Lake Tahoe Small-Group Photography Scenic Half-Day Tour
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Lake Tahoe, USA
- 5 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Tahoe photographic tours offer a unique way to enjoy Lake Tahoe’s natural wonders and receive photography tips as you are led by an experienced photo guide who provides tips and shares information about the area. Whether you’re looking to snap a poster-worthy shot of snow-covered mountains, towering trees, wild flowers or the glassy lake itself, you’ll learn how to shoot in the great outdoors and see some of Lake Tahoe’s most beautiful natural sights, including Emerald Bay.
- 'The Ultimate Scenic' photography tour of Lake Tahoe
- Views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range
- Professional photography tips; don't forget your camera!
- A small group means more attention from your guide
What's Included
Meeting and Pickup
Itinerary
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos





Reviews
4.9
based on 656 reviews
Vivien_A, Sep 2025
There was zero communication from the tour provider. After no one showed at the pickup location, I called the office. At first I was told that there were no tours on the books that morning, then that a guide had a death in the family. The company was quick to issue a refund.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Yes there was an unexpected death to one of my guides family member. I was unable to organize at the last minute. My apologies.
Angela_G, Sep 2025
Sam oir guide was Super nice, knowledgeable and friendly . Added bonus he took photos that he' suppose to email and share. Had a great time
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a great review. Please join us again.
Robin Price
Gabriela_M, Sep 2025
Great stopping points for photos. Highly advise to ask tour guide/photographer NOT to use flash while photographing you. Unfortunately, all of our photos were taken using flash which made us look very bright against the background, giving an appearance almost as if we were photoshopped in.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thanks for writing such a kind review. Please join us again.
Gregg_M, Jul 2025
Our tour of Lake Tahoe with Jim was more than expected. We beat the crowds to Emerald Bay and got awesome pictures, the views were magnificent. Stop after stop, great pictures plus a bonus secret site at the end. Jim was awesome with his knowledge of the Lake and history of the area along with his personal experiences. 5 stars and enjoy your retirement coming soon!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for such a glowing review. We always try to give our guests the best possible adventure we can. Glad we were successful. Please join us again soon.
Mark_C, Jul 2025
Waited 90 minutes and no one showed for the tour. I made calls, emails and chat texts with no response until 45 minutes after the tour was to start. The tour operator stated she never received the reservation from Viator. She only offered to do the tour the following day which would not work. We did get a refund. But this was a complete fail and ruined day. In speaking with Viator they stated it was the tour operator’s fault and not Viator’s. I suggest not booking with this tour operator. They are highly unprofessional and unorganized. Do you want to take a chance on planning a 6 hour tour and have no one show up even after numerous reminders and payment made?
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Again my extreme apologies. We have been in business since 2007 and have over 600 5 star reviews. The only other negative review was a couple that wanted to be picked up in San Francisco. I did also offer you a full comp for 2 whenever you might return which you failed to mention. My utmost apologies for human error.
Shirley_M, Jun 2025
Small tours are always the way to go. Very personalized. Our tour guide Jim was nice and made sure each and everyone of us are educated about the history of each site. The professional photography was a nice touch of course.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thanks so much for your terrific review. Our aim is always for our guests to have a great time. Please join us again.
Monique_M, May 2025
We had an amazing experience on the scenic photography day tour with Jim! He was an incredible guide, leading us to some of the most iconic and breathtaking viewpoints around Lake Tahoe. His deep knowledge of the area made the tour both educational and engaging, and we learned so much about the history and beauty of the lake. Jim also shared fantastic photography tips that helped us capture stunning shots throughout the day. His passion and enthusiasm were contagious, making the experience even more enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Lake Tahoe while sharpening their photography skills!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a glowing review. Jim is the best there is and he deserves all the praise. Please join us again.
Stephanie_L, May 2025
Jim was pleasant, personable and very knowledgeable about Lake Tahoe - no matter what questions we threw at him. The tour covered a variety of interests - nature, animals, geology, history, vegetation, and of course the breathtaking beauty of Lake Tahoe. We thoroughly enjoyed each stop on the tour. Jim gave us a great sampling of the main places to see. Plus we appreciated the photography tips and the understanding that we want to capture as many great scenes and vistas on camera as we can. We really appreciate Jim taking photos of us and sharing them with each of us. That was icing on the cake (and thank you for the water and the comfortable transportation too). This tour with Jim, my sister and the nice lady also on the tour, felt less like a tour and more like a group of friends exploring Lake Tahoe together and learning from our friend Jim. Excellent job! Thank you, Jim!
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a glowing review. Jim is the best there is and I am grateful to have him on my team.
George_Z, May 2025
Katie was great!!! Going super early to avoid the busy season was really smart. She took us to some hidden places for photos and talked about the history of Tahoe! Still cannot believe how clear the water was and the reflection. They will email you photos a few days after this tour
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a glowing review. We really appreciate your feedback. Please join us again!
Rick_B, Apr 2025
The day was more than we expected. We highly recommend the day though the price gets expensive with no family discount per individual.
We did not yet receive the photos taken by our guide, as promised. We await the photos.
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you so much for joining us and I hope you come back. I checked with Jim your guide and he said he sent your pictures to you the night of your tour on the 15th and they were downloaded by your daughter on the 16th. Sorry for any confusion. Thanks again.
Georgina_W, Nov 2024
We went as a family. Jim, our tour guy was phenomenal. Jim was very knowledgeable, and patient. Let me just say if were not planning to like Tahoe, well now we want to move in. He showed us the most gorgeous areas. We got to see the lake, the mountains, the waterfalls, even bears. I never thought we will get to experience anything as beautiful as Lake Tahoe. Thank you, Jim. God bless! I highly recommend this tour, and we will be back to do it again as well. We loved it 😍
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for such a glowing review.. I’m glad the bears showed up for you! Looking forward to your return to Tahoe. Thanks again for taking the time to write a very kind message.
Pamela_M, Oct 2024
The tour was great! The highlight was a mom and baby bear running across the road in front of us and seeing the beautiful clear lake and fall foliage. Our guide was very knowledgeable and took us to many great spots to take pictures. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
We always try to contact the bears before the tour. Glad they showed up! Thanks for the great review.
Janet_N, Oct 2024
Jim shared his knowledge of Lake Tahoe and took fabulous pictures! We had an awesome time! I highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thanks for taking the time to write such a great review. Jim said thanks for the picture too. Come join us again.
Sara_S, Oct 2024
Jim was my tour guide for this excursion and he was a fantastic guide! There were 5 of us on the trip and I was the only one with a DSLR, and Jim was happy to help me with it as much or as little as I asked. He took us to some absolutely gorgeous places and also told us all about the history of the area. Lake Tahoe is stunning, but I was glad to have this trip to go some places that I would not have found on my own. I would tell anyone who is even a little interested in photography to take this trip.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thanks so very much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review. Jim is my business partner and a great asset to TahoePhotographicTours. Please join us again!
Ursula_K, Oct 2024
Our tour guide Jim is a professional photographer, who knows the area around Lake Tahoe very well. He told me many tips and tricks about my camera, how to find photospots and about landscape compositions. We also enjoyed the stories about the formation of Lake Tahoe, the idigenious people, who lived here, where its name came from and discovery of the area.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Jim and I both appreciate your very glowing review. Please join us again soon. Thank you.
Ronnie_G, Sep 2024
Tour was great and very scenic. Jim is a great tour guide. Robin is excellent to deal with. You are in good hands with this team.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
It was so kind of you to take the time to write such a thoughtful review. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Staci_V, Sep 2024
This was an amazing tour. Jim was awesome! I would recommend this tour for anyone - first time visitors or not!
Josie_K, Jul 2024
Great information about South Lake Tahoe. Great guide/driver. Excellent service/views. Great panoramic photos!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a great review . Please join us again.
MARK_S, Jun 2024
Jim was outstanding. Teaching us tips on how to use our cameras and taking us places that would create great photos for us to treasure a lifetime. It was truly a fantastic experience.
Greg_S, May 2024
Jim was very informative about the history of the area, and very talented with the photo shoots. Great tour!
Joe_D, May 2024
Had a wonderful photography tour of the South Lake Tahoe Area. Jim (our guide) is a photog with many years of Tahoe experience. He gave us a lot of local history about the area and was very informative. He was polite, kind, accommodating and knew his stuff. He took pictures of us at all of the different areas and then send them to us a couple of days later. The pics were very good. He showed us some areas that were not as “busy” as other areas but had spectacular views. I would definitely recommend this tour for great shots and local history of the area.
Marilyn_S, Mar 2024
This was a wonderful tour. Our tour guide/photographer (Jim) provided an excellent experience. We enjoyed all the scenic locations we visited. Jim provided interesting and entertaining commentary during the driving portions of the tour and at each stop. He was so knowledgeable about all aspects of the Lake Tahoe area, and we learned a lot about the history of the area and about the land and trees. We appreciated his outstanding photo skills and the fact that he both took professional pictures and sent them to us, as well as being willing to take pictures with our camera phones. We highly recommend this tour to anyone, and we would take it again if we visit Lake Tahoe during another season.
Phillip_G, Dec 2023
I booked this excursion especially for my husband and he enjoyed every minute of it. Our guide photography expert was super nice and knowledgeable!
rmr815, Nov 2023
Jim was very knowledgeable of the area. The information he shared was very interesting. We loved the areas around Lake Tahoe he took us to, especially the non touristic areas. This was one of the best tours we have ever taken. Jim was very friendly and accommodating. He is excellent.
Sylvia_L, Nov 2023
This was a wonderful tour that exceeded our expectations. Jim, our guide was so knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He took us to see spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and much much more. He took pictures for us and forwarded them to us. Loved loved this tour. Also, thanks to Robin for helping us with the booking.
Tina_T, Oct 2023
We booked this tour and then the owner called and said it was not available because she didn't have any drivers. We were very disappointed!!!
caruca4, Oct 2023
Jim our tour guide was very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. He took us to beautiful places and took great pictures that will be forever treasured.
Edna_M, Sep 2023
What a great experience with my daughter! It was a perfect day and Jim our guide was awesome and so knowledgeable in the history of Tahoe!
Carol_R, Sep 2023
This was the perfect tour for us. We had one day to see Lake Tahoe and Jim took us to the most beautiful places. He not only advised us on taking our own photos but as a professional photographer, he took photos of us and emailed them to us after the tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
It always gives me great pleasure when I read that our guests had a good time with us on TahoePhotographicTours. Thanks for writing such a glowing review. Please join us again soon.
Kelli_S, Aug 2023
As longtime residents of Southern California, this was our first trip to Lake Tahoe. Viator reviews led us to this tour and we'd like to add our five star + rating. Dave was our photography instructor, host and guide and we could not have asked for more. He drove us to outstanding vistas (along with some locals secret spots) giving clear and memorable instructions on how to improve our picture taking. The tour included an interesting historical and cultural overview as well as friendly conversation which enhanced our experience. If you are looking for a top notch way to spend your day, begin here! Thank you to Dave and Viator for a truly wonderful tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thanks so much for writing such a glowing review. Your guide,Jim, is also my business partner. As owner of TahoePhotographicTours I couldn’t ask for better. Please join us again soon.
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Sporting Events
- Extreme Sports
- 4WD Tours
- Tickets & Passes
- Outdoor Activities
- Private and Luxury
- Lake Tahoe
- Sporting Events - Reno
- Extreme Sports - Reno
- 4WD Tours - Reno
- Sporting Events - Sacramento
- Extreme Sports - Sacramento
- 4WD Tours - Sacramento
- Sporting Events - Yosemite National Park
- Extreme Sports - Yosemite National Park
- 4WD Tours - Yosemite National Park




















