Saudi Arabia Photography Workshop and Tour
Price range: £1,000.00 through £4,900.00
8th September – Arrival Day
After checking in, group introduction and a brief, and a meal at the hotel, we will shoot some nightscapes over Maraya, the Guinness World Record holding mirror-clad building.
9th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after a late lunch we head to the tombs at Hegra, where we explore for the later part of the afternoon, shoot sunset, then produce nightscapes over the incredible structures.
10th September
Free time in the morning, in the afternoon we undertake our first post-production session before heading deep into the desert and dark sky reserve with our guides and convoy of jeeps where we work at locations off the beaten path under incredible night skies.
11th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after lunch we head out again to a new location in the desert with incredible rock formations.
12th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after lunch, we head out again to a new location in the desert with incredible rock formations.
13th September
Free time in the morning, night sky planning session, then we head to Alula to explore the old town village and dine out in the evening. Tonight we head to a popular spot with unique rock formations that have become iconic in association with Gharameel Dark Sky Reserve.
14th September
Free time in the morning, long post-production session, then we head to another classic location on the edge of town for our final Milky Way shooting session.14th May – Departure Day
15th September – Transfer to Alula airport.
Description
BRAND NEW Saudi Arabia Photo Tour
Saudi Arabia Photo Tour
8th – 15th September 2026
Tutor: Ollie Taylor
PRICE
Price £4900
Deposit £1000
DATES & AVAILABILITY
8th – 15th September 2026
7 Nights
PARTICIPANTS
Max 8 Photographers
Tutor: Ollie Taylor
EXERTION LEVEL
LOCATION
Saudi Arabia
ACCOMMODATION
TBC
Landscape Photography Tuition
This workshop will include sunset shoots at the same location we undertake astrophotography, to include Hegra UNESCO world Heritage site.
Nightscape Photography Tuition
Night sky and astrophotography tuition is included within this Saudi photography tour.
Expertise
The Saudi Arabia tour is aimed at photographers at amateur skill level and upwards; participants will need a good understanding of the manual mode in their cameras.
Contact Form
Astrophotography Expedition: AlUla &Gharameel Dark Sky Reserve
Experience the unparalleled beauty of the night sky in one of the world’s most promising new astronomical destinations. This exclusive astrophotography tour takes place within the Gharameel region of AlUla, Saudi Arabia—recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve and home to the groundbreaking AlUla Manara Observatory project.
As part of a broader initiative to protect and celebrate AlUla’s celestial heritage, the region is undergoing a transformation, replacing traditional lighting with dark sky-compliant downlighting. This effort ensures optimal conditions for night sky observation while preserving the natural environment for generations to come.
Participants will journey deep into the desert alongside experienced guides to explore and photograph dramatic geological formations, secluded locations, and renowned natural landmarks—all under pristine, star-filled skies. From hidden gems to iconic desert landscapes, each location has been carefully selected to provide a rich and varied photographic experience.
A key highlight of the tour is exclusive after-hours access to Hegra (Mada’in Salih)—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the southern capital of the ancient Nabataean civilization, famed for its architectural and archaeological significance, and often referred to as the sister city of Petra in Jordan.
This professionally curated tour is ideal for photographers of all levels seeking extraordinary astrophotographic opportunities in one of the world’s most captivating and culturally rich desert regions..
SAUDI ARABIA ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Itinerary
9th September – Arrival Day
After checking in, group introduction and a brief, and a meal at the hotel, we will shoot some nightscapes over Maraya, the Guinness World Record holding mirror-clad building.
10th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after a late lunch we head to the tombs at Hegra, where we explore for the later part of the afternoon, shoot sunset, then produce nightscapes over the incredible structures.
11th September
Free time in the morning, in the afternoon we undertake our first post-production session before heading deep into the desert and dark sky reserve with our guides and convoy of jeeps where we work at locations off the beaten path under incredible night skies.
12th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after lunch we head out again to a new location in the desert with incredible rock formations.
13th September
Free time in the morning and early afternoon, after lunch, we head out again to a new location in the desert with incredible rock formations.
14th September
Free time in the morning, night sky planning session, then we head to Alula to explore the old town village and dine out in the evening. Tonight we head to a popular spot with unique rock formations that have become iconic in association with Gharameel Dark Sky Reserve.
15th September
Free time in the morning, long post-production session, then we head to another classic location on the edge of town for our final Milky Way shooting session.14th May – Departure Day
16th September – Transfer to Alula airport.
Fieldwork Equipment
Full frame, crop sensor, micro four-thirds, and bridge cameras can be used, alongside larger format cameras. It is recommended that your camera has a minimum of ISO 6400, though ideally 12800 or above for the astrophotography element of the Dolomites Workshop.
- Camera body & spare recommended
- Multiple lenses with a range of focal lengths from wide to telephoto; a fast aperture wide lens is highly advantageous
- Sturdy tripod, x 2 if undertaking timelapse
- Star tracker (optional)
- Remote timer or long exposure bulb control built-in on the timer
- Spare camera batteries
- Head torch with a red mode (this is not for night vision, it makes it easier to work as a group, and stops us from blinding one another).
Post-production & Planning Necessities
Several afternoon post-production sessions will be incorporated into the workshop.
Planning and post-production are absolutely critical elements of astrophotography, hence they have been included in our group workshops since 2014. For those that don’t use Adobe and are using other post-production software suites, it will be up to you to transfer the workflow to your chosen software suite; the second phase of the workflow requires software with layers (ie Photoshop or similar).
- Photoshop (or another sotware suite with layer options)
- A laptop running the above ideally with a minimum of 8GB Ram (though 16GB Ram or over is recommended for advanced post-production)
- This part of the workshop can be undertaken with no laptop, instead taking notes.
- A video of the session recorded on iPhone Pro Max will be distributed to the group at the end of the workshop.
Recommended apps that will be taught and demonstrated:
- Photopills (paid one-time subscription)
- Stellarium (free on desktop), free mobile version, the full mobile version now costs a fee
- Starwalk 2, Sky Guide or similar “what’s in the sky mobile/tablet application”
SAUDI Photography Workshops FAQs
Ollie was invited to Saudi Arabia and funded on his initial visit by the Royal Commission for Alula. His long-standing astrophotography tours were seen as the ideal addition to the tourism activities in the area. He now has a network in place to help him with operations, but also provides exclusive access to sites such as UNESCO World Heritage site, Hegra, where we currently have exclusive access for night photography.
This tour is open to astrophotographers of varied skill levels, some may not require tuition. For those seeking tuition, this will be delivered at the levels required, from beginner to using stacking and tracking techniques, longer focal length, deeper sky details, time-lapse help, and other techniques as required.
In Saudi Arabia, there are no mandatory dress codes for women or men, but dressing respectfully is strongly advised. As in many countries, modest attire is appreciated, especially in towns and at tourist attractions. It’s recommended that men wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees, while women should opt for garments that cover their shoulders and legs.
For daytime, choose loose, comfortable clothing suitable for warm or hot weather. When exploring outdoor terrain, wear appropriate gear. In the evenings, temperatures can drop, so it’s a good idea to bring a hoodie or fleece. Hiking trousers or jeans are also practical options for cooler nights or more rugged areas.
- Lose-fitting clothing for the warm daytime temperatures
- A mix of lightweight long and short-sleeved tops
- Good hiking boots or hiking trainers for the desert terrain
- Comfortable shoes/trainers for the urban terrain
- A few warmer items for the cooler desert air at night
- Mosquito repellent
- Sun block
- Swim and gym wear for those wishing to use pool or gym
The tour is fully catered, with breakfast and one meal a day in the hotel or a restaurant, usually lunch, then snacks and drinks sourced from local delis and caterers to take on the road in cool bags for the evening.
Please let us know of any dietary requirements.
Yes, non-nationals need a visa for Saudi Arabia.
The visa process is straightforward. International visitors from 49 eligible countries can apply for an eVisa through the fast and easy-to-use online portal. For those not included in the list, Ollie may be able to assist through his network of partners in Saudi Arabia.
ACCOMMODATION
Nestled within rock valleys and a date palm oasis lies the ancient town of Alula in Saudi Arabia’s western region. On the edge of town, surrounded by sandstone rock formations, is where we will stay in a luxury, air-conditioned resort.
Travel to Alula
Alula can be reached via Jeddah, Riyadh (Saudi Airlines) and Dubai (Fly Dubai/Emirates). Overnight stays in the aforementioned may be required to connect with your flights to Alula.
TRANSFERS
Private transfers will be provided from the airport to our hotel.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Group emails are set up once the group is fully booked, as an icebreaker, and also to serve as a Q&A platform.
Deposits are non-refundable, and balances are due 120 days prior to the workshop commencing.
Please contact us for any further information required.
BOOK YOUR PLACE
If there are spaces left, you can book your place on this photography tour below.
If you have any questions please click here to contact Ollie Taylor.
