May 8-12, 2025
Landscape Photography
• 5 Days
• Only 4-8 Guests
• Photographer | Guide
• 4 Star Hotel
• Breakfasts
• 2 Dinners
• Private Boat to the islands
• Local Transportation
NORTH CAROLINA
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
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.
