ZANSKAR 2026: THE FOUNDER'S EXPEDITION
An exclusive late-notice pilot expedition to document Ladakh's most remote valleys.
ZANSKAR: CULTURAL AND LANDSCAPE TRAVERSE
This July, I am heading into the Trans-Himalayas to map out routes, test driving times, and finalize logistics for my future commercial trips, including our dedicated Himalayan snow leopard tour. Instead of running this location-scouting run alone, I am opening up five spaces for serious photographers to join me behind the scenes.
This is a rare opportunity to see how a photography expedition is built from the ground up. You will get an inside look at how I scout locations, analyze the mountain light, and make real-time decisions in the field—all while backed by a solid safety net of pre-arranged vehicles, permits, and comfortable stays.
Our 14-day route through the Zanskar region of Ladakh is timed specifically to match the dates of the annual Zanskar Festival. We travel in a private fleet of Innova Crysta vehicles, driving through high mountain passes like Shinkula La and Pensi La. The itinerary takes us directly to major photography locations, including the Drang Drung Glacier and the isolated Phugtal Monastery, which is built right into a sheer cliff face.
The core of the trip is spent in Padum, where we have two full days embedded at the Zanskar Festival. This gives us ample time to photograph the traditional masked dances (cham) and public ceremonies. We will also visit the historic cliffside monasteries of Karsha and Stongdey, which look out over the valley floor. This high-altitude terrain serves as the perfect blueprint planning phase for our upcoming flagship winter Himalayan snow leopard tour.
From there, our route runs through the Suru Valley into the Aryan Valley, home to the culturally distinct Brokpa people. Here, we will photograph ancient rock carvings before finishing the trip back in Leh with a private meeting arranged with a local Amchi (a traditional Tibetan doctor) and time to visit the historic local palaces.
All accommodation, private transport, and meals are completely organized and managed by my local ground team. Your only focus is your photography and enjoying the expedition.
as this is a exloratory expedition, ALL IMAGES SHOWN ON THIS SITE ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY, THEY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE ON THE GROUND TEAM.
THEY ARE NOT OF THE ACTUAL ROUTE WE WILL BE TAKING, BUT ARE A GUIDE AS TO WHAT WE WILL SEE AND THE TYPE OF LANDSCAPE WE WILL SEE AND WHAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE AT THE FESTIVAL.
ITINERARY
ZANSKAR 2026: EXPEDITION SUMMARY
Dates: 7 July – 20 July 2026 | Duration: 14 Days | Group Size: Strictly Limited to 5 Places
We handle the logistics, you enjoy the expedition.
Phase 1: Acclimatization & Core Architecture
Day 1 (7 July): Arrival in Leh. This is a mandatory, slow-paced day of absolute rest and hydration to let our bodies safely acclimatize to the high altitude (11,500 feet). (Note: Flights to Leh must be self-booked).
Day 2 (8 July): Leh Monasteries & Market. We will catch the first-light at Leh Palace, followed by visits to the cliffside monasteries of Shey, Hemis, and Thiksey, finishing up with a walk through the historic local market.
Day 3 (9 July): Indus River Gorge. We drive overland along the Indus River gorge via Sangam, stopping along the way at Alchi, Likir, and Basgo to document ancient architecture and incredible 11th-century Kashmiri-style frescoes.
Phase 2: The Zanskar Traverse
Day 4 (10 July): Suru Valley. A beautiful mountain drive into the dramatic Suru Valley. We will stop en route to document the monumental, rock-cut Mulbekh Chamba statue before checking into our valley lodgings under the shadow of the Nun-Kun peaks.
Day 5 (11 July): Over the Pensi La. This is a heavy overland driving day. We cross the formidable Pensi La Pass via Rangdum, driving directly alongside the immense Drang Drung Glacier before descending to Padum for our multi-night stay.
Day 6 (12 July): Valley Monasteries & Festival Opening. We will spend the day documenting the sweeping valley views from the historic Zangla Palace and the cliffside structures of Karsha and Stongdey monasteries as we attend the opening of the festival.
Day 7 (13 July): Zanskar Festival. A full day embedded right in the heart of the monastery festival, dedicated entirely to documenting the sacred masked dances (cham) and public ceremonies.
Day 8 (14 July): Phugtal Monastery Hike. A rugged day excursion. We drive down to Purne and take a spectacular hike to the isolated Phugtal Monastery, which is built right into a sheer cliff face, returning to Padum for the evening.
Phase 3: The Aryan Valley
Day 9 (15 July): Transit to Lamayuru. A major mountain transit day exiting Zanskar, crossing the high Sisir La Pass to reach the famous moon-like, eroded landscapes of Lamayuru.
Day 10 (16 July): Lamayuru to Garkone. We will catch the crisp morning light across Lamayuru’s ancient architecture before driving down into the isolated, lower-altitude climate of the Aryan Valley to settle into our traditional village homestay.
Day 11 (17 July): Brokpa Village Walk. Structured walks through Garkone. This is a rare opportunity for environmental portraiture with the culturally distinct Brokpa community, alongside documenting hidden rock petroglyphs.
Day 12 (18 July): Buffer Day. A scheduled rest, file-processing, and imagery review day to relax and experience local life in the valley.
Phase 4: Finalization
Day 13 (19 July): Return to Leh. Our return mountain drive from Garkone back to Leh, checking into our final hotel before a celebratory evening documenting traditional regional dances.
Day 14 (20 July): Airport Transfers. Private vehicle drops to the Leh airport for your flights home. Expedition conclusion.
ABout Ian
Raised in locations across Africa and Cyprus, I have subsequently travelled widely for work and fun.
Travel and photography have been the mainstays of my life, to the extent of being one of the first “digital nomads” back in the early 2000’s filing images to a picture library whilst travelling around Spain, Portugal and Italy in a campervan.
My work has taken me to many exciting and remote places, with crews and as a lone photographer, working with amazing fixers and staff in the country.
Basically I love travelling, exploring new locations, meeting people from different cultures and discovering new food.
Basic Information
INCLUSIONS
- Meals. breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes we might have to buy lunch on transfer days.
- Transport from Day 1 till Day 14 as stated in the plan.
- Stay in double/twin sharing Please ask about single rooms, there will be extra for this.
- All driver expenses (meals and stay), fuel, tolls
- Inner Line permit fees
- Taxes (GST)
EXCLUSIONS
- Snacks and beverages (except the ones with meals)
- Tips to the guide, porter, drivers
- Any kind of insurance/ emergency/ evacuation cost
- Any monument entry/ camera fees
- Cost for a room heater if needed
- Any personal expenses
- Flight/train/bus tickets to Leh
Please Note:-
- A/C in the car will not function in the mountains
- Suggested stay is subject to availability at the time of booking
- The team can decide to make last minute changes to your plan for your own safety depending on weather conditions.
- Please keep a couple of days buffer towards the end of the trip in case of emergency
- Delhi transfer provided at additional cost
- Inner Line Permits included
GALLERY
Altitude
My personal and professional experience running tours, my Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader (including Altitude) qualification, ensure we will all be well supported and covered for all eventualities. Knowledge of high altitude sickness is our first defence, so you can rest assured that we have support plans in place to manage this, and any other medical eventuality, quickly and resolve it smoothly.
Local understanding, awareness, and experience coupled with medical best practices relating to altitude and acclimatisation will dominate our first few days when we are in Leh the itinerary balances altitude gained each day with rest times at appropriate points.
Not only do I have a keen awareness and knowledge of altitude sickness but the local guides and homestay families I partner with all have extensive knowledge of this issue and care for us ‘as if we are family’.
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Request Private Field Brief
Group sizes are strictly limited to 5 guest photographers to clear transit requirements in Ladakh.