Senja in Autumn Norway's Hidden Gem September 17-23 2018 Price: 2295 Guides: Robert Canis and Dirk Van Uden As Norway s second largest island, Senja is the more compact, wilder and less visited neighbour of the famous Lofoten islands and it is for these reasons that first attracted me to this stunning island. Mid-September is the perfect time to visit. Sheer-sided mountains plunge into fjords, cloaked in the vibrant yellow of silver birch and, with a mild climate and the prospect of witnessing the northern lights, Senja is a must visit for anyone wishing to experience nature at its most bewildering beauty. Price includes: Full-board accommodation in en-suite rooms, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Transport throughout the duration of the tour. No single-supplement required. Price excludes: Flights. Circa. 215 from London Heathrow. Insurance. Sundry items
Daily schedule Below will give you an idea as to the daily schedule though this is subject to change due to weather conditions and possible late night northern lights photography. Sunrise: 06.45 Sunset: 18.45 Day 1 Arrive Tromso airport 15.40 hrs. Transfer to our accommodation, a drive of approximately 4 hours. Evening meal. Possible northern lights photography. Days 2 to 6 05.30 08.30: Sunrise shoot. 08.30 09.30: Breakfast 09.30 11.30: Rest / free time. 11.30 13.30: Nearby photo-excursion. You are welcome to stay in the hotel and wander around the surrounding area should you so wish. 14.00 15.00: Meal. 16.00 onwards. On location photographing towering mountains, fjords, bays, sandy beaches, colourful forests and unending views. Return time dictated by whether there are clear skies. If there are, then expect to stay out till at least midnight. Our following day s activities will reflect this and if we return very late there will not be a sunrise shoot and more rest time will be provided. Please be aware that due to the remote nature of some of the locations we visit there may not be public toilets nearby. However, there will be plenty of trees! Day 7. Depart for airport. Flight leaves at 16.25 arriving at LHR 21.35 hrs.
Image review sessions Depending upon how much time (and energy!) we all have (this will be dependent on our northern lights activates) I shall endeavour to give at least one image appraisal - more likely on the penultimate day. As with all tours, the emphasis is on getting you to great locations at the best time of the day and less so on continual hands-on tuition which I give on my UKbased workshops. Be assured, however, that upon arriving at a location I will be giving suggestions on what and how to take the view and will, occasionally, move between you all checking on your progress and answering any questions you might have. I will, also, be giving a tutorial on northern lights photography to increase your chances of returning home with some truly memorable images. Fitness level Moderate. Most of the sites we will visit will be just a short walk from the minibus. Due to the nature of the island there will be times when walking on rocky, slippery ground beside fjords and lakes is required. Also, we will be doing a single 30 minute ascent up a steep path to access waterfalls. The view more than makes up for it! We will be taking any such walks, slow. and should you prefer to photograph in the vicinity of the vehicle instead then of course, you are more than welcome to do so. Temperatures Given that Senja is within the Arctic Circle it's climate is, on the whole, quite mild. This is due to the Gulf Stream and in winter, for example, it does snow but rarely drops below -5 with around 0 being the norm. While I was there in September the weather was very nice (too nice!) with daytime temperatures (in the sun) rising to +17 while in the shade it was +10. At night it would drop to around +5. Generally speaking you can expect anywhere between +7 and +15 degrees.
Accommodation Our superb harbour-side accommodation reflects Scandinavian style with assured views of the harbour from each living room. Two persons sharing an apartment will each have an en-suite bedroom to themselves assuring complete privacy. Depending on the male/female ratio I shall endeavour to put same-sex couples in the same apartment. However, this cannot always be guaranteed and it would be wise to alert me upon booking should you have any concerns about sharing the same apartment with a member of the opposite sex. You will share the adjoining lounge, come diner, which has superb south-facing views across the bay. There is a fully equipped kitchen with fridge/freezer, microwave, cooker and dishwasher should you wish to bring some food with you.
Only one bedroom per apartment faces the bay with priority for the bay view going to whoever books first. However, it's only a small window and somewhere to lay your head so you're not exactly missing out as you'll have shared access to the adjoining living room which gives views across the harbour. Equipment needed 2-3 lenses will be sufficient which include a wide-angle and telephoto, in the region of 200-300mm. A fast (f/2.8) wide-angle (14mm on a full-frame camera) for the northern lights (worth hiring) and a macro lens will be useful. A tripod will be essential and polarising, neutral density and neutral-density grads will, also, be required. It is essential that you have a clear understanding of exposure. A full checklist will be given nearer the workshop date.
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