If you want to learn more on how to make a great portfolio when you travel join us on one of our trips.

Latest Posts

  • No products in the cart.
  • No products in the cart.
Top
Image Alt

The last of the Uppu Tribe

The last of the Uppu Tribe

USD3200 per person
11 Days 10 Nights
16+ Age
mkdf-tour-info-icon
Myanmar
term-custom-icon Adventure
Myanmar
Photography Expedition

All tours are currently postponed due to the unrest in Myanmar. New dates follow as soon as the situation permits it.

Documenting Tribes on the Brink of Extinction

The Uppu tribe is located in the Chin State of Burma. Our mission of this Photography trip is knowing their life stories, in the context of their local culture and daily habits. The adventure of reaching the tribe will be one without much luxury. We stay with local people and go with a caravan of local small motorbikes to reach the Uppu’s remote locations. After our meeting point in Mandalay we head to Old Bagan, a photographer’s dream! In 2019 Old Bagan, was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We take out a full day of some secret locations, hidden temples and great viewpoints and make some indoor temple Photography with novice monks doing their Buddhist scripture readings with atmospheric candles.

We then proceed to remote areas in the Uppu tribal regions to look for the last Tattoo ladies that have their face covered completely black with ink. Other Chin Tattoo ladies we will encounter on the trip, but our focus is to find the last Uppu women and document as much as we can by photographing their way of life and creating incredible portraits of this indigenous Tribe. This trip is done by cruising on the back of a motorbike (private driver) so good insurance is recommended although drivers are calm and well experienced with the roads. We also sleep at some homestays and local houses so be prepared for limited luxury conditions during your trip.

Photographic Highlights

  • The old historic temples of Bagan and the Candle Light Scenes/Portraits of novice monks
  • The town of Kanpetlet and portraits of the Chin Tattoo ladies
  • The last Tattoo ladies of The Uppu Tribe
  • The Yin Duu Tribe
  • The Daai Tribe

 

Experience :

Beginner, amateur, enthusiast, and pro photographers. Travel by private a/c car and MOTORBIKES. Moderate elevation changes and some walking. (*non-photographers also welcome)

 

0 Reviews
  • Departure/Return Location
    Myanmar
  • Departure Time
    All tours are currently postponed due to the unrest in Myanmar. New dates follow as soon as the situation permits it.
  • Return Time
    All tours are currently postponed due to the unrest in Myanmar. New dates follow as soon as the situation permits it.
  • Dress Code
    Adventure wear, easy walking shoes, long sleeved pants and shirt for jungle walks.
  • Included
    Accommodation
    Breakfast
    Guide
    Meals
    Photography Guidance
    Transport
  • Not Included
    Domestic Flights
    Flights
    Insurance

From our gallery

You can see the photos we took on our last trips here.

Tour Plan

1
Day 01: 6th of January 2023 - Your destination – Mandalay
Arrive in Mandalay and transfer to Bagan. Shooting scene with monks on the way to Bagan at a temple in Inwa with Novice monks and candle scene.
2
Day 02: 7th of January 2023 - FULL DAY BAGAN SHOOTING
We wake up early for sunrise temple panoramas. After breakfast, we continue with the temple Buddha – Candle Light Scenes/Portraits of novice monks catching the morning beams through the windows of the pagoda’s amazing interior design. Rest at noon and lunch near the hotel. In the afternoon we continue visiting many secret locations and more Candle Light Scenes/Portraits of novice monks. Evening sunset panorama of the Bagan old historic skyline. Dinner and overnight in Bagan.
3
Day 03: 8th of January 2023 - BAGAN TO KANPETLET (BY CAR)
After breakfast, we depart for our trip to Kanpetlet. We will have lunch along the way and making a few stops to see life in the smaller Burmese villages. Arrive in the afternoon in Kanpetlet and visit the local town for a small walk around the main market area. Dinner and overnight in Kanpetlet.
4
Day 04: 9th of January 2023 (BY MOTORCYCLE) KANPETLET, SAW AND TATTAW
Today you will meet & photograph various Chin tribes, some of them Christian, with different facial tattoos and adornments and traditional clothing. Interior environmental portraiture with the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. We drive down the mountain to Saw. Lunch at Saw township. In the afternoon visit to "Tattaw" village to see Uppu tribe tattoo face ladies. We will find the last two tattoo ladies in this town and photograph them in their daily activities. We then continue to "Lung Shae"village. (Overnight at lung Shae village.)
5
Day 05: 10th of January 2023 : LUNG SHAE-MAW CHAUNG MHAN TAUNG-MA SER TWE VILLAGE (BY MOTORBIKE)
Early in the morning, we will visit the only blacksmith around the township to take the photos of traditional-style blacksmith labor. Lunch at "Maw Chaung village". After lunch, we will explore the Yin Duu tribe tattoo face ladies, with a very distinctive pattern in their face tattoo.  It will be a mix of free and arranged shoots in a variety of light. Continue to Mhan Taung village. Overnight at Ma Ser Twi village.
6
Day 06: 11th of January 2023 KYIN DWEE-AYE CHAUNG-PHONH DWEE GYIN (BY MOTORBIKE/BY TRADITION BOAT)
Today after our morning breakfast we explore the sights of 3 small and unknown villages around this area. We will do a combination of free shooting and a few arranged scenes by looking at the light conditions and exploring some indoor scenes with cooking, fire preparations, and local traditions. Sometimes during this trip we will be invited to a local party where the friendly villagers will offer you their home-brewed rice beer that you drink out of a buffalo's horn, a tool used as a drinking glass. We explore more dramatic lighting conditions with subjects like traditional fishing, children playing with self-made toys, and many other unexpected scenes.
7
Day 07: 12th of January 2023 (BY MOTORBIKE) KYIN DWEE-PYAW LONE IMMNUU-MAW LONG LONE-KHA YINE
Today we are in the southern Chin State, the territory of the Daai people who cultivate rice, corn, millet, beans, peas, cucumber, pumpkin, gourd, eggplant, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, sesame and celery in their gardens or farms. The cultural scenes we can photograph here is nothing less than mystically stunning. A region that was forgotten in time, where people live in harmony with nature and the mountains of the South Chin Province. We also make stunning portraits with dramatic lights from the Daai Tattooed faced ladies and their daily habits.  Overnight at Kha Yine village with an authentic bone fire festival, which we will enjoy with traditional foods and local wine. So don't pack up your camera yet, this is a long day of shooting.  
8
Day 08: 13th of January 2023 (BY MOTORBIKE/BY BOAT) KHA YINE KYIN DWEE- LAW PONE-A PAW VILLAGE-OWN WAR VILLAGE.
Today we explore the villages of Kha Yine Kyin Dwee, Law Pone and A Paw. Driving through this landscape we will find many old and traditional houses, more small villages, and we might get invited to talk to the local people and see how they cook local food and collect the ingredients. We proceed with interior and cultural portraits and learn how to position the subject in the best light. Overnight at Own war village.  
9
Day 09: 14th of January 2023 (BY MOTORBIKE) OWN WAR-ZAYTOKETAYAR TOWNSHIP
Early in the morning thake the photos of one Asho tribe tattoo face. Continue to Asho tribe tattooface around Zeytoketayar township. Overnight at Zaytoketayar township.
10
Day 10: 15th of January 2023 (BY CAR TO BAGAN)
Early morning sightseeing around a small town ship.After Sightseeing continue to Bagan from Zaytoketayar along the new road. Overnight in Bagan.
11
Day 11: 16th of January 2023 BAGAN-MANDALAY
Drive to Mandalay Airport for your flight to your home. NOTE WE FLY IN AN OUT FROM MANDALAY AIRPORT There are many flights to Bangkok - From Bangkok you can book a flight to Mandalay directly. (Airasia, Nokair, etc)
Place - The last Uppu Tribal Photography Expedition
  • Dates Tour :
  • Photography Type -Landscape, Wildlife & Culture Photography
  • Leader: David Van Driessche and local naturalist guides
  • Group Size: Max. 14
  • Level - All Photography Levels
Including:
  • All teaching done by professional photographers and guides that know the locations very well.
  • Accommodations based on shared double room, please note accommodations in Chin State are basic, and outside Kanpetlet we stay in Homestays (shared accommodations)
  • Personal motorbike taxi driver and luggage drivers for our expedition in the remote Uppu Tribal area.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Photography guidance by David Van Driessche
  • Transport (A/C Minibus)
  • Model fees, guides setup, assistants and special entry fees for specific locations
Excluding:
  • Entry fees for all parks (Bagan, Mount Victoria National Park)
  • International flights to and from Mandalay
  • Personal expenses and drinks during meals
  • Tip for your driver and guide
  • VISA: You need an international passport valid for more than 6 months and a visa for Myanmar which can be applied to by online: https://evisa.moip.gov.mm