Since 2022, we have been offering you a fantastic American Southwest Photo Tour, a very special destination. During this tour, we will visit different areas in the states of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, in search of the most surreal desert landscapes. Some of the places we will photograph include spectacular rock formations, arches, canyons, and mountains. Indeed, we are talking about one of the most impressive areas on the planet.
However, this will be a very exclusive tour. We won’t only visit easily accessible locations at the most famous spots. Instead, we will photograph much more remote and less, or even practically unknown places. Therefore, on some occasions, we will need to take hikes to reach some of these locations, with the great reward of being able to photograph absolutely unique places and views. This way, you will be able to obtain truly fascinating images. Due to the remoteness of some of these locations, we will have to take some hikes to reach them, but we can still say it is a low/medium-level difficulty tour.
We are currently finalizing all the details about this tour. If you want to receive more information, have us send you all the details when they are ready, or sign up for the pre-booking list, just write to us using the form on the right column of this page or send us an email at info@workshopsphototours.com.
This tour will be primarily focused on landscape photography and night photography.
Firstly, the area we will visit, spanning the states of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, contains some of the most beautiful desert landscapes on the planet. Among the places we will photograph, you can find canyons of breathtaking magnitude, natural arches and improbable rock formations, or scenic landscapes that seem to come from another planet. In these places, we will be able to capture beautiful colors, unique textures and shapes, which will ensure you return home with wonderful images.
During our stay in the U.S., we will pay special attention to the best lighting moments, at sunrise and sunset. Therefore, we will take advantage of these moments to photograph the locations that, in our opinion, are the most spectacular.
In addition to landscape photography, this tour stands out for its fabulous night photography opportunities. Due to the remoteness of the locations and the extremely low light pollution in the area, we are talking about perfect conditions for photographing the Milky Way. Thus, we will dedicate several nights of the tour, if weather conditions permit, to capturing the beautiful night skies of this part of the United States. We have carefully selected the best locations for these sessions after numerous trips to this part of North America. Imagine capturing the Milky Way over such amazing locations… without a doubt, an unparalleled opportunity.
Our tour takes place in May, as it is an optimal time for night photography. Both for the position of the Milky Way and the great chances of clear skies, we consider this to be one of the best times of the year to photograph the American Southwest.
At the same time, by traveling in May, we avoid the months of peak tourist activity, which will greatly facilitate the flow of our sessions and visits.
Our American Southwest Photo Tour is planned by and for photographers, so you only need to worry about being there to capture the shot. We will take you to the most amazing places at the right time. To join the tour, no specific photography skill level is required, so you can sign up for our Photo Tour regardless of your level. Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate, or even a professional photographer, we will always be available to help you, either with photography concepts, creative composition ideas, or your camera settings.
As for the physical requirements of the tour, anyone with reasonably good health can join. Although we will do some short hikes to reach certain locations, these will almost always be easy and short. In fact, we will never have to walk more than an hour to an hour and a half to reach the locations, so we are talking about a physical demand between low and moderate.
Finally, regarding age, the tour is available to anyone 18 years or older, with no upper age limit. Minors under 18 may join the tour if accompanied by one or more adults or, depending on the conditions, with the authorization of their legal guardians.
Our American Southwest Photo Tour is an unmatched opportunity for any photography enthusiast, especially if you enjoy arid and desert landscapes as well as night photography. During the two-week duration, you will have the chance to capture many of the most fascinating spots in the country. After more than 10 visits to the area, we have selected the most impressive locations, ensuring that the photographic results will undoubtedly be extraordinary.
With the guidance of our photographers, you will receive constant help and instruction to ensure you return home with hundreds of fantastic images. All this in a very small group, sharing your passion for photography and travel with other participants. Certainly, a tour not to be missed. Book your spot now, and join this fantastic photographic expedition to this magical destination.
Our meeting point will be the Las Vegas airport, in the State of Nevada. There we will start our tour, heading to our first stop of the trip, the Valley of Fire State Park.
In this unique valley we will be able to photograph some of its characteristic red rock landscapes including the Elephant Rock, the White Domes or the spectacular Firewave reminiscent of the famous “The Wave”.
After sunset, we will continue on our way and we will evaluate the possibility of doing night photography of the Milky Way in an area where we can photograph multiple Joshua Trees. This type of tree, of the Yucca family, only grows in this region of the American Southwest and was given that name by the Mormons, as it reminded them of the biblical prophet stretching out his hands towards the sky.
For sunrise, we will head to Snow Canyon State Park, where we can photograph petrified dunes, spectacular lava tubes and a volcanic cone.
After photographing these places, we will continue our route in the direction of Bryce Canyon National Park, where we will photograph some of its most spectacular places, such as the Bryce Amphitheater. We will remain in the area for the rest of the afternoon, including our sunset session at Sunset Point.
At night, we will return to Bryce Amphitheater to get lost along some of its paths and photograph the Milky Way in all its splendor with the most iconic formations of this place.
We will return to photograph the sunrise from the Sunrise point of Bryce Canyon, to take advantage of the moment when the first rays of the sun illuminate the Hoodoos. These rock formations, also known as fairy chimneys, are the most characteristic of this park.
Afterwards, we will continue on our way to the Escalante area, where we will visit the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Once there, we will visit some narrow canyons such as Brimstone Gulch or Spooky Gulch. In these canyons we will be able to take spectacular pictures with the light coming through the top of these canyons. Due to its narrowness, we will be able to find areas practically in darkness. We will photograph the sunset from one of these points.
After sunset we will be able to make Via Láctea in the zone known as Devil’s Garden, where we will be able to find multitude of rocky formations of which we will be able to enjoy for our nocturnal photos.
For sunrise, we will return again to Devil’s garden, to take pictures of the area receiving the first rays of sunlight of the day.
We will then continue our journey north on Utah State Route 12, which is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Along the way, we will pass through impressive canyons, mountains and even beautiful pine forests at over 2000 meters above sea level. This road will also be a good time to spot wildlife such as deer, which are quite common here.
Finally we will arrive at Capitol Reef National Park, one of the most unknown, but no less beautiful of the State of Utah. There we will be able to delight ourselves with its characteristic red rock, which will offer us thousands of different compositions thanks to the cactus, plants and trees that we will find in the surroundings.
At night we will have the opportunity to go to photograph the Milky Way to some incredible colorful mountains, which will undoubtedly remind us of the images we have seen of Mars.
We will wake up at dawn photographing a spectacular view of the Sulphur River with the Cathedral Mountain in the background, in the Capitol Reef National Park.
Then, we will continue our route eastward to the vicinity of the town of Hanksville, from where we will visit some spectacular hills of beautiful colors, which will make us have a good time. In this location it is especially advisable to use a drone, if you have one.
For the sunset, we will make a small and simple trekking, of approximately one hour, to reach one of the most spectacular locations that we will find in our trip. To get there, we will walk to the inside of a canyon, in the center of which we will find an impressive stone spire that, without a doubt, offers us a place of authentic dreams. This place, one of the least known of our itinerary, will offer us extraordinary photographic possibilities. Depending on the conditions, we will consider the possibility of staying here until the blue hour, and even to do a session of the Milky Way.
For sunrise, we will move to photograph the spectacular mountain known as Factory Butte, crisscrossed by small hills and canals that surround it, which will give us the possibility of having some spectacular close-ups.
After visiting this impressive place, we will go to visit a beautiful narrow canyon known as Little Wild Horse Canyon, with spectacular stone walls in some very narrow sections and with a multitude of photographic possibilities.
Right after this experience, we will head to one of the highlights of the trip, the incredible Goblin Valley, a vast expanse where we can find thousands of Hoodoos. We will spend the rest of the day here, being the area where we will photograph the sunset, and where we will also do a Milky Way session.
Today we will return to Goblin Valley to capture this fantastic place at dawn, in a completely different light. Again, we will continue to immerse and lose ourselves in its limitless compositional possibilities.
Right after we will continue our route to another of the highlights of the trip, Arches National Park. Our first stop will be outside the park itself, where we will visit the beautiful Corona Arch, a huge arch that we can photograph during our sunset session.
If there are good conditions for photographing the Milky Way, we will access the park again at night to photograph some of its most spectacular points. Among these, we can highlight the “Balanced Rock” or arches such as “The Windows”, “Double Arch” and “Turret Arch”.
Again, we will get up early to capture a new sunrise, for which we will head this time to Canyonlands National Park, where we will enjoy the sunrise at the “Mesa Arch”, one of the most iconic places in the US to capture the first light of the day.
After sunrise we will take the opportunity to tour the rest of the National Park stopping at its many viewpoints and photographing its spectacular canyons.
In the afternoon, we will return to the Arches National Park to photograph the “Windows” and the “Turret Arch” in the evening light. The warm tones of the afternoon will give us beautiful orange colors in these beautiful rock formations.
In the evening, we will be able to repeat some of the places we have left to photograph under the Milky Way.
For our last sunrise in the area, we will go to Dead Horse State Park, from where we will have an impressive view of one of the beautiful meanders of the Colorado River.
After that, we will have breakfast and start our way south to the mythical Monument Valley. This amazing park, belonging to a Navajo Indian Tribal Reservation, will offer us fabulous views of the mythical “buttes”, the mountain formations so famous thanks to the Western movies, especially John Wayne’s. Before arriving, we will make a stop at the “buttes”, the mountain formations so famous thanks to the Western movies, especially the John Wayne’s. Before arriving, we will stop at Goosenecks State Park to admire and photograph the gigantic meanders of the San Juan River.
At the same time, and overlooking the spectacular hills, we will stop at the road famous for the movie “Forest Gump”, which will offer us a beautiful panoramic view.
Once in Monument Valley, we will tour this place full of giant rock formations, photographing the environment for several hours until sunset. At night, we will value the possibility of taking night photography in the Valley of Gods, with multiple formations similar to those of Monument Valley.
Today we will photograph the sunrise from the viewpoint at the entrance of Monument Valley, to capture the sunrise in one of its most iconic views, an image that you will have seen in many western movies.
Next, we will head to the nearby town of Page, where we can enjoy great views of the Colorado River and Lake Powell, from one of its many viewpoints.
At sunset, we will visit another of the most famous points of the trip, the iconic “Horseshoe Bend”. From here, we will be able to photograph the sun setting behind this meander of the Colorado River.
In the evening, if the conditions are suitable, we will visit a well-known dream place, the Toadstool Hoodoos, where we can find beautiful sandstone formations in the shape of mushrooms of different colors and sizes. Undoubtedly, an extraordinary place to photograph the arc of the Milky Way.
Once again, we will get up early to photograph the sunrise. On this occasion, we will return to the Toadstool Hoodoos, being able to photograph them under the first light of day. Alternatively, we will consider visiting the nearby “New Wave”, which is also reminiscent of the famous “The Wave” because of all the wave-shaped ripples that form on the rock.
After this session, we will have the opportunity to visit perhaps the most spectacular location of the trip, the “White Pockets”. This visit will be optional, and organized with a local company (not included in the price), which will take us to the location in 4×4 vehicles adapted to the terrain. Without any doubt, we are talking about an area that seems to be taken from another planet, furrowed by incredible rock formations of white and red colors.
This excursion is organized so that we can arrive at the area before sunset, to enjoy a very long photographic session there, which also includes the whole night, and the sunrise the next day. After sunset, we will enjoy endless photographic possibilities, since the skies we will have will be among the best that can be found in the world, due to the almost total absence of light pollution. We are certainly talking about an ideal location to immortalize the Milky Way.
We will wake up in the White Pockets, after spending the whole night enjoying the place, and we will take the opportunity to photograph the first rays of sunlight bathing the area, a real delight for our senses.
After sunrise we will head towards Kanab, stopping at different points of the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument such as the Rainbow Hills. We will also consider the possibility of trekking through the Wire Pass to the confluence with Buckskin Gulch, the longest narrow canyon in the world with more than 70 km long.
At sunset, we will head to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, where we will be able to photograph the last rays of the sun over beautiful reddish and orange sand dunes.
That evening, we will consider the possibility of going into Zion National Park to photograph the Milky Way over one of its most iconic sights, “The Watchman” mountain and the Virgin River.
Today we will revisit Zion National Park at sunrise, again capturing the view of “The Watchman” mountain, with the river in the foreground. We will move along the riverbed, looking for the best compositions among the rocks and logs along the riverbank.
After that, we will continue our visit to the park, considering the possibility of taking a short hike through the park, such as the Emerald Pools or the Weeping Rock Trail.
Later, for our sunset session, we will go to the Canyon Overlook, to have an incredible view of the entire Zion Canyon. From here, we will be able to capture images of the wakes of the cars going up the mountain during the blue hour. After dark, we will return to our lodging to rest.
We will dedicate this last full day of the trip to take the route back to Las Vegas, having the possibility to make another stop at the Valley of Fire State Park, and take advantage of some of its magnificent locations during the day.
In the afternoon, we will be able to take a walk around Las Vegas, doing some urban photography taking advantage of the blue hour, in contrast with the incredible illuminations of the casinos and hotels.
Today we will travel to Las Vegas International Airport, where our Photographic Journey through the Southwest USA will end.
International Airport Las Vegas, Nevada, US (Google Maps)
This American Southwest Photo Tour is suitable for anyone, as no specific physical fitness level is required to participate. You simply need to be able to walk for one or two hours, as most locations are easily accessible. Occasionally, we will take hikes to reach the locations we will photograph, but they will never exceed that duration and will be of low difficulty.
Likewise, there is no age limit, as long as your health and fitness are reasonably good.
There is no minimum photography level required to join the American Southwest Photo Tour, nor do you need to be a professional photographer to participate. Our Photo Tours are suitable for all levels, even for those who are new to photography. Of course, they are also ideal for people who prefer taking photos with a compact camera or mobile phone. Our guides provide personalized attention to each participant, helping them capture the best images of the destination.
During this American Southwest Photo Tour, daytime temperatures will be moderate to high. Therefore, we recommend wearing comfortable and cool clothing, such as summer hiking attire. However, nights will cool down considerably, so it will be necessary to bring a light/medium jacket for our night sessions, sunrises, and sunsets. On some occasions, the temperature variation between day and night could reach 25 ºC (77 ºF), so it’s important to be well-prepared.
Upon confirming your trip reservation, you will receive our recommended gear guide for more information and details.
Our American Southwest Photo Tour does not include any meals (breakfast, lunch, or dinner). We usually have breakfast at the hotel either before or after the sunrise session, depending on the schedule. Likewise, most dinners will be at the accommodations or in restaurants in the towns we visit after sunset.
In any case, we will ensure that meals are taken at the usual times, as long as photographic interests allow, except for the main meal of the day, which will often be replaced by picnics or on-the-go meals with purchases made at supermarkets.
Currently, the main payment option we have is the bank transfer. However, if you prefer it, we also have other payment options, such as credit or debit card, PayPal or Transferwise. Please notice that these other payment options may apply a commission fee. You can ask us about these different payment options.
During our American Southwest Photo Tour, we will mainly stay in lodges, motels, or mid-range hotels, always with reasonable quality and private bathrooms. The accommodation will always be on a room-only basis, in a double room shared with another participant on the trip, with a bathroom in the room.
If you are traveling with someone else, you can share the room, but if not, we will assign you a roommate, always of the same sex.
In any case, if you prefer, there is the option to book a single room for an additional supplement.
Anyone can join this American Southwest Photo Tour, regardless of which country they live in. Although our offices are located in Santander, Spain, our tours are open to participants from anywhere in the world, so we have clients from countries all over the globe. However, Spanish will always be the language used during the trip (sometimes along with English).
Our American Southwest Photo Tour will begin at Las Vegas International Airport, in the state of Nevada, United States. All participants must be at this meeting point on the start date of the trip, at a time we will determine, arriving there from their place of origin. Therefore, you do not need to travel to any other intermediate city before the start of the trip to meet the rest of the participants.
After signing up for the American Southwest Photo Tour, we will send you our travel guide and recommended equipment to bring. This recommendation will cover clothing, accessories, and necessary items for the trip, as well as photographic gear. In short, you won’t have to worry about anything, as our experts will inform you of everything you need to bring to make the most of this trip.
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