2023 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour

The Best of the Alps in the Fall

Join us for a Swiss & French Alps photography workshop 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 this Autumn Alps photo tour from October 6^th to 13^th, during the best time of year to photograph the forests’ fall colors and the first snowfall on the peaks.

OVERVIEW

Our Swiss & French Alps photo tour will mainly focus on capturing the most iconic landscapes in Switzerland, along with some magical locations in France, during the best moments of light. This time of year also coincides with the end of the Milky Way season, so we might have the chance to do some night photography as well before the moon rises.

Over 8 days, we will visit quintessential locations in Switzerland, such as Lauterbrunnen Valley, Oeschinensee Lake, and the famous village of Zermatt; and other stunning, little-known locations in France, such as Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval and some hidden waterfalls surrounded by golden fall colors. We will go up to different viewpoints by cable car and take trains and funiculars to access some of the most dramatic views in the Alps. If the weather is good, we will also take an optional-not included helicopter flight over Zermatt or the Aletsch glacier. That’s one of the most incredible experiences in the Alps.

We will personally help you capture the best possible images during our Swiss and French Alps photography workshop and show you the best techniques to shoot any subject in different light conditions: sunrise, sunset, midday, twilight, night, etc.

Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour highlights

Photo tour from October 06th – 13th, 2023
Group size: 10 participants + 2 instructors.
Main topics: Landscape photography – Mountains, forests, and waterfalls.
Main areas: Switzerland and French Alps
Accommodation included in top hotels close to the best locations
Transportation included in two vehicles to travel comfortably with all the luggage/camera bags.
All cable cars, railway, and funicular tickets included.

Download the official Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour Brochure

2023 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour Itinerary

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.

DAY 1: Alps Photo Tour – October 6th

This Swiss & French Alps photo tour will begin near Geneva Airport (GVA), where we’ll meet at 8 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.

As we get closer to the mountains, the landscapes will become more impressive. Our first stop will be Giessbach Falls, a 500-meter waterfall that drops into Lake Brienz at the foot of the historic Grandhotel Giessbach. The hotel can be reached by a funicular that holds the title of the oldest funicular railway in Europe.

After that, we will drive to Sustenpass, where we will shoot the sunset from different viewpoints along the road. We will then head to our accommodation near Rosenlaui Valley.

DAY 2: Alps Photo Tour – October 7th

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 will drive to the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnen, where we will shoot the sunset. 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, and as soon as you see it with your own eyes, you’ll understand why.

After sunset, we will check into our hotel in the heart of the valley, where we will stay in a special room overlooking the church and the giant waterfalls.

DAY 3: Alps Photo Tour – October 8th

On the next morning 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.

After breakfast, we’ll 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 where we will spend the night in a very unique accommodation. Here, we will enjoy some of the trip’s most amazing views and take pictures of the most prominent alpine mountains, such as the Eiger and Schreckhorn.

From First, we will do a moderate 1.5-hour hike to the beautiful Bachalpsee Lake, where we will capture the sunset and the Milky Way if there are clear skies.

DAY 4: Alps Photo Tour – October 9th

On the fourth day of our Swiss & French Alps photo trip, we will start by capturing the sunrise at First. We’ll be privileged to enjoy these fantastic views by ourselves since the cable cars will still be closed to the public. After breakfast, we will take the cable car down to Grindelwald to drive to our next destination.

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.

DAY 5: Alps Photo Tour – October 10th

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 fifth highest mountain in the Alps.

If the weather is good and the mountains are visible, after breakfast, we will take an unforgettable 45 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 town or rest in your hotel room 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 here, and we will spend a few hours shooting in the area until the last cable car leaves for Fiesch.

After this, we will drive for 3 hours and cross the border to France to spend the night in Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. If there is time, we’ll do a sunset stop around the French Chamonix Valley where we’ll photograph photogenic lakes, the popular French “Aguille”, and Mont Blanc, the second highest mountain in Europe.

DAY 6: Alps Photo Tour – October 11th

On the next day of this Alps guided photo tour, we will 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 will hike to some locations that look like they came straight out of a Lord of the Rings scene. In this valley, there are up to 30 waterfalls flowing from the tops of the mountains, some of which are among the most photogenic in Europe.

At the end of this flat and easy 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.

In the late afternoon, we will drive to Jura Natural Park in France, where we will stay for the next two nights. Depending on our arrival time, we may have time to visit one of the waterfalls next to the hotel.

DAY 7: Alps Photo Tour – October 12th

On the seventh day of our Swiss & French Alps photography tour, we will be shooting a wide variety of waterfalls from Jura.

Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Jura, when the area is painted with beautiful yellow, green, red, and orange colors. Here, the abundant rainfall provides enough moisture for the vegetation to sustain itself, and the moss-covered beeches create a magical atmosphere in the forests.

We will start the day shooting in one of the closest waterfalls to town and then move to different forests and waterfalls in the Northern Area.

At the end of the day, we’ll enjoy the tasty French cuisine in one of the local restaurants in town.

DAY 8: Alps Photo Tour – October 13th

On the final day of this Alps photo workshop, we will capture the sunrise at one of the nearby waterfalls by Jura.

After breakfast, we will pack up and drive back to Géneve International Airport, where we will wrap up this photo adventure across the Swiss and French Alps. Expect to be at the airport no earlier than 12:00 PM, so you can take flights that leave at 3:00 PM or later.

PRICE: $4,890 USD

Deposit: $1,500 USD

A $1,500 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 3 months before the start of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.

What does the price include?

INCLUDED

Drop-off at Geneva Airport (GAV).
Transportation during the trip in two comfortable passenger vans.
Fuel and parking fees.
Breakfasts
Accommodation in hotels in shared rooms with private bathrooms. (Private rooms available for an extra)
1-night accommodation at “Berggasthaus First Inn” in double rooms with shared bathrooms.
Photo guide services from David Aguilar & Prince Berkoh, professional landscape and astrophotographers.
Funicular to Wengen
Aerial Gondola from Grindelwald to First
Train from Täsch to Zermatt
Gornergrat Railway
Cable car from Fiesch to Eggishorn

*BONUS

Access to Dan Zafra’s full Capture the Milky Way Course (valued at $299)
Access to David Aguilar’s full Moody landscapes editing tutorials (Valued at $109)
Access to our Alps Photo Tour Alumni editing tutorials

NOT INCLUDED

Flights to/from Geneva Airport.
Private room ($1,000 supplement)
Meals except breakfasts
Optional Heli flight in Zermatt
Health/travel insurance (We can help you purchase the best travel insurance according to your needs).
Telephone, personal expenses, tips etc. and any other service not mentioned in the “INCLUDED” section.

 5/5

Capture the Atlas far exceeded my expectations with this year's back to back Swiss Alps and Dolomites tour. From iconic locations, idyllic landscape from Unesco heritage listed sites, David Aguilar and Dan Zafra offered the ultimate photography learning experience. Can't wait for the next adventure!

Awesome! The Swiss and French Alps photo tour was well planned and was able to see and photograph amazing sites every day. Dan and David were great leaders and very helpful with all aspects of landscape photography. Amazing adventure! Already booked two more adventures for 2023.

Dan Zafra and David Aguilar did an exceptional job, everything from the organization and itinerary details to the photography locations was well planned. If you love landscape photography, this is the best photo tour.

What will I learn during this Alps Photo Tour?

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:

Photography basics

Some of the photography basics you can learn during the workshop are:

Getting comfortable shooting different types of landscapes and nightscapes in manual mode.
Adjusting to the best camera settings in each situation.
Planning your sunset and landscape images.
Shooting long exposures using ND filters.
Improving your forest and waterfalls photography using a Polarizer.
Enhancing your composition with the best techniques.
Designing your own shooting workflow to be more efficient in the field.
Basics of drone photography.

Advanced photography techniques

Creating powerful compositions that tell a story and engage the viewer.
Building a connection between your photography and your vision.
Becoming a master of light: learn how to enhance it and keep it under control.
Advanced landscape techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, or focal length blending.
Advanced night photography techniques like stacking and tracking.
Advanced drone photography like aerial panoramas, vertoramas, and bracketing.

Post-processing techniques

Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with the included tutorials are:

Basics of Lightroom and Photoshop.
Preparing your images in Lightroom/Adobe Camera Raw.
Stitching of panoramas using different software like Lightroom or PTGui Pro.
Reducing the noise in your images with Denoise AI.
Sharpening your photos with Sharpen AI.
All types of Blendings (exposure, focal length, focus, etc.).
Light shaping and Dodge & Burn in your landscape & night images.
Post-processing of moody and atmospheric landscapes.
Advanced Milky Way post-processing techniques.

Your Instructors on this Iceland Photo Tour

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.

Prince Berkoh will be the co-leader of the tour and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.

Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in Madrid, Spain. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, from Spain to the remote Faroe Islands.

He loves educating and teaching others about photography, having led numerous tours in Iceland and other destinations and given presentations on night photography over the years. He also leads other photo tours in Europe and South america.

Prince will show you how to best capture the landscapes of the Alps, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other landscape and night photography tips.

What to Bring on an Alps Photo Tour?

Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:

PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR

DSLR/mirrorless camera and a sturdy tripod.
A wide-angle lens, such as a 14-24 mm lens.
A medium zoom lens, such as a 24-70 mm lens.
A telephoto lens, like a 100-400 mm lens.
A camera bag to transport all your equipment.
A 6-stop ND filter to shoot waterfalls and rivers.
A CPL (circular polarizer filter) to shoot the forests.
An L-bracket to take vertical images and panoramas
A headlamp for the night shoots.

You will receive a complete list of recommendations before the tour.

Photographer taking a photo with the Matterhorn behind him

CLOTHING

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:

A system of layers to wear (base layer, fleece, windproof layer, shell).
A good pair of breathable boots to keep your feet warm and protect your ankles while walking over rocks and uneven terrain.
A wool hat, neck gaiter, and gloves.

You will find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The standard accommodation on this Alps Photo Tour is double occupancy in shared bedrooms with two individual beds.

The one exception is First, where we will stay at the “Berggasthaus First Mountain Inn” sleeping in double rooms with shared bathroom. This is the only option for accommodation there. Our reward will be having the opportunity to photograph the sunset, Milky Way, and sunrise in one of the most spectacular landscapes in the Alps.

We also offer private rooms in all the accommodations for an extra supplement of $1,000.

Hiking

This is not an Alps hiking Photo tour, and most of the locations will be next to the parking lot or the cable car station.

However, we are in the mountains, and therefore there are some easy to moderate hikes that we’ll take and that you should consider:

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.
Oeschinensee lake	300 ft. / 100 m	2 miles / 3,2 km	1.5 hours	Easy path on a mostly flat gravel trail.
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	Easy 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. Easy gravel and mostly flat trail until the last part, which has 600 ft. elevation gain to reach the best views.
Flumen waterfall	200 ft. / 70 m	2 miles / 3,2 km	1 hour	Easy path on a mostly flat gravel trail along the river
We recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience

Hiker looking at the Matterhorn during sunset

MONEY

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.

DOCUMENTATION

Please check if you need a visa to visit Switzerland and France. Both countries are part of the Schengen Area. We can help you with this process.

What expenses should you consider for this Alps Photo Tour?

FLIGHTS

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

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.

PARKING AND CABLE FEES

All the parking, tolls, cable car, railway, and funicular fees for locations such as First, Zermatt, Gornergrat, Wengen, Oeschinensee, and Aletschgletscher, are included in the price of the tour.

The only activity not included is the optional helicopter flight from Zermatt if conditions and visibility are good.

What makes this Alps Photo Tour unique?

Immersive

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.

Intimate

Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than five students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.

Exclusive

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.

Dedicated

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.

Proven

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.

Unforgettable

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.

Frequent questions about our Swiss & French Alps Photo tour

WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY KNOWLEDGE SHOULD I HAVE TO ATTEND THIS PHOTO TOUR TO THE ALPS?

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.

WHAT PHYSICAL SHAPE DO I NEED TO BE IN?

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, and the terrain will be mostly flat. We do recommend checking the hiking section for more details.

We will be driving, walking, and shooting a lot during the tour, so we recommend being in good physical shape to be able to enjoy this experience.

AM I TOO YOUNG/OLD FOR THIS ALPS PHOTO TOUR?

There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the Alps with us.

CAN I USE MY DRONE?

Capture the Atlas is drone-friendly. Both Dan and David 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.

Our Happy Students!

I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:

Dan Zafra and David Aguilar did an exceptional job, everything from the organization and itinerary details to the photography locations was well planned. Both of them have very advanced knowledge in handling photographic equipment, composition, editing, and most importantly, the patience to transmit their knowledge to each participant. If you love landscape photography, this is the best photo tour. It was also a very good opportunity to learn more about some parts of Switzerland-France and have a very pleasant time with people of different nationalities. I highly recommend the Capture the Atlas programs

Aleida Gallangos