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2023 Dolomites Photo Tour
The Dolomite Alps in the Fall
Join us for a Dolomites Photo Tour, where we will take you to the most breathtaking locations in the Dolomitic Alps. We will visit the most iconic spots, such as the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered over the years. We’ll also have the opportunity to capture our Milky Way galaxy in locations that are ideal for astrophotography and have minimal light pollution.
We run our Dolomites photo tours in October, the time of year when the alpine trees turn orange and red, and you can shoot a vertical Milky Way setting behind the mountains.
OVERVIEW
On this Dolomites fall photo tour, we will focus on capturing the most spectacular landscapes in northern Italy during the times of day with the best light.
From huge, rugged mountains, jagged peaks, and alpine hills to impressive blue lakes, picturesque churches, and dark, starry skies, The Dolomites in northern Italy is one of those breathtaking destinations you must visit at least once, especially in late October when the golden autumn colors are in all their fall glory!
We will spend eight magical days visiting iconic mountain views like Cinque Torri, Tre Cime, Alpe di Siusi, and Passo Gardena; photogenic blue lakes like Lago di Braies, Lago d’Antorno, Carezza, and Limides; and beautiful alpine valleys like Val di Funes.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images during our Dolomites photography workshop and show you the best techniques to shoot any type of subject in different light conditions: sunrise, sunset, midday, twilight, night, etc.
DOLOMITE ALPS PHOTO TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Photo tours in October 2023
- Group size: 10 participants + 2 instructors.
- Main topics: Landscape and Milky Way photography.
- Main areas: Italy’s Dolomitic 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.
- Private 4WD sunrise tour Lago Federa.
Download the official Dolomites Photo Tour Brochure
2023 Dolomites Autumn Photo Tour Itinerary
Our Dolomites photo tour itinerary will be flexible. We know the area very well, so our goal will be to photograph the Dolomitic landscapes under the best possible conditions depending on the weather forecast.
DAY 1: Dolomites Photo Tour
This Dolomites autumn photo tour will begin at the Venicegreen Agriresort hotel, where we’ll meet at 9:00 AM. This hotel is very close to Venice Marco Polo airport, and we’ll arrange a pick-up at 08:30 AM at the airport in case you don’t stay at the hotel the night before. After a meet and greet with the rest of the group, we will drive north towards the Dolomite mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which takes roughly 2 hours to reach.
Once in the mountains, we will visit the tour’s first location, Lake Carezza. There, we will photograph the sunset over one of the bluest lakes in the Dolomites, which is surrounded by beautiful pine trees and jagged peaks in the background.
After that, we will drive to our first hotel in Ortisei, where we will spend the next two days.
DAY 2: Dolomites Photo Tour
On the second day of our Dolomites fall photo tour, we will start the day by photographing Seceda.
Seceda offers one of the most beautiful mountain experiences you can enjoy in the Dolomites. Everything in Seceda is a feast for the eyes, especially the impressive ridgeline that is surrounded by some of the most photogenic pointed peaks in the South Tyrol.
To enjoy the best conditions, we’ll take the first cable car of the morning to be on the top of Seceda ready for a morning photography session. Photographing the sunrise at Seceda is a special experience.
After breakfast in one of the local huts in Seceda, we will move to our next location: Val di Funes. In this famous alpine valley, we will photograph cozy little houses and picturesque churches, like St. Johann and St. Maddalena. We will spend the entire day there shooting from different perspectives and waiting for sunset. Hopefully, we’ll get to see the Odle Mountains turn red from the alpenglow.
If conditions are good for Astrophotography, we will shoot the Milky Way and do some astrophotography if conditions are clear.
DAY 3: Dolomites Photo Tour
On the third day of our Dolomites autumn photo adventure, we will photograph the sunrise at the beautiful Alpe di Siusi.
Alpe di Siusi is a vast plateau with many alpine hills, little huts, pines, and huge mountains in the background. It offers a lot of photography options for capturing different types of landscape images. If conditions are good, here you’ll photograph one of the most classic images of the Dolomites with the fog over the rolling hills and the mountain huts.
Then, we will move to our sunset location: Passo Gardena. This is the valley in the Dolomites par excellence and is surrounded by endless meadows and jagged peaks. Here, starting in September, you can enjoy a phenomenon that is also known as “Burning Dolomites,” a wonder of nature where the sun, just before setting, illuminates the most impressive peaks in the valley.
After sunset, we will drive to our hotel near Lago di Braies.
DAY 4: Dolomites Photo Tour
The next morning of our Dolomites photo workshop, we will wake up early to enjoy the sunrise at Lago di Braies. This is arguably one of Italy’s most photogenic locations and the most beautiful of the Dolomitic lakes, with its emerald waters and the striking natural landscapes that surround it.
Our next stop will be another location where we will photograph the “Piramidi di Terra” (Earth Pyramids); a group of natural hoodoos that is one of the best hidden gems in the Dolomites. Here we will photograph the hodoos from different viewpoints before lunch.
After lunch, we will arrive arrive in Cortina D’Ampezzo, probably the most classic area in the Italian Dolomites, where we will spend the next three nights.
We will check-in our hotel and go for a sunset session at the majestic Passo Giau, where we’ll photograph the sunset in an open valley overlooking some of the most imposing peaks in the Dolomites such as Marmolada, Tofane, or Cristallo. If conditions allow, we will do a Milky Way session from Passo Giau.
DAY 5: Dolomites Photo Tour
On the fifth day of this Dolomites photo adventure, we will wake up early to capture the sunrise over the breathtaking Cinque Torri, five massive rock formations located in the heart of the Dolomites. This is an ideal location to capture the sunstar and the nice pinky clouds of the sunrise with endless photo opportunities.
After our morning shoot and a break in the hotel, we will continue on our Dolomites photo trip to the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Here, we will embark on a 1.5-hour scenic hike to this imposing spot, where we will photograph the most iconic peaks in the Dolomite Mountains. Our plan will be to photograph the sunset as well as the Milky Way if the skies cooperate.
This is one of the best places for astrophotography in the trip, so we might change the date of this plan according to the weather conditions so we can maximize the chances of clear skies and a succesful Milky Way session.
DAY 6: Dolomites Photo Tour
The next day, we will drive up to two of the most iconic lakes in the Dolomites, Lago di Misurina and Lago Antorno. We will enjoy the sunrise and capture some long exposures during the golden morning light. These lakes are especially photogenic during the fall, when the pine trees around the lakes turn gold.
During midday, we will do a photo editing session so we can work on the images taken during the trip. We will show you how to edit different type of images, from basic edits to more advanced techniques and also night photography shots.
In the evening, we will take a short hike up to Lago di Limides, a small, beautiful lake with outstanding views of the impressive Tofana di Rozes mountain range. We will explore the area and wait for the sunset light.
DAY 7: Dolomites Photo Tour
On the seventh day of our Dolomites photography trip, we will take a private 4WD taxi to Lago Federa. This lake is one of the most spectacular locations in the Dolomites during the fall, with endless larches and a lake surrounded by the distinctive mountains of Croda da Lago. Getting there requires a considerable hike, so we will take 4WD private transportation so we can be there in time for sunrise.
After this, we’ll leave Cortina D’Ampezzo and drive through Selva di Cadore, where we will photograph some picturesque churches with the fall colors, and Allegue, a small population by the Allegue Lake considered one of the most beautiful villages in the Dolomites.
Later, we will drive southwest on a spectacular road to Passo Rolle, where we will take the road to Refugio Baita Segantini, a quiet place that is ideal for capturing the sunset over a small lake with marvelous views. After the sunset session, we’ll do a last group dinner close to Passo Rolle.
DAY 8: Dolomites Photo Tour
On the final day of this Dolomitic Alps photo tour, we will capture the sunrise in Passo Rolle and the surrounding area.
After breakfast, we will pack up and drive you to Venice Airport so you can catch your flight back home. Expect to be at Venice Airport no earlier than 2:00 PM, so you can take flights that leave at 5:00 PM or later.
PRICE: $4,690 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 4 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
- Pick up & drop-off at Venice Marco Polo Airport.
- Transportation during the trip in two comfortable passenger vans.
- Fuel and parking fees.
- Accommodation in hotels in shared rooms with private bathrooms.
- Breakfast in all accommodations.
- Photo guide services from professional landscape and astrophotographers.
- Cable car to Seceda.
- Private 4WD taxi to Lago Federa.
*BONUS
- Access to Dan Zafra’s full Capture the Milky Way Course (valued at $299)
- Access to the recorded material during the expedition.
- Access to David Aguilar’s Moody Landscapes course
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to/from Venice Airport.
- Private room – Extra $799 (*Subject to availability).
- Meals except breakfast.
- 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
Upcoming Dolomites Photo Tours
5/5
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The Capture the Atlas Dolomites photo tour was excellent. Accommodations where nice and we got to the enjoy the food for which Italy is famous.
I highly recommend Capture the Atlas if you want to take photos in amazing places with people that know what they are doing.
Read More
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.
Read More
The Italian Dolomites are awesome. David did excellent scouting to find the best spots for landscape photography. The color and autumn light this time of year made these locations special. All the good things that others have said about these two and their photo tours are spot on.
Read More
This was my second tour with Capture the Atlas, and both have been amazing experiences. The tour was well organized with constant attention to making sure we were at the right place at the right time for the best photos.
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What will I learn during this Dolomites photo Tour?
This workshop is mainly focused on landscape photography and Milky Way/astrophotography.
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.
- 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.
- Advanced Milky Way post-processing techniques.
Your instructors on this autumn dolomites photo tour
Prince Berkoh will be the tour leader and he’ll make sure that you capture the best possible images during this trip.
Prince is a landscape and night photographer based in the north of Spain. His passion for photography has taken him to some of the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, from Spain to the remote Faroe Islands, including the Dolomites.
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 Italian Dolomites, from the basics to advanced techniques like bracketing, focus stacking, panoramas, and other landscape and night photography tips.
David Aguilar will be the tour leader throughout this Dolomites 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 Italian Dolomites 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 masterful 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.
What to bring on a Dolomites Photo Tour?
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:
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 headlamp for the night shoots.
Some optional items if you want to do some advanced astrophotography are:
- A star tracker.
- A laser for doing the polar alignment.
- A variety of prime fast lenses like 20 mm f/1.8 or 35 mm f/1.4.
You may be interested in this guide where you can dive deeper into photography equipment for traveling.
CLOTHING
The average temperature in the Dolomites in October is 46ºF (8º C), but in the mornings, it can drop below 32ºF (0ºC). You should be prepared for all kinds of weather and bring warm clothing. Rainstorms are also very common in the Dolomites. Some of the things that we recommend bringing on this Dolomites 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 and gloves for the night and sunrise sessions.
You will find more items and details on the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
MONEY
The currency in Italy is the Euro (EUR). We recommend obtaining some euros in your home country, although, if that is not possible, you can purchase some at Venice Airport.
In almost 100% of places in the Dolomites, 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 Italy. We can help you with this.
ACCOMMODATIONS
During this Dolomites photo tour, we will be staying in the best hotels close to the photo locations, in shared rooms with private bathrooms.
HIKING
This is not a hiking photo tour, and most of the locations will be next to the parking lot, we will also use cable cars and 4WD cars to get closer to certain locations and minimize the amount of hiking we need to do.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Seceda | 164 ft. / | 0.5 miles / | 0.5 hours | A quick walk up the hill on a dirt/gravel path. |
St. Maddalena Church | 328 ft. / 100 m | 1.86 miles / | 1 hour | Easy walk on a slightly uphill road. |
Alpe di Siusi | 270 ft. / | 5.2 miles / 8.4 km | 3 hours | Long walk on a mostly flat, easy road with a few slightly uphill sections. |
Tre Cime di Lavaredo | 900 ft. / 280 m | 3 miles / 5 km | 4 hours | Toughest hike. Rocky, gravel trail. Mostly flat until the last section of the hike, which has 400 ft. elevation gain to reach the best views. |
Cinque Torri | 500 ft. / | 1 mile / 1.5 km | 1 hour | Short hike on an uphill rocky path. |
Lago di Limides | 430 ft. / 130 m | 1.6 miles / 2.5 km | 2 hour | Easy uphill hike on a rocky gravel path. |
Cadini di Misurina | 633 ft. / 193 m | 2.1 miles / 3.3 km | 2 hours | Rocky, gravel path with an easy uphill incline all the way. |
Passo Giau | 100 ft. / | 0.2 miles / 0.3 km | 0.5 hours | Short hike on a gravel rocky path that goes slightly uphill. |
We recommend being in good physical shape to enjoy this experience |
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What expenses should you consider for this Dolomites Photo Tour?
FLIGHTS
You should book your flight to/from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).
The price of round-trip flights to Venice from Europe is around $100-300 USD and flights from the US cost approximately $400-700 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.
Every day, we will have breakfast at our hotel and have a big meal at dinner in one of the local Italian restaurants. Northern Italian food is delicious, so this will also be one of the highlights of this Dolomites photo tour.
During the day, we will eat snacks/picnic to maximize our time for photography.
We recommend preparing to spend about $40-$70 USD on food per day.
PARKING, TAXIS, AND CABLE CAR FEES
All the parking, taxis, and cable car fees for locations, such as Seceda, Lago di Braies, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, are included in the price of the tour.
What makes this Dolomites 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 Dolomites 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 Dolomites Photo Tour
WHAT LEVEL OF PHOTOGRAPHY KNOWLEDGE SHOULD I HAVE TO ATTEND THIS PHOTO TOUR TO THE DOLOMITES?
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 take is Tre Cime, which is a 1.5-hour scenic and easy walk from the parking lot and another 1.5-hour hike to get back. Some other locations, such as Lago di Limides, require hikes of just about 30 minutes. All hikes are easy and the terrain will be mostly flat.
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 DOLOMITES PHOTO TOUR?
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph the Dolomites 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. The Dolomites are a paradise for flying drones and we highly recommend bringing your drone if you like aerial photography.
Our Happy Students!
I’ve had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers over the last years:
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!
Ann Fabella
2022 Dolomites Photo Tour
The Capture the Atlas Dolomites photo tour was excellent. Dan and David made adjustments to the itinerary based on changing weather conditions.
Group size was also great with five participates per guide. In between photo sessions we had several helpful classes from David and Dan on composition, photo techniques and Milky Way. What we learned was reinforced during the photo shoots.
I highly recommend Capture the Atlas if you want to take photos in amazing places with people that know what they are doing.
Al Walker
2022 Dolomites Photo Tour
The Italian Dolomites are awesome. David did excellent scouting to find the best spots for landscape photography. The color and autumn light this time of year made these locations special. All the good things that others have said about these two and their photo tours are spot on. Dan and David are always there to help with photo advise.
Robert McCollum
2022 Dolomites Photo Tour
I went on the 2022 Dolomites trip last October. It was my first trip with Capture the Atlas and it was truly one of the great experiences of my lifetime. Dan Zafra and David Aguilar were just the best hosts and teachers you could have. The advance planning was meticulous down to the finest details: hotels, meals, timing of shoots, locations of shoots, etc. The scenery and locations there are spectacular. They keep you busy all day and into the night so you can experience all that these great mountains have to offer.
Jeffrey Lane
2022 Dolomites Photo Tour
Recently finished a wonderful tour of the Dolomites with Dan and David. The tour was well organized with constant attention to making sure we were at the right place at the right time for the best photos. The highlight of the week was obviously the amazing scenery.
Throughout the trip, Dan and David provided excellent tips and instruction for getting the best photos of the subjects. This was my second tour with Capture the Atlas, and both have been amazing experiences.
Rober Adams
2022 Dolomites Photo Tour
To Dan Zafra and David Aguilar, it was truly an amazing tour. Good instructions for photography, safe roadtrip, really great group, lots of fun, beautiful destinations. Dan and David Aguilar put in a lot of effort to make this a really great trip for us, so thank you that. Certainly, I wil join next time a Capture the Atlas tour. Dan and David hope to see you a next time!
Matthieu Gelissen
2022 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour
I recently participated in the Swiss and French Alps tour and was blown away. Dan and David were incredibly attentive to each participant and both were overflowing with their knowledge of photography as well as the locations we visited. They safely got us to each location and all the accommodations, transportation etc. were very comfortable. The places we visited were exactly what was advertised in the marketing materials which was spectacular because the images were what drew me into signing up for the workshop! Best of all were the other participants which made the workshop 10 stars, but unfortunately, I am only limited to giving 5 stars!
Jennifer McKinney
2022 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour
Dan and David are excellent instructors, navigators, and planners! I was on the Swiss & French Alps Tour. The seasonal timing of this trip was perfect. David knows this area very well and is an expert photographer and guide. If you didn't know how to compose your shot or weren't sure which camera setting would be right, or perhaps you're not sure how to bracket or use focus stacking, David or Dan would show you. This is a very professional photo tour with a lot of beautiful views, education, and a lot of smiles. Dan and David make it fun.
John M.
2022 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This tour is governed by these Terms and Conditions.
Jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, rolling hills, endless valleys…the scenery in Italy’s Dolomitic Alps is a landscape photographer’s dream.
Add gorgeous light, photogenic clouds, dark, starry skies, and the larches in all their fall glory, and you have the recipe for a memorable trip.
Italy stole my heart when I lived there a decade ago, and beyond incredible landscapes, you’ll discover fascinating history, culture, and some of the yummiest food in the world.
Are you ready to take an unforgettable Dolomites photo tour with us?!
DAN ZAFRA
