⭐ Abruzzo Adventure Photo Tour Highlights – September 2026

At the tail end of summer and with the first cool days in weeks, the Central Apennines turn towards autumn. This September I returned to Italy for my Abruzzo Adventure wildlife photography holiday, with a wonderful group of photographers joining from the UK, Florida, Seattle and as far as New Zealand.

Our targets were the Marsican Brown Bear, of which only around 60 are thought to remain in the wild, and the shy Apennine Wolf (estimated population ~300). Over 7 days we combined walking, car safaris, scanning from scenic viewpoints with heat-detecting telescopes, and patient sessions in camouflage hides to photograph these creatures' secret lives.

Walking With Wolves And Bears

What followed was an extraordinary week. We photographed 17 wolves and 4 bears - more than I've ever seen in more than 10 years of visiting the Abruzzo region. Cooler evenings and light rain after the summer drought seemed to bring the animals out to hunt and feed, while the seasonal timing also gave us wonderful opportunities to watch wolf cubs exploring beyond their den and learning to hunt.

This small-group wildlife photo holiday is all about taking our time - allowing the wildlife, mountains, villages (and the food!) to get under our skin. Here are a few highlights from the trip.

Photographing Wolves At Dusk: Within 30 minutes of our first evening stake-out, 5 wolves and 2 cubs appeared from the forest. We stayed hidden at the edge of a field as they woke up, stretched, played and prepared for the evening hunt. A magical introduction to the week.

Low Light Atmosphere: The evening light gave us some of the most atmospheric wolf images of the trip. As they moved between shade and sunset, we worked with the contrast between cool backgrounds and illuminated foregrounds. Patience and an eye for the light often matter more than technical perfection.

"The trip really shed light on things I'd never thought about when approaching photography. Paul's tips will be so valuable to my approach to capturing animals" - Nikki

The First Bear: There is nothing quite like hearing someone quietly whisper “Orso!” ("Bear!") as a Marsican Bear emerges from the forest. Seeing your first bear is thrilling enough; having the encounter shared by just a handful of photographers makes it even more special.

Knowing The Animals: My local guides and I have spent years learning the movements and routines of these animals. We knew this bear, known amongst rangers as 'Golosa', regularly visited a mountain fountain most evenings, so we were able to position ourselves quietly and wait. When she appeared, we had just a few moments to capture this encounter.

Wolves At Close Range: This same knowledge helped us find wolves hunting sometimes less than ten metres away, a privilege that depends entirely on understanding the animals and knowing when an opportunity can be approached.

Want to experience Abruzzo bear photography for yourself? → Learn more about my Abruzzo Adventure Wildlife Photography Holiday

Wildlife In The Landscape: While waiting for bears and wolves, there was often something else happening. Wild Boar, Red and Roe Deer, and Calabrian Black Squirrels regularly appeared, giving us opportunities to step back and place animals within the beautiful Apennine landscape.

Red Deer On The River: Mornings were a wonderful time for Red Deer, with the rut beginning and stags becoming increasingly active. Along one stretch of river we regularly encountered them at close range. Shooting towards the rising sun created a soft glow around the deer and surrounding grass.

Shooting Into The Light: We also experimented creatively with stronger backlight, reducing the deer to rich tones and textures. A tight crop focussed in on the antlers.

"Huge thanks to Paul and his guides. He adapted plans to suit our goals, and I learned so much in the process thanks to his in-depth knowledge and guidance" - Matt

Life Beyond Mammals: Whilst mammals rested during the hotter middle of the day, this was often a chance to turn our attention to birds. Golden Eagles and Griffon Vultures returned to their cliff colonies after a morning carcass feed.

Migrants Passing Through: Early autumn also brings some striking migrants through the Apennines. Bee-eaters, Red-backed Shrikes, Honey Buzzards and Collared Flycatchers were among the species we encountered, adding another dimension to the trip beyond our main targets.

Getting To Know The Abruzzo

An Abruzzo experience gives the opportunity to spend real time understanding its animals. Over the years, my local guides and I have learned their territories, movements and family groups, and that knowledge deeply shapes the way we approach photography.

The aim isn't simply to find any bear or wolf and take a photograph. It's to understand a specific individual's character, what it is doing, anticipate what might happen next, and give it the space to behave naturally. That's when the photography becomes much more interesting and individual to you.

I genuinely believe there are few photo tours where you can experience Marsican Bears and Apennine Wolves in this depth. After more than a decade of returning here, it remains a favourite place to spend time with wild animals and to explore their private and family lives.

Thank you to everyone who joined me in Abruzzo this September. It was a remarkable week, and a pleasure to share it with you.

Paul Alistair Collins

Want to experience this magical part of Italy for yourself? Join me on the next Abruzzo Adventure photography tour, where we spend time entering the world of wolves and bears.→ Book your place on the next small-group Abruzzo Adventure Wildlife Photography Tour

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Species Highlights: Marsican Bear, Apennine Wolf, Wild Boar, Red Deer, Calabrian Black Squirrel, Golden Eagle, Griffon Vulture, Dipper, Red-Backed Shrike, Collared Flycatcher.