9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon

9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon
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Free Tutorials
International Photo Workshop
Best combination

Description

Summary

Tour starts
Lisbon, Portugal
Minimum age:
None

Description

Discover the best locations for landscape photography in Portugal on this exciting 9-day photography tour. With its spectacular beaches, stunning coastlines, colourful streets, friendly people and rich culture, it's no wonder why Portugal is a dream destination for photographers.

Located on the west coast of the Iberian peninsula, Portugal is a place that is steeped in historical significance. You'll have numerous opportunities to capture the essence of this country as you immerse yourself in the city of Lisbon, hop along the dramatic Algarve coastline in search of hidden gems for photography, taste the outstanding local cuisine and wander through the enchanting cobblestone streets of small villages.

Throughout this tour, you'll have a professional local photography guide on-hand to take you to the most amazing vantage points for photography in Portugal, taking advantage of the temperate weather conditions in March. Your guide will make sure that your photography skills grow with in-field tuition and a range of photography lectures, as well as post-processing masterclasses.

Whatever your level of experience in photography, our guide will tailor the workshop to meet your needs. All you'll have to do is to come along to Portugal for a unique adventure of a lifetime!

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Included

Accommodation at the best hotels and guesthouses.
Ground transportation and driver.
Reception dinner, Final dinner and all breakfasts included
Airport transfers in Portugal.
Professional photo guide.

Map

Attractions

Activities

Photo Tours
Photo Workshop

Daily itinerary

Day 1
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 1

Day 1 - Arrival

You'll arrive to Lisbon Portela Airport, where you'll be met by your photo guide who will transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city of Lisbon. There will be some time to relax before we meet together as a group for a delicious welcome dinner at a local restaurant in the evening. This will be the perfect chance for you to get to know your fellow travellers, ahead of what is sure to be a fun-filled week. Your guide will go over the itinerary for the week ahead and you'll have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have before the real adventure begins!
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Day 2
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 2

Day 2 - Vila Nova de Milfontes

On day two, we'll begin our journey after breakfast towards the magnificent coastline of southern Portugal. Our destination will be the charming resort town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, situated on the Alentejo coastline between Lisbon and Algarve. This delightful coastal village features many opportunities for photography with its stunning white houses, orange rooftops and cobblestone streets. We'll spend some time exploring the alleyways before making our way to one of the most beautiful beaches in Portugal for a sunset session. Framed by the Atlantic Ocean, a litany of incredible patterns in the rocks at this beach will leave you breathless as you scramble to capture incredible reflections beneath the fading light. Once the sun has set, we'll head out for dinner before returning to our accommodation for some rest.
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Day 3
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 3

Day 3 - Vicentine Coast, Ponta da Piedade, Albandeira

On day three, we'll rise early and make our way down south to Lagos, a busy coastal town in Algarve. The highlight of our journey will be a scenic tour of the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, one of Portugal's best kept secrets. The landscapes in this region are stunning, with sprawling views of the Atlantic Ocean made all the more fascinating by the abundance of flora and fauna that inhabit these surrounds. Along the way, we'll visit an abandoned fishing settlement perched high atop a cliff. The derelict buildings have weathered harsh conditions and storms over the years, making for an incredible contrast between nature and manmade substance. Once we reach the town of Lagos, we'll head to a restaurant for lunch, before making our way to a sweeping viewpoint from which we'll be able to take in the awe-inspiring group of rock formations known as Ponta da Piedade. Here, dramatic limestone rock pillars rise from the sea. We'll take our time capturing the scenery while exploring the caves, grottoes and sea arches that make this stretch of coastline so unique. Thereafter, we'll check in at our hotel near Carvoeiro, where there will be some time to rest and freshen up. In the late afternoon, we'll head out for a sunset session at Albandeira beach – a cove with glistening blue water that is well-known for its famous rock arch, the Arco de Albandeira.
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Day 4
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 4

Day 4 - Marinha, Benagil, Lisbon, Adraga

We'll begin day four with an early sunrise shoot at Praia da Marinha, one of the most beautiful beaches in Algarve. This is where turquoise water meets cliffs of vibrant orange limestone, making for a number of stunning panoramic vistas for photography. We'll then head back to the hotel for breakfast, before embarking upon an exciting boat tour of the Benagil sea caves! Our expert boat drivers will take us deep into the caves of Algarve's coastline, as we uncover the treasures of these idyllic wonders of nature. From hidden caves to the well-known Algar de Benagil, there's no doubt we'll have a lot to keep us occupied on this impressive part of our journey. Afterwards, we'll have lunch at a traditional Portuguese restaurant, before heading back into Lisbon for a sunset shoot at the Adraga beach in Sintra. The stunning scenery here offers up a myriad of different compositions amidst golden sands and high cliffs, which we'll capture beneath the light of the setting sun.
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Day 5
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 5

Day 5 - Óbidos, Santa Cruz

We'll have a lazy morning on day five, with the chance to sleep in and rest. Ahead of us will be a relaxing day of photography in the charming medieval town of Óbidos, where traditional houses surround an ancient castle. The architectural and cultural highlights of this place offers many chances for street photography. We'll explore the historical town centre, surrounded by the castle's walls, in search of compositions before making our way to a restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, we'll have a sunset shoot at the little-visited Santa Cruz beach. Our subject will be an enormous, tilted rock arch that rises from the sea and which stands steadfast as it is battered by the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. There'll be endless opportunities to practice long exposure photography as the sun sets upon the horizon.
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Day 6
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 6

Day 6 - Azenhas, Ursa Beach

We'll rise bright and early on our sixth day for a pre-sunrise shoot at the seaside town of Azenhas do Mar. Affectionately dubbed the 'Portuguese Cinque Terre', this village is known for its beautiful white houses built upon a tall cliff right by the side of the Atlantic Ocean. It makes for extraordinary scenes, particularly in the Blue Hour, with the lights of the village all aglow. Thereafter, we'll make our way back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest. In the afternoon, we'll have lunch at the village of Sintra, surrounded by pine-covered hills. These forests hide an extravagant mansion which we'll converge upon for photography and post-processing lessons on the top floor, with views of the gardens and mountains all around. Our sunset session this evening will be at Ursa beach, which features two incredible sea stacks, one of which is known as 'Rocha da Ursa' (bear rock). Though the route may be steep and winding, we'll take our time descending to the sand in order to ensure the safety of our group. Once you have set feet upon the shore, you'll no doubt be thankful for the effort as you photograph the last rays of sunlight warming these breathtaking rock formations.
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Day 7
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 7

Day 7 - Regaleira, Carrasqueira Palafite Pier

On day seven, we'll have breakfast before making our way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quinta da Regaleira. Our morning will be spent exploring this majestic complex, with its romantic architecture spliced with dreamy invocations of nature. The estate features carvings of alchemical symbology, embodying the magic and mystery of a time long forgotten. Within this enigmatic palace, you'll have the opportunity to photograph an impressive spiral staircase that will no doubt make for an incredible addition to your portfolio. After we've captured all the enchantment of Quinta da Regaleira, we'll make our way to a restaurant for lunch. If there is time, then we may take a walk through the historical centre of Sintra or downtown in Lisbon. Our sunset shoot on this day will be at the Carrasqueira Palafite Pier, by the small fishing village of Carrasqueira. This is the perfect place to practice long exposure photography, as the picturesque pier stands on irregular wooden pillars, making for an interesting subject against the backdrop of the ocean. Once the sun has set, we'll have dinner at a local restaurant in Carrasqueira, before returning to Lisbon for the night.
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Day 8
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 8

Day 8 - Vasco da Gama Bridge, Tuk-Tuk tour in Lisbon’s historical streets, Belém Tower

This will be our final day of shooting and our main focus will be on the beautiful city of Lisbon. In the morning, we'll have a wonderful sunrise session at the Vasco da Gama cable bridge, with views of the Tagus river all around. This 17.2km long bridge makes for a stunning sight against the cool hues of the early morning light. We'll then return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest, before heading out again in the afternoon. The highlight of the day will be traversing the streets of Lisbon on a special Tuk-Tuk tour, which will take us straight to all of the best locations for photography in the steep streets of Alfama. Packed with cafes and shops selling local handicrafts, this district of Lisbon oozes with character and hides a plethora of fantastic opportunities for photography. For the tour, we'll have a local tourism guide, who will provide us with a wonderful synopsis of the history of Alfama as we concentrate on capturing images of the cobble-stoned streets. Among some of the buildings that we'll photograph are the Sé Cathedral, the majestic Lisbon Castle, the 17th century National Pantheon and Saint Anthony’s Church. Our Tuk-Tuk ride will end in the tranquil riverside town of Belém, just 4km from the city centre. There, we'll have the chance to savour famous Portuguese custard tarts during a quick stop for afternoon tea. From there, we'll have a sunset session at the iconic Torre de Belém (Belém Tower), a UNESCO World Heritage listed fortress on the mouth of the river Tagus. This striking monument makes for an extraordinary subject in the sunset light, standing steadfast as an ode to Portugal's Age of Discovery. In the evening, we'll make our way to a local restaurant for our final meal as a group. This will be the perfect opportunity to discuss all of the amazing experiences that we've had during the tour and to solidify friendships made over the past nine days.
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Day 9
9 Day Portugal Photography Tour | Algarve Beaches & Lisbon - day 9

Day 9 - Departure

This will be the last day of our adventure. After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Lisbon Portela Airport, where you'll be able to catch your flight home or onwards to your next destination – hopefully with a treasure trove of beautiful landscape images to remember a fantastic photo tour in Portugal!
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Departure Schedule

23 Feb – 03 March 2021: Guided by Jose Ramos & Albert Dros

Disclaimer

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather can indeed be highly unpredictable.

Guides

José Ramos is a landscape photographer and doctor from Portugal, currently living in Lisbon. He started shooting fourteen years ago and this passion grew so strong that this was the art he has chosen to express himself and pay homage to the beauty and power of the world which surrounds us. He divides his time between working as a photographer and a doctor specialized in Psychiatry, which implies great dedication to be able to develop his skills in both areas. So far this has been possible through very strong commitment and discipline, as well as at the expense of sleeping hours, which would only be bearable when there's intense passion about both subjects.

He currently leads Photo-Tours in Portugal, which in his opinion has the best seascapes in the world, along with so many other captivating landscapes yet to be discovered by the world. His images have been published several times in National Geographic printed magazine and in many other international photography magazines, and won international photo awards. They are also available for sale as fine art prints to all over the world. Beyond image making and teaching, José has also been collaborating with many international photography brands.

Conceptually speaking, José always tries to offer his personal thoughts, experiences and reflections about his images, as the thinks the image creation process never ends with the camera shutter press, being rather continued by what is evoked by the image when it is re-viewed at home, and later carried on by the emotions of the final viewer who, once again, re-creates the image inside him. In his photos, the act of raising awareness about Nature and the need to protect the environment is of utmost importance, being such aspects frequently linked, through embedded concepts and stories for each image, to the fragility and power of Humankind in an ever changing and mesmerizing world.

Albert Dros

Albert Dros

English, Dutch
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Albert is a Dutch photographer with an extreme passion for landscape photography. He aims to capture places and certain moments in the best way possible by using his own vision and unique style. His style consists of strong vibrant, sometimes fairytale like images in which he expresses himself. Albert has a background in Design, Video and Animation. He has worked for himself his whole life and has as a Master Degree in Multimedia & Entertainment Technology.

Albert loves to travel. Next to photo tours and workshops he likes to explore the world on his own or with friends. He has a passion for visiting the most beautiful spots in the world, whether known or unknown. Challenging himself is what keeps him motivated. Albert loves planning his shots carefully.

He does this with great detail to make sure his efforts have the highest chances of success. He sometimes plans days, weeks, months or even years to get that particular shot he wants. Challenging himself combined with planning and writing a story of the whole process is Albert’s specialty. He is always looking for new challenges and adventures. He is able to find beauty anywhere in the world: from misty mornings in the forests minutes away from his home to rooftops of the highest buildings in Dubai to remote locations in Iceland or the US. Next to taking photos, Albert also likes to teach and write about photography.

He occasionally writes for the most well known Photography magazines both on - and offline. Along that he has worked with many brands in the photography industry and is an official Sony Ambassador of Imaging.

His work has been featured in some of the biggest news outlets & magazines worldwide, like TIME, National Geographic and Adobe.

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