Dates May 22–Jun 4, 2007
Leader Joe Van Os and local guides
Fee $7,695 from Shanghai, departing from Tokyo
Flight between Shanghai and Tokyo is not included.
Deposit $400
Limit 14
Terms and Conditions

Imagine a contented panda nestled in a quiet bamboo grove. The bear is a perfect study in black and white, and the bamboo is fresh with the vivid greens of springtime and glistening with dew. In the distance, monolithic mountains emerge and evaporate through the ethereal clouds drifting across the slopes. Suddenly, all these disparate elements unite to create a remarkably photogenic situation in which to shoot China’s quintessential wildlife icon. With very special permission, animals from a captive breeding program in the highlands of central China will be used as our photographic models.
What makes our trip so exceptional is our agreement to take the pandas out of their "naturalistic" breeding enclosures—for several sessions—and place them in the “wild” allowing for extraordinary photo opportunities! We have scheduled four exciting days of panda photography to capture extraordinary imagery, both inside and outside of the breeding compound.

After the panda shoot, we return to our comfortable Shanghai hotel and the next day we fly to Tokyo. Then we travel by deluxe private motor coach to the Japanese Alps. Here we meet another of Asia’s incredible iconic species and find a spectacular opportunity to photograph Japanese macaques ("snow monkeys") in springtime—a season when few Western photographers have done so. We shoot at the classic site where the monkeys sit in geothermal pools surrounded by swirling mist. Our trip purposefully is timed with the birthing of this year’s new monkey generation. Newborns are unbearably cute, and at this time of year these tiny babies in their mothers’ arms are fantastic to watch and capture with your camera.

There are 300 monkeys in this small valley and they are fed regularly by the staff of the "Monkey Park," so during the day, something is always going on! The experience includes the beauty of the surrounding cryptomeria forest and the unique cultural aspects of noteworthy Japanese food and sleeping on comfortable futons. And there is wonderful private and public bathing in the hot springs (separate from the monkeys!)—just the thing to soothe aching bodies at the end of a great day of photography. This location is one of the world’s greatest, yet little-known, wildlife photography sites. Join us this spring to photograph these two fantastic icon animals of Asia as few have done!



Day 1
Depart home.

Day 2 (May 23)
Arrive in Shanghai. (D)

Day 3
Fly to Chengdu and photograph in the area. (BLD)

Day 4
Drive to the Wolong Reserve in the mountainous countryside, afternoon photo session with the pandas. (BLD)

Days 5–7
We photograph the pandas during periods of good light for these three days, with two sessions daily. The pandas will forage in bamboo groves, climb trees and romp in front of mountain backgrounds. We may be able to arrange an optional session with red pandas. During the midday we focus on local scenery. (BLD)

Day 8
Morning panda photo session, then return to Chengdu and fly to Shanghai. (BLD)

Day 9
Fly to Tokyo. (BLD)

Day 10
Drive by deluxe private bus into the Japanese Alps and walk a short distance to our remote traditional inn at the Jigokudani hot springs. (BLD)

Days 11–13
Photograph the snow monkeys as they forage and play in a quiet valley, a 10-minute walk from the inn. (BLD)

Day 17 (Jun 4)
Drive back to Tokyo and depart for home in early evening. (BL)


Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070
Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com
Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.
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