New Mexico Winter Birding and Nature Photo Safari
Dec 13 - 19, 2026: Limited spots available
January 3 - 9, 2027: Sold out
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| " We, a couple of Dutchies, did a week long tour in January of Bosque del Apache, Bernardo and White Sands NP. Focus was on Sandhill Cranes and Canadian snow geese - a bobcat, coyotes, javelinas etc as bonus. Jorn is a great guide, excellent photographer and effective teacher. We booked this trip / workshop with further learning and a number of great pictures as goal. We more than accomplished that, thanks to Jorn, and his lovely wife Hannah on the organisational side, it turned into a great experience." - Frank and Petra, Netherlands, Europe |
Join me for a seven day, six night adventure photographing New Mexico's one-of-a-kind wildlife and landscapes. Our exclusive small group tour brings you to lakes filled with thousands of birds, spectacular white dunes and black lava fields flanked by 10,000 ft. peaks.
Timed for peak bird activity, we'll spend several sunrises and sunsets photographing the tens of thousands of sandhill cranes and snow geese that spend winter along the Rio Grande. Additionally, we'll look for ducks, eagles, coots and mammals like coyotes, javelinas and bobcats.
Once you fill your cards with bird images, we head to the otherworldly landscapes of our newest National Park, White Sands, where we spend a sunset and a sunrise photographing the almost pure white gypsum dunes. We'll have the National Park all to ourselves with exclusive early entry access. Bring your inspiration as we wander through the dunes looking for the perfect shot. To contrast the white dunes, we head to the almost black lava fields to photograph one of America's youngest lava flows.
We'll have plenty of time in each location to take it slow and get our shots. I'll be there alongside you to help you get the shot. With a maximum of 4 guests there will be lots of room for your camera gear.
As an added bonus, VangoPhotos donates $500 of your program fee in your name to a non-profit of your choice.
The January 2026 trip was awesome: read the trip report here.
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WHY TRAVEL WITH VANGOPHOTOS?
| "I have done several photo trips and Jorn is the best photographer I have had the pleasure to work with. Great photo tips, very knowledgeable about the area." - Francis L., Pennsylvania |
- Small group size allows us to have intimate encounters with wildlife. Maximum 4 guests per trip.
- Your dollars support the local economy and directly help protect the places we visit. Your program fee includes a $500 donation in your name to a non-profit of your choice. By default, the chosen non-profit is Friends of Bosque del Apache. The group eats at local restaurants and stays at locally-owned hotels, wherever possible. Your dollars help increase local support to protect these places.
- Receive as much or as little professional photography instruction as you want.
- Plenty of opportunity on location to stay with the group or wander on your own, looking for that perfect shot.
- Sunrises and sunsets are dedicated to your images; we'll have a break mid-day to process images. We'll use our dedicated tour vehicle to get around and we have an additional support vehicle to take care of meals and your luggage, allowing us to spend maximum time in the field.
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Private workshops are led by me, Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven, an award-winning photographer and guide. I have been leading photography workshops and tours since 2018 by myself and with companies such as Natural Habitat Adventures and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in diverse areas such as New Mexico, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. As a New Mexico local, I am intimately familiar with the places during winter birding season that provide the best opportunities to get the shots you desire. I always put the animal first and behave respectfully in the field.
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| " Jorn is an exceptional photography guide. I had several in-depth discussions with him about wildlife photography techniques and learned a lot. He knows the area well and found the best spots." - John M., Arizona |
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY ONE
Your New Mexico photo safari begins in the historic city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. After your airport pickup, meet your fellow travelers at an informal dinner and orientation at your boutique hotel in Albuquerque's historic Old Town along Route 66.
DAY TWO
We travel south along the Rio Grande river and head the best place to photograph the birds from the afternoon into sunset. Choice of place depends on where the most recent bird activity has occurred. After sunset, we check into our hotel in Socorro and have dinner.
DAY THREE
Sunrise and sunset today are dedicated to photographing the birds that spend winter along the Rio Grande. We'll pick the best places to go to depending on where the birds have been recently spotted, usually select locations in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge or Bernardo Wildlife Area. We'll have a private presentation by the local non-profit Friends of Bosque del Apache. Lunch is followed by a mid-day siesta before we head back out to photograph birds.
DAY FOUR
We spend sunrise until lunch time photographing the birds and mammals at Bosque del Apache. After lunch we travel south where we spend until sunset photographing the white gypsum dunes of our newest National Park, White Sands.
DAY FIVE
We grab our breakfast to-go to shoot the sunrise at White Sands. Thanks to our exclusive early entry permit, we have the National Park literally all to ourselves. After wandering the dunes looking for that perfect light, we head to nearby Carrizozo for lunch at a classic diner. This afternoon is dedicated to photographing the black lava desert landscapes of Valley of Fires. A one-mile hiking trail into the lava flow is available. Late afternoon, we'll head back to Socorro for dinner.
DAY SIX
Another sunrise photographing the birds and mammals along the Rio Grande is followed by a visit to a local red sandstone canyon (where we also look for bighorn sheep) and a search along backroads to look for the local herd of wild horses and the elusive Mexican wolves. We travel back to Albuquerque where we meet up for our farewell dinner and hotel in the historic Old Town along Route 66.
DAY SEVEN
Departure day. If your flight schedule permits, you may enjoy exploring Albuquerque on your own today. This old historic town was founded in 1706 as an outpost along El Camino Real (the King’s Highway) between Mexico City and the Spanish territories in current day U.S.A. Albuquerque offers plenty to do with the historic Old Town and Route 66, or go see where Breaking Bad was filmed!
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NOTES
Balance of payment will be due by 11/1/26.
The deposit required to book the trip is refundable up to 6 months prior to the trip start date. Please purchase travel insurance which covers the cost of cancellations.
We reserve the right to cancel the trip due to inadequate registrations or unforeseen circumstances, in which case all deposits and payments will be refunded in full.
Terms and conditions: click here.
The 2026 trip report is available by clicking here.
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Any questions? Get in touch via phone (call or text me at 720-491-8643) or e-mail [email protected]