Join us for a Swiss & French Alps photo tour to capture some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the highest mountains in Europe. From massive peaks, impressive glaciers, and epic valleys to photogenic waterfalls, turquoise lakes, and beautiful alpine villages, this region of the Alps is one of the best natural wonders in Europe.
We are running our Autumn Alps photo tours in October 2027, during the best time of year to photograph the forests’ fall colors and the first snowfall on the peaks.
Our Swiss & French Alps photo tour is timed perfectly with the peak of fall, when golden larches and fiery reds blanket the mountains, transforming the landscape into a painter’s palette.
Over 8 incredible days, we’ll photograph the most iconic sights in Switzerland—like the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Rosenlaui, and the legendary village of Zermatt—as well as hidden gems across the border in France, including the magical Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval and secluded waterfalls tucked away in golden forests.
We’ll ride cable cars, scenic trains, and funiculars to reach epic viewpoints. And if the skies are kind, you’ll have the chance to take an optional helicopter flight over Zermatt or the Aletsch Glacier—an experience that will stay with you forever.
Throughout the tour, we’ll be by your side to help you capture the beauty of the Alps in every kind of light—sunrise, sunset, twilight, and even those magical moments in between. Whether you’re refining your technique or simply chasing the perfect shot, this workshop is designed to inspire and elevate your photography in one of the most photogenic places on Earth.
We do a mix of locations on this Alps photo tour. Some days involve moderate hikes to reach quieter, more dramatic viewpoints (usually 1–3 miles round trip with up to ~1,000 ft of elevation gain). We always take a steady pace with photo stops along the way.
If you’re in reasonably good shape, this is very doable; and the longer hikes are always optional. Many sessions are close to the parking lot or accessed by cable car, so you’ll still have plenty of great shooting opportunities either way. Please review the itinerary and hiking chart below.
The itinerary of our Alps photo tour can be flexible. We know the area very well, so our goal will be to photograph the alpine landscapes in the best possible conditions, depending on the weather forecast.
We will try to make the most of the morning and evening light, but the Alps also provide plenty of photo opportunities for landscape photography, even on overcast days.
This Swiss & French Alps photo tour will begin near Geneva Airport (GVA), where we’ll meet at 9 AM with the rest of the group. From Geneva, we will drive about 2 hours to the Bernese Alps in western Switzerland, where we will spend the next three days shooting some outstanding landscapes.
After the check-in at our first hotel in the Alps, we will drive to Sustenpass, where we will shoot the sunset from different viewpoints along the road. We will then head to our accommodation in Meiringen.
On the second day of our Alps photography tour, we will wake up early to capture the sunrise at Rosenlaui, a green valley with majestic mountains, waterfalls, and rivers.
After breakfast, we will continue exploring the Rosenlaui Valley by doing a beautiful 1-hour optional hike to a secret spot surrounded by massive peaks and glaciers.
Later we’ll drive directly to the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnen, one of the most impressive places in Switzerland, where we will stay for two nights in a special room overlooking the church and the giant waterfalls.
Lauterbrunnen Valley, also known as the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls,” is a spectacular glaciated valley surrounded by huge mountains and 900ft waterfalls. Tolkien was inspired by this valley to create Rivendell in Lord of the Rings.
Here, we will explore the town and its best photographic points. At sunset, we will head to the charming village of Wengen to capture the golden light over the valley from this elevated viewpoint.
On the third day of our Swiss & French Alps photo trip, we will start by capturing the sunrise in Lauterbrunnen. If conditions allow, we will take an optional and not included scenic helicopter flight to photograph the valley and surrounding peaks from the air, including a landing on one of the glaciers.
Later, we will drive to Grindelwald, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, which is surrounded by massive, 13,000 ft-high peaks and glaciers. From there, we will take a cable car up to First, a breathtaking scenic overlook.
From First, we will do a moderate 1.5-hour hike to the beautiful Bachalpsee Lake, one of the most iconic locations in the Alps, where we will enjoy incredible views and photograph prominent alpine mountains such as the Eiger and Schreckhorn.
On the fourth day of our Alps photo adventure, we will wake up early to take a funicular up to Wengen, a beautiful village located above Lauterbrunnen with stunning views of the valley. We will then walk to our sunrise shooting spot, where we’ll enjoy a majestic view of the area and, hopefully, the typical Autumn morning fog rolling across the valley.
Later, we will head towards the Pennine Alps in southern Switzerland to reach Zermatt, the famous Swiss village with an imposing view of the Matterhorn. To get there, we will take a quick train from the village of Täsch since Zermatt is a car-free town.
After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we will take the Gornergrat Railway, the second-highest railway in Europe, to Gornergrat, a breathtaking 360° viewpoint with views of the Matterhorn and the Gorner Glacier. There we’ll take plenty of images and panoramas of this surreal landscape.
If conditions allow, we will hike down to Riffelsee Lake, a beautiful lake where you can see the Matterhorn reflected. We will do our sunset session here before catching the railway back to Zermatt.
On the fifth day of this Swiss & French Alps photo trip, we will wake up early to capture the stars over Zermatt, the magical blue hour with the lights in town, and finally, the alpenglow light hitting the Matterhorn, the most iconic mountain in the Alps.
If the weather is good and the mountains are visible, after breakfast, we will take an unforgettable 30 min. heli-flight over the Matterhorn and its surrounding mountains and glaciers. It’s an optional and not included activity, so you can also take a walk in the charming town of Zermatt or rest in the spa room of our hotel if you prefer.
We will then leave Zermatt and drive to Fiesch, where we will take a cable car up to the largest glacier in the Alps, Aletschgletscher, which is 14 miles (23 km) long. The views are spectacular there, and we will spend a few hours shooting in the area until the last cable car departure.
On the sixth day of our Swiss & French Alps photo adventure, weather permitting, we’ll ascend to the legendary Aiguille du Midi, a 12,605-ft (3,842m) peak in the Mont Blanc massif. This iconic location is accessible via the world’s highest vertical ascent cable car and provides unparalleled panoramic views of the Mont Blanc range, the Matterhorn, and even the distant peaks of Italy and Switzerland. At the summit, we’ll have the chance to step onto a glass-floored skywalk known as “Step into the Void” and photograph the dramatic peaks from various viewpoints.
If the weather allows, we’ll take an optional (not included) helicopter flight to experience the grandeur of the Mont Blanc range from above, capturing unique perspectives of its snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and valleys.
In the afternoon, after returning to Chamonix, we’ll hold a photo editing session. During this class, we’ll review the images taken so far, teaching advanced post-processing techniques to bring out the full potential of your photos.
On the next day of this Alps guided photo tour, we will wake up early to shoot the sunrise at one of the most extraordinary gems of the French Alps: Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval.
We will spend the morning exploring different views in the area and taking a scenic hike to some locations that look like straight out of a Lord of the Rings scene. In this valley, up to 30 waterfalls are flowing from the tops of the mountains, some of which are among the most photogenic in Europe.
At the end of this hike, there will be an option to take the last steepest part and reach an upper spot where you can overlook the entire valley. The total walking distance and elevation are described in the hiking section below.
After shooting the sunset in the area, we’ll drive back to Geneva for our farewell dinner.
On the last morning of our Swiss and French Alps, the journey comes to a close as there are no scheduled plans. You can book your flights at the most convenient time.
Deposit: $2,000 USD
A $2,000 USD deposit is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
This workshop is mainly focused on landscape photography shooting mountains, forests, and waterfalls. We’ll also do some astrophotography when conditions align.
What you learn during the workshop will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
Some of the photography basics you can learn during the workshop are:
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with the included tutorials are:
David Aguilar will be the tour leader throughout this Alps photography workshop, and he will make sure that you get the best photography results and experience out of this tour. He will help you with your photography, technique, and composition in all your landscape and night images.
David is a real expert on the Swiss & French Alps after countless trips around this mountain range in all seasons. He has led photo tours here in the past, and he’s very knowledgeable about the most photogenic locations, the weather patterns, and the best techniques to capture breathtaking landscape images. He’s also a master drone pilot and can help you with your aerial photography on this trip.
David’s main passion is traveling and helping others with their craft. He’s traveled extensively, not only in Nordic countries like Iceland and Norway but also across vast areas in European Alps and South America. He currently leads photo tours in many different regions of Europe and South America.
He’s also a skilled post-processing editor and has helped countless photographers over the last few years with his online landscape editing courses.
Unai Larraya will be the co-leader on this Alps photo tour. He is an expert landscape photographer who will make sure you end up with the best possible images.
Unai is an experienced landscape and wildlife photographer based in Northern Spain. He has led many Capture the Atlas tours in the Alps over the years, and he’s very knowledgeable about the region’s locations and how to maximize every photo opportunity.
He has refined his photography skills while traveling around the world over the past few years and has taught many other photographers along the way. Since Unai started his photography journey, he has won multiple awards in recognition of his outstanding photography and editing skills.
With Unai, you’ll learn about composition, shaping light, color theory, focus stacking, and more. He will also show you how to implement all these techniques into your workflow to take your photography to the next level!
We will send you a complete list of everything that we recommend for this tour upon sign-up. Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:
You will receive a complete list of recommendations before the tour.
The average temperature in the Alps in October is 46°F (8° C), but in the mornings or at higher elevations, it can drop below 32°F (0°C). You should come prepared for all kinds of weather and bring warm clothing. Rains and storms are also very common in the Alps. Some of the things that we recommend bringing on this Swiss & French Alps photography tour are:
You will find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). In France, it is the Euro (EUR). We recommend getting CHF and EUR in your home country, although, if that is not possible, you can always purchase some at Géneve Airport.
In almost 100% of places in the Alps, you can pay by credit or debit card, so you won’t need much cash for the trip.
Switzerland and France are part of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality and the length of your stay, you may need a visa. Please make sure to check the visa requirements for your country of residence before your trip. If you need any assistance, we’re happy to guide you through the process.
Update on ETIAS:
A new travel authorization system called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, travelers from many countries — including those who currently do not require a visa, such as the United States and Canada — will need to apply for ETIAS before entering the EU.
We encourage you to stay informed about future travel requirements for upcoming trips. You can find more details on the official ETIAS website.
The standard accommodation on this Alps Photo Tour is double occupancy in shared bedrooms with two individual beds. We are staying in top-rated hotels in prime locations, where you can enjoy marvelous views of the mountains and the Alps.
We also offer private rooms in all accommodations for an additional $890 supplement.
During this Alps Photo Tour we’ll travel in a private minibus with ample space to travel comfortably from one spot to another. It features inclined seats, air conditioning, heating systems, and more.
We’ll have a professional, accredited driver who is experienced in navigating the roads in the Alps.
On this trip, most of the locations are next to the parking lot or the cable car station.
However, we are in the mountains, and therefore there are some moderate and long hikes that we’ll take and that you should consider (*all of them are optional):
Hike | Elevation Gain | Distance (Roundtrip) | Estimated Duration (Roundtrip) | Path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rosenlaui Valley | 1000 ft. / 300 m | 2 miles / 3,2 km | 2 hours | Uphill at the beginning with a short rocky and slippery section at the end. |
Lauterbrunnen viewpoint | 600 ft. / 180 m | 1.6 miles / 2,5 km | 1 hour | Uphill, along the road of the village. |
Bachalpsee lake | 400 ft. / 120 m | 4 miles / 6 km | 3 hours | Gravel trail, rolling hills and then mostly flat. |
Riffelsee | 1150 ft. / 350 m downhill | 1.5 miles / 2,5 km | 1 hour | Mostly rocky downhill with amazing views to the Matterhorn |
Zermatt viewpoint | 200 ft. / 60 m | 2 miles / 3,2 km | 1 hour | Moderate trail uphill along the road of the village. |
Cirque du Fer-À-Cheval | 750 ft. / 230 m | 5.6 miles / 9 km | 4.5 hours | Longest hike. Moderate difficulty on gravel and mostly flat trail until the last part, which has 600 ft. elevation gain to reach the best views. |
We recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience |
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You should book your flight to Geneva International Airport (GVA).
The price of round-trip flights to Geneva from Europe is $200-250 USD, and from the US, it’s approximately $500-800 USD
We recommend this article to find the best flights to Venice Airport from your current location.
Meals are not included, except for breakfast at the hotels. Most days, we will have breakfast at our accommodation and have a big dinner in one of the local restaurants.
During the day, we will eat snacks and picnic to maximize our time for photography.
Supermarkets and restaurants aren’t cheap in Switzerland, so we recommend preparing to spend about $60-$80 USD on food per day.
All the parking, tolls, cable car, railway, and funicular fees for locations such as First, Zermatt, Gornergrat, Wengen, Aletschgletscher, and Aiguille du Midi are included in the price of the tour.
The only activity not included is the optional helicopter flight if conditions and visibility are good.
Taking a heli flight in the Swiss Alps is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The mountains, glaciers, and vast landscapes are simply breathtaking from the air. These flights allow you to take in the views but also to capture unique angles that are not possible from the ground or even with drones.
If conditions allow, we will take two flights in Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt, the two most impressive alpine areas in Switzerland.
The duration of these flights is around 45 minutes and they are optional and not included activities. Flying always depends on the weather and availability. Some of these flights include short landings in glaciers, so you can also capture images from the ground.
The price depends on the location and total number of people, but it usually varies between 400 and 500 USD.
Our workshops are completely centered on photography: finding the best moments of light during and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than six students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
During this workshop, we will photograph the famous locations in the Alps as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered while exploring in the past that are rarely visited or photographed.
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter your age or skills; we will design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to the ambitious goal of capturing complex images. Dan’s online courses have also helped more than 400 photographers over the last few years.
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
Whether you are experienced or just starting out in photography, you are welcome to join us, and I am convinced that you will progress very fast. Together, we will get you back home with a greater and deeper knowledge of many photography topics.
Once you sign up for the workshop, we will discuss your skills and goals for this tour, and I’ll organize a teaching plan so you can make the most of this experience. You’ll also receive access to Dan’s Capture the Milky Way course so you can start preparing your astrophotography before the trip.
Most locations are a relatively short walk from the parking lot. The longest hike we will do will be in Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval: a 2-hour walk from the parking lot and another 2 hours back, stopping in some spots along the way. The hikes to some locations, such as Bachalpsee Lake, take about 1.5 hours, and many other locations are next to the cable car station or parking lot. All hikes are easy to moderate, with some gradual elevation gain. We do recommend checking the hiking section for more details.
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the Alps with us.
Non-photographer companions are welcome to join the tour, and they need to book a spot under the same price and conditions as any other participant. (We don’t allow non-participant companions tagging along with the group). We have had plenty of non-photographer companions over the years and all of them enjoyed an amazing experience. As long as they enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are a bit patient with the schedules of a photo tour, joining the trip can be a great experience regardless of the shooting.
Capture the Atlas is drone-friendly. Both tour leaders are experienced drone pilots and can help you with your drone photography.
We will advise you on the areas where you are allowed to fly and show you the best aerial photography techniques.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
Massive mountains, impressive glaciers, alpine lakes, magical forests, hidden waterfalls…the scenery in the Swiss and French Alps is simply breathtaking.
Add gorgeous light, photogenic clouds, dark, starry skies, and the fall foliage in all its color splendor, and you have the recipe for a memorable trip.
The Alps is a region full of history. It’s the place where modern mountaineering was born, and it is one of the most accessible and photogenic mountain ranges in the world for good reason.
Are you ready to take an unforgettable Alps photo tour with us?!
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