Swiss Alps Photography Workshop

October 22 – 28, 2026

(7 Days / 6 Nights)

Swiss Alps Photography Workshop

October 22 to 28, 2026

7 days / 6 nights | Small group | Two instructors

Workshop price: $4,500 per person

Reserve your place with a $800 deposit

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Photograph the Swiss Alps in Autumn

Late October brings one of the most atmospheric periods of the year to the Engadin. Golden larch forests surround clear alpine lakes, while the first snow may begin to settle on the peaks and glaciers of the Bernina Range.

Over seven days, we photograph the region in changing autumn light, from expansive mountain views and reflective lakes to forests, rivers and quieter details within the landscape. Mist, cloud, frost and early snow can transform familiar locations and create the dramatic conditions that make alpine photography so rewarding.

With Andrea’s local knowledge and two instructors working closely with a small group, the workshop combines carefully selected locations with personal guidance throughout the week.

Quick facts

  • Dates: October 22–28, 2026

  • Duration: 7 days / 6 nights

  • Location: The Engadin, Graubünden, Switzerland

  • Arrival and departure: Zurich Airport

  • Meeting time: October 22 at 10:00 AM

  • Return to Zurich Airport: October 28, approximately 3:00–4:00 PM

  • Workshop price: USD 4,500

  • Deposit: USD 800

  • Accommodation: Six nights in a private room with private bathroom

  • Hotel: St. Moritz Youth Hostel

  • Group size: Maximum 12 participants

  • Instructors: Andrea Sanchini and Terje Svendsen

  • Instructor ratio: Maximum six participants per instructor

  • Photography level: Beginner to advanced

  • Physical level: Moderate

  • Transport: Workshop transport in vans

  • Meals included: Daily continental breakfast

  • Local transport included: Cable cars, mountain railways and scheduled shuttle services used during the workshop

  • Post-workshop support: Two online image-review sessions

Photograph the Swiss Alps in Autumn

The Engadin is a high alpine valley in southeastern Switzerland, surrounded by the peaks and glaciers of the Bernina Range.

In late October, the larch forests turn gold, the air becomes crisp and clear, and the highest mountains may receive their first covering of snow. Alpine lakes reflect the surrounding peaks, while mist, cloud and changing weather can create dramatic and atmospheric conditions.

During the workshop, we photograph both the grand alpine landscape and the quieter details that make this region special.

Our subjects may include:

  • Golden larch forests

  • Reflective mountain lakes

  • Glaciers and snow-covered peaks

  • Alpine rivers and streams

  • Panoramic mountain views

  • Intimate woodland scenes

  • Autumn colour and early winter conditions

  • Textures, patterns and details within the landscape

You do not need to be familiar with the Engadin before joining us. Part of the experience is discovering one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountain regions with the guidance of a local photographer.

What to Expect

This workshop combines carefully selected locations in the Engadin with hands-on guidance and a flexible programme shaped by the light, weather, and mountain conditions.

Our days will often begin early and may continue into the evening, with time in between for breakfast, rest, image review, and discussion. We will photograph a varied mix of alpine lakes, glaciers, forests, rivers, mountain passes, and elevated viewpoints, giving you opportunities to work with both expansive landscapes and more intimate details.

Throughout the week, we will help you refine your compositions, respond more confidently to changing conditions, and make stronger decisions in the field. The atmosphere will be relaxed and supportive, with enough flexibility to slow down, explore a location properly, and develop your own photographic approach.

Why Choose This Workshop?

Local Knowledge
Andrea has extensive experience photographing the Engadin and the wider Swiss Alps in different seasons and weather conditions. His knowledge of the region allows us to choose locations carefully and adapt the programme when conditions change.

Two Instructors and a Small Group
With a maximum of 12 participants and two instructors, you will receive close personal guidance throughout the workshop. We can spend time with each participant, whether you need help with camera settings, composition, technique, or developing a more personal style.

A Varied Alpine Landscape
The Engadin offers an unusually rich variety of subjects within a compact region. During the workshop, we plan to photograph glaciers, reflective lakes, golden larch forests, mountain valleys, rivers, and panoramic viewpoints.

One Comfortable Base
We stay in St. Moritz throughout the workshop, so there is no need to pack and move between hotels. This gives us a practical base from which to reach the planned locations while keeping the daily logistics simple.

A Flexible Programme
Mountain weather can change quickly. Rather than following a rigid schedule regardless of conditions, we will adjust the order of locations when necessary to make the best use of the available light, weather, and access.

What You Will Learn

Throughout the workshop, we will work on:

  • Creating stronger and more intentional compositions

  • Simplifying complex mountain scenes

  • Using foreground, depth, balance and visual flow

  • Understanding how light affects mood and atmosphere

  • Working with cloud, mist, snow and changing weather

  • Photographing both grand landscapes and intimate details

  • Choosing the most effective lens and focal length

  • Refining camera settings and field technique

  • Moving beyond the obvious viewpoint

  • Developing a more personal way of seeing

  • Building a cohesive group of images

The teaching is adapted to your experience level and photographic goals.

Is This Workshop Right for You?

The workshop is suitable for photographers from beginner to advanced level.

You should have a basic familiarity with your camera, but you do not need to be an expert. We provide help with exposure, focusing, filters, lens choice, composition and other technical questions throughout the week.

This workshop may suit you if you:

  • Enjoy landscape and nature photography

  • Want personal guidance in a small group

  • Are comfortable with early starts

  • Enjoy both panoramic scenery and intimate landscapes

  • Want to improve your composition and field technique

  • Prefer not to drive or manage local transport yourself

  • Are comfortable walking on mountain paths

The workshop is focused on photography rather than strenuous hiking, but several sessions require moderate walking.

Physical Requirements

Participants should be comfortable walking on uneven mountain paths while carrying their own camera equipment.

Some walks take place before sunrise or after sunset, so a headlamp is required. Paths may be wet, muddy, icy or snow-covered.


The longest planned walk is the return from Val di Campo after sunset:

  • Approximately 6.1 km

  • Mostly downhill

  • Around 1 hour 30 minutes

Other planned walks generally range from 30 to 45 minutes.

Val Roseg will be reached either by e-bike or private taxi, depending on the final arrangement.

Participants should also be comfortable:

  • Walking in low light

  • Carrying camera equipment

  • Spending several hours outdoors

  • Working in cold, windy or wet conditions

  • Travelling by cable car, funicular and mountain shuttle

  • Using an e-bike, if that option is selected for Val Roseg

Please contact us before booking if you are uncertain whether the physical requirements are suitable for you.

A Typical Day

Our days are shaped by the light, weather and mountain conditions.

We normally begin before sunrise and travel to the selected location while the landscape is still quiet. After the morning session, we return for breakfast or continue to another nearby area.

The middle of the day may be used for:

  • Rest and personal time

  • Image reviews

  • Informal editing discussions

  • Scouting

  • Travel between locations

  • Photographing forests and smaller details

In the afternoon, we return to the field for another session that may continue through sunset and blue hour.

Some days may be long when conditions are promising. Other days will include more time to rest, review images and prepare for the next session.

Planned Itinerary

The itinerary below shows the locations we plan to photograph.

Mountain weather can change quickly, and cable cars, roads and high-altitude locations may be affected by wind, snow or maintenance. The order of the programme may therefore be adjusted to give the group the best available photography and safest possible experience.

Day 1 - October 22

Arrival and Introduction to the Engadin

We meet at Zurich Airport at 10:00 AM and travel through the Swiss Alps to the Engadin. The journey takes us into one of Switzerland’s most distinctive high-alpine regions, surrounded by glaciers, forests and the peaks of the Bernina Range.

Depending on our arrival time and conditions, we plan a first photography session near Diavolezza before continuing to our accommodation in St. Moritz. In the evening, we meet for a welcome briefing and discuss the photographic opportunities and practical plans for the week ahead.

Day 2 - October 23

Diavolezza and the Morteratsch Valley

We begin with an early journey to Diavolezza, where the elevated viewpoint offers dramatic views of the glaciers and peaks of the Bernina Range. Morning light can reveal the scale, texture and structure of this high-mountain landscape.

Later, we explore Val Morteratsch, working with golden larch forests, glacial streams and views towards the Morteratsch Glacier. The variety of subjects makes this an ideal day for practising both wide mountain compositions and more intimate landscape details.

Day 3 - October 24

Morteratsch and Val di Campo

Our morning begins in the Morteratsch area, where we photograph forests, mountain views and the changing autumn light.

After breakfast, we travel to Val di Campo and continue into the upper valley by local shuttle. This remote landscape offers alpine lakes, golden larch forests and surrounding mountain peaks. We remain in the valley through the afternoon and sunset before returning on foot in the evening.

Autumn landscape in the Engadin, Swiss Alps, with golden larch trees and snow-covered mountains

Day 4 - October 25

Silsersee and Muottas Muragl

We begin before dawn at Silsersee, where calm conditions may create reflections of the surrounding mountains and autumn forests. The lake provides opportunities to explore foreground, layering and balance within the wider landscape.

Later, we travel by funicular railway to Muottas Muragl. From this elevated position, we photograph panoramic views across the Upper Engadin lakes and towards the Bernina Range, staying into the afternoon or evening when conditions are favourable.

Day 5 - October 26

Lai da Palpuogna and the High Mountain Passes

We begin at Lai da Palpuogna, a small alpine lake surrounded by forest and mountain scenery. The quiet setting is particularly suited to reflections, woodland details and more understated compositions.

In the afternoon, we continue towards Julier Pass or Corvatsch, depending on the weather and available light. This gives us the flexibility to work with higher mountain landscapes, changing cloud and possible early winter conditions.

Day 6 - October 27

Lej da Staz and Val Roseg

Our final full day begins at Lej da Staz, a peaceful lake surrounded by larch forest. We photograph reflections, woodland scenes and the subtle details of the late-autumn landscape.

After breakfast, we continue into Val Roseg, travelling by private taxi or e-bike depending on the final arrangement. Glacial rivers, forests and mountain views provide a broad range of photographic possibilities, from expansive alpine scenes to smaller patterns and textures within the landscape.

Day 7 - October 28

Final Sunrise and Departure

We begin with a final morning photography session at a location chosen according to the light, weather and conditions. This may include Val Roseg or another nearby area that offers the strongest opportunity for our last session.

After breakfast, we return to Zurich Airport, with expected arrival between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Ambitions & Goals

This workshop is designed to help you grow as a photographer while building a strong and varied portfolio from one of Switzerland’s most rewarding alpine regions.

We want you to return home with photographs you are genuinely proud of, but also with something that lasts beyond the workshop: stronger visual awareness, greater confidence in the field, and a deeper understanding of how to work with alpine light, changing weather, composition, timing, and location.

Throughout the workshop, our goal is to provide close personal guidance and create a relaxed, supportive environment where you can enjoy the experience, learn from the landscape, and develop your photography in a meaningful way.

Accommodation

We stay all six nights at St. Moritz Youth Hostel.

This is a modern property in St. Moritz and provides a practical base for the locations included in the workshop.

Each participant receives:

  • A private room

  • A private bathroom

  • Continental breakfast

  • Six nights of accommodation

Although the property is called St. Moritz Youth Hostel, participants stay in modern private rooms with private bathrooms. It provides a comfortable and practical base for an active photography workshop.

Staying in one location means participants do not need to pack and move between hotels during the workshop

Meals

Daily continental breakfast is included.

Lunches and dinners are not included, allowing us to keep the schedule flexible around the light and weather.

We will help coordinate meal options throughout the workshop.

A welcome or farewell aperitif may be added to the programme once the final package has been confirmed.

Participants should advise us in advance of allergies or dietary requirements.

Recommended Camera Equipment

We recommend bringing:

  • Camera with manual controls

  • Wide-angle lens

  • Standard zoom lens

  • Telephoto lens

  • Sturdy tripod

  • Polarising filter

  • Neutral-density filters, if available

  • Spare batteries

  • Memory cards

  • Lens cloths

  • Camera rain cover

  • Headlamp

A detailed equipment list will be provided after booking.

Clothing and Conditions

Late October in the Engadin can bring mild autumn weather, strong wind, frost, rain or snow.

Temperatures will be colder at sunrise, after sunset and at higher elevations.

Participants should bring:

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers

  • Warm insulated jacket

  • Thermal base layers

  • Hat and gloves

  • Waterproof walking shoes or boots

  • Warm socks

  • Small daypack

  • Headlamp

  • Water bottle

A detailed clothing guide will be provided before the workshop.

Post-Workshop Support

The learning continues after we leave Switzerland.

Participants are invited to two online group sessions where we review selected photographs, discuss editing choices and continue the learning from the field.

You will also be invited to a private WhatsApp group before the workshop. This is used for preparation, practical information and communication during the trip

Swiss Alps Photography Workshop

October 22 – 28, 2026

Start: 22 October at 10:00 AM

End: 28 October at 3:00 PM

This workshop gives you seven days of focused photography in one of Europe’s most spectacular mountain regions, with two instructors, a small group, and a carefully planned route designed around the best available conditions.

Included in the workshop

  • Seven-day, six-night photography workshop

  • Six nights at St. Moritz Youth Hostel

  • Private room with private bathroom

  • Daily continental breakfast

  • Zurich Airport pickup and return

  • Cable car tickets

  • Two photography instructors

  • Maximum six participants per instructor

  • Sunrise and sunset photography sessions

  • Image reviews and group discussions

  • Individual mentoring

  • Private participant WhatsApp group

  • Detailed travel and preparation information

  • Recommended equipment and clothing list

  • Two online post-workshop image-review sessions

Not included

  • Flights to and from Switzerland

  • Lunches and dinners

  • Travel and medical insurance

  • Personal expenses

  • Alcoholic drinks

  • Camera equipment

  • Visa or entry-related expenses

  • Additional accommodation before or after the workshop

Price

Total trip price: $4,500 per person

Deposit: $800 to reserve your place

Single rooms are included for all participants.

Booking information

Your place is confirmed once your deposit has been paid. After booking, you will receive practical information about the workshop, travel planning, recommended gear, and the next steps before departure.

Not quite ready to book? Schedule a short, informal call with us to discuss the workshop, travel plans, photography level or any questions you may have.
Schedule a 15-Minute Call→

Meet the Instructors

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 FAQs

Swiss Alps Photography Workshop

Swiss Alps Photography Workshop

Ready to Photograph Autumn in the Swiss Alps?

Join us for seven days among golden forests, alpine lakes, glaciers and the dramatic peaks of the Engadin.

With local knowledge, a small group and personal guidance from two instructors, this workshop is designed to help you return home with strong photographs and greater confidence in the field.

October 22–28, 2026

Tickets: $ 4,5 00 per person

Maximum 12 participants

Not quite ready to book? Schedule a short, informal call with us to discuss the workshop, travel plans, photography level or any questions you may have.
Schedule a 15-Minute Call→

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