"Sacred Moments - Gasa Tshechu and Highland Life"
Bhutan
ABOUT THE PHOTO WORKSHOP
Join Mathias for a journey into photo journalism and discover the mysterious Bhutanese culture. This 11-day workshop takes you to not one, not two, but three different festivals giving us lots of opportunity to learn about Bhutanese people and traditions with plenty of time to photograph dancing masked monks and the joyous atmosphere. Also be prepared to go off the beaten path to monasteries and nunneries with rich and exotic interiors, capturing scenes of crimson-robed monks set against a backdrop of whitewashed lhakangs and dzongs.
This workshop do not just bring you from location to location and rushing off just to cover more sites to impress the guests, like so many of others do, most especially in Bhutan. With a small group size, we will spend enough time at a single location, with insight, instruction and true travel photography guidance given throughout, done informally according to each participant’s needs and stated requests.
We will also set out into the mountains of Bhutan to shoot images of exquisite temples, visit some farming villages and local homes..
Focusing on only a few districts in western Bhutan, we will not be spending all day driving across the country and as such, we will have time in evenings as a group to review our work, discover new techniques and share some time to help each of you with your creative journey.
Photo by Chris Tan
Photo by Chris Tan
Photo by Chris Tan
Location:
Bhutan
Dates: 30th March to 9th April 2025 (11 Days, 10 Nights)
Schedule:
Day 1: Sunday, 30th March 2025
Arrive in Paro
The flight to Paro is one of the most spectacular mountain flights in the world, with a constantly changing panorama of some of the highest mountains on earth. Upon landing in Paro international airport, your local guide and driver will be waiting for you at Paro airport.
You will be driven to the hotel for check in. Free and easy till the rest of the group arrive at the hotel.
Meet up at 18:30 for a group welcome dinner.
Day 2: Monday, 31st March 2025
Location: Paro
We will set off for Paro Dzong. Also called the Rinpung Dzong, the Fortress of the Heap of Jewels, Paro Dzong was built in 1645 by the Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. It is an imposing square fortress, representative of typical Dzong architecture, with a central tower and courtyards housing the administrative quarters and the monastic section.
Day 3: Tuesday, 1st April 2025
Location: Depart Paro to Thimphu
Buddha Point and short hike/drive to Changangkha
One of the largest statues of sitting Buddha (Made of Bronze glided in gold) in the world at the height of 169” (51 meters) approximately; the place gives you a bird’s eye view of Thimphu city
Is about 2 hours walk through the nature with blue pine and oak trees and other shrubs. This leisure walk also provides a bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley and the city. The hike will end at Changangkha, where we will visit Changangkha Lhakhang, Which is home of Buddhist master Lam Nima, son of Phajo Drugom Zhipo. One of the oldest temples in Thimphu where people around Thimphu valley visit to seek help and blessings from the local deity. From the temple we will be able to enjoy the panoramic view of Thimphu city. From the place where the Buddha is built, it gives a bird’s eye view of Thimphu valley.
Day 4: Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Location: Thimphu to Punakha
It is located approximately 3,140m above sea level and it is a mountain pass to go to Punakha. It’s a breath-taking viewpoint where you can see panoramic view of Himalayan ranges that fall in Bhutan. There are also 108 Chortens (Stupas) built beautifully to mark the spot.
Day 5: Thursday, 3rd April 2025
Location: Punakha
Bhutanese architecture and artistic traditions. The temple took about nine years to build. Is located on a ridge at Kabisa Gewong in Punakha over looking several villages. This temple has been dedicated for the well being of the kingdom, the people and all sentient beings. The walk/hike through rice fields before you start climbing a moderately inclined trail surrounded by pine trees. It takes about 1 hour from the car park to hike up to the temple, and from the temple you will enjoy the magnificent view of mo-chhu valley below.
Day 6: Friday, 4th April 2025
Location: Punakha to Gasa (Drive 6 hours)
Gasa is home to highlanders communities mainly Layaps and Lunaps who live in the extreme north of Bhutan.
Day 7: Saturday, 5th April 2025
Location: Gasa Tshechu (Drive 3 hours to Punakha)
Deep in the remote northwest villages of the Kingdom of Bhutan, the people who celebrate their culture and faith with dances and colorful costumes. The Gasa Tshechu is held every March/April in the small district of Gasa in Bhutan, which is home to highlander communities.
Day 8: Sunday, 6th April 2025
Location: Punakha to Thimphu (Drive 2 hours)
‘Fortress of glorious religion” constructed in 1641 and restored in 1960s. Is the office of His Majesty the King and the secretariat, and houses two ministries and other offices. The coronation of the present King took place in this fortress in 2008.
Day 9: Monday, 7th April 2025
Location: Thimphu to Paro (Drive 75 minutes)
Kila Goemba Nunnery, is also called Chele La Gompa has around 100 nuns, seven little temples and several residential buildings that straddle on the cliff-side facing Paro. It has great views of Paro, and Jele Dzong across on the far ridge and also seen to the north are Mt Chomolhari and Jichu Drake on a clear day. This amazing nunnery is far away from the hustle and bustle of the towns people but their view probably never misses anything. From the roadside near Chele La, it takes about 40mins to climb about 300m.
Day 10: Tuesday, 8th April 2025
Location: Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Temple) 3,100 meters
Taktsang Lhakhang is Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious site. The name Taktsang translates to “The Tiger’s Nest”. This temple is one of the most holy sites in the kingdom and clings impossibly to a sheer cliff face 900 hundred meters above the Paro Valley. It was first built in 1692 at a cave where Guru Rimpoche meditated in the 7th century A.D. Legend states that Guru Rimpoche flew to the site atop the back of a tigress and meditated in the cave for 3 years, 3 months, 3 days and 3 hours in order to subdue evil demons residing within it. The cave has been considered a sacred site ever since and many famous saints have travelled to meditate in it. In order to arrive at the temple visitors must trek for around 2-3 hours through beautiful, shady pine forests.
Day 11: Wednesday 11th April 2025
Location: Depart Paro
End of photo workshop.
Arrangements will be made for airport transfer.
FEES:
Online Booking
Contact Information:
For further information contact: m35reportage@gmail.com
Follow on Instagram: mathiasheng
Terms & Conditions:
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Full fees must be paid on prior to the start of the workshop.
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Maximum Participants: 11 participants.
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We reserve the right to cancel groups with less than 4 participants.
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We reserve the right to change or alter the program advertised.
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Cancellations. We will reimburse all the registration costs except for a 10% of the costs for administrative fee, if you inform us of cancellation at least 20 days before the first day of the Workshop. Beyond this time limit, we will charge the following: 50% of the cost if cancelled between 19 and 5 days before the workshop commences. 100% of the cost if cancelled on the 4 days before the workshop commences.
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Fee included: Visa, Transportation, accommodation and meals on workshop dates.
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Fee not included: air flight, travel insurance, photography equipment.