Belgium-based aerial photographer Johan Vandenhecke is again together with his fifth Mauritius drone journey — and that is form of the final word island drone trip.
The journey runs Sept. 13–19, 2026 — seven days on a little-known but gorgeous tropical island within the Indian Ocean. In case you enroll, you’ll embark in a small group of simply six drone fans. Over the course of the week, Vandenhecke will take you to the most effective drone spots on the island, lead dwell workshops within the subject, and host composition and Lightroom modifying classes again on the personal villa.


The whole lot you must know concerning the Mauritius drone journey
The 2026 journey runs September 13–19 (7 days, 6 nights). Solely six spots can be found, so transfer quick.
This can be a totally all-inclusive journey. Your transportation from Mauritius airport (MRU), lodging, all meals and drinks, and the next actions are coated:
- Dawn and sundown drone shoots at the most effective areas on the island
- A whale and dolphin watching tour — together with your drone
- A sundown catamaran tour
- Waterfall hikes and mountain peaks
- Day by day drone teaching within the subject
- Composition and Lightroom modifying workshops on the villa
The one factor not included is your flight to Mauritius.
Lodging is similar as earlier years: a personal luxurious villa with a pool and ocean view, with a personal chef cooking dinner every night. You’ll select between a shared room (€3,700) or a single luxurious room with a king mattress, personal rest room, and ocean-view balcony (€4,300).
Early begins are a part of the deal — you’re chasing golden hour gentle. Anticipate a 5 a.m. departure for dawn shoots (hopefully no large if you happen to’re jetlagged anyway!), adopted by breakfast on location, then again to the villa for actions, workshops, pool time, and lunch. Afternoons head again out for sundown, then dinner on the villa ready by the personal chef. It’s intense, however all actions are non-obligatory if you happen to want a relaxation day.
Study extra concerning the Mauritius drone journey right here.
Who’s Johan Vandenhecke, and why is he main this?
Vandenhecke is knowledgeable drone photographer and educator from Belgium who has labored with manufacturers together with DJI, Land Rover, Jaguar, Atlantis Dubai, and 4 Seasons lodges. He’s been working drone photograph journeys since 2022 — Mauritius, Iceland, the Azores — and that is already the fifth version of the Mauritius journey alone.
Previous contributors have ranged from full inexperienced persons to skilled pilots searching for extra superior teaching. One factor that shocked me after I first wrote about this journey: about 60% of contributors are girls, so if you happen to’ve been hesitant about being the odd one out, don’t be.
Johan additionally powers the Drone Adventurers Neighborhood, which is a web-based, interactive group that meets for bi-monthly dwell calls, weekly photograph contests and extra.


Is Mauritius value visiting?
Mauritius is genuinely one of the underrated locations within the Indian Ocean — gorgeous seashores, mountain peaks, coral reefs, waterfalls, and the prospect to drone spinner dolphins and humpback whales. September sits within the candy spot of the dry season (Might by means of December), so count on cool, sunny climate quite than the moist cyclone season that runs January by means of March.
The island is small — simply 28 miles vast and 40 miles lengthy — so getting round is simple. And if you happen to’re coming from the US and need to mix it with a safari in Kenya or Tanzania, the geography works out properly.


Is the Mauritius drone journey value it?
I haven’t been myself (Johan, if you happen to’re studying this, my calendar is vast open in September). However between the all-inclusive pricing, the personal villa, the personal chef, the small group dimension, and the caliber of teaching, the worth stacks up higher than it’d take a look at first look. Previous contributors constantly point out fast ability enchancment — one participant famous she went from by no means flying to confidently flying over the ocean by day one.
In case you fly drones for work, it might even be value speaking to your accountant about whether or not this qualifies as a deductible enterprise journey.
To get all the main points and pricing, fill out the curiosity kind on Johan’s web site — and inform him I despatched you.
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