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About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
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About Our Company
Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
Backcountry Journeys Awarded ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council
Published September 8, 2020
This week Backcountry Journeys will run its first photography tour since COVID-19 sent the globe to a screeching halt back in March. As we do so we are proud to announce that BCJ has received the official ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, and certification, from the World Travel & Tourism Council.
What exactly does this mean? To receive this designation, Backcountry Journeys developed and submitted a COVID-19 protocol and procedural plan to the World Travel & Tourism Council, which is a global authority on the economic and social contribution of travel and tourism. Those plans were reviewed and approved, which granted us the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the organization.
COVID-19 has drastically altered life for everyone, the travel industry was hit hard. Choosing when travel, and joining our tours is certainly a personal choice, however, as we begin to offer tours once again, we do so with our focus on creating the safest environment possible so as to enable our guests to safely enjoy themselves. The ‘Safe Travels’ stamp emphasizes the efficacy of our new safety approach.
What exactly does this mean? To receive this designation, Backcountry Journeys developed and submitted a COVID-19 protocol and procedural plan to the World Travel & Tourism Council, which is a global authority on the economic and social contribution of travel and tourism. Those plans were reviewed and approved, which granted us the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp from the organization.
COVID-19 has drastically altered life for everyone, the travel industry was hit hard. Choosing when travel, and joining our tours is certainly a personal choice, however, as we begin to offer tours once again, we do so with our focus on creating the safest environment possible so as to enable our guests to safely enjoy themselves. The ‘Safe Travels’ stamp emphasizes the efficacy of our new safety approach.
The following will outline our COVID-19 Procedures:
WHAT WE ARE DOING
COVID-19 is a dynamic situation, progressing and changing all the time, which requires much care and thoughtfulness from everyone. Backcountry Journeys is working hard to put things into place so that we can bring our best to you in the safest environment possible. What this will ultimately mean is that there will be some cosmetic differences to our tours. Please know these changes are being made with care and consideration towards the well-being of everyone involved, and that our core product, a seamless adventure travel experience where we handle the details so you can focus on photography, will remain the same.
PRE-TRIP PROCEDURES
Backcountry Journeys continues to actively monitor and will implement guidelines recommended by health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) when we once again begin running our Tours & Workshops.
While our tours generally do not include a great deal of equipment and gear sharing, we will be implementing increased cleaning and sanitizing practices, per CDC guidelines, on anything and everything used during our tours. This applies to any and all communal and shared workplace spaces, any trip-supplied gear, and on vehicles (if transportation is provided by BCJ).
All items used in conjunction with any Wilderness-Camping Tours, including (but not limited to) tents, sleeping pads, cooking utensils, and any associated gear will receive increased, and intense cleaning and sanitizing.
Guests will be required to bring any face-covering they prefer and their own hand sanitizer.
Backcountry Journeys will have a supply of both on hand in case anyone should forget theirs.
Backcountry Journeys guides will complete a self-health check before every trip, including checking their temperature and considering any symptoms. Any guide or guest who has been in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19, or who has experienced any flu-like symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, body aches/chills, the recent loss of taste or smell) within 14 days of the scheduled trip departure, will not be permitted to join a tour.
DURING TRIP PROCEDURES
Physical distancing (minimum of 6 feet) will be practiced unless direct staff/guest interaction is essential, in which case both the staff and guest will be required to wear face masks, if able.
Hand sanitizer will be available at all times. Each guest will be responsible for the disposal of personal tissues, baby wipes, sanitizing wipes, or any other item of biohazard concern.
While we typically eat many meals together in restaurants, we will make some small changes to this going forward. Expect your trip to incorporate more picnics, and breakfasts on-the-go (when possible), in an attempt to limit group gatherings at indoor restaurants. We will choose outdoor seating, and limit the number of people at each table, when possible. Our guides are certified in food handling safety, and for 2020 this training will be enhanced to include pertinent information on CDC & WHO safety guidelines. Guides will wear masks and disposable gloves at all times during any food prep. Guests will not be allowed to help with these activities.
If guides or guests experience any flu-like symptoms during a trip they will be physically distanced from the rest of the group, and from any community spaces or items. Backcountry Journeys will consult with the local managing agency for guidance with suggested management of the situation and potential evacuation of the affected individual(s). If a guide is in the position of providing direct care to an affected guest, he/she will also be physically distanced from the rest of the group for the remainder of the trip.
POST-TRIP PROCEDURES
As previously stated, increased cleaning and sanitizing efforts will be applied to all communal spaces and to all trip gear returning to any Backcountry Journeys’ warehouse.
All guides and/or guests, who develop flu-like symptoms 14 days post-trip will be asked to contact Backcountry Journeys to inform us of their symptoms. If informed that anyone associated with a trip has experienced any flu-like symptoms, we will contact all other staff and guests from that trip to inform them.
As we continue to navigate the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, Backcountry Journeys understands the decision about when to begin traveling again is a personal one. As such, we want you to know that what matters most to us is that you feel comfortable when you do choose to travel with us once again.
Click here for our more on Backcountry Journeys COVID-19 operating procedures.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
COVID-19 is a dynamic situation, progressing and changing all the time, which requires much care and thoughtfulness from everyone. Backcountry Journeys is working hard to put things into place so that we can bring our best to you in the safest environment possible. What this will ultimately mean is that there will be some cosmetic differences to our tours. Please know these changes are being made with care and consideration towards the well-being of everyone involved, and that our core product, a seamless adventure travel experience where we handle the details so you can focus on photography, will remain the same.
PRE-TRIP PROCEDURES
Backcountry Journeys continues to actively monitor and will implement guidelines recommended by health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) when we once again begin running our Tours & Workshops.
While our tours generally do not include a great deal of equipment and gear sharing, we will be implementing increased cleaning and sanitizing practices, per CDC guidelines, on anything and everything used during our tours. This applies to any and all communal and shared workplace spaces, any trip-supplied gear, and on vehicles (if transportation is provided by BCJ).
All items used in conjunction with any Wilderness-Camping Tours, including (but not limited to) tents, sleeping pads, cooking utensils, and any associated gear will receive increased, and intense cleaning and sanitizing.
Guests will be required to bring any face-covering they prefer and their own hand sanitizer.
Backcountry Journeys will have a supply of both on hand in case anyone should forget theirs.
Backcountry Journeys guides will complete a self-health check before every trip, including checking their temperature and considering any symptoms. Any guide or guest who has been in close contact with someone known to have COVID-19, or who has experienced any flu-like symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, body aches/chills, the recent loss of taste or smell) within 14 days of the scheduled trip departure, will not be permitted to join a tour.
DURING TRIP PROCEDURES
Physical distancing (minimum of 6 feet) will be practiced unless direct staff/guest interaction is essential, in which case both the staff and guest will be required to wear face masks, if able.
Hand sanitizer will be available at all times. Each guest will be responsible for the disposal of personal tissues, baby wipes, sanitizing wipes, or any other item of biohazard concern.
While we typically eat many meals together in restaurants, we will make some small changes to this going forward. Expect your trip to incorporate more picnics, and breakfasts on-the-go (when possible), in an attempt to limit group gatherings at indoor restaurants. We will choose outdoor seating, and limit the number of people at each table, when possible. Our guides are certified in food handling safety, and for 2020 this training will be enhanced to include pertinent information on CDC & WHO safety guidelines. Guides will wear masks and disposable gloves at all times during any food prep. Guests will not be allowed to help with these activities.
If guides or guests experience any flu-like symptoms during a trip they will be physically distanced from the rest of the group, and from any community spaces or items. Backcountry Journeys will consult with the local managing agency for guidance with suggested management of the situation and potential evacuation of the affected individual(s). If a guide is in the position of providing direct care to an affected guest, he/she will also be physically distanced from the rest of the group for the remainder of the trip.
POST-TRIP PROCEDURES
As previously stated, increased cleaning and sanitizing efforts will be applied to all communal spaces and to all trip gear returning to any Backcountry Journeys’ warehouse.
All guides and/or guests, who develop flu-like symptoms 14 days post-trip will be asked to contact Backcountry Journeys to inform us of their symptoms. If informed that anyone associated with a trip has experienced any flu-like symptoms, we will contact all other staff and guests from that trip to inform them.
As we continue to navigate the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, Backcountry Journeys understands the decision about when to begin traveling again is a personal one. As such, we want you to know that what matters most to us is that you feel comfortable when you do choose to travel with us once again.
Click here for our more on Backcountry Journeys COVID-19 operating procedures.
We offer world-class travel photography
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
experiences around the world.
Each tour is bundled with lodging, meals, and transportation between workshops included, allowing you to focus on photography instead of the stress of traveling.
Get Our Trip Catalog
Receive a trip catalog that highlights all of our upcoming photo tours and workshops.Schedule a Trip Consultation
Meet with a photo experience coordinator, and experience a personal touch to your booking experience.Trip Calendar
View our trip calendar and filter upcoming departures by interest or seasonality.Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2025
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2025
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.