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Slovenia – In The Bear Forests Tour

Full immersion in Slovenia's best photography hides: brown bears, forest birds, and small mammals, with a complete editing course. 

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Slovenia – In The Bear Forests Tour

Days

July 2-5, 2026

Max participants

7 participants

Price

 840,00

1890€

4 Spots Left

Destination

in the heart of southern Slovenia, between the massif of Snowy Mountain (Snežnik) and the vast forests of the region of Notranjska, on the border with Croatia, is one of the most interesting areas in Europe for the brown bear photograph.

Here, the bear density is among the highest on the continent, and the environment is characterized by vast, silent forests accessible only with private permits. We will work in reserved areas, far from mass tourism, where access is regulated and designed to ensure respect and tranquility for the wildlife.

In addition to the brown bear, these forests are home to wolves, lynxes, foxes, wildcats, and an extraordinary variety of European birds.

This combination of a very high concentration of large mammals and professional photographic infrastructure makes the Slovenia is one of the best European destinations for those who want to build a complete nature photography portfolio.

Dates and participants

Duration

4 Days and 3 Nights

Dates

July 2-5, 2026

Number of participants

7 participants

Activity details

Overnight stay and meals

Three nights in a double or triple room

breakfast lunch dinner

Photographic activities

Difficulty

🟢 Easy

Preparation and equipment

There are no excursions or other challenging physical activities

Modality

Hide photography

Costs and Tour leader

Tour leader

Matthew Gaglio

Michele Bavassano

Starting from

1890€

Payment

€840 deposit upon registration and balance due 60 days before departure

Learn more about your experience

This nature photography workshop in Slovenia It is conceived as a four-day full immersion built around the concept of 24/7 photography, where every moment of the day can turn into a concrete opportunity for a shot.

The afternoon hours and sunset will be dedicated to photograph of the European brown bear, during the period of greatest activity and with the possibility of also observing females with cubs. The sessions take place from wooden sheds without front glass, photographing directly from the slit for an immersive and engaging experience.

The mornings will be dedicated to professional watering sheds, located in the hotel complex, ideal for photographing different species and expanding your portfolio.

To complete the field journey, a editing and post-production course, dedicated to analyzing the shots taken during the workshop. We'll work on selection, file development, and management of light, color, and atmosphere, to transform each encounter into a strong and coherent image.

Not just taking pictures, but also learning how to finish the images in a professional way.

Photo Sessions

The heart of the workshop is represented by the sessions in professional photographic huts, designed to maximize the chances of sighting and ensure comfort while waiting.

The sunset sessions will be entirely dedicated to brown bear photograph, in one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. The absence of a front glass allows for natural photographic rendering and a much more intense experience.

At dawn we will work in the huts with watering holes, which attract numerous species and allow for close-up shots with soft light and refined backgrounds.

During the evening and night hours photography continues in the illuminated sheds for nocturnal mammals, where it will be possible to photograph badgers, hedgehogs, martens and, with a bit of luck, nocturnal birds of prey.

The entire program is built to offer non-stop photo opportunities, turning this trip into a true continuous nature photography experience.

Hotel and Services

During the workshop we will be staying in comfortable facilities immersed in the green valleys of Slovenia, selected to offer tranquility, comfort and a strategic position with respect to the observation points.
The hotel has large rooms with private bathroom, separate beds, free Wi-Fi and a service of full boardwhich includes breakfast, lunch and dinner with typical local dishes.

For those who wish, it is possible request a single room with a supplement, while stocks last.

The structure is easily accessible by car and is located approximately an hour away from Trieste, making it accessible also for those arriving from Italy.
Alternatively, you can request a private transfer from Trieste, to be agreed with the organization at the time of booking.

Detailed plan

Find out how the days will unfold and which activities make up the experience

Day 1 - Welcome and First Bear Session

Participants are expected to arrive around 11:00 a.m., and will settle into a hotel nestled in the Slovenian forests. After a welcome, the photographer will introduce the workshop by presenting the program, locations, and photographic objectives for the following days.

A technical session will follow, dedicated to optimizing settings for different huts: it will be the ideal time to discuss, adjust the equipment together, and best prepare for the intense sessions that await us.

After lunch at the hotel, we'll set off for the first photo location. A short drive and a short walk through the forest will take us to the first hut dedicated to photography.’brown bear.

Inside, detailed instructions will be provided, along with proper equipment placement and composition strategies. Each hut will accommodate a maximum of two participants, ensuring space, silence, and optimal shooting conditions.

The session will continue until sunset, when the light becomes softer and more evocative. We'll then return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 2 and 3 - Full Photographic Immersion

The days will start at dawn with breakfast and the transfer to the shed with watering hole, located near the facility. Here we'll have the opportunity to photograph a wide variety of species, including woodpeckers, passerines, shrikes, hawfinches, and many others. With a little luck, squirrels, foxes, and other small mammals of the undergrowth may also make an appearance.

At the end of the session, we'll return to the hotel for a regenerating break. This time will also be dedicated to technical discussion: the photographer will be available to analyze the shots, answer questions, and offer personalized suggestions.

After lunch we will move to the locations dedicated to the’brown bear, where we'll spend the entire afternoon until sunset. The huts will be set up in the same way, always ensuring maximum comfort and optimal working conditions.

The return to the hotel for dinner will be an opportunity to share emotions, stories, and photographic strategies.

Day 4 - Last Session and Final Editing

The final morning will again begin at dawn with a session in the watering hole, offering a further opportunity to perfect the compositions and techniques learned in the previous days.

Once back at the hotel, we will dedicate the last hours to a complete post-production session and portfolio review. We'll analyze the shots together, delving into the image selection criteria, archive organization, and building an effective workflow.

Each participant will be able to show their photographs, receiving personalized feedback. An in-depth editing lesson will follow. Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Camera Raw, with a practical and targeted approach to nature photography: light management, contrast, color and atmosphere will be at the center of the analysis.

Around 12:00 we will officially conclude the workshop with a final farewell.

How to reach the hotel:

The facilities that will host us are located about an hour away from Trieste and are easily reachable by car.
For those who wish, it is possible Request a private transfer from Trieste Airport, which we can organize upon request.

Contact us for more information or to receive personalized assistance.

Tour leader. Find out who will accompany you on the tour

Matthew Gaglio

Born in Pisa, Italy, Matteo Gaglio is a nature photographer with a deep passion for wildlife and ethology. Since childhood, he developed a strong interest in animal behavior and the pristine beauty of ecosystems. Through his travels, he explores extraordinary environments in search of stories to tell through images, capturing emotions and unique moments that reflect the essence of the natural world.

Michele Bavassano

Passionate about nature, he travels in search of the perfect shot, exploring pristine areas around the world. Through his camera he tries to share moments and emotions. Michele defines his photography as “A search for art in nature”. He works as a professional photographer and proposes events in the most interesting and important destinations in Italy and abroad. His images have been used by Discovery, BBC, ENEL and have been published in numerous magazines around the world.

What's included

Hotel for 3 nights in a double room
All meals (Breakfast, Lunches and Dinners)
6 shed photography activities (3 morning 3 afternoon);
Specialized photographic post-production lesson for nature photography
Entrance and use of professional photographic huts
Complete assistance from the team
Introductory and technical lesson for nature photography
Assistance in Italian language

What is not included

Extra Drinks
Single Room Supplement (€200)
English language support

The places you will see during the trip

Discover all the places and views that you can admire during this trip. All the material shown here comes from our trips

Frequent questions

Signing up is quick and easy.

It will be enough to click on “Book Now” and follow the wizard by entering your personal data. Upon confirmation, you will only be asked to pay a confirmatory deposit, and not the full amount of the workshop.

Once the operation is completed, the registration will be officially confirmed and you will receive an confirmation email with all the details relating to your participation.

The balance will be requested according to the timeframe indicated at the top of the page, generally 60 days before departure.

A clear, transparent system designed to make booking simple and secure.

can get excellent results and satisfactory. For portraits or more distant subjects, we recommend a focal length at least 300mm. A medium telephoto and a wide angle they can instead be ideal for landscapes and woodland settings.

Don't have the right equipment? No problem. We have a rental service of lenses and camera bodies discounted prices, reserved for participants. All equipment can be booked in advance and collected on site, without the need for a deposit or credit card.
Full details will be included in the information material you receive before departure.

Click here to discover our available rental products

To best face the days in the hut, we recommend comfortable clothing layered, able to adapt to the different weather conditions of the day. No long excursions are planned: the huts will be accessible by car or on short walks in the woods.
All the details about therecommended technical clothing will be provided in a Information PDF which you will receive close to the event.

The facilities are located in about an hour from Trieste and I am easily reachable by car.
Upon request, we can organize private transfers from Trieste airport to easily reach the structure.
Once the group is complete, we will put you in touch with the other participants to facilitate any shared tripsbetween photographers.
All logistical details will be included in the Dedicated PDF which you will receive before departure.

By booking by paying the deposit to the organizers you accept the following clauses:

1. Since this is a pre-registration, the organizer will endeavor to promptly communicate any possible change in the price of the tour, characterized by cost fluctuations. An annual price fluctuation of around 5% is highly likely if booking is made more than one year in advance. in relation to potential changes in prices of ground services (for example changes influenced by fluctuating costs of electricity, fuel and more).
2.⁠ ⁠The price of the entire workshop will be paid via the payment methods offered by the organizer, 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 the event that the tour does not take place due to the organiser, 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 a 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 again accept clauses 1,2,3,4,5.

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Slovenia – In The Bear Forests Tour

1890€

4 Spots Left