Photo trip Dolomites 2023 Sold out

This trip will lead you to discover a beautiful gem in the heart of the Atlantic. Madeira, also known as the "floating garden," is an archipelago located above the Canary Islands, 545 km northwest of the African coast, but belonging to Portugal.

In this volcanic paradise, rich in diverse landscapes, there is a contrast of colors between the lush green and the black of the rocks, thanks to the combination of high humidity and a mild climate all year round.

Exploring Madeira, one can admire rugged coastlines, majestic mountains, and laurel forests like the magical Fanal Forest in a short time. There are also many waterfalls accessible via beautiful hiking trails.
During the night, the island offers a perfect sky for night photography.

All of this makes this small island a true paradise for anyone who loves astrophotography and landscape photography.

This trip is for all photography enthusiasts interested in astrophotography and landscape photography. The trip difficulty is easy, and a fitness level for light hikes (hike: 2-5 km, elevation profile +/- 200m) is required. This is a trip with a focus on astrophotography, where we need to be flexible to be in specific locations under clear starry skies. You will visit and photograph the most beautiful places on Madeira, alternating between sunrise, sunset, and night. During the trip, you will learn the basics of astrophotography and landscape photography, from the theory of image capture, planning, to post-processing. We will start with the theoretical and technical fundamentals and apply them practically in Madeira. We will collectively evaluate the shots and then learn the post-processing workflows using the existing files.
The goal of the trip is to return home with beautiful memories and great photos.

Please note:

In November of this year, a new concept for the conservation of the Fanal forest was presented, and its implementation may affect photography.

The program may change depending on weather conditions. We are flexible and will adapt to any situation to provide the best possible experience.

Meeting point: June 12 - Madeira Airport (FNC), no later than 4:00 PM (last arriving flight).

Departure: On June 18, in the early morning hours, we will take the group back to the airport.

Day 1
Ribeira da Janela, Fanal Forest

Pickup from Madeira Airport (FNC).
After a brief presentation of what to expect during the Madeira photo tour, we will reach our first hotel in Porto Moniz.
We will relax, have dinner, and prepare for our first sunset at Ribeira da Janela beach.
After the sunset photo session, we will hunt for the Milky Way in another magical location, the Fanal forest, where we will focus on creating single and double exposures without using a star tracker.
Around 2 AM, we will return to the hotel.

Day 2
Porto Moniz, Miradouro de Sao Cristovao, Hidden Waterfall

Sunrise at one of the island's most beautiful viewpoints, where rugged mountains stand out against the sea.
After sunrise, we will return to the hotel for breakfast.
A few hours of free time and relaxation to enjoy the natural pools, sauna, and hot tub; or simply explore Porto Moniz on foot.
In the afternoon, we will embark on a hike to Madeira's most beautiful waterfall, located in a paradisiacal corner amidst lush greenery deep within Madeira.
On the way back to the hotel, we will have a sunset photo session at another breathtaking photo spot.

Day 3
Ribeira da Janela, Fanal Forest

Sunrise at Praia da Ribeira da Janela, where we will wait for the sun to shine through the rocks, between flowers, and a river flowing into the sea.
Breakfast and free morning.
After lunch, our first post-processing lesson will take place, where we will learn how to handle the various techniques we learned on site, and we will go through a complete workflow of a photo.
Before sunset, we will reach the Fanal forest, which is often shrouded in mist and low-hanging clouds at this time.
After the sunset photo session, we will have dinner in the forest and wait for the Milky Way photo session.

Day 4
Machico, Pico do Ariero

After breakfast, we will check out and reach our next hotel in the southeast of Madeira.
In the afternoon, we will do some image processing. We will deal with some advanced aspects of night photography. More precisely, how to manage and merge the files of a night panorama and how to extract the most details from a Milky Way image.
Around 5 PM, we will then set off to photograph the sunset at Pico do Ariero. Here, we need 30 minutes on foot to reach the summit.
If the sky is clear, there will be a new fantastic Milky Way photo session above the clouds.

Day 5
Miradouro do Guindaste, Miradouro da Luna, Ponta de Sao Lourenco

Sunrise at a beautiful viewpoint with breathtaking sea views.
In the afternoon, we will explore this part of the island between succulents and rugged rocks.
We will photograph the sunset at one of the many spots that are only a few minutes' walk from each other.
Dinner at the restaurant.

Day 6
Ponta de Sao Lourenco, Pico Ruivo

Early hike to reach the most beautiful view of the entire island for sunrise.
After a short relaxation at the hotel, we will set off for Pico Ruivo, another 40-minute hike between flowers and mountain ridges, to reach Madeira's highest peak at 1862 meters.
Photo session at sunset between flowers and dead trees.
This evening, too, we will try to capture the Milky Way in this crazy scenery.

Day 7

Departure from Madeira Airport (FNC)

To provide the best possible care, the maximum number of participants has been limited to 10 people.
The minimum number of participants for the tour is 6 people.

Participation is possible with German, English, or Italian language skills.

The costs include:
-Guidance
-Accommodation (double room)
-Breakfast
-Transfers with our own van
-Transport to and from the airport (May 17 and 23)
-Fuel
-Photo editing lesson
-WhatsApp group

The costs do NOT include:
- Travel insurance covering health insurance/baggage insurance
- International flights
- Local expenses
- Other meals
- Single room supplement (800 Euros)
- Anything not explicitly mentioned as "included".

The recommended photo equipment consists of a DSLR or mirrorless camera with at least two lenses, a fast wide-angle lens (F<2.8) and a medium telephoto lens, as well as a tripod.
Optionally recommended: photo filters, remote release with interval function, and laptop.

- Additional batteries
- Several cloths for cleaning the lenses
- Replacement memory cards

The island of Madeira has a pleasant and mild climate (min. 15°/max. 30°), so summer clothing is ideal. In the evenings, a windbreaker/sweatshirt is sufficient, as the average temperature is still warm.

During the day, it is important to protect yourself from the sun.

Up in the mountains, we will be at an altitude of about 1700/1800 meters above sea level. Temperatures here are much lower than down by the sea. You can expect temperatures as low as zero degrees Celsius. Therefore, warm clothing (several layers) should be brought to stay warm at night.

Hiking boots and water-repellent clothing are strongly recommended.

- Passport / ID card valid for international travel
- International health insurance
- The local currency (Portugal) is the Euro
- Credit cards are accepted.
- You can withdraw cash at any ATM with an EC card.

The total price of the trip is 2990 EUR.

To book the trip, a deposit of 700 EUR is required and the remaining balance must be paid 30 days before the start of the trip.

The single room supplement is 800 EUR

If a participant decides to cancel their reservation, they can do so at any time by notifying one of the two organizers via their official email address as soon as possible.
However, they should keep in mind that a cancellation by a participant causes administrative difficulties with
bookings as well as the risk of not reaching the minimum number of participants for
the trip (and consequently the need to find a new person).
For this reason:

- If the cancellation
is submitted MORE than 60 days (before departure), you may receive a refund.

- If the cancellation
is submitted LESS than 60 days before departure, it is NOT
possible to receive a refund.

*Unless the client wishing to cancel their booking finds another person willing to take their place by paying the total amount of the trip themselves.

The full amount paid (deposit or full fee) will be fully refunded if the event is cancelled.