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
Tax included.

SFR 3955.00 | Euro € 4200.00* | US$ 4580.00* Per person in twin-share

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Group Size
Min 4, Max 8
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Meals
Daily breakfast and 2x dinners (Welcome dinner included)
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Transport
9 Seaters Van, Cable Cars & Train Pass during the workshop.
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Accommodation
Mix of Swiss Mountain Cabins and 3 - 4 Stars Hotels

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 !

Date
Duration

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

Swiss & French Alps Tour Itinerary 2024/25. Ever dreamed to spend 10 Days shooting Alpine Landscapes alongside an award winning professional landscape photographer and a local Master Landscape Photographer instructor wile holidaying in Switzerland and France?

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. 

This new 10-Day Photo Tour itinerary replace the previous (2012-2023) 8-Day Photo Tour itinerary, as we felt 8-days was to rushed and didn't leave us enough time experience some of the more special and remote places we wanted to share with our guests. 

 

DAY 1: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

Our Swiss & French Alps photo tour will begin in the Swiss town of Geneva - Geneva Airport (GVA), where we’ll meet at 8 AM with the rest of the group. From Geneva, we will take a short drive along Lake Geneva (Le Leman) to Lausanne before exploring UNESCO World Heritage renown region of Lavaux and the town of Montreux and Vevey, home of Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury. We’ll set-up for sunset at one of our favourite secret spots high up in the mountain, before heading back down to the Swiss Riviera to our hotel for the night.

On a clear day/night you can see Geneva at the other side of the lake, as well as all the snow-capped French Alps and the Jura.

 

DAY 2: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

After breakfast we’ll drive about 2 hours to the Bernese Alps in western Switzerland, where we will spend the next three days shooting some outstanding landscapes.

On the way there, we will stop for lunch and visit the little Medieval town of Gruyère, also known for its fresh cream and world-famous Gruyère cheese. Later we’ll check in our accommodation near Simmerfalle in the Bernese pre-Alps.

 

DAY 3: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

On the third day of our Alps photography tour, we will wake up early to capture the sunrise at Simmen Spring, a green valley with majestic mountains, waterfalls, and rivers.

Later, we will drive to Lake Brienz, home for the next 2 days. As we get closer to the mountains, the landscapes will become more impressive. Our first stop will be Giessbach Falls, a 500-meter waterfall that drops into Lake Brienz at the foot of the historic Grandhotel Giessbach. The hotel can be reached by a funicular that holds the title of the oldest funicular railway in Europe.

On the way to Brienz, we will make a detour to photograph the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnen, one of the most impressive places in Switzerland.

Lauterbrunnen Valley, also known as the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls,” is a spectacular glaciated valley surrounded by huge mountains and 900ft waterfalls. Tolkien was inspired by this valley to create Rivendell in Lord of the Rings, and as soon as you see it with your own eyes, you’ll understand why.

Here, we will explore the town and its best photographic points.

 

DAY 4: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

On the fourth day of our Alps photo adventure, we will wake up early to make our way up to Grindelwald, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, which is surrounded by massive, 13,000 ft-high peaks and glaciers. From there, we will take a cable car up to the Kleine Scheidegg, a breathtaking scenic overlook where we will spend the day. Here, we will enjoy some of the trip’s most amazing views and take pictures of the most prominent alpine mountains, such as the Eiger and Schreckhorn. Weather permitting we’ll embark on the new Eiger Express from Grindelwald Terminal to the Eiger Glacier, and from there continue to Europe’s highest railway station with the Jungfrau Railway to the marvel Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe.

‘…Icy air brushes across your face, snow crunches under your feet, and the panorama almost takes your breath away: on one side the view of the Mittelland all the way to France, on the other the Aletsch glacier, lined with four-thousand-meter peaks. Anyone who stands on the Jungfraujoch, 3,454 meters above sea level, feels from the first step: This is a different world. One that you have to experience...’

 

DAY 5: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

This morning we’ll take it easy, sleep in if you like or take a walk along the mesmerising Lake Brienz. After breakfast we will leave the Bernese Alps via the Grimsel Pass and drive to Fiesch, where we will take a cable car up to the largest glacier in the Alps, Aletschgletscher, which is 23 kilometres (14 miles) long. The views are spectacular here, and we will spend a few hours shooting up in the mountain.

Later, we will head towards the Pennine Alps in southern Switzerland to reach Zermatt, the famous Swiss village with an imposing view of the Matterhorn, and one of our all-time favourite places to photograph in the whole world! To get there, we will take a short train ride from the village of Täsch as Zermatt is a car-free town.

From Zermatt Train Station we will get a group transfer to our hotel to drop off the excess luggage we won’t need for our first day/ night workshop at Lake Stellisee. Shortly after, we’ll make our way by foot to Zermatt’s Talstation Sunnegga; you don’t want to miss the last cable car, as it will add an extra 1.5 hours steep walk to the upper station!  A short easy 30 – 40 minute walk will take us to Fluhalp, our ‘base camp’ for the night. (It does usually take us a bit longer with all the photo stops and adapting to the altitude!)

With a bit of luck, we will spot a few Edelweiss and hopefully get to meet some of the locals along the way; Marmots, Chamois, Alpine Ibex, Mountain Sheep, Chocards and Eagles.

We’ll check-in our accommodation late afternoon, and before dinner go through a few basic camera settings and ‘must do check list’ to be ready for our night photo shoot. We will have an early dinner at 7:00 pm to allow us to shoot the sunset lighting up the Cervin (aka Matterhorn) and then can catch on a bit of sleep, as weather permitting, we will wake up half way through the night to capture the Milky Way shining over the mighty Matterhorn!

 

DAY 6: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

For those game this morning, who wish to experience the early light, Martial will offer a pre-breakfast session and make his way down with the group (head torch on) to Lake Stellisee in time to claim a spot to capture the blue hour and immortalise the breathtaking reflections of the Alps in the iconic mountain lake at Sunrise.

After breakfast (8 – 9 am) we’ll make our way to the edge of the Findelgletsher (glacier) via the Grimdjibach Track. It is an awesome hidden gem away from the crowds, a fairly manageable hour hike, offering spectacular viewing spots looking out over the Alps and probably as close as you will ever get to the Ice Ages without freezing your bum off!

After lunch, we’ll check-in at Hotel Dufour and all going to plan, have time to recharge and catch up on a couple of hours sleep for the previous night. Mid-afternoon we’ll catch the iconic Gornergrat mountain train and make our way up to the world most famous 360 degrees panoramic view.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy a late afternoon picnic style dinner at Lake Riffelsee as we wait for the light to go down for our second twilight photography session and another great opportunity to capture some amazing images of the ‘King of the Mountain’ peaceful giant, the Matterhorn. We’ll catch the last train back down the valley to Zermatt around 10:30 pm from Riffelalp.

  

DAY 7: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

A well-deserved sleep-in this morning and after a leisurely breakfast we’ll make our way to a traditional little rustic Swiss Alpine village, typically build with rocks, wood and slate roofs, away from the busy tourists’ routes. After a well-earned rest and a taste of fresh local produce for lunch, we will hike down to Furi and catch a cable car to the Schwarzsee. This is a great place to spend the afternoon with a camera and make good use of those ND filters for waterfall and long exposure effects. We will get back in Zermatt late afternoon to explore the town and enjoy a typical Swiss meal all together. Optional free night to your leisure.

 

DAY 8: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

On the eighth day of this Swiss & French Alps photo trip, we will wake up early to capture the stars over Zermatt, the magical blue hour with the lights in town, and finally, the alpenglow light hitting the Matterhorn, the fifth highest mountain in the Alps.

We saved the really best for last, after breakfast we will make our way up to the Klein Matterhorn, a snow-covered peak of the Pennine Alps, with unobstructed breathtaking views over the Italo-Swiss Alps and Zermatt in the distance. At 3,883 metres above sea level, it is the highest place in Europe that can be reached by aerial cable cars, as well as by any other means of transport.

We will have the place nearly to ourselves at this time of day and will experience the magical early morning sun glowing on the surrounding Peaks. The perfect place to put in practice everything you’ve learned over the past 7 days and experience snow perhaps for the first time. Time and weather permitting we’ll adventure for a short walk in the snow before heading back to the hotel to collect our suitcases.

After this, we will drive for 3 hours and cross the border to France to spend the night near Chamonix. If there is time, we’ll do a sunset stop around the French Chamonix Valley where we’ll capture some beautiful mountain lakes, the popular French Aiguille Du Midi, and the Mont Blanc, the second highest mountain in Europe.

   

DAY 9: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

On the second last day of our fully guided Swiss & French Alps photography tour, we will spend the morning exploring the surround of Chamonix before heading the Haute-Savoie town of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

We will spend the day exploring different viewpoints in the area and hike to some locations that look like they came straight out of a Lord of the Rings scene. At times, in the valley, there are up to 30 waterfalls flowing from the tops of the mountains, some of which are among the most photogenic in Europe.

As we approach the end of valley, there will be an option to walk just a bit further and climb the last steepest part of the path to reach an upper spot where you can overlook the entire valley.

At the end of the day, we’ll enjoy some tasty French cuisine for our farewell dinner, in one of the local restaurants in town.

 

DAY 10: SWISS & FRENCH ALPS PHOTO TOUR

On the final day of this Alps guided photo tour, we will shoot the sunrise at one of the most extraordinary gems of the French Alps near Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval.

After breakfast, we will pack up and drive back to Geneva International Airport, where we will wrap up this photo adventure across the Swiss and French Alps. Expect to be at the airport no earlier than 12.30 PM, so you can catch flights that leave at 3.00 PM or later.

If you are travelling by train out of Geneva, you can also catch your train from the Geneva-Airport Train Station located underneath the airport. It will take you to all major cities across Europe from here.

* This is a sample itinerary, our itineraries are subject to change depending on weather and other circumstance beyond our control. Changes in the itinerary are always made to provide our guests the best possible experience, in a secure and professional way.

 

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)

Click here for more information »

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!