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Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
Nestled in central Europe is a land of rugged mountains known as the Julian Alps. This region is adorned with alpine lakes, deep gorges, travertine pools, mighty rivers, medieval towns, castles, breathtaking waterfalls and iconic hilltop churches. Here we will photograph these storybook type destinations at arguably the most beautiful season of all, Autumn. The season of Fall will be hitting their peak when we arrive and you’ll have the benefit of experiencing the landscape in its finest colors. The primary focus of our tour will be the Autumn landscape as we follow nature’s colors around the unspoiled Julian Alps valleys, lakes and rivers. This region is well known for its exceptional weather patterns that can produce exceptional fairytale-like scenes and fog filled valleys that will leave you breathless.
Our trip will begin in Slovenia where we’ll explore Lake Bled and its iconic church on Bled island. We will capture this location starting with sunrise at the shore and ending with sunset from another stunning vantage point. We’ll also discover the more tranquil, but equally inspiring Lake Bohinj in the heart of the Julian Alps. Creative exploration will be part of our daily process, particularly working with long exposures to capture fast-flowing rivers and waterfalls in the Soča River Valley. We will also spend time visiting some of Slovenia’s most picturesque villages to shoot hilltop churches, traditional hayracks and document a slower pace of life.
After a week of exploring Slovenia we will transfer to Croatia to explore Plitvice National Park. Known as Croatia’s largest national park covering almost 30,000 hectares, it is situated in the lower elevations of the Dinarides mountain range. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape and dominated by a mix of forests and meadows, the magnificent Plitvice lake system is unlike any other. Interconnected by many waterfalls and watercourses above and below ground, the lakes are grouped into the upper and lower lakes. The waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have deposited travertine barriers creating natural dams. These dams in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls. The forests in this park are home to bears, wolves and many different species of rare birds. Here in this enchanted region we’ll spend the duration of our tour photographing the stunning landscape around us.
ITINERARY
Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
* In order to provide participants with the best photographic opportunities the itinerary is subject to change based on weather, lighting and other variables.
DAY 1: October 13th, 2024 – LAKE BLED
– Dinner included
Arrive in Ljubljana airport and transfer to your hotel accommodations. The adventure starts with an afternoon photography session around the lake! Dinner at one of the nearby fine restaurants. Overnight in Lake Bled.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel
DAY 2 – 4: October 14th – October 16th, 2024 – LAKE BLED & JULIAN ALPS
– Daily breakfast & lunch or dinner included (2 meals daily)
Perched up on the cliff by Bled Castle we’ll capture superb panoramas of the lake below with its island and Baroque church. We will also visit the spectacular Vintgar Gorge, the perfect location to experiment with capturing fast-flowing water and playing with long exposures. Our second glacial lake is Bohinj which has a very different feel from Bled Lake. Here we’ll take time to hone our composition skills at the lake shore and capture creative reflections. A short drive from there will take us to the surrounding picturesque villages where you’ll have the opportunity to capture traditional agricultural architecture, including the landmark hayracks of Slovenia, as well as scenes of rural village life. One of the mornings we drive to one of the hilltop churches for sunrise and if the weather cooperates perhaps we’ll be blessed with some low lying fog! We will cap off the evenings with a sunset shoots at the lakeside. Overnight in Lake Bled.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel
DAY 5 – 6: October 17th – October 18th, 2024 – SOCA RIVER VALLEY & TRIGLAV NATIONAL PARK
– Daily breakfast & lunch or dinner included (2 meals daily)
We travel down to the Soča River Valley to explore more of the Triglav National Park. We will capture the incredible emerald waters of the Soča River, discovering gorges and waterfalls as we hike along the riverbanks. There are endless stunning landscapes in this region and if we are lucky perhaps we’ll encounter some wildlife as well. We will take the opportunity to photograph the historical World War I remnants along the trail in this area. Our route will take us on an exciting tour of some of highest mountains in Slovenia, offering incredible views across Slovenia and on into Italy. Overnight in Bovec.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel
DAY 7: October 19th, 2024 – BOVEC – PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
– Daily breakfast & lunch or dinner included (2 meals daily)
After breakfast we say farewell to Bovec and the Julian Alps and make our drive to Croatia. Our next destination is the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Park. We’ll head straight to the park after our hotel check in for our evening photography and sunset shoot. Overnight in Plitvice Lakes.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel
DAY 8 – 9: October 20th – October 21st, 2024 – PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK
– Daily breakfast & lunch or dinner included (2 meals daily)
We’ll have two full days to photograph the lakes, waterfalls and caves in this incredible UNESCO world heritage site. Here you’ll have the opportunity to try different photography techniques using tripods and long exposures as well as working on composition. Enjoy free time exploring the lakes alone before meeting late afternoon to make the most of the play of golden light and reflections in the water. Overnight in Plitvice Lakes.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Minimum ☆☆☆ Hotel
DAY 10: October 22nd, 2024 – DEPARTURE
– Breakfast Provided
After breakfast we will enjoy a morning photography session in the park. We will visit one of the sunrise locations at Plitvice lakes or head to nearby Rastoke village where the Korana River features another set of beautiful waterfalls and cascades. After our morning photography session you will transfer to Zagreb Airport with a new group of friends, wonderful experiences and memory cards loaded full of image files to remember it all by. Upon arrival at Zagreb Airport you will check in for your flight home or continue on to the next destination. Bon Voyage!
CANCELLATION POLICY
Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
This cancellation policy protects our business losses and as such is strictly adhered to. Exceptions will not be made. We strongly encourage participants to purchase travelers insurance through an agency like Global Rescue so that you’ll have coverage should you unexpectedly need to cancel your trip. At his discretion, Nathaniel may lead the tour even if it does not meet the minimum number of participants required.
1). Cancel more than one year prior to the original tour start date:
Full refund, minus any initial deposit and all PayPal transaction fees. Refunds will be paid via PayPal and processed within 72 hours of the request being approved.
2). Cancel less than one year prior to the original tour start date:
A refund will only be issued if the tour is sold out and your vacated spot filled by another participant signing up. This refund would exclude your initial deposit, single supplement payments and any PayPal transaction fees.
* Should you fail to complete the payments as scheduled for this tour you will forfeit your deposit, all payments and your spot on this tour.
** You’ll be promptly notified and provided a full refund (including your deposit) should the tour be canceled by Nature Odyssey Worldwide Tours.
TRAVEL PLANNING
Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
• Participants must arrive in Ljubljana, Slovenia prior to 12:00pm on October 13th, 2024!
• We strongly encourage participants to purchase travelers insurance through an agency like Global Rescue so that you’ll have coverage should you unexpectedly need to cancel your trip.
• Traveling in remote locations can present challenges that may require slight changes to the itinerary. We will always try to run the tour as the initial itinerary. In the event, beyond our control, such as political unrest, natural disasters, over bookings by the lodge, where a change is required, we will do our best to keep you close to the original shooting location. It is our intention for you to have the best possible experience. We will try to notify you of any changes as soon as we are made aware of them. If, however these changes cause an increase to the price, the increase will be passed on to the participant.
PAYMENTS & REGISTRATION
Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
October 13th, 2024 – October 22nd, 2024
SOLD OUT! (Maximum 8 Participants)
7,995 USD – Based On Double Occupancy- $1,500 Non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot
- $700 Single Supplement charged to any participant not sharing
* A late fee of $250 may be added to the balance for any payments not received by the due date.
Slovenia & Croatia Photo Tour 2024
INCLUDED
1. All airport transfers
2. 10 Day / 9 night accommodations (Double occupancy)
3. Pro photographer mentoring by Nathaniel Smalley
4. All ground transportation throughout the tour in private vehicles
5. Daily breakfast & lunch or dinner included (2 meals daily)
6. Ground transport from Slovenia to Croatia
7. Goods and Services Tax
8. All park admission fees
9. Field Instruction and editing suggestions
10. Expert local guide
11. Drop off at your final hotel accommodations
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EXCLUDED
1. In-bound or departing Airline Flights
2. Any Covid related testing
3. Water, Snacks, Beverages, Alcohol or Evening Meals
4. Any required vaccines
5. Travel, Equipment or Health Insurance
6. Visas and passport fees (where applicable in preparation for your travel)
7. Items of a personal nature
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WHAT TO BRING
1. Camera with manual mode capability
2. Extra camera batteries & charger
3. Cable release or remote control for your camera (Mirror Up and Exposure Delay will also work)
4. Lens filters of your choice (ND, CPL, GRAD, etc.)
5. Sturdy tripod
6. Warm clothes (down jacket, softshell jacket, polartec jacket, long underwear)
7. Waterproof / Windproof Clothes (GoreTex jacket + pants)
8. Waterproof Hiking Boots
9. Wool and silk socks
10. Gloves
11. Thermos for warm beverages
DIFFICULTY
This is an outdoor nature photography tour, so being fit and in good health will allow you to enjoy the trip more comfortably. However, our planned activities should be within the ability of most people in moderate to good shape. Conditions can be cold and wet rocks can sometimes be unstable and slippery, so please pack appropriate clothing for the conditions.
Participants are required to sign a standard medical and waiver of liability form. Every effort is made to keep participants safe during all stages of the tour, but each person is solely responsible for avoiding personal injury or damaging their equipment during the trip.
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TESTIMONIALS
“Nathaniel’s tours came highly recommended to me by close friends and he did not disappoint. Our Iceland tour was well-managed and packed with options and locations. Nathaniel kept the mood light, which is important for extended travel, particularly when making new acquaintances. His unique approach to off-peak hour shooting in Iceland is a real bonus. We had very little interference from other groups or other photographers. I feel that the overall package offered is well-balanced and of good value. He is willing to take extra time and make every effort to help those that need it and request it. I would definitely recommend NOW Tours to all photographers at all levels. I will most definitely tour with him in the future!”
~ Steve S. | California, USA
“The 2019 Icelandic Summers Night Dream Workshop was a dream come true! It was my first international photo tour. Nathaniel demonstrated professionalism, provided a structured itinerary that included flexibility for weather conditions, gave hands on instruction for complete understanding for an inexperienced photographer, and exhibited contagious enthusiasm that motivated our group to engage in a meaningful and fun experience. I’ve already signed up for my next international Nature Odyssey Worldwide tour to Norway. Thank you, Nathaniel!”
~ Connie G. | Texas, USA
“I just got back from Iceland after attending Nathaniel Smalley’s summer workshop, what an incredible experience! He turned day to night, only shooting after 9pm and out until 4 or 5am, thanks to the midnight sunset and 3am sunrise – what sweet light we had!! We had the added bonus that no one else was there despite hundreds of tourists. We had every kind of weather from bright sun to “you can’t leave the hotel” 50mph wind gusts. However that day turned out to be a gift of extra sleep and editing time. We were rewarded for not whining with glorious weather and light the next day.
The beauty was overwhelming… miles and miles of lupine, a personal favorite, that has been planted to prevent erosion. It turns out the Vikings came and clear cut everything to plant crops – restoration will take decades, but is has begun. There were no trees until we moved farther north and east. Geothermal steam provides the majority of their power and it rises here and there all over the country with large pipes carrying it to where it’s needed. Sheep were very abundant and usually curious enough to stand still for photos. We saw Icelandic horses just outside Keflavik and again out far east – so beautiful! Churches are almost as abundant as the sheep.
We travelled many miles, moving almost every day to see it all. We ate delicious meals – they typically have two kinds of restaurants, gourmet and fast food, so of course we did gourmet and always dessert! I am jet lagged, but less than you would expect with a 7 hour time difference. My theory is that my body never knew what time it was! Of course, I’m exhausted, but still smiling from one of the best photography experiences I have ever had, and I have been blessed with many! Thank you Nathaniel!”
~ Joyce H. | California, USA
“I recently participated in the 2021 Iceland tour. Nathaniel had the knowledge to get us in place in a timely manner to maximize our chances at getting some really nice photos. I ended up the highest percentage of keepers of any photo tour I have ever been on! The food and lodging were as good as it gets in the areas we visited.”
~ John M. | Texas, USA
“Nathaniel combined his vast knowledge of photography with his experience in Iceland making this a trip of a lifetime one that did not disappoint. He is personable and professional. Upon review of my 5,000+ pictures, it was amazing to me how many shooting locations we visited. I felt like we really experienced the entire island. This was my second trip with Nathaniel and I already have another one on the books!”
~ Heathre B. | Texas, USA
“The Icelandic Summer Night’s Dream Photo Tour was fantastic! Nathaniel has built a balanced itinerary that has a lot of flexibility to adjust to weather and other factors. I sincerely appreciated the dedicated time and great coaching given to my son, who was participating in his first photo tour. The entire trip went very smoothly thanks to Nathaniel’s superb planning efforts and his passionate energy every day. I am sure it was a very memorable experience for everyone in our group. I look forward to another Nature Odyssey Photo Tour!”
~ Michael M. | Arizona, USA
Nathaniel’s Iceland workshop is one of the best I’ve ever taken. The trip was very well organized and with enough flexibility to modify our schedule to be at places when the light was beautiful and the crowds weren’t there. With Iceland being such a popular destination, the ‘must see‘ places get completely overrun with visitors. The times Nathaniel arranged for us to be at many of our spots was when we could capture images of these places looking pristine.
We also visited some more remote, off the beaten path locations, which I appreciated very much. Our accommodations were also good selections – from clean and comfortable to luxurious. I don’t think I could have had a more enjoyable experience with any one else and gotten the amazing images I took on this trip. Nathaniel is also very helpful with all levels of photographers and I believe that everyone improved their skills in his workshop. I plan to take another workshop with Nathaniel.”
~ Beverly H. | California, USA
“I recently returned from Nathaniel’s 2018 Icelandic Summer Night’s Dream Photo Workshop. What an adventure! Because of Nathaniel’s thorough knowledge and planning, we were able to experience Iceland in a very special way. There were no crowds to prevent our detailed photographic exploration of the island because we were out taking advantage of the gorgeous light at night! I started the trip as a novice. Thanks to Nathaniel’s skill and knowledge I now feel much more comfortable and capable as a photographer. I would highly recommend Nathaniel as a guide and instructor and this trip in particular as a very special experience.”
~ Lisa M. | Michigan, USA
“I would genuinely be surprised if there were anyone better equipped to lead this tour than Nathaniel. In addition to his endless technical and local knowledge, he’s a gifted teacher, dedicated guide, and a lot of fun to be around. The kind of person that can get along with anyone at all, and definitely the kind of person you want at the head of an intense trip like this.”
~ Sean M. | Arizona, USA
“If you want to see the classic Iceland locations without the usual crowds, then take the trip with Nature Odyssey Worldwide. We had easy access to all the photo opportunities with help from Nathaniel whenever we needed it. Glorious weather and an awesome group of people made it a fabulous trip, I’d recommend it in a heartbeat!”
~ Jackie H. | Texas, USA
“The trip was well thought out without feeling rigid. The itinerary was great and the photo instructions were spot on. Nathaniel not only understands photography but communicates that understanding well to his participants. Truly enjoyable trip.”
~ Becky J. | Texas, USA
“My wife and I had a great time in Iceland and we definitely made the right choice to go with Nathaniel, not only for his insights and photographic knowledge, but also for his kindness and caring about his participants. I will forever treasure the photographs and life experiences from this Iceland tour!!!”
~ Gene N. | New Jersey, USA
“Wow, what a place!! I was delighted to be able to join one of Nathaniel’s tours for my first trip to Iceland. We got to photograph a variety of incredible places, including glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and the coastline, in the amazing Arctic light. Nathaniel is a well-organized, fun, creative and professional tour leader whose tours I highly recommend. Thanks Nathaniel!”
~ Arwen D. | Tasmania
“Despite challenging weather conditions we had many chances to create beautiful landscape photo during winter tour. It was really good tour, I felt lucky to meet all other lovely members. Nathaniel was really good to us. Thank you again.”
~ Keiko S. | Japan