Slovenia
June 2-13, 2020
Photo tour: Join Nate Chappell to photograph the mammals and birds of Slovenia. Slovenia is one of the best locations to photograph the European Brown Bear, Ibex, Chamois and a large number of bird species including Hoopoes, Bee-eaters, Black Grouse and Ural Owl. We will visit 3 different regions of Slovenia each with it's own set of wildlife. The forest of the Southeast with bears, badgers, martens, owls and more. The mountains of the Northwest with ibex, chamois, grouse and more. Lastly the marsh areas of the Northeast with an abundance of both water birds and flashy species like Bee-eaters and Hoopoes. We will be photographing mostly from hides, which are newly built, very comfortable and most of them even have restrooms inside. There will be wine tasting and other activities organized for the nonphotographer spouses.
Cost and logistics: The cost of this photo tour is $6,250 per photographer, with a single supplement of $700. The cost for a nonphotographer spouse/companion to attend the workshop is $5,700. The deposit to reserve your spot is $1,700, with the remaining balance due 90 days prior to the start of the workshop. Included in the tour cost are lodging, meals, transportation, hide and property use fees, guiding and instruction. Not included are flights to and from Slovenia.
Leader: Nate Chappell
Number of participants: Maximum of 6 photographers plus companions.
Equipment needed: The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have. However some of the subjects can be at fairly close range. The minimum size lens that you would want to have would be 300mm. For the bears a zoom lens is also important.
June 2nd - Arrival to Ljubljana, Slovenia, transfer from airport to a 4 star hotel, dinner.
June 3rd - Transfer by van to the Southeast - Dolenjska region of Slovenia. Check in to a nice country house. Afternoon Brown Bear photography session from 4-10 pm. Accommodation: A nice house in the country, at this lodge we will be in a large house which has many rooms and several bathrooms, so at this location you will not have your own bathroom in the room. At all the other lodges you will.
June 4th-6th We will spend 3 full days photographing Europeant Brown Bears, Badgers, Martens and forest birds here in the Dolenjska region. The bears and other mammals tend to be most active in the afternoon and evening so it's likely we will be focusing more on birds in the mornings and mammals in the afternoon and evening. Ural Owls and Woodpeckers are some of the interesting birds.
June 7th - Morning bird photography session followed by transfer to the Carinthia region in the North of Slovenia. Afternoon hike in the mountains to photograph Ibex and Chamois or woodland bird photography from hide, your choice. The mammals require a hike of at least one hour but once you get to them they are pretty used to people. Accommodation: We stay at a beautiful lodge in the mountains which has hot tubs.
June 8th - We are up early for photography of the Black Grouse at their lek. In the afternoon for those interested we will repeat our hike for the Ibex and Chamois, the bird hide with Wallcreeper and other interesting species are always an option as well. Accommodation: Same lodge as on the 7th.
June 9th - Another morning of bird photography including the Black Grouse, followed by check out and transfer to the Northeast region of Slovenia where we will be staying at a lodge which is location on a winery. Afternoon bird photography at the Bee-eater hide.
June 10th and 11th - 2 full days of bird photography in the Northeast of Slovenia including Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, and many waterbirds. Wine tasting is an activity both photographers and spouses can participate in. Accommodation: Lodge located at a winery.
June 12th - Morning bird photography followed by check out after lunch and return to Ljubljana for dinner. Accommodation: 4 star hotel.
June 13th - Transfer to airport for your return flight home.
