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Wild Apuan Alps

A two-day nature photography workshop during the European mouflon birthing season, immersed in the Apuan Alps park.

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Wild Apuan Alps

Days

July 18-19, 2026

Max participants

6 PARTICIPANTS

Price

 259,00

259€

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Destination

The Apuan Alps Regional Natural Park It is one of the most surprising landscapes of Tuscany and extends over an area of 21,000 hectaresA young, rugged, and luminous mountain range, rising suddenly between the Tyrrhenian coast and the Garfagnana hinterland. Its peaks, shaped by millions of years of geological history, offer a unique landscape in Italy: sharp ridges, vertical walls, deep valleys, and one of the most significant karst systems in Europe.

From the 2012 the park is recognized as UNESCO Global Geopark, a title that certifies its scientific and landscape value.

The extraordinary biodiversity of the territory hosts the wolf, thegolden eagle, The European mouflon, The roe deer, The deer, The red-billed chough (symbol of the park) and rare species such as the Apuan alpine newt, an endemic species unique to these mountains. The flora is equally rich, with numerous habitats that change rapidly with altitude and exposure.

The Apuan Alps are also a place of contrasts: alongside the wild nature coexist the historic areas of marble, which have shaped the local culture and economy for centuries. It is precisely this tension between nature, history and human activity that makes the park a living, complex and identity-rich territory.

Dates and participants

Duration

2 Days and 1 Night

Dates

July 18-19, 2026

Number of participants

6 PARTICIPANTS

Activity details

Overnight stay and meals

Overnight stay included in the price

breakfast, dinner

Photographic activities

Difficulty

🟡 Medium

Preparation and equipment

Excursions with a difference in altitude of up to 300m may be planned, therefore good physical condition and fitness is required.

Modality

Traveling photography

Costs and Tour leader

Tour leader

Matthew Gaglio

Starting from

259€

Payment

€119 deposit upon registration and balance due 60 days before departure

Learn more about your experience

Two days of intense nature photography with a professional photographer

In this experience we will mainly go in search of the European Mouflon, as the Apuan Alps are among the very few locations to boast a large number of specimens.

The workshop takes place in the most fascinating period to observe the mouflon in its most intense seasonal dynamics, when the packs move between ridges, high altitude meadows and sparse woods, offering close encounters and scenes of authentic behavior. Apuan Alps, with their dramatic contrasts between white marble, vertical walls and wild valleys, become the ideal stage for powerful and narrative nature photography.

There will be someone next to you a professional photographer A profound expert in the Apuan Alps, he will guide you step by step in understanding the environment, predicting animal movements, and creating images consistent with professional nature photography.

During the workshop we will use the camouflage to minimize our presence and move around the territory in an ethical and respectful manner. This approach will allow us to be as little invasive as possible, observe the animals without disturbing them and get closer and more natural shots, enhancing the authentic behavior of the fauna.

Activities in Detail

The activities during these two days will be entirely dedicated to field photography, in search of the best moments of light and the fauna of the Apuan Alps. At dawn and dusk we will move along the most panoramic paths, undertaking targeted treks in search of the mouflon, during the period when the packs are most active.

We'll hike through high-altitude meadows and open valleys, observing the animals' movements. Thanks to our knowledge of the area and the mouflons' behavior, we'll try to create authentic and unique images of this species, symbol of the park.

We will carefully position ourselves in a favorable area using camouflage through camouflage To increase your chances of spotting diurnal birds of prey, roe deer, and other local wildlife. It will be a valuable opportunity to learn how to exploit camouflage, interpret forest sounds, and manage anticipation—one of the most authentic aspects of nature photography.

It will also be possible to experience a extra photo session dedicated to the research of spectacled salamander, cave salamander, and the rare alpine newt

Each outing will be a continuous learning path: you will learn to read the morphology of the territory, predict animal movements, choose the best vantage point, and manage natural light in the rapidly changing conditions of the Apuan Alps. We'll work together on image construction, depth of field, and the narrative coherence of the shots taken in the field.

The aim of the workshop is to offer you an experience deep and formative, which combines trekking, observation, camouflage, and conscious photography. You will learn to move through nature while respecting its equilibrium and to authentically narrate the wildlife of the Apuan Alps during one of its most evocative periods.

In addition to the field activities, you will have a space dedicated to theoretical and in-depth meetings, designed to calmly address the key issues of the nature photography, from the exit planning and critical analysis of the images created during the workshop.

The evenings will become a key part of the experience: a chance to review the day together, discuss technical and compositional choices, discuss the behavior of the mouflon and other Apuan species, and grow within a peaceful and stimulating environment.

The context, immersed in the Apuan nature and far from distractions, is designed to offer concentration, comfort and inspiration. An ideal place to delve deeper into theory, share ideas, and prepare for the next day's outings with greater awareness.

Accommodation and Meeting Point

The meeting point for the beginning of the workshop will be at Stazzema, located in the Apuan Alps Natural Park. Here we'll begin, with the first group meeting, a short briefing on the day's itinerary, and then we'll set off on our first trek to our accommodation.

The facility, surrounded by greenery and beneath the most famous mountain in the Apuan Alps, known as "The Queen," was chosen for its strategic location, which allows easy access to the main photographic areas, minimizing travel and optimizing outing times.

The refuge offers comfortable and authentic mountain spaces, sharing rest areas and bathrooms, for an even more wild and immersive experience. The shared spaces will be ideal for relaxing after field sessions and sharing moments of discussion.

In addition to the field activities, you will have a space dedicated to theoretical and in-depth meetings, designed to calmly address the key issues of the nature photography, from the exit planning and critical analysis of the images created during the workshop.

The evenings will become a key part of the experience: a chance to review the day together, discuss technical and compositional choices, discuss the behavior of the mouflon and other Apuan species, and grow within a peaceful and stimulating environment.

The context, immersed in the Apuan nature and far from distractions, is designed to offer concentration, comfort and inspiration. An ideal place to delve deeper into theory, share ideas, and prepare for the next day's outings with greater awareness.

Detailed plan

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

Day 1

  • Meeting in the morning at a designated point (time and location will be communicated in the dedicated WhatsApp group).
  • Travel by private vehicle towards the entrance of the Apuan Alps Park and the beginning of the path that will lead us to the first photographic location of the workshop.
  • Packed lunch at high altitude, with a view of the Apuan valleys and a shared break.
  • Arrival at the refuge, settling into the rooms and a short time for rest.
  • Afternoon photo session until sunset.
  • Return to the refuge and dinner.
  • Evening greetings and overnight stay.

Day 2

  • Wake up before dawn and preparation for the morning departure.
  • Photo session at dawn in the second location of our itinerary right behind our refuge.
  • Breakfast at the end of the session
  • Post-production lesson and shot analysis, with collective comparison.
  • Lunch in the village towards the third location.
  • Extra Photo session dedicated to the search for the spectacled salamander, in an area selected for discreet observation of the species.
  • Sunset photo session at a marble quarry, with the possibility of observing and photographing mouflons,Alpine newts, geotritons, Alpine and coral choughs.
  • Return by vehicle at the initial meeting point.
  • Final greetings and closing of the workshop.

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.

What's included

Assistance from a professional nature photographer for the entire duration of the workshop
Discussions on basic and advanced nature photography techniques
Introductory lessons on the biology and ethology of the species present in the Park
Post-production course dedicated to nature photography
Assistance in Italian language
4 photo sessions (1 sunrise and 2 sunsets, 1 extra afternoon)
Overnight stay with half board
Private transfers for the entire duration of the workshop and special access

What is not included

Sunday lunch
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 easy!

Just follow the booking procedure by clicking on “Book Now” at the top of the page. After entering your personal information, you'll be asked to pay for the workshop via bank transfer, PayPal, or card. You can contact the support team if you require other payment methods.

At the end of the operation the registration will be confirmed, and you will receive an official confirmation email with your order number once the procedure is completed.

The meeting point of the workshop will be at Stazzema, located inside the Apuan Alps Natural Park

The meeting with the group is planned at 12:30 in the morning on the first day, directly at the point that will be communicated.

Close to the event, all participants will be placed in a dedicated WhatsApp group, where they will receive detailed information on what to bring, updated schedules, meeting point, weather conditions, and any other useful information to best prepare for the experience.

The workshop is also suitable for those without extensive experience or professional equipment. Even simple binoculars are helpful, ideal for those who want to gradually approach nature observation and photography.

For photographers, reflex, mirrorless or bridge cameras with lenses of at least 1.5 mm are recommended. 300 mm.

As for clothing, it is advisable to choose practical, comfortable, and functional items, preferably in sober or neutral colors, to minimize disturbance to the wildlife.

We recommend bringing:

  • light and breathable clothing
  • a sweatshirt or light jacket for sunrise and sunset
  • comfortable trousers for walking
  • boots or light trekking shoes
  • hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
  • large water bottle
  • headlamp
  • monopod, if available, may be useful

During our stakeouts, we use camouflage material to minimize disturbance to the animals. Those who don't have one can request a special kit in advance.

This workshop is designed for all nature and photography lovers, without experience limits.
It's an ideal event for anyone who wants to learn how to approach wildlife ethically or deepen and refine their photographic techniques.

An educational, engaging, and accessible experience for all, to experience nature photography while respecting nature and its rhythms.

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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Wild Apuan Alps

259€

3 Spots Left