PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR OVERVIEW:  This photography tour takes you to the frontier region of southwest China where you will have an opportunity to see how the ethnic minorities in that part of China live. Meet and photograph the Bai, Naxi, Hui, Mongols, Yi and other minority peoples, and at the same time enjoy some of China's most enchanting natural scenery.  China's south-western frontier region is noted for it's magnificent mountains and rivers and it's varied topography. Over the centuries, the varied geographic and environmental conditions have contributed to how the many ethnic minorities live in the area, as they established many different customs and traditions. Travelling the region is akin to having a long scrolling painting unfolding before your eyes, which depicts cultural traditions, ethnic customs, clothing, ornaments, and the architectural styles of these ethnic minorities.

INCREASING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS: There isn’t a straightforward way to describe everything you will learn on one of our photography tours in just a few words, but I'll give it a try . . . I instruct, encourage, nurture, coach, nudge, help and guide clients etcetera, all day and every day.  This includes one-on-ones and 'collective instruction', i.e. advice given to the whole group at each photo stop. Subjects and techniques discussed and demonstrated are composition strength, shutter speeds, exposure compensation, how aperture choice influences depth of field, lens choice, filter use, long exposure effects, deliberate blur, macro and so on. I also encourage you to 'see' an image when the opportunity presents itself, i.e. to be on the lookout for those less obvious shots that are no less stunning. Lastly, I conduct image critiques both on location - digital camera screens are ideal for this - and via the use of laptops. PhotoShop sessions are also included as time permits. For more details regarding what you'll learn go here.

TRAVEL TO THE GATEWAY AIRPORT
o It is recommended that clients arrive a day early to be fresh for the trip, and to also counteract possible flight delays.
o Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish to do so.
o When booking flights, add a day for overnight travel or two days if also crossing the Pacific Ocean/International Dateline.
o The last day of the trip is the date you should arrange your flight home unless you plan to stay on. Thank you!

DAY 1  |  Depart HONG KONG
Fly to Kunming from Hong Kong. Kunming situated on the shores of lake of Dianchi, is one of China's most pleasant cities and is largely protected from the South China monsoon, so the weather should be delightfully warm and spring like. We plan to visit the Provincial Museum to get an overview of the minorities of Yunnan and their lives and costumes.
KUNMING, 1 night

DAY 2
A day drive to Dali through the rich horticultural lowlands surrounding Kunming and then through an extensive area of limestone gorges and finally to Erhai Lake and Dali. Dali is situated on Lake Erhai, to the people of Dali the scenery is characterised by "Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon".
DALI, 3 nights

DAY 3
We will spend half a day at Lake Erhai travelling by boat to Zhoucheng. En route we should see Bai fishing junks, their structure similar to Tang Dynasty warships. Zhoucheng is one of largest Bai villages in the region and the people are well known for their indigo tie-dyes cloth with a white butterfly design.

DAY 4
We’ also explore the Three pagodas and Butterfly Spring. Equally interesting are the marble workshops around the town. The shops are picturesque as are the town, the city gate and the remaining walls.

DAYS 5, 6 and 7
Morning drive to Lijiang (3 hours drive). The town is attractive with it's wooden buildings, streams, weeping willows and views of the surrounding Jade Dragon Snow Mountains.
We intend to spend a day in a Naxi village to look for examples of the ancient Naxi pictorial script written on the rocks, and hope to photograph Naxi women dressed in traditional costumes. Walks will be made to local temples in Lijiang. We also will have an evening local music show.
LIJIANG, 3 nights

DAY 8
Morning flight to Kunming. We will visit on of Buddhist and Taoist temples with upturned eaves and intricate cantilevers, all painted in subtle hues and containing interesting statuary. Lots of character and colour at the Bird and Flower market which we will visit.
KUNMING, 1 night

DAYS 9 + 10
Half day drive to Jianshui. En route we will minority Hui, Mongols and Yi villages. We will visit the local temple, garden and the double dragon bridge. during our stay.
JIANSHUI, 2 nights

DAYS 11
It will take us 2 days to drive and explore through the most scenic and picturesque minority nationality area. Overnight at Jiangchen County

DAY 12, 13 + 14
Today we finally reach the most exotic Xishuangbanna which is located in the deep south of Yunnan Province. The great attraction of this area are the minority Dai people. To keep themselves off the damp earth in this tropical rain forest weather, the Dais live in wooden houses raised on stilts-the pigs and chickens below. The common dress is sarongs and straw hats and the women have upswept hairstyles. Jinghong is the tropical tree-lined administrative town of Xishuangbanna. The main attractions are Dai villages and Tropical Plant Research Institute. Explore some of the Dais villages and the local markets.
JINGHONG, 3 nights

DAY 15
The Manfeilong pagoda group stand in the shadow of Manfeilong Mountain. From a distance these pagodas look like white bamboo shoots after rain. In the afternoon fly back to Kunming.
KUNMING, 1 night

PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR FEES, DETAILS + ENROLLMENT

TRIP COST:  $TBD per person double occupancy

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $TBD

SMALL GROUP SUPPLEMENT:
For groups of 6 only: Add 12% of the trip cost above.
For groups of 5 or less: Rate is negotiable.

INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST: The following items are included in the trip cost: photography instruction throughout the trip by John; all accommodations with private facilities [ensuite]; all breakfasts; lunch on day one of the trip; dinner on the last night of the trip; on-vehicle snacks and bottled water; all ground transportation; airport transfers on the first and last days of the trip only; entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions’; and following the trip, field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, and a disc containing images of clients 'in action' on the trip.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRIP COST: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant: airfare; travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return; any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates; pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation; lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip; alcoholic beverages; entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary or a part of the trip; excess baggage charges; medical costs; personal items; incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as internet access, phone calls or laundry; baggage and/or travel insurance; passport or visa expenses; and airport departure taxes.

ENROLLMENT