OUTLINE: Travel Images' 2008 European Alps photography tour takes in the Berchtesgaden region of Germany, Grossglockner Pass, Heiligenblut, the classic St. Magdalena in northern Italy, St. Moritz, Zermatt and the Matterhorn, Liechtenstein, plus the Innsbruck and Interlaken regions. All of this will be interwoven with spectacular mountain passes, wildflowers, Ludwig’s castles, and rustic German, Austrian, Italian and Swiss communities that nestle beneath the magnificence of the towering Alps. It’s all very photogenic indeed.

Europe is a place to be savored, touched, and of course, photographed. Take the opportunity offered by this Travel Images’ European Alps trip to photograph the same maze of cobbled streets that musicians, poets, artists and thousands of talented folk trod down the centuries. You’ll also be encouraged to lower your camera, and make new friends amid the mosaic of quaint communities of the log-cabin spectacle that nestle amid the foothills of the many spectacular mountain ranges.

During this 15 night/16 day trip we’ll move from Germany, to Austria, spend a night in northern Italy, on to Switzerland and back to Germany via more of Austria. We’ll traverse many alpine passes shooting as we go, while seeking out the local village fête and faire for more unique and colorful images. You’ll also have the opportunity to chat with the locals in broken French, German or Italian, and the facial grins you capture with your camera, plus those placed on your heart, will live on and on within you. Europe is that charming and intoxicating.

OVERSEAS TRAVEL
<> It is recommended, but not imperative, that you arrive a day early to be fresh and on time for the trip!
<> Early arrival also enables you to explore the gateway city should you wish.
<> A late flight arrival on day 1 of the trip might entail you having to find your own way to the first hotel, if not close to the airport.
<> Please note that the ending date of the trip is the day of your departure flight. Please arrange your flights accordingly.

Clients from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia should depart their home country a day or two prior to Day 1 for on-time arrival in Munich, Germany.

DAYS 1 and 2  |  To BERCHTESGADEN, GERMANY
I’ll meet your midday arrival into Munich, and once we have taken lunch together we will move toward Germany’s southeast corner. Via Inzell, Weissbach and the Alpenstrasse we’ll go to pause for several very European scenes as Church spires dominate rooftops on the steep landscape. On into the far reaches of Germany for our two-night stay on the doorstep of Berchtesgaden National Park.
On Day 2 we’ll be on the spot at dawn for the first light on the Watzmann massif and surrounding peaks. Breakfast back at our ‘Gasthof’, followed by a boat ride down Königssee [lake] for classic compositions of St. Bartholoma Church complete with it’s spectacular alpine backdrop. Later in the day we'll take a trip over the Rossfeldstrasse mountain loop into Austria and back again . . . just a taster of the many spectacular passes we'll be on during the trip. Ramsau, Berchtesgaden old village and Maria Gern are also scheduled during our stay.
Near BERCHTESGADEN, Germany, 2 nights

DAY 3  |  To GROSSGLOCKNER PASS, HEILIGENBLUT, Austria
On Day 3 we'll head west then south via Ramsau, the Salzburger Kalkalpen and Dientener Berge mountain ranges, and on to the spectacular Grossglockner alpine pass. We'll reach the highest points just as the light is improving, and you'll revel in the texture and shade cast upon the snow laden peaks. Wild flowers, sheep, waterfalls, curved road abstracts, and motion blur shots of motor cyclists are all part of the Grossglockner experience.
Near HEILIGENBLUT, Austria, 1 night

DAY 4  |  To the ITALIAN DOLOMITES
Day 4 will commence at dawn with first light on the peaks that surround Grossglockner pass, and we'll explore the pass the other side of breakfast too. We'll then descend from the mountain to the classic Heiligenblut scene of church steeple and a towering mountain backdrop. Get used to it, as there will be more of these! Nearby Winkl and the Grossnitz waterfall will get our attention before heading on southwest into northern Italy. Among the stops that afternoon will be Heintells and it's covered bridge, plus views to the northern ridge of the Dolomite mountain range. Our evening light shot will be the classic St. Magdalena church set against the backdrop of the Dolomites.
ST. MAGDALENA, Italy, 1 night

DAYS 5 and 6  |  To the INNSBRUCK region, Austria
First light photography of the St. Magdalena church and Dolomite peaks, then following breakfast back at our scenically situated inn we’ll head for Innsbruck via a few more scenics in the Villnoss valley. We'll then turn north and take the fast track to the ancient city of Hall, ye olde word for salt. It is a cobblestone city with a myriad of photo ops, and was once a major player in the salt-mining industry. We’ll then go beyond Innsbruck for our two night stay near Barwies.
We'll start Day 6 in an open expanse near our accommodations, with light falling on peaks and church spires. We’ll then explore the local mountain communities via a loop trip, and spend time in Innsbruck where the ‘Golden Roof’ dominates. The city is nestled in the Tirol mountain range, and was the site for the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games. The city name derives from the Inn River on which it sits, and the German word for bridge, i.e. 'brücke'.
Nr BARWIES, Austria, 2 nights

DAY 7  |  To ST. MORITZ, Switzerland
Dawn photography amid a 'cathedral' of mountain peaks, breakfast, and then a travel day of images as we take our time over the southwestwards trip toward St. Moritz. Through lush valleys we shall go with the occasional pause for church steeples reaching for the heavens from clusters of alpine cabins perched on ledges of green grass and wildflowers. On via the 'ski communities' of Serfaus, Samnaun and others. Into the Albula Alp region we'll go and shoot San Gian church before settling into our one night home in St. Moritz.
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland, 1 night

DAYS 8 and 9  |  To ZERMATT
Early light at the waters edge of St. Moritz Lake, and photography around the Ober Engadin foothills prior to moving on to Zermatt. Our route will take us over Julier, Oberalp and Furke Passes, along the Rhone River, and on the last leg of the days' journey we'll follow the Matter Vispa River, jump aboard a train and make our way home to Zermatt for two nights.
At first light on Day 9 you'll be stunned by the magnificence of the Matterhorn which rises to 4,478 meters [14,693 feet] to the southwest. The mountain will, weather permitting, pretty much dominate your images and day! You'll have ample time explore the contrasts of old and new in the village, plus take a gondola ride and short hike for superb shots of wild flowers and the Matterhorn etcetera.
ZERMATT, Switzerland, 2 nights

DAYS 10, 11 and 12  |  To LAUTERBRUNNEN
Early light photography with the Matterhorn dominant once more, then following breakfast we’ll board the train back to Tasch, and start another slow photo-exploration amid the alpine community of Grachen in our comfortable van. Then we'll take a ‘short-cut’ via train, van and all, to the north side of Berner Alps range. We’ll emerge at Kanderstag, and continue our photography among more superb Swiss scenery as we continue on to our three night home. During the day we’ll head to the highest village elevations, and amble about shooting village scenes, wild flowers, and spectacular peaks orchestrated by the sound of cowbells. It really is photographic heaven and music for the soul and mind.
Days 11 and 12 will see us exploring the Grindewald and Lauterbrunnen valleys with adjustments for weather conditions. A major highlight will be the gondola ride up to Gimmewald and Murren from where we’ll amble about shooting wildflowers, rustic cabins, the peaks of Eiger and Jungfrau [both around 4,000 meters high], and shoot the ‘jangling cows’ while talking to them! A train ride to Kleine Sheidegg will place you below the face of the Eiger, and while walking part of the way back to Wengen you'll shoot the mountain's many moods. This is some of Europe’s best by far, and you’ll burn up memory cards or film at a rate you didn’t expect.
Near LAUTERBRUNNEN, Switzerland, 3 nights

DAY 13  |  To SARGANS [LIECHTENSTEIN]
We’ll have cameras pointing at more magnificent walls of granite when the first rays of light hit on this morning, then it will be time to bid farewell to the heart of Switzerland. Going west there will be the church at Meiringen, plus the passes of Susten and Klausen . . . both are laden with the spectacular flavor of quaint Swiss communities, and mountain ranges that touch the sky. Sargans, our next overnight home, sits on the eastern edge of Switzerland, and on the doorstep of the tiny nation of Liechtenstein.
SARGANS, Switzerland, 1 night

DAY 14  |  To FUSSEN, Germany
We’ll start Day 14 at Sargans’ picturesque church and fort near our hotel. Set against Gonzen peak with side lighting they just ‘pop’! Liechtenstein is just 62 square miles in size, has a population of under 34,000, and our after-breakfast stop will be for Gutenberg House which sits on it’s own crag above the village of Balzar, and is another classic. On eastwards via Flexen Pass for stops to shoot Holzgau and Elmen and more. Fussen in Germany to the north has it’s timeless Hauptstrasse [Main Street], then it’ll be time to point our cameras at King Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein Castle in the late light which no doubt inspired Disney!
FUSSEN, 1 night

DAY 15  |  To MUNICH
Our photography will not be done just yet as we’ll be out early to photograph Neuschwanstein Castle once more. We’ll spend as much as half a day in the area where Hohenschwangau castle is also worthy of a few frames. Then our European Alps photographic odyssey will be just about over as we head off in the direction of Munich for our last night east of the city.
Near MUNICH, Germany, 1 night

DAY 16  |  Flights home
Morning flights back to the USA from Munich this morning will place you back home on the same calendar day. Those going on to another of my European photography tours will have an option of free transportation by land . . . with photography stops along the way.