Bangkok, Siem Reap, Cambodia & Luang Prabang, Laos
We start in one of the world's most captivating cities, Bangkok! The City of Angels is a city of contrasts with action at every turn. With grand palaces, temples and a vibrant street life, Bangkok is rich in history and culture. We will visit the floating markets, Wat Arun, the Chao Praya River and taste some of the legendary cuisine.
You can channel your own inner Tomb Raider and imagine yourself in one of the world’s greatest archeological destinations, the Temples of Angkor. Siem Reap is the gateway to the ruins of Angkor and was the seat of the Khmer kingdom from the 9th–15th centuries. Angkor’s vast complex of intricate stone buildings includes the well preserved main temple of Angkor Wat. Built as a temple to the Hindu god Vishnu by Suryavarman II during the 12th century, it is pictured on Cambodia’s flag. We’ll spend 3 days exploring these mythical temples, the fast-paced energy of Siem Reap, the night markets and the outrageous Cambodian Circus and social enterprise, Phare.
Midweek, we’ll head to the UNESCO town of Luang Prabang, Laos, a perfect blend of South East style paired with French Colonialism. Luang Prabang lies in a valley at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers. Inhabited for thousands of years, it was the royal capital of the country until 1975. It is known for its many Buddhist temples, including the gilded Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Mai, once the residence of the head of Laotian Buddhism. Travel with us down the mighty Mekong River, photograph the daily alms ceremonies with the monks, visit Kuang Si Falls, and spend time with local artisans in their village.
Photography Workshop
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DATES | 11 DAYS
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January 29 - February 8, 2026
11 days/10 nights
*Please note this workshop starts in Bangkok, Thailand and ends in Luang Prabang, Laos.
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PRICE
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Participant Rate: $8495 per person
Companion Fee: $3995 (staying in the same room)
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WHAT'S INCLUDED?
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- Accommodations for 10 nights in luxury properties
- On location classes, demos, and assistance in the field
- 6 Classes/edit & critique sessions
- 3 Dinners
- 1 Lunch
- All Breakfasts
- Tickets for Angkor Complex
- Tickets for Grand Palace & Wat Arun
- Backstage photography of Phare Circus and tickets to the show
- Photographing local artists
- Internal flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap
- Internal flight from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang Airport
- All internal transportation
- Travel, landscape, cultural, street, and people photography
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WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
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- Round trip airfare to and from Asia
- Transportation to airport in Bangkok upon arrival
- Additional nights before or after the start and finish of the Workshop
- Travel Insurance
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OUR LOCATIONS
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- Wat Arun & The Grand Palace
- The Floating Markets
- Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, Bayon Temple
- Phare Circus, a social enterprise
- The Old Town of Siem Reap
- Luang Prabang, a UNESCO site, and the morning alms processions
- Kuang Si Falls
- The Mekong River & Park Ou
- The night markets of Luang Prabang
- Phousi Hill
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OUR HOTELS
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Our accommodations are upscale boutique hotels in the 4 and 5 star category.
In Bangkok, we will stay at The Muse, a 5 star boutique property and an Autograph Collection Hotel
While in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we will be at the luxurious The Shinta Mani, rooted in heart, hospitality, and a higher purpose or similar
While in Luang Prabang, Laos, we will set back in time to a more elegant era. Our home base is the fabulous French colonial style The Burasari Heritage or similar
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WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?
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- Amateur, enthusiast, and semi-pro photographers looking to build their portfolio
- Photographers who love travel and learning about other cultures
- Photographers interested in working with people and capturing street life
- Photographers who enjoy shooting historical and cultural sites
- Mirrorless, DSLR, compact camera users
*Please note this workshop will have a fair amount of walking on old cobblestone streets. Many of the Temples at Angkor have uneven steps.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE
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We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for your trip.Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage, equipment, and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (we don't mean to sound morbid, but dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence. All that being said, please read the policy carefully (especially the exclusions) to make sure that it covers what you will need, especially trip cancellation.
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HOW DO I REGISTER?
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We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com
The Team
Additional Info
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WEATHER | SUNRISE/SUNSET
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January – Temps 85/64 F
Sunrise 6:30am | Sunset 5:30pm
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TRAVEL INFO
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*Please note that this workshop starts in Bangkok, Thailand and ends in Luang Prabang, Laos. Please book flights accordingly.
Airport Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK)
Transfer to downtown is about 30 - 40 minutes, depending on traffic
Airport Laos: Luang Prabang International (LPQ)
Transfer is about 15 minutes
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FUN FACTS
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Bangkok's full name is very long, with 169 characters, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The National Anthem of Thailand is played twice a day.
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by an European country. In fact, in the Thai language, the name of the country is Prathet Thai which means “land of the free.”
Cambodia’s flag is the only one in the world to feature a building.
While Angkor Wat is the biggest religious complex in the world, the grounds of the temple ruins extend over an area of more than 500 acres – that’s about 50 times larger than the site of Machu Picchu!
During the four years of the Khmer Rouge’s rule around 2 million people were killed. That’s one-fifth of the population. Because of the genocide that took place from 1975-1979 up to 63% of Cambodia’s population is under thirty.
Despite the huge numbers of tourists visiting Siem Reap, the province still remains one of the poorest in the country. According to World Bank research, 45% of the population under the poverty line, which, for rural areas is approximately 3,200 riel per day – roughly equivalent to $0.75USD.
Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
Laotians are some of the shortest people in the world. Laos ranks second, with the average person standing just 155.89cm (5 feet 1.37 inches) tall! Laos also has the youngest population of all countries in Asia, with around 70% of the population under 30 years old.
Laos is one of the world's 5 remaining ‘communist' countries (alongside North Korea, China, Vietnam and Cuba). After the civil war ended in 1975, the communist government overthrew the monarchy and have been ruling since. The official name became the Lao People's Democratic Republic. The red communist flag with hammer and sickle can usually be seen flying on official buildings in Laos.