MADEIRA

Madeira has been called “a floating garden” and ”the pearl of the Atlantic” and it certainly is justified, because it’s a tropical archipelago with a wonderful subtropical climate and a breath-taking landscape.

The island is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 90 miles off Portugal and 60 miles off the Moroccan coast, a European outpost in the great ocean. The archipelago consists of the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo as well as the Desertas and Selvagens Islands, small groups of uninhabited islands.

Madeira is the largest of the islands. The dramatic views found all around the island are not only perfect for photography, but also attract hikers who want to experience this green and thriving island. The flowers are something the island is especially known for and the spring bloom culminates in a traditional flower festival. Madeira is also famous for its popular wines, and being the birthplace of one of the world’s greatest footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo.

ITINERARY 21-25 MAY  2025

During the trip, Mattias will give lectures, they will also participate in image editing and image evaluations and give tips and advice when we are out photographing in the field.

DAY 1, (21/5) – ARRIVAL AND INSPIRING LECTURES
In the late afternoon, we check in at the first-class The Views Oasis Hotel directly by the ocean on the outskirts of Funchal. Here you will be welcomed by Mattias as well as a host from Zoom Photo Tours. Our days together begin with an inspiring lecture where  Mattias use some photos to take us to some of the places we will explore with our cameras during the trip.

Filled with inspiration, we head to Funchal’s old town for a welcome dinner and a first taste of Portuguese cuisine. (D)

DAY 2-4 (22-24/5) – THE AMAZING LANDSCAPE OF MADEIRA
During the days with Mattias, we will experience, explore and photograph Madeira’s amazing nature. They will take you to some of their favourite places and our memory cards will quickly fill up with everything from dramatic mountains and deep gorges to magnificent views. If we the weather will be on our side, the clouds add further drama and mystery to the landscape.

One of the highlights of the trip is Laurisilva Forrest, where we are greeted by a landscape that feels as if it was taken straight from the Lord of the Rings in some places. The fairy-tale trees with their winding and moss-covered branches bring our photographic curiosity to life and the motifs are endless. As we hike over the green hills, we are greeted at the end by stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and dramatic cliffs plunging straight down. In many ways, this area sums up Madeira’s unique nature with everything from lush forests to barren mountains that coexist on the small island in the Atlantic Ocean.

The wonderful thing about Madeira is that the photo opportunities are almost everywhere you direct your camera, sometimes it’s enough to just get out through the car door while in other places we will wander into forest environments filled with plant-covered rock faces, waterfalls and tree crowns that let through the perfect light for photography. For those who want to zoom in and try their hand at macro photography, flowers and plants are abundant. As we move out towards the coast, the surroundings become more and more dramatic until we stand on the cliffs and look out towards the Atlantic Ocean that spreads out some 100 meters below us.

For those who are also interested in storytelling, Mattias will share his vast and unique knowledge that he has accumulated by creating stories for some of the world’s foremost magazines, including National Geographic Magazine. Mattias is always available to provide you with tips and advice on how to work towards realizing your photographic vision of the beautiful surroundings we encounter. When we’re not photographing, we’ll have photographic discussions and group image viewings where we’ll look at each other’s pictures and receive feedback from Mattias. We’ll also hear fascinating stories from his many assignments for National Geographic.(B, D. One dinner on your own)

DAY 5, (25/5) – IMAGE OF THE TRIP AND JOURNEY HOME
During our last morning together, it’s time to edit and select the best pictures from the trip, we end our days together with Mattias selecting ”the image of the trip” which automatically advances to the final of ”Image of the year 2025”. (B)

THE PHOTOGRRAPHER 

MATTIAS KLUM – Nat Geo photographer

THE VIEWS OASIS HOTEL****

PRICE, FACTS & BOOKINGS 

Price per person: £ 2 795 or USD 3 400

Included:

• Bus transportation according to the programme.
• Accommodation in double rooms of the listed hotel.
• Meals according to program (B= breakfast, D=dinner).
• Daily photo activities.
• Participation from Mattias Klum during the entire trip.
• Lectures by Mattias during the trip.
• Image editing & feedback on your photos by Mattias.
• A tech host from Zoom Photo Travel.
• Local taxes and tolls.
• Travel documents and practical travel information.

Priset inkluderar ej:

• Flights to Funchal.
• Single room supplement. £ 410 or USD 500
• Lunches. Paid directly on location.
• One of the dinners on your own.
• Costs of a personal nature, such as drink with your meal, etc.
• Cancellation protection and travel insurance. See our website under “Other”.

FLIGHTS

You should not arrive in Funchal later than 17:00 on May 21 and not book your return flight earlier than 14:00 on May 25.

If you want help booking a flight, just let us know when you book, email us at info@zoomfotoresor.se or call us by phone +46 470 466 40.

FACTS

Target audience: nature and landscape photographers of all ages. However, in order to get the most out of the trip, some photography experience is recommended.

Min/max number of participants: 8/15.

Meals: As we will tour the entire island and make photography stops, we will stop for lunch at local restaurants along the way. The lunches are therefore individually paid directly at the restaurant. One of the dinners on your own.

Other: for more information about Zoom Photo Expeditions, delivery conditions, etc. see our web under ”other.”

TOUR LEADER

Apart from an award winning photographer, our tours are always accompanied by a tour leader from Zoom with good photo knowledge. Our tour leader will handle all logistics and general matters and make sure you having the best possible experience.

PHOTO GEAR

• A DSLR camera.
• Telephoto lenses up to 500mm.
• Mid-size lens like a 70-200mm or 100-400mm.
• A tripod or a monopod (this is not essential).
• Extra batteries, chargers etc.
• Rain cover for the camera.
• A laptop computer with any of the Photoshop or Lightroom software.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

For more information about Terms & Conditions click here.

BOOKING

Use the online booking form below and you will receive a booking confirmation right away or you can give us a call on +46 70 180 90 99 or send an email to info@zoomphototours.com