Touchdown into Paro on the first day into Bhutan Photography Holiday – and transfer to the city’s elegant old town. After some initial sessions on photography, we’ll take our first peek – capturing dramatic images of the Paro Fort – Rinpung Dzong – shooting photos of the young monks playing in the courtyard with the evening light, then a short hike to a traditional cantilever bridge where you can also shoot photos of the locals crossing the bridges in a the backdrop of the unique traditional architecture of the fort. At the fort – with a request by the guide – we can take a group photo with the monks and can interact with them, getting a closer insight into their daily life.

Today after breakfast you’ll witness the Festival for a few hours, but the mask dances will be different than the previous day. Later we drive towards Paro for tsa tsa – the craft of making mini stupas & prayer flags – at the farmhouse – and after the hearty lunch of local favourites you can try the craft making your own tsa tsa. During this activity you can document the process and shoot portraits of the family and farm – then during the hike to Tiger’s Nest the following day, you can leave your tsa tsa in the cave on the way and hoist your flags at the top of Tiger’s Nest monastery.

The next day we will hike up early to the famous Tiger’s Nest monastery – Taktsang – to shoot early sunrise behind the monastery. We then hike up to Taktsang on foot – a spectacular site evolving from 747AD when Guru Padmasmbhava chose a cave on a sheer rock face to meditate and, assuming a wrathfull form, Guru Dorji Drolo, astride a tigress, subdued the evil spirits the locality. Taktshang thus became one of the most important Buddhist monuments in the Himalayan Buddhist world. The steep hike here provides many different opportunities for photographs from tree covered areas to endless tone steps towards the monastery, which in itself is a stunning view clinging on to the side of a cliff.

After the refreshing hike, we will head to take a dip in traditional hot stone bath to relax your muscles where the minerals from the stone is beneficial for your joint pain and backache. Bliss.

On our final day in Bhutan, we’ll head to Chelela pass and to the famed Kila Nunnery – founded in the 9th century Chogyal Norbu and it is the one of the oldest nunneries in Bhutan. Now the monastery is set exclusively for Buddhist practitioners who want to go on retreat. We will have a hot picnic today – and you get chance to meet (and photograph) some of the 60 nuns residing here.

Later in the evening, you’ll wear the national dress and practice playing Bhutan’s national sport – archery – and some other traditional sports like khuru(dart) the Bhutanese way – and challenge your guide, driver and the locals to a game of archery. Some tips; don’t forget to adopt the habit of singing and dancing to distract your opponent, and a shot of Ara (locally brewed wine) is said to improve one’s hand and eye coordination.

The flight back west heads of early the next day, so we’ll pass by Everest once more – and have time to spend a little more time in Kathmandu before catching our international flight back home again. As with all Creative Escapes trips, we’ll give you a detailed download and review of all of your best work, indicate what style you have, plus suggest tips on what kind of equipment you need that compliments your style. With that, a farewell to new found friends and chance to reflect on the way home, your ten day adventure to one of the last untouched countries on earth.