Grächen Adventure Workshop
04.-06.9.2026
Experience
Over these three days, we aim high – a true The Alpinists adventure. Surrounded by glaciers, we spend two nights in the remote Bordier Hut and stand on the summit of Gross Bigerhorn (3,626 m) in the early morning, the highest hiking summit in Switzerland. Sunrises and sunsets, of course, are part of the experience. After long days in high alpine terrain, we also enjoy hut life: eating together, playing games, laughing, resting, and winding down the evening in a cozy atmosphere. Thanks to the minimal light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible on a clear night. Up there, right in the heart of the Valais four-thousanders, you can experience a truly unique adventure.
Photography
Of course, such an experience deserves to be remembered. We’ll gladly share how we approach shooting in the mountains along the way. From simple techniques to working with changing alpine light, you’ll naturally pick up tips while we move through the terrain. Photography is not the main goal of the trip, but a way to capture what you truly lived.
What is included?
- Three days exploring high alpine terrain with The Alpinists
- Professional camera gear provided by Sony
- Two nights’ accommodation in a mountain hut (dormitory-style sleeping arrangements)
- Photography and filming tips and tricks
- Dinner and breakfast included
What is not included?
- SD cards
- Lunch/snacks during activities (you can buy these at local shops in the valley)
- Travel to and from the workshop location
- Suitable gear for high alpine terrain
- Post-processing or editing skills (not covered in this workshop)
Further Information
- Suitable equipment for three days in the mountains (a packing list will be provided before the workshop starts).
- Specialised equipment like ice axes or crampons won’t be necessary.
- Languages spoken: German, English.
- You should be comfortable with a hike involving the following: 1,000 metres of ascent and descent, 10 km distance, and T3 difficulty level.
- Maximum group size: 8 participants.
- Leaders: Joni and Marco.
The Plan
The goal is to spend three unforgettable days in the mountains around Grächen VS (Bordierhütte), experiencing a full-scale “The Alpinists” adventure. Go behind the scenes with our collective and join us as we capture the first rays of sunlight or photograph the stars above the glacier late at night.
The first day already takes us into high alpine terrain as we hike up to the Bordierhütte, which will be our base for the following days. From there, we move through glaciers and high-altitude terrain directly from the hut.
Accommodation is in shared sleeping quarters typical for alpine huts, and sure-footedness is essential throughout the tour. Along the way, there will naturally be opportunities to take photos or film, and to exchange ideas or ask questions.
The workshop starts and ends in Grächen VS. In case of extremely poor weather conditions, the programme will be adapted or, if necessary, the workshop cancelled.
Our Partners
What previous guest think
@julestrp
"I truly enjoyed the photography workshop. Everything was well organized, and we got a lot of practical tips and individual support to gain more confidence behind the camera. But what I enjoyed the most was the group experience. Spending a weekend with like-minded people who enjoy photography was both inspiring and a lot of fun. Marco, Silvan, and Joni did a great job making everyone feel right at home, and in the end, it felt more like a weekend spent with friends."
@goodcoffeeandwanderlust
"I saw an ad on Instagram showing stunning mountain nature scenes and was immediately drawn in, as the Swiss Alps are my happy place. I've always loved photography but never had much idea what I was doing or where to go to capture the best scenes, so the workshop looked ideal for improving my skills, spending some time in incredible scenery, and meeting some interesting people. It did not disappoint! Despite it only being over three days, I came away feeling more at peace, relaxed, and fulfilled than I have done in a long time. The guides—Silvan, Marco, and Joni—were phenomenal, fun, down-to-earth guys full of passion about both the photography and the alpine locations, always ready to pass on some knowledge or crack a joke. The locations themselves were breathtaking, the hotels were gorgeous, the Sony cameras we had on loan were fantastic, and the late-night Lightroom session was really helpful. Rediscovering manual photography was a joy, and the little tips constantly available from the guides were super helpful with refining shots or considering different perspectives. The other group members were brilliant too; there was a really nice balance of people from different backgrounds and different skill levels. Everyone bonded really well over the workshop; it was a cohesive and fun group, and it felt more like hanging out with old friends than with people you had just met the previous day! Honestly, I was so sad the workshop had to end; it felt like we'd all known each other for far longer. Overall, I couldn't recommend this workshop more. It was great value for the price, and the level of knowledge was excellent, as was the guys' ability to pass that knowledge on. The autumnal Swiss alpine scenery was just as stunning as I'd hoped, the equipment was great, and the atmosphere was fun and relaxed... just fantastic! If my schedule permits, I will absolutely join another one of the Alpinists' workshops in the future!"
@Jiskaz
"Die Tage im Engadin waren unglaublich bereichernd. Danke an das ganze Team von The Alpinists."
@daniel.maier1
"Obwohl ich schon lange fotografiere, hat mir der Workshop neue Aspekte gezeigt und mich inspiriert. The Alpinists haben es mit grossem Engagement und spürbarer Freude an der Fotografie möglich gemacht, für ein verlängertes Wochenende in die Engadiner Bergwelt einzutauchen und mit anderen Fotobegeisterten zusammen die Momente zu geniessen."
@harry_caine
"Getting first-hand experience and leaving my comfort zone made me book this tour. The personal teaching experience, the small group size, and the astonishing scenery rewarded all the efforts."
@reiemdes
"I booked this workshop spontaneously because I was looking for a guided photo tour in the Alps during my vacation. I wanted to explore new hikes with safe guidance—and I wanted to improve my photography skills. That's exactly what I got in this workshop, and so much more. I always felt supported in a very kind, helpful, and respectful way. All questions were welcomed and answered. The group dynamic was very nice; no one was left behind. Both the more experienced and the beginner photographers were well accompanied by the guides. I learned about storytelling, light, composition, editing, landscape/animal/nature/portrait/product photography, and hiking techniques! I got the most out of it: since then, I feel confident enough to shoot in manual mode. I also programmed a new focus button on my camera, which is a game-changer for my way of taking pictures. I loved every single moment of this workshop, and I fully recommend it. Thank you once again!"
@masha_fux_
"I booked this workshop because, about a year ago, I bought my first camera. However, out of fear of not getting “good” photos, I always ended up shooting in automatic mode. I really wanted to finally understand how to use manual mode properly. On top of that, I’ve been a fan of The Alpinists from the very beginning, ever since a good friend introduced me to them. When I found out the workshop was taking place in Grächen, it felt like the perfect opportunity to join. What I was hoping to learn was very clear: I wanted to understand manual photography and learn as much as possible about photography in general. For me, it was important not just to watch YouTube videos, but to actually go outside, into nature, and practice everything live while taking photos. What I liked most about the workshop was definitely the group. The participants were amazing, and the guides were incredibly good—very knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely passionate about what they do. Each guide had their own way of explaining photography, which I found really valuable because hearing things explained in different ways makes everything click much faster. I did learn something very specific that really stuck with me: using the exposure meter in the camera settings to understand whether an image is properly exposed. That tool helped me enormously when working in manual mode and gave me much more confidence with my settings. Throughout the workshop, I felt very comfortable and well taken care of. Even during the hikes, there was always consideration for everyone’s pace, and I never felt left behind. The overall atmosphere was very supportive and relaxed. What I enjoyed most was spending time together with people who were all equally enthusiastic about photography—that shared passion made the experience even better. What surprised me in a very positive way was how hands-on the guides were. While we were taking photos, they actively came up to each person, looked at what we were doing, and gave individual tips without being asked. I had expected more theory followed by everyone shooting on their own, but instead, it was very personal and interactive. I was also surprised by how much I learned about lenses; being able to test different ones made me realize what’s possible and helped me understand which lens I would choose in the future. Finally, the WhatsApp group created for the workshop was a great surprise as well, because it allows us to stay in touch, ask questions, and keep exchanging ideas even after the workshop."
@jennys_photogallery
"Seit einigen Jahren habe ich Freude am Fotografieren, weswegen ich auch den „TheAlpinists“ schon länger auf Instagram folge und ihre Bilder genial finde. Das hat mich sofort gepackt, als ich gesehen habe, dass sie einen Foto-Workshop im Engadin anbieten, und ich wusste: Da muss ich mich anmelden. Ich wollte mehr über Fotografie, Kameras und deren Einstellungen wissen und Neues lernen. Zudem war mein Ziel, dass ich meine Kamera zu Hause selbstständig und ohne Automatik bedienen kann und die Nachbearbeitung der Bilder verstehe und anwenden kann. Diese Ziele habe ich dank des Kurses erreicht. Während der drei Tage habe ich mich sehr wohl gefühlt, auch in der Gruppe. Die drei Leiter haben sehr gute Arbeit geleistet, immer genau geschaut, wann und wo die besten Bedingungen herrschen, und bei mir immer nachgefragt, ob alles gut ist und ich bereits einige gute Bilder habe. Wenn nicht, haben sie mich weiter aufgeklärt und gesagt, worauf ich achten soll. Sie haben sich sehr viel Zeit für jeden Einzelnen genommen, das hat mich positiv überrascht. Gerne werde ich mich erneut für einen Workshop anmelden, sei es ein Foto-Workshop oder auch nur für die Bildnachbearbeitung."
Investment:
CHF 1450.-
10% off for students/early bird
prepayment of CHF 500.- to secure your spot*
*After successfully paying the prepayment we will reach out to you with further details on the workshop and everything you need to know, we are beyond excited to get in touch and thank you for your trust!
Registration
By signing up you agree with the AGB.
Frequently asked questions
What level of photography is required?
The workshop is open to all levels of experience. The only thing we ask is that you bring passion, energy and the drive to be out in the field every day no matter what the weather is like.
What should I bring?
We will send out a clothing list before the trip. We recommend that you layer up! Bring comfortable clothes for sunny days and layers for when it’s colder such as in the morning and evening. A rain jacket, preferably Gore-tex and a wool underlayer will help when shooting after sunset. Merino socks and hiking boots are your best friend. As the saying goes “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”. Temperatures during the day could hit over 20 degrees Celsius and on an evening in the mountains approach 0 degrees Celsius.
What are the required fitness conditions?
During this workshop we will have to carry the camera equipment as well as clothes, food and water for smaller hikes. It should be doable for all fitness levels as we can plan enough time and adapt the route.
Can I bring a drone?
Of course! Please only use your drone where it is allowed to do so. We would recommend bringing a DJI Mavic sized drone to give you a smooth travel experience. If you are interested we can show you the basics of aerial photo- and videography.





