Nepal needs little introduction. Its legendary mountains, deep-rooted culture, and warm hospitality have drawn explorers, climbers, and artists for generations. For photographers, it is extraordinary. Immense snow-covered peaks, sweeping glaciers, ancient monasteries clinging to the hillsides, turquoise mountain lakes, and daily life unfolding against a dramatic mountain backdrop create endless creative possibilities

Join us for an expedition that goes far beyond the ordinary. This is a 16-day custom-designed landscape photography and trekking journey through the heart of the Mount Everest region, led by Andy Mumford and Jonas Paurell. It is not designed to rush from viewpoint to viewpoint or simply tick off famous landmarks. It is built for those who want to experience the Himalaya deeply, move through it deliberately, and come away with images and memories that truly matter.

The route is a carefully thought out blend of the iconic Everest Base Camp Trek and the more remote Three Passes Trek. We have combined some of the most powerful sections of both, then refined the itinerary with additional photography days in key locations. This creates what we consider to be the ultimate photography-focused expedition in the Mount Everest region. Time is built in where it matters most, allowing light, weather, and atmosphere to shape the experience rather than a rigid schedule.

To elevate the journey even further, we use helicopter transfers instead of relying solely on unreliable airplane flights and long road logistics. This means smoother transitions, far greater flexibility, and spectacular aerial perspectives of the Himalaya. Where available, we stay in deluxe lodges, offering higher-quality comfort in this remote, high-altitude environment.

This trek balances genuine adventure with space to slow down, observe, and fully engage with the landscape, the light, and the moment. For me, the root of all photography is experience, and here you will be traveling with like-minded photographers who value nature, storytelling, and exploration. The result is a journey that feels personal, immersive, and with just the right pace to allow your photography to flourish.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HELICOPTER TRANSFERS TO AND FROM THE MOUNTAINS

Instead of airplane flights to Lukla, this expedition uses helicopter transfers. This offers a far more luxurious, comfortable, flexible, and reliable way to access the mountains.

Helicopters are less affected by delays and cancellations than planes, allowing us to take advantage of short weather windows and reduce waiting time in Kathmandu. The experience itself is exceptional. You enjoy panoramic views of the Himalaya from the air, turning the transfer into a memorable part of the journey rather than a logistical hurdle.

Helicopter travel also allows for smoother arrivals and departures, less congestion, and a more relaxed start and finish to the expedition. It is a significant upgrade in comfort, efficiency, and overall experience.

AGENDA

Weather in the high Himalaya can be stable for long periods or change rapidly within hours. While we follow a planned itinerary, the daily agenda may be adjusted as conditions require. Each day begins with a careful review of the weather forecast to ensure safe and rewarding decisions.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND LOCAL ETHOS

This expedition is run with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. We aim to leave as small a footprint as possible at every stage of the journey. Wherever possible, we work exclusively with local suppliers, supporting local communities and contributing directly to the regional economy

All of the images on this page are Jonas Paurell’s

WORKSHOP INCLUDES

Helicopter transfer: Kathmandu–Lukla

Helicopter transfer: Gokyo–Lukla

Helicopter transfer: Lukla–Kathmandu

Three licensed trekking guides (for a full group)

Eight porters for the group’s luggage (for a full group) - A maximum of 10 kg / 22 lbs per guest is allocated for clothing, sleeping bag, and equipment, including the weight of the duffel bag. A duffel bag will be provided upon arrival in Kathmandu

An additional 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs is allocated for a tripod, carried by porters and transported in a duffel bag

Expert guidance from two professional photographers

Landscape photography in unforgettable locations

A structured photography curriculum to strengthen your landscape photography skills

Theoretical sessions

All accommodation during the expedition: 3 nights in a shared twin room at a four-star hotel in Kathmandu and 12 nights in mountain lodges during the trek (see “Accommodation” above for details)

All meals during the expedition, starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 16

Purified drinking water during the trek

Post-processing workshop in Lightroom, including a screen recording for participants to keep

Rental of a winter sleeping bag and down jacket

Insurance for guides and porters

All required trekking permits

NOT INCLUDED

Airfare to and from Kathmandu, Nepal

Personal photography equipment

Outdoor clothing and personal gear

Snacks to eat on the go

Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

WiFi, device charging, and extra hot shower services

International flights to and from Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal entry visa

Gratuities for local guides and porters

Personal travel insurance (mandatory and must include medical care, accident coverage, repatriation, trip cancellation, trip interruption, helicopter rescue up to 5,999 m, and personal liability coverage)

Costs related to extra meals, accommodation, or transportation due to unforeseen circumstances, natural disasters, weather-related delays or personal reasons

DAY 1 | ARRIVAL DAY KATHMANDU | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 1,300M / 4,265FT

You will be met throughout the day at Kathmandu Airport (Tribhuvan International Airport) and transferred to our centrally located 4-star hotel in the heart of the city. After your arrival, the rest of the day is free to slow down, rest, and begin absorbing Nepal. The city hums outside the hotel walls. Prayer flags, traffic, incense, voices. In the evening, we gather for a welcome dinner at 7 PM to mark the beginning of the expedition and set the tone for the days ahead.

DAY 2 | KATHMANDU | TREK PREPARATION AND STREET PHOTOGRAPHY | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 1,300M / 4,265FT

A full day in Kathmandu. We hold a briefing, and go through gear together - making sure that everyone is prepared for what lies ahead. In between logistics, we step into the streets with cameras ready. Kathmandu is intense, layered, and endlessly visual. We photograph temples wrapped in incense smoke, chaotic markets, monks, street vendors, and quiet moments that exist just beneath the surface. This day sets the photographic mindset for the journey ahead.

DAY 3 | HELICOPTER TO LUKLA – TREK TO PHAKDING | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 2,610M / 8,562FT

A spectacular helicopter flight brings us straight into the heart of the Khumbu. Mountains rise fast as we approach Lukla. After landing, we begin trekking with an easy first day toward Phakding. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi River through forest, suspension bridges, and small mountian villages. We photograph village life, prayer wheels, mani stones, and the first real sense of scale the Himalaya offers.

Trekking: Approx. 4h | Distance: 8km / 5.0mi | Elevation: +250m / 820ft | -450m / 1,475ft

DAY 4 | PHAKDING – NAMCHE BAZAAR | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 3,440M / 11,286FT

We follow the river north, crossing several iconic suspension bridges draped in prayer flags. At Monjo, we enter Sagarmatha National Park before beginning the long climb to Namche Bazaar. This is our first real test at altitude. The trail winds upward through forest, occasionally opening to distant mountain glimpses. Namche appears suddenly, carved into the mountainside like a natural amphitheater. Photography becomes serious here. Villages, switchbacks, peaks, and deep valleys all compete for attention.

Trekking: Approx. 7–8h | Distance: 10km / 6.2mi | Elevation: +830m / 2,723ft

DAY 5 | NAMCHE BAZAAR | ACCLIMATIZATION DAY | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 3,440M / 11,286FT

A full acclimatization day. We hike higher during the day before returning to sleep lower, allowing the body to adapt. We explore Namche’s shops, side streets, and monasteries. Photography focuses on mountain life, textures, details, and wide mountain views. Weather permitting, this is often the first place where Mount Everest quietly reveals itself, distant but unmistakable.

Trekking: Acclimatization hikes up to 6km / 3.7mi | Elevation: +/-300m / 985ft

DAY 6 | NAMCHE BAZAAR – DEBOCHE | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 3,820M / 12,532FT

We leave Namche on the high trail with sweeping views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam dominating the skyline. The trail undulates along the mountainside before descending to the river and climbing again through a forest to Deboche. This is a day of classic Himalayan trekking. Open views, dramatic light, and powerful mountain compositions framed by prayer flags and stupas.

Trekking: Approx. 7–8h | Distance: 12km / 7.5mi | Elevation: +600m / 1,969ft | -300m / 985ft

DAY 7 | DEBOCHE – DINGBOCHE | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,410M / 14,468FT

The landscape opens as we move higher into the mountians. Trees disappear and the valley widens. Stone-walled fields protect crops from wind and cold. Dingboche sits beneath massive ridgelines with views that feel almost unreal. Afternoon light here can be extraordinary. The photography becomes cleaner, more graphic, and more abstract as the environment strips itself down to rock, ice, and sky.

Trekking: Approx. 5–6h | Distance: 10km / 6.2mi | Elevation: +600m / 1,969ft

DAY 8 | DINGBOCHE | ACCLIMATIZATION DAY | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,410M / 14,468FT

A crucial acclimatization day that allows for deeper intentional photography. Short hikes take us to surrounding ridges with expansive views across the Imja Valley toward Island Peak, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. We work deliberately with scale, isolation, and light. The slower pace allows recovery while refining our photographic approach at altitude.

Trekking: Acclimatization hikes up to 6km / 3.7mi | Elevation: +/-300m / 985ft

DAY 9 | DINGBOCHE – LOBUCHE | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,910M / 16,108FT

We climb gradually past memorials dedicated to climbers who lost their lives on Everest. The air is thin now, and every step matters. The terrain becomes stark and glacial. Lobuche sits on a barren moraine beneath Nuptse, surrounded by ice, rock, and silence. This is high-altitude Himalayan photography at its rawest.

Trekking: Approx. 5h | Distance: 9.5km / 5.9mi | Elevation: +500m / 1,640ft

DAY 10 | LOBUCHE – GORAK SHEP – KALA PATTHAR – GORAK SHEP

A landmark day. We trek to Gorak Shep, leave our main packs, and continue toward the summit of Kala Patthar for a spectacular sunset views of Mount Everest. The terrain is rugged and glacial, with constant views of the Khumbu Icefall below. As the sun sets, Everest and the surrounding peaks ignite in shifting light. We descend back to Gorak Shep under headlamp, tired and exhilarated.

Trekking: Approx. 7–8h | Distance: 11.5km / 7.1mi | Elevation: +610m / 2,000ft

DAY 11 | GORAK SHEP – EVEREST BASE CAMP – DZONGLA | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,830M / 15,846FT

An early start for an optional visit to Everest Base Camp. Morning light across the Khumbu Icefall and the base camp offers strong photographic moments. After returning to Gorak Shep for breakfast, we descend toward Dzongla. The mood shifts. Quieter trails, wider views, and a sense of remoteness.

Trekking: Approx. 8h | Distance: 13km / 8.1mi | Elevation: +400m / 1,312ft | -700m / 2,297ft

DAY 12 | DZONGLA | DAY HIKE AND PHOTOGRAPHY | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,830M / 15,846FT

A deliberately slow day where we can focus deeper on photography. In Jonas’ view, this is one of the stronger visual areas of the trek. Dzongla feels wild and exposed, with fewer trekkers and dramatic mountain geometry. We explore ridges, a frozen lake and glacial terrain, working with light, atmosphere, and minimalism.

Trekking: Day hikes up to 6km / 3.7mi | Elevation: +/-500m / 1,640ft

DAY 13 | DZONGLA – CHOLA PASS – GOKYO | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,790M / 15,715FT

A long, demanding, and deeply rewarding day. We start before dawn, moving by headtorch toward the Chola Pass (5,420m / 17,782ft). The ascent is steep and includes glacial terrain. Crossing the pass feels like stepping into another world. On the far side, the landscape opens toward Gokyo and its surreal turquoise lakes. One of the most visually striking transitions of the entire expedition.

Trekking: Approx. 12h | Distance: 12km / 7.5mi | Elevation: +600m / 1,969ft | -650m / 2,133ft

DAY 14 | GOKYO | DAY HIKE | SLEEPING ALTITUDE 4,790M / 15,715FT

A full day dedicated to photography in the Gokyo Valley. We explore the lakes, glaciers, and surrounding ridges. There is the option to summit Gokyo Ri for higher viewpoints overlooking the Ngozumpa Glacier and Cho Oyu. Calm conditions can produce reflections by the lakes that feel almost unreal.

Trekking: Day hikes up to 10km / 6.2mi | Elevation: +/-700m / 2,297ft

DAY 15 | HELICOPTER GOKYO – LUKLA – KATHMANDU

We depart Gokyo by helicopter, flying back over glaciers, passes, and valleys to Lukla, then onward to Kathmandu. The entire route unfolds beneath us from the air. A powerful and fitting finale. Transfer to the hotel and a final celebration dinner in the evening.

DAY 16 | DEPARTURE DAY

The expedition officially ends today. Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.

IN THE FIELD

• Understanding the light and choosing the best exposure

• Composition - Balance and harmony, leading lines and creating depth.

• Composition - A comprehensive introduction to the theory of composition, including the elements of art and principles of design

• Lens choice. From the wide-angle vista to shooting landscape abstracts with a telephoto lens

• Storytelling - Telling stories and evoking emotions within the context of landscape photography

• Shooting multiple image panoramas

• Controlling light in scenes with a wide dynamic range using graduated filters and/or multiple exposures

• Using filters (polarising and NDs for long exposures of clouds)

PROCESSING

As this is a trekking expedition, we won’t be taking laptops with us. However, we will do some processing via an online session once we are back home.

• Deciding which direction to take post processing according to the mood of an image

• Using Lightroom to apply contrast locally

• “Shaping” the light using contrast tools in Photoshop and Lightroom

• Different techniques for blending multiple exposures of the same image

• Stitching multiple panoramas together

• Finishing touches for processing to give images dramatic punch

• Sharpening images

ANDY MUMFORD - CREATIVE GUIDE

Andy is a Lisbon based professional landscape and travel photographer. Andy grew up in the UK loving nature and travel and took up landscape photography over a decade ago. Since then he has travelled extensively photographing all over the world and his photography and articles have featured in publications and books worldwide. He is a passionate photographer teacher and has been leading both group and one-to-one workshops for five years.

He is a Fuji X Photographer and a brand ambassador for Fujifilm in Portugal, although he also has extensive experience with Nikon and Canon cameras

JONAS PAURELL - CREATIVE GUIDE & EXPEDITION LEADER

Jonas is the founder of Terra Photography Expeditions. He has been a photographer for well over 20 years. He is a certified International Mountain Leader (UIMLA) that has spent a lifetime exploring the world's wild areas. Jonas will be leading the expedition.

Jonas loves working with developing photographers to strengthen their technical foundation and support them to unleach their inner creativity. Jonas achieves this through engaging lectures, educative assignments and hands-on teaching in the field.

Terra Photography Expeditions