2024 Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour (10-Day)
- Regular price
- $6,980.00 AUD
- Regular price
-
$2,500.00 AUD - Sale price
- $6,980.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
SFR 3955.00 | Euro € 4200.00* | US$ 4580.00* Per person in twin-share
SWISS & FRENCH ALPS AT ITS BEST. Join us on this exciting photography journey, as we travel to some of the most breathtaking landscape of the Swiss & French Alps. Experience an unforgettable old-new 10-Day (previously 8-Day) Photography Adventure through the mesmerising landscapes of Switzerland & France, including 2-days capturing Lake Geneva and its picturesque Riviera, the Bernese Alps, Brienz, Grindelwald, Grimsel Pass, Zermatt and the Gornergrat 360 degrees view (Elevation 3,135 m / 10,285 ft) where you will experience a unique panorama encompassing 29 of the Alps’ mightiest peaks, as well as breathtaking photography locations such as Lake Riffelsee (Elev. 2,757 m), Lake Stellisee (Elev. 2,537 m) and the Klein Matterhorn (Elev. 3,883 m), the reknown Chamonix region and enchanted Six-Fer-a-Cheval valleys are just some of the locations we'll explore!
Autumn in central Europe is a fabulous time of the year to run photography tour, as the riviera and the lower valley landscape start to put on it's fall colours and the first snowfall on the mighty alpine peaks!
THE BREATHTAKING 'LAVAUX' VINEYARD TERRACES, PICTURESQUE MOUNTAIN LAKES, HIDDEN WATERFALLS, MESMERISING GLACIERS AND TOWERING SNOW TOPPED ALPINE PEAKS PHOTOGRAPHY IN A NUTSHELL !
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SWISS & FRENCH PHOTO TOUR
A unique opportunity to work alongside (Suisse born) Australian professional landscape photographer Martial Fatton and LTG Global Awards Winner 2016 & 2017 Blue Tongue Photography Tours and guest tutor - seasoned local Master Landscape Photographer, Jacques Straesler.
Our 10-Day itinerary of this Alpine Photo Tour is flexible. Our tour leaders (Martial & Jacques) know the area very well, so our goal will be to photograph the Lavaux and the alpine landscapes in the best possible conditions, depending on the weather forecast. Experience a unique overnight stay in a rustic Swiss Mountain Cabin (Elev. 2606 metres) and 8 nights accommodation in top hotels and classic country style chalets/pensions, close to the best shooting locations. Immerse yourself in a one in a life-time, 10-Day photography journey to the mesmerising SWISS & FRENCH ALPS, where the mountain landscapes are too big to fit in a single frame!
Tour Highlight and Inclusions
This Exclusive small-group photographic adventure has been carefully put together, allowing you to experience a diversity of Alpine landscapes and lighting. We guarantee a wealth of photography opportunities, including small group tuition, practical notes and one-to-one support tailored to your individual needs while on-location learning the importance of image composition, available light and night photography techniques.
- 8x cosy nights at 3 & 4 Stars Hotels
- Plus experience a unique overnight stay in a Swiss Mountain Cabin (Elev. 2606 metres)
- Twin-share room in specially selected accommodation
- Refer to 'Date & Cost' for single room supplement
- All breakfast during the duration of the photo tour
- Welcome dinner on our first night in the Lavaux overlooking lake Geneva
- Cable cars and train pass during the workshop
- All entrance fees to exhibits & locations that we visit for photography
- Train to the Gornergrat 360 degrees view (Elevation 3,135 m)
- Night photography & Sunrise session at Lake Stelisee
- Sunset & night photo session in at Lake Riffelsee
- A smorgasbords of Alpine sceneries throughout the 10 days
- Spectacular panoramic views over the Matterhorn
- Half day trip to the Klein Matterhorn (Elev. 3,883 m)
- Bernese Alps & the breathtaking Lake Brienz
- Chamonix & Six-Fer-a-cheval enchanted valleys
- Professional photography advise
- Fully escorted tour in French and English
- Photography group of 4 – 8 participants maximum
Dates
September 2 to 11 | 2024 (10-Day) Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour
Cost: AU$ 6980.00* | single supplement AU$ 1500.00*
SFR 3955.00 | Euro € 4200 .00* | US$ 4580.00*
All prices have been calculated in Swiss franc, exchange rates between currency may vary from day to day.
Take 5% off of the total costs of any tours when you sign up for 2 or more tours* (*conditions apply, not valid with any other offers, applicable only for direct online bookings). SwissPass discount applicable on demand.
This Swiss & French photo tour is offered as a stand-alone or post – Venice & Tuscany tour extension May/June & Oct. 2024 or Paris May/June & Aug/Sept 2024. It is a perfect tour to include a non-photographer companion
Non-photographers welcome. (The single supplement fee also applies to the non-photographer participant). Observers/ non-photographers companions can either tag along while you are out taking photographs, or do their own exploring of the surroundings and we’ll all meet up in the evenings to share a few stories of the day’s events.
A $1500 non-refundable deposit will secure your spot. Click here to make your deposit »
What is included?
- 9 nights accommodations
- Daily breakfasts and 2 dinners (2x) during the duration of the Tour
- Transport in a 9 seater luxurious van
- All cable car & train pass required for the workshops for all 10 days
- All entrance fees to exhibits & locations that we visit for photography
- Martial’s expertise in guiding and photographic instruction
- Second guest instructor
Level of physical difficulty: 3 out of 5
This 10-Day Tour / Workshop starts and finishes in Geneva and is suitable for beginners and experienced photographers of all ages. A moderate level of fitness is required (some walking).
Itinerary
Ever dreamed to spend 10 Days shooting Alpine Landscapes alongside an award winning professional landscape photographer and a local Master Landscape Photographer instructor?
This Workshop gives you the opportunities to learn all the inside tips and tricks you need to know on how to capture amazing landscapes and nightscape images.
New 10-Day itinerary coming shortly / 28.01.2024
This will replace our current 8-Day photo tour itinerary.
Photography Outline
Nature, Landscape, night and astrophotography
In addition to great daily photo opportunities and night excursions, we will also touch on the following photography topics, including:
- Understanding your camera
- Working with available light [read & understand the light]
- How to read your histogram, be in control
- Depth of Field calculation
- What lenses should you use?
- Camera settings to take the perfect shot everytime
- Image composition, the golden rules and how to break it!
- Filters, Neutral Density and Neutral Density Grads
- Photoshop/ Lightroom tips and tricks
- Night photography tutorial
- Capturing raw
Personal Items and Weather Conditions
Temperature range for this time of year: 2C to 25C but it can get very cold in altitude.
Average monthly snowfall for this time of year: 10%
Two pairs of shoes: One sturdy pair for in the field that you can get wet if we have a rain day. One pair for evenings or the next day in case the first pair is not dry.
Light weight rain jacket and rain pants. You don’t have to go all out here, but it will also help you to keep warm at night. * I really suggest a rain jacket if nothing else, the rain gear will keep you dry when walking in the mountain. I have a pair of Teflon rain pants & jacket, super light and perfect to keep in you camera bag in case of a sudden change in the weather.
A warm jacket, gloves, ‘woolly knickers’ and a jumper or light jacket for those early morning shoots. It can get really cold at high altitude all year round, and specially at 4am as we wait for the sun to rise at 2’620 m over sea level.
Hat and high altitude sun screen protection.
Try to pack light on this Swiss & French Photo Tour, as you will have to transport your luggage between the train station and Hotel Dufor. You will also need to pack and carry a basic change of cloth in your camera bag for the overnight workshop at Lake Stellisee (Elev. 2,537 m)… our Mountain Cabin is a short 30-40 minutes walk between Sunnegga and Fluhalp. Drop off laundry service is available at most Hotels
Equipment
Camera Equipment
Your favourite DSLR camera, a multi focal lens (i.e 18-70mm) or fix lens, the wider the angle the better (i.e 14, 18,20mm full frame camera and 10, 12mm cropped sensor camera), and a medium to long-range lens (i.e. 80-300mm), plenty of memory cards and fully charged batteries. A small steady tripod & cable release for long exposure is essential. Don’t forget to bring your camera manual if you are not 100% sure about your camera functions. Please note that for better results a recent DSLR digital camera is preferable (0-5yrs old) as technology changes. Polarizer filter, Neutral Density and grabs filters are not a prerequisite but are great tools to have for long exposure and colour saturation.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and advanced photographers of all ages, however a good sense of humour and minimum fitness is recommended. Sturdy shoes, suitable warm cloths, drink bottle, a head torch and a good camera bag… remember, you will be the one carrying your own photography gears!
Tour Extensions
A perfect add-on before your Swiss & French Alps Photo Tour is our popular Paris in the Spring Street photo tour in France or after your Zermatt Photo Tour to join us on either Venice & Cinque Terre or Tuscany photo tour
Take 5% off of the total costs of any tours when you sign up for 2 or more tours or participants.
Paris in the spring | Paris Photo Tour
May/June & Sept/Oct. 2024 (3 nights)
Click here for more information »
Venice & Cinque Terre | Venice Photo Tour
May/June & Sept/Oct. 2024 (4 nights)
Click here for more information »
Toscana | Tuscany Photo Tour
October 2024 (6 nights)
Cancellations, Refunds, Guides & Weather Policy
Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellation Policy: A 25 – 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your seat depending on the tour that you have selected - refer to individual itinerary. Seats to be paid in full at the time of booking or within 4 weeks of departure on all Australian tours except all extended tours; 8 weeks for Karijini, Exmouth to Broome, Golden Outback & Southwest WA, Margaret River, Kalbarri Coral Coast 5-Day and Wave Rock, and 12 weeks on all extended European & USA tours including: Paris, Zermatt, Venice, Tuscany, Italian Dolomites, Swiss & French Alps tour and USA Canyons & National Parks. Cancellations less than 30 days on day tours no refund; 12 weeks for all extended tours, including: Karijini, Exmouth to Broome, Golden Outback & Southwest WA, Margaret River, Kalbarri Coral Coast 5-Day and Wave Rock, it also includes all our international tours & workshops: Paris, Zermatt, Venice, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Italian Dolomites, Swiss & French Alps tour and all the North American tours. Deposits non refundable except tours cancelled due to sever weather, mechanical failure or minimum numbers not met; full refund will be given. Minimum and maximum numbers are at the discretion of the operator. Tours already commenced no refund. No refund for tours missed due to lateness & sickness. Travel insurance and public liability (in the even you accidentally damage someone else property) are mandatory on all our extended tours and highly recommended on day tours as well. Check-in 15 minutes prior to departure. Maximum 1 baggage* per person i.e. Camera bag water bottle jumper (Extra luggage* allowance on all extended tours (1 pp – personal effects) NOTE: We cannot guarantee that you will see kangaroos emus or any wild animals on our tours nor wildflowers as they are seasonal. For MasterClass workshops extended tours and international travel policy please check our website or individual tours.
Tour Guides
Our tours leader is Martial Fatton – Blue Tongue Tours Owner/ Operator, however we reserve the right to provide a photographer of our choosing, which we guarantee is competent of their position. Your assigned photographer might change from initial notification until the tour departure due to illness, engagements or any other reason deemed necessary by Blue Tongue Tours, not limited to the photographers listed on this site. While we do our best to match you with a photographer of your choosing if requested, for these reasons we cannot guarantee a specific photographer for an individual tour.
Inclement Weather Policy
In the event of inclement weather, before the tour commences, you have the option of a) continuing the tour as planned and we’ll do our best to concentrate the tour to areas sheltered from the elements. At prior request, we can provide an umbrella. Or b) rescheduling the tour at no additional cost (availability permitting).
Itineraries are subject to change depending on weather and other circonstances beyond our control. Changes in the itinerary are always made to provide the best possible experience and safety of our clients!
