When we talk of Stellar Locations in our Indian Himalayas, Tapovan and Nandanvan definitely steals the show with its mind staggering beauty... When I formed thEscape as a venture, the aim was to reach these locations in the best of times and create captures not seen or witnessed before under the genre of Landscape Photography...
Yes, the itinerary and logistics are in place to provide best of what can be given in those high altitude terrains...Yes, it would be a little challenging affair but a serious effort will bring in mind boggling results...Its the love for the Himalayas and Landscape Photography we have to showcase and I'm sure the Almighty will bless...
Let's rock it from 27th May to June 5th, 2022 and let's go for what has not been done in Indian Himalayas before...
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP on a TREK in the HIGH ALTITUDE TERRAINS of TAPOVAN AND NANDANVAN...
Tapovan and Nandanvan are located in Gangotri National Park lying above the famous shrine of Gangotri in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. Known as one of the most picturesque spot, these high altitude regions are characterized by some mesmerizing views of Shivling Peak, Meru Peak, Bhagirathi Group of sisters and Kedar Dome. thEscape understands it's potential and is releasing a first of it's kind Landscape and Astro Photography trek and workshop to this place to capture some pristine images. The trek would be undertaken in last week of May during the new moon phase to get the dark skies required for capturing the galactic sky.
Highlights of our Tour
Group size of not more than 12 participants accompanied by TWO landscape photographers on first come first serve basis to ensure personal attention.
An extensive and exclusive 8N/9D well planned out trek so that we are able to reach the vantage points conducive for Landscape Photography.
Working on the concept of Travel, Share and Learn on Landscape Photography with Nilakkhya Dutta and Tanay Das who have an experience of photographing Himalayas and showcasing it's beauty in the most purest form. Both Nilakkhya and Tanay are published photographers across different platforms and magazines around the globe.
Experiencing Nikon high end Z series cameras and lenses.
We will also publish a book in collaboration with our publishing partner of the works of our participants during the trip be it photographs, a write up or a painting. This anthology will have introduction of the participants and the showcase of their work at an added cost. This book comes out as an Bi-annual edition of thEscape. Participants who pay for being published are given 3 copies of the book.
Through our NGO partner, we will be selling copies of the book on Amazon and the sale proceeds of it will go as a donation to the remote backward areas of Himalayas in the form of books, clothes and essential products.
thEscape will provide 6 hours of Post Processing Online One on One session to each participant and help him/her with the post processing of the photographs taken during the trip after coming back to the ones who would need the hand holding.
We give the trip ex-Delhi with transfer of participants in One comfortable Tempo Traveler from Delhi to Gangotri to the start of the trek point and back. Delhi is well connected with rest of India with flights, rail and roads.
The Accommodation of Participants will be in a guest house in Gangotri on Day 1 and on Day 8 in Harsil.
During the trek, the accommodation will be in High Altitude Tents on Twin Sharing Basis with Sleeping Bags, Mattresses.
Facility of toilet tent.
Facility of Medical Kit with Oxygen Cylinder
Service of an experienced professional Trek Leader.
The backpack of clothes of participants will be carried by porters.
3 extra porters will be accompanying the group of participants for any kind of hand holding in terms of carrying their camera gears or any help during the trek.
Generator facility to charge camera batteries.
All required Permits of Gangotri National Park.
We ensure State of the Art food facilities. We will make our participants eat at the guest house and throughout the trek, we will have our Kitchen staff (Make Shift Kitchen) accompanying us as a support operated with top notch professional chef serving breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner with Veg options at Gangotri and during the trek and on the last day at Harsil both Veg and Non Veg option. (Since Gangotri is a holy place, Non-Veg at Gangotri and above is not allowed)
All meals, i.e. Breakfast, Lunch, evening Snacks and Dinner starting from Dinner at Gangotri to Breakfast at Harsil.
Above all, we will ensure Covid Protocols by each participant and the staff giving a Negative RTPCR report 72-96 hours before the trip depending upon the protocol of the state of Uttarakhand at the time of the tour.
Detailed Itinerary Day Wise
27th May- Day -0 (Friday) - We start from Delhi in a Tempo Traveler at 10PM for Gangotri. Participants can reach Delhi by that time from their respective locations. We start from Kashmere Gate in Old Delhi.
28th May - Day -1 (Saturday) - On this day, we travel throughout the day in the tempo traveler and reach Gangotri (3050M) by late afternoon. Check in to our hotel. Evening visit to Surya Kund and other points, enjoy the evening Aarti at the Gangotri Mandir, have dinner and go off to sleep. Overnight in Gangotri Hotel.
29th May - Day -2 (Sunday) - After Breakfast, we start our trek to Bhojwasa(3790M) from Gangotri of 14 kms (5-6 hours). Overnight in Tents in Bhojwasa.
30th May - Day -3 (Monday) - After Breakfast, we start our trek for Tapovan(4460M) visiting the famous Gaumukh snout enroute for a total of 6 kms which would take roughly 5-6 hours. Overnight in Tapovan in tents.
31st May - Day -4 (Tuesday) - On this day, we stay throughout at Tapovan only exploring different parts of it and visit the Meru Base camp. Overnight at Tapovan only in tents.
1st June - Day -5 (Wednesday) - On this day, after breakfast we start for Nandanvan (4570M) and cross the mighty Gangotri glacier. Total distance covered would be 6 kms and roughly it will take 7 hours. Overnight in tents at Nandanvan.
2nd June - Day -6 (Thursday) - This day we spend in Nandanvan only exploring different parts of it. Overnight in tents in Nandanvan.
3rd June - Day -7 (Friday) - After breakfast, we start our trek back for Chirbasa(3600M) for 15 Kms roughly taking 6-7 hours. Overnight in tents at Chirbasa.
4th June - Day -8 (Saturday) - On this day, we trek back to Gangotri after breakfast, take the tempo traveler and come to Harsil for our night stay. Overnight in a hotel at Harsil.
5th June - Day -9 (Sunday) - After breakfast, we start our journey back for Delhi and reach back Delhi by before midnight. Participants coming from outside Delhi will have to stay in Delhi for the night and take the first flight back to their destinations on Monday, 6th June in the morning.
Package Cost
Rs. 46,500 per person (Ex-Delhi)
(Twin sharing in Tents and Twin Sharing in Guest House)
Single Supplement - Cost on Request
Additional Rs. 3000 ( For people who want their works to get published in the Bi-Annual edition of thEscape Book)
Inclusions
All accommodations at Gangotri and Harsil Guest House on twin sharing basis on Day 1 and Day 8.
All accommodations during the trek in entire of the National Park in High Altitude Tents on Twin Sharing Basis.
Porter carrying backpack of participants of not more than 10 kgs for each member.
Porter facility for hand holding and camera gear carrying if required for help(3 in nos)
All Transfers from Delhi to Gangotri and back in Tempo traveler from Delhi.
All Permits of National Park
All Breakfast, Lunch Evening Snacks and Dinner from Day 1 of Tour to Day 9. (Breakfast and Lunch on Day 1 and Lunch and Dinner on Day 9 is not included)
Lunch during trek.
Facility of Cook with his helper and Make Shift Kitchen with all necessary raw materials.
Cook, Helper and support staff.
All cutlery
Sleeping Bags, Mattresses and Camp Lights.
Facility of Toilet Tent.
Services of an experienced trek leader and a local guide for whole trek.
First Aid kit.
Oxygen Supplement
Facility of Charging Camera Batteries through Generator facility during the trek.
Photography Assistance for day time Landscapes and Night Astro scape on all days with image critique.
Experiencing Nikon high end Z series cameras and lenses.
Making participants understand the settings of the camera for capturing the scape.
Online 6 hours of one on one session to each participant after coming back.
3 copies of published anthology book to each participant who opt for the book.
Exclusions
Travel to Delhi and return travel from Delhi to your location.
Any accommodation facility in Delhi.
Breakfast and Lunch on Day 1 and Lunch and Dinner on Day 9.
Expenses of personal nature including tips, laundry or similar.
Expenses of extra food or beverages both soft and hard ordered though we try to avoid hard drinks at high altitudes and not recommend it to our participants.
Any cost arising out for Medical emergency of any participant.
Any cost arising out if there is an increase in the number of days due to unforeseen civil unrest, weather disruption or anything beyond our control.
FAQ's
1. What are the terms of Payment and Booking Procedure?
Booking Amount - Rs. 20,000 at the Time of Confirmation.
Final Payment - Rs. 26,500 15 days before the Departure Day, i.e. by 12th May, 2022.
2. What is the Cancellation and Refund Policy?
If cancelled 30 days prior to Departure, ie. on or before 27th April, 2022- 50% Refund of Advance Amount.
If cancelled between 30 days prior to departure date and 15 days prior to Departure, i.e. b/w 27th April, 2022 and 12th May, 2022 - No Refund of Advance Amount.
If cancelled between 15 days prior to departure and Departure Date, i.e. between 12th May, 2022 and 27th May, 2022 - No Refund of Full Amount of Trip (considering the final payment is paid by 12th May, 2022 )
For people not paying the final payment by 12th May, 2022 and cancel their participation between 12th May,2022 and 27th May, 2022- No Refund of Advance Amount.
Any cancellation of Trip from the organizer side due to surge in Covid cases (3rd Wave) or a Lockdown imposed or any participant testing positive in RTPCR with due diligence, FULL REFUND WILL BE GIVEN of the Advance Amount or Full Payment made by the participants. Nothing will be held upon on our side. Though participants may wish to keep that amount with us as an deposit for the next trip planned by thEscape.
Please note - Any refund to be made from our side if it may arise will be done after one month of completion of the tour. i.e., by 5th July, 2022.
3. What are the precautions to be kept in mind as it is trekking tour and photography during a trek becomes difficult as one gets tired during a trek?
First of all, a Landscape Photography Trek especially to pursue Landscape Photography are for participants who are mentally and physically strong. We would like to rope in participants who have a prior trekking experience but we can also consider freshers as this trek doesn't involve technical knowledge. But the pre requisite which would be strictly adhered to is the physical fitness of the participant as it's a High Altitude trek. This trek is giving a facility of porters to each participant for carrying their load of not more than 10 kgs which would mean that photographers don't have to carry their heavy load on their backs to reach a campsite and will have the luxury and comfort of moving at a slow pace and create the landscape captures. Moreover with some great hospitality of my travel partners during this trek, I'm sure that participants would be able to make it through and in the process create some great images. As they say it " If there is a WILL, there is a WAY". So the mental strength along with physical fitness would be a primary requirement for undertaking this photography trek.
4. What is the minimum and maximum number of participants and what does happen if the minimum participants don't enroll for the tour?
The minimum participation we are looking at is of 10 people . In case the minimum number doesn't enroll, we will try to conduct the trek but with some increased cost per participant.
5. If due to an emergency, the participant wishes to leave the trip in between, is the fee refunded and arrangements made for his/her return to Delhi?
In case due to any unforeseen circumstance, a participant wishes to leave in between the trip, No Refund would be made. Moreover the cost of arranging the transport for going back to Delhi and to their respective destination has to be borne by him/her.
6. What Photography Equipment are expected by the participants to carry?
The trip is characterized as a Landscape Photography tour but at the same time invites are also for people who wish to create some art in the mountains in the form of paintings or creative writing which can be published in the anthology. Hence for photographers, minimum expectation is of a camera, preferably a wide angle lens, a tripod for slow shutters and night photography, filters though optional. Since it is a trip to some remote lands with no electricity , we also expect that the photographers get their extra battery sets in case they run out of charge though we will have generator facility. An extension board for putting in extra chargers would also be handy if participants carry it. For keeping the batteries not running out of charge due to the cold bitter weather, participants can keep them attached to the bare body inside their clothes. For painters and writers, the expectation is that they bring their creative kits with them in the form of copies, pens, painting sheets or canvas, colors etc.
7. Who is the Photography Partner and we see his work online?
Nilakkhya Dutta and Tanay Das are going to be the photography assist during this trek and will be working closely with the participants on the concept of Travel, Share and Learn. For the works,
Nilakkhya Dutta
Tanay Das
8. Can a participant bring a Non- Photographer Friend or Companion or a Non-Photographer or a Non-Artist Join?
We here invite two sets of people, one who are keen on Landscape Photography and second who are painters or writers as we publish an anthology for them. Apart from these two, if someone wants to join in the tour is welcome because we do a lot of sight seeing too in this trek but subject to the following conditions-
No reduction in Fee Cost
If they don't create any form of Art, then their name doesn't go in the anthology we create.
Photography and Art tours are slow moving as we will stop at a lot of places and spending time on creating the Art Form and the Non- Art participant is thereby expected to respect the time of the Artists and move as per their pace.
9. What is the fitness level required for this trek? Does it involve Trekking or Long Walks?
Any person visiting the Himalayas is expected to have a minimum level of fitness for carrying out day to day activities during the tour. Now since this is a trekking tour, participants need to be physically fit without any ailment which can trigger during a high altitude walk. The daily treks are for 6-7 hours and participants need to be mentally and physically ready for the same. Apart from that minimum level of fitness, it is also expected that any medication to be also taken care by him/her during the course of the trip and carry them in adequate quantities to avoid any kind of mishaps. Rest for a while if facing any issues and move forward at a pace best suited for his/her body. Participants hence are expected to bring in their medical and first aid kits. It's the participant's responsibility to notify the staff of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability that may affect his/her ability to travel on this trip.
10. What is the Age Group of travel and Can the Participants bring their kids?
Since it's a trekking tour and involves a trek to around 4600 meters from 3000 meters, it is not advisable to bring in kids. Further, it's an Art trip with Photography being the primary motive, it's advisable to bring in kids only when they are able to comprehend the pace of the trip and respect the precision of the artists at work. Any child below 15 years of age will not be allowed for the trek due to it's high altitude nature.
11. Will the organizers use the photos taken by the participants or of the participants for Promotional Purpose?
Yes, with signing of the trip, the participant will also grant thEscape the right to use some of their images taken by the participant and of the participant and art created with due credits to the artists on their Website and Social Media handles. By joining the trip, the participant will also grant the permission for creating an anthology and publishing it in the form of a book by Raindrops Publishers and selling it online in order to proceed the sale grants to the backward Himalayan region.
12. Does the organizer hold the right to cancel the participation of any member during the course of the trip and under what circumstances?
Any misbehavior or misconduct by any participant during the course of the trip like causing distress and annoyance to co-travelers, any kind of damage to property of any supplier or travel companions, any kind of sexual harassment or misconduct, the participant will be terminated from the trip without any kind of refund of the fee amount and also has to bear the cost of him/her going back home. The decision of the Group Leader will be binding here keeping the respect of the group and artists intact. At the same time, we at thEscape expect the participants to be polite to the hotel staff, drivers and trek support staff. Any kind of foul language used with them and calling out to them in a disrespectful manner will invite a warning from the group leader and repeatedly doing so will invite a termination from the tour. We also have zero tolerance towards any kind of misbehavior after consuming alcoholic drinks. Though we discourage its consumption during high altitude tours, but participants consuming it for keeping themselves warm or similar should keep in mind to be in discipline with the co-participants. In this trek, the only place where it would be allowed to drink would be after coming back to Harsil. No drinks in Gangotri and beyond.
13. What if any odd numbers come out of the Male Female Ratio while assigning twin sharing to participants ?
In that case, the best possible solution will be given by the organizer and under no circumstance, a twin sharing will be allotted to opposite sex people.
14. Is there any Mobile connectivity in this Gangotri National Park of Uttarakhand?
The mobile connectivity will be available till Gangotri and no network will be there throughout the trek.
15. How many people would be going along with the tour participants?
Nilakkhya and Tanay would be the photography partners along with the trek leader and support staff.
16. Use of Psychotropic Substances Alcohol and Smoking during the Tour
Use of psychotropic substances(drugs) is strictly prohibited during the tour. Any one caught possessing or consuming it will be terminated from the tour immediately. Smoking is allowed though it creates a problem in High Altitude Treks and we don't recommend it during treks. and consumption of it will be allowed till the point it doesn't create any disturbance to co-participants. People not opting for Single Supplement provision, it is advised to all the participants to consume it taking his/her room mate into confidence. Alcohol would only be allowed in Harsil after coming back and is advised to take in quantity best suited to one's body and not create any problem.
17. Are there any other Terms and Conditions which needs to be kept in mind?
It is a fundamental condition that the participants acknowledge that this is a high altitude tour. This requires some flexibility. The day-to-day itinerary is taken as a guideline only. We cannot be held responsible for any delays caused by International or domestic flights, strikes, Government regulations, weather or natural casualties etc. In such cases, we shall be responsible for providing suitable alternatives, which could be decided upon mutual agreement. Any extra cost arising for the same will have to be borne by the participants.
If the participant doesn't show up at Delhi on 27th May, 2022 by 10PM max, we will assume the participant has been delayed and has cancelled the tour and will be considered as "No Show". There is no refund of any money paid in that case.
We reserve the right to revise pricing rate posted on our website, under any circumstances, or on the pressure of various external factors that are further than our control. But, we put forth effort to keep on the present rate. In case of minor increase in price of hotels or other related factors, we don’t revise the cost of the trip, which was already confirmed & booked by deposit.
We highly recommend our participants to have a medical insurance and an insurance against any unforeseen event before attending this trip or any trip for that matter.
The tour date is fixed for the itinerary and the plan we have made. No alterations would be possible in this with regard to the participant's need. The itinerary has been made keeping in mind the best time after it opens for trekking of Tapovan and Nandanvan keeping in mind the need of Astro and Landscape Photography.
This tour will pass through some points which are checked by guards of Gangotri National Park. Participants will have to keep in mind to not take photos where is it not allowed. At the same time, the participants have to show their Govt. Issued Ids at all the checkpoints.
Participants are requested to keep their documents handy during the trip for any kind of checking by the authorities and administration. We’re not accountable in case of any non-compliance if the authorities ask for your document and you fail to provide it. Before commencing the trip, the participants also need to deposit the indemnity bond duly signed by them and show their Aadhar Cards to the organizer.
You understand that during the course of the trip certain events may occur, including, but not limited to, accident or illness in remote places without medical facilities, political instability and the forces of nature. You agree to assume all risks associated with the journey to the maximum extent permitted by Indian law.
For Booking and queries, write to us "thescapebiz@gmail.com" or call on +91 9717960028 and speak to Nilakkhya and discuss on the same.
For Transfer of Advance Amount of Booking and for the Final Payments, we will share with you the Bank Account Details along with the contract and acknowledgement of the trip. Lets get it rolling and make it one of the most memorable trip of our lifetime with loads of images and artwork. Looking forward to hear from you soon.
Disclaimer- All photographs used here in the post are of Nilakkhya from his last visit of this area in June 2018.
Anyone making the payment for booking will be considered as an acceptor of the above cancellation policy and will fall under the above Terms and Conditions.