Alps Photography Tour – Swiss & French Alps Adventure
Join us on an unforgettable journey to the heart of the Swiss and French Alps. Over the course of 9 days, you’ll explore some of the most iconic and breathtaking landscapes of Switzerland, as well as enchanting locations in France that seem straight out of a fairytale. From towering peaks above 4000 meters to lush green valleys, turquoise lakes, colossal glaciers, and charming alpine villages, there is no shortage of incredible scenes to photograph.
This tour is scheduled during the peak bloom of alpine flowers, when the rivers and waterfalls are at their fullest, fed by the recent thaw and rainfall. With the help of professional guides, you’ll maximize your time in the field, capturing stunning images in the best daylight hours.
What to Expect
Stunning Alpine Landscapes: Photograph majestic snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, lush valleys, and waterfalls.
Easy Access to Iconic Locations: Most of the destinations require little to no walking—just easy hikes of 2-3 hours maximum. We’ll take cable cars and trains to reach the most stunning viewpoints.
Optional Helicopter Flight: For an extraordinary experience, take an optional helicopter flight over Zermatt or the Aletsch Glacier. The aerial view of these stunning landscapes will leave you speechless.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a newcomer to the craft, this tour offers the perfect opportunity to refine your skills and capture nature’s most awe-inspiring beauty. Don’t miss this chance to photograph some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world—join us for an unforgettable adventure in the Alps.
Itinerary Alps Photo Tour
Day 1: Arrival Geneva & Jura Natural Park
Your adventure begins upon arrival at Geneva Airport (GVA), where we will start our journey through the French and Swiss Alps. From there, we’ll drive to the serene Jura Natural Park in France, where we will spend the next two nights. Depending on your arrival time, we’ll kick off the tour with a visit to one of the beautiful nearby waterfalls, offering an excellent opportunity to begin capturing the raw beauty of the region.
Day 2: Waterfalls of Jura Natural Park
Today, we will immerse ourselves in the breathtaking beauty of Jura’s waterfalls. The park, known for its lush vegetation of maples, firs, and beech trees, is a photographer’s paradise. The abundant rainfall in the spring and summer months ensures a powerful flow in the rivers and waterfalls, offering ideal conditions for stunning captures. We’ll spend the entire day exploring and photographing a series of incredible, photogenic waterfalls, each unique in its beauty. The dense moss-covered forests add an enchanting element to the landscape, creating the perfect atmosphere for nature photography.
Day 3: Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval – The Jewel of the French Alps
We’ll set out early for one of the most awe-inspiring gems of the French Alps: the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval. This stunning natural amphitheater is surrounded by towering peaks and over thirty waterfalls cascading from the highest mountains, making it one of the most photogenic locations in Europe. We’ll explore various spots in the area, each offering unique angles and perspectives for your photography. The day will include a relaxed route through the valley, allowing you to immerse yourself in the breathtaking surroundings and capture the incredible beauty of this alpine wonderland.
Day 4: Crossing into Switzerland – Zermatt and Lake Stellisee
After a stunning sunrise and breakfast at the hotel, we will embark on a scenic 3-hour drive, crossing into Switzerland. Our first stop will be Täsch, where we’ll leave the vehicles and take a funicular up to the world-famous town of Zermatt, nestled at the base of the iconic Matterhorn. From Zermatt, we’ll continue our journey by cable car to Lake Stellisee, one of the most picturesque spots in the region. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to capture the tranquil beauty of the lake with the Matterhorn reflecting in its waters, a truly magical sight. As the day draws to a close, we’ll enjoy the sunset before heading to Fluhalp, a cozy mountain hostel offering half-board accommodation, where we’ll rest and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Day 5: Sunrise at the Matterhorn & Aletsch Glacier
If we are lucky, we will witness one of the most spectacular sunrises in the Alps, as the majestic Matterhorn is bathed in hues of red and orange. It’s a truly unforgettable moment, perfect for capturing the magic of the Alps at dawn. After breakfast, we’ll return to our vehicles and head to our next incredible destination: the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps, stretching over 23 kilometers. This breathtaking frozen landscape offers unparalleled photographic opportunities as we explore its vast ice fields and surrounding peaks.
In the late afternoon, we’ll make our way to Sustenpass, a stunning mountain pass at 2200 meters. With its panoramic viewpoints, it’s the perfect spot to capture the beauty of the Alps as the sun sets behind the towering peaks. The evening light will provide a perfect finish to an awe-inspiring day.
Day 6: Sunrise at Rosenlaui Valley & Lauterbrunnen
We’ll start the day early with a breathtaking sunrise in the picturesque Rosenlaui Valley, where the morning light illuminates the dramatic landscapes. After breakfast, we’ll head to the charming town of Brienz, nestled on the shores of Lake Brienz, and visit the stunning Giessbach waterfalls, known for their cascading beauty. The waterfalls provide a perfect photographic subject, framed by the lush alpine forests.
In the afternoon, we’ll make our way to Lauterbrunnen, often called the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls”, where we’ll explore and photograph some of the most incredible waterfalls in Switzerland.
If the weather conditions are ideal, you’ll have the opportunity to take an optional helicopter flight over the entire Bernese Alps—an exhilarating experience that will offer you an entirely new perspective of this breathtaking region. Afterward, we’ll take the scenic train ride up to Wengen, a picturesque mountain village, where we will spend the night.
Day 7: Sunrise Over Lauterbrunnen & Grindelwald
In the morning, we’ll capture the stunning sunrise over the Lauterbrunnen Valley from a unique vantage point in Wengen. The early light will provide the perfect opportunity to photograph the valley and its surrounding peaks from above. After breakfast, we’ll head to Grindelwald, where we’ll take a cable car to First, an incredible viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Bernese Alps and towering 4000-meter peaks such as Eiger, Schreckhorn, and Finsteraarhorn.
From First, we’ll embark on a simple hike to Bachalpsee, a serene mountain lake with crystal-clear waters reflecting the surrounding peaks—an ideal location to capture breathtaking photographs, especially as the sun sets over the landscape. Afterward, we’ll return to First where we will spend the night in a cozy mountain hostel, resting and preparing for another incredible day.
Day 8: Sunrise at First & Oeschinensee Lake
We’ll begin the day with an early sunrise shoot at First, capturing the serene beauty of the alpine landscape. Afterward, we’ll drive to the charming village of Kandersteg, where we’ll take a cable car up to the stunning Oeschinensee Lake. This mesmerizing lake, with its vibrant turquoise waters, is surrounded by towering mountains, making it one of the most iconic photographic spots in the Alps.
In the afternoon, we’ll bid farewell to the majestic Alps and head to Geneva, where we’ll host an exclusive processing masterclass. This session will focus on refining your images and learning professional techniques to bring out the best in your photographs, ensuring you leave with not only incredible memories but also enhanced skills to take your photography to the next level.
Day 9: Departure from Zurich
On the final day of our Alps photo tour, we will make our way to Zurich Airport (ZRH), where the journey comes to a close. After an unforgettable adventure through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Europe, you will leave with a wealth of stunning images and enhanced photography skills. We hope you leave inspired and with memories that will last a lifetime.
Map
Photographer Guide
Jabi Sanz
More information about the tour
Departure & Return Location
Geneva Airport, Switzerland
Price Includes
- Flights to & from Geneva – Zurich
- Any Private Expenses including meals
- Tips
- Visa
- Anything not mention in “Price includes
Complementaries.
- DSLR or mirrorless camera, tripod and remote shutter
- Wide angle lens (14-24mm as example)
- Standard lens (24-70mm as example)
- Telephoto lens (70-200mm as example)
- Drone (recommended)
Photographic lessons
- Composition
- Digital Workflow
- Panoramic Photography
- Depth of Field calculation
- Focal Blending
- Blue Hour Photography
- Night photography
- Filters, Neutral Density and Neutral Density Grads
- Photoshop and Lightroom post-processing workflo
Budget.
- Meals
- You can spend around $650 in meals during this trip
- Flights
- Flights from New York costs around $900
- Visa
- US Citizens doesn’t need Visa to visit Switzerland & France
.
Conditions
Price
The price of this Alps Photo Tour is based on a minimum participation of 6 participants. In the event that there are not enough participants, you will be offered the option to proceed with the trip at an adjusted price, proportional to the number of participants, or receive a 100% refund of the total amount paid.
Please note that the exchange rate calculation was last made on January 1st, 2024. The final price may be subject to change up to 30 days before the start of the tour, depending on fluctuations in the exchange rate.
Accomodation
The accommodations offered are shared double rooms at Hotels, and shared rooms at refugees.
You can book an individual room during the process of the book your place for the photo tour or writing us at info@photoworldtours.com
Meals
This tour doesn’t includes meals.
Insurance
Our tours include basic insurance, we suggest contracting full cover insurance. Contact us to expand your insurance coverage.
Transportation
Our tours include all internal transports (cars, vans, trains, or flights). We don’t include international flights, but we will guide you at the moment of your booking the best options to arrive to the destiny from your home.
Itinerary
The itinerary mentioned can be changed due to a force major reasons like weather conditions or accidents for example.
Payments & Refunds
To book your place you need to pay 25% of the total cost. The total payment must be made 45 days before the trip.
Cancellations
If the client cancel the trip will lose the deposit paid (25%), but refund other payments due this cancellation policy:
– More than 45 days but less than 60 days to the start of the tour: 50% of the total cost of the trip will be refunded.
– Less than 45 days before the trip start: There will be no refund.
Other considerations
Please, check the section “This tour include” and “This tour not include” to know more details about meals, guides or other services include.