Top of Switzerland Photo Tour 2023
September 23 – October 4, 2023
Heart of the Alps
The world’s most beautiful country is waiting for you to be explored and photographed. This unique photography tour designed by Swiss born American photographer Christian Heeb will lead you from highlight to highlight. See and photograph verdant mountain valleys and gorges with villages and towns that date back into the middle ages. Icy mountain peaks as high as 15000 feet tower over ancient castles and pristine mountain lakes while we explore the photographic wonderland of the Swiss Alps.
We will stay in some of Europe’s highest hotels in style and comfort while having the stunning mountain scenery to yourself during our sunset and sunrise photo sessions. This photo tour is lead by professional photographers Christian Heeb and Zack Schnepf.
Experience Switzerland with the locals.
Find many cell phone images from our previous tour : Impressions
Highlights:
- Engadine Valley
- Mt. Muottas Muragl
- Mt. Diavolezza
- Lucerne / Mt. Pilatus
- Schilthorn / Bernese Alps
- Matterhorn / Zermatt
12 days & 11 nights
Swiss Francs 8,800 / person shared double room
Swiss Francs 1,500 / single room
1 room available
If your room choice is a double room but you do not have a room partner, you may end staying in a single room for the surcharge.
Included:
- 11 nights in very good accommodations
- all Mountain Top Inn / Chalets (besides Zurich)
- meals as in itinerary included (9 breakfast, 4 dinners)
- transportation from Zurich in our van
- gondola rides to mountains
- all entry fees as mentioned in itinerary
Not included:
- flight to Zürich and back
- meals not mentioned and all drinks
- additional trips outside of itinerary
- Covid-19 related testing etc.
- tips
- insurance
Inquire about option
Itinerary
September 23 – October 4, 2023
Sat, Sept. 23: Individual arrival in Zürich
We recommend you arrive one day prior to this date to acclimatize and won’t miss the tour due to delayed flight. Overnight at Zurich Airport.
Sun, Sept. 24: Zurich- Mt. Muottas Muragl
Our tour starts today with a drive across the Alps to the stunning Engadine Valley where we overnight high above St.Moritz. Overnight on Mt. Muottas Muragl. (B)
Mon, Sept. 25: Mt. Muottas Muragl
Another day of explorations in the Engadine with a visit to beautiful mountain lakes and ancient villages. Visit of the famed village of Guarda with its typical Engadine houses. Overnight on Mt. Muottas Muragl. (B)
Tue, Sept. 26: Mt. Muottas Muragl – Mt. Diavolezza
We are changing location and head up another mountain Hotel were we have a grandiose viewpoint high above the Bernina Valley overlooking a mountain glacier. Overnight stay at over 9000‘. Overnight on Mt. Diavolezza. (B,D)
Wed, Sept. 27: Mt. Diavolezza – Appenzellerland
We leave the beauty of the Engadine for the green hills of Eastern Switzerland´s Appenzellerland. We pass the Lai da Palpuogna one of Switzerland’s most beautiful small lakes and visit the independent country of Lichtenstein. Overnight on Mount Saentis. (B)
Thu, Sept. 28: Appenzellerland – Mt.Pilatus
Our special treat today is the visit of the world famous library in our old home town of St. Gallen. The Abbey Library of Saint Gall is a significant medieval monastic library. We have a special permit and are able to visit and take pictures with no other people present. After a stroll through town we head to the Swiss heartland. After short visit of Lucerne we head up another mountain where we overnight in luxury high above the Central Swiss lakes. Overnight on Mt. Pilatus (B,D)
Fri, Sept. 29: Mt. Pilatus – Mürren
After a sunrise session on the mountain top we head towards the fantastic Bernese Alps. We will spend two days amongst the giants with great views toward the Jungfrau, the Eiger and the Moench peaks. Overnight in Mürren. (B)
Sat, Sept. 30: Mürren
Another night in Mürren with visit to the Schilthorn peak. The village of Mürren is surrounded by photogenic old barns and stunning scenic vistas. Overnight in Mürren. (B)
Sun, Oct 1: Mürren – Gornergrat
After a descent to the valley near Interlaken we head towards the mountains of the Canton Valais. We will piggy-back our car on top of a Swiss train that will carry us for 15 minutes through a tunnel into the Canton Valais where we head straight to the car free village of Zermatt. For tow nights we will reside high above the valley with stunning views to the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains. Overnight on Gornergrat. (B,D)
Mon, October 2: Gornergrat
Some of you will want to hike to the small lake near our hotel to get a reflection of the Matterhorn at sunrise. It takes a 40 minute walk to reach the lake. During the day you can explore the surrounding glaciers and mountains or take the train to Zermatt and explore the town. Overnight on Gornergrat. (B,D)
Tue, October 3: Gornergrat – Zürich
After another sunrise session with the Matterhorn we head down to our Van and drive back to Zürich. Overnight in Zürich.
Wed, October 4: Individual departure from Zürich
We reserve the right to adjust the program if necessary.
Sacagawea in Oregon -Photo Blog
The Shoshone woman Sacagawea that lead Lewis and Clark over the Rocky Mountains, actually never set foot in Oregon. But, whenever I look at my photo of famed Dancer, Yoga Teacher and Model Acosia M. Red Elk on the top of Paulina Peak, I am reminded of Sacajawea.
Paulina Peak, located in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, high above the desert, affords stunning views of the Cascade Mountains and the Eastern Deserts. For photographers, this stunning location can be very rewarding at sunrise. If you are fortunate to be here when the high peaks are still snowed in, the first light illuminates them with a red / orange tint. While a sunset can be nice, it requires more clouds to make it interesting.
The athletic, Native Beauty Acosia posing in her heirloom Buckskin dress for me at sunset was a dream come true. I threw my whole repertoire of photographic skills at creating the image. While she stood on a cliff, with me hanging over the abyss shooting different angles and focal lengths, while balancing two Alien Bee Flash units. We were shooting into the sun, using flare as tool to dramatize the scene. Meanwhile, Regula Heeb fought against the wind, the dust, power failures and answered questions from visitors appearing on the scene..
After we nailed the shot and the light and the model, the clouds and the sun became one in my camera I noticed the last rays of light falling on the dead trees behind us. Franticly I sent Acosia over to pose in the trees, standing there looking out over the large expanse of this western landscape. You could see Paulina and East Lake below and you could visualize a land before the white man appeared or as the first Fur Traders would have seen it.
Something in Acosoa’s stoic look made me think of Sacagawea and of all those Native women that lived, worked and died on this continent and of the continuation of the circle of life.
While packing up it hit me again that I was doing exactly what I always wanted to do. Photographing Native Americans was the main reason why I came to the US 30 Years ago. My first Pow Wow photos and landscapes made it possible for me to travel the world as a professional photographer. Here I was now, photographing a stunningly beautiful Native woman, on a remote peak in Oregon in the best possible light. I guess dreams do come true.
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