COURSE

1st day: Every edition of the Paris-North Cape Photo Rally starts in front of the magnificent Château de Vincennes, on the edge of Paris, an idea that has since been copied by many other events. The teams gather round the start podium, in the administration tents and...

2nd day : At the end of another transit stage we get to Hirtshals in northern Denmark, where we embark on the enormous ferry that will take us directly to Bergen in Norway. This cruise is exceptional both for the quality of the service (cabins and buffet) and for the...

3rd day Photos for the first competition are taken from the ferry, making the best of the morning light as we sail past the Norwegian coast with its fabulous fjords. The last leg along Bergen’s fjord is magic. Perched almost 20 metres above the waves, we zigzag for...

4th day: After breakfast, we are back in our cars for a driving stage along Norway’s highest roads, many of which are unpaved. The spectacular scenery is often reminiscent of the Alps or the Andes. The mountain lakes and traditional grass-roofed houses are typically...

5th day: To climb Norway’s “Mont Blanc” or to visit an iconic fjord. There are two options available for today: to climb Norway’s “Mont Blanc” or to visit an iconic fjord. Partial melting of the glacier on its summit has shaved 5 metres off the top of the Glittertind...

6th days: Today’s stage highlights the differences between the landscapes of Norway and Sweden. In just a few dozen kilometres, the countryside becomes less rugged, the houses change colour and the vegetation becomes denser. We follow minor roads and narrow tracks...

7th day: Driving through two nature reserves and a national park We keep our eyes peeled for herds of reindeer trotting across the open moorland or, more alarmingly, standing in the middle of the road as we come round a corner! We are getting ever closer to the Arctic...

8th day: We continue heading north to Lapland, home to the Sami (as the people of Lapland should be known). Our campsite lies on a small peninsula that juts into the crystal-clear waters of a beautiful lake. Inger, the manager is a charming Sami who also breeds...

Day 9: Another transit stage takes us back to Norway and one of northern Europe’s most spectacular gems, the Lofoten Islands, which we reach by ferry. The vessel’s prow is an ideal vantage point from which to admire – and photograph – the incredible scenery. Green and...

10th day: Today’s drive is much shorter, so we have time to explore the Lofoten Islands and concentrate on taking great photos We spend the evening in a village at the end of the track, but, before we settle in, we head off under the midnight sun for a “night-time”...

11th day: Today is unusual. While the organisers, in conjunction with the local council and local press, convene a jury of photographers and professional journalists We are free to choose how we spend the day: taking pictures, sorting through our photos or working on...

12th day: We leave Lofoten and head up into the most northerly and most magical corner of Sweden. Once again, the landscape changes completely. After the dramatic peaks of Lofoten, the rugged mountains of northern Sweden and have a very desolate atmosphere that we try...

13th day: The fittest among us head off to climb Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest peak. Even though it is not as high as the Glittertind (climbed on day 5), the ascent is longer, so Philippe and the Rally’s doctor make sure that everyone who wants to do the hike is fit...

14th day: Today’s stage, through a corner of Finland tucked away between Norway and Sweden, has a special place in the hearts of Paris-North Cape’s organisers.  Much of the driving is on the dirt roads for which Finland is famous and which allow us to explore a superb...

15th day : We spend the morning in the “Sami Nature Centre” in the company of some of the people from this beautiful region, who have joined us for a slideshow of our photos. We also get the results from the second jury, which met the previous evening. The next...

16th day:The morning is just as fabulous. We head off towards the island’s little village, walking past a beach of white sand that would not be out of place on a desert island, although the sea is somewhat chillier! Nevertheless, some of the hardier participants can’t...

17th day : We get back to our cars for the queen stage of the Rally, the day we have all been waiting for – the drive to North Cape We arrive in convoy at the stroke of midnight. Headlights on and horns blaring, we line up next to the famous globe, on the edge of a...

18th day : A new Trek photo, the one that allows us to reach the real North Cape We wake up late, very late for some. In fact, we are completely disoriented. What time is it? Late morning? Midday? Early evening? Oh yes, midday, not midnight. But when are we going to...

19th days: Some of the organisers have set off ahead of us to organise the next photo jury, leaving us to enjoy another of Paris-North Cape’s classic stages – the drive to Hamningberg, an abandoned fishing village on the northeast tip of mainland Europe. Often said to...

20th day: Today is a day of contrasts. Within the space of a few kilometres, the mountainous landscapes of Norway give way to the dense, dark woodlands of Finland. Surrounded by emerald-green forest, the Lemmenjoki River is a favourite haunt of gold panners. If we...

21th day: We spend the evening at a beautiful campsite near one of Philippe's Sami friends, which allows us to luxuriate in what could be the world's most beautiful sauna where the great rally driver and former Paris-North Cape patron Ari Vatanen learnt his trade...

22th day: Yesterday evening we submitted another set of our photos to the jury, so this morning we are free to relax or work on our reports until the results are announced in front of Kuusamo municipal council. We all want to know how well we have done, but we are...

23th day: Driving along Finland’s sinuous dirt roads, all the people we meet are very welcoming and many have heard of Paris-North Cape. Our hosts for the evening are Arne and Kirsti, a retired couple who have been part of the Rally since its first edition, in 1988....

24th day: If you lose your way, do not hesitate to knock on doors. It is easy to lose your way on the labyrinthine network of dirt roads that criss-crosses this part of Finland, so it is not unusual to meet teams going in the opposite direction – are they lost or is...

25th day: PROGRAM The first press conference at 12.00. We will give you the program with the photo themes. The official beginning of the Tampere Photo Trophy. You will drive to the Helvetinjärvi National Park. You will take photos until late evening. There will be...

26th day: PROGRAM Driving to the Seitseminen National Park. 11.00 – driving to the center of Tampere. You will have the whole afternoon until late evening for taking pictures.. Check point from 21.00 to 23.00 for collecting pictures. Overnight in the middle of the...

27th day: PROGRAM8.00 to 12.00 Organization of the Photo Jury with the photographers. 13.00 closing press conference in the center of Tampere.

28th day : The morning begins with an open-air show between the presidential palace and the port, near the fruit and vegetable market (the midnight sun produces enormous and extremely tasty strawberries and bilberries) Presented by Markku Veijalainen, one of Finland’s...

29th day: The approach along Stockholm’s fjord to Sweden’s capital is even more beautiful than our arrival in Bergen at the start of the Rally So the four hours spent sailing past the deserted and inhabited islands of southern Sweden are a delight. We get off the...

30th day: We head south to another Nordic capital The peaceful and historic city of Copenhagen. Our photos from the last two days are judged at the offices of the Rally’s long-standing partner, National Geographic Nordic, by a jury headed by the chief editor, Karen....

31th day : We have a long drive ahead of us today As we need to get from Denmark to central Belgium, where we will enjoy a last-night party in a village just south of Brussels. Our photos have been sent on ahead in one of the organiser’s cars so they can be presented...

32th day: All the teams come together so we can drive the last few kilometres to the Château de Vincennes in convoy. We get to the finish at the end of the afternoon and gather round the podium to hear the final results of our Paris-North Cape Photo Rally. Of course,...