ARIZONA
February 23 – 28 2024
A Photography Journey in the Grand Canyon & Monument Valley, Arizona.
I am designing a short trip, yet with full of photo opportunities and lots of fun. You are heading to the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley, two iconic places in the American Southwest. The end of February is an ideal time to visit these popular destinations with a smaller crowd and more chances to see the dramatic light. Let’s capture the grandeur of the natural wonders!!
PROGRAM DATES:
February 23 (Fri) – 28 (Wed). 2024
(5 nights/ 6 days )
RATES:
Program rates per person:
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single occupancy around $4500
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double occupancy around $4000
I am working on the details of the trip. The final cost will be out very soon.
Included in the fees are all accommodations, the entrance fee to the parks and local guides. Airfare and rent-a-car, gas and meals are not included.
Grand Canyon
DAY 1:
The best airport to start the trip is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) in Arizona.
Please arrange your flights as well as your rent-a-car (if you do not want to drive, I will pick you up at the airport).
Let’s meet at Yavapai Lodge in the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, our first hotel on our journey (about 1.5h drive from Flagstaff). The hotel sits in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. In the afternoon, you will head to one of the most spectacular sunset viewpoints. Let’s hope that some snow still remains over the valley!
DAY 2:
Mather Point, Navajo Point, Powell Point…. so many choices of incredible viewpoints along the South Rim and most are easy to access by driving. You will do sunrise and sunset shoots and may try some hike during the day. Let’s practice HDR, Panorama, HDR Panorama…all the crazy stuff again!
Monument Valley
DAY 3:
After another sunrise shoot and breakfast, we will head northeast to Monument Valley (about 3.5h derive), another magnificent landscape with numerous sandstone buttes and massive plateaus. The Valley sits in the Navajo Nations Reservation and we will drive through the Tribal Park Loop, a 17-mile scenic drive in the heart of the park to capture the stunning scenes. Our hotel, The View Hotel, is the only hotel inside of the park with the view of the Valley.
DAY 4:
This is a day of adventure. A full-day camping tour deep into the Valley and reach Hunts Mesa, the best spot to photograph sandstone monuments and canyons with 1600ft above the valley floor. Local Navajo crews will drive us and set up the tent and meal for the night. They will talk about the local mythology while we sit at the fire. And yes, we will try the Milky Way shoot! The surreal experience of sleeping under the stars in the sacred land!
DAY 5:
The camping tour finishes after the sunrise shoot and breakfast. Around noon, we start driving southwest and head to the final destination, Sedona (3.5h drive), the treasure town in the Arizona desert. Our final hotel is AMARA Resort and SPA, a quiet and secluded resort for the retreat. After checking in, you can pamper yourself at a spa or simply enjoy the surrounding view of the red rock mountains. The final dinner will be at the hotel or in the town.
DAY 6:
You can sleep in or have another spa experience. Sunrise shoot at Red Rock State Park is an option… well, if you would like. After checking out, we head back to Flagstaff Airport (40 min drive), then fly back home!
“The itineraries are subject to be modified and changed. I will try all my effort to operate programs as planned, but alterations may still occur based on the weather and other conditions.”
