dolomites Photography tour | september 2027
A Slower Way to Photography the Italian Dolomites
A slower, more immersive Dolomites photography tour for photographers who want to spend proper time in the mountains. Stay in alpine refugios, hike between locations, and photograph the Dolomites without the rush of daily drives or rigid itineraries.
START / END POINT
Venice Marco Polo (VCE)
LODGING
Refugio’s
SKILL LEVEL
Beginner to Advanced
DURATION
6 Nights
GROUP SIZE
Maximum of 5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Strenuous
7 Days, 6 Nights
Dolomites Photography Tours
This is a reimagined Dolomites photography tour built around spending proper time in the mountains, not just visiting them.
Rather than staying in the valleys and driving to classic viewpoints, this tour is designed as a slower, more immersive experience. We stay high in the Dolomites, sleeping in mountain refugios and hiking between locations with everything we need for a few days at a time. The focus is on light, atmosphere, and being in the right place without rushing or working to a rigid schedule.
Days are shaped by conditions rather than a fixed itinerary. We hike into the mountains, move through the landscape, and shoot when the light is right. Sunrise, sunset, nighttime, changing weather, and quiet moments in between are all part of the experience. Being based in the mountains means we are already where we need to be when the light happens, without long drives or alarm clock pressure.
This tour is intentionally small and hands on. You will receive personalised guidance throughout, with support on composition, use of lenses and filters, and working with light in a mountain environment. There is time to slow down, think, and refine your approach, rather than rushing from one location to the next.
This is not your typical Dolomites photography tour. It requires a good level of fitness, comfortable hiking for several hours a day, and the ability to carry your own camera gear and a small overnight kit. In return, you get deeper access to the mountains, quieter moments, and photographs that come from effort, patience, and time spent in the landscape.
Inclusions
Included
Transportation during the tour
Airport Transfers
7 Days of Photographic Guidance
6 Nights of Accommodation in Refugio’s
Daily Sunrise, Sunset & Night-time Shoots
Post Processing Sessions
Any Entry Fees & Tourist Tax
Small Group Size for Personalised Attention
Not Included
Any Flight
Visa Fees (if applicable)
Meals / Snacks
Travel & Equipment Insurance
The Plan
This tour is shaped around conditions rather than a fixed, hour by hour schedule.
While mountain Refugio’s must be booked in advance, the exact routes, timings, and daily plans remain flexible. From running over 80 photography tours, I’ve learned that rigid itineraries often limit your chances of coming home with your best work. Instead, each day is planned around the latest weather forecasts, cloud levels, and light, allowing us to be in the right place at the right time.
We will be spending much of the trip at elevation, typically between 2,000 and 2,600 metres, with some hikes reaching higher passes depending on conditions. Being based high in the mountains means we are already where we need to be for sunrise, sunset, night time, and changing weather, without long daily drives or rushing between locations.
The outline below gives a general sense of the flow of the trip rather than a fixed schedule.
Day 1 – Arrival and Ascent
We will meet on arrival and travel to the Dolomites together before beginning our ascent into the mountains. Depending on logistics and conditions, this will involve hiking up to our first refugio, carrying only what we need for the next couple of days. The focus is on settling into the pace of the trip and easing into the mountain environment. If conditions allow, we will aim to photograph our first sunset from higher ground.
Days 2 to 6 – Refugio to Refugio
These are the core days of the tour.
Over the following days, we will move through the mountains, hiking between refugios or descending to reposition when needed. Typical daily hikes are in the region of 6 to 12 kilometres, with elevation gain and loss commonly between 300 and 800 metres per day, depending on route choice and conditions. Walking time is usually around 3 to 5 hours, allowing plenty of time for photography along the way.
Days are shaped by light and weather rather than fixed locations. Sunrise, daytime hiking, exploration, sunset, nighttime shooting, and quiet moments in between are all part of the experience. Some days may involve traversing across the mountains from one refugio to the next, while others may include descending to access a different area before hiking back up.
Routes may change during the trip based on weather, safety, and conditions, which allows us to adapt and make the most of the mountains rather than sticking rigidly to a plan.
Final Day – Descent and Departure
On the final morning, we will photograph sunrise if conditions allow before descending from the mountains. From there, we will return to our departure point and transfer back for onward travel.
Trip Highlights
Please Note: This is a suggested list of locations. Weather plays a significant role in shaping each day’s itinerary, so the locations we visit may vary from tour to tour. We could visit all of these or even more, depending on conditions and how much time we spend at certain places. Many of these locations offer diverse photo opportunities, giving you the freedom to explore and capture a variety of photographs.
Don’t just take my word for it…
THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Pas terug van een ongelooflijke schitterende tour langs de kust van Noord Ierland georganiseerd door Tyler Collins. Hij heeft ons 12 dagen lang allerlei verschillende schitterende plekken laten zien en de een was nog mooier dan de andere. Een aantal keren een zonsopgang of een zonsondergang met prachtige uitzichten, op het strand of op de bergen. Tyler heeft onze groep elke dag geïnspireerd, uitleg gegeven en geholpen om de plekken mooi vast te leggen op je camera. Op elke vraag die je stelde kreeg je antwoord en zijn enthousiasme en motivatie voor fotografie was uitzonderlijk en bracht hij over op de groep. Ook van kliffen in het water, van meren, een waterval, een vissershut en verlaten gebouwen of tempels hebben we mooie foto's kunnen maken. Onderweg op onze route stopte hij een paar keer om wat foto's te maken van uitzichten of leuke dorpjes. Voor Tyler maakte het niet uit of het in de nacht of heel vroeg was hij nam de groep over al mee naar toe en we konden meer dan genoeg plaatjes maken. Tyler ik wil je bedanken voor deze tour, de uitleg van onze vragen en je wil om mensen te helpen om betere foto's te maken. Wil je een mooie tour dan kan ik Tyler echt aanbevelen.
Just got back from the Iceland tour. This was undoubtedly one of the best trips I have embarked on. Tyler definitely knows his stuff and brought us to each location at the best time of the day. We just needed to sit back, relax, and let him do his thing. It also meant that I was free of the hassle of looking at the substorm activity and weather when chasing the northern lights, having chased them on my own for a number of years only without much luck. I can imagine this is no easy job as the plan and itinerary of each day needed to change every hour depending on the weather and how crowded the locations were. Tyler is also the most encouraging when shooting on location, giving just the right amount of guidance and lots of freedom. I met the best companions on this tour, and I never would have thought I would bring home such precious memories. I have recommended Tyler to several of my friends, and I personally am looking forward to my next tour already.
I loved the high level of intensity from early mornings to late nights waiting on the aurora. Most importantly, your advance location work meant I could give ample time and full attention to the play of light on the vistas before me~without the distractions of logistics planning or renting a car. I appreciated your flexibility and sense of timing to drive us to ideal locations at the best moment for the light. An added plus was being in the international company of three other dedicated photographers who were jolly good companions!
Just back from a fabulous workshop in Lofoten with Tyler. First off - Lofoten is a landscape photographer’s paradise with a multitude of stunning locations all within easy reach. This means more time photographing and less time driving between photo stops. Bear in mind that the weather is volatile. and can be absolutely wild. This means potentially days lost (as we found out) but can also give some incredible shooting conditions as the storms clear. Tyler is a superb photographer (check out his images if you haven't done so) and he knows the locations intimately. He is knowledgable and willing to provide as much guidance as you need or to leave you alone to do your own thing if that's what you prefer. He is also very skilled in using Lightroom/Photoshop and gave us a tutorial one evening which was incredibly useful. The upshot is that you are bound to come back with lots of memorable and stunning images. Oh, and Tyler has a great instinct for finding the Aurora which meant we were chasing it whenever the skies were clear. This resulted in a truly epic night at Vik beach where we captured the lights in all their glory. The cherry on the top of a truly memorable trip!
What you’ll learn
Learning with me is relaxed and personal. There’s no set curriculum, no pressure. You grow at your own pace, ask whatever you want, and I work around where you are, not where I think you should be.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push your creative boundaries further, I’ll guide you through techniques that suit your level. That might mean learning how to bracket exposures for tricky light, using long exposures to create drama and mood, or refining the way you see and shoot a scene. I’ll review your images in the field, offer practical, constructive feedback, and share tips along the way, from nailing your focus to getting the most out of your filters.
Most importantly, I want to help you feel confident in your photography and inspired to develop your own style. The goal isn’t just to come home with great photos, but to come away feeling like those images truly belong to you.
Here are a few of the key skills I can cover:
Camera Settings
RAW, using Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO effectively, and help you understand the different modes on your camera so you feel in control of every shot.
Composition
Composition is everything in landscape photography. I’ll show you what I look for when framing an image and help you develop your eye for strong, thoughtful compositions.
Long Exposures
If the conditions are right, we’ll experiment with long exposures to create striking, atmospheric images from smoothing out water to capturing cloud movement.
Histogram
I’ll show you how to actually read your histogram and use it as your exposure guide. Get this right and you’ll stop second-guessing your exposures in the field.
Low Light
We’ll cover how to handle low-light conditions, from golden hour right through to shooting in the dark. Night sky photography, star trails, long exposures after sunset.
Editing
I’ll walk you through my Lightroom workflow and show you how I take a raw file from capture to finished image. Photoshop for the trickier stuff if needed.
You’ll have full support throughout, but I’ll never be over your shoulder unless you want me to be. My job is to help you feel confident and creative, and to get out of your way when you don’t need me.
Good to Know
Packing List – A full packing list will be emailed after booking.
Accommodation: Accommodation on this Dolomites photography tour is based in mountain refugios rather than hotels in the valleys. We stay high in the mountains for sections of the trip, sleeping in traditional alpine refugios accessed on foot and chosen for their location, allowing us to be in the right place for sunrise, sunset, night time, and changing conditions without long daily drives. Refugio accommodation is typically shared and simple but comfortable, with meals usually available on site. Exact refugios and routes will be confirmed closer to the tour date and may change depending on weather and conditions, allowing the itinerary to remain flexible and focused on the best photographic opportunities.
Flights – Fly to Marco Polo (VCE). I will fly into Italy a few days before the tour begins. I try and work with everyone in terms of their flights. All I ask is if you’re flying in on the day the tour start, just ensure your flight arrives no later than midday, if you can’t get a flight before midday, then I advise you to fly in a day or 2 earlier.
Meeting Point: We will meet at midday under the water tower outside the terminal at Marco Polo (VCE). Once you leave the terminal, continue straight and you’ll see it, you can’t miss it. I will also be in constant contact with you on the days leading up to arrival day. After I’ve picked everyone up, we’ll me heading straight towards our accommodation with a stop at the supermarket to pick up some supplies for the days ahead.
Ending Point: Drop offs at the airport will be outside the terminal at Marco Polo (VCE) at midday.
Fitness / Hiking – This tour requires a good level of fitness and is more physically demanding than my previous Dolomites photography tours. You do not need to be an athlete, but you must be comfortable hiking for several hours a day on uneven, rocky, and sometimes steep terrain, often at elevations above 2,000 metres where the thinner air can make exertion feel more strenuous. You will be carrying your own camera gear along with a small overnight kit containing essentials for a couple of days in the mountains. Typical daily hikes range from 6 to 12 kilometres, with elevation gain and loss of roughly 300 to 800 metres and walking times of around 3 to 5 hours. There is no technical climbing involved, but confidence on mountain trails, sure footing, and a reasonable level of hill fitness are essential.
Gondolas – it’s worth knowing that there are gondolas to a lot of the locations we visit, however because we’re shooting at sunrise and sunset, they aren’t operating at the times we have to be there.
Self Catering – This tour is not self catering in the traditional sense. While hiking and staying in mountain refugios, meals are typically taken at the refugios themselves, where hearty evening meals and breakfasts are usually available. During the day, we will carry simple food and snacks suitable for hiking, which you will need to organise yourself in advance. Opportunities to visit supermarkets will be limited once we are in the mountains, so planning ahead is important. There may be occasional chances to stop at cafes when passing through lower areas, but most meals will be taken at refugios or eaten on the move.
Spending Money – Daily spending will vary, but you should budget for meals and drinks at mountain refugios, where most payments are cash only. Card payments are often not accepted, so you will need to carry sufficient cash for the duration of your time in the mountains. As a rough guide, expect to spend around £30 to £50 per day, depending on food and drink choices.
UK Mobile Network – If coming from the UK, your data roaming will work and come out of your data back home.
Travel Adapter – Italy use their own 3 pin plug, not the standard Euro plug.
Dolomites Photography Tours Dates & Prices
I’m pausing the Dolomites photography tour in 2026 to redesign it properly. It’ll return in September 2027 as a slower, more immersive trip, staying in mountain refugios and hiking between locations. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist, enter your details below. There are already six people on the waitlist.
If you’d like a private photography tour of the Dolomites, please get in touch to discuss the possibilities.