Altitude
The elevations of the shooting locations during the workshop range from 7,000 to 11,000 feet.

If you will be traveling to Colorado from a significantly lower altitude, it is important to be aware of the danger of Altitude Sickness, which is caused by ascending too rapidly, not allowing the body sufficient time to adjust to reduced oxygen and changes in air pressure. It can typically occur at or above 8,000 feet.

Symptoms that develop at high altitudes should be taken very seriously, as they can develop into a fatal illness. Preventative measures taken before and during your time in Colorado can reduce the chance of getting altitude sickness:

• • Let your body acclimatize and gradually get used to higher elevations – avoid rapid ascents from sea level, and ascend by no more than 1,000 feet per day
  • Don’t travel to places above 8,000 feet on your first night – consider arriving at least 2 days before the workshop commences, and spend your first night in Denver (5,280 feet) before continuing your journey to the San Juan Mountains area
  • Know how to identify the first signs of altitude sickness, including a headache that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medicine, shortness of breath with little exertion, fatigue, sleep disruptions, dizziness/light-headedness, frequent urination, nausea/vomiting, reduced performance/co-ordination, and decreased appetite
  • Schedule plenty of rest during the first 48 hours after arriving at a place of high altitude – avoid strenuous activity before your body has had time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels
  • Drink at least 3 liters of water each day before and during your stay – the dry mountain air can dehydrate quickly, increasing the effects of altitude
  • Increase your intake of carbohydrates, and make sure you have plenty of snacks with you during the workshop
  • Avoid alcohol, tobacco, or medications that can slow your breathing such as sleeping pills
  • Some prescription medications can help with acclimatization
  • If you develop early signs of altitude sickness, immediately stop ascending, move to a lower elevation and inform your Photo Guide.

Note that some people may be at increased risk of getting altitude sickness, including:

• • Those with medical issues affecting the lungs, heart, circulation, or with High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE),
  • People who have a previous history of altitude sickness,
  • Those with obesity.

We have planned the workshop with the altitudes in mind, ensuring that:

• • While we will be exploring locations up to 11,000 feet (and driving through areas that are higher still), we will be returning to lower elevations of around 7,000 feet to sleep each night
  • There will be no strenuous hiking involved – most of our shooting locations will be within a moderate distance to where we park.

While these measures will help to minimize the chance of altitude sickness, we still recommend consulting with your doctor before the workshop. We will also require participants to sign a Release of Liability Waiver before the workshop commences.

Weather Conditions

At the start of Fall, the San Juan Mountains area experiences intermittent and sudden weather changes throughout the day. Days can range from clear, blue skies to heavy rain/wind. There is also potential for early snow.

In the mornings, temperatures can drop below freezing.
Ensure you are adequately prepared with appropriate clothing – base layers, insulating layers, a winter jacket, gloves, warm hat/beanie, and sturdy footwear/hiking shoes. Sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses are also necessities.

A moderate level of fitness is required for this workshop.

Most shooting locations are easily accessible via a short hike. However, sometimes this may be across rough, uneven, icy, or muddy terrain that includes elevation changes. In addition, the high altitudes in this area increase the difficulty level. Our Guides will let you know if a photography destination involves a long hike, steep incline, or particularly challenging terrain, and provide alternative shooting locations or other options if you don’t feel comfortable.

Participants should also be able to carry their own camera gear while hiking.

Sometimes we may remain in a location shooting for a few hours. Participants should be comfortable outdoors for extended periods of time in various weather conditions such as wind, rain, and extremes of temperature. Wherever possible, our Guides will keep the vehicle available nearby so participants can rest and take a break.

All participants should be in good physical shape with no mobility issues. If you have any concerns about your suitability, then reach out to us and we will be happy to discuss the particular location details of the workshop with you.

You must advise Viking International Phototours in advance and in writing via email of any illness, injury, or pre-existing medical conditions that might reasonably be expected to affect your participation during the workshop.

Accommodation options on our photography workshops may include:

• Double Occupancy where you will share a room with your traveling companion;
• Double Occupancy where you are paired with another workshop participant of the same gender; and/or
• Single Occupancy in your own room.

Your accommodation selection is made when you book the workshop.

During this workshop, we will be staying in clean, comfortable accommodations that include hotels, guesthouses, and apartments.

Please note that if you select Single Occupancy, this may include your own bedroom within a multi-room apartment or Guesthouse (shared bathroom/kitchenette).

Solo Participants wanting Double Occupancy
Solo participants are welcome to select the Double Occupancy rate at the time of booking. If Viking International Phototours is unable to pair you with a roommate of the same gender from the workshop group, we will notify you ahead of the workshop and request you to pay the supplementary cost for a Single Occupancy room.

Single Room Availability
On some photography workshops, Single Occupancy rooms may be limited. If this is the case, single rooms will be assigned on a first-booked, first-served basis. If you booked a photography workshop at the Single Occupancy rate and we are unable to provide you with a single room, we will notify you ahead of the workshop, place you into a Double Occupancy room paired with a workshop participant of the same gender, and refund you the difference.

The itinerary for our workshop is subject to change at the discretion of our Photo Guides depending on the weather, which can be highly unpredictable. We will check the weather forecasts and road conditions and plan our day to optimize shooting conditions. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to visit all the locations on the itinerary.

Fall colors typically start in the San Juan Mountains mid to late-September when the days start to shorten, lasting for up to three weeks. However, there are many variables that can affect this, for example, the temperatures and precipitation levels in the preceding months.

While the workshop has been carefully planned to maximize the chances of fall colors, we cannot guarantee that this will be the case.

Our workshops require a minimum number of participants to proceed.

We will confirm if your photography workshop will be proceeding 90 days before the start date, at which point full payment of any remaining balance will be required.

Viking International Phototours reserves the right to reschedule or cancel workshops due to low participant numbers. We will do our best to reschedule the workshop within two years of the original date. 

If this happens, we will offer you the choice between:

• • Retaining your spot on the rescheduled workshop;
  • Transferring to the same workshop on a different date if there is availability; or
  • Canceling your spot on the rescheduled workshop: No refund – your funds will be held as credit which can be transferred or used towards our other photography workshops, self-drive packages, or tours for up to 2 years from the date of cancellation.

In the improbable event that a workshop is canceled altogether rather than rescheduled, we will offer you the choice between:

• • Applying your funds towards a different workshop, tour or self-drive experience; or 
  • Receiving a full refund minus a $300 USD fee and any non-refundable fees paid to third parties.

Please note that Viking International Phototours are not liable for travel expenses incurred to reach the workshop destination or any other personal expenses incurred in preparing for your workshop. For this reason, we require that you obtain Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance.

We also recommend you do not book travel or make any trip-related purchases before the workshop has been confirmed.

We cannot delay or change a workshop in the event of travel disruptions that cause a participant to arrive late.

If this happens, participants are responsible for arranging their own transport to catch up with the group – which can be a very costly expense. In addition, no refunds will be made for any time missed on a workshop due to the late arrival by the participant.

For this reason, we highly recommend you arrive the day before your workshop is scheduled to start at the latest.
At the very least, you will be more refreshed and relaxed for the start of your adventure.