If there’s one travel photography hack I’ve learned during my adventure journalism career, it’s this: whenever possible, book photogenic accommodations.
By staying at a hotel, lodge, or campsite that either itself is picturesque, or is located in a beautiful setting, I can take full advantage of golden hour, blue hour, and nighttime photography opportunities without stepping foot off the property—or, in many cases, even changing out of my pajamas.
This approach is great for travel photographers who equally value sleep and content creation. It can also help you stay safe when photographing solo at night.
In this guide, I’m sharing eight of the most picturesque hotels I’ve checked into throughout my travel writing and photography career. Bring on the wanderlust, and don’t forget to pack an extra memory card, because your camera will be working overtime at these dreamy escapes.
1. Leroo La Tau Lodge: Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana
Leroo La Tau Lodge is a dream safari escape for wildlife photographers, with 12 luxurious thatched-roof bungalows overlooking a busy watering hole. The photography options are pretty much endless here. In fact, one day we had so many zebras, elephants, and wildebeests gather at the watering hole we decided to skip the afternoon safari and watch the wildlife from our porch and the lodge’s hill-perched viewing hide.
My stay came with even more aesthetic treats, from photographing a lone hippo from my porch during sunrise to a surreal sleep-out beneath the stars.
2. EcoCamp Patagonia: Torres del Paine, Chile
On my first trip to the Chilean Patagonia, I knew I wanted to visit the iconic Torres del Paine National Park. But I didn’t solely want the high-contrast daytime photos. I dreamed of sunrise, sunset, and, of course, the park’s signature granite towers by night. That’s why my husband and I opted for EcoCamp Patagonia, a collection of domes and hostel-like dorms set within hiking distance of the towers. I photographed the towers, as well as the camp itself, throughout the days and nights of our stay.
And, by staying within the park, I could hike out to the towers at any time, and well before the crowds that hit the trailhead when the park opens at 8:30 a.m. My husband and I had time with the towers entirely to ourselves—something that definitely wouldn’t have been possible had I not stayed within the park.
3. Eglinton Valley Camp: Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Photographing New Zealand’s night sky has always been on my wish list. When I got the chance to visit in 2024, I wanted to make the most of it—and a stay at Eglinton Valley Camp in remote and dramatic Fiordland National Park made that possible. This sustainable and low-frills collection of cabins lies on the route from the town of Te Anau to the popular Milford Sound. While cars and tour buses zip by throughout the day, the road outside Eglinton Valley Camp quiets by night. That means you can see, and photograph, the inky southern night sky without distracting headlights.
A stay here also lets you photograph wild Fiordland National Park around golden hour. My husband and I hiked a local trail as the sun set, then caught the final sprays of sunset from our cabin before the stars appeared.
4. Fresh Coast Cabins: Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan
I always recommend Fresh Coast Cabins in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula for contiguous U.S. aurora photography. The cabins are quite far north and in a likely spot for northern lights if the sun (which sparks the process that creates the lights) cooperates. The family-owned digs are also far from light pollution, with a north-facing view over Lake Superior that’s perfect for capturing reflections of the aurora pillars on the water.
I’ve visited and photographed the lights here about half a dozen times. If you’re booking a stay, I recommend either cabin nine or the Aurora Major Suite. With unobstructed north-facing windows, you can scout for the lights from your private patio—or, if you’re extra sleepy, without even stepping foot outside.
5. Alaska Bear Camp: Lake Clark National Park, Alaska
When a daily itinerary calls for bears, bears, and more bears, I know I’m in the right place. Alaska Bear Camp, a private camp for those traveling with sustainable travel company Natural Habitat Adventures, promises all of that wildlife watching, and then some. I visited in June 2023 and logged some of my favorite animal photographs to date.
The safari escape, hosted by excellent bear photography guides, centers on brown-bear watching, with private and public viewing decks to spot the bruins feasting, mating, and playing with jaw-dropping peaks as the backdrop. While the mammals are the stars of the show here, the Chinitna Bay landscape is impressively picturesque—especially beneath the midnight sun, which barely sets during the summer months.
6. Heydalur: Westfjords, Iceland
I’ve photographed the northern lights all over the world, and few accommodations have been as lucky, or picturesque, as Heydalur guest house in Iceland’s untamed and dramatic Westjords peninsula. The hotel lies on a working horse farm, so while you’re out photographing the northern lights, a fuzzy Icelandic stallion may just stroll into the frame.
Beyond aurora photography, Heydalur is in a perfect spot with hiking trails, seal-dotted beaches, and hot springs within a quick drive.
7. Tea Horse Guest House: Tiger Leaping Gorge, China
Tea Horse Guest House is located on the 15-mile Tiger Leaping Gorge trail in southwestern China’s mountainous Yunnan region. Most travelers, like me, hike the route over two days with a guesthouse overnight in the middle. This stop is both a respite for your legs, and a treat for your camera.
The views from the entire trail are stunning, but here at the half-way guest house, tucked deep in the foothills of the Himalayas, guests enjoy dramatic sunsets, awe-inspiring nightscapes, and dreamy sunrises to photograph while embarking on the hike’s second day. The nice thing about this spot, too: it’s budget-friendly. Rooms start at about $15.
8. Shangri-La Paris: Paris, France
The five-star Shangri-La Paris is a serious splurge, but if you have the funds, I cannot recommend it enough. I stayed here on an Olympics-timed media trip in July 2024, and lucked into a complimentary upgrade to one of the property’s dreamy Eiffel Tower-view suites. I spent so much time photographing and watching the tower change with the light, I barely slept a wink during my three-night stay. So, while the Shangri-La Paris may not be friendly on your pocketbook, it—much like Paris—is always a good idea. Especially for travel photographers.
Read more travel photography trips, like how to capture compelling images while jet-setting, on our 42 West blog.
