SOME HIGHLIGHTS
- Photograph musk oxen against a backdrop of glowing autumn colours
- Hike into the mountains to photograph wild reindeer
- Excellent opportunities to photograph moose in vibrant birch forests
- Fantastic opportunities to photograph Siberian jays at close range
- The autumn colours are at their finest, and with a little luck, the first snow may appear on the mountain peaks
- We keep the group small to provide the best possible experience and photographic opportunities
- Our photo excursions are timed around the best light of the day. You won’t be sitting in a restaurant watching the most beautiful sunset – you’ll be out in the field, surrounded by wildlife
- Our guide is an authorised national park guide and a professional photographe
- Expert guidance and photographic advice in a small group of like-minded photographers
AS IF STRAIGHT OUT OF THE ICE AGE
The musk ox is one of Scandinavia’s original animals. They once inhabited the landscapes wherever the ice sheet retreated. But these relatively easy-to-hunt animals were eventually wiped out by the highly efficient early hunters and disappeared into the mists of history.
In the 1940s, however, musk oxen were reintroduced from Greenland to Norway, bringing back one of the most impressive animals of our natural heritage. Today, almost 100 years later, around 300 musk oxen live in Scandinavia, with the vast majority found in Dovrefjell. A few individuals have even wandered from Dovre into the mountains of Härjedalen in Sweden.
Musk oxen are calm animals that spend much of their time grazing or resting. By spending entire days in their company, we maximise our chances of creating truly beautiful images in a variety of light and situations.
In addition to the musk oxen, the area offers spectacular mountain landscapes and excellent opportunities to photograph other species such as moose, lemmings, golden eagles, and wild reindeer. With a little extra luck, we may even catch a glimpse of the elusive and legendary Arctic fox.
PHOTOGRAPHING MUSK OXEN
To photograph the musk oxen, we hike into the mountains. Fortunately, many animals move down to lower elevations to graze on the mountain willow, making it easier for both our guide and participants to find them. Expect to hike between 5 and 20 km per day, depending on where the animals are located. You need to be able to carry your camera equipment as well as food and drinks for the day. The national park is inaccessible by car, ATV, or lift – hiking is the only option.
Getting good musk ox images requires patience, some waiting, a certain degree of noise discipline, and making the most of the early mornings and late evenings.
Weather permitting, we plan to spend time in the mountains from around midday until sunset, giving us opportunities to photograph the animals in the best possible light. This also allows us to avoid the larger groups of tourists that usually visit the park in the mornings – giving us a chance to have the musk ox herds almost to ourselves.
MOOSE
The area around Dovrefjell has a healthy population of moose, known for their impressive antlers. Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, and the best opportunities for photographing them are during the early mornings. Moose are shy animals, but they can often be photographed from the vehicle or from the roadside.
Our lodge is located right in the heart of an excellent moose area, so we do not need to travel far. In late summer and early autumn, many moose gather in the area. The open mountain birch landscape provides a fantastic setting for photography.
We take early morning drives at sunrise and return after approximately 90–120 minutes for breakfast and a warm cup of coffee.
WILD REINDEER
Reindeer are shy animals with very large home ranges, making them both difficult to find and challenging to photograph. Wild reindeer, in particular, are extremely difficult to approach. As soon as they detect people, they quickly disappear and can move several kilometres in just a few minutes.
Wild reindeer are protected in Norway, and disturbing them is not permitted. Because they are so sensitive to human presence, we therefore do not offer guided excursions specifically to wild reindeer.
Fortunately, there are also large areas where free-ranging, semi-domesticated reindeer herds roam. These reindeer are at least as beautiful as their wild counterparts, but considerably less wary. They are not tame, however, and we must still approach them with great care and respect.
Getting into the right position for photography often requires hours of stealth, patience, and waiting. The reward can be spectacular images of these iconic mountain animals in the magnificent Norwegian landscape.
SIBERIAN JAY
We have access to a fantastic location for photographing Siberian jays. The birds are accustomed to people and have been fed here for many years, providing excellent photographic opportunities. The site is situated in a beautiful old-growth pine forest and is easily accessible by car.
During the trip, we will visit the location two to three times, giving us excellent opportunities to photograph the Siberian jays in flight, in their natural environment, and as detailed portraits.
LANDSCAPE
Throughout the journey, we will be surrounded by some of Norway’s most beautiful mountain landscapes. We can stop whenever we wish to photograph the spectacular scenery, and we will also make at least two visits to Rondane National Park, with a particular focus on landscape photography.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TOURS
On the first trip, the autumn colours are at their most spectacular, with the mountains glowing in shades of red, yellow, and orange. On the second trip, autumn is beginning to give way to winter, and the first snowfall creates a completely different atmosphere in the landscape.
The first trip focuses primarily on musk oxen, moose, Siberian jays, and landscape photography, while reindeer play a somewhat smaller role.
On the trip starting on 3 October, we will instead place considerably more emphasis on wildlife, while landscape photography will play a smaller role.
The opportunities to photograph wildlife are equally good on both trips.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Dinner)
You will be met at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, followed by a drive of approximately four hours to the border of Dovrefjell National Park. Depending on our arrival time, we will make a stop on the eastern side of Rondane National Park, where we will get our first taste of the spectacular autumn mountain landscape.
In the evening, we arrive at our accommodation, where we will stay for the next four nights.
Day 2-4 (Breakfast – Packed lunch – Dinner)
Just before sunrise, we head out by car to look for moose in the area around our accommodation. At this time of year, there are plenty of moose in the area, and they can often be photographed directly from the vehicle. If the group prefers, we can instead spend the morning photographing the spectacular mountain landscapes in the first light of sunrise.
After the morning’s photography, we return to our accommodation for breakfast. We then head into the mountains to photograph musk oxen. There are several different herds in the area, giving us different options each day. Together, we plan the day’s activities based on where the animals are located and which photographic opportunities look most promising.
The exact plan is discussed from day to day, allowing us to adapt to the conditions, the location of the animals, and the type of images we want to create.
Day 5-7 (Breakfast – Packed lunch – Dinner)
We move to another mountain area to search for wild reindeer. To maximise our chances of good encounters, we need to set out early in the morning and hike into the mountains. The terrain is not particularly steep, but the distances can be long. You should therefore be prepared to hike between 5 and 20 kilometres per day.
As wild reindeer can travel long distances within a single day, there is no guarantee that we will find them every day. They can appear as suddenly as they disappear, making patience an important part of the experience. When we do find them, we are often rewarded with fantastic opportunities to photograph these iconic mountain animals in their natural environment.
Day 8 (Breakfast)
If time allows, we will make one final morning excursion to try to photograph moose before returning to Oslo Gardermoen Airport, where the tour comes to an end.
Photographic leader
Floris Smeets, born in 1986 in the Netherlands, has been living in Norway since 2010. Since 2014, Floris has been working full-time as a nature photographer, guide, and workshop leader.
He has a deep passion for guiding and loves sharing his knowledge with participants during workshops.
Floris focuses primarily on Norwegian nature, with a particular emphasis on wildlife and landscapes. He always works with great respect for animals and the environment, emphasizing the importance of taking photographs without disturbing wildlife or altering their surroundings. His images capture not only the beauty of nature but also tell a compelling story.
Floris is a Sony Europe Imaging Ambassador, and his photographs have been featured in numerous magazines and exhibitions.
He is a licensed guide in Dovrefjell National Park and has many years of experience camping in challenging winter conditions. Floris speaks English, Norwegian, Dutch, and German.
