Nepal Upper Mustang 30 August - 10 September 2025

Overview

Meeting Mother Earth - Meeting yourself

The Art of Seeing: A Photographic Workshop in Mustang, Nepal

With Haris Kakarouhas

This workshop offers something beyond passive tourism: it transforms travel into a personal, creative encounter with the Other. Instead of being mere observers of a place and its culture, we are invited to engage meaningfully, to interact, and to create. Through the lens, our relationship with the landscape, the people, and their stories becomes deeper, more vivid, and more authentic.

In photography, there is a significant difference between "looking" and "seeing." The former is simply the perception of visual forms, while the latter is a deeper experience—an actual encounter with what stands before us. When we truly see, we recognize something that already exists within us. As Paul Klee once said, "Art does not reproduce the visible; rather, it makes visible what was previously unseen."

With this perspective, the workshop becomes a journey of self-discovery through photography. The focus is not just on what we photograph but on how we see the world. The act of capturing and viewing images becomes a means of expression and inner exploration. By cultivating our photographic sensitivity, we experiment and explore different aspects of ourselves.

This is not a typical teaching-based workshop but rather a personal experience. In a supportive and friendly environment, built on sharing, acceptance, and mutual respect, we will discover new ways to express ourselves through photography.

The workshop is aimed at those who wish to explore the Himalayan landscape and the cultural heritage of the mystical Mustang region in Nepal while also seeing photography as a medium of creative expression. No prior experience is required—only a willingness for personal exploration and active participation.

You can explore samples of previous workshop work and read participant testimonials here and here.

Haris Kakarouhas studied Cartography at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Visual Perception and Color Theory at the University of Glasgow (M.Sc), and Photography at the University of Derby (Ph.D. 2008) (thesis title: "Portraiture: Imaging the Self"). He also studied various art therapy methods, as well as other contemporary psychotherapy practices. His photographic work has been published in various magazines in Greece and abroad. He has published three photography books: "On the Paths of Time" (Fotohoros Editions, 1994), "Suspended Time: A Portrait of Cuba" (2004), which has been published in six European countries and won the European Publishers Award and the "Milos" award for Art Book of the Year in Greece, and "Natural Presence" (Luminous Eye Editions, 2019). He was also a runner-up for the Schweppes Photographic Portrait Prize (London National Portrait Gallery). He served as the artistic director of the first Eco-Art Festival in Athens, organized by the Ministry of Environment and the National Museum of Contemporary Art (2013). He has curated group and solo exhibitions in Athens art galleries and has held numerous solo and group photography exhibitions worldwide. He conducts experiential photography workshops under the general title "Photography as a Mirror." His photographic work is held in museums and private collections

Day 1: Flight to Kathmandu
Day 2: Pashupatinath, flight to Pokhara
Day 3: Flight Jomsom (2700 m), Kagbeni (2850 m)
Day 4: Kagbeni - Ghiling (3570 m)
Day 5: Ghiling - Charang (3570 m)
Day 6: Charang - Lo Manthang (3840 m)
Day 7: Exploration in Lo Manthang
Day 8: Lo Manthang – Marpha - Jomsom
Day 9: Flight to Pokhara
Day 10: Swayambhu and Kathmandu Durbar Square
Day 11: Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur
Day 12: Return Flight

Important Info

In a glance

SURFACE AREA: 147.181 sq.km
POPULATION: 29,1 million
CURRENCY: Nepalese rupee (September 2023 exchange rate, 1€ = ~ 142 NPR)
TIMEZONE: -3h45' daylight saving time from Greece

Fixed Departures

30 August - 10 September 2025

Price

3.300 €/ person (for 8-9 persons)
3.210 € / person (for 10-11 persons)

Note: Prices were calculated at an exchange rate of 1 € = 1.05 usd. Changing this ratio may affect the selling price.

Difficulty level

Cancellation Terms

In case of cancellation of participation, the following cancellation fees apply:

In case of cancellation of the trip on the part of the agency (due to low number of participants or other reason), refund of the deposit in full
Any cancellation on the part of a participant made from the day of booking and up to 45 days before departure, will be charged 150 € per person, for administrative costs.
From 44 to 30 days before departure: 40% of the total value of the trip.
From 29 to 14 days before departure: 75% of the total cost of the trip.
From 13 days before departure until departure (non show): 100% of the total value of the trip.

Book your seat

To book a seat you need to click on the "BOOK NOW!" and make your reservation through our website by paying the 500€ deposit.

Payment of the trip must be completed up to 45 days before departure. The airline tickets in case our office is responsible for issuing them, must be prepaid. Any cancellation of air tickets is subject to the terms and restrictions of each airline and are not covered by the cancellation terms of the rest of the package.

Payment should be sent to the bank account of ALPHA BANK with IBAN number: GR1001407960796002002013550, in the name of OUTDOORS TRAINING IKE.

When transferring or depositing money, please write your name and the name of the trip in the REASON field PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP TO UPPER MUSTANG.

General Information

Transfer

Local transportation is done by Mahindra Scorpio 4x4 jeep type cars. Each car has 4 seats and plenty of luggage space.
International flight tickets are not included in the price. Once the trip is confirmed, everyone can issue them themselves or have our office issue them.

Accommodation / food

Accommodation in the cities is in a 4* hotel, in double rooms with bathroom and breakfast as shown in the detailed description.

Accommodation during the stay in Upper Mustang is in more basic hotels, all twin rooms with bathroom and hot water.

Food is not included in the price, except for breakfasts. It is done in local restaurants in the areas we visit, so that we also get to know the local gastronomy. The cost of a meal in Nepalese restaurants ranges from 5 to 20 euros, depending on the options.

The water from the taps is not drinkable. Bottled water is available everywhere, or alternatively you can buy a canteen with a filter.

Insurance / insurance

Before you travel, contact the Hellenic Health Organisation's Travel Medicine Office for guidance on the country of destination.

Travel insurance is not included in the cost of travel. In the link below you can see the benefits of the proposed insurance plan and contact our insurance advisor to solve your questions about the coverages Travel Insurance from Trekking Hellas and book it yourself, or you can choose another travel insurance of your choice.

Just note that most travel insurance offered in Greece does not cover incidents at altitudes above 2,500 m. At your recommended partner, you can ask the plan you buy to offer you coverage for incidents at altitudes up to 5,000 m.

If the plan you are taking part in moves to altitudes above 5,000 m, then different management of your insurance is required. For such a case, Trekking Hellas cooperates with Global Rescue which covers incidents at altitudes up to 7,500 m with helicopter evacuation services. If you are interested, follow the link below to purchase Global Rescue & Trekking Hellas rescue insurance

Battery Charging / Sockets

The power outlets in Nepal are type C & D. During trekking there is charging facility. For additional safety, get spare batteries or power bank.

Visa

Our office takes care of the visa application. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip. The cost of the visa is $30 and you pay it at the airport in Kathmandu upon arrival in the country.

Weather

During our trip, Kathmandu and Pokhara are affected by the monsoon. In Kathmandu in September the average rainfall reaches 208 mm with 15 rainy days, while in Pokhara the average rainfall reaches 635 mm, with 19 rainy days. In Upper Mustang, however, the weather is much drier and that is when it is the ideal time to travel there. Temperatures down low can reach 30o C, but in the Upper Mustang they will be lower, and especially at night they can drop to 5o or even near zero.

Currency exchange

Major international currencies (Euro, Dollar, Pound Sterling) are accepted at all currency exchanges or banks. In Kathmandu there are hundreds of exchanges on every street, check exchange rates before making a change. Prefer banknotes in good condition and new.
Throughout the trip a sum of €300 is enough for your food, however, allow for more if you want to bring souvenirs.

Tipping

Tipping the Nepalese guide and car drivers is a gesture that is expected. Each participant should budget a $20-$40 amount for this.

Note also that various clothing, shoes or other items you no longer need are always welcome, as well as stationery, notebooks, etc., for the little children you meet in the villages along the route.

Individual pharmacy