Andalucia’s most awe inspiring landscapes
Join an exclusive eight-person photography adventure based in Granada’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, from the otherworldly Gorafe Desert to the primeval splendor of the Sierra Nevada. Begin with an immersive stay in a unique cave hotel in Gorafe, capturing the raw textures, vast canyons, and surreal light of this ancient desert landscape.
Next, embark on a two-day trek deep into the Sierra Nevada, wild camping beneath a blanket of stars in one of Spain’s most dramatic mountain ranges. After the mountains, relax in eco-luxury at a boutique hotel near Granada, where you’ll explore the city’s stunning sunsets over the Albaicín and experience authentic flamenco.
But the adventure isn’t over – cap off the week with a photo hike through the rugged gorges and canyons around Monachil.
Who is this for..
This trip is designed for passionate photographers and explorers with a good level of fitness and a thirst for adventure. The rugged beauty of Andalucía’s remote landscapes comes with challenges – steep ascents, high-altitude hikes, and wild camping in breathtaking but demanding environments. If you thrive on the excitement of reaching untouched locations, where the effort is rewarded with jaw-dropping vistas, surreal desertscapes and dramatic mountain light, this journey is for you.
With expert guidance, you’ll push your limits, capture once-in-a-lifetime images, and immerse yourself in an experience that blends challenge, discovery, and awe-inspiring beauty.
Gorafe
Your journey begins in the heart of the desert, with three nights in a beautifully restored cave house carved into the cliffs above one of Europe’s most otherworldly landscapes. This is a land of silence, golden light, and vast horizons – perfect for capturing the raw textures, deep canyons, and prehistoric rock formations of the Gorafe Desert.
Highlights of this trip include a sunset balloon flight over the Glass House and across Los Coloraos – a grand canyon of colours where mineral-rich formations blaze with surreal bands of pink, green, and ochre.
You’ll also venture deep into the badlands on a private 4×4 safari, reaching fossil beds and hidden ravines far beyond the tourist trail. At dawn and dusk, the desert comes alive with shifting tones, while nights unveil vast, dramatic skies – perfect for capturing long exposures, moonlit silhouettes, and the raw intensity of the desert after dark.
Sierra Nevada
From Gorafe, the adventure shifts gear as you lace up your boots for a two-day trek into the high Sierra Nevada. Your destination – Lavaderos de la Reina, a glacial valley perched at over 2,400 metres. This challenging but rewarding route winds through alpine meadows, past icy streams and waterfalls, and into a landscape sculpted by centuries of meltwater.
You’ll carry only what’s essential for a wild overnight camp beneath towering peaks – far from roads, towns, or light pollution. As darkness falls, the mountains reveal a different kind of drama: a vast night sky perfect for capturing star trails, constellations, and Milky Way panoramas. Come morning, the first light on the ridges offers a rare chance to photograph the raw beauty of this high-altitude wilderness in complete solitude.
After this rewarding challenge, you’ll descend into comfort for your final three nights at a stunning eco-boutique hotel on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada – just a short drive from Granada. From here, we’ll capture the majesty of the Alhambra at sunset and wander the labyrinthine streets of the Moorish Albaicín.
But the adventures don’t end here – on your last day, you’ll dive back into action exploring the dramatic gorges and canyons of Monachil, rounding off your week with one final burst of adrenaline and a dynamic new environment to photograph.
Your Week
- Traill jeep safari offering panoramic views and hidden gems.
- Sunset balloon ride to capture the desert’s raw beauty.
- Trek through rugged trails and alpine meadows in the high Sierra Nevada to Lavaderos de la Reina. Overnight camp ideal for astrophotography under pristine night skies.
- Capture dawn light on misty meadows and shimmering cascades at Lavaderos de la Reina.
- Sunset photography over the Alhambra from the Albaicín and flamenco in Sacromonte.
- Explore the landscape around Monahcil with its hanging bridges and dramatic canyons.
- Photography workshops in astrophotography and post-processing to refine your creative and technical skills
Workshop Leaders
Chris Wright
Chris Wright is a professional photographer and teacher based in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, just outside Granada. He has spent over a decade photographing the Alpujarras and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains.
A passionate walker, Chris is most at home exploring ancient trails, hidden valleys, and dramatic gorges with his camera in hand. His aim is to share that deep connection with this remarkable landscape – and to help others discover their own creative response to it.
Richard Hartley
An experienced mountain guide and photographer, founder of Spanish Highs, who has led walking expeditions across this rugged terrain for over twenty years and wrote the Cicerone Guidebook “Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Nevada”
It was the mountains that first attracted Richard to the Sierra Nevada, a unique wilderness combined with sun and snow making for a potent combination. His adventures have taken him all over the world from the icepacks of Patagonia to the Volcanos of Kamchatka.
Included
Accommodation (Single Occupancy)
Breakfast
Tuition
Entry Fees (if applicable)
Airport Transfer (from Malaga)
Excluded
Flights
Meals not mentioned
Insurance (Mandatory)
Reserve Your Place Now
Send us your details and we will reserve a place for you on this photo tour.
We will schedule a zoom call with you to answer any questions you may have and to discuss the trip in more detail.
After the call we will send you an invoice for the deposit. Upon payment, the reservation will be confirmed and we will send a further invoice for the balance to be paid online, one month before the tour begins.
