SOME HIGHLIGHTS

  • Photograph the musk-oxen during their rutting season
  • Chance for male musk-oxen fighting
  • Good opportunities to photograph moose bulls with large antlers
  • The first autumn colors will start to appear
  • We work with small groups to guarantee the best wildlife sightings
  • Our photography outings are timed with the best light of the day. You won’t be sitting in a restaurant looking at the most beautiful sunset, but you will be out in the field with the animals
  • Be guided by an official National Park guide, who also is a professional photographer
  • The tour leader will show you his favourite sites and provide photographic advice, in a small like-minded group

MUSK-OX
Dovrefjell National park is a stunning mountain plateau, situated in central Norway and is the home of the impressive musk-ox. Currently there are about 300 musk-oxen living in the mountains of the National Park. This is the only area in Europe where you can find a population of wild musk-oxen. During the last ice-age they were wiped out from Europe. Shortly before the Second World War, Norway imported musk-oxen from Greenland and released them in the mountains of Dovrefjell. The populations slowly grew and is now fluctuating between 200 and 300 animals.

Musk-oxen are not exactly known to be very active animals. They spend a lot of time feeding, ruminating and sleeping. But from late August until the start of October the musk-oxen have their rutting season. In late August the large adult males will search for and pick a herd of females and their calves. Once they have joined a herd, they will defend it against other bulls. The males will stick with the females until at least the start of October, when they are sure that all females have successfully been mated. During the first half of the rutting season, when the bulls are looking for herds of females, the chance for confrontations between males is quite big. Younger males are often chased off by the larger ones. This part of the rutting season can be packed with action. So a great time for a wildlife photographer to target this species.

PHOTOGRAPHING THE MUSK-OXEN
In order to photograph the musk-oxen, we will need to hike into the mountains. Luckily, large numbers of musk-oxen will decent to lower elevations to feed on the high numbers of willows on the lower mountain plateau. This will not only make it easier for the guide to find the animals, but also for the group to reach the animals. Expect to walk each day between 5 and 12 km through the mountains, depending on where the animals will be at the time. You need to be able to cover these distances while carrying your photo equipment plus food and drinks for the day. This tour requires a relatively good level of fitness. It is not possible to enter the National Park by car, ATV or lift.
​
If the weather allows it, we plan to stay out in the mountains from noon to sunset. This allows us to be out with the animals during the best light of the day. Also, most day guided trips for the day visitors of the National Park are scheduled during the mornings. By going out around noon, we will avoid the large groups of day tourists and we will be able to have the herds of musk-oxen to ourselves.

MOOSE
In the surroundings of Dovrefjell there is a healthy population of moose. This region is known to produce moose bulls with over average large antlers. Moose are mainly active during the twilight hours. The chance to photograph these giants is the best during the early mornings. Moose are shy animals, but can be photographed from the car and the side of the roads. Our accommodation in Dovrefjell is situated right in one of the moose hot spots, so we don’t need to drive far. In the end of the summer / start of the autumn, large numbers of moose congregate in this area. The landscape is dominated by open alpine birch forests, which create an astonishing setting to photograph these animals in. In the early mornings at sunrise, before breakfast, we will head out by car looking for moose. About 90 – 120 minutes after sunrise the moose will have found their resting place for the day and we head back to our accommodation for breakfast and a nice warm cup of coffee.
​

wildlife, vilda djur, myskoxe, muskox, fotoresa, photo tour, Wild Nature fotoresor, Wild Nature Photo Adventures, Norge, Norway, Dovrefjell

Price
$2 695
(Registration fee $539)*

Single room supplement
$450

Included in the price
See information below on whats included in the price.

Dates
23rd – 28th August 2026

6th – 11th September 2026

23rd – 28th September 2026
FULLY BOOKED! Register for waiting list

22nd – 27th August 2027

5th  – 10th September 2027

19th  – 24th September 2027

Number of days
6 days

Photographic leader
Jonas Janss Haugli

Number of participants
Min 4
Max 6

Itinerary

Day 1 (Dinner)
You will be picked up at 14:00 at airport Oslo Gardermoen. A 4.5 hour drive will bring you to the border of Dovrefjell National Park, to our accommodation for the coming 5 nights. After having dropped our bags in our cozy mountain cabins, we head to the restaurant for a delicious dinner. Here your guide will tell you more about the upcoming days and you get the chance to get familiar with the others in the group.

Day 2-5 (Breakfast – Packed lunch – Dinner)
Shortly before sunrise we will head out by car to look for moose in the surroundings of the accommodation. After the morning photography sessions, we have breakfast in our accommodation. Depending on when in the season you are visiting, a few hours of sleep is needed to compensate for the short night. Afterwards we head out into the mountains for the musk-oxen. As there will be several herds of musk-oxen in the area, we will have several options for where to photograph the musk-oxen. The options will be discussed from day to day and the group can decide which animals we will go to. ​

Day 6 (Breakfast)
In the early morning we will make one more excursion for the moose. After breakfast and packing our bags, it is time to travel back to Oslo Gardermoen airport. You will be dropped off earliest at 12:30.

More information

  • PHOTOGRAPHIC LEARNING
    On all our trips we have different theoretical photography workshops. These workshops are always related to the specific trip and can be anything from teaching different photography techniques or tips and tricks for image editing to talking about image composition or preparing for special photo opportunities on the trip.

    Throughout the trip, our photography leader provides active photography advice when we are out in the field, so you can grow as a photographer and take fantastic pictures home with you.

  • PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
    The focus of this trip is photographing musk oxen and moose. We recommend bringing at least a 400 mm lens for a full-frame camera or a 300 mm lens for a crop sensor camera. A telephoto lens such as 70–200 mm or 100–400 mm is also useful as a complementary lens. This allows you to include the animal as part of the landscape and works very well for capturing the dramatic mountain scenery.

    A wide-angle lens, for example 24–70 mm, can be valuable for landscape photography. As the mountains can be windy, a sturdy tripod or monopod may be practical. However, most participants photograph without a tripod, often lying down or resting the camera on a rock or backpack, so bringing a tripod for the musk oxen is entirely optional. Rain protection for both your camera and backpack is strongly recommended.

  • CLOTHES
    Temperatures at this time of year can vary greatly, so dressing in layers is essential. Daytime temperatures typically range between 0 and +15°C, while nights can drop below freezing, usually around –3 to –6°C. Our activities also vary considerably — we may hike for several hours and then sit still for extended periods while photographing.

    Sturdy outdoor clothing and warm footwear are highly recommended. Bring clothing that can be layered easily. Closest to your body, wool garments are preferable, such as Woolpower merino base layers or Aclima lightweight underwear — both extremely comfortable options. Waterproof trousers and a rain jacket or poncho are also necessary.

  • ACCOMMODATION
    We will be staying in cozy mountain cabins. Each cabin has two double bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room. There is electricity and warm water. Wi-Fi is only available in the restaurant on location.

  • FOOD & DRINKS
    As our photo outings are timed with the best light and the peak of wildlife activity, we won’t be able to eat in restaurants most of the days. Breakfasts are prepared eaten in the main cabin after the early morning moose outings. Lunch packages will be made during breakfast so that lunch can be consumed out in the field. Dinners will be cooked by the guide or provided by the restaurant on location.

  • ACCESSIBILITY
    This tour is not suitable for participants with reduced mobility. A good level of physical fitness is required in order to take part. Expect to hike between 5 and 12 km per day in mountainous terrain, depending on where the animals are located.
    We often walk off-trail, and there may be sections with noticeable elevation gain. You need to be able to manage these distances while carrying your photography equipment, as well as food and water for the day.

  • INCLUDED IN PRICE
    Shared double room accommodation, meals according to the daily program, photo guiding, photography tuition, local transportation, as well as transfers to and from Oslo Gardermoen Airport.

  • NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
    Round-trip flights to and from Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL), gratuities, insurance, cancellation protection, possible single room supplement, beverages, telephone and internet charges, and items of a personal nature.

  • MEETING POINT
    The trip begins on Day 1 at 14:00 and ends on Day 6 at 12:30 at Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL). The tour leader will meet the group upon arrival and see them off at the airport.

  • TERMS OF PAYMNET
    Regstration fee is to be paid by invoice upon registration. The remaining amount is paid no later than 30 days before the tour.

    Currency used for payment from non Scandinavian (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland) residents will be US dollars.

  • PASSPORTS AND VISAS
    As a EU citizen you should always bring your passport or national ID card when travelling within the EU or to/from Schengen countries (Norway, UK, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein). Flight check-in requires passports.

    If you’re not a EU citizen please check if visa is needed for you.

  • INSURANCE
    Contact your insurance company about travel insurance and cancellation insurance. We always recommend travel insurance that covers medical transports both at the destination and for transport home. For travel within the EU, we recommend that you bring your EU card, that gives you access to medical and dental care when in an EU/EES country. The card is only valid for medical or dental care thatcannot wait until arriving back home.

    NB! The EU card does not cover home flights by e.g. ambulance transport. Therefore you need an additional private travel insurance.

  • HEALTH AND VACCINATIONS
    Contact your doctor for advice.

  • THE GROUP AND LANGUAGE
    Our tours are open to all nationalities, which means that the group can be international.
    The tour guides on our trips speak Swedish/Norwegian and English.

  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    Terms and conditions

Photographic leader

Jonas Janss Haugli, born in 2000, is a multi award winning Norwegian wildlife photographer, writer and student currently working on his master thesis in nature management. He is situated close to Oslo, but travels in all of Norway to capture his images.

His passion for photography came from an interest in the outdoors and birdwatching at an early age. Starting with documenting his encounters, Jonas now focuses on capturing creative images of birds and animals in their natural habitat. Through writing magazine articles or guiding, Jonas finds great inspiration in working with and communicating with people – both on the subject of photography and nature conservation.

Jonas Janss Haugli, photographic leader, Norway, Norge, fotoledare

Booking of photo tour –
Musk-ox rutting season, Dovrefjell, Norway

Please note: Once you have completed your booking, you should immediately receive a confirmation email from us.
If you do not receive this email, please contact us by phone at +46 (0)705 89 13 18.

All correspondence will be conducted via email unless otherwise specified by the customer.

Accommodation *

Read the terms and conditions here.*

I agree with that my contact information is shared to the other participants on the tour *
I hereby give permission to Wild Nature Photo Adventures to use my email address for sending information about the company’s trips and workshops. *