Winter landscapes and Northern Lights on Senja Island (February 2025)
Landscape Photography Tour
Saturday, 22.02.2025 - Thursday 27.02.2025
(6 days and 5 nights exploring Senja in winter)
6 days full of fun, inspiration and creativity
from 1.690,00 EUR per person
Only 6 spots available
Main focus: Landscapes & Northern Lights
Any experience level
Professional photographic guidance
Embark on an exciting adventure and join me on this Landscape Photo Tour to the wild and untouched Senja Island!
Total price: from 1.690,00 EUR
Book now and pay later: you will only be charged 20% of the total price when booking. The remaining amount is charged 30 days prior to the photo tour.
Highlights of this Photo Adventure:
Explore and photograph the serene winter landscapes of Senja Island with its magnificent mountain ranges, crystal-clear fjords and rugged coastlines
Great time to experience the magical Northern Lights dancing at the night sky (the sun is reaching is solar maximum in winter 2024/2025)
Perfect conditions for photography with a low sun creating a warm, golden light that illuminates the landscapes
Explore the serene winter landscapes on an exciting Husky Adventure (optional)
Spot and photograph Senja’s wildlife like moose, reindeer, sea eagles and seals
Learn about the Sámi, the native Scandinavians: their culture, art and sustainable lifestyle
Small group limited to just 6 people with lots of time for individual photographic guidance by me, Julien
Group discussions and photo editing sessions after photographing in the field
Lodging in excellent accommodations close to the photo spots (Comfort Hotel® Xpress Tromsø, Holiday Home in Gryllefjord)
Our Landscape Photo Tour in brief:
Senja Island is located in the northernmost part of Norway and the country’s second biggest island. The wild and remote Senja archipelago has everything that you can dream of as photographer: impressive mountain ranges, crystal-clear fjords, rugged coastlines and picturesque fishing villages. It’s not far-fetched that Senja is often called “Norway in miniature”. Unlike the Lofoten Islands, Senja is still rather unknown and truly a hidden gem for photography!
Winter gives the majestic landscapes of Senja the extra little touch of beauty. The mountains are wrapped in a white robe of snow, the low sun gently illuminates the landscapes with a golden light and during the night, the magical Northern Lights are dancing at the sky.
For six days (incl. five nights), we will embrace our creativity on this photography journey through the Norwegian Arctic. My photography tour to Senja is aimed at photographers enthusiasts who want to photograph picturesque winter landscapes, majestic mountain formations and spectacular northern lights. This trip offers a combination of photography, adventure and culture with plenty of time for your own creativity.
We will visit the best photo locations between Tromsø to Senja where we will find numerous photo opportunities, including stunning places like Ersfjord, Husøy, Tungeneset, Bergsbotn, Bøvær, and Ånderdalen National Park.
At the end of February, we will have more than 9 hours of daylight for our photography. That gives us plenty of time for photographing and other activities. We will experience great lighting and atmospheric colors in the sky during the morning and evening hours. In the twilight of the day, with a bit of luck, we may also encounter wild animals such as moose or reindeer, which enliven the untouched nature of Senja. During the day, we have time to discuss the results of the shootings and to edit our photos together. I will show you my post processing workflow in Lightroom and how to enhance the effect of your photos fundamentally in just a few steps.
Together we will improve your photography skills and you will be able to create meaningful stories without any words - through photographs that speak for themselves. I make sure that you will have an unforgettable photography experience!
Tromsø – the Gateway to the Norwegian Arctic
Amidst crystal-clear fjords and surrounded by stunning mountains, there lies the Arctic city of Tromsø. The most northern city of Scandinavia is considered as the gateway to the Arctic and has a rich history in Arctic hunting and Arctic expeditions.
Be enchanted by the magical Northern Lights
Senja offers excellent conditions to experience the magic of the Northern Lights. The island is located 250km north of the Arctic Circle and is free from light pollution due to its remote location. Even when solar activity is low, Senja promises impressive displays of Northern Lights at the night sky.
Discover the Arctic winter landscapes on a Husky Adventure
You will have the chance to book an exciting Husky Adventure (optionally). On this 2 hour dogsledding trip, you will team up with energetic siberian huskies and embark on a journey into the snow-covered highlands of Senja. You will sit on the sled and have plenty of possibilities to take photographs of the amazing landscapes that you will pass during that trip. Two guests will share one sled.
This Husky Adventure is optional, but I can highly recommend to book this tour.
Discover the Sámi culture and way of life
The northern part of Scandinavia is home to the Sámi, the indigenous people of Scandinavia. The Sámi settled the northern part of Europe more than 10,000 years ago. With their own language, diverse art and rich culture, the Sámi still shape north Scandinavia today. They are known for leading a sustainable, nature-loving life. Reindeer herding continues to shape the Sami lifestyle and is an important source of income. We will have the chance to learn more about the Sámi culture at the open-air museum Kaperdalen.
Travel time
February is the time of the year when the sun has returned to the Arctic region and is warming up the snow covered landscapes. The days are getting longer in high speed (almost 1 hour per week).
The end of February represents an excellent time to see Northern Lights with statistically high geomagnetically activity. Beside this, the sun is reaching it’s highest rate of solar activity during it’s 11-year solar circle in winter 2024/2025 (“Solar Maximum”).
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Arrival day
In the afternoon, we will meet at our first hotel Comfort Hotel® Xpress Tromsø, located in the city center of Tromsø. On this first day, I will give a short introduction about the manual camera settings and basics in composition. We will also have dinner together, talk about the plans for the photo tour and share other important information. If time permits and conditions allow, we will head out on the search for northern lights or photograph the historical city of Tromsø.
Day 2 - Heading towards Senja
On the second day of the tour, we will head towards Senja and cross the beautiful island of Kvaløya. We will have some stops to photograph places like the fjord Ersfjordbotn or the small archipelago of Sommarøy.
Days 3-5 - Exploring the untouched beauty of Senja
On the next 3 days, we will explore and photograph scenic spots on Norways second largest island. Senja is known for its rugged coastlines, impressive mountains and crystal-clear fjords. This island is a true paradise for all nature lovers and photographers. In the evenings, we will head out on the chase of Northern Lights which can perform spectacular dance performances in the night sky. Imagine capturing these breathtaking moments with your camera!
You will have the chance to book an exciting Husky Adventure and embark on a journey into the snow-covered highlands of Senja. This tour can be booked optionally.
Our accommodation on Senja will be a holiday home in Gryllefjord which is in centrally located at the west coast of the island and close to some of the main photo spots. We will plan each day dependent on the weather, but be prepared to be outdoors from sunrise till sunset (and even after sunset for Northern Lights). There is a list of locations we want to visit during the trip, but we won't have a fixed itinerary to be able to give you the best possible experience. Of course I will be available for any questions during the whole trip!
On our last evening of the photo tour, we will have our farewell dinner together as a group and have the possibility to discuss your achievements of the trip.
Day 6 - Departure day
On the last day, we can use the morning for another photo shooting during sunrise. We will head back to Tromsø after breakfast to be able to catch the airplane back home in the afternoon.
Good to know:
Meet up on Saturday, 22.02.2025 at around 16.00 at our first hotel in Tromsø (Comfort Hotel® Xpress Tromsø). Possible pick-ups from the airport or bus terminal in Tromsø.
Arrival back in Tromsø on Thursday, 27.02.2025 at 16.00 at the latest
Our accommodation on Senja will be a holiday home situated in Gryllefjord, an excellent starting point to explore the island. Please be aware that all participants will share a bathroom and we will organize breakfast ourselves.
This tour will be performed in English language, but I also speak German and a little Swedish
What’s included?
6 days full of fun, inspiration and creativity
5 nights accommodation in double room with twin beds (single room at a surcharge)
Breakfast (day 2-6)
Experiences that can be booked optionally:
Dogsledding experience (highly recommended)
High-quality booklet on photography compositions for each participant
All transports in comfortable minibus (or car)
Professional photographic guidance by me, Julien
Photo editing sessions during the tour
Secured payments through Travel Guarantee acc. to Swedish Package Travel Act (more information under the section “other important information” below and on Kammarkollegiet.se)
Options:
Single room (390,00€)
2-hour Dogsledding Experience (250,00€)
Rent a tripod (60,00€)
What’s not included?
Camera equipment (tripod can be rented optionally)
Travel expenses and transportation to/from Tromsø
Lunch & dinner (unless otherwise specified)
Drinks & alcohol
Travel & cancellation insurance
Any other services & goods not mentioned in “What’s included”
What to bring?
Photography Gear
Your DSLR or mirrorless camera with spare batteries and SD memory cards
Camera lens(es): preferably mid-range zoom lens in the 24-70mm range
Lens filters, if you have them (but not necessary)
Tripod (recommended)
Laptop or tablet with editing software if you want to edit your photos during the trip. In case we have time after our photo shootings in the field, we’ll do some editing at our accommodation.
Recommended Clothing
A variety of different layers (preferably merino wool and/or wool)
Warm down jacket
Good waterproof and insulated boots (hiking boots are recommended)
Warm gloves (liners can be helpful in addition)
Wool hat
Several layers of warm wool socks
Other important information
Transport:
We will meet at around 16.00 on Saturday at our first hotel Comfort Hotel® Xpress Tromsø, in the city center of Tromsø. You can get to Tromsø either by airplane or bus. During the entire photo tour, we will go around in a comfortable minibus (or car). Please do not expect to arrive back in Tromsø on Thursday earlier than 16.00.
Physical Requirements
Please note that we will do some shorter hikes on this trip. The hikes will neither be long nor steep. However, it is important that all participants take care of themselves, especially when we shoot on the shoreline of lakes or rivers. The stones can be very slippery. If any location is out of your comfort zone, you’re more than welcome to shoot another location, stay at the hotel and rest, or wait until we get to another more comfortable location for you.
Experience Level
We welcome all experience levels, going from beginners to experienced photographers. A good mix of experience levels means we can also learn from each other. It is important that you bring your own camera and tripod, so you can get the most out of this trip!
Cancellation Information:
The cost of this photo tour includes your guiding fees, 5 nights lodging and transportation (all prices in Euro and including VAT). To reserve your spot a non-refundable total payment of 20% of the total price is required. The rest of the payment is due 30 days prior to the workshop. In case of cancellation within 30 days prior to the trip, I will refund the payment.
Travel guarantee:
The combination of travel services offered to you is a package within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302.
Therefore, you will benefit from all EU rights applying to packages. Company JP Photo will be fully responsible for the proper performance of the package as a whole.
Additionally, as required by law, JP Photo has protection in place to refund your payments and, where transport is included in the package, to ensure your repatriation in the event that it becomes insolvent.
More information on key rights under Directive (EU) 2015/2302
Important Legal Information
By attending this workshop, you agree to hold Julien Pröpper harmless for all personal injury or loss that may occur during or in connection with this trip. This is a self-led travel trip. You are responsible for your safety as you move around in the visited area. Do not push your physical abilities past what you are healthy enough to do. You are in charge of deciding if a location is safe for you to travel to.
Should the Guide (Julien Pröpper) become ill, injured, or otherwise unable to perform his duties at the workshop, a replacement will be brought into to lead the workshop or the workshop will be cancelled, in what you'll get a full refund.
Travel insurance as well as insurance for your photo equipment are both highly recommended. It can happen faster than you can look! One wrong push against the tripod and your camera rolls down a small hill and falls into the lake!
Julien's role in this workshop is to teach photography and guide you to amazing locations. You and you alone are responsible for your own safety.
In the event of extraordinary events, governmental instability, extreme weather, or other condition, Julien Pröpper reserve the right to cancel this trip and return all workshop fees to participants.