Perfect pictures: 9 of the world’s best photography vacations

Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN
7 minute read
Updated 11:19 PM EDT, Tue October 28, 2014
If there's a new way to photograph Cambodia's Angkor temple complex, the Belmond La Residence d'Angkor tour will help you find it.
Photography vacations —
If there's a new way to photograph Cambodia's Angkor temple complex, the Belmond La Residence d'Angkor tour will help you find it.
courtesy Belmond UK
The Aurora Zone's Torassieppi northern lights photo tours teach aurora photographers to adjust their camera settings to the changing displays in northern Finland.
Capturing northern lights —
The Aurora Zone's Torassieppi northern lights photo tours teach aurora photographers to adjust their camera settings to the changing displays in northern Finland.
courtesy Antti Pietikainen/www.theaurorazone.com
"The tour embraces that quintessential feeling of what winter should really be like -- powdery snow, snow-capped trees and those amazing skies," says Gareth Hutton, who will lead a tour to Torassieppi in Lapland in early 2015.
Quintessential winter —
"The tour embraces that quintessential feeling of what winter should really be like -- powdery snow, snow-capped trees and those amazing skies," says Gareth Hutton, who will lead a tour to Torassieppi in Lapland in early 2015.
courtesy Antti Pietikainen/www.theaurorazone.com
Natural Habitat Adventures specializes in wildlife photography tours, including trips to take pics of Alaskan grizzlies.
Natural Habitat Adventures —
Natural Habitat Adventures specializes in wildlife photography tours, including trips to take pics of Alaskan grizzlies.
Brad Josephs/Natural Habitat Adventures
"Coming within feet of these giant creatures in 100% safety is difficult to fathom, and the photos you can get as a result are unparalleled," says Ted Martens of Natural Habitat Adventures.
Alaska's coastal grizzlies photo tour —
"Coming within feet of these giant creatures in 100% safety is difficult to fathom, and the photos you can get as a result are unparalleled," says Ted Martens of Natural Habitat Adventures.
Brad Josephs/Natural Habitat Adventures
"Wear loose-fitting, light clothes that you don't mind getting dirty," says Tim Gerard Barker. "Often the best shots are taken while lying flat on the ground." Barker leads photography expeditions in Southeast Asia with Art Photo Expeditions.
Pro tips —
"Wear loose-fitting, light clothes that you don't mind getting dirty," says Tim Gerard Barker. "Often the best shots are taken while lying flat on the ground." Barker leads photography expeditions in Southeast Asia with Art Photo Expeditions.
courtesy Tim Gerard Barker
Art Photo Expedition trips are collaborations between the New York-based company and Swedish camera company Hasselblad. Participants have access to high-end Hasselblad equipment.
Art Photo Expeditions —
Art Photo Expedition trips are collaborations between the New York-based company and Swedish camera company Hasselblad. Participants have access to high-end Hasselblad equipment.
courtesy Tim Gerard Barker
Tips from Barker: "Never be satisfied with your first view of a place or scene. Look at how the light is falling and walk around your subject to work out the most interesting angle."
Photographing in Southeast Asia —
Tips from Barker: "Never be satisfied with your first view of a place or scene. Look at how the light is falling and walk around your subject to work out the most interesting angle."
courtesy Tim Gerard Barker
Leica and Exclusive Resorts have teamed up to host a series of photography expeditions. Destination in Focus: Miraval (based at the Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona) is the last of 2014's four-night excursions still available for booking
Desertscapes —
Leica and Exclusive Resorts have teamed up to host a series of photography expeditions. Destination in Focus: Miraval (based at the Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona) is the last of 2014's four-night excursions still available for booking
Tom Brichta
Attractions on Leica excursions with Exclusive Resorts include private infinity-edge pools and hot tubs.
Private infinity pools —
Attractions on Leica excursions with Exclusive Resorts include private infinity-edge pools and hot tubs.
Chip Litherland
Natural Habitat Adventures claims it offers the world's best polar bear viewing/photographing tour. The company holds exclusive permits to tour the entire Churchill Wildlife Management Area in Manitoba, Canada.
Churchill polar bear tour —
Natural Habitat Adventures claims it offers the world's best polar bear viewing/photographing tour. The company holds exclusive permits to tour the entire Churchill Wildlife Management Area in Manitoba, Canada.
Henry H. Holdsworth/Natural Habitat Adventures
Participants can wait for the perfect shot in the Tundra Lodge -- a mobile hotel.
Polar rover hotel —
Participants can wait for the perfect shot in the Tundra Lodge -- a mobile hotel.
Henry H. Holdsworth/Natural Habitat Adventures
National Geographic Adventures offers photo trips that pair travelers with star photographers. The 13-day adventure to Namibia (pictured) is mostly an easy walking trip with one day of kayaking.
National Geographic Adventures in Namibia —
National Geographic Adventures offers photo trips that pair travelers with star photographers. The 13-day adventure to Namibia (pictured) is mostly an easy walking trip with one day of kayaking.
Jonathan Irish
NGA's Morocco Photo Expedition is an 11-day trip with a renowned National Geographic photographer leading the way.
National Geographic Adventures in Morocco —
NGA's Morocco Photo Expedition is an 11-day trip with a renowned National Geographic photographer leading the way.
Ken Geiger
Offered by Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Shikumen tours in the city's former British Concession are a great way to pry into the vibrant local community.
Shanghai Shikumen tour —
Offered by Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Shikumen tours in the city's former British Concession are a great way to pry into the vibrant local community.
courtesy Four Seasons Shanghai
Led by a local photographer Gang-feng Wang, Shikumen tours venture through alleys and inside the communal mansions.
Inside Shikumen houses —
Led by a local photographer Gang-feng Wang, Shikumen tours venture through alleys and inside the communal mansions.
courtesy Four Seasons Shanghai
Most photogenic vacations

Story highlights

With Pulitzer-winning instructors and $100,000 lenses, these photo tours get you shooting like the pros

Some tours have exclusive access to some of the world's best spots for photographing bears

Tips from pros include wearing loose-fitting clothes you don't mind getting dirty

But some tours are headquartered in luxury resorts

CNN  — 

Remember that giant grizzly in Alaska that came inches from your face?

Or those magnificent northern lights on that winter night in Finland?

No?

OK, maybe neither of those amazing photo ops have passed in front of your lens just yet.

But when they do, you’ll want to be ready.

The best photography tours not only put you in the right place at the right time to capture magic moments, they impart the skills to turn them into photos worth sharing.

The tours below feature award-winning photographer-instructors, exclusive experiences and even the use of $100,000 worth of camera gear.