$3,968 USD per person  |  Single Supplement: 14% of the base cost of the trip

  The deposit for this photography tour is $400. Make a deposit, or pay your tour balance here

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  Arrival and departure airport: San Francisco, California [SFO]
  Arrival window: For a variety of travel related reasons, arriving one day early is recommended
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  California Central Coast photo gallery
  Map of overnight locations
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  8 places are available at this time
  Updated: Wednesday the 2nd of October, 2024

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Our itinerary . . .
But first things first! We suggest that you set your camera's clock to the local time, as your images will then synchronize with the times in our included photo tour field notes.

Due to the early start on day 1, arrival the previous day is important!

Day 1  |  San Francisco to Bodega Bay
We'll depart our hotel early to capture the first light at the Golden Gate bridge this morning. We'll then return for breakfast and hotel check-out. On our way to Bodega Bay we'll return to the Golden Gate bridge for additional perspectives shot from other 'corners'. We'll make detours for the Point Bonita lighthouse, and the Point Reyes National Seashore et cetera. On to Bodega Bay for hotel check-in, dinner and late light in the harbor. The harbor boasts the highest concentration of waterfowl for many miles, and we'll point long lenses at them in the early morning light too.
Bodega Bay, 1 night

Days 2, 3 + 4  |  The Mendocino Coast
Sunrise photography on Bodega Head this morning - including the wildfowl on the harbor - prior to taking well-earned breakfasts. We’ll then journey north throughout day 2 with stops for images of the rugged Pacific coastline dotted with sea stacks, plus highlights such as Fort Ross State Historic Park, and Salt Point State Park with its myriad of unusual geological formations. Then follows the spectacularly situated Point Arena lighthouse built in 1908. On to Fort Bragg for a via more coastal vistas along which the Ice Plant is colorfully dominant when not being 'persecuted' by local naturalists!
Days 3, and 4 will be spent leisurely photographing a short stretch of coast that includes: historic Victorian Mendocino; the quaint Point Cabrillo lighthouse; Mendocino Botanical Garden; the historic Logger’s trestle at Fort Bragg; Mendocino Headlands State Park; Noyo Harbor; coastal sea-stacks at sunset; and Laguna Point in McKerricher State Park. An optional extra is a short boat trip to photograph the migrating Gray and Humpback Whales. Throw in wildflowers, marine life, and various Hawks, and you'll be capturing a memorable collection of images. Do expect early and late excursions for the best light, balanced with some midday relaxation.
Fort Bragg, 3 nights

Day 5  |  To San Francisco
The dawn light will offer one last opportunity to capture some coastal light, and then we'll fast track back to San Francisco stopping for Navarro River Redwoods State Park images of giant Redwood trees . . . tripods are a must here. We'll shoot the Golden gate bridge from another angle or two, then a detour to Mussel Rock for vistas to the north and south plus the adventurous folk who hang glide and parasail at this spot. If our timing is right, this is a great vantage point to catch the evening light as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. On down the Cabrillo highway to Half Moon Bay for our overnight stay.
Half Moon Bay, 1 night

Days 6 + 7  |  Monterey Peninsula
We’ll continue south on the Cabrillo Highway coast road today shooting sea stacks, Pescadero State Beach, the Pigeon Point lighthouse and the colorful Ice Plant that adorns the cliff-tops at this time of year. Then on to Natural Bridges State Beach and Santa Cruz for the Breakwater lighthouse. We'll also shoot Pelicans, surfers, and colorful Capitola nearby. Then on to our Pacific Grove accommodations for check-in, and out to rugged Point Pinos for our first Pacific Ocean sunset.
On day 7 we’ll work both Fisherman and Municipal wharves on the Monterey bay waterfront where sea mammals are frequent. Additional highlights throughout the day will be the Carmel Mission, Sea Lions, Cormorants, hopefully Otters too, Point Lobos State Reserve, and the late light on the Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur.
Pacific Grove, 2 nights

Day 8  |  To San Francisco
We'll be out at dawn this morning, then following breakfast we'll finish off our photography and return to San Francisco by the same route. Our afternoon and late photography will include the city skyline shot across San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and the classic twilight shot of the city skyline atop the 'Painted ladies' adjacent to Alamo Square. The included dinner on the last night of our photography tour will feature an 'It's You!' presentation of clients in action on this tour by John.
Near San Francisco airport, 1 night

Day 9  |  Departure day
As there isn't any photography scheduled for the day of departure on this trip, your flight home can be arranged for any time today. Transport to the airport is included unless you’re staying on for a day or more.