Discover our 2027 Photography Workshops & Retreat
Now Open for Registration
These experiences are designed for those who crave more than sightseeing, offering immersive journeys where you connect deeply with people, places, and cultures. From intimate afternoons with locals, farmers, artists, monks, or landmine survivors, to private critiques and group projections, every day is crafted to inspire joy, learning, and profound creative growth.
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Step beyond the typical tourist lens and enter lives and spaces rarely seen by outsiders. Our small groups of six to eight allow you to engage fully, photograph freely, and create images with depth and soul. Each moment is an opportunity for meaningful connection, both with your subjects and your fellow travelers.
REGIONAL CUISINE & COMFORT
Enjoy healthy, delicious meals reflecting local flavors, prepared with care. Travel in style and comfort, staying in exceptional properties chosen for elegance, character, and charm. Minimal hotel changes allow you to immerse fully in each location without distraction.
EXPERT GUIDANCE & SEAMLESS TRAVEL
I personally plan and curate every detail, working closely with my local producers — not tour operators. Together, we guide you through inspiring locations, private homes, and cultural gems. Each workshop combines profound cultural learning, technical mastery, and unforgettable experiences, allowing you to grow and create at your own pace in a supportive and inspiring atmosphere.
Join us in 2027 for a journey that is as much about heart, curiosity, and connection as it is about photography.
"I've taken many other photography trips, but Catherine's are in a league of their own. The extraordinary people and places she provides access to make for a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. She's a wonderful teacher and knows how to build confidence while helping you hone your skills no matter what level photographer you are." - Workshop Guest, 2024
SOUTH INDIA PHOTO WORKSHOP
Jan 21 - Feb 3, 2027 | 14 days
Join us on an adventure-filled journey through quiet Tamil Nadu, the south-eastern most state of India, unique in its devotional population. This state has retained a purity of spirit and loyalty to ancient traditions – beautiful ritual is everywhere.
Early confirmation | Valid for registrations confirmed by April 30, 2026
$10,850 per person, double occupancy
Single occupancy supplement
$1,850
HIGHLIGHTS
Photographing the "lost palaces" of Chettinad, learning about their history and architecture, and spending time with the people who live in these palaces.
Visiting a fascinating death rituals temple at dawn, a very moving (and photo-friendly) outdoor temple on the Kaveri River.
An insider's visit to the Utopian community of Auroville, where we may have the extraordinary opportunity to meditate in the futuristic Matrimandir, meet Auroville's progressive "makers", learn about the intriguing architecture, visit a beautiful paper factory, and chat with Aurovillians about what it means to live in "Utopia".
VIETNAM + CAMBODIA
LUXURY PHOTO WORKSHOP
Feb 19 - March 8, 2027 | 18 days
This is the crown jewel of all my photography workshops. Vietnam is a country I have been photographing for over 36 years. Both Cambodia and Vietnam are in my heart and soul. Let me share with you the inspirational people, places, and hidden gems that I know and love, experiences one would never have traveling alone or on another trip.
Early confirmation | Valid for registrations confirmed by April 30, 2026
$12,375 per person, double occupancy
Single occupancy supplement
$1,500 per person
HIGHLIGHTS
Hanoi, an insider's experience: a private art tour and delicious dinner in my gallerist’s home, time with dear friends (including General Võ Nguyên Giáp’s family), a studio visit with a legendary artist, and a styled fashion shoot in a deeply meaningful, story-rich location.
Sacred Hué, up close: meditation with a head monk at a serene mountainside pagoda, a visit to a hidden corner of the Imperial Citadel, where we shoot the faded ornate beauty of ancient walls and gates, a motorbike journey into village life, and a home-cooked lunch with Anthony Bourdain’s former guide.
The hidden heart of Cambodia: photograph the temples of Angkor in unexpected ways, then spend a powerful Philanthropy Day with landmine survivors, one-on-one conversations (with interpreters) that create intimate, unforgettable human connections.
Optional Add-On (for Vietnam + Cambodia Workshop Guests)
Cambodia Food Tour
March 8 - 13, 2027 | 5 days
Battambang, three hours northwest of Siem Reap, is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Over five rich days, we’ll observe traditional desserts and rice paper made by hand. We will cook, learn, and eat through hands-on cooking classes led by chef Kim Nou, whose generosity and skill bring Cambodian cuisine to life, including the art of using every part of the lotus. These are experiences you simply can’t have traveling any other way.
$3460
Limited to 4 guests (first-come, first-served)
KASHMIR LUXURY PHOTO WORKSHOP
April 5 - 16, 2027 | 12 days
Beautiful Kashmir is often called “Heaven on Earth.” The lively, ancient town of Srinagar, where we will be based, is known not only for its breathtaking beauty but also for its rich culture, exquisite handicrafts, and wonderfully welcoming people.
Early confirmation | Valid for registrations confirmed by April 30, 2026
$10,550 per person, double occupancy
FULL - Let us know of your interest for 2028!
HIGHLIGHTS
An early morning shoot on Lake Dal with two brothers whose boats are filled with flowers, as we go across the lake to their home, to photograph them picking flowers, and to capture their family life.
A day with semi-nomadic gypsies in their village brightly colored, traditional houses, at the foot of the Himalayas; observing all sorts of countryside activities with cows, horses, and sheep, corn, inside by the hearth, sweet lovely children…. beautiful people. We'll have a picnic lunch by the river.
A day with a papier-mâché family learning how they create their art, brought from Persia centuries ago. We’ll enjoy a magnificent "Wazwan" lunch prepared by a local chef, whose techniques we can watch as he prepares and cooks. This place is also a great place to shop! (I bought a few dozen papier-mâché boxes, trays and plates, enough to fill a huge duffel bag!)
RETREAT IN PROVENCE & THE RIVIERA
Art, Cuisine, Photo, Yoga, & Wellness
May 12 - 20, 2027 | 8 days
This unique retreat invites you to experience my favorite corners of Provence, where I live part-time. Set in serene hilltop villages surrounded by olive groves and breathtaking mountains, the retreat nourishes mind and spirit through daily yoga, creative and cultural explorations, cooking with a gifted local chef, healthy mountain walks, and personal growth activities—all while enjoying the beauty and inspiration of Provence.
Rates starting at: $3,300 per person
HIGHLIGHTS
Daily yoga and energy-healing Reiki
Cooking class with Chef Fabienne Sitri, renowned for her use of local and foraged ingredients
Sailing along the Riviera with a picnic lunchDiscovering the Riviera’s rich art scene with our charismatic art historian
Special access to photograph a beautiful roses harvest and learn about the culture of the rose
ROMANIA LUXURY PHOTO WORKSHOP
June 5 - 17, 2027 | 13 days
Romania, where time seems to stand still, is a land of rolling hills, medieval churches, colorful villages, and stately towns. In the countryside, people live close to the land, practicing time-honored ways of working, farming, and crafting. We’ll visit both Hungarian Szeklerland and the Saxon villages, experiencing a country that is profound, soulful, raw, and graceful. It's an immersive journey into the heart of Romania.
Early confirmation | Valid for registrations confirmed by April 30, 2026
$10,250 per person, double occupancy
Single occupancy supplement
$1,600 per person
HIGHLIGHTS
Enjoying an afternoon with a vibrant community of Roma-Gypsy dancers and musicians, who will perform and share the stories behind their traditional dances. We have rare and exclusive access to their private homes, offering a unique glimpse into their world.
Visiting and shooting the oldest working photo studio in Europe, where the master photographer will take our individual portraits and give us personal prints.
Spending an intimate day with local villagers in their homes (with multiple interpreters so we can communicate), making beautiful portraits. We will enjoy a traditional lunch with the family of our friend Piroska in a tiny village not even on the map.
We invite you to join us for a Catherine Karnow Photo Workshop or Retreat in 2027!