Bangladesh
Travel Portrait Masterclass
7-13 November 2027
CHF 2,495
€ 2,700 S$4,000
All-inclusive except international flight
7 DAYS
4-7 PEOPLE
3/4* HOTELS
Raise your travel portrait skills in a country full of gentle, insanely photogenic people, who are happy to be photographed. A land of chaotic intensity, raw beauty, surreal scenes, and faces that tell a thousand stories. A place where you may not see another tourist in a week.
We will explore a wide range of captivating locations, from busy urban scenes, shipyards, railtrack life to slow and peaceful backwaters with floating villages and markets.
Bangladesh will touch you deep inside with extreme emotions and unforgettable moments. It will steal your heart with the warmth and openness of its people. It will leave you speechless.
This trip comes with full-time photographic coaching by Pawel Lipski including location-specific briefings and daily photo reviews.
Level of Difficulty
A fairly easy trip, as we will move around in a private minibus, with a few boat / ship transfers in Barisal, limited amount of walking and just 2 domestic flights.
You just need to be prepared for:
-
Two 5-hour drives in a private minibus
-
Several minibus + motorboat + ship + rickshaw transfers of up to 3h
-
Some very crowded spaces
-
Early morning starts to catch the best morning light
Full-time photographic coaching
~​
Daily photo reviews
~
Small group
~
No hidden costs
(drinks & tips included)
~
Choose your meals
(no set menus)
Locations
Dhaka
We will navigate Dhaka's infamous traffic jams to photograph its vibrant markets and local communities. We will see other-worldly river port where dozens of hand-paddled shallow boats criss-cross chaotically in between bigger ships. We will take one of these boats across the river to a ship-repair yard. We will also take a day trip out of town to a photogenic old-world pottery village.
Chittagong
From extreme crowds to peaceful serenity, Bangladesh's 2nd largest city has a range of terrific places for people photography, where we can play to our heart's content. We will see up close how hard Bangladeshis have to work - often in hazardous conditions - to earn a basic living. And how they still manage to retain dignity, politeness, and smile.
.jpeg)
Barisal
Experience river life full of floating markets, in the heart of the Ganges delta, about 5-hour drive from Dhaka. This will be an opportunity to see the rural life of Bangladesh, intrinsically connected with the endless waterways of the country. On our way to Barisal, we will also stop at Satla, the village of water lillies, for an idyllic break from overcrowded Bangladeshi cities.
Itinerary
Sat 6 Nov
Arrival in Dhaka
Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Dhaka
Sun 7 Nov - Chittagong
Flight Dhaka - Chittagong 9:50-10:45
Boat trip to dhow shipyard
Mon 8 Nov - Chittagong
Fish market
Slums; Railtrack life
Tue 9 Nov - Chittagong
Street photography; Salt processing
Fishing port
Flight Chittagong-Dhaka 19:25-20:20
Wed 10 Nov - Dhaka
Dhaka bazars, Fish market, Railtrack life
River boat crossing & Ship repair yard
Thu 11 Nov
Drive to Barisal (5h)
Brick factory on the way
Fri 12 Nov - Barisal
Satla water lilies boat ride (3h from Barisal)
Laharhat river gypsy village (1h from Barisal)
Sat 13 Nov - Barisal
Floating market & backwaters (1h from Barisal)
Drive to Dhaka (5h, arriving around 7pm)
Evening flight back home
Photographic Coaching
Full-time coaching by Pawel Lipski:
​
-
3-step system for stunning travel portraits
-
People photography in Bangladesh
-
Location-specific briefings, challenges and tips
-
On-location guidance
-
Daily photo reviews & feedback
-
Written feedback on your 10 best shots after the trip
Included:
-
Full-time travel portrait coaching
-
Accommodation in 4-star hotels (twin sharing)
-
All meals (with beverages)
-
Return domestic flight Dhaka-Chittagong
-
Ground transportation in private minivan
-
English-speaking local guide
-
Boat fares & entry fees
-
Airport transfers
-
Tips
Not Included:
-
International flight into Dhaka
-
Visa
-
Travel insurance
-
Personal expenses (e.g. room service, porters, laundry)
Price
PAYMENT
20% (CHF 500) refundable deposit to reserve your place
Balance by 30 June 2027
DISCOUNT
10% (CHF 250) until 31 Oct 2026
10% (CHF 250) for returning trip guests
SUPPLEMENTS
Single room occupancy: CHF 250
Based on twin room sharing
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
30 June 2027
CHF 2,495
Important To Know
-
Information pack including a packing list and clothing recommendations will be sent 2 months before the trip
​
-
No vaccinations required
​
-
No malaria pills required
​
-
Visa: most nationalities get visa on arrival (please bring US$ 55 in cash). Check eligibility: Bangladesh Visa​​
Equipment
MANDATORY:​
-
Good camera
-
Telephoto lens e.g. 70-200mm
-
Wide angle lens e.g. 24-70mm
OPTIONAL:​​
-
Laptop or tablet to select your best images for daily reviews
.jpg)
Recommended Flights
From Europe:
Qatar / Emirates / Turkish from € 1,000
From Singapore:
SIA S$ 600
For more flight options, check:
skyscanner.ch
Cancellations
If YOU cancel participation:
-
100% refund if canceled by 30 June 2027
-
50% refund if canceled between 1 July - 31 August 2027​
-
0% refund if canceled after 30 August 2027
​​
If the TRIP is cancelled:
-
If the trip is cancelled due to force majeure, it will be postponed to the next year OR full refund will be given minus costs I have already paid that cannot be recovered.
-
If the trip is cancelled due to insufficient number of participants or any other reason than force majeure, full refund will be given.​
Your Guide: Pawel Lipski
-
International photography coach, specialising in people photography in natural light - including portraits, boudoir and travel portraits
​
-
35+ years of photographic experience
​​
-
Creator of 3 Steps to Stunning Portraits system
​
-
Avid independent traveller with a passion for remote, non-touristy places with authentic cultures
​
-
Polish based in Zurich, Switzerland and Bali, Indonesia
