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BANFF & LAKE LOUISE

Johnson Lake, Ten Peaks, Moraine Lake, Icefields and more

UTAH

ARIZONA

GRAND TETON

YOSEMITE

BANFF

Emerald glacial waters surrounded by canyons and majestic mountain ranges.

We explore Canada’s first ever National Park on our 6-day Banff Photo Tour and Landscape Adventure. Nestled in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is truly one of Canada’s greatest treasures. In the 1880’s the Transcontinental Railway was stretching her way across Canada and mountain towns were being settled for their natural resources. Banff, however, was settled with the tourist in mind from the very beginning. Tucked away in the bow valley and surrounded by hot springs, glacial lakes, canyons, and the most majestic mountain ranges, it’s difficult to count all the photographic possibilities.

As the railroad brought in the first adventurers, the hot springs at the Cave and Basin were soon opened to the public and people lined up to experience the healing powers of the warm waters. Although the Banff National Park is a popular destination for tourists from around the world, the vast expanse of this national treasure will leave you feeling as if you’re the only one enjoying the views.

Lake Louise, was originally named Lake of the Little Fishes by the First Nations people and later named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter. This alpine lake is a breathtaking iconic gem with emerald glacial waters which are situated between glacial peaks. While the crowds may gather to the shore of Lake Louise, nearby Valley of the Ten Peaks and its Moraine Lake is a photographic opportunity not to be missed.

Due to the massive contrast in lighting from the base of the mountains to the peaks, we’ll learn tips on how to properly expose for each situation. Photographing mountains of this magnitude can be an overwhelming assignment, however, we will discuss ways to tell the story of the Rockies through your photographs.

This adventure is designed not only to guide you to the most photogenic locations carefully planned for the best light but to aid you in mentally visualizing a scene before capturing the decisive moment. Our aim is to raise your awareness and spark your creativity so that you not only go home with images to be proud of but use your new found skills to improve and expand your photographic technique in general. Apart from the technical aspect of learning your camera settings and capabilities, you will learn how to turn an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by using your own creativity.

In addition, you will become knowledgeable on how to survey the landscape, and utilize and approach your environment. Our time together will include individual and group discussions, inspiring ideas, and great fun. We cannot think of a better location to express your creativity than in Banff National Park.

As the railroad brought in the first adventurers, the hot springs at the Cave and Basin were soon opened to the public and people lined up to experience the healing powers of the warm waters. Although the Banff National Park is a popular destination for tourists from around the world, the vast expanse of this national treasure will leave you feeling as if you’re the only one enjoying the views.

Lake Louise, was originally named Lake of the Little Fishes by the First Nations people and later named after Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter. This alpine lake is a breathtaking iconic gem with emerald glacial waters which are situated between glacial peaks. While the crowds may gather to the shore of Lake Louise, nearby Valley of the Ten Peaks and its Moraine Lake is a photographic opportunity not to be missed.

Due to the massive contrast in lighting from the base of the mountains to the peaks, we’ll learn tips on how to properly expose for each situation. Photographing mountains of this magnitude can be an overwhelming assignment, however, we will discuss ways to tell the story of the Rockies through your photographs.

This adventure is designed not only to guide you to the most photogenic locations carefully planned for the best light but to aid you in mentally visualizing a scene before capturing the decisive moment. Our aim is to raise your awareness and spark your creativity so that you not only go home with images to be proud of but use your new found skills to improve and expand your photographic technique in general. Apart from the technical aspect of learning your camera settings and capabilities, you will learn how to turn an ordinary image into an extraordinary image by using your own creativity.

In addition, you will become knowledgeable on how to survey the landscape, and utilize and approach your environment. Our time together will include individual and group discussions, inspiring ideas, and great fun. We cannot think of a better location to express your creativity than in Banff National Park.

Group Size

4-8 Guests

Experience | Difficulty

  • Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
  • DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
  • Moderate schedule, with early mornings
  • Travel by car or minibus
  • Moderate elevation changes and lots of hiking / walking
  • (non-photographers also welcome)

Weather | Sun

July – Temps 72/46 F, 17/4 C  Sunrise 5:45 | Sunset 9:50 (21:50)

Includes

  • 6 Days
  • Travel, landscape, architecture, nature, and people photography
  • Professional photographer | guide
  • Photo walks & discussions
  • Small group size (4-8 guests)
  • 4-star hotels
  • Breakfasts
  • 2 Dinners
  • Local transportation

Travel Information

Arrival & Departure Airport: Calgary International Airport (YYC) – Transfer time to hotel 1hr 40min
Our adventure begins at 11 AM on the first day and ends at noon on the last day.
Travel Visa: A visa may be required depending on your nationality. Go to Visa Map to find out.

Accommodations

Banff area – Stoneridge Resort & Spa, Fairmont Banff Springs, Delta Banff Royal Canadian Lodge, or similar
Lake Louise area – Lake Louise Inn, Deer Lodge, or similar

Helpful Links

Photographing Banff & Lake Louise – by Ian Robert Knight
> Canadian Cuisine – by Ian Robert Knight

Banff & Lake Louise Prices & Dates

Photographer Leader

Photographer Leader

Chase Guttman

July 12-17, 2024
July 11-16, 2025

*All prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Please select single occupancy for a private room. For your convenience, we offer optional early arrival and late departure accommodations so you can extend your stay before or after the trip. We typically stay in upscale boutique hotels in the 4 and 5-star category. Not all destinations offer these types of properties. We look for unique hotels that offer cultural, historic, and/or authentic features. Depending on the size of the group, smaller boutique hotels may have limited room inventory. In some countries or in remote locations, we may be limited to lodges or branded chain hotels. In Cuba, we stay in upscale family-owned Casas (bread & breakfasts). On all of our tours, breakfast is almost always included, but not guaranteed. Meal categories listed include (B) for breakfast, (L) for lunch, and (D) for dinner.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

BANFF & LAKE LOUISE 6 DAYS

Day 1 | Banff - Bow Falls - Banff Springs - Johnson Lake

We meet in the morning at our hotel in Banff National Park where we will spend the week together. After lunch, we will discuss PWA’s “10 Guiding Principles to Great Photography” as well as our “THE ART OF SEEING” photographic technique. We will have informal discussions on what our guests are trying to achieve in their photography, subject matters, styles, and techniques.

If ever there was an iconic mountain village to be photographed, Banff is it. We will enjoy a scenic walking tour down Banff Ave and enjoy the peaks of Sulphur Mountain from the heart of the town. While walking near the town we will also visit the Cascade Gardens with beautiful views down the main street. From there, we will connect with the Fenland Trail which leads us along a looped trail. This wetland marsh area is ideal for birding, elk, and deer. The trail is lined with aspens, white spruce, and poplar.

We’ll then venture out to Banff’s Bow Falls, which was created by the erosion from glacial activity along the Bow River. One of the most beloved waterfalls in Banff, this is an ideal location to try your hand at long exposures from various points along the falls. We will also spend some time photographing the iconic Banff Springs Hotel — “The Castle in the Rockies” — from afar, and from within.

In the early evening, we will celebrate with our Welcome Dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Banff. Sampling local bison and elk is something that all visitors need to experience.

For sunset, we will step into the wilds with a scenic trail that will lead you around breathtaking Johnson Lake. As we make our way along the lakeside trail, we will enjoy continuous views of Cascade Mountain, the unique forest floor of the Bow Valley, and a few marshy areas which may provide opportunities to view waterfowl and muskrats. (D)

Day 2 | Johnston Canyon - Castle Mountain

We’ll start a little later today, after a long day yesterday. Today, we head to Johnston Canyon, just north of Banff township, where water forces its way and cuts through the limestone to form the canyon walls, waterfalls, tunnels and pools. This is a popular canyon, and a fairly easy climb, with a great payoff. We will bring our tripods, ND and polarizing filters and create beautiful pictures of this rushing water. It gets a little misty at the top, with the thundering force of the water, but it’s worth the effort to capture the falls. As we make our way out of the canyon, we’ll pass through the forest and alongside Johnston creek.

After our hike through the canyon, we’ll drive a little further north to capture Castle Mountain along the Bow river. A mountain was never more appropriately named, and this is a castle that needs exploring. A truly beautiful mountain, made evident by all the wedding photos that are taken here every day.

We will return to Banff, for an early night, as we have an early morning tomorrow. (B)

Day 3 | Vermillion Lakes - Sulphur Mountain - Two Jake Lake

We begin with an early morning sunrise shoot of the Vermillion Lakes west of the town of Banff and at the foot of Mount Norquay. These three lakes provide stunning mountain reflections of Mt. Rundle and beautiful light. We will start at the first lake, and finish our time on the third and furthest lake. This location may provide opportunities to photograph wildlife such as bald eagles and elk. We will return to the hotel for breakfast after the shoot.

After breakfast, we’ll take a mid-morning gondola ride as we ascend the side of beautiful Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola. At the top, we’ll enjoy a 360-degree view of 6 scenic mountain ranges at 7,486 feet above sea level. The view from the top of the range will leave you breathless and exhilarated with unlimited photographic opportunities.

We will have an afternoon rest, so that we are ready for a sunset shoot. After dinner, we will head to Two Jack Lake where sunset comes alive. The lake is a short drive from Banff township, one which will provide breathtaking views of Cascade Mountain. Along with this stretch of road, we may encounter Bighorn Sheep feeding alongside us. As we wait for the sun to set and the waters to calm, we’ll encounter beautiful mountain reflections and interesting foregrounds which will lend to some spectacular photography. (B)

Day 4 | Morant's Curve - Lake Louise - Bow Lake - Peyto Lake

Today, we move camp a little further up the highway, to Lake Louise. A large portion of the most spectacular scenery in the park is in this section.

Before we get to Lake Louise, we will stop for a while at Morant’s Curve. Made famous by Nicholas Morant, a staff photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway, this stretch of railway along the Bow River is not to be missed. Set below the majestic Mount Temple, this was one of Morant’s favorite locations across Canada. We will capture the light off the slopes of the Rockies and if we’re lucky, we’ll even have the opportunity to photograph a train coming around the bend of Morant’s curve.

Upon our arrival in Lake Louise, we’ll drop our bags at our hotel, and get some much-needed lunch. After our break, we’ll drive a little further north up the Icefields Parkway, where some very beautiful scenery awaits us. Along the drive, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll spot brown bears foraging for food along the highway.

First, up will be Bow Lake, and along with it, Bow Glacier Falls. A large lake, with towering peaks rising from the deep blue waters, make for some great images. There’s a small mountain lodge at the shore of the lake that we can grab some tea or snacks. If the weather is good, and the energy level is high, we can take a 2-hour hike up to Bow Glacier Falls for a backcountry experience that will be truly memorable.

And finally, we will head to Peyto Lake, a short drive from Bow Lake. Peyto Lake is one of Canada’s more recognizable lakes, as it looks like a bear. The 10-minute hike up to the viewpoint is very worth the effort. (B)

Day 5 | Moraine Lake - Lake Louise - Lake Agnes

Although this day sounds like it’s all about lakes – each of them has unique and special qualities. Moraine Lake is one of Banff’s most sought-after scenes. If there is a location not to be missed while exploring the Canadian Rockies, this treasure is it. Glacially fed, Moraine Lake is nestled in the valley of Ten Peaks with an elevation of roughly 6,000 feet. In July, the lake will fill and cast a distinct shade of blue that will be a memory you carry for the rest of your life.

We begin early, as the best shots are at sunrise. By 5:30 am, the crowds will have gathered at the viewpoint. But we will get settled into a location that will provide us with unobstructed views, and without people taking selfies in front of us. Several peaceful walks and casual hikes are nestled around Moraine, and this stunning location deserves several hours of exploration. We’ll take our time at this location and enjoy breakfast here.

We’ll head back down to Lake Louise to photograph this mountain lake in the late morning. Capturing images of the bright red canoes paddled along the glacier-filled lake, or even paddling a canoe on the lake, will be a great experience. After a light lunch at the Chateau Lake Louise, we will begin a hike up to Lake Agnes. The hike is a little more than 2 miles (3.2 km) each way. Approximately 3 hours round trip, plus time to photograph the lake and waterfalls. Once we reach Lake Agnes, there is a European-style Tea House, with hot cocoa and welcome snacks.

In the evening, we’ll settle in for our Farewell Dinner, in one of Lake Louise’s best restaurants. (B) (D)

Day 6 | Lake Louise - Emerald Lake - Natural Falls

On our last morning together, we will take a short trip into British Columbia’s Yoho National Park to photograph Emerald Lake. Since Emerald Lake is just a short drive across the provincial border into British Columbia, the opportunity to photograph her is just too good to pass up. We will have an early morning, so that we arrive at sunrise.

In addition to capturing the beauty of Emerald Lake, on the way back to Lake Louise, we will stop at the Natural Bridge, which is a rock overpass, over the Kicking Horse River. It’s an incredible natural phenomenon, and a wonderful way to spend our last morning together.

We’ll return to our hotel in Lake Louise for breakfast, and conduct our final group discussion, review our past weeks photos, trade contact information, and check out of our hotel , and bid you farewell. We urge you to extend your stay in Alberta and make good use of everything you will learn on our photo adventure. (B)

Ask about our private Jasper National Park extension!

(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner, (E) Excursion

 

May all who come as guests... leave as friends®

 

Banff Lake Louise Photoworkshopadventures V3

OPTIONS AND BENEFITS

Pricing

All prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Please select single occupancy for a private room. For your convenience, we offer optional early arrival and late departure accommodations so you can extend your stay before or after the trip. We typically stay in boutique hotels in the 4-star category. Not all destinations offer these types of properties. We look for unique hotels which offer cultural, historic and/or authentic features. Depending on the size of the group, smaller boutique hotels may have limited room inventory. In some countries or in remote locations, we may be limited to lodges or branded chain hotels. Breakfast is included only if included in our room rates.

Private Guided Adventures

We offer amazing private guided photo adventures, cultural tours and vacations for individuals, couples, families and groups. We can customize any of our published adventures, as well as others, to meet your individual needs, schedule, budget and interests. This may include the finest 5-star accommodations, business-class travel, and private guides and fixers who are able to make the impossible possible. If you are not interested in a photo-centric vacation, but you love our approach to private travel, we will be happy to design and deliver an amazing adventure focused on travel, culture and cuisine. Click here to request a quote. Feel free to call us at 1-888-834-0288 or contact us for more information.

Travel Insurance

We offer travel insurance through the internationally recognized Travelex Travel Insurance Company, as well as evacuation and medical transportation insurance through MedJet, one of the best in the industry.

The cost for travel insurance can be as low as 4% of the total trip cost, depending upon age and other factors. Knowing you have trip cancellation coverage can make a big difference should you have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. Travelex Insurance Services is a BBB Accredited business with an A+ rating. Click here to learn more about why you should consider travel insurance.

Rewards Program

Start earning points today and SAVE $200 - $900 off future trips!
Simply register for one of our amazing photo adventures and begin earning points today!

How The Program Works
For every adventure reservation you make with Photo Workshop Adventures, you earn valuable points which you can redeem on your next trip. This is a great way to save up to 8% off future trips. Our Rewards Program is designed with three tiers: Orange, Gold and VIP Members. Points may be applied towards balance payments on your next trip, or you may choose to accumulate points for a free trip in the future.

ORANGE REWARDS
All guests begin with our Orange Rewards Program (Level 1), which earns 4 points for every dollar you spend. You begin earning points immediately after your first trip. A $5,900 spend earns 23,600 points with a value of $236 USD.

GOLD REWARDS
With our Gold Rewards Program (Level 2), you earn 6 points for every dollar you spend. Orange Members who reach 120,000 accumulated lifetime* points (approx. 4-6 trips), automatically move up to Gold Rewards. A $5,900 spend earns 35,400 points with a value of $354 USD.

Additional Gold Benefits:

  • Earn up to double points during promotional events
  • Advance notifications for upcoming adventures and special offers

VIP REWARDS
With our VIP Rewards Program (Level 3), you earn 8 points for every dollar you spend. Gold Members who reach 350,000 accumulated lifetime* points (approx. 8-12 trips) move up to VIP Rewards. A $5,900 spend earns 47,200 points with a value of $472 USD, (8+/-% discount).

Additional VIP Benefits:

  • Earn up to double points during promotional events
  • Advance notifications for upcoming adventures and special offers
  • Ability to Gift or Transfer points to others
  • Receive complimentary airport transfers at the destination location*

Redeeming Your Points
Redeeming your points couldn’t be easier. You can always log in to your account to check your points balance. When you are ready to book your next trip, register and pay your deposit. When you go to pay your balance you will be given the option to apply your points and receive a discount.

THINK ORANGE Magazine

Subscribe to our Think Orange Magazine and eNews. THINK ORANGE is a wonderful mix of stories and tips related to travel, photography, adventure, culture, art, technology, cuisine, lifestyle, people and more. Our objective is to immerse you in a world you may only fantasize about. Raise your awareness and inspire your creativity. Perhaps even help make you a better photographer. We deliver similar experiential experiences that our guests enjoy on our photo adventures. Like all of our adventures, our blog is “photo-centric”, while also allowing you to experience all the nuances and cultural aspects of travel and adventure. Welcome to our world. We hope you enjoy. Our eNews is a great way to receive information about upcoming photo adventures, exciting new destinations, photography tips, special offers and more. Subscribe today!

Gift Cards

Give someone you know a Gift Card, good toward any of our Photo  Adventures, Photo Tours, Private Guided Tours, Online Courses, Prints or Merchandize. Our beautifully personalized eGift Cards and Certificates are delivered to you electronically. They are fully transferable and have a 2 year expiration date. They are available in any amount from $100 to $5000. It makes a great gift for anyone who loves photography, travel or adventure. Order now, or email for more information.

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