June 8th to June 22nd, 2025

  14 nights/15 inclusive days  |  Maximum of 6 participants, and a minimum of 4 participants

Photography Tour Overview: Travel Images' European Alps photography tour takes in the Bavarian capital of Munich, the Berchtesgaden region of Germany, Grossglockner Pass, Heiligenblut, Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Liechtenstein, plus the Innsbruck and Interlaken regions. All of this will be interwoven with spectacular mountain passes, wildflowers, Ludwig’s castles, and rustic German, Austrian, and Swiss communities that nestle beneath the magnificence of the towering Alps. It’s all very photogenic indeed.

Europe is a place to be savored, touched, and of course, photographed. Take the opportunity offered by this Travel Images’ European Alps trip to photograph the same maze of cobbled streets that musicians, poets, artists and thousands of talented folk trod down the centuries. You’ll also be encouraged to lower your camera, and make new friends amid the mosaic of quaint communities of the log-cabin spectacle that nestle amid the foothills of the many spectacular mountain ranges.

We commence this photography tour in Germany, then into Austria, and on to Switzerland before heading back to Germany via Liechtenstein and more of Austria. We’ll traverse many alpine passes shooting as we go, while seeking out the local village fête and faire for more unique and colorful images. You’ll also have the opportunity to chat with the locals in 'broken' French, German or Italian, and the facial grins you capture with your camera, plus those placed on your heart, will live on and on within you. Europe is that charming and intoxicating. 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.

Days 1 + 2  |  Munich and Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany
Our small group will gather in the lobby of our designated pre-tour hotel at 10 a.m., and our first stop will be a 2 hour plus meander around Munich's old city . . . including the Glockenspiel and more! The first day lunch will be included while in central Munich. Traveling westwards we’ll pause for several very European scenes as church spires dominate rooftops on the steep landscape, then onto the far reaches of Bavaria for our two-night stay in Berchtesgaden National Park.
On day 2 we’ll be at a lakeside spot at dawn for the first light on the Watzmann massif and surrounding peaks. Breakfast back at our ‘Gasthof’, followed by a boat ride down Königssee [lake] for classic compositions of St. Bartholoma Church complete with it’s spectacular alpine backdrop. Two classic church and mountain scenes are scheduled while in the region, as is Berchtesgaden's skyline with a mountain backdrop.
Berchtesgaden National Park, Germany, 2 nights

Day 3  |  Germany to Austria
On day 3 we'll head via the Salzburger Kalkalpen, and Dientener Berge mountain ranges to the spectacular Grossglockner alpine pass. We'll reach Grossglockner pass just as the light is improving, and you'll revel in the light and shade cast upon the many peaks still laden with snow. Wildflowers, Marmots, waterfalls, curved road abstracts, and motion blur shots of two-wheeled transport whizzing by are all part of the Grossglockner experience.
Heiligenblut, Austria, 1 night

Day 4 + 5  |  Grossglockner Pass to the Tirol region
Early light photography, breakfast, then a waterfall and the classic Heiligenblut scene of church steeple and a towering mountain backdrop. Weather and light permitting we'll return for a last look at the Grossglockner Pass, and weave our way via several mountain valleys to the ancient city of Hall in Tirol, ye olde word for salt. It is a cobblestone city with a myriad of photo ops, and was once a major player in the salt-mining industry. On to Innsbruck where the ‘Golden Roof’ dominates. The city is nestled in the Tirol mountain range, and was the site for the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games. The city name derives from the Inn River on which it sits, and the German word for bridge, i.e. 'brücke'.  Then west for our two night stay in the Austrian Tirol region.
We'll start day 5 with the early light falling on massive walls of rock [mountains!], and a notable church spire. After breakfast we’ll explore local mountain communities via less traveled roads for subjects including villages, hillside communities, cows, wild horses, wildflowers, tiny churches, and drying hay on hand-made stakes with the appearance of 'old men'.
Telfs, Austria, 2 nights

Day 6  |  Austria to Switzerland
Early light photography amid a 'cathedral' of mountain peaks, breakfast, and then a travel day full of images as we take our time over the westwards trip toward Llanz. Through lush valleys we shall go with the occasional pause for church steeples reaching for the heavens from clusters of alpine cabins perched on ledges of green grass and wildflowers. Castles too, which dot the European landscape occupying every available outcrop of rock. Over Flüelapass and past 3,085 meter high Wisshorn peak to the impressive Haupstrasse [road] with its granite peaks and photogenic churches. On to our off-the-beaten-track hotel situated in an Alpine village for our overnight stay, with the last light on the surrounding peaks.
Disentis, Switzerland, 1 night

Days 7 + 8  |  The Matterhorn and Zermatt, Switzerland
First light photography on the slopes above our hotel prior to breakfast, followed by our day-long trip onto Zermatt. Our route will take us over Oberalp and Furka Passes, along the Rhone River, then on the last leg of the days' journey we'll follow the Matter Vispa River, jump aboard a train and make our way home to Zermatt for two nights.
At first light on day 8 you'll be stunned by the magnificence of the Matterhorn which rises to 4,478 meters [14,693 feet] to the southwest. The mountain will, weather permitting, pretty much dominate your images and day! You'll have ample time to explore the contrasts of old and new in the village, plus take a train ride and downhill trails for superb shots of wildflowers and a Matterhorn lake reflection et cetera.
Zermatt, Switzerland, 2 nights

Days 9, 10 + 11  |  Zermatt to Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Early light photography with the Matterhorn dominant once more, then following breakfast we’ll board the train back to Tasch, and start another slow photo-exploration as we head north. We'll pause for an ornate old bridge, then we'll take a ‘short-cut’ via train, minibus and all, to the north side of Berner Alps range. We’ll continue our photography on Thunersee [Thuner lake] where a 15th/16th castle dominates. More lake scenes as we continue on to our three-night home in a truly spectacular mountain valley.
Days 10 and 11 will see us exploring the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys with adjustments for weather conditions. A major highlight will be the gondola ride up to a pair of Alpine villages from where we’ll amble about shooting wildflowers, rustic cabins, the peaks of Eiger and Jungfrau [both around 4,000 meters high], while 'orchestrated' by the sound of cowbells. It really is a photographic heaven, and music for the soul and mind. Also, a train ride will place you below the face of the Eiger, and while walking downhill back to another alpine village you'll shoot the mountain's many moods. This is some of Europe’s most notable mountain photography, and you’ll fill memory cards at a rate you didn’t expect.
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, 3 nights

Day 12  |  Lauterbrunnen to Sargans, Switzerland
We’ll point cameras at more magnificent walls of granite when the first rays of light hit this morning, then it will be time to bid farewell to the heart of Switzerland. Going west then north, there will be a stop in Meiringen, plus trips over Brunig and Zuger passes, with the lakes of Lungersee, Sarnersee and Lucerne sandwiched in-between. We'll make short side trips for the flavor of quaint Swiss communities, complete with 'musical' dairy cows, and pass under mountain ranges that appear to touch the sky. Sargans, our next overnight home, sits on the eastern edge of Switzerland, and on the doorstep of the tiny nation of Liechtenstein. This is also known as 'Heidi country' as the author of Heidi based the story on a nearby village.
Sargans, Switzerland, 1 night

Day 13  |  Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany
We’ll start day 13 at a pair of very photogenic locations with Gonzen peak backdrops, and just yards apart. Liechtenstein is just 62 square miles in size, has a population of under 34,000, and our first after-breakfast stop will be for a spectacularly situated castle set against mountain skyline. We'll pause in Liechtenstein's capital Vaduz, then on eastwards to Flexen Pass and stops to shoot a series of Austrian villages as we head northwards. Fussen in Germany has it’s charming and colorful Hauptstrasse [Main Street], then it’ll be time to point our cameras at King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle in the late light which no doubt inspired Disney!
Füssen, Germany, 1 night

Day 14  |  Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen and Wies
We’ll be out early to photograph Neuschwanstein Castle once more, and after breakfast make our way up to the castle for the classic view, plus closer scrutiny for those who wish to do so. We'll linger for half a day or more in the area where Hohenschwangau castle is also worthy of a few frames, as is Fussen. Our European Alps photographic odyssey will be almost over as we head off in the direction of the Munich airport, except for one more scheduled stop to photograph the superbly ornate interior of the Wies Church. 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 Munich airport [MUC], Germany, 1 night

Day 15  |  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 'mildly strenuous' to 'moderately strenuous'

We are able to take our minibus to 90% of the photography spots in the Alps, then use trains or cable cars for additional alpine locations. The moderately strenuous days and half days are in locations accessed by cable cars and trains, and are set up in a manner that makes it easy to get shots without the need to walk very far uphill unless you prefer to do so. Basically we take you to a high point, and encourage you to walk down for some great shots at various elevations

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

Do you need a Visa for travel to mainland Europe?
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: $6,230 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:

• The cost of rides up the sides of three Swiss mountains, and transportation to the Neuschwanstein castle viewpoint are included in the trip fees

• Any other admissions are optional and not included. You will of course have free reign to photograph the exterior of the spots not included