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California: Mendocino Coast Photography Tour

Includes San Francisco

 


  April 16th to April 22nd, 2025

  6 nights/7 inclusive days  |  Maximum of 8 participants, and a minimum of 4 participants

  $2,952 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

  Explore our discounts for client loyalty, early enrollment, 2 trips in 12 months, referrals and more

  Do you have a question? Ask us via email: Click here
  Arrival and departure airport: San Francisco, California [SFO]
  Arrival window: For a variety of travel related reasons, arriving one day early is recommended
  Search fares at Kayak, Skyscanner, Orbitz, Google Flights or your favorite airline
 
Mendocino Coast photo gallery
  Map of overnight locations
  Client responses to our photo tours
  For the single supplement, cancellation policy and enrollment guidance see below

This photo tour will run with one or more participants. Please note that our group limit is not a requirement!  8 places are available at this time
  Updated: Wednesday the 2nd of October, 2024

This photo tour has sufficient enrollments, and is a 'go'. However, do please consult with us prior to arranging your travel for the trip!  Indicates that we have sufficient enrollments and the trip is a 'go'
This photo tour will run with one or more participants. Please note that our group limit is not a requirement!  Indicates that this trip requires the minimum number of participants as indicated on line two above

 

 

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Photography Tour Overview:
If there is a lesser known, but equally beautiful part of California, then this is it. A coastline that stretches north from the Golden Gate Bridge to Fort Bragg just north of Mendocino. Dominated by sea stack dotted ocean scenes, you will appreciate the amount of quality photographic material during this short trip. The best of San Francisco is included, and then there is the little ocean peninsula community of Mendocino to point one's lens at . . . a major jewel on this photogenic coastline. Pacific coast, Lighthouses, wildflowers, Bodega Bay, Mendocino botanical garden, State parks, a Whale watching option, Redwood groves, colorful ice plants and much more. As with all of our photography tours, early and late shooting is scheduled for each day.
 

 


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.

 

Day 1  |  San Francisco, Point Bonita lighthouse and Bodega Bay
First light at the Golden gate bridge this morning, then following breakfast we'll return to the bridge for additional bridge perspectives shot from additional 'corners' prior to heading for the Point Bonita lighthouse. Onwards via the Point Reyes National Seashore to Bodega Bay for hotel check-in and the 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 + 5  |  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 most of 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 the spectacularly situated Point Arena lighthouse built in 1908. On to Fort Bragg via more coastal vistas along which the Ice Plant is colorfully dominant where not 'persecuted' by local naturalists.
Days 3, 4 and 5 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, 4 nights

 

Day 6  |  Navarro River Redwoods State Park and 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. 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 Victorian '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.
San Francisco, 1 night

 

Day 7  |  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.

 

Photo Tour Photographer/Leader: John Baker, Travel Images Photography Tours
The preceding itinerary is a copyrighted work by John Baker Photographer LLC, and Travel Images Photography Tours


 

 


Enhancing Your Photography Skills

Describing the assistance you'll receive on one of our photography tours takes more than a few words, so for greater detail please go here.

 

Exertion level: This photography tour is classified as 'non strenuous' to 'mildly strenuous'

A majority of images are found in close proximity to our vehicle

In every other respect this photography tour is considered non-strenuous to mildly strenuous

 

Do you need a Visa for travel to the United States?
Travelers from all countries can do a quick check of visa requirements here or here
Our international clients may need to contact the embassy of their intended destination in their own country for a visa. Go here or here
 

 


Photography Tour Cost, Deposit, Cancellation Policy and Enrollment Guidance

Trip Cost: $2,952 USD per person not including airfare. A 5% discount is applied to all double occupancies. A single room supplement is required for single occupancy


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

 

Cancellation policy: Go here

Enrollment guidance: Go here
 

 


Included in the Trip Cost: The following items are included in the trip cost . . .

  • Photography instruction throughout the trip by John

  • All accommodations with private facilities [en-suite]

  • All breakfasts

  • Lunch on day one of the trip

  • Dinner on the last night of the trip

  • On-vehicle snacks and bottled water

  • All ground transportation

  • Airport pick-up on day 1, and drop-off on departure day. Arrival prior to day 1 is not included

  • Entrance fees for sites and activities listed below under ‘Admissions Included’

  • Following the trip you'll receive detailed field notes describing the time, place and subject of each photo stop, plus image uploads to a private web page of clients 'in action' on the trip

Not Included in the Trip Cost: The costs for these items are the responsibility of each participant . . .

  • Airfare

  • Travel costs between your home and the gateway airport and return

  • Any transportation or travel costs incurred prior to or after the tour’s inclusive dates

  • Pre-tour and/or post-tour accommodation

  • Lunches and dinners except for lunch on day one of the trip, and dinner on the last night of the trip

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Entrance fees or costs related to optional sites or activities not included in the itinerary

  • Baggage fees

  • Medical expenses

  • Personal items such as the hotel mini-bar, laundry et cetera

  • Incidental charges incurred at our accommodations such as movie rentals, internet and phone

  • Travel insurance

  • Passport or visa expenses

  • Airport departure taxes, if applicable

Admissions Included in the Trip Cost:

  • Mendocino Botanical Garden and State Parks mentioned in the itinerary above are included

  • Other possible rides, admissions or excursions such as whale watching, are optional and not included

 
 

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