Ancient Kingdoms Photography Tour

The Kingdoms of Siam, Laos and the Khmer date back thousands of years, and we explore that history through the perspective of the lens. Bangkok is the bustling heart of Thailand and the starting point for our journey. We travel north to the ancient capital of Chiang Mai, the golden temples of Laos and then conclude our tour in Cambodia's majestic Angkor Wat region.

November 09-23, 2012
November 15-29, 2013
Maximum group size is 8 people, priced at US$4800

Itinerary

Days 1-3 | Bangkok, Thailand
Starting in the Thai capital we'll show you ancient temples, quiet laneways and eat some great food before boarding a sleeper train to the north.

Days 4-6 | Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Lanna Kingdom was based out of modern day Chiang Mai. Visit the elephants at Lampang, enjoy the view from Wat Doi Suthep and take in the famous nightmarket.

Days 7-10 | Luang Prabang, Laos
A short flight takes us to one of Asia's most beautiful places. Luang Prabang was the former Lao capital and is now a beautifully preserved mix of French colonial architecture and ancient Buddhist temples. Rise early to see the daily alms collection by the towns many monks, learn the secrets of delicious Lao cusine and relax in one of the many cafes.

Days 11-15 | Angkor Kingdom, Cambodia
We fly onto Siem Reap, our base for exploring the temples of the Angkor Kingdom including the famous Angkor Wat. We will see some of the more well known temples and also travel out to more distant sites where fewer people venture. On the final day of the tour we fly to Bangkok where you can connect to your homeward flights.

Meet The Photographer
My name is Ewen Bell and I love photography, and I love Asia. The food, the people and the Buddhist cultures have kept me coming back for a decade. Thailand is so luxurious for travellers, and Cambodia offers such exceptional old temples. But Laos is my favourite. Everyone who visits Laos says the same :)

Photo Essay - Angkor in Black & White
Photo Essay - Monks on the Mekong
Photo Essay - Bangkok Specials
Photo Essay - The Lanna Kingdom

Feedback from Past Travellers
"I can highly recommend this trip for any avid photographer. Ours was a mixed group with a wide range of expertise and experience, but Ewen Bell gave each of us the degree of instruction we wanted and/or needed. It was exhilarating just to follow him around and see what he did, although we also had ample time to explore on our own. He and Jason Williams were tireless in their efforts to show us a good time, as well as develop our skills: panning; shooting "rough"; timing our expeditions so we caught sunrises and sunsets; showing us the best corner on which to see the processions of monks receiving alms; encouraging us when we felt a bit discouraged with our results; demonstrating how to engage the local villagers who spoke no English so they were happy to pose for us; sharing processing tips; waiting for us to catch up (mainly me). What impressed me most about this tour was the genuine consideration of our guides for the local people of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, who responded with warmth when we asked them for photographs. Jason and Ewen showed us many ways we could 'give back"; Jason is a pretty good juggler, to the delight of the local children! I would highly recommend the tour. Great food and accommodation, interesting and varied sites, good friends."

- June W, Canada
Ancient Kingdoms Photography Tour, November 2010

"My third trip with Ewen and Grasshopper Adventures to see the ancient kingdoms of SE Asia was magnificent! I fell in love with the land, the people and the culture and brought back some great photographs and memories. Typical of Grasshopper Adventures, we found things there that no large tour company would ever include. As an example, on the way to visit one of the ancient temples we happened to see a small group of people harvesting rice, so we stopped the bus and our local Cambodian guide asked if they would mind if we took their pictures while they worked. They said yes we could, so we spent at least an hour with them while they worked, talked and laughed. It is interactions like this one that bring you nearer to the people and what I love so much about Ewen's style and Grasshopper Adventures' philosophy on travel. Thanks, guys!"

- Liz G, USA
Ancient Kingdoms Photography Tour, November 2009

Advance Your Photography
If you want to explore your creative potential, learn about the basics of photography or gain a little professional insight then these tours are a magnificent way to do it. If you're ready to learn new skills while you travel then this is the trip for you. If you want to spend quality time with like minded people and enjoy the sharing of knowledge and experiences, then we would love to have you along.

8 is Great
I never want to run a photography tour with more than 8 people, let alone 12 or 16. Smaller groups mean less drama, more fun and are infinitely more rewarding. My first responsibility is to ensure every person on my tour gets plenty of my time and advice, plus to ensure we don't ruin a lovely location by dragging a horde of photographers about. Small isn't just good, it's great!

What's Included
Please check the brochure for additional details, but every tour includes themed sessions, one-on-one tuition, a copy of the "Photography for Travellers" book, internal ground and air travel, accommodation and many meals. International flights, spending money and cameras are not included.

Dates

2012	June 04 - 17	Australia by Air	fully booked
2012	August 06 - 10	Arnhem Land Workshop	new
2012	September 09 - 23	China	fully booked
2012	October 22 - November 05	Bhutan
2012	November 09 - 23	Ancient Kingdoms	4 places left
2012	November 23 - December 04	Elephants in Laos
2012	December 28 - January 10	Myanmar	fully booked
2013	February 04 - February 17	Lapland to Lofoten	2 places left
2013	April 15 - May 02	China's Silk Road
2013	June 03 - 16	Australia by Air
2013	September 08 - 22	China
2013	October 27 - November 10	Nepal
2013	November 15 - 29	Ancient Kingdoms
2014	February TBA	Lapland to Lofoten