This Italian Dolomites Photo Tour combines our favorite locations into an epic 6-day photography extravaganza.
Italian Dolomites Photo Tour Details
• June 11-17, 2026 (6 nights)
• Group size: min 5, max 10
• $4,995, single supplement $695
• Starts & ends: Venice Airport
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Imagine photographing “Peak Italy” — Snowcapped mountains, vast meadows fragrant with wildflowers, romantic chapels, and charming alpine architecture.
For this Italian Dolomites Photo Tour, we feature our favorite breathtaking alpine locations in the Italian Dolomites with the addition of one night on top of Monte Lussari in a charming hamlet with fantastic views in the very NE of Italy, the three-country corner of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia.
Although at times we will be as high as 9,000 feet up in the Alps with 360 views of mountain peaks and alpine valleys, this is NOT a hiking tour. We reach our amazing photo locations via ski lifts or we drive our vans up to the top. Some uphill and downhill walking, at times on uneven surfaces, is required. However, you will have time to walk at your own pace.
We begin this tour in the heart of the Dolomites and spend the first three nights on the peaceful Alpe di Siusi. Our elegant and comfortable four-star hotel is located on the largest alpine meadow in Europe which is dotted with a myriad of wildflowers and tiny wooden storage huts that make for great “stars” or “heroes” in our compositions. The proud Sasso Lungo and Sasso Piatto mountains provide an impressive background. The plateau is a pedestrian-only area, so once we arrive at our hotel, we park underground and spend our time roaming the mountain paths in search of stunning compositions. E-bike rental is available via our hotel.
From the Alpe di Siusi, we have easy access to the iconic scenes of the Santa Magdalena and St. Johan churches in the Val di Funes with the breathtaking backdrop of the Odle/Geisler Massif. We will also drive to Val Gardena, where the gondola ski lifts take us up to 9,000 feet which allows us to photograph the iconic Seceda Ridgeline for some of the best alpine vistas in the Italian Dolomites.
We then head west to Cortina where we spend two nights. From here, we have access to the magnificent Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cinque Torri, Passo Giau, Passo Falazago, and Lagazuoi peaks.
From Cortina, we head a bit to the very NE of Italy for a ski gondola ride up to a tiny bucolic hamlet on the top of Monte Lussari, where we spend the night in a newly remodeled family-run alpine hotel. Jure, the owner and innkeeper, plays the accordion for us after we have captured amazing images at sunset and the blue hour. Enthusiastic polka dancing to Jure’s fun music has occurred.
Hospitality is wonderful in this part of Europe. Hotels skillfully combine traditional architecture with modern conveniences and design. The food, wine, spirits, and desserts are to die for.
As you can probably tell, Magrit and I are very excited about this Italian Dolomites Photo Tour and we’d like to invite you to join us in this rewarding adventure.
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Three nights on the largest alpine plateau in Europe, the amazing Alpe di Siusi. The pre-sunrise photography experience can be amazing with morning mist.
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Two nights in Cortina, giving us close access to our sunset photo session of the breathtaking Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cinque Torri, Passo Giau, Passo Falzarego, and Lagazuoi.
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One night on top of Monte Lussari in the NE of Italy. This is a spectacular high alpine location and one of our favorite photo ops.
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Stay in quaint, cozy, alpine-style B&Bs on the Alpe di Siusi, Cortina, and Monte Lussari.
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South Tyrolian hospitality, tasty cuisine, and wines.
June 10, 2026
Plan on spending this evening (or even better, a few days) near Venice airport or in Venice proper. This will allow you to get some rest before the tour begins and also ensure that you arrive on time for the following day’s departure.
Near the Venice airport, we recommend the Best Western Titian Inn Hotel Venice Airport or the Courtyard Venice Airport.
In your best interest, do not fly to Venice on the day of our departure and allow yourself some time to get over Jet lag.
June 11, 12 & 13, 2026
Our group meets at the Best Western Titian Inn at Venice Marco Polo Airport at 9 am on June 11th for the beginning of the Italian Dolomite Photo Tour.
Our first destination is the magical Alpe di Siusi — the largest alpine plateau in Europe.
We will have three days to explore this wonderful area with our cameras. Two sunrise photo sessions followed by a delightful alpine breakfast, perhaps a nap under your down comforter, before heading out to explore the plateau. We will have a rustic, delicious lunch with the opportunity to sample local food products at a high-mountain Refugio. Two dinners at our elegant hotel are included (you only pay for your beverages) and are a very tasty experience. The sunrises (always keeping our fingers crossed for mist and fog) and the evening “alpenglow” are amazing up here. Magrit and I have found this to be one of the most serene and beautiful regions we have ever visited and photographed.
On day three, we will have an early breakfast and then depart for Ortisei in the Val Gardena. We will ride two ski-lift gondolas up to the top of the Seceda. From the mountain-top restaurant, we have about a 20-minute uphill walk to the photo location. Upon descending, we will make our way east over Passo Gardena down into the Val Badia for an afternoon photo session of the beautiful chapel of Santa Barbara in the village of Wengen. We will continue on from the Val Badia, over Passo Erbe, landing in the Val de Funes for a late afternoon photo session of the famous Chapel of Maddalena with one of the most impressive mountain massifs backdrops in the Dolomites.
June 14 & 15
We make our way to the east to Cortina. After checking into our hotel, we venture up into the mountains for a late afternoon and sunset photo session of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It takes about a one-hour walk and a 400-foot elevation gain to this photo location. Cortina is a central location for access to many other iconic photography opportunities, including Cinque Torri, Passo Giau, Passo Falazago, and Lagazuoi.
June 16
10 am departure to the very NE section of Italy. Near the town of Tarvisio we ride a ski gondola lift up to the wonderful mountaintop hamlet of Monte Lussari that is unlike any we have ever experienced. Our family-run mountain Refugio/hotel, newly remodeled during the pandemic, is one of our favorites to spend the night, anywhere, period! After dinner, our gracious innkeeper, Jure, plays the accordion and sings traditional folk songs. Dancing is optional.
This mountain top location allows us the opportunity to photograph the evening and morning alpenglow and blue hour scenes of the village. We often get afternoon thunderstorms up here, and if so, the pre-sunset photo ops can be stunning using a long lens directed towards the backlit, gradated mountain ridges.
June 17
11 am departure for our journey back to the Venice airport. We will arrive back at the Venice Marco Polo Airport hotel no later than 4 pm.
Dates: June 11-17, 2026 (6 nights)
Cost: $4,995 | single supplement $695
A 5% discount will apply to those participating in two or more photo tours in 2026.
A $500 deposit will secure your spot.
Click here to make your deposit.»
What is included in the Alpine Italian Dolomites Photo Tour?
- 6 nights lodging
- All breakfasts
- 3 dinners
- Daily van transportation to photo locations
- All entrance fees and tolls, as well as ground transportation, except for transport to and from the airport.
- Jim & Magrit’s expertise in guiding and photographic instruction
Level of physical difficulty on our Italian Dolomites Photo Tour: 4 out of 5
This photo tour involves walking for distances up to 1.7 miles. The walk to the Tre Cime photo location and back is 1.7 miles with a 400-foot elevation gain, which takes Magrit and me about 45 minutes each way.
The walk from the top of the Seceda lift to the photo location is 0.25 miles with a 300-foot elevation gain, which takes us about 15 minutes.
Of course, we are all at different levels of fitness. For us, these walks are quite easy, and we realize that for others, they might be more of a challenge. We recently had an 82-year-old participant who had no problem and was usually at the front of the group. She was used to being active and participated in daily exercise. We therefore always encourage our participants to go at their own pace and enjoy the experience. We will be there for you. Also, any of these walks are optional. There are plenty of other photo ops along the way and you don’t have to walk all the way to the top if it feels too challenging.
For Terms & Conditions and insurance recommendations, please click here.»
Join us before your Alpine Italian Dolomite Photo Tour for our 8-day Portugal Photo Tour.
Take 5% off the total cost of any tours when you sign up for 2 or more.
Personal Items and Weather Conditions for our Italian Dolomites Photo Tour
Temperature range for this time of year: 54 to 66º F. Recently, with the warming of the planet, we have experienced higher temperatures, in the 80s F.
Average monthly rainfall for this time of year: 3 ”
Please pack light, as we will not have room in the van for more than one piece of luggage plus a camera bag for each of us. Please try to limit the size of your main piece of luggage to 28 inches.. Magrit and I both travel for 4-5 months with 25-26 inch Travel Pro Max Lite luggage. Most airlines are now charging for more than one piece of checked baggage.
Two pairs of shoes: One sturdy pair for in the field, where you can get wet and muddy. One pair for evenings.
Lightweight rain jacket and rain pants. You don’t have to go all out here, but if we have some wet weather and it is not raining too hard, we can still go out and get some good photos. The rain gear will keep you dry when walking in tall, wet grass.
Small umbrella for rain and shade. I often use an umbrella to block the sun from hitting the front element of my lens. Black is the best.
Sweater or light jacket for a possible chill on early morning shoots. A light layer underneath a rain jacket can be surprisingly warm. Magrit and I both carry lightweight down vests and jackets. We also carry stocking caps and gloves, as well as rain protection for our cameras.
Hat for sun and rain protection.
Sun screen and all other personal hygiene items.
