PHOTO JOURNEYS
FOR THE DISCERNING EXPLORER
A collection of immersive tours to the most compelling places we know.
Designed by & for photographers. Built by travel pros.
Designed by Photographers.
Built by Travel Pros.
Crafted by experts in photography and travel, our journeys are thoughtfully timed and built from firsthand experience to fully immerse you in a place and offer the best opportunities for the art it will inspire.
Open Sky photo journeys are crafted by professionals with extensive expertise in both expedition planning and photography. We bring decades of experience to every itinerary, shaping each journey with the photographer’s eye and and the passion-infused precision of a logistics master. Each photo journey is built from the ground up by our seasoned team, continually considering the myriad invisible details that allow creative expression to unfold.
Commitment to Your Creative Focus.
Each journey begins long before departure, with extensive on-the-ground scouting, strong local relationships, and a commitment to knowing every path we invite you onto. We travel with expert instructors who mentor in the field, and with local guides who are more than logistical support — they’re cultural interpreters, wisdom-keepers, and often, dear friends. From boutique accommodations to carefully timed shoots, from pre-trip briefings to the support you feel long after you return, everything is curated for depth, intimacy, and ease — so that you can stay focused on what brought you here: seeing the world, and yourself, more clearly.
Photography + Serious Travel Expertise
The Perfect Blend: Photography + Professional Travel Expertise
Many photo tours are either led by photographers with little experience running a trip, or designed by tour operators who don’t understand how photographers work. We uniquely combine both—as photographers ourselves, deeply attuned to what matters most in the field—and travel professionals with decades of experience designing and leading seamless, high-caliber travel.
Designed *For* Photographers, Not Just With One Along
We don’t just drop a photo pro onto a pre-set itinerary. Our journeys are timed, paced, and curated specifically with photographers in mind. We take being in the right place, in the right light, quite seriously. These aren't sightseeing tours with cameras—they're immersive experiences designed for curious, passionate image-makers.
Expert Instructors. Trusted Partners. One Cohesive Team.
Each journey is led by a professional photo instructor who serves in equal parts as a travel guide, mentor, and creative companion in the field. Our instructors/trip leaders have led expeditions across six continents, and our local guides are more than logistical support — they’re friends, collaborators, and repositories of knowledge. We only bring you to locations we’ve scouted ourselves, and only with people we trust to elevate your experience.
Depth, Detail, and On-the-Ground Knowledge
Extensively-Scouted, Meticulously-Refined Itineraries
Every trip we offer has been extensively scouted in person—often over multiple visits—and nearly all have been meticulously fine-tuned through years of hands-on refinement. Each return deepens our relationships with trusted local partners and expands our ability to meet the unexpected.
Deep Educational Travel Roots
Our founders come from a background organizing high-level educational travel for Smithsonian, National Geographic, and major universities—bringing rigorous standards to logistics, communication, and guest experience. Alex and Temu alone have led such groups in over 75 countries.
The Right People Make the Journey
Our expert local guides bring unmatched cultural knowledge and warmth, and our partners—carefully chosen over years of shared fieldwork—ensure that even when the unexpected happens, you’re in reliable hands. From permits to pivots, we’ve planned for it.
Intentional Experiences, Intimate Scale
Small Groups, Big Connection
We keep our groups small — usually no more than 6 to 12 travelers — allowing for individualized support, flexible movement, and deeper connection, not only between participants but to the location itself. (Our only exception is Antarctica, where the max is 15, yet still on one of the most intimate expedition ships in the region.)
Intimacy as a Guiding Principle
The theme of intimacy extends as a guiding principle to overall experience design—from prioritizing boutique accommodations & off-the-beaten-path dining experiences that allow you to more authentically feel a place That said, we’ll never compromise what matters most to serious photographers, and if we have to stay at a larger hotel or more commonly-found eatery to get the shot, so be it.
A Community that Keeps Coming Back
Many of our travelers return again and again, becoming true friends and fellow explorers along the way. Some have traveled with us to nearly every destination we offer. That’s the kind of trust we strive to create, and we believe a testament to the care, creativity, and consistency we bring to every journey we author.
Thoughtful Support from Start to Finish
Comprehensive Pre-Trip Preparation
Well before boarding a plane, each traveler receives access to a private trip website with everything you’ll need — from gear recommendations to travel insurance tips to key destination notes — along with a live pre-trip Zoom briefing to answer questions and set you up for success. Folks tell us it’s “the best pre-trip prep” they’ve had.
Passion, Access, and 24/7 Support
We are seriously eager to answer your questions, share insights, and make sure the important details are crystal clear. Once you join a trip (and even before), you’ll have direct, personal access to our team, 24/7. We really are here for you every step of the way.
Trusted Partners
We collaborate with trusted photography partners who share our commitment to creativity and quality.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Expert Photo Instruction
Led by professional photographers who are also gifted educators — offering daily guidance, on-location tips, and one-on-one feedback designed to elevate your craft, no matter your experience level.
Seasoned Tour Leadership
Each journey is co-led by an Open Sky Tour Leader with deep experience in global travel — someone who understands both logistics and the photographer’s mindset.
Top-Tier Local Guides and Longstanding Partners
We collaborate with the most knowledgeable, gracious local guides and agencies — not just for their expertise, but for the warmth and insight they bring to every experience.
Small Groups, Big Connection
Typically limited to 6–12 participants, allowing for personal attention, shared camaraderie, and a flexible, immersive group dynamic.
Thoughtfully Designed Itineraries
Each trip is purpose-built and field-tested for timing, light, subject matter, and flow — prioritizing photography without sacrificing depth of experience.
Comfortable, Well-Located Accommodations
Boutique hotels and carefully selected lodgings that offer charm, comfort, and a sense of place — often located in the heart of the action, never far from great light.
Thoughtfully Curated Meals
Included breakfasts and many group meals that reflect local culinary traditions, often at handpicked restaurants with atmosphere and authenticity — not generic tourist spots.
All Group Ground Transportation & Transfers
Private vehicles, internal flights (where applicable), and all trip-related transfers — always handled with care and clarity.
Flight Guidance and Booking Partners
You’ll receive personalized flight guidance and access to our trusted flight booking partners — ensuring your arrival and departure logistics are smooth and well-coordinated with the trip timeline.
Insurance Guidance and Trusted Partners
We’ll guide you through insurance options and connect you with trusted partners for travel and medical coverage — so you can feel secure and protected while you explore.
Robust Pre-Trip Support
From a live Zoom briefing to a private online portal with everything from packing tips to photo gear guidance — we help you feel informed, confident, and ready. See here.
Gratuities Covered*
All group tips for local guides, drivers, and included meals are taken care of — one less thing for you to think about.
Optional Trip Extensions**
For those looking to go further, we often offer beautifully crafted pre- or post-trip extensions — ideal for extra exploration, deeper cultural engagement, or creative focus.
*The only exception to this rule comes with some ship-based programs and gratuities for onboard crew. Otherwise, tour leaders handle all gratuities for land-based services. ** Extensions vary by trip. When not offered formally, we’re often able to create something custom—or at least offer thoughtful advice—through our deep destination knowledge and trusted local partners
OUR PHOTO JOURNEY LINEUP
FEATURED IN
"Traveling with Open Sky means experiencing the perfect curation of adventure and luxury. In remote locations, where conditions can change unexpectedly, Open Sky delivers exceptional experiences and the brilliant photos to prove it."
Andrea, Antarctica Traveler
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Why Travel with Open Sky Expeditions?With 25+ years in the travel industry, we’ve traveled to 120+ countries combined, led journeys in 60+ countries, and on all seven continents. We developed and operated tours for the most demanding, exacting educational organizations in the world, and brought that experience to bear in our small-group journeys. We know what details matter, and we’ve thought through every element of the experience from start to finish. We know how to create a fun, easygoing atmosphere while efficiently navigating the expected and unexpected, all while communicating clearly and directly. How do we know we’re good at this? Almost every group that travels with us has at least 2-3 repeat travelers!
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How will Open Sky help to prepare me for the journey?To begin, if you have any questions that you wish to ask directly, you’ll have 24/7 access to our team from the moment you register for a trip. Additionally, you will not only have access to a private website with suggestions on packing/equipment, current itinerary, timelines, etc., but we’ll also host a pre-trip briefing for all travelers in which we cover all of these questions, in detail.
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Are Open Sky's trips exclusively for photographers?Our trips are open to anyone, not just photography enthusiasts - and creative minds in any regard are especially welcome. We always welcome spouses and partners that are not photographers, who want to experience the adventure with their significant other. Each of our trips includes a professional photo instructor, who can be as involved in your personal experience as you wish. While many of the locations we visit were chosen because of the inspiring camera opportunities, we often have travelers who come simply to soak it all in. Our photo instructors are also excellent at helping to maximize your iPhone-photography capabilities!
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Does Open Sky create custom itineraries?Yes! We'd be thrilled to create a bespoke travel experience for you. Having traveled to over 160 countries between our team, and over two decades of combined experience planning and leading trips professionally, we have excellent relationships, partnerships, and recommendations worldwide. If you're interested in a custom experience as a stand-alone trip or a Photo Journey extension, please reach out to us directly.
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Hesitant to travel with a group?We’ve built a very wonderful community of like-minded travelers. Our groups are purposefully small to create camaraderie and ease of travel. Our trips often create long lasting friendships. From a creative perspective, it is always exciting to see fellow traveler’s unique photography perspectives and styles, learning from each other.
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What are the physical health requirements of your trips?It depends on the exact itinerary, but generally speaking we don’t plan physically strenuous journeys. You should be able to walk at a relaxed pace for up to two miles, be on your feet for an hour or two, and be able to sit in a vehicle for several hours. Again, it greatly varies based on the itinerary. Feel free to reach out to us for specifics!
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Concerned about the safety of a trip or destination?We are constantly keeping up with the country's safety status, always taking government issued travel warnings seriously. We work with top tier, vetted, and trusted guides, and we have scouted every location on trips ourselves. If there are ANY safety concerns from location to location, our guides and trip leaders will brief you on them thoroughly. We offer a pre-trip Zoom briefing to all of our travelers, during which our trip leaders will answer any questions regarding safety concerns. Lastly, our pre-departure information includes tips and information for staying safe and healthy on the trip as well.
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What exactly is a Photo Journey?In short, all of our Photo Journeys allow you to explore and immerse yourself in an incredible destination—sometimes cultural, sometimes natural, often both—while gaining photographic skills through instructor-led teaching and in-the-field experience. Additionally, we handle all of the logistical details and “hassle of travel”, so you can focus on the photography and destination. Check out the information on our Photo Journeys page to learn more.
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What does Open Sky's pre-departure support look like?We pride ourselves on our tried and true pre-departure support, and pledge to be there for you every step of the way for a seamless experience. Upon registration, you will receive a timeline of what to expect prior to departure including payment and personal information form due dates. We will provide detailed flight recommendations and insurance guidance with booking options through our trusted partners. Each trip participant will be invited to join a private HQ site which features announcements, packing recommendations, destination info, and important files. One to two weeks before departure, we will provide you with a custom, printable final itinerary and contacts sheet.
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Is there independent time on trips?Yes! Our trip itineraries include balanced time for you to explore or relax independently. For leisure time or independent meals, our trip leaders provide the group with a list of restaurants or areas of town we love, as well as safety briefings to ensure you feel confident venturing on your own.
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What’s included on a photo journey?Generally speaking, once you arrive to the destination, we’ve got you covered! Almost all journeys include gratuities, travel, lodgings, most meals, entrance fees, etc. While there are exceptions, you generally only pay for gifts, meals away from the group, and personal items.
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What does our trip registration process look like?Our trip sign-up process is simple and swift. Fill out the registration form provided on the specific trip page or brochure. Our team will promptly reach within 1-2 business days with a welcome note and an electronic invoice to pay the trip deposit. Once the initial deposit is paid, you will be 100% confirmed for your adventure! Trip timelines, a private HQ site, and prep guidance will soon follow.
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What skill level as a photographer do I need to be to join the photo trips?We welcome all skill levels, from beginners to advanced amateurs. More experienced photographers are often want us to simply get them to the destination and handle all the logistics so they can fire away without distraction. Less experienced photographers may be looking for more concrete instruction on composition, technical skill, settings, or artistic ideas. Wherever you are on your photographic journey, we’ll meet you there!