Introduction by Claire

Jen Stacey is a geography teacher in the UK and has a passion for travel. She has traversed the globe and been to many places most of us can only dream of, visiting wilderness locations to climb and trek. I’m sure she has inspired many of her students to follow in her footsteps and as the school coordinator for outdoor education she has introduced thousands of children to adventure activities. This summer she visited the Ladakh region in India and has kindly written this article for PTR. Ladakh is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in the area. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture and an area any photographer would aspire to visit.

by Jen Stacey

Described as being more Tibetan than Tibet, the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir is a region of high altitude desert. Arriving at 3500m  requires at least two days of doing very little before it is possible to walk up and down the street without becoming breathless. After three days, it is possible to begin moderate exercise – a downhill trip of twenty-five kilometres in 2.5 hours…. this doesn’t sound so bad, apart from being a raft trip on the Indus River on Grade 3 water. Excellent river guides ensured the safe arrival of the whole team at the lunch spot, before transfer by jeep to Chilling for the first night of camping. CAMPING!!!

This was the first night of an eight day trek in the region and was spent on a small campsite at Chilling. The village is the home of a disappearing brass and silverware trade – craftsmen working by hand, producing intricately wrought items.

Unfortunately, there are only four tradesmen left in the village – but well worth a visit if you are in the area.
The trek proper began the following morning by crossing the Zanskar river by a box and cable ‘flying fox’. The anticipation was definitely worse than the event!

Walking on the flat or a slight downhill gradient was no trouble at all after four days, but even at this stage any slight uphill incline could still cause a few problems. All of these were eclipsed by the fabulous scenery – likened at times to being similar to the moon! Dry, stark, dramatic. Superlatives do not do justice to the region. Add a blue sky, Buddhist culture and prayer flags and it is almost Heaven.

This is a land of monasteries, mane walls and parachute cafes. The route we took was not particularly remote and it was great to see local women being empowered to take control – the women of the Markha Valley produce apricot derivatives – dried, powdered for drinks, kernels (taste like almonds), cakes, biscuits…. and Seabuckthorne Juice. The women of the Rombuk Valley have embraced the WWF – they have a very rare resource – the snow leopard. I didn’t see one, but it was tantalising to think that I just might.

The trek route took in Ganda La (4900m), Stok La (5100m), and Chortenjen, with the ultimate aim to summit Stok Kangri, (6100m). Some long days were involved with up to 7-8 hours of walking uphill, but every turn provided new breath-taking scenery. Unfortunately, the classic combination of illness, altitude and deteriorating weather put a stop to the final summit attempt. ‘It never rains in Ladakh’. No, sometimes it snows …in August.

As the trek phase came to an end, a new emphasis turned to a local boarding school community project. Some fundraising had taken place prior to the trip, allowing some treats for the Shey Lamdon Model School. In Shey village, about 15km from Leh, the school appears to be prosperous. On closer inspection, it is only as a consequence of a number of significant donations, and a recent re-painting by some French students, that the school has the limited resources it does. Three days of hard work later, we, (the team), had provided and fitted a 5000 litre water tank, put rugs into five bedrooms (sleeping 105 pupils), and build a tarmac path between the dormitories and the shower room. The faces of the pupils were a complete, if unexpected, highlight of the trip.

Other places worth visiting in the valley are the Thiksey monastery, Hemis Monastery, Stok Palace, and Leh palace. Buddhist culture is still part of normal life in this area. Although electricity is now regular, and generator back-up the norm, street lighting does not exist, and so far, the region has escaped the western plague of the ravages of modernisation. Internet cafes abound – but broadband is a distant dream. Tea houses are thriving, a great pity about the water quality, but what is still evident are communities that care, where everyone has time for everyone else, where compassion is a way of life, and one is never far away from the sound of ‘Juley’ – the multipurpose word – hello..goodbye…please..thank-you…

When transport was required, we employed taxi’s from the union – by far the safest. Of driving, we came to the conclusion it was so dangerous that it was actually relatively safe (as long as someone else was doing it!). It only took going round a roundabout in the wrong direction to come to this conclusion!

Flying out of Leh signified the end of the trip, but no visit to India is complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal – it must be seen at least once! It exceeds all expectations and pre-conceptions. What more can be said?

The trip was organised by Adventurework, in the UK, with Rimo Expeditions being the in-country agent. Both offered excellent pre and during visit support. If you expect to lose weight on a trek in India, forget it – four nights into the trek and supper was pizza and chips, followed by Chocolate cake!  Leh accommodation was at the Mogol Hotel – up-market by Leh standards, and relatively expensive at $50 per night. That did include three meals per day and all meals were prepared using pressure treated spring water (a.k.a. clean), which dramatically reduced the chances of catching anything nasty.

Links

Places of interest around Leh

Snow leopard search – tour

By Neil Burton

Link To His Website

Big cat diary

The morning safari sees us up at 5.30 and picked up from our hotel at 6.15. After another pick up at an out of town hotel we enter the park where we pull trail number 3 out of the hat (see ‘How the park works’ below). Our guide declares that this is the best trail of all, mainly as it encompasses the three Rathambore lakes.

We are all excited and expectant as we enter the park proper, before us lies the ruins of old Maharajah Hunting lodges, calm mist covers the  water and we hear the shrill cries of peacocks. I recognise immediately the scenes I remember from my childhood of nature documentaries, but am surprised at the arid dry-season vegetation. Above us Ranthambore Fort glows in the early light but I am reluctant to change lenses as the jeep is stirring up clouds of dust.

Along the lakes we spot crocodiles, storks, spoonbills, stilts, spotted deer, sambar deer, nilgai and small antelope. We stop briefly at the end of the third lake and watch a heron fishing, a kingfisher flitting around and waders sifting through the mud for food. I would love to get closer but no one can leave the jeep, nor can the jeep stray too far from the trail.

On our way back towards the exit a shape is spotted through the trees, a caracal, but we get barely a glimpse before it merges back into the bush. All too soon we are back at the main gates watching langur monkeys beg food from uneducated tourists. Then it is back to the lodge for a long awaited breakfast.

Our evening safari would be far different, the Canter bus picks us up at 3.30 and then continues to pick up people for the next thirty minutes or so. The seats are so close together I cannot sit straight and my knees rub on rivets down the seat back.

We have drawn trail number 5 which our guide tells us is great, I think they have a standard script here, as yesterday a tiger was spotted. After an hour we have seen very little, there are no waterholes as yet and we are all covered in a thick layer of dust. We stop briefly for the guide to explain the medicinal properties of a tree and while he is talking a nearby deer gives a shrill warning cry. The guide stops suddenly and listens intently, he silences the bus and tells us we must wait, something is near.

After a few minutes of waiting and listening to ever increasing calls, in which time another canter and two jeeps have arrived, a tiger finally appears through the bush. She heads towards us then veers off to the left. But the undergrowth is making a clear shot impossible not to mention the bouncing movement of the canter. Eventually we get a good clear view after the drivers decided to move around and play musical safari vehicles.

For ten minutes we watch transfixed as a real live wild tiger walks in front of us and then disappears back into the bush. The rest of the drive is uneventful and we are soon back at the lodge, but it doesn’t matter, I have seen what I came here for.

Next morning we are picked up promptly by our Canter and then off once more for the other pick-ups. We choose trail 2 and are, of course, told we have a good chance of a tiger.

But we spend the morning looking at spotted deer, sambar and a few birds gathered around a small water hole.

Our evening safari is, to the relief of my knees, a jeep. We share the jeep with four other people who had not yet been into the park. One of them pulls trail number 2 from the hat and after some short discussion we try to change trails. But after twenty five minutes of trying our guide tells us it is not possible. So off we go without high hopes and running late to boot.

At the turn off for trail 2 we are stopped by another jeep who informs us there is a tiger right at the start of trail 3, sleeping a long way off in a ruined building near the lake. After some discussion, in which it is made clear the driver faces a ban of one month if he is caught, it is decided by the others we should see this tiger. So into trail 3 we ride as, it would seem, do half of the jeeps and canters in the park.

It is  Armageddon, everyone trying to spot the tiger, jeeps pushing in front of canters and vice versa. Once we have stopped we see the tiger walking through long reeds towards the waters edge. The guide shouts something and suddenly every jeep and canter is reversing back. We watch the tiger sit by the water for a while but even with the tele-converter and 100-400 I can not get a decent shot. When a white rangers jeep turns up we head promptly for trail 2.

Trail 2 is just as dry and unremarkable as we remember it from the morning drive. Eventually we stop to shoot some spotted deer standing in the sun by a dry river bed. The driver is just about to leave when the shrill warning call of a sambar rings out. All the deer stand stock still and our guide hushes us, like he needs to! The warning cries become more agitated and suddenly the deer bolt, in all directions, into the trees and across the dirt track. I can speak for everyone now, all our hearts are in our mouths as we wait. Unfortunately the silence is broken by the arrival of other jeeps and of course a canter full of squawking Indian school children.

Suddenly a tiger runs into view, the final deer bolts and the tiger stops, unwilling to give chase. All is silent as the tiger approaches, right up until one of the school kids jumps out of the canter and makes towards the tiger, camera in hand. Swift verbal intervention from the driver soon stops the kid in his tracks but anyway the tiger shows no interest. Shame, could have been a newsworthy shot!

The tiger strolls in front of us, through bush and grass, then sets off up the dry river bed and is soon invisible. Just as suddenly as one disappears another tiger trots into view from the left, has a quick spray and moves unhurriedly towards us. The tiger approaches through long grass and has a lay down right in front of the jeep. Despite the noise of children, fake shutter sounds and beeping mobiles I am lost in a world of my own.

Eventually the tiger gets bored and follows the direction of the first, who is now studying us from a distance. Engines are started and jeeps begin to move when I spot movement through the trees. It is probably a deer which was hiding says the guide, but I was sure I saw stripes. As the jeep began to move I put my hand on the drivers shoulder to slow him, that’s when the third tiger appears.

Everything stops again, then jeeps vie for a better position but we are always in the right place as we had not moved to begin with. This tiger has a quick spray and then heads off towards its siblings. No vehicle can follow them but we all drive up the road in their direction, from the hill we can look down upon the forest. Eventually we spot a tiger through a gap in the trees, lazing in a waterhole but its a long way off and we all presume it was one of the three.

Our guide says they are about 6 to 8 months old and siblings. Me, ever the Discovery Channel fan, cannot believe this they are just too big, had to be over 12 months. But  I wonder where was the mother of these guys, since they were still too young to be weaned.

The guide never clicked, or if he did he didn’t say it. But once I got back and checked my shots I could clearly see that the final tiger was bigger, had distinct markings and a scar. That was the mother. Tiger number six. Just our luck to be twenty five minutes late. Ranthambore is a lottery, but well worth a visit if you feel lucky!

What to photograph?

It is said that between 75% and 95% off all the photographs ever taken of a tiger in the wild have been taken in Ranthambore. So the chance of a sighting is relatively high in comparison with other National Parks, but it is not guaranteed. It is worth preparing yourself for the worst, quite a few people we met had failed to see a tiger after two or three drives, one particular couple had failed to see a tiger after thirteen outings!

Fear not however, the park is full of a diverse range of fauna which includes caracal (puma), chittal (spotted deer), nilgai (very large antelope), black buck and sambar deer (a favourite of the tigers). Other possible, although very rare, wildlife includes leopards, sloth bears and wild boars. The park is also rich in birdlife and home to some 400 resident and migrant species.

Ranthambore Fort, which sits overlooking the park, is also worth a few hours visit and entrance is free.

Where to stay

There are enough places in Sawai Madhopor to keep any level of traveller happy. From backpack guest houses to the highly luxurious Vanyavilas, everyone here is catered for and since jeeps are regulated by the park there is no distinction when it comes to the safari itself. We stayed in the Sawai Madhopur Lodge which lies somewhere in the middle price category. Rooms were excellent, service was good and the buffet meals were nice.

How the park works

Ranthambore limits the number of visitors to the park and therefore it is important to book your place on a jeep well in advance. Bookings can often be made through your hotel, for a small fee or online at: http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/make_your_trip/Ranthmbor/seat-availability.jsp

Some of the top hotels do I believe, although it is not written, have their own vehicles (we often came across a jeep with only two passengers).

Should you not manage a jeep booking, 20 seat Canter buses are almost always available and bookable a day in advance, either at the park gates or through the hotel or on the above website.

I would recommend the jeeps over the the Canters for the simple reason of comfort, but they are also quieter and more maneuverable.

Would I go again? Absolutely.

Low points? The guides are lacking in comparison with those I have encountered in Africa but India is still developing.

I traveled to Northern India during one full month in July 2006 — my first trip to India.
It is almost impossible to describe a trip to India as what you feel is much more relevant than what you see or do. You fall in love with India or hate it forever.

The first thing that strikes you when you arrive is the smell of India, a blend of spices, heat, filth and an indefinable element that make it so characteristic and so unavoidable. Back at home, you will still “smell” India for a couple of days. You might like it or not, when you come back to India, you will immediately recognize it. You’ll have a big sigh of ease and think: “I’m back”.

India is more than any other country a human trip. Going through the country, you are constantly solicited by the inhabitants.

They want to sell you an artifact, or a prayer, or be your guide for the day, etc. They will always be very happy to tell you about their life, their culture, their religion, their history… in exchange for a couple of rupees.

That is the way it is in India, venality is part of their way of life and you shouldn’t take offense. It is sometimes difficult not to be disappointed by the people you discuss with when they ask you money at the end of the conversation but most of the time they are sincere.

I consider myself more of a landscape photographer but in India, I took much more pictures of the people because I believe they make the richness of this country.

India is a country you have to deserve, that won’t give itself easily. The heat, the poverty, the filth and the constant demands easily put on your nerves. However these are lesser evils to let yourself be bewitched by the Indian magic. If you let it happen, you will just feel like one thing: go back there as soon as possible.

———-

About Jérémie Noel

I have always travelled the world. My parents travelled all the time and at age 2, I had already visited the 5 continents.

My father put me a camera in the hands almost as soon as I could stand up and I haven’t stopped taking pictures of the wonders of the world since then. My ambition is that my images would pay tribute to our wonderful earth (nature, monuments, people,…) and that they make people want to go discover it.

I am regularly published by the French Travel Magazine Geo (in the magazine and on the website), I also won a Nikon contest (one of my pictures will be used for the next advertising campaign for Nikkor lenses) and have participated in a couple of exhibits.

You can see all my pictures at www.jeremie-noel.com.

Photo By Suzi Eszterhas

By Bill Lockhart

When one considers attending a Photo Seminar, the first question one should ask is whether the person conducting the seminar is an accomplished photographic artist and whether their work has been published, or recognized for its excellence by a well-known organization.

When one reviews Suzi Eszterhas’s images and reviews her portfolio, one cannot escape saying “WOW!”  Few photographers have such a wide diversity of photographs done in some of the most remote regions of the earth:  Antarctica, Alaska, Africa, Borneo, Costa Rica, Madagascar.  And reading further, one finds that her work has graced the covers of many well-known publications such as Smithsonian, Time, Ranger Rick, and BBC Magazine.

Time Magazine Cover Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Photo leader Suzi Eszterhas specializes in small group wildlife photography tours for serious photographers of all skill levels. Whereas a lot of photo leaders will take clients to locations that offer only mediocre photo ops in order to reduce costs, Suzi believes in taking clients to only the very best locations for wildlife photography. She also only leads small groups of ten or less, so that she can give each client the attention that they need.

There are many different kinds of photographers that travel with Suzi. Some are very beginners, needing a lot of her one-on-one attention. In her small group tours Suzi can take plenty of time with them in the field to give them the education they are looking for, whether it be camera technique, Photoshop, or anything else.

Other clients of Suzi’s are very advanced photographers that have photographed animals for decades all over the world. These advanced photographers travel with Suzi not because they want one-one-one attention, but because they know she will get them into the best shooting situations, at the best locations, at the best times.

Taking only small groups to only the best locations increases tour cost a bit, but the photos that photographers bring home are well worth it.

Few photographers in the world have such a portfolio or have ventured into so many regions.

Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Suzi spends nine months of the year shooting a wide variety of wildlife in the field. In recent years, she has specialized in documenting family life and has become well known for her unprecedented work with newborn animals. Although Suzi works primarily in Africa, she has undertaken commissions and led instructional photography tours and workshops everywhere from Antarctica and the Arctic to Alaska and Montana.

Her photographs have been published in books, magazines and newspapers all over the world, including many front covers. Named Ranger Rick Photographer of the Year in 2008, she is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and has won awards in many competitions, including the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, National Wildlife and Nature’s Best.

Photo by Suzi Eszterhas

Suzi spent a few years living and working on her own in the Masai Mara, spending every day from sunrise to sunset photographing enigmatic African plains wildlife. Her experiences in the Mara include spending nearly two years with five different cheetah families, four months with a lion pride, three and a half months at a hyena den, and five months at a jackal den. Her long hours observing and photographing wildlife have given her immense knowledge in wildlife behavior, which is critical in being a good wildlife photographer.

Since her time in Kenya Suzi has spent about nine months a year traveling the world to shoot many in-depth stories for Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, Ranger Rick and other magazines. Some of her past stories include: brown bears of Alaska, polar bear research in Canada, chimpanzees of Uganda, orangutans of Sumatra, mountain gorillas of Rwanda, wild dogs of Botswana, penguins of Antarctica, and many more.

Suzi brings her past experience, knowledge, and incredible stories of adventure to her tours, giving clients an experience in which they are immersed in photography and wildlife. Always working with the best local naturalist guides, her itineraries offer maximum time in the field during the best light.

Photo Travel Review Magazine has received comments and articles about her workshops from two of Suzi’s participants.  Both highly recommend her tours.

The articles will be published here during the first week of January.

Significantly, both reviewers have said that Suzi puts the participants first, meaning that if one attends one of her workshops one can expect exacting attention to one’s personal and photographic needs.  PTR believes that such testimony is at the heart of what makes a photo tour outstanding.

Some of her upcoming tours are:

Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda Photo Safari : August 13 – 22, 2011

Photograph the gentle mountain gorillas of Rwanda up close. While most tours only offer two gorilla treks, this tour offers FIVE gorilla treks to maximize photo opportunities. Each gorilla family is extremely habituated to human presence. This is Suzi’s most popular photo tour.

Wildlife of Borneo Photo Safari: September 25 – October 12, 2011

Photograph orangutans up close at world-renowned Camp Leakey, including rehabilitated orangutans now living in the forest, as well as truly wild ones. Thr group will also have a very special opportunity to visit a rehabilitation center for orphan orangutans. This center is normally closed to the public and photography is usually prohibited, Suzi’s group will have exclusive permission to photograph behind the scenes.  In addition, the tour explores the wildlife rich region of Sabah. Here, participants will visit a special sanctuary to photograph habituated proboscis monkeys, cruise rivers to photograph rare pygmy elephants, and wander tree canopy walkways to photograph gibbons, wild orangutans, leaf monkeys, flying squirrels, many gorgeous birds, frogs, butterflies and much more.

Monterey Bay Private Workshops: Scheduled throughout 2011 and 2012

Suzi teaches all levels of nature photography, from absolute beginner to serious advanced, in the Monterey Bay area. Here, Suzi’s extensive knowledge of local wildlife populations yields rare opportunities for world-class photography of sea otters, seals and sea lions and a variety of gorgeous birds. These are one-day courses, including lunch, for one or two people.

Wildlife of Costa Rica Photo Safari: February 13 -26, 2012

This safari takes you to the best locations to photograph scarlet macaws, toucans, parrots, four different species of monkeys, three-toed sloths, coatis, tapirs, anteaters, several species of brilliantly colored frogs, many gorgeous birds, and much more. The group is limited to only six participants and includes exclusive use of private bird blinds specifically constructed for photography.

Wildlife of India Photo Safari- April 2012

Photograph the exotic wildlife of India on elephant-back and by private jeep. This safari takes you to the best parks for photographing wild tigers, Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, leopards, water buffalo, swamp deer, chital, wild boars, langurs, macaques, gibbons, monitor lizards, a variety of gorgeous birds, and more.

Madagascar Lemurs and Reptiles- October 2012

Photograph some of the most unique and endangered wildlife in the world as we explore the amazing country of Madagascar. The group will photograph a variety of lemurs and reptiles, including ring-tailed lemurs, aye-ayes, indri, sifakas, chameleons, geckos, and many more.

Her offerings are distinctly different from those offered by other vendors.  Rwanda, Borneo, and Madagascar are not typical places one might visit.  Let’s just say that her offerings are at the edge, that is, opportunities one never anticipated in one’s lifetime.

I can see me now in a jungle environment of Borneo, fascinated with what the sounds and the images might impress upon my mind.  Exotic, different, remote, and full of what the earth is really about.

No doubt I will give very serious consideration to flying half way around the world to explore what Suzi has found in some of the most remote and fascinating places on the earth.

PTR Magazine highly recommends the tours offered by Suzi Eszterhas.  She has earned our five star rating (✭✭✭✭✭).

Suzi Eszterhas

To learn more, please visit her website.

The PTR Team continues to search for outstanding Photo Seminars for those who seek to combine photography, travel, and adventure. Our standards for recommending seminars are high. We look for experienced tour companies that have a good reputation, provide interesting and exciting places to travel to, and charge reasonable rates for their tours.

Wild Photography Holidays meets our criteria.

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During 2011 the company has scheduled four photographic holidays in Iceland, two departures to the Picos de Europa, Spain, one to Kerala/Tamil Nadu, India, one to Morocco and one to South Africa.

* Southern Contrasts – Glaciers Volcanoes and Waterfalls
* Flowers and Landscapes of the East
* Highland Exposure
* Trails of the Deserted Fjords
* Predators and ‘Big Five’ Photographic Safari, South Africa
* Morocco – Sahara, Atlas Mountains and Marrakesh
* Mountains Forests and Villages of the Picos de Europa
* Mystical South India – Kerala and Tamil Nadu 2011/12

The tour to South India in the Kerala and Tamil Nadu regions is of particular interest.

After seeing the YouTube video featured by Wild Photography Holidays, PTR Member Bill started checking out flights! Produced by Kerala Tourism’s international campaign, Your Moment Is Waiting is a film that goes far beyond the realm of a commercial, to capture the soul of Kerala like no destination hitherto has. Stark Communications, which has been handling the Kerala Tourism brand for almost two decades, conceived, scripted and then assigned the task of creating this film to the renowned ad film maker Prakash Varma.

Wild Photography Holidays offers a very reasonably priced tour to this area — £2,380 for 16 days.

Mystical South India – Kerala and Tamil Nadhu
Highlights include…

* World famous shore temples of Mahabalipuram
* The ancient and remarkable boulder-strewn landscape of Gingee Fort
* Arunachala, one of the world’s great spiritual power centres
* An ascent/exploration of Mount Arunachala
* Visit to the famous temple of Thanjavur (Tanjore)
* Tiny French sea-side state of Pondicherry
* The tropical forests of the Western Ghats
* Kerala Backwater cruise
* Ancient city of Cochin
* Emerald green tea plantations
* Exciting cycle rickshaw ride through old Madurai

General Summary

An innovative and exciting photographic adventure visits both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For over two weeks participants will be immersed in the vibrantly colorful, spiritual and bustling heart of this mystical sub-continent. South India’s culture like its people is a rich mosaic, vibrant, chaotic, a land of incredible contrasts and paradoxes: a singularly beautiful land offering abundant opportunities for landscape, people and architectural photography; a fantastic challenge to those of us hoping to capture its essence in images. By immersing yourself in the moment and approaching each day with curiosity and flexibility you will come to understand that India is truly one of the world’s most stunning photography locations; we will no doubt return home with some truly striking adventure travel images.

Accompanying the tour throughout is Martin Sammtleben as the photography tutor, joined by various local experts who will ensure that you are in the right place at the right time for those superb and unusual images. Non-photographer spouses/partners will be welcome. The Locations in Brief Kerala: a region of South-West India well known for its stunning natural beauty. Bordered by the tropical rain forest of the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the west, Kerala is covered by lush tropical vegetation, fascinating back-waters, the fragrant spice and tea plantations of the Cardamom Hills. Tamil Nadu: home to an ancient and little changed Dravidian civilisation, it is less frequented than its more visited neighbor Kerala; a remarkable and intensely rewarding place to explore, the Tamils are a welcoming, curious and friendly people. The coast of the Gulf of Bengal offers long and lovely beaches where traditional fishing aboard catamarans is common, you will find, rice-fields, coconut groves, market garden produce, cotton plantations, sugar cane, tobacco, mangoes and bananas.

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Wild Photography Holidays also offers four separate tours of Iceland. Priced at £2,380, the tour is called “Southern Contrasts – Glaciers, Volcanoes and Waterfalls.”

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Highlights include…

* Walking on the Solheimajökull glacier
* Black sands and Basalt cave Vik
* Skaftafell National park
* Glacial iceberg lagoons including the Jökulsárlon
* The Blue Lagoon
* Colourful geothermal areas of Hengill Volcano
* Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir

General Summary

An early season photographic holiday combining some of Iceland’s classic and iconic sights with some less visited places. Locations include the myriad colors of the geothermal areas on Hengill Volcano, Þingvellir National Park, a thrilling walk onto the Solheimajökull glacier to photograph bluish green crevasses, glacial caves, waterfalls and a magnificent landscape of sea and ice. Further East we explore the Skaftafell national park, glacial iceberg lagoons, black beaches, a basalt columnar waterfall and magnificent close up views of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur.

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Although 1st May is the official first day of summer in Iceland, the roads and tracks through the interior of Iceland will remain snowbound until the end of June. During May, the mountains and highlands will still have a covering of snow providing the perfect back-drop for those spectacular and unusual wintry shots. At the end of May the temperatures are increasing and you will be just three weeks from the summer solstice, essentially it will be light all day with the sun disappearing for around three hours only. This will give you several hours of ambient light with sunrises and sunsets that go on and on!

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The team which makes up Wild Photography Holidays is rich in experience and talent.

Geraldine Westrupp is a qualified mountaineering instructor with many years experience and she is passionate about photography.

José Navarro works as a freelance photographer and travel writer. He’s traveled extensively in remote places such as Iceland, Alaska or the Andes.

Martin Sammtleben is based in Reykjavik, Iceland, where he runs a photography and graphic/web design business. He spends a great deal of time in the outdoors exploring new and exciting locations.

Photo Travel Review Magazine highly recommends Wild Photography Holidays and has earned our Five Star Rating (✭✭✭✭✭). Given the diversity of offerings, from Iceland, Spain, Morroco, India, South Africa, one could not find more to choose from when considering a Photo Travel Adventure! And what is wonderful is that the tour offerings by the company are very reasonably priced. In today’s economic climate, this is very important. Currently the company is offering a 90 pounds discount each for two people booking together and sharing a room.

One can read more about the offerings of the tour company by visiting their website. For more information contact Geraldine Westrupp in the UK at 00354 5888939 or email info@wildphotographyholidays.com