Russell Graves
Matt Meisenheimer
If you are an aspiring wildlife photographer looking to master your craft…
…the images you will get & the techniques learned on this trip will be a game-changer for you.
Not only will you leave this trip with a wealth of new images – but new friends & great memories.
Even better you’ll leave with skills you didn’t have before that will move your wildlife photography work into the next level!
We’ve had A LOT of students over the years – both in the field and in the classroom.
In fact, through Backcountry Journeys we’ve taught THOUSANDS of like-minded photographers
AND brought them to some pretty amazing far-flung destinations over the years.
Today at Backcountry Journeys, we are excited to announce a special “off-the-beaten-path” Photo Tour to the greater Everglades area with our very own wildlife photography guru Russell Graves – buckle up for non-stop bird photography and toothy critters!
Book your trip now and thank us later. This is an extremely unique trip offering focused on bird and wildlife photography.
We will explore the Everglades by land and water! THREE private photography boat tours are included during the trip as boat travel is one of the best ways to access the remote, wildlife-rich areas of the Everglades.
While on land, we will visit some of the most iconic birding spots anywhere including – Everglades National Park and Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Join Backcountry Journeys & Russell Graves in Florida this winter for Birds & Wildlife of the and take home a collection of images and memories that will last a lifetime (and make your friends jealous, too).
Birds & Wildlife of the Everglades
with Russell Graves
February 7th to 12th, 2021 – SOLD OUT
February 21st to 26th, 2021 – 2 Spots Left!
Trip Price (double occupancy):$4295
BCJ Tribe Members:$3865
Deposit:$1500
The Everglades of south Florida is one of the most unique wilderness areas in the United States. The ‘River of Grass’ is made up of 1.5 million acres of subtropical wetlands – featuring lakes, rivers, mangrove forests, sawgrass marshes, and assorted wetlands. It runs from iconic Lake Okeechobee down to the southern tip of Florida.
Because of its large expanse and habitat diversity, the Everglades is home to an oasis of birds and wildlife. It protects 70 endangered or threatened species, including the American alligator, the manatee, the Florida panther, and many species of birds. The greater Everglades area is home to over 360 bird species, with standouts such as the roseate spoonbill, the glossy ibis, the wood stork, and a variety of egrets and herons.
Aside from Everglades National Park, there are numerous protected areas that are fantastic for wildlife photography and viewing. A plethora of wildlife refuges and preserves surround the park, providing world-class photography opportunities including an Audubon sanctuary listed as one of the best places in America for birding.
Winter is an ideal time to visit the Everglades. Temperatures are mild, the air is dry, and mosquitoes are largely absent. Large numbers of resident and transient birds can be found in the swamplands and other wildlife, such as alligators, coyotes, bobcats, and otters are active as well.
This workshop starts and ends in Fort Meyers, FL which can be accessed through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Ft. Myers, FL. Lodging during the workshop includes excellent hotels, as well as great nearby dining options.
You’ll get ample one on one time with your instructor and improve your photography in one of the world’s great wildlife hotspots. Aside from the fun you’ll experience with your fellow photographers you’ll 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 the birds and wildlife of south Florida’s Everglades!
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Please note: This is a “standard” tour, but some locations will require the ability to hike 1-2 miles roundtrip on flat terrain.
Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day One (Travel Day)(D)
We will meet at our hotel in Fort Myers, FL at 5pm the first evening of the trip for an orientation and welcome dinner.
Day Two (B,L,D)
We will start off the workshop with an incredible private boat experience! Our experienced captain will take us into the Ten Thousand Islands area of Everglades National Park. We will be in position to photograph hundreds of birds for a ‘fly off’, as they leave their morning roost. After, we will boat to various locations to capture feeding birds in the shallows.
After lunch, we will take a few short hikes near an Audubon sanctuary in search of birds, alligators, and more wildlife. We will finish off the evening shoot at Tigertail Beach, a fantastic place to view Wilson’s, Piping and Snowy Plovers, as well as Least Terns, Roseate Spoonbills, Red Knots, Reddish Egrets, and Magnificent Frigatebirds.
Day Three (B,L,D)
For sunrise, we will head to world renowned JN ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. The refuge is home to over 245 bird species, as well as mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. We will take a quick break to grab some food mid-morning and then head to a great spot to find manatees.
We will take another private boat tour into the Everglades for our evening session. Before sunset, hundreds of birds will fly back into the rookery, making for an incredible photography experience.
Day Four (B,D)
Boat is the best way to see the true wilderness and wildlife diversity of the Everglades, thus on the morning of Day 4 we will take one final boat tour. We will spend a few hours exploring the western Everglades in search of wildlife before returning to port.
Afterwards, we will continue on to our lodging for the next few days in Florida City, on the outskirts of Everglades National Park.
In the evening, we will take a hike in Everglades National Park to a lookout tower where we can spot birds. We may also drive the Main Park Road and stop at some of the roadside ponds, which provide good birding opportunities.
Day Five (B,L,D)
We will start the morning early, with a few hikes planned around sunrise and early morning. We will visit the parks Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and follow the Anhinga Trail. The trail is one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the park, and it is extremely accessible. We will take another nearby trail later in the morning before taking a break.
Late afternoon will take us down the Main Park Road, where we will scope out some of the ponds and eventually reach the Flamingo Visitor Center. The center features a marina that sometimes hosts the American Crocodile, one of the few accessible places in the park where they can be seen. Before sunset, we will backtrack and take a short hike to capture birds returning to their roost before the sun goes down.
Day Six (B)
On our final morning, we will head back towards Fort Myers, driving through Everglades National Park. We will spend the morning in Shark Valley, which features numerous trails and a 15-mile roundtrip paved bike trail. We will walk the bike trail a little bit and focus on some of the shorter trails in the area. The Shark Valley is another phenomenal place to see alligators, birds, and maybe even an otter.
Late morning, we will pack up and return to Fort Myers, FL. Flights can be booked any time after 2pm.
6 Days / 5 Nights
Dates:
Trip Price (double occupancy): $4295
BCJ Tribe Members: $3865
Deposit: $1500
Fitness Level: Easy / Level 1-2 / Standard
Meals: Most meals included (see itinerary below)
Lodging: 5 nights lodging
Start / End: Fort Myers, Florida
*includes privately chartered photography boat!
Our Guests Love Backcountry Journeys
At Backcountry Journeys we’ve been perfecting photography trips for years and have some of the BEST photo pros & Trip Leaders in the business. With one of the highest return guest ratios in the adventure travel space we’ve become the gold standard for what a photography tour / workshop should look like. Our commitment to our guests & personalized attention is what sets us apart from the rest – and it shows.
Backcountry Journeys “Tribe” community is one of the most active in the industry – and our guests come back year after year to experience new photo destinations – sometimes several times per year!
But don’t just take it from us! Our TripAdvisor page says it all – here are a few recent testimonials from some of our past travelers:
“What an amazing trip we had! Thanks to Ben and PJ, our very competent and patient guides, we saw a huge variety of wonderful vistas from delicate snow scenes in the first two days contrasted with the steam arising in places, to massive mountains in cloud and sunlight, magical pine forests and geysers. At all times we had access to Ben and PJ to ask for advice of needed and they offered suggestions for good angles for shooting landscape and wildlife shots. Among the wildlife we saw were many bison and elk herds, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles, grizzly bears (Mum with two cubs), chipmunks, Red-tailed hawk, coyote and even distant wolves! We were very fortunate with the weather which allowed us to see the landscapes in a variety of moods in snow, cloud and sunlight, all helping to give us a broad taste of these magnificent wilderness parks.
I can highly recommend these tours to anyone as they are great value for money, often exciting, educational and a lot of fun!”
“Glacier National Park is glorious! I highly recommend taking this Backcountry Journeys trip. It was our second trip (previously did Zion and Bryce with Russ and Crystal) and my husband and I were very happy with the results.
Matt Meisenheimer is a fabulous guide who really takes his craft seriously. He always made sure we were in the right place at the right time and was willing to put in extra time to allow us to see more areas within the park.
Matt taught me new functions and features on my camera that made me enjoy the trip even more. To be honest, you don’t get much sleep on this trip – up early and out until late, but the landscapes are so beautiful, you just don’t mind.
I can’t wait for our next two trips with Backcountry in 2020 – Yosemite and Grand Teton. I’m sure those trips will be equally awe inspiring and rewarding.”
“I went on a Winter in Yellowstone trip and was really impressed. We saw an amazing variety of wildlife, and while wildlife are not always cooperative, the knowledge of the guides about where to look and what might be out there really helped us spot wildlife in great locations to photograph. The guides were professional and fun. Safety and getting good shots were priority. I would definitely do another trip with Backcountry Journeys.”
“Great trip with a great guide. Everything was taken care of, hotels were great, food was great and our guide Ben knew all the best places to see the wildlife and he was super helpful with camera settings. This was my second trip with backcountry Journeys and I have already booked a third.”
“A well thought up trip in the Valley of Yosemite park… not only was the photography amazing the guides an food an enjoyment of being with other photographers that loved it as much as I did ..Is my 3 trip with back country Journeys an I have another trip planed this winter.. thank you to Ben an PJ for there help an leadership…”
“This 5 day, six night photo workshop on the Big Island of Hawaii was more then I had even imagined. Monumental exploding surf, plunging waterfalls and isolated beaches for sunrise and sunset. Our photographer guide always at the ready with suggested gear or a strong arm down a steep hillside.
All inclusive workshop had us at very nice accommodations and great food choices from fine dinning to quirky breakfast spots.
My second trip with Backcountry Journeys. Also a wonderful way for a photographer to see the right spots.”
We’re so confident that the 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!
If there are still any COVID-19 related travel issues during any trip you book – rest assured you will be able to transfer your trip at no cost. Our peace of mind guarantee to you!
On top of that we offer one of the most rock solid guarantees in the travel industry.
