Nepal

Winter is wonderful in the Himalayas. The days are rich in sunshine and the weather is dry, both in Kathmandu Valley and in the Annapurnas. It's always a surprise to our travellers just how warm the mountains are. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, but in the valleys of the Kali Ghandaki we are baking in the sunshine. The nights are very cool but comfortable, especially with a good curry in our guesthouses. Have a look at what two weeks in Nepal looks like :)

Scenes from the 2012 photography tour in Nepal, featuring the Newari towns and a few favourite locations in Kathmandu city. Nepal is a paradise for photographers, it's not just for trekkers!

This is my favourite town in Nepal, a little enclave of culture at the foot of the Mustang Kingdom. Once it was a remote outpost along the windhorse trail, but today it's where we stop for yak cheese and real coffee. For photographers, Kagbeni is a true gem that shoots well from any angle.

Every year a flock of pilgrims and holy men descend on the Hindu temple of Pashupati in the city of Kathmandu. Their colours and characters fill the usually quiet courtyards of the temple. Smoke fills the air from burning logs used to boil cups of tea and stay warm. On their path to spiritual heights the Sadus and Babas also smoke a little weed, and for the day of Shivaratri the laws that prohibit marujuana in Nepal are relaxed.

One of the holiest places on earth for Hindus and the site of centuries of Buddhist devotion, Muktinath is better known to western travellers as the first town of civilization at the end of weeks of trekking through the Annapurnas. In spring the snow recedes to expose hidden chorterns and mountains covered with prayer flags.

Scenes from the 2012 photography tour in Nepal, featuring the thin air of the Annapurnas. Nepal is a paradise for photographers, it's not just for trekkers! We take jeeps along the key sections, fly in small aircraft to reach the airstrip at Jomsom, and enjoy slow walks through pretty towns in between. And the apple pancakes are awesome!

The Newari Caste are the artisans of Nepal, creating pottery and woodwork that appeases the eye. Small villages in the Kathmandu Valley are filled with talented Newari people and their crafts. It's not all about souvenirs either, it's just a way of life.

With the snowy glaciers of Thorong La looming above Muktinath, this little town is a welcome sight for trekkers on the Annapurna Trail. It's also a unique place for photographers to visit for Himalayan scenery and a glimpse of culture through the centuries.

In the Lower Mustang on the edge of the Annapurnas is a small gompa, and home to roughly 90 novice monks. These are young boys who travel far from home to learn about Buddhism plus a broader education. Mostly they eat rice and chillies, but every so often they have a special treat of freshly steamed momos. Days like this are very good days indeed.

This collection follows the produce from terraced fields through to the wholesale markets of Kathmandu. Traditional farming methods are still used today all over the Pokhara Valley and Kathmandu Valleys. Entire villages head into the fields when it's time to harvest, or when it's time to sew their crops.

Overlooking the river banks of the Trishuli River in Nepal are rows of lunch stops, from Mugling to Malekhu. They appeal to truck drivers and local travellers, but rarely get a look in with us foreigners. For me they're a real treat, with freshly caught river fish on the menu and all the dishes prepared in a traditional style using a clay oven. The small fish are deep fried in batter, and the big ones are cooked in a tomato curry. Highly recommended!

The Mustang Kingdom was one of the last wild frontiers, a forbidding place barely livable for tbe hardiest of mountain goats. Yet here the Tibetan people continue to live as they have for centuries, practising rich Buddhist traditions and greeting each new spring with joy. When spring arrives in the Annapurnas and the skies turn clear the peaks of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Tukuche are visible in the distance. Mustang is where Tibet meets Nepal.

Kathmandu Valley is a great place to be in Spring. It hasn't got too hot yet, the forest is blooming with flowers and the birdlife is amazing. This journey was a research trip for Be Your Best Tours, and the images below were captured on the new Lumix S5. Enjoy!

This set is inspired by Dani Venn, who happened to mention the words 'food photography' but was likely refering to something a little more delicious than photos of dal bhat at a truck stop. But the food of Nepal is beautiful in its own way. Apple pancakes in the Annapurnas is still my favourite dish.

Surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks the pilgrims route to Muktinath is followed by devout Hindus from all over Nepal and India. They gather on the shores of the Kali Gandaki to make offerings and prayers, before heading higher into the mountains and the holy temples at Muktinath.

This series of images was captured while travelling on a Be Your Best Tours "Slow Travel" adventure in Nepal. I love being in the Annapurnas. I love the views of snow capped peaks that greet you from every direction. I love the local dal bhat for lunch. I love the sunny skies and tree blossoms.

Come and meet the people who live in and around the Chitwan National Park in Nepal. On one side of the river are rice fields, and the other is pure jungle. Tigers still roam for the forests, although I never saw more than their paw prints. I did see plenty of other wildlife in Chitwan, including Rhinos and Elephants, but I loved the Tharu people outside the park too.

Kathmandu is not a small town yet it still retains its unique character. A blend of Buddhism and Hindu devotion taints the daily life of residents, for the better. If all you see if Kathmandu are the souvenir filled streets of Thamel, then you haven't seen Kathmandu yet. The temples, holy men, smiling vendors and crazy taxi drivers are essential to the vibrance and persistance of the city. This town posses a different kind of beautiful.

This week in Nepal the festival of Dashain is gathering pace, and the streets of Bhaktapur are awash with offerings to the gods. It's a deeply religious Hindu holiday and even some of the blokes get dressed up nice for the event.

Jomsom is an outpost town with an airstrip. From sunrise to late morning the planes hop between Pokhara and Jomsom, ferrying trekkers and pilgrims on their way to points high in the mountains. At an altitude of 2800m the air is thin and the apple brandy is heavy. The Thakali caste who dominate in these parts are skilled not only at making apple brandy, but apple pancakes and all kinds of apple pies. Enjoy it while you can, as the apples don't grow 1000m higher up the hill.

This series is taken by my wife, Shellie Froidevaux. We recently ran a walking tour in Nepal, and this was our first time shooting with the LUMIX S5. We had a variety of primes lenses, plus the 20-60mm kit lens. Shellie gravitates towards the 35mm anyway, and to make life simple she spent most of the trip with the 35mm in hand. Every so often I would grab it for some video :) This series of images was heavily styled in editing, leaning into the dusty and sun-soaked vibe of Nepal.