Bird-Photo-Tours Asia Ladakh trip has been designed specifically around obtaining images of three difficult-to-photograph birds: (i) Himalayan Snowcock (ii) Tibetan Snowcock and (iii) Tibetan Sandgrouse. Even seeing these birds can be tough but obtaining close photographic encounters can be exceedingly challenging. Bird-Photo-Tours Asia Ladakh expedition aims to put the bird photographer into a position where photographers can enjoy close encounters with each of these species with a high chance of obtaining portrait-quality images. Having spent considerable time in Ladakh enjoying pleasing images of these birds on numerous occasions, Bird-Photo-Tours Asia has accumulated significant local experience to put the bird photographer in prime position to enjoy close photographic encounters with these birds.
But this trip is not only about these three species. Ladakh is situated on the western edge of The Tibetan Plateau and has landscapes which are simply stunning and must surely rank as one of the outstanding locations in Asia. With wide-open habitats, fabulous light, and a high diversity of specialist Western Himalayan birds that have carved a living for themselves in such a unique environment, Ladakh has so much to offer the bird photographer. Fabulous images can be enjoyed of a supporting cast of birds that includes Chinese Rubythroat, Mountain Chiffchaff, Blanford’s Snowfinch and Tibetan Lark. With guesthouses literally on or adjacent to the photographic locations we will enjoy photographing birds around dawn and dusk breaking at midday when the light is at its harshest to download and edit images and rest and recuperate, providing ideal logistics for obtaining high-quality images of the Birds of Ladakh.
Tanglang La: Himalayan Snowcock / Tibetan Snowcock / White-winged Redstart / Horned Lark / Rufous-breasted Accentor / Twite.
Tso Kar: Tibetan Sandgrouse / Ground Tit / Streaked Rosefinch / Great Rosefinch / Blanford’s Snowfinch / Bar-headed Goose / Northern Raven.
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Days 1-4 Leh District, Leh Town [3N, 2D, 2S]: Arrive at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh Ladakh, check into guesthouse [Overnight: Leh Town]. Photographic Targets: Mountain Chiffchaff / Ibisbill / Bluethroat / Indian Golden Oriole / Hume’s Whitethroat / Common Rosefinch.
Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / S: Session / Half-Day
Nick Ludovic Green has been living in Asia for over 15-years and in this time has conducted over 125 bird photography trips across the whole of the Asian continent ranging from Kazakhstan in the west, through India and China to Japan in the east, and from the Kamchatka coastline in the north to as far south as Indonesia. In China alone Nick has photographed to portrait-quality standard over 1,200 of China's bird species taking him to all of China's provinces as well as most of those nations bordering China. These bird photography trips have ranged in length from a few days to many months, including a three-month bird photography expedition to China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region, becoming quite possibly the most travelled foreigner in this region over the past decade. Nick has also conducted a four-month bird photography trek across the Himalayas, ranging from the Indian States of Ladakh and Kashmir in the west, into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, then onto the Indian States of West Bengal and Sikkim, ending in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in the eastern Himalayas. Nick has had his images published across numerous media channels including the BBC and Chinese state-owned media outlets, various bird magazines and journals including the Oriental Bird Club's BirdingASIA. He has his own website on the Birds of China and his book 'Portraits of the Birds of China' is due for publication in 2026. Furthermore, Nick has presented films on photographing birds both in Asia and Europe, has his bird images published across many social media platforms within and outside Asia, and has led a number of bird photography lectures and walks, particularly targeted at children. Consequently, Nick has accumulated significant experience of photographing birds within the Asian continent and this expertise has formed the backdrop to setting up Bird-Photo-Tours Asia, trips designed by bird photographers for bird photographers.
: Arunachal
: Kashmir
: Ladakh
: Babblers
: The Nicobars
: Wetland Birds
: The Andamans
: Arunachal
: Kashmir
: Ladakh
: Babblers
: The Nicobars
: Wetland Birds
: The Andamans
: Arunachal
: Kashmir
: Ladakh
: Babblers
: The Nicobars
: The Andamans
(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) Many of the locations are at altitude from 3,500-4,500m (v) There is no camping. Summary: because this trip is at altitude, it has been therefore been graded as 'Medium'.
