Rainbow Badlands – Ultimate Drone Trip
October 15 – 21, 2026
Overview
Join this SMALL GROUP tour as we explore the most photogenic landscapes in the American Southwest!
This workshop will take you to four distinct areas in the 4 Corners region. Each spot was chosen to show you a mix of quintessential and completely off the beaten path landscapes.
This trip is PERFECT for not only capturing a wide variety of stunning landscapes, but also learning how to do so from a drone. I want to teach you all that I know about taking drone photos, composing shots, using the correct settings, and editing your photographs.
What Should You Expect?
The American Southwest is perhaps the most varied and stunning place for drone photography on the planet. I’ve spent YEARS exploring the 4 Corners region, off-roading, hiking, and working with land owners to find some of the most jaw dropping places to see from above. Some of these spots have become iconic and some are places where this group will be the first to explore.
We will focus on drone photography, but there will be opportunities to shoot from the ground as well.
Shooting and editing drone photos can be quite different from ground based photography. I want to show you my approach to handling these images and putting together large panoramas taken from the air.
We will be out each morning and evening to capture the twilight and golden hour of both sunrise and sunset. The best place to learn is in the field, and I will help each person capture the best photos possible.
When we are not driving to the next location, we will have editing sessions where I help you edit YOUR photos. These sessions are recorded for your own use afterwards.
Group Size
Small group of 5 guests
Location
Arizona and Utah
Investment
$3800
Fitness
Easy
Instructors
Nickolas Warner
Itinerary
Please note: this exact itinerary is subject to change. We want to get you the best photos possible and will pivot based on the weather.
This tour will begin in Salt Lake City, Utah and end in Phoenix, Arizona.
Day 1 & 2: We’ll depart the Hyatt Place SLC Airport Hotel in Salt Lake City at 11:00 am and head to Hanksville. This area is an absolute Mecca for drone photography. We’ll do a mix of unknown and iconic spots here. Think towering spires, dramatic overlooks, and winding river bends. (No Factory Butte or Long Dong Silver. These areas are now covered in vehicle tracks.)
Day 3: Today we will drive to Mexican Hat, a small town at the edge of the San Juan River. Here is perhaps the crown jewel of the whole trip: a geological monocline that reveals stunning triangular patterns.
Day 4: After a sunrise shoot at the Mexican Hat Rock, we’ll head into the Hopi Reservation. Here we have private access to the bottom of a canyon where we’ll be surrounded by sharply pointed sandstone spires.
Day 5 & 6: Next we’ll make our way to Navajo Nation. I’ve worked with several land owners who are allowing us exclusive privileges to photograph some of the most stunning section of badlands imaginable. The rainbow colored badlands here are filled with limitless compositions.
Day 7: After our final sunrise shoot, we will head to Phoenix where the tour will conclude.
Logistics & Other Information
This workshop STARTS in Salt Lake City, Utah and ENDS in Phoenix, Arizona. Plan to meet the group at the Hyatt Place SLC Airport Hotel at 11am in Salt Lake City on the 15th. We will drop you off at the Phoenix Airport around 1pm on the 21st.
I want to share everything I know about drone photography with you, but please have a basic understanding of how to use your drone prior to starting the workshop. As a leader, I am Part 107 certified, but you do not need to be.
The southwest’s fall weather is moderate during the day and cold at night. Be prepared for temperatures from the low 30’s to the high 70’s. A jacket, gloves and thermal layers are a must for the desert’s cold mornings.
We will be staying in mid-range hotels throughout the trip, and each person will have their own room. All meals are included and will be eaten at the nicest sit-down restaurants available.
Transportation will be provided via a large 4×4 SUV. No one will sit in a middle seat. Driving times between each hotel will be a maximum of 3.5 hours, and driving times to each shooting location will be between 10 minutes and 1 hour each way.
Images YOU can expect to capture on this tour.
Camera Gear
- Drone with at least 3 batteries & extra propellers
- Camera with Wide Angle and Telephoto Lenses
- Tripod
Personal Gear
- Long pants and socks
- Long Johns / Base Layers
- Gloves
- Jacket
- Reusable water bottle
- Headlamp
Fitness Requirements
This workshop is listed as easy. None of the outings will involve any difficult hiking, but some WILL require walking through shrubby landscapes for a maximum of 3 miles per day.
Included
- Single occupancy lodging
- All Foods & Snacks
- 4×4 transportation for the duration of the workshop
- Photographic guiding and instruction
- In-depth photoshop sessions (Recorded)
Not Included
- Transportation to Salt Lake City and from Phoenix
- Lodging before and after the workshop
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal Items
- Travel Insurance
Pricing
$3800
A $1000 non-refundable deposit will hold your space for this workshop. The remaining payment is required at least 90 days prior to the start of the workshop. Sharing a room with a friend or partner will result in a $500 discount.
Cancellation Policy
Any cancellation request more than 100 days before the start of a workshop will receive a full refund minus your deposit, which can be applied toward a future tour. If you decide not to attend a future workshop, this deposit is forfeited. If you cancel within 100 days, no refunds of any kind will be issued. If you cancel your reservation within 100 days and we are able to fill your space on a tour, we will provide a full refund. Once a tour has started, no refunds will be given for missed outings, delays, weather related events, or elements beyond our control. In the event of an emergency, I’m more than happy to work with you. I highly recommend purchasing travel insurance, which covers non-refundable fees and travel expenses. Cancellation requests must be made in writing by emailing me at nickolas.warner@gmail.com