1952- Born in Dijon. Studies cabinetmaking.
1971- First trip to Afghanistan and first photographs.
1973- Travels in Nepal. Learns Nepali and English.
1981- Publishes his first book Tsangbou: between Nepal and Tibet (Hachette realities). The photo story appears in Stern, Geo and Smithsonian.
1986- Releases the book Dolpo: the hidden land (Aperture).
1987- Photo story Honey Hunters is awarded first prize at World Press.
1988- The book Honey Hunters (Nathan Image) is published worldwide.
Shoots his first documentary on Honey Hunters.
Awarded the second prize at World Press for his photo story Children of the Dust.
1990- Publication of the book Shadow Hunters (Nathan Image) with Diane Summers Films a documentary on Shadow Hunters that earning him an Oscar nomination in the documentary category.
Exhibition in the Cathedral of Images Festival of Arles.
Wins Visa d'Or - Daily Press award at Perpignan for Honey Hunters
Second prize at the World Press for Shadow Hunters First publication in Paris Match
1991- Exhibition of Shadow Hunters: The Nest Gatherers of Tiger Cave at the International Center for Photography in New York City
1994- Himalayan Caravans is published by La Martiniere in France and by National Geographic in the United States.
1997- Directs second unit for the film 7 years in Tibet by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
1998- Publishes of the book Hunting for Honey (Editions de La Martiniere)
Directs the documentary Jungle Nomads, with Debra Kellner.
1999- Directs the movie Himalaya produced by Jacques Perrin. Himalaya earns him an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film
The book Himalaya (Editions de La Martiniere) accompanies the film.
2001- Exhibits Himalaya, a large format exhibition, on the gates of the Senate at the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.
Two books on the Himalayas and the book Jungle Princess by (Editions de La Martiniere) accompany this retrospective.
2006- Release of his second feature film, The Trail with Gaumont and publishes a book of the same name by Editions du Chene.
Writes The Sky Will Be My Roof, a memoir of adventure and travel, for Editions Gallimard
2008- Polka Exhibition in Paris.
Directs View from the Sky episode "6 billion People to Feed" for Yann Arthus-Bertrand and France TV
First campaign for Hermes.
2009- Exhibition at the Leica Gallery in Salzburg.
Second collaboration with Yann Arthus-Bertrand "The End of Oil".
2010- Third and Fourth collaboration with Yann Arthus-Bertrand on "Environmental Heroes" And "Volcano’s and Man"
Publishes Himalayan Gold Rush reportage in Paris Match, Geo International, and Sunday Times.
Directs Hermes Ad for their perfume: Voyage.
Member of the Jury of Banff Mountain Film Festival
Publishes Derrière l'objectif d'Éric Valli with Editions Hoëbeke
2011- Photographs Louis Vuitton Campaign in New Zealand on “The Spirit of Travel”
Directs Living Wild a documentary in the USA for Canal +
Directs Himalayan Gold Rush for CCTV and France 5, seen by 600 million viewers in China alone.
Publishes a series of 3 articles for Paris Match on Off the Grid in America
Publishes Rencontres hors du Temps book by La Martiniere in France
2nd Hermes photo campaign for their perfume Voyage
2012 – Shoots photo campaign for L’Occitane
Exhibits at the Saatchi Gallery in London for the Sunday Times Magazine 50 Year retrospective along side Don McCullin, David Bailey, Eve Arnold, Snowdon, Richard Avedon …
Publishes Leben in der Wildnis by Knesebeck in Germany
