SICILY

Sicily, the largest island of the Mediterranean, is located in southern Italy. It almost feels like time has stood still here and there is a lot left of the genuine old Sicily. The island offers a varied nature perfect for landscape photography. The landscape is very hilly, with serpentine roads leading to the many mountain villages, stunning beaches, historical sights, and Etna, the volcano, as the centrepiece. To top it all off, Sicily offers world-famous food.

STROMBOLI

The northernmost of the Aeolian Islands is famous for its active volcano, perhaps Europe’s most active. Not far from where the lava flows down and meets the sea is a group of small white villages, Piscità, Ficogrande and Scari, gathered around the Church of San Vincenzo. Today Stromboli resembles a sculpture created by nature, where fire and water once collided, and where the nightly spectacular volcanic eruptions provide an opportunity for fantastic pictures.

SEPT 20–27, 2027

Throughout the journey, Ulla Lohmann will be available for photographic guidance, tips, image editing, and constructive critique. She will also give lectures and share insights from her National Geographic assignments. The exact times for these sessions will be adjusted based on the volcanic activity.

DAY 1, (Sept. 20) – ARRIVAL IN SICILY
You should arrive in Catania, Sicily, no later than 1 PM. At the airport you will be met by Ulla Lohmann for transport to Hotel La Terra dei Sogni, which will be our base for the first four nights. The hotel is located along the coast about 40 km north of Catania.

Our first trip takes us to Taormina. Located on a hillside, the city is considered one of the most beautiful in Sicily, and we explore the narrow alleys and experience its rich history. From the city we have a fantastic view, including of Etna, which in the coming days will give us many fantastic photo opportunities.

Back at the hotel, Ulla will present the programme of the week and what you can expect from the days in terms of photography. Afterwards, a good Sicilian welcome dinner is served. (D)

DAY 2, (Sept. 21) – MOUNT ETNA
Today it is time for our first encounter with the mighty volcano Etna and its dramatic surroundings. A cable car takes us up to 2,500 metres altitude, where an unbeatable view meets you. Far below is Catania, and at our backs Etna rises towards the sky. In our viewfinders we are met by the south-eastern crater, and it feels like being on another planet. Ulla is close at hand to help you with everything from camera settings to composition, and we will also learn a lot about the fascinating world of volcanoes. For those willing to hike 30 minutes uphill, we will explore a side crater with fumaroles, where we see gas seeping up from the earth. Those who want to hike more can take a walk of about 1.5 hours instead of going down with the cable car. For those who take the cable car, there are photo opportunities just behind the station while waiting for the rest of the group.

When the group is reunited, we photograph Crateri Silvestri and explore a lava tunnel, where burning lava has eaten its way through the ground. Lunch is taken at a local cable car restaurant and is paid on site by each participant.

On the way back to the hotel, we find the best spots to photograph the sunset. After dinner, and depending on the weather conditions during the evening and night, we can photograph a beautiful starry sky above Etna. (B)

DAY 3, (Sept. 22) – MOUNT ETNA FROM LAND AND FROM THE AIR
In the morning we experience one of the absolute highlights of the journey: a helicopter flight over the active volcano of Mount Etna. From above, Marcello, our experienced pilot, reveals a completely new perspective on this living giant.

During the 30-minute flight we soar above the dramatic volcanic landscape, over ancient lava fields, steaming craters and the ever-changing shapes created by eruptions. The view from the air is breathtaking: a powerful combination of fire, rock and nature, where the immense scale of the volcano truly becomes visible. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness Etna’s raw beauty from a perspective few people ever experience, and to capture unforgettable images from above.

The day offers countless photographic opportunities. Depending on Etna’s volcanic activity, we explore the best locations to witness and photograph a possible eruption. The contrasts on the mountain are extraordinary: our subjects can range from glowing lava flows, where temperatures exceed 1,000 degrees Celsius, to imaginative formations of cooled lava that spark our creativity and seem to come straight out of a fantasy film. If the volcano is less active, we explore the surrounding landscapes, including the magnificent Gole dell’Alcantara, a gorge with crystal-clear water cutting through an ancient lava flow and revealing incredible patterns and towering basalt columns.

After a lunch stop at a local bakery, paid on site, we continue into the hinterland to discover a hidden gem: an abandoned village perched on a hilltop with breathtaking views of Etna and only a few inhabitants remaining. Here we have the opportunity to taste the products of the volcano – wine, cheese and olive oil, lovingly produced by the Bonaventura family.

In the evening, after dinner, there are further opportunities to photograph the stars with Mount Etna as a dramatic foreground, capturing the connection between the earth’s fiery forces and the beauty of the night sky. (B)

DAY 4, (Sept. 23) – MILAZZO AND TRANSFER TO STROMBOLI
After breakfast and check-out we are off to new adventures. We drive to Milazzo, where we have a chance to stroll around this ancient town and enjoy a coffee at the ferry terminal. Here we board the fast ferry to Stromboli. Depending on the route the hydrofoil takes, we dock on Stromboli roughly two and a half hours later. Here we instantly feel that people do not have watches, but they have time – at a much slower pace than anywhere else. The perfect place to unwind. We soak in the atmosphere of the island at the port, perhaps with a freshly pressed orange juice at Ulla’s favourite bar. Here we can also eat a delicious lunch, paid on site, made with fish freshly caught in the sea right in front of us.

Our luggage is transferred to the hotel, and we get the opportunity to walk and photograph along the seaside. After a 20-minute stroll along the beach, we check in at our hotel, nestled on a lava flow right above the sea.

In the evening we hike to Osservatorio to photograph and observe the volcanic eruptions on Stromboli from one of Ulla’s secret photo locations. Be prepared for goose bumps and moments of utmost respect when you see your first volcanic eruption – an equally amazing photography experience and nature experience.

Dinner will be late today: upon return from the volcano we eat pizza from a wood-fired oven.

With our memory cards filled, we return to the hotel for a good night’s sleep and fall asleep to the sound of the sea and the nearby volcano. (B)

DAY 5, (Sept. 24) – VOLCANO PHOTOGRAPHY
The morning is spent on your own before we meet up for photo editing and image critique of the photographs we have taken in recent days. Ulla provides constructive feedback with tips and advice that we take with us for the afternoon and evening shoot.

In the afternoon we head back up to the volcano together, to a viewpoint at an altitude of 290 metres.

The hike provides many great photo opportunities, but it is when the sun goes down over the Mediterranean that the highlight of the day begins: at close range we can now photograph the eruption of the volcano. Ulla, who has visited the area many times, shows us how to create images using long shutter speeds. Memorable moments and stunning photographs are guaranteed.

You can stay as long as you feel like, until you capture that dream image.

Dinner will be late again, but the pizzerias on Stromboli are open until very late and also serve a range of great pasta dishes and fresh salads. (B)

DAY 6, (Sept. 25) – TOUR OF STROMBOLI
This morning you have the option of sleeping in or photographing the lovely sunrise.

Today’s programme starts with a boat trip around Stromboli, where among other things we make a stop at Strombolicchio, a volcanic cliff out in the sea, perfect for both photography and a cooling dip. Our next stop is Ginostra, a small, picturesque village of 40 inhabitants nestled on the slope of the mighty volcano, with plenty of photo opportunities. During the trip we also photograph Sciara del Fuoco, where stones of lava from Stromboli tumble into the water with a characteristic hissing sound. You will be amazed at the dimensions of everything.

After lunch at the port we climb up the volcano together with a local volcano guide. The hike takes about two and a half to three hours with breaks and photo stops. Our experienced guide shares his rich knowledge of Stromboli and what it is like to live near an active volcano. For those not able to hike, an alternative programme will be arranged. (B)

DAY 7, (Sept. 26) – RETURN TO SICILY
On our last morning on Stromboli we have a breakfast to take away, because we head to the port very early – a great opportunity to photograph the sunrise. A relaxing trip with a cargo boat awaits, which is a good way to see the Aeolian Islands and photograph them from an elevated point of view. During the five hours the journey takes, you will marvel at the turquoise waters and enjoy the views as we pass the islands of Panarea, Salina, Lipari and Vulcano – the island that gave its name to volcanoes.

On arrival at Milazzo we continue to La Terra dei Sogni. Depending on how you feel, we can stop for a swim in the beautiful Alcantara River along the way, or relax by the hotel pool during the afternoon. Before the evening’s closing dinner, Ulla will choose the Photo of the Trip, which automatically goes to the final of Zoom Photo Tours’ competition Photo of the Year 2027, where the first prize is a gift card worth USD 500. (B, D)

DAY 8, (Sept. 27) – JOURNEY HOME
After breakfast it is time for check-out and transfer to the airport around 9:00 am. (B)

ULLA LOHMANN – PHOTOGRAPHER & FILMMAKER

Ulla Lohmann is a German photojournalist and documentary filmmaker with a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management. As a child she dreamt of distant adventures while playing in the family garden, which was sometimes transformed into a prairie with horses in the summer and into a glacier with igloos in the winter. The imagination never ceased. At the age of six Ulla wrote her first book, and when she was eight she took her first photograph. Ulla works regularly for well-known magazines and TV channels including National Geographic, GEO, BBC, Red Bull Media House and Stern View. Her photographs have been exhibited at the famous Visa pour l’Image festival, and her multivision programs engage audiences around the world. For more information: ullalohmann.com

SICILY: HOTEL LA TERRA DEI SOGNI****

PRICE

Price per person: USD 4,300

Price includes:

• Accommodation in twin room at the listed hotels.
• Meals according to the programme (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
• Bus transfers as per itinerary.
• Photo activities according to the programme.
• Various entrance fees.
• Boat trips.
• A 30-minute helicopter flight over Etna.
• Participation of Ulla Lohmann throughout the entire journey.
• Lectures and image reviews led by Ulla Lohmann.
• Local guides on site.
• Hotel and other local taxes.
• Travel information provided before the trip.

Price does not include:

• Flights to and from Sicily.
• Single room supplement: USD 580.
• Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages.
• Cancellation protection and travel insurance – for more information, see our website under Other Information.

FLIGHTS

For flights, you should plan to arrive in Catania, Sicily, no later than 1 PM on 20 September. The return flight can be booked after 12 noon on 27 September. Once the minimum number of participants has been reached, we will send out suggested flight options.

We recommend arriving in Sicily a day before the programme starts, as flight delays may occur. If you wish to stay on after the trip, this is also possible.

If you would like assistance with booking flights or extra hotel nights, we are more than happy to help. You are welcome to call us at +46 70 180 90 99, email us at info@zoomphototours.com, or mention this when making your booking.

DIFFICULTY RATING

2.5 out of 5. On Mount Etna, you can take a cable car to most of the photo locations if you don’t feel up to walking up or down the volcano’s slopes. On Stromboli, there are a number of photo spots if you don’t feel up to making it all the way to the topmost plateau. This means no one should feel unable to join this trip due to their fitness level.”

MEALS

Lunches and dinners, apart from the welcome dinner and the last evening’s dinner, are not included in the price. All other meals are paid by each participant on site. The reason is that the programme is adjusted to the volcanic activity: we do not book meals at a specific time and then risk missing great volcanic activity.

FACTS

Target group: Photographers interested in developing their skills in adventure, volcano and landscape photography.

Minimum/maximum number of participants: 6/8

Other information: For more details about Zoom Photo Tours, terms and conditions, etc., please visit our website under Other Information.

PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Your camera.
• A standard zoom lens from 24 up to 200 mm for landscape photography.
• A telephoto lens up to 500/600 mm for wildlife and nature photography.
• A monopod or tripod.
• Memory cards and a card reader.
• Extra batteries and charger.
• A cleaning kit for your camera and lenses.
• A laptop with either Photoshop or Lightroom installed.

BOOKING

To book your spot, simply click the button below. You are also welcome to contact us by phone at +46 70 180 90 99 or by email at info@zoomphototours.com