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

DATES | 11 DAYS: January 29 - February 8, 2026 SOLD OUT/Waitlist Available

11 days/10 nights

*Please note this workshop starts in Bangkok, Thailand and ends in Luang Prabang, Laos.
PRICE: Participant Rate: $8495 per person

Companion Fee: $3995 (staying in the same room)
WHAT'S INCLUDED?: 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
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?: 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
OUR LOCATIONS: 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
OUR HOTELS: 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
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?: 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.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: 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.
HOW DO I REGISTER?: We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com

The Team

Joe McNally

Joe McNally is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning photographer whose prolific career includes assignments in 70 countries. McNally won the first Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Journalistic Impact for a LIFE coverage titled, “The Panorama of War.” He has been honored numerous times by Communication Arts, PDN, Graphis, American Photo, POY, and The World Press Photo Foundation. A contributor to National Geographic magazine for more than two decades, Joe has published numerous cover stories, including "The Future of Flying" (December 2003). His assignments have taken him from the heart of India's Diwali celebrations to the deserts of the Middle East to China's Great Wall. He regularly writes a popular, occasionally irreverent blog (joemcnally.com/blog) about the travails, tribulations, oddities and high moments of being a photographer.

More about Joe

Ari Espay & Liza Politi

Fancy Girl Street Boy Productions (FGSB) launched in December 2004. We have shot documentary pieces, campaigns and editorial essays for magazines in the US and all over Latin America, as well as portraits for internationally known actors, Emmy Award winning directors, Broadway performers, Presidents, politicians and high profile business people. We have also produced films for PBS. In addition to shooting, for more than a decade, we produced workshops for Santa Fe and photography expeditions for National Geographic. Since then, we have run more than 100 workshops in 22 countries around the globe.

More about Ari & Liza

Additional Info

WEATHER | SUNRISE/SUNSET: January – Temps 85/64 F

Sunrise 6:30am | Sunset 5:30pm
TRAVEL INFO: *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
FUN FACTS: 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.

MORE INFORMATION & FAQs