Photography Tour: Fall in Switzerland - A Photographer's Paradise
October 12 - 20, 2026
Exclusive small group size - 6 Open
Trip Leader - Khem Suthiwan
Switzerland in autumn is a dreamscape of golden larches, fiery-red vineyards, and misty alpine mornings. For photographers, this season offers a mesmerizing palette, transforming the country into a living canvas.
We will start our journey in the Engadin Valley, with its mirror-like lakes reflecting golden trees, and ride the world’s steepest cogwheel train up Mount Pilatus, where panoramic views of Lucerne and the Alps bathe in autumn’s golden glow.
No trip to Switzerland would be complete without a stay in Zermatt, where the Matterhorn rises above rust-colored larch forests—best captured at sunrise from Riffelsee. For an even more breathtaking perspective, we’ll take the Gornergrat Railway, Europe’s highest open-air railway, to witness an unforgettable panorama of 29 towering peaks, glaciers, and autumn-tinted forests. Our overnight stay at the Gornergrat Kulm Hotel, a combo of hotel and observatory built in the early 1900’s at an elevation of 10,240 ft provides a unique opportunity for high alpine late night and early morning photography.
To round out our trip we’ll enjoy Bettmeralp, a car-free alpine village with breathtaking views of the Aletsch Glacier, where golden larch forests contrast beautifully against the icy expanse awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2001.
Pack a polarizer filter for richer colors, we’ll shoot during golden hour for warmth, and embrace foggy mornings for dramatic depth. Whether capturing mist-covered lakes or crisp mountain reflections, autumn in Switzerland is a photographer’s paradise.
This trip is designed for the moderately active walker, with walking distances of between 2-3 miles. Agility is needed for train travel and navigating the stairs in hotels that may not have elevators. Packing light is highly recommended as cargo space in European vans can be challenging.
This trip starts and finishes in different locations. The trip starts when we meet at our hotel in Zürich for our welcome dinner, and ends after breakfast at our hotel in Bettmeralp. If Zürich is also your departure airport, from Bettmeralp there is a train service to Zürich via Lausanne. In-country travel suggestions will be provided to registered trip participants.
What's Included:
All accommodations with shared twin/double occupancy en suite rooms (single supplements are limited)
All on-trip transportation as detailed in the itinerary
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Gratuities for local service providers
Pre - trip bulletins prior to departure with more detailed and specific information to help you prepare for your tour
What's Not Included:
International airfare and in-country travel, pre- and post- trip
Beverages with meals
Personal expenses
Tips for trip leader at your discretion
