We would love to hear from you! You can email us at adventure@backcountryjourneys.com or call us at 928-478-1521. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm Mountain Time. If you need to contact us after hours, simply email us or leave a voicemail.

What is included in the trip?

Each trip is a bit different, but most trips are all-inclusive and include lodging, meals, transportation, and all photographic instruction. We pride ourselves on taking care of all the logistics so you can focus on your photography.

For trip specific details please refer to the individual trip’s page for the trip you are interested in booking.

Are meals included? What about special dietary needs/preferences?

Most meals are included. Included meals will be noted on the itinerary. We believe great food and sharing meals with like-minded new friends is a HUGE part of the experience!

We do our best to accommodate dietary preferences and restrictions, but it’s important to note that options can vary based on the destination, local resources, and logistical constraints. For guests with strict dietary sensitivities, such as a need for gluten-free meals or severe, life-threatening food allergies, we strongly recommend reaching out to us before booking to discuss your needs.

This allows us to confirm whether your specific requirements can be accommodated and ensures you have a clear understanding of what to expect on your trip. Your well-being and comfort are our priority, and we’re happy to work with you to provide as much information as possible.

If you have an allergy, food sensitivity, or dietary preference, we recommend obtaining an Equal Eats card when traveling to a non-English-speaking country.

Do I need to be a professional photographer?

Definitely not. But professional photographers are certainly welcome to join as well. We offer photography tours, workshops & safaris that cater to all levels and abilities. Our trips are field oriented as we spend a lot of time outdoors shooting and honing our photography skills.

Who are my guides?

At Backcountry Journeys we believe that the trip leader is one of the most crucial aspects of a successful photo trip and we pride ourselves on hiring the most personable, engaging and well-rounded photo guides.

Our trip leaders are professional photographers with considerable experience leading groups in locations around the world and are excellent photography instructors. Our professional trip leaders are always by your side while shooting in the field to guide and educate – ensuring that when you leave a Backcountry Journeys trip that not only you leave with the shots you wanted, but that also you are a better photographer.

Our photography pros are familiar with a variety of camera systems including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic, Fuji and more. You can read about our trip leaders here.

Will my guides know much about the places we are visiting?

While photography takes center stage on our tours, we visit amazing places (often National Parks) that hold a tremendous amount of fascinating natural and cultural history.

All of our guides are knowledgeable about the cultural and natural history of the areas in which they guide, and are happy to share this knowledge as a part of our tour offering.

How do I choose the right trip?

Are you looking for wildlife or landscapes?

Start by identifying the style of photography that interests you most. Is there a general region, park, or part of the world that you would like to visit/see?

From there it’s all in the style, do you want to hike and be active, or would you like the shot selections to be more easily accessible without hiking? Would you like to camp or stay in more luxurious lodging?

Choose from our extensive collection of domestic and/or international trip options that offer the right combination of what you are looking for.

Feel free to contact one of our knowledgeable Photo Adventure Specialists if you have questions. You can also schedule a trip consulation for a personalized meeting to help you find the right trip!

What about non-photographer spouses / partners / friends?

Backcountry Journeys trips are great for couples or a group of friends, even if not everyone is a photographer. As long as you have the patience and an interest in the natural world our trips are a blast whether or not everyone wants to participate in all the itinerary activities. That choice is yours. Please note that trip prices are the same for all participants regardless of whether you are actively photographing.

CHOOSING YOUR TRIP

What are group sizes like?

Backcountry Journeys specializes in small group photography experiences. Depending on the location and trip type, we typically keep our group sizes from 4 to 12 participants on average. We occasionally run slightly larger trips but these always have multiple guides ensuring each guest gets quality one-on-one photography instruction.

Who goes on these trips?

Anyone with a sense of adventure and an interest in exploring our natural world is welcome on our photography trips. You don’t need to be a photographer!

The average age of our guests is 40 to 70 years old, although we certainly do get older and younger people on occasion. Often our groups are a good mix of like-minded couples and solo travelers.

Many of our guests are return clients however first-time guests quickly fall in love with our style of group travel.

Our trips are enjoyable and we believe a huge part of the success of Backcountry Journeys is our fun, laid back travel style – our goal is to make sure your vacation is a once in a lifetime experience that you won’t soon forget!

What is the difference between "Standard" and "Hiker" photo trips?

'Standard' trips will involve very little hiking or extensive walking. The majority of our shots on 'Standard' style trips will be designed so as to require little physically from you to get to "the shot." If you register for a 'Standard' tour, please expect that shots that require hiking or scrambling will NOT be on the itinerary, even if they are nearby.

'Hiker' trips are still photography-focused and as such daily activities will be designed around the photography schedule. Please reference the day-to-day itinerary in the trip packet to ensure that you are familiar with the amount, and difficulty, of hiking, involved so that your expectations will properly be met.

What are the accommodations like?

It depends on the trip location. We strive to offer the best available accommodations which usually include upper mid-range hotels. On some of our trips, we stay at rustic eco-lodges, some of our trips are based in rural villages and sometimes we camp in the wilderness – so there are lots of options. We’re always upfront about what to expect and give details/links to accommodations so you’ll know what you’re getting.

BOOKING YOUR TRIP

How do I book a trip?

Click here to access our Upcoming Photography Tours, Workshops & Safari’s page. You may also call one of our Photo Adventure Specialists at 928-478-1521.

The best way to reserve your spot on a trip is to simply fill out our online reservation form which is accessible on each trip page.

Simply hit 'Book Now' and fill out the form along with your deposit which can be paid via credit card or PayPal. We will confirm your reservation and send you a welcome email along with trip & travel information.

What's Our 'Worry Free Travel Guarantee'?

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!

Do I really need trip insurance?

For most of our trips we strongly recommend protecting your travel investment by purchasing a trip insurance policy that includes 'Cancel For Any Reason' and emergency evacuation coverage.

Life happens, and travel insurance can provide you with trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, air flight, baggage, and baggage delay coverages. Medical coverage purchased with your policy is crucial and required if you do not have health insurance.

Due to the remote nature and/or complex logistics of certain itineraries, travel insurance is required for some Backcountry Journeys trips. These trips will be clearly noted on our website as requiring proof of travel insurance. Coverage must include medical expenses and emergency evacuation at a minimum.

See Trip Insurance plans here.

How far in advance do I need to book?

Many of our trips often sell out over a year in advance – occasionally even before we post the tour on our website. You can sign up for our email Newsletter to be notified immediately when new trip dates are posted.

What does "Double Occupancy" mean?

Our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Guests who wish to have their own room they will be charged a Single Supplement fee (in most cases) provided there is room availability on the desired trip.

If you are open to rooming with another solo traveler please let us know at the time of booking. It may be possible to connect you with another solo traveler in order to share a room.

What if I am traveling solo or would like my own room with no roommate? What is a "Single Supplement"?

The Single Supplement is a fee added to the trip price which secures a private room with no roommate for guests who prefer to room alone.

Single Supplements will vary trip to trip, so please reference the trip page on the website, and/or ask your friendly Photo Adventure Specialist.

When is final payment due?

To book your reservation with Backcountry Journeys a deposit is required for each person on a trip.

Depending on the trip, deposits are usually 30%-50% of the trip cost.

The Final Payment schedule is different for each Trip Departure & generally corresponds with when we need to pay our vendors on your behalf - usually 120 to 180 days before departure. The Final Payment Schedule for each individual trip can be found on our website. We will send a reminder email a few weeks out.

If booking a Trip after the final payment due date for a given departure, full payment is required in order to make a reservation.

What is your cancellation / transfer policy?

Reservations, Deposits & Pre-Trip Planning Fees
Backcountry Journeys Trips feature small group sizes, and our Trips are often sold out over a year in-advance. In order to accommodate all of our potential guests and to maintain our small group photography experiences, we have the following procedures regarding reservations:

To book Your reservation with Backcountry Journeys a non-refundable deposit is required for each person on a Trip. The Trip deposit includes a Pre-Trip Planning Fee that covers trip-related expenses, services & vendor commitments incurred well in advance of departure. These costs include, but are not limited to, advanced lodging reservations, activity coordination, detailed itinerary planning, and pre-trip correspondence. As such, any deposits associated with your booking are recognized as revenue by Backcountry Journeys, as they represent partial fulfillment of our performance obligations & reflect the work and expenses undertaken to prepare for your trip before it begins.

Please see the individual Trip pages on our website for deposit amounts. All of our Trips can be reserved using our secure online registration form or by calling our office. If booking a Trip after the final payment due date for a given departure, full payment is required in order to make a reservation.

Payments, Cancellations & Refund Policy
All prices are quoted in US dollars and all payments must be paid in US dollars. The Final Payment schedule is different for each Trip Departure & generally corresponds with when we need to pay our vendors on your behalf. The Final Payment Schedule for each individual trip can be found on our website. Trip deposits are non-refundable. All payments made towards any tours, workshops, or safaris that are discounted or are otherwise promotional in nature are also non-refundable. Confirmation of any Participant’s Trip reservation is subject to timely receipt and review by Backcountry Journeys of all required forms, documents, and payment.

If final payments are not received by Your Trip’s respective due date, we reserve the right to treat Your reservation as cancelled as per this Cancellation & Refund policy.

If You desire to cancel Your reservation, we must receive written notice of Your cancellation by email sent to adventure@backcountryjourneys.com. Upon Backcountry Journeys' receipt of Your cancellation request, the cancellation fees in the following amounts will be applied:

• Receipt of cancellation request before Final Payment is due: cancellation fee is 100% of deposit plus a per person $250 administration fee.

• Receipt of cancellation request after final payment is due: there will be no refund of deposit or Trip fee.

No partial refunds are made for unused portions or services of a Trip for any reason whatsoever. Trips are sold as a package only.

Additional Charges and Trip Cost Adjustments
While Backcountry Journeys strives to offer transparent and all-inclusive pricing, certain circumstances may necessitate additional charges or modest adjustments to your Trip cost. These changes, while infrequent, allow us to adapt to real-world conditions and ensure the high standard of service and access that define our experiences.

Potential Additional Charges May Include:

Fuel Surcharges: In the event of significant fluctuations in global fuel prices, a surcharge may be added to cover increased transportation or logistical costs. We will always aim to provide as much advance notice as possible.

Currency Fluctuation Adjustments: For trips involving international vendors or services priced in foreign currencies, we reserve the right to adjust the Trip cost if there are significant exchange rate changes between the time of booking and final payment.

Vendor or Lodging Adjustments: Many trips rely on third-party providers such as charter aircraft, small lodges, remote outfitters, or specialized vehicles. If any changes in their rates or required services occur, a corresponding adjustment may be applied to your Trip cost.

Unexpected Logistics or Transfers: If your itinerary requires additional or alternate transportation (e.g., alternate drop-offs, or relocation of vehicles, boats, or aircraft), these will be billed at cost.

Optional Add-Ons: Any pre-trip or in-field upgrades, equipment rentals, hotel room upgrades, guide gratuities or additional excursions not originally included in your package will be invoiced at the conclusion of your Trip.

In the rare event that pricing adjustments are necessary, they will be communicated transparently and fairly. Adjustments will not be considered valid grounds for cancellation outside of the terms defined in our Terms & Conditions.

Changes to or Cancellation of Itinerary
All our Workshops & Tours are subject to the realities of the human and natural world. Although we will do everything in our power to stay on itinerary, circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to permit availability, vendor availability and cancellation; loss of scheduled staff for a specific Trip due to injury or illness; unforeseeable significant damage to or loss of Backcountry Journeys’ equipment or inventory necessary for a Trip; snowpack, river crossings; wildlife, park or public land closures; and forest fires can affect our itineraries. Other potential but less likely circumstances that are beyond Backcountry Journeys’ control include civil unrest, public health emergencies, and natural disasters. If Backcountry Journeys’ must cancel a trip or reservation due to circumstances beyond Backcountry Journeys’ control, and no alternate itinerary is available, a Trip credit will be issued to Participant equal to the full amount paid by Participant minus any nonrefundable expenses incurred by Backcountry Journeys. Refunds are not offered in these situations.

Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC uses a variety of concessionaires & vendors around the globe in order to facilitate our Trips, including but not limited to boats, charter flights, airlines, tour operators, guides & lodges. Often these vendors operate equipment or render services in very remote areas. We do not offer full or partial refunds or Trip credits when a concessionaire or vendor is unable to provide their service for any reason. An example of when one of our hired vendors is unable to provide their service might be due to faulty equipment or mechanical issues such as with a boat, plane, or vehicle that becomes inoperable. Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC will make every attempt to find another similar excursion, but often in the remote areas in which we travel the options are limited.

We do not offer full or partial refunds or Trip credits for a Participant’s travel delay / disruption when travelling to the start of a Backcountry Journeys Trip. For example, if a Participant’s flight is delayed and as a result You miss part or the entirety of Your Trip Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC will not provide a full or partial refund for any part of the Backcountry Journeys Trip You may miss, and Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC is not responsible for arranging alternate activities or extra hotel during a delay or for any delay-related expenses.

Backcountry Journeys is not responsible for additional expenses incurred preparing for the Trip (for example: non-refundable advance purchase air tickets, clothing, equipment, visa fees, medical expenses, etc.).

Backcountry Journeys strongly encourages Participants to purchase travel insurance for their Trip which covers all potential eventualities.

Transfer Policy
If You transfer from one Trip to another before your Final Payment is due, You will be charged a $250 administrative fee in addition to any additional Trip fees if the Trip to which You transfer has a higher price. If You transfer from one Trip to another after your Final Payment is due, regular cancellation and refund policies will apply. Discounted or otherwise promotional pricing is not transferable.

Specialized Itinerary Bookings
Certain Backcountry Journeys trips are designated as “Specialized Itineraries” due to the complex logistics, limited availability and terms set by third-party operators and service providers. As a result of these arrangements, all payments made toward Specialized Itinerary trips are final and our standard “Payments, Cancellations & Refund Policy as well as the Transfer Policy” no longer apply. For these Trips, we are not able to offer a refund of any payments made under any circumstances, nor are payments able to be transferred to another trip.

By booking a Specialized Itinerary Trip, you acknowledge and accept that changes, cancellations, or requests to transfer to another trip or date cannot be accommodated. We strongly encourage all guests to review the trip details carefully and to obtain comprehensive travel insurance to protect against unforeseen events. These unique departures will always be noted clearly in the workshop description on our website as “Specialized Itinerary”

Private Trips
Private trips are classified as trips that are booked & operated exclusively for a particular guest or group of guests. In order to make a trip private, a party much purchase every available spot on the trip. Upon registration of the trip, our standard “Payments, Cancellations & Refund Policy as well as the Transfer Policy” no longer apply. Due to the unique nature of a private trip and the logistics involved, the following terms apply: initial deposit for all spots on a trip departure must be made at the time of booking, the remaining payment is due 180 days prior to the start of the trip, there are no cancelations, transfers or refunds. Because of this we strongly recommend that all guests participating on a private trip purchase trip insurance within twenty days of registering for the trip. See travel insurance section below.

Trip Leaders
If Your scheduled Trip leader is sick, injured, or otherwise unavailable Backcountry Journeys will make every effort to find a suitable replacement. Please note that we are not able to guarantee specific Trip leaders, and occasionally, scheduled Trip leaders’ schedules will change.

Required Documents
You agree to carefully read, ask questions if necessary, and complete the following forms (collectively “Trip Forms”) prior to the commencement of the Trip:

Terms & Conditions
Assumption of Risk/Release of Liability Agreement
Health Questionnaire
Essential Eligibility RequirementsParticipation in any Trip will be declined in the absence of any of these Trip Forms, and no Trip fee of any amount will be refunded. In addition, Backcountry Journeys will not accept any modifications to any of the Trip Forms.

Travel Insurance
Sometimes life happens and you have to cancel because of unforeseen circumstances. We highly recommend protecting your travel investment and purchasing a trip insurance policy that includes emergency evacuation coverage.

Travel insurance provides you with trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical expenses, emergency assistance, air flight, baggage and baggage delay coverages. Medical coverage purchased with your policy is crucial and required if you do not have health insurance. See Trip Insurance plans here.

Can Backcountry Journeys arrange pre or post trip lodging?

Unfortunately we aren't able to book lodging outside of our pre-designated trip dates.

However if you would like to come early or stay late feel free to give one of our Photo Adventure Specialists a call and they can let you know the exact hotel our group is staying at during the trip dates.

TRIP PREPARATION

Where does my trip start and end?

When you register for a photography trip you will receive an information packet that details when and where you will meet your guide and group on day one. This meeting normally takes place in the evening on day one and will meet in the hotel lobby. At this orientation meeting, we will prepare for the days ahead with a group welcome dinner.

Will someone meet me at the airport? Are airport hotel transfers included?

Since guests arrive from different places on different flights and at different times, we’ll meet for the first time at our scheduled pre-trip meeting/dinner site, details of which are provided in individual trip itineraries that are available on our website and in trip packets.

Airport transfers are typically not included unless provided by the hotel - although we often utilize hotels that have free airport transportation. On some international trips you will be met be a Backcountry Journeys staff member upon arrival. Detailed meeting instructions are provided with your final trip documents.

On most trips we can typically deliver you directly to the airport after your trip - just ask!

What should I pack?

A packing list will be included in your trip packet that you will receive at the time of booking. There is also a packing list as a part of a detailed itinerary that can be requested at the top of any trip page on the website if you’d like to see a packing list for a particular trip prior to booking. See our general gear recommendations.

Do you offer equipment rentals?

We do not offer equipment rentals at this time. We recommend inquiring online at LensRentals as they offer a great selection of photography gear to choose from. Often they can ship gear directly to our arrival hotel. Use code BCJ15 for 15% off.

International Travel?

International travel is incredibly exciting and fun. With it, however, comes some added health-related details that travelers should be sure to consider when preparing for a trip.

Backcountry Journeys offers a number of different international photo tour locations. If you are booked on one of these international trips, please utilize the links below so that you can be best prepared in advance of your tour.

Please find links listed below that will take you to valuable, updated, government issued information for each Backcountry Journeys international tour.

The CDC link will redirect you to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website where you will find Travel Health Notices, Vaccines & Medicines, Tips for Staying Healthy & Safe, Healthy Travel Packing Lists, as well as tips on things to do After Your Trip. Remember, some vaccines may be required for travel, so don’t delay!
The Travel.State.Gov link will redirect you to the Department of State’s Bureau of Consulate Affairs website where you can find information on Passport, Visa, and other customs-related information.

Consider Enrolling in STEP

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows U.S. citizens traveling abroad to receive the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The information you supply enables the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.

How much should I tip my Backcountry Journeys guide(s)?

Backcountry Journeys trip pricing includes gratuities for service personnel such as wait staff, safari drivers & hotel staff.

Our trip pricing does not include gratuities for Trip Leaders or Guides. Tipping guides / trip leaders is customary however not required. Should you wish to tip your trip leader(s) they will split any gratuities with other guides (general tipping recommendation is approximately $100 per guest per day)

BROWSE ALL TRIPS