Having organised a number of visits to India for our 2010 tour programme, Photoventures has decided to offer a location that has seen little exploration by photographers.

Ladakh, also referred to as ‘Little Tibet’, is situated high in the Himalayas sandwiched between the towering peaks of the western Himalayas and the vast Tibetan Plateau. It is the highest, least populated and most inaccessible region in India. The name derives from Ladags meaning 'high passes' and its arid, corrugated landscape of chaotic ridges, twisted and exposed geological strata, snow-capped peaks, dark gorges and wide valleys offer some of the most spectacular views in the whole country.

At various times in the past, Ladakh has been politically part of Tibet and its influence is still prominent today. The Ladakhi people are principally of Tibetan origin and Buddhism is still practiced here with active Gompas, or monasteries, overlooking the valleys from their solitary positions on top of many a craggy cliff.

To sit on the roof terrace of our hotel in Leh, enjoying the sweeping 360 degree views of the Indus Valley, the snow capped Karakoram peaks and the gorgeous mountain sunshine, while listening to the most beautiful incantation of bells, chimes, flutes and choral voices drifting up from the hillside monastery, is truly an uplifting experience. To sit sipping warm butter-chai (Ladakhi tea), with a kind, craggy-faced Lama inside the monastery while he proudly describes his residences' remarkable 700-year history is a privilege indeed.

Our trip starts with a spectacular flight over the Himalayas to Leh, and exploration of the town and some of the most important monasteries along the Indus Valley. After time to acclimatise to the altitude we will drive westwards, following the Indus River. The journey takes us from village to village through a spectacular multi-coloured landscape. We have opportunities for gentle walking with plenty of time to enjoy the views. We also reach the exquisite Nubra Valley that lies north of Leh, and leads to the peaks of the eastern Karakoram. This was an ‘Inner Line’ area until very recently, with a reputation of being the most beautiful region in Ladakh. Double humped camel caravans historically used to trade between Yarkand (Central Asia) and Leh and would have passed this way. This is that part of the world where sand dunes and snow capped mountains exist simultaneously. We will have opportunities to explore the dessert on top of our double humped camels.

Our tour is planned to coincide with the amazing Hemis Festival held annually in the courtyard of Hemis Gompa, the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh. Here they stage for the famous 'Hemis' festival that celebrates the birth of Guru Padmasambhava. The colourful two-day pageant falls on the 10th day (Tse-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month. The local people are seen dressed up in their finest traditional costumes for the occasion. Lamas called 'Chams' perform splendid masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function. The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high 'Thanka' depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival.

Agra – Taj Mahal Extension
27th June - 30th June 2010
Tour Cost: £250

Situated about five hours drive from Delhi, the city of Agra is a wonderful destination for photography. The jewel in the crown, not only of this city but the whole of India, is the amazing Taj Mahal. The Taj is a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan Alamgir for his wife Mumtaz in 1631 and is perhaps the most famous building in the world. For the photographer it is a paradise, with its ornate construction of marble that is inlaid with semi precious stones the building seems to change moods with the light of the day. We will fully explore the whole complex during our time here. With visits at dawn and dusk we will be able to capture the changing moods of the Taj. We will also find time to visit the Red Fort, another great location situated overlooking the banks of the Yamuna River.