WILD HORSES OF NORTH CAROLINA
Beaufort, Rachel Carson Reserve, Shackleford Banks
UTAH
ARIZONA
GRAND TETON
YOSEMITE
BANFF
DEATH VALLEY
THE MAGNIFICENT WILD HORSES OF NORTH CAROLINA
Our 5-day North Carolina photo tour and wildlife adventure will offer the opportunity to photograph one of the largest groups of wild horses in the US. We will cover all the highlights of the historical “Best Small Southern Town” of Beaufort in North Carolina, one of the very few places in America where wild horses still roam free. Literally yards off the coast of downtown Beaufort, just across Taylor Creek, is a series of small connected islands known as the Rachel Carson Coastal Estuarine Reserve. In addition to over 200 species of birds, the Rachel Carson Reserve has been home to the world famous wild horses for since the 1950’s. Their ancestors were purchased by Dr. Fulcher of Beaufort from a livestock auction in Chocowinity, NC and placed on Carrot Island in the 1950’s. The Rachel Carson Reserve became a State Reserve in 1985 and hence the horses became free roam since then.
We will spend 3 days, morning and afternoon, tracking, meeting and photographing mares, stallions and foals. We will learn about horse behaviour, and use that knowledge to get some once-in-a-lifetime photographs of these magnificent animals. We will also go to Shackleford Banks, a short boat ride from the Rachel Carson Reserve, to find another herd of wild horses. A romantic legend says they swam to shore from a Spanish shipwrecks as early as the 1600’s, but we don’t know that for sure. On the Rachel Carson Reserve there are currently 30 horses and on Shackleford Banks there are currently 115 horses.
Beaufort, part of the North Carolina Outer Banks and dating from the late 1600s, was originally a fishing village and port of safety called simply “Fishtowne”. Now it’s an alluring waterside town with a large number of art galleries, Spanish moss dangling above the walking paths and centuries-old oak trees surrounding classic plantation-style mansions. Approximately 150 of its beautifully restored historic houses bear plaques noting the names of the Town’s earliest known owners and the date of their original construction. A ravishing sunset over the water, maybe while savouring some local fresh oysters, might just be the perfect ending for a day spent in the unique ecosystem surrounding the Rachel Carson Reserve.
Our carefully planned itinerary allows our guests to apply creative travel photography techniques and action photography among the horses. In addition to becoming better photographers through practice and a series of informal discussions with our photographer leader, our guests will experience Beaufort’s best cuisine and charming boutique hotels for a complete and exclusive travel experience.
Join us in North Carolina for the adventure of a lifetime.
We will spend 3 days, morning and afternoon, tracking, meeting and photographing mares, stallions and foals. We will learn about horse behaviour, and use that knowledge to get some once-in-a-lifetime photographs of these magnificent animals. We will also go to Shackleford Banks, a short boat ride from the Rachel Carson Reserve, to find another herd of wild horses. A romantic legend says they swam to shore from a Spanish shipwrecks as early as the 1600’s, but we don’t know that for sure. On the Rachel Carson Reserve there are currently 30 horses and on Shackleford Banks there are currently 115 horses.
Beaufort, part of the North Carolina Outer Banks and dating from the late 1600s, was originally a fishing village and port of safety called simply “Fishtowne”. Now it’s an alluring waterside town with a large number of art galleries, Spanish moss dangling above the walking paths and centuries-old oak trees surrounding classic plantation-style mansions. Approximately 150 of its beautifully restored historic houses bear plaques noting the names of the Town’s earliest known owners and the date of their original construction. A ravishing sunset over the water, maybe while savouring some local fresh oysters, might just be the perfect ending for a day spent in the unique ecosystem surrounding the Rachel Carson Reserve.
Our carefully planned itinerary allows our guests to apply creative travel photography techniques and action photography among the horses. In addition to becoming better photographers through practice and a series of informal discussions with our photographer leader, our guests will experience Beaufort’s best cuisine and charming boutique hotels for a complete and exclusive travel experience.
Join us in North Carolina for the adventure of a lifetime.
TOUR OVERVIEW
Group Size
4 – 8 Guests
Experience | Difficulty
- Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and semi-pro photographers
- DSLR, mirrorless, compact or iPhone cameras
- Busy schedule
- Travel by walking, boat and car
- Some walking
- (non-photographers also welcome)
Weather | Sun
May – Temps 84/64 F 28/18 C
Sunrise 6:00 am| Sunset 8:30 pm (20:30)
Includes
- 5 Days
- Wildlife, Landscape, and Nature photography
- Professional photographer | guide
- Photo walks & discussions
- Small group size (4 – 8 guests)
- 4 or 5-star hotel
- Breakfasts
- 2 Dinners
- Local transportation
Travel Information
Arrival & Departure Airport: New Bern, North Carolina (EWN) – Transfer time 50min
Our adventure begins at 3 PM 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
Beaufort – The Beaufort Inn, The Beaufort Hotel or similar
Wild Horses of North Carolina Prices & Dates
Adventure | Price | REGISTER |
---|---|---|
From: $6,295 | ||
From: $6,995 |

Photographer Leader
Michael Cohen
May 9-13, 2024
May 8-12, 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.
ITINERARY
WILD HORSES OF NORTH CAROLINA 5 DAY PHOTO TOUR
Day 1 | Beaufort
We will arrive in Beaufort and check in at the hotel. In the late afternoon we will get together to get to know each other and discuss PWA’s “10 Guiding Principles to Great Photography” as well as our “THE ART OF SEEING” photographic technique. We will discuss our expectations and go through some gear review and tips on interacting with horses. The meeting will be followed by a welcome dinner in a local restaurant with a horse naturalist to help us understand horse behaviour. (D)
Day 2 | Beaufort - Rachel Carson Reserve
Day 3 | Beaufort - Shackleford Banks
Day 4 | Beaufort - Rachel Carson Reserve/Shackleford Banks
Day 5 | Beaufort
(B) Breakfast, (L) Lunch, (D) Dinner, (E) Excursion
May all who come as guests... leave as friends®

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
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Travel Insurance
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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.
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GOLD REWARDS
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