
-
Optional extras
Paragliding, ultralight flights, helicopter rides, Everest fly overs (own expense)
Portraits.
Tour Details.
Established in 2013
Duration: 13 days, 12 nights, 11 days of shooting.
Dates and Prices
2026
October 16 - 28 (to coincide with Dashain)
US$6650
Past participants will get a special discount.
Our fee includes hotels, breakfast, bottled water throughout the tour, as well as all transport including airport transfers. This tour also includes one internal flight. We base our fee on accommodation in a single room, (always A/C with private bathroom) though we offer discounts for couples sharing rooms, as well as for non-photographers. If you need help with insurance for this tour, please let us know and we can put you in touch with a broker that should be able to help you.
Our Itinerary.
-
Day 1
Arrive any time: Enjoy free transfer to your hotel
Sunset: Meet Nathan and the group
Sleep: Bhaktapur boutique hotel
-
Day 2
Sunrise: Bhaktapur local rituals
AM: Bhaktapur squares and markets in search of Dashain celebrations
PM: Kathmandu Fulpati celebrations Durbar square
Sunset: Durbar square roof top
Sleep: Bhaktapur boutique hotel
-
Day 3
Sunrise: Pashupatinath ghats
AM: Pashupatinath Sadhus (holy men)
PM: Bhaktapur main attractions and back streets
Sunset: Nyatapola temple
Sleep: Bhaktapur heritage hotel
-
Day 4
Sunrise: Lokeshwar Temple, Chobhar Hill
AM: Kirtipur walking tour
PM: Patan main attractions walking tour
Sunset: Golden temple ceremony
Sleep: Patan heritage hotel
-
Day 5
Sunrise: Swayambhunath monkey temple
AM: Chitwan National Park flight
PM: Tribal village walk
Sunset: Tribal village dance
Sleep: Chitwan (safari lodge - full board)
-
Day 6
Sunrise: Tribal village drive
AM: Tribal village visit
PM: Wildlife park Jeep safari
Sunset: Safari lodge viewpoint
Sleep: Chitwan (safari lodge - full board)
-
Day 7
Sunrise: Elephant crossing boat trip
AM: Prithvi Highway to Bandipur drive
PM: Bandipur village walk
Sunset: Mountain ridge
Sleep: Bandipur heritage hotel
-
Day 8
Sunrise: Panoramic snowcapped mountains
AM: Free time
PM: Minority village Jeep drive
Sunset: Panoramic snowcapped mountains
Sleep: Bandipur heritage hotel
-
Day 9
Sunrise: Panoramic snowcapped mountains
AM: Pokhara drive
PM: Peace Pagoda/ Shiva Statue
Sunset: Annapurna range: Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal from Peace Pagoda
Sleep: Pokhara boutique hotel
-
Day 10
Sunrise: Machhapucchre's (fishtail) reflection boat trip
AM: Dhampus Jeep drive
PM: Dhampus village walk
Sunset: Machhapucchre's (fishtail) spire
Sleep: Dhampus trekking lodge
-
Day 11
Sunrise: Annapurna and fishtail mountain
AM: Pokhara Jeep drive
PM: Massage or paraglider flight options (at own expense)
Sunset: Phewa Lake walk inc Aarti
Sleep: Pokhara boutique hotel
-
Day 12
Sunrise: Annapurna Base Camp helicopter ride option (at own expense)
AM: Kathmandu flight
PM: Tibetan community
Sunset: Boudhanath stupa
Sleep: Kathmandu boutique hotel
-
Day 13
Sunrise: Everest flight option (at own expense)
Depart anytime: Enjoying airport transfer from hotel
We know you will have had a fabulous time
Bon voyage!
Check out our photo book below:
Here’s a photo book one of our photographers made from the tour in 2023. We’ll provide you with templates (including suggested text) and help you to upload your own images, so that you can make your own on the tour and print it when you get home.
Where We Stay.
-
Luxury hotels
Accommodation is a vital element of any tour. We have gone to great lengths to secure either luxury, boutique or heritage hotels in all our locations to enhance your overall sense of being in Nepal.
-
Boutique rooms
We do not charge a single-person supplement, but we offer a discount if you choose to share a room if you are travelling with a partner or friend. Non-photographer companions are also welcome on the tour and we can offer additional discounts for them.
-
Heritage
This tour includes two nights in a safari lodge strategically placed on a river corner, perfect for sunrise and sunset. In Dhampus, we stay in a more basic trekking lodge but the views are well worth it, and you will still have an en-suite bathroom to yourself.
TripAdvisor.
Naina P - September 2024
A photography tour & much more!
Nepal in 2024 was my third tour with NHP. My eyes are full of stories and my heart is pumped with beautiful memories. I live and work in South Asia and yet never thought twice before attending any of these tours (considering they’re not too far from home). Each time you learn new skills, culturally become more aware and come back fulfilled.
Special shout out to Maciej - the lead photographer on this tour. He was an absolute delight to learn from. Easy going, effortless and a thorough professional.!!!
Tuition.
On any of our tours, stunning photography is the name of the game, and our objective is for you to leave with a collection of images that you'll be proud to show off. Indeed, many of our past participants have gone on to win awards and competitions with photographs taken on our tours.
Nathan’s teaching approach, is very hands-on, as he believes in learning by doing. He will guide you through technical challenges, provide artistic inspiration, and lead by example in approaching locals for great portraits. You'll be amazed at the striking and authentic images you'll be able to capture.
We also offer Lightroom workshops during our tours, where we cover workflow management and picture processing. We'll show you the tools to take your travel photography to the next level and provide tips on saving your pictures for various outputs like social media, e-books, and printing.
Make the dream a reality.
Choose from 17 tours in 9 countries!
