Brown bear photography tour. A full immersion experience from the best photo hides nestled in Slovenia’s endless forests.
DATES AND PARTICIPANTS
DURATION
4 Days and 3 Nights
DATES
July 9-12, 2026
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
10 Participants
DETAILS AND ACTIVITIES
DIFFICULTY
Easy
PREPARATION AND EQUIPMENT
No excursions or other strenuous physical activities are planned.
MODALITY
Photography from a shed
Cost and Tour Leader
TOUR LEADER
Matteo Gaglio
STARTING FROM
€1590
PAYMENT
€540 deposit upon registration and balance due 60 days before departure
HOW TO BOOK?
Scroll to the bottom of the page and fill out the contact form, asking for more information on the event or confirming your participation. You will be quickly contacted on Whatsapp.
DESTINATION:
Four days immersed in Slovenia’s incredible wilderness. Small villages, endless forests, and an eerie silence create the perfect habitat for Europe’s main mammals, which find refuge and tranquility in these woods. Wolves, foxes, lynxes, wildcats, and, above all, the brown bear, the undisputed king of these forests. With one of the highest densities in Europe, the brown bear population here is thriving, making Slovenia one of the best destinations for photographing this magnificent animal.
Nestled among these forests are small wooden cabins, nestled in the greenery, offering unique experiences. Join us to explore these areas and experience unforgettable moments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT:
It will be a four-day nature photography experience with a professional photographer at your side. Six photo sessions from a hide, dedicated to observing bears and birds.
Over the next four days, we’ll explore various locations for European brown bear sightings, during the ideal time of year when they’re most active and cubs are most likely to be spotted. Bear activity is predominantly in the afternoon, so we’ll use the mornings to photograph other interesting subjects, where we’ll have access to shelters with watering holes dedicated to birds and small mammals.
The cabins, located deep in the forest yet easily accessible on foot, make this trail accessible to everyone. Slovenian forests are home to a wide variety of European mammals and birds. With a bit of luck, in addition to bears, for which the chances of sighting are almost 100% , we’ll be able to see and photograph dozens of bird species and perhaps other mammals.
Join us for this unforgettable photographic adventure.
Photo Sessions:
We plan 6 photo sessions: 3 at sunrise and 3 at sunset.
The sunset sessions will be dedicated to the brown bear, while the dawn sessions will be dedicated to birdlife.
You’ll also have free access to a lit night hide to photograph small nocturnal mammals such as badgers, hedgehogs, martens, and perhaps, with a bit of luck, owls.
Why will we use hides? Hide photography is the ideal method for capturing close-up images of wild animals without disturbing their natural routine.
The hides we will use have been specially designed to provide comfort during photo sessions and maximize sighting opportunities. We have adopted strategies to eliminate odors, soundproof the space, and use special glass that also ensures visual isolation.
Inside the huts, we will be able to use photographic heads placed in pre-built accommodations.
The large side windows will allow us to observe the outside world without being seen from outside. This means that in addition to taking photographs, we can enjoy the natural spectacle just a few meters away.
LOCATION:
You’ll stay in welcoming accommodations located in a small village nestled in the green Slovenian forests, with full board. In the morning, we’ll spend time at the small bird watching huts near the accommodation, where we can observe red squirrels, woodpeckers, dozens of passerine species, and, with a little luck, even foxes, roe deer, and birds of prey.
Every afternoon, we’ll travel to the brown bear observation huts, hidden among ancient beech forests and imposing limestone formations, in an atmosphere of surreal silence. Thanks to priority access to the best locations, we’ll maximize photographic opportunities, ensuring ideal conditions for sightings.
DAILY PROGRAM
Day 1
- 11:00 AM: Hotel check-in for all participants and presentation of the event and locations. The photographer will begin with a discussion on the best photographic techniques to use in each lodge, remaining available to each participant to find the best equipment settings for the busy photo sessions planned.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch at the hotel and transfer to the first photo location. After a few minutes’ drive and a short walk through the forest (a few hundred meters), we’ll reach the first photo hide.
- Here, the huts will be shown and the best setup for positioning all the photographic equipment inside. Only two people will be allowed in each hut.
- The session will then continue until sunset (around 8.00 pm)
- 8:30 PM: Dinner with the group and overnight stay.
Day 2 and 3
- 6:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the hide and watering hole. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph various bird species, including woodpeckers, passerines, shrikes, hawfinches, and dozens of other species. With a little luck, we’ll also have the chance to photograph squirrels, foxes, and other small mammals.
- At the end of the morning session (usually around 10:00-11:00 am), you’ll return to the hotel and have a few hours of free time to rest before the afternoon session. The professional photographer will be available to answer any technical questions and to review the morning’s shots.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch and transfer to a new location for the afternoon session. The same organizational dynamics apply to the choice of huts. The session will continue until sunset. (8:00 PM)
- Dinner will be a great opportunity to relax and discuss the techniques and settings used. The professional photographer will be available to answer any questions or concerns.
Day 4
- 6:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the hide and watering hole. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to photograph various bird species, including woodpeckers, passerines, shrikes, hawfinches, and dozens of other species. With a little luck, we’ll also have the chance to photograph squirrels, foxes, and other small mammals.
- 8.30/9.00 am: Return to the hotel, check out and end of activities.
INCLUDED
- Hotel for 3 nights in a double room
- All meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
- 6 photography activities from the hut (3 morning 3 afternoon);
- Free access to the night shelter
- Entrance and use of professional photographic huts
- Full support from the team
- Introductory and technical lesson for nature photography
- Assistance in Italian language
- English language support
NOT INCLUDED
- Extra Drink
- Single Room Supplement (€200)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions ❓
What equipment will I need?
This itinerary offers a great photographic experience, so any equipment is sufficient to bring home excellent shots. Animals can be observed at all distances, therefore 70-200mm can already be enough to give satisfaction. Despite this, for portrait lovers the advice is to bring with you a focal length of at least 300mm . A medium tele and a wide angle can be useful if you are interested in photographing Slovenian landscapes and forests.
Is rental service available?
Do you think you don’t have the right equipment for this event?
No problem: you can rent a complete Nikon, Canon, or Sony camera kit (DSLR or mirrorless with super-telephoto lenses) to participate in the event and make the most of this experience.
Some of the products currently available
Camera bodies
Canon R6, Canon 70D, Nikon Z6 III, Nikon D7100, Nikon Z8, Nikon Z9, Sony A6000
Optics
Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (Canon and Nikon), Nikon 400mm f/2.8 VR, Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR,
Nikon AF-S 300mm f/2.8 G ED VR II, Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S
If you are looking for a specific product not listed, please contact us : we will do our best to help you find the camera or lens that best suits your needs.
Rental conditions
The rental service is simple and without constraints :
- no deposit required
- no credit or prepaid card
- no insurance
The equipment is delivered directly to your location .
This service was created to allow anyone to participate in an experience like this, offering every photographer the opportunity to shoot in the best possible conditions .
Contact us for information on availability and prices.
What clothing will I need?
We recommend dressing in layers. There will be no long hikes; we’ll reach the huts by car or on short walks. Further details on the necessary and useful clothing will be provided after registration.
How to reach the hotel?
The hotels are located about an hour from Trieste. You can reach the hotel directly by car, or we can arrange transfers from Trieste Airport upon request. Contact us for more information.
Once the group is complete, we will connect you with the other participants, allowing you to organize the shared trip with other photographers in the group.
Terms and Conditions
By booking by paying a deposit to the organizers, you accept the following clauses:
1. As this is a pre-registration, the organizer will endeavor to promptly communicate any possible changes in the price of the tour, characterized by cost fluctuations. An annual price fluctuation of approximately 5% is highly likely if the booking is made more than a year in advance. in relation to potential variations in the prices of ground services (for example variations influenced by the fluctuating costs of electricity, fuel and others).
2. The price of the entire workshop will be paid through the payment methods offered by the organizing body, such as bank transfer, PayPal, credit card or cash according to the procedures and deadlines established by the organizers, taking charge of the transaction costs.
3. In case the tour does not take place due to the organizer, the entire amount paid will be refunded.
4. In case of cancellation for personal reasons of any kind and in any case not dependent on the organizer, the deposit and any other registration fees will be retained as reimbursement of expenses.
5. In case of cancellation for personal reasons within 60 days of departure, the entire balance of the tour will be required.
By registering, paying the deposit and sending your personal data, you accept clauses 1,2,3,4,5 again.
Below are some shots taken in the STELVIO national park
Request the full program or confirm your registration by filling out the form below
You will be contacted on Whatsapp with all the information on the event
Available places:
4
Cost:
€ 1590
Fill out the form to request the full program and reserve your place!
You will be contacted on Whatsapp with all the information about the event
