At the eastern end of the Himalayas, the remote 'Shangri La' kingdom of Bhutan has changed little over the centuries. It is a land of stunning mountain scenery, charming people and outrageous Buddhist festivals known as 'tsechus'. KE has put together this unique photo special trip in association with Colin Prior, one of Britain's leading landscape photographers, who will accompany the group on their adventures in Bhutan. Colin is very much looking forward to revisiting Bhutan, on a trip which will cross the country from west to east and take in many of the most spectacular locations. Starting out in the idyllic Paro Valley, the dramatic Taktsang or 'Tiger's Nest' monastery will provide a first unmissable photo stop. Travelling by way of Thimpu and the superb Punakha Dzong, the group will stop off at Gantey in the timeless Phobjikha Valley and have the chance to see the rare Tibetan black-necked cranes that spend the winter here. All of this is just an introduction to the main event, however, as the group arrives in eastern Bhutan, a fascinating part of the country, rarely visited by even the most adventurous travellers. Here, there will be the opportunity to spend four days at a series of unbelievably colourful festivals which have been witnessed by only a handful of foreigners. These festivals, at Mongar, Tashigang and Wamrong will provide unique photographic possibilities and a taste of Bhutan at its most authentic. Offering the best of the 'Land of the Thunder Dragon' and the chance to benefit from Colin’s expertise, this is a dream trip for travel photographers. Although Bhutan is one of the last unspoiled corners of the Himalaya, changes are taking place in the country as outside influences inevitably make themselves felt. Visit the country now - before it is too late.

KE Adventure Travel and Colin Prior go back a long way. We have helped Colin with several of his photographic projects, including a trip to the Karakoram Mountains of northern Pakistan 10 years ago, when he was collecting material which would subsequently be used in the British Airways Calendar and in the book Living Tribes. Colin has also hosted KE photographic holidays in the past, including a trip to the Nepalese side of Everest in 2003, as well as a previous 'Bhutan Through a Lens' trip in 2007. One of Colin's ongoing projects will involve further visits to the Karakoram and this is something which KE will be assisting him with in the near future. For more information about Colin's work visit www.colinprior.co.uk

Visit : Colin's website



Trip Guide
This photo special trip involves some longish driving days on sometimes rough roads. There is a limited amount of walking as we try to make the most of the photo opportunities on our exploration of the country. By far the toughest hike is the walk up to Taktsang Monastery on Day 3 of the itinerary.