The Dolomites A Photographer's Dream Adventure Sept 17- Sept 25, 2024

Day 1 - Arrive

Fly into Marco Polo Airport in Venice and a shuttle will take you to our nearby hotel. We will meet for a welcome dinner and adventure orientation.

Day 2

We will leave after breakfast and head towards the mountains. We will enjoy a two hour drive as we head towards Alleghe Lake. We will stop in some local villages and capture them in the early morning light.

Day 3

Rise and shine for sunrise at the lake capturing reflections and the illuminating the mountains. We will head west further into the heart of the Dolomites, and then to the ceiling of them, taking our first of many gondola rides. Entering the alpine environment is like entering another world. We will have amazing 360 views and enjoying a lunch with a breathtaking views in every direction, as well as be up close and personal with the Marmolada, aka the queen of the Dolomites. It's the only glacier in the mountain range. From this vantage point, we'll be work on compositions, Timelapse's and long exposures as well as gelato and Hugo's, a local cocktail made from Prosecco, Edelflower and fresh mint.

After some downtime at our hotel, we'll make our way in the Val Gardena, perhaps the most scenic valley in all of the Dolomites. Here, we will take you to some of our favorite viewpoints to capture a truly iconic scene, the Chiesa di Santa Maddalena, framed inside the Odle mountains as the sun begins to set.

Day 4

After meeting for breakfast, we will pack our gear into overnight bags and head further into the mountains where we catch a gondola up to our first rifugio. The "mountain huts" are what makes the Dolomites the greatest location in earth for landscape photography.

Once checked in, we will explore the area framing up compositions from a vantage point that will simply take your breath away. A traditional four-course dinner will be awaiting our return, accompanied by the local wine found from this region. At this altitude and climate, it is not uncommon for a cloud inversion to occur as we will be sleeping, and shooting, above the clouds. To witness this under moonlite or before dawn as the sun starts to break through the atmosphere is something you will never forget.

Day 5

Walk right out the door and be greeted by an incredible sunrise with 360 views. Every angle will be amazing and it's only a few steps out of bed. After a warm breakfast, we will enjoy some down time to soak in the early morning sun, or a nap, before embarking on a short hike, downhill, to our next rifugio. We will spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the area, hiking, editing and critique sessions while we await sunset. The sunset will be amazing from this epic skytop perch and best enjoyed with the famous Tiramisu made on premise. Weather permitting, we will have the opportunity to capture the night sky framed by the moonlit Cinque Torri formation, all within footsteps of the rifugio.

Day 6

After shooting sunrise and enjoying a hearty home cooked breakfast, we will relax and enjoy the views. This is the perfect time to launch our drones, to see and capture these mountains from an entirely different perspective. We'll then descend down the mountain, via gondola, to make our way to the next gondola station across the valley to whisk us up to the highest elevation rifugio in the Dolomites where we will spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the rooftop of these mountains and capturing stunning photos right into sunset.

Day 7

Sunrise will find you at a viewpoint that will literally take your breath away. After breakfast and some downtime, we will make our way back down the mountain, via gondola, and continue our journey heading towards Cortina to visit one last iconic location. After a short hike along the backside of the famous Tre Cime, we will switch gears to take you to one of ours favorite, and lesser known locations for our last sunset. With no official name and location the map, we will see much fewer people than the well-traveled Tre Cime loop. A slightly longer hike will reward us with view of the Cadini di Misurina and a viewpoint of the Dolomites could be considered the most dramatic of them all.

Day 8

Rise and shine in the cute town of Cortina, perfect for picking up souvenirs and local gifts. Have an easy morning off to stroll around the town and we will meet in the afternoon to head to Alpe Di Suisi. Bring your hiking boots as we walk around the mountains and take in the views of this breath taking high altitude plateau.

Day 9

Enjoy your last sunrise in the dolomites before heading to airport. We will stop in little villages on the way and give you the opportunity for one last gelato..... Well unless you join us in Venice ( Venice Extension Info at the end)

Logistics

While great care was taken to craft an itinerary that best utilizes a combination of gondolas and rifugios to ensure the best world-class-view-to-hiking ratio, we do recommend you being in moderate physical shape to better enjoy the experience. All hikes are optional and feel free to reach out with any questions.

What's included:

• Lodging Accommodations (double occupancy)
• Breakfast and dinner at rifugios
• Transportation throughout the entire trip
• Cable Car/Gondola ride to all locations
• Two Professional Photography instructors
• Post processing instruction and image critique sessions

What's not included

• Flights to and from Venice
• Lunch and dinner (allows for more flexibility for personal dietary restrictions)
• Snacks
• Alcoholic beverages

Lodging

Hotel Accommodations are booked on a double occupancy system with single occupancy available at an additional fee. Accommodations range from modern hotels to rustic yet immaculate dorm-style mountain huts. Single occupancy is not possible in the rifugios due to high-demand and limited space in these remote locations.

Personal Gear

• Overnight Backpack to carry your camera gear with room for two nights of clothing and essentials.
• Waterproof and windproof shell.
• Insulated jacket
• Waterproof pants
• Thermals
• Sturdy footwear with ankle support
• Casual clothing for dinners and lunches
• Headlamp
• Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat.
• Water bottle

Venice Pre--- Extension

Sept 13----- 17, 2024

Embark on a visual journey through the "City of Water," Venice, and let your passion for photography reach new heights. Our Venice Photography Extension is a unique opportunity to capture the timeless beauty, intricate architecture, and enchanting canals of this UNESCO World Heritage city. Immerse yourself in the romance and mystique of Venice as you explore its winding alleyways, iconic landmarks, and the ever-changing play of light and shadow upon its centuries-old buildings.

Venice highlights include:

• St Marks Square for Sunrise
• Rialto and Accademia Bridge
• Visiting the Colorful town of Burano
• Gondola Ride down the Grand Canal
• Visiting a Venetian Mask Shop
• Night shoots around Venice
• Private Taxi Ride
• Private Photoshoot of Model in Traditional Dress

Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to elevate your photography skills while immersing yourself in the enchanting world of Venice. Let the canals, architecture, and atmosphere of this unique city be your muse, and return home with a portfolio of captivating images that tell the story of your Venice adventure.

Pricing $3000

Includes:

• Lodging: Single supplement for Hotel Room in Venice
• Water Transportation into Venice
• Gondola Ride
• Water Bus
• Entrance fees to private locations
• Private portrait session with professional model
• Image critique and editing session

Not Included:

• Food
• Transportation out of Venice to Airport
• Flights back home