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About Our Company
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Winter Desertscapes: Death Valley & Joshua Tree
Lodge-Based Photo Workshop
Upcoming Departures
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Trip Leader(s)
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Starting From [Block//Current Price]
Single Supplement: +$895.00
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Deposit: $2,000.00
Start/End
Las Vegas, NV / Palm Springs, CA
Length
7 Days/6 Nights
Fitness Level
Level 2 - What's This?
Group Size
Up To 7 Guests
Highlights
Explore the desert landscapes of Death Valley National Park AND Joshua Tree National Park
Capture the serene beauty of winter's majesty at iconic locations like Badwater Basin, Mesquite Sand Dunes, Hidden Valley, Arch Rock, and more!
Enhance your photography skills with personalized guidance from experienced instructors and expand your portfolio with exceptional images.
Small group size, limited to only 7 photographers
If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Coordinators are available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:
Death Valley National Park is the largest U.S. National Park outside of Alaska. Its vast wilderness encompasses snow-capped mountains, dunes, salt flats, playas, and badlands. Its iconic locations include Badwater Basin, Mesquite Sand Dunes, Artist’s Palette, and Zabriskie Point. We’ll set up our cameras to capture the quiet serenity of winter’s majesty at each, and more, with potential for night sky imagery, as well.
At Joshua Tree, two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together to provide a fascinating variety of plants, animals and exposed rock formations that litter this otherworldly landscape. The famed Joshua Tree, to which the park owes its name, is found in numbers and clusters here like no other location on earth. Landscape photographers looking for compositional components that add up to a haunting and remarkable imagery will find it here. Joshua Tree is a unique beauty, and a place to feel deeply connected to nature.
Both parks are some of the premier desert landscape photography destinations in the world. The iconic and diverse landscapes offer photographers many perspectives.
This workshop starts in Las Vegas, NV, and ends in Palm Springs, CA. Las Vegas provides the closest major and/or regional airport to Death Valley and is a short 2-hour drive from the park. Palm Springs is an only hour from Joshua Tree.
You will get ample one on one time with your instructor and improve your photography in two of the world’s most beautiful and iconic national parks. Aside from the fun you will experience with your fellow photographers you will leave this trip with a highly expanded portfolio of excellent images and a wealth of memories. Join us today for the trip of a lifetime to photograph iconic Death Valley and Joshua Tree!
What's Included
All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
All transportation during the workshop
All lodging during the workshop
All permits and park fees
Professional photography guiding and instruction
Gratuity for service staff
What's Not Included
Transportation to Las Vegas, Nevada and from Palm Springs, California
Meals not listed as included on the itinerary
Lodging outside workshop dates
Alcoholic beverages
Souvenirs and personal items
Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities
Trip Insurance & Medical Evacuation Insurance - see plans here.
Details
- Final Balance Due 120 days prior to Trip Start
- Standard terms & conditions apply. Please see our Cancellation / Transfer policy on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
- Trip Insurance Optional - but highly recommended
Trip Itinerary
Trip Itinerary
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 1 (Travel Day) (D)
We will meet at our hotel in Las Vegas, NV at 5 pm the first evening of the trip for an orientation and welcome dinner.
Day 2 (B,L,D)
We will start off the trip with an early departure from Las Vegas, NV. We will drive ~2 hours to Death Valley National Park and stop at a few of the iconic locations mid-morning. Depending on conditions, we will photograph Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Artist’s Palette, and Dante’s View. We will grab lunch in the park and check into our hotel for the week in Furnace Creek. We will take a short break before heading out to the Mesquite Sand Dunes for sunset, then back to Furnace Creek for dinner.
Day 3 (B,L,D)
On Day 3, we will once again venture into the ever-changing Mesquite Sand Dunes for sunrise. We will shoot well into the morning, as the light seemingly gets better and better. We will take a short break mid-morning. We will then venture out early afternoon to look for mudcracks at one of the many playas in the park.
Day 4 (B,D)
Day 4 is all about salt flats and playas. We will start off with a sunrise in the Badwater Basin area. The basin encompasses an extremely large area, thankfully, we know where to find the best formations. We’ll shoot well into the morning and visit another location nearby if conditions permit. Another mid-day break around lunch and another early afternoon start, as we will head to the Panamint Valley for sunset. A lesser visited gem in the park, Panamint will have incredible playas with mountain views waiting for us. We will head back after sunset and grab dinner at Furnace Creek once again.
Day 5 (B,L,D)
This morning we'll be up early & make our way to Joshua Tree National Park after a sunrise session in Death Valley. We'll explore the Cholla Cactus Garden and check out Arch Rock and Split Rock. Our lodge tonight is the very cozy & unique 29 Palms Inn - a fantastic retreat in the desert! During the evening we'll spend some time exploring the unique rock formations and Joshua Tree groves in the park.
Day 6 (B,L,D)
We will have a full day of exploration & photography in Joshua Tree today, exploring the many alien landscapes & otherworldly appearing trees. The focus will be on capturing beautiful soft, winter light on desert landscapes dotted with Joshua Trees. Due to the shorter days this time of year we'll have ample time for some night sky photography as well before heading back to our cozy lodge & dinner at the 29 Palms Inn!
Day 7 (B)
We will spend our last morning photographing in the park before heading back to the hotel. After packing up, we will head to the airport in Palm Springs, California for flights out. We will arrive no later than 12 pm on the final day. Fly home or catch up on some R&R in beautiful Palm Springs!
Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
Physical Requirements
All participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability to hike/ walk with camera equipment and essential hiking gear. For example: tripod, camera, lenses, sunscreen, water (up to 2 liters per person), snacks, and extra layers (if necessary). The weight of your pack largely depends on what gear you choose to bring on each hike. Typically backpacks weigh between 15 and 20 lbs. For those serious photography buffs, packs could reach 35 lbs! But remember the choice is yours. Although there is minimal hiking on this workshop, a few locations will require a 2 to 3 mile round-trip walk. For the locations we drive directly to, the terrain can be uneven and rocky.
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys?
UNPARALELLED
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRIPS
PHOTOGRAPHY
TRIPS
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Explore over 100 worldwide photo tours and workshops tailored to photographers of all skill levels, from iconic U.S. National Parks to Africa's untamed savannahs.
THE BEST TEAM
IN THE
BUSINESS
IN THE
BUSINESS
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We're proud to offer unmatched photography trips led by exceptional instructors who not only excel in photography but also serve as expert guides.
WORLD-CLASS
PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNITY
PHOTOGRAPHY
COMMUNITY
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Join the Backcountry Journeys Tribe, where shared adventures in breathtaking locations foster lasting connections with fellow photographers in a warm, inclusive atmosphere.
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Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
Worry Free Travel Guarantee!
HERE’S THE DEAL
We offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry - our worry free travel, peace of mind guarantee to you!We’re so confident that the Photography Trips we offer will not only meet but exceed the lofty expectations set forth on our website – if your trip experience does not 100% match the promises laid forth on our website we will gladly give you a credit toward a future trip.
Natural events such as wildlife & weather are certainly out of our control but every aspect of the trip including logistics, accommodations, vehicles, itinerary & your expert trip leaders will match the lofty promises we’ve made on the site – we guarantee it!
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.
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