Secure Your Spot on any Future CTA Photo Tour
priority Access Before Public Launch – Risk-Free Early Reservations Now Open
Over the years, we’ve seen many of our tours sell out within hours of being announced. Some have waiting lists with over 50 people, and we’ve had photographers try to join a specific workshop for multiple years without success.
We know how frustrating it can be to miss out on a spot you’ve been dreaming about. That’s why we’re now offering a priority reservation option for our most loyal travelers.
Whether you’re hoping to photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland, the Milky Way in the Atacama Desert, or a solar eclipse with us, this is your chance to secure your place early, even if we haven’t announced the full itinerary or final price yet.
How Priority Reservations Work
We’re opening a limited number of early-access seats on each upcoming tour, before final details are announced.
Here’s what you get:
- Reserve your spot on any future Capture the Atlas photo tour with a $1,500 deposit*
- Indicate your date/guides preferences (if the tour has multiple)**
- Get early access to the full itinerary and final price (usually more than 8 months before the tour starts)
- Confirm or cancel within 10 days of receiving full tour details
It’s that simple.
*We will hold your early-access spot for 48 hours after sending you the payment instructions to complete the $1,500 deposit. If the deadline passes, please contact us before submitting your payment, as we cannot guarantee that your spot will still be available.
**Please note that while we will do our best to accommodate your preferences, we cannot confirm specific dates or guides until the full itinerary is finalized. Final assignments will be based on availability, scheduling, and the order in which early reservation deposits are received.
Why Reserve Early?
- Skip the waiting list – Get ahead of dozens of people waiting to join
- Guarantee your seat before tours are announced to the public
- Select your ideal dates before they fill up
- Receive exclusive early updates on our most anticipated tours
- Enjoy flexible, no-risk booking when paid by Zelle or Venmo
Deposit Terms & Flexibility
We understand travel plans can change, and we’ve built flexibility into this process to give you peace of mind:
- The $1,500 deposit is fully refundable if you pay using Zelle or Venmo.
- If you pay by credit card or PayPal, you can receive a refund minus any applicable processing/bank fees, or use the full deposit as credit toward any future tour – no expiration.
This system helps us plan better, offer more date options, and give you the best possible experience from the moment you book.
Who Is This For?
This priority reservation option is ideal for you if:
- You’ve tried to join one of our tours in the past but couldn’t get a spot
- You’re planning a trip around one of our photo workshops and need early clarity
- You’ve followed Capture the Atlas for a while and know you want to join us—it’s just a matter of when
- You want to photograph a specific destination, season, or astronomical event with us and don’t want to miss your window
What Happens Next?
After you make an early reservation:
1. You’ll receive a confirmation that your spot is secured.
2. When the full itinerary and price are available (usually more than 8 months before departure), you’ll be the first to receive the details.
3. You’ll have 10 days to confirm or cancel.
If we don’t hear from you within 10 days, we’ll reach out by email, text, and phone before offering your spot to someone on the waiting list. Even if we release your seat, you won’t lose your deposit — your $1,500 will remain as credit you can apply to any future tour, with no expiration.
Choose Your Photography Adventure
January (around the new moon):
- Finnish Lapland Photo Tour
- Northern Lights
- Frozen landscapes of the Arctic Circle
- Deep Sky Astrophotography Workshop
- Galaxies, nebulae, and stars in Joshua Tree, California
- Deep-sky imaging at Sky’s the Limit Observatory
- Post-processing & editing sessions
February (around the new moon):
- Winter Death Valley Astro Workshop
- Winter Milky Way Arch
- Post-processing & editing sessions
- Lofoten Photo Tour
- Northern Lights
- Fjords, beaches, and mountains
March (around the new moon):
- Death Valley & Alabama Hills Photography Workshop
- Milky Way photography
- Death Valley landscapes and Alabama Hills rock formations
- Atacama & Uyuni Photo Tour
- Atacama & Altiplano landscapes
- Uyuni Salt Flats
- Southern Hemisphere Milky Way
April:
- Patagonia Fall Colors & Hiking Photo Tour
- Chilean & Argentine Patagonia forest & fall foliage
- Los Glaciares & Torres del Paine National Parks
- Photographing wild pumas
- Patagonia Non-Hiking Photo Tour
- Chilean & Argentine Patagonia forest & fall foliage
- Los Glaciares & Torres del Paine National Parks
- Photographing wild pumas
- Utah Astrophotography Workshop (around the new moon)
- Arches & Canyonlands National Parks
- Milky Way over the Utah High Desert
May (around the new moon):
- Monument Valley Photo Tour
- Milky Way photography
- Sunset photography in Monument Valley
- Astrophotography over Hunts Mesa
- La Palma Astrophotography Tour
- Milky Way photography
- Volcanic landscapes & coastlines
- Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
June:
- Monument Valley Photo Tour (around the new moon)
- Milky Way photography
- Sunset photography in Monument Valley
- Astrophotography over Hunts Mesa
July:
- Madeira Photo Tour
- Forests, coastal cliffs & waterfalls
- Lush greenery and flora
- Peruvian Andes Photo Tour (around the new moon)
- Southern Hemisphere Milky Way
- Valleys, lakes & peaks of the Andes Mountains
- Iceland Summer Photo Tour
- Mountains, glaciers, waterfalls & volcanic beaches
- Colorful wildflowers
- Wildlife photography
August:
- Total Solar Eclipse Photo Summit in Spain
- Total Solar Eclipse photography
- Sunset photography over Spain’s Duero wine region
- Astrophotography workshops, lectures & post-processing
September (around the new moon):
- Iceland Northern Lights Photo Tour
- Northern Lights
- Glaciers, ice caves, mountains & waterfalls
- Maine Milky Way Photography Workshop
- Milky Way photography
- Acadia National Park landscapes
- Australia Photo Tour
- Southern Hemisphere Milky Way Arch
- Australian Outback landscapes
October:
- New Zealand Photo Tour
- Southern Hemisphere Milky Way Arch
- Southern Alps, glaciers, fjords, forests & lakes
- Dolomites Photo Tour
- Dolomitic Alps landscapes
- Milky Way photography
- Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour
- Mountain peaks, glaciers, valleys & waterfalls
- Autumn Alps & forest fall foliage
November:
- Tucson Astro Editing Retreat Workshop
- Editing & post-processing workshops
- Visit to Kitt Peak National Observatory
Check Out Some of Our Most Popular Tours
Have more questions? Check out our general photography tour FAQs here.
