China-Yunnan

14 DAYS CHINA - YUNNAN PROVINCE  
29th December 2019 - 11th January 2020
 for only €1030 

"Leave nothing but footprints.  Take nothing but memories."
Wake your creativity senses up with amazing photography.  
The world is too big to sit still at one place!
Make new friends and discover China's hidden gem - The province of Yunnan.
Yunnan is the most diverse province in all China, both in its extraordinary mix of peoples and in the splendour of its landscapes. That combination of superlative sights and many different ethnic groups mades Yunnan an unparalleled province in which to stroll, hike and photograph!

More than half of the country’s minority groups reside here, providing a glimpse into China’s hugely varied mix of humanity.   21st century development has begun to creep in, which brings benefits to isolated communities, but if you’re thinking of visiting Yunnan, go now, while priceless isolation remains. A cultural kaleidoscope where the Chinese Middle Kingdom meets the Middle East and North Asia.

You'll  welcome The New Year 2020 with new friends in a world beyond your expectations!  Breathtaking landscapes and meeting so many ethnic minorities.  All this in 14 days!

For this tour, we meet up in Kunming, the heart of Yunnan province.

Independent travelling in a small group of up to six participants. A great way to bond with other like-minded travel photographers!

INFORMATION EVENING
Friday 28th June 2019.  
19.30-21.00.

Your first time to Asia? Would you like a face to face discussion or have any questions? Great! I'll love to answer them!

A 90 minute Yunnan info evening will be organised on Friday 28th June 2019. Curious? Join the information evening by filling in the contact form below. You can also join via WhatsApp.

After the information evening, you can decide later.

Book Photo Tour

Book Hotel & Flights

Get There

Enjoy!

The only photography workshop tour that gives you full control and flexibility by providing the great workshops, and tours which include transport and like-minded photography travel pals. You just book your flights to get there. Then book the hotels of your choice where we will be travelling through, or use my recommendations.
 
Don't forget, you are also on holidays and may want some time for yourself. Apart from the workshops where we work and travel together, there is sufficient rest & recreation time included for your own thing. Or if you prefer, hang out with me for meals, drinks and company. Whatever you decide, is cool for me! The tour is designed to start and end in Kunming with excellent air connections to Thailand and several Asian cities, where you can choose to extend your stay or travel further with your new friends and photography skills.
 
The Yunnan photography workshop tour requires us to wake up rather early (oh god....!). This is when we have the best light and less crowd. However, don't forget that you can always take a siesta during the day!
 
Needless to say, you'll get better deals for Christmas & New Year the earlier you book your flights and hotels.

My Travel Values

RELAX

You like a combination of photography workshops and vacation.
 
You might prefer to have your own personal chill-out time or choose to hang out and dine with new friends from the group whenever you feel like it.
 
Whatever you decide, just relax and have a great time! 

RESPONSIBILITY

You have a social conscience.
 
We travel in small groups and support the local economy by frequenting independently owned businesses.
 
We interact culturally with the local people.
 
We believe in social & environment responsibility. We limit our use of plastics.

FREEDOM

You have complete freedom and choice.  

Unless specified, the tours do not include accommodations & meals 

You can choose to stay at any accommodation and have meals of your choice, company & budget.

Complete freedom!

FLEXIBILITY

You smile a lot!
Yes you do!
 
As we travel off the beaten track, we'll sometimes need to adapt around planned events.

Take things in stride and treasure your travel memories.
 
You are a traveller, not a tourist! Be Zen and appreciate the unexpected!

Tour Highlights

#  Workshop leader speaking the local language!
#  If you love people and  landscape photography. THIS IS IT!
# Breathtaking sunrise views over centuries old ricefields.
# Get in touch with minority people.
# 1 day trekking trip through rice fields and minority villages.
# Included are high speed trains and several private transfers to save you travelling time and see even more.
# Get lost in isolation & translation!

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY
Highlights
Included
DAY 01
29th Dec. Sun.
Kunming
5pm. Meet up for welcome drink in Kunming, China. There will be a tour briefing,  get to know your fellow photographers, chill out and relax.   Optional group dinner.
Welcome drink and briefing.
DAY 02
30th Dec. Mon.
Kunming - Dali
In the morning after breakfast, we make our way to the station to catch the train to Dali. We will spend 2 nights in the old town of Dali, an ancient crossroad town on the The Silk Road. 
Return tickets High Speed Train Kunming to Dali 
DAY 03
31st Dec. Tue.
Dali.
Dali.  We take a very early morning stroll in Dali before heading out of town with a local bus to Dacangzhen valley, home to the Hui people, one of Yunnan’s oldest and Muslim communities

We have a  fascinating glimpse of what happens when the Middle Kingdom meets the Middle East, a cultural mélange. Depending on time, we may explore other villages or head back to Dali.

Optional New Year's Eve group dinner.
Workshop
DAY 04
1st Jan. Wed
Dali.
Dali.  Another early morning rise. Depending on plans and weather, we might explore Dali, head off to Cangshan mountain or rent a bicycle to explore the Western side of the Erhai lake visiting the Bai minority villages.
Workshop
DAY 05
02nd Jan.  Thu.
Dali to Dongchuan
In the morning, we take the train back to Kunming and a private transfer to Dongchuan - The Red Lands.  Arriving just before sunset, we might have a glimpse of the wonderful landscape.

We will review techniques and images. 
High speed train tickets, private transfer to Dongchuan, workshop
DAY 06
03rd Jan. Fri. Dongchuan.
Early morning sunrise shoot. We spend the day exploring the The Red Lands and end the day with a sunset shoot!

Private transport and workshop
DAY 07
04th. Jan. Sat.
Dongchuan to Yuanyang.


It will be a long day of travelling. But if you are still up for it, a last morning shoot and private transfer Dongchuan to Kunming. Followed by public bus to Jiangshui and connecting to our private transfer to Yuanyang. 
Private and public bus transport.
DAY 08
05th Jan. Sun.
Yuanyang
Sunrise shoot at the rice fields. After a quick breakfast, we visit the largest and most flamboyant market in the region visited by at least 6 different ethnic minorities.  We spend the rest of the day exploring and photographing the other areas and end with a rice field sunset shoot.
Private transport and workshop.
DAY 09
06th Jan. Mon.
Yuanyang
Another opportunity for sunrise shoot over the rice fields. After yesterday's busy agenda, today, we'll take time to review and discuss your images.
Workshop
DAY 10
07th Jan Tue.
Yuanyang.
Another sunrise shoot (possibly at another location). After breakfast we head off for a day of light trekking through the rice fields, meeting the locals, farmers and a late lunch at a local village.  By late afternoon, we are back at the hotel.  
Trekking and workshop
DAY 11
08th Jan. Wed.
Yuanyang to Jianshui
Your last sunrise shoot or you can sleep in!  After breakfast, we depart to Jiangshui, another ancient town. Walking through the town which dates back to AD810. Lots of architecture from the time of the Ming dynasty.
Private transport to Jiangshui and workshop
DAY 12
09th Jan. Thu
Jianshui to Kunming
We spend our morning observing the daily lives of the local Han Chinese followed by an early lunch before taking a bus to Kunming. We arrive in Kunming late afternoon.

At night, we'll take in some sights of Kunming, also known as the 'Eternal Spring City'. The city has a history of more than 2,000 years and was once among the several gateways to the Silk Road.
Public transport and workshop
DAY 13
10th Jan. Fri
Kunming
Very early morning we leave by public transport and a cable 'car' ride to visit the Kunming Dragon Gate (2,500m) carved out of a mountain between 1781-1835. The top offers spectacular views 360 degrees.

We will back in Kunming early afternoon where you have the rest of the day free to explore or shopping for souvenirs!

Optional end of tour group dinner.
Workshop
DAY 14
11th Jan. Sat
END OF TOUR
Kunming to Bangkok.
You can stay on in Kunming or fly to Thailand (like Chiang Mai, back to Bangkok for your return flight) or even a beach vacation in Phuket wishing you were not leaving!
  

Tour participant's profile

  • You are a free independent traveller with a lust for adventure and photography. You are capable of making your own accommodation arrangements at each location. Everything else is taken care of. Relax and enjoy yourself.
  • Bummer..... You should have some basic knowledge about photography, understand exposure and handling your camera (not on full auto). If you are currently shooting on full auto or would like a refreshal, it is highly recommended that you join the half-day photography crash course.
  • Another one....Be willing to wake up early as this is where the action is. Photography is more important than sleep! Remember, you have the day to take a siesta and at the end of the tour you can extend your stay and wake up at your leisure.
  • The last.... Be reasonably fit as it involves walking and light treks.  You can also opt out of this and do other things.
  • You share my core values of interacting with the local people & culture, sensitive about their way of doing things, believe in social responsibility and supporting the local economy.
  • You are easy going, enjoy meeting people and making new friends. We are a small group of up to 7 photographers and I want everyone to have an a wonderful time with me. Be zen about life and accept the unexpected as part and parcel of having memorable moments!
  • Like me, you are passionate about travel photography and wish to get amazing photos and not snap shots!
 

Skills you will take away 

  • Develop core photography competence.
  • Understand landscape, night, people and street photography.
  • Effective composition tips.
  • Shoot great travel photographs.
  • Manage challenging light situations and using available light.
  • Other image editing & processing techniques of with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
  • People interaction skills in spontaneous situations & street photography.
What is included and excluded from the photography tour.
I believe in transparency and accessibility to the tours. Each of us have personal budgets, different comfort expectations but a common goal of travel photography and great images. Over 14 days, through the workshops and tours, we will explore many photography techniques, improve your photography skills along the way while working together.
 
Apart from the personal attention you'll be receiving, you will have your own free time. There will be opportunities as well to share costs with fellow photographers to do other activities not included (optional excursions).
 
The most important components of the tour are already included.
 
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN €990. :
  • Unless mentioned, all long distance land transport during the period and the workshops are included.
  • 3 days of private transport at local places to travel further and to see more!

WHAT IS EXCLUDED :

  • International air travel to/from Kunming.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Visa fees.
  • Meals, accommodation, entrance fees,
  • Tips and expenses of a personal nature
  • Anything else that is not included will be mentioned in the detailed program.
  • Please take a moment to glance through the links below as they provide insights, tips and suggestions to make your travel arrangements hassle free.
* USD rate is an indication and subject to currency fluctuations. Check current exchange rate here.
Do you have any questions or would like more information?  Just contact us!

GET IN TOUCH!

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