The Ladakh Astrohunt
with Vikram Virulkar
*Moonless*Breathless*Limitless*
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Zanskar and Nubra edition
(Leh-Kargil-Rangdum-Pensi La- Nubra-Siachen-Panamik)
June 12th - 21st
October 2nd - 11th
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Exclusive batches, Limited participants per batch.
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Call me on +919892622583 if you want to talk about any specific regarding this trip
An exclusive tour crafted for the Astrophiles among you
Ladakh has one of the best skies in the world, a moisture poor, high altitude desert that is also on the Tibetan plateau.
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Add to it the relative lack of light makes it the ideal place where photographers can go and take full advantage of all the perfect conditions to shoot the heavens.
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This tour as you may have imagined is crafted for those among you, who are partial to Astrophotography and as such we shall take our time to shoot the heavens. I will also make sure that you have post processing support with instructions in Lightroom and Photoshop to give justice to your images.
itinenary
(May change )
Day1- LEh(friday)
Arrival at Leh and compulsory rest as per regulations and introduction/ice breaking session (Stay at Borgo villa or Similar)
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Day 2- LEh to Kargil(Saturday)
We will visit some of the most famous destinations like Leh palace, Magnetic hill, Pathar sahib gurudwara, Sangam point etc(May change depending on the day) and then go on to the city of Kargil
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Day 3- Kargil to Rangdum(Sunday)
Today we depart for Rangdum, an offbeat destination home to some of the most unique geographies in Ladakh, After a short drive, we will start by setting up our cameras to capture the night skies and take our first steps into Astrophotography
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Day 4- Rangdum to Pensi la(Monday)
After checking with our Cameras and honing our skills we will proceed to the famous Pensi La pass to view a great sight, TheDrang Drung Glacier. Night shoot at Pensi LA
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Day 5-Rangdum to LEh(Tuesday)
A Long day of travelling will bring us back to Leh and rest for the night
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Day 6- Leh to Nubra (Wednesday)
Today we depart for Nubra and cross the famous Khardung La Pass, once at Nubra, we will try to experience life in the remote parts and also do some sightseeing along the way. Shooting at night
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Day 7-Visit to Turtuk village(Thursday)
Day visit to Turtuk village and experience life at the border villages. Shooting at night
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Day 8- Visit to Siachen base camp and Panamik (Friday)
A visit to Siachen base camp is a dream for many and after departing Nubra, we head towards the Siachen base camp and take in the most beautiful landscapes that Ladakh has to offer. Night stay and shooting at Panamik.
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Day 9- Panamik to Leh(Saturday)
We depart from Panamik and onwards to Leh, with our journey complete, we have the day at leisure and some light post processing at the Hotel
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Day 10- Departure to home base
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Minimum
requirements
Gear-
DSLR/Mirrorless camera
* While we don't recommend mobile phone cameras, if you insist that it works fine for you, it is entirely your decision. Please do remember we wont be able to swap it out mid-tour
Good tripod
Wide angle Lens
Prime lens(recommended but not required)
Star Tracker(recommended but not required)
Extra batteries, Charegers and Powerbanks as required
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Clothing-
Warm jacket + Hoodie/sweater
Inner thermals
Handwarmers(optional)
Gloves
Secure bags for all your gear
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Health requirements-
Must be in relative good health.
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Medications for Asthma/ BP/Insulin/ Epilepsy or any other essential medication that is essential to you. there is a good chance that we will not encounter any medical shops during our trip.
Any complications will result in an immediate suspension of your trip. Your health and your life is more important than the trip.
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Your mentor for the Ladakh Astrohunt
Hi, I'm Vikram Virulkar
I started on my journey to capture the night skies because I needed good photographs to show people how my stargazing sessions work. Little did I know that it would in turn spark a insatiable desire to take amazing pictures of the night sky. Just like my passion for the stars resulted in me taking sessions for Stargazing across India, I realized I also want to share my knowledge and my passion for Astrophotography.
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I've been to Ladakh multiple times and I can personally vouch that its one of the best places to shoot Astro and during the day, no matter where you turn your camera, the frames just happen to create themselves.
Not only shall I help you take better overall pictures but also teach you to not commit the same mistakes I did on my journey which I believe to the most important takeaway for an instructor, to make sure his participants learn from his mistake.
If you have shot Wildlife or Landscape, Portraits or Street. Fashion or Product. Astrophotography is undeniably within your reach. Its unique challenges and serene field work are well, "Out of this world"
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So, Step out of your comfort zone and come shoot the stars with me.
I look forward to meeting you and going on this amazing adventure with you. Drop a message if you would like to speak about something related to this tour or talk about Astro in general.
Cost
Rs. 59,999* Per person
If you don't want to share your room,
Add Rs.9,000 for personal room throughout the journey
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Seat confirmed only after full payment is received from you via bank transfer.
Since there are limited seats per batch so the earlier you book, the better.
-Inclusions-
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Stay on double sharing basis
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Breakfast and Dinner
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Airport transfers
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Welcome tea
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Ladakh environmental fee
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Ladakh inner line permit
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Transport in tempo traveler
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Personalized mentoring for Astrophotography
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Post processing support for Lightroom and Photoshop
-Exclusions-
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Any travel to and from Leh to your home
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Any Camera equipment, rentals or camera accessories
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Any porter expenses incurred
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1 meal a day
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Cold drinks, Juices etc
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-Cancellation policy-
40 days prior to arrival: 40% refund given.
30 days prior to arrival: 25% refund given.
20 days prior to arrival: No refund given under any circumstances
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Disclaimers
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Astrophotography is dependent on nature and the movement of the clouds. If we get cloudy weather, there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We will enjoy the trip as much as we can.
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Gear failures may happen, its not the end of the world
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Decision of Trip leader and local staff is final and binding, if we say something is unsafe, it is. Please do not debate with us, for us your safety comes before anything else.
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Itinerary provided is a general idea of how the tour will go, if there are other factors which may affect the trip, the itinerary will change.
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Refund cannot be given because you missed a flight or a connection, please realize that this trip planned much in advance
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If at any point you find your health declining, DO NOT HESITATE to tell your trip leader, your health is of the paramount importance and if you need to rest, you need to rest. Its as simple as that.
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Participants younger than 18 are not allowed on the trip unless accompanied by a parent/guardian and we do not have separate rates for the accompanying parent , Participants younger than 12 are not currently accepted
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This trip is focused on photography and specifically Astrophotography. While we will try to accommodate some places of popular tourist interest, we may not be able to cover all of them because of the nature of our tour. This is why we have a fixed itinerary, changes to the itinerary will not be possible if you want to visit a certain location because of your interest during the tour.
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Prepaid connections do not work in Ladakh, please use only postpaid connections
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Prices are fixed and non-negotiable
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Leaving the tour mid way for any reason will not qualify for a refund full or partial.
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We will not be responsible in case of any Force majeure events like Flooding, Earthquake, train/flight cancellations, loss or theft of property or any disruptions due to security concerns as notified by the relevant authorities.
FAQ
Q-I have never shot Astro before, Can I attend?
A-Yes, I will teach you how to setup and shoot but you must have a working knowledge of how your camera works.
Q- What lenses/ accessories do you recommend for this trip?
A- If you are beginning, even a 18-55mm kit lens will work, however a wide angle prime or a lens with a minimum aperture of f/2.8 or lower will be highly useful, for shooting Star trails or timelapses, I highly recommend an intervalometer, before buying, please check if your camera has one inbuilt. I also highly recommend a good tripod to keep the camera steady and not have it fall down with a gust of wind.
Q- How are the stay arrangements ?
A-Due to the remote locations that we will be touring, high end hotels are not available but we have made sure the conditions are hygienic maintained and sanitary . Non Veg food also may not be available at all locations but depending on preference, we shall try.
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Q- What if there are clouds?
A- When you go on Safari, you hope for a tremendous tiger spotting, however if the Tiger doesn't show itself, its not the fault of the jungle is it? in the same vein, we hope to have a fruitful session. Ladakh is an high altitude desert with hardly any precipitation, however if it gets clouded out, then its something which is beyond anyone's control but that doesn't mean the trip is a waste, we shall still have fun capturing unique landscapes not found anywhere else!
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Q-I have found something cheaper
A-Great, I hope you have an amazing session wherever you choose but please remember, Cheaper doesn't mean better!
This was put together painstakingly, choosing the best locations, making sure there are limited people attending, my own experience which is over a decade in instructing people and ofcourse all the behind the scenes work which makes sure that things run smoothly during the trip. Ensuring all of this is top notch requires attention to detail and the zest for excellence. that costs money :)
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Q- I have problems with high altitude, is it safe for me?
A-In case of established medical conditions. It will be best to consult with a Doctor regarding your voyage
