Photo Explorer Tours is dedicated to developing a program of custom tours that provide efficient and economical access to some of the world's best photographic opportunities. Founded in 1981 as China Photo Workshop Tours by award-winning travel photographer and China specialist Dennis Cox, Photo Explorer Tours has expanded its tours program since 1996 to include a series of exciting new destinations around the world led by some of the world's top travel photographers. We work directly with carefully selected tour companies at each destination who have a special understanding of the needs of photographers and who are known for their reliability, flexibility, and service.

Our groups are kept small, usually from six to sixteen photographers, to insure maximum freedom for individual photographers to explore and shoot on their own. Or whenever possible, special photo opportunities -- such as with models -- are arranged for the group as a whole. Flexible arrangements on each tour enable photographers to take advantage of the best light for photography and, when traveling by bus, to make impromptu stops for spontaneous photo opportunities.

Continuing efforts are being made to keep tour prices down without sacrificing the quality or special features of our tours. Tours include all domestic transportation, most meals (three daily in China including banquets -- see individual itineraries), and hotels (mostly three and four-star or best available) usually selected for their convenient access to photo opportunites. Economical round-trip airfare from the U.S. is available for all tours through Photo Explorer Tours or participants may choose to book their own air arrangements or book using frequent flyer miles.

Our goal has always been to offer an excellent value for the travelling photographer. Our prices are not inflated by the cost of slick brochures and excessive advertising. We arrange our tours directly with tour operators in our destination countries, so there are no middle men. We do not market our tours through travel agents, so there are no commissions. And we do not take credit cards, so a bank does not take a cut. We have a modest office with low overhead. What we do offer is a quality travel and photographic experience with personal service at a reasonable price. Our many repeat clients are testimony to our efforts. If you would like to talk to some of our satisfied customers, please call for references.

Over the past two decades, information about the Photo Explorer Tours program has appeared in Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Outdoor Photographer, Endless Vacation, Popular Photography, Darkroom Photography, MD Magazine, China Reconstructs, Travelage West, Travel Agent, TouringPass, International Travel News, Apogee Photo's online magazine and several other publications.

Participants from Australia, Canada, China, France, Haiti, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States make these tours a truly international experience.

Our first photo tour! We loved the pace you set. It's so wonderful when the leader understands why we're lingering to photograph and internalize something beautiful. Thanks for that!"

*Marlene Grueber, Educator, Denver CO

"I must tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The schedule and itinerary were quite good, and we had enough flexibility to go off on our own when we so desired."

*Jim Levitt, Freelance Photojournalist, Seattle WA

"Dennis Cox...is extremely capable of providing excellent insight and guidance into the people and their culture. His contacts with Chinese photographers are quite helpful (and) he will guide photographers to some fine picture taking situations."

*Bill Wallace, Professional Photographer, N. Plainfield NJ

"Your contacts in China proved to be invaluable in getting us to the right places at the right time. I could not imagine trying to arrange all those photo opportunities on my own."

*T. Stephan Thompson, Corporate Photographer, New Lisbon NJ

"I have been really enthusiatic about the tour; your organization was perfect and China and its people have been very interesting for me."

*Allesandro Gerelli, Amateur Photographer, Milano, Italy

"I brought home many vivid memories and many fine photographic images. India was certainly a place for people pictures and the faces I have on film will be a reminder of those I saw, met, and interacted with."

*Elaine Bachelder, Amateur Photographer, Mill Valley, CA

"The trip was a good one and I think all of us will live in the exultation of having seen what tourists don't see."

*Bill Scales, Stock Photographer, Burkeville TX

"It was the best tour I was ever on. 1st class! No question!"

*Ed Kazmirski, PPA Photographer, South Holland IL

I have always found that your trips produce the best photos I have ever taken. I have completed my first edit of the India slides from last year and some of them are pretty incredible. I like the way you take clients to the best possible situation and then just let us "do our own thing" with a relaxed pace and plenty of time. Keep up the good work.

*Steve Grueber, Architect, Denver CO

It is not an exaggeration that Burma 2001 is one of the best photographic adventures I've ever had the pleasure to experience. I want to highlight Debbie Jefkin's remarkable professionalism as tour leader.

*Tewfic El-Sawy, Travel Photographer, Bronxville NY

China, A Different Place (an archive article on touringnews.com).

*Christian Michaels, Professional Photographer, San Diego

DENNIS COX is an award-winning travel photographer -- the Society of American Travel Writer's "Travel Photographer of the Year" for 1997 and runnerup for 1998 & 1999 -- and a China specialist who has been photographing in China since 1976 and organizing photo tours there since 1981. He has photographed on all seven continents and has been published in hundreds of publications in over two dozen countries worldwide. He has photographed four books -- Detroit Today, Michigan, a children's book on China, and the American Compass Guide to Michigan -- and his travel photos have been published worldwide in numerous publications such as Forbes, UAL Hemispheres, National Geographic Traveler, JAL Winds, NWA WorldTraveler, Endless Vacation, Travel Holiday, Popular Photography, the Minolta Mirror, and all the European editions of GEO. He is director of ChinaStock, a photo agency specializing in China, and the D.E.Cox Photo Library, a photo agency specializing in world travel; is a member of ASMP, ASPP, and SATW; has been a workshop instructor in the American PHOTO Mentor Series, taught photography at the college level, and has written for photography magazines in the U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, and China. Dennis Cox is available throughout each tour to provide personalized photographic instruction to individuals informally as time permits.

ROBERT HOLMES is widely acknowledged as one of the world's finest travel photographers. He has won numerous awards including the coveted Travel Photographer of the Year award from the Society of American Travel Writers in 1990 and 1992. His photographs have appeared in virtually every major travel magazine. He has 28 books in print in addition to being featured in the acclaimed "Day in the Life" series and many similar publications. A native of Britain, Robert Holmes has lived in Mill Valley, California, since 1979 and is a past president of the Northern California chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers.

JOHN ISAAC is an international photojournalist who retired as chief photographer for the United Nations in 1998 and now freelances for clients as diverse as Olympus cameras and Michael Jackson. A native of India, John's many awards include 1993 PMDA Photographer of the Year and international awards from Kodak, Minolta and Nikon. His several books include INDIA -- Land of Dreams and Fantasy, and his photos have been instrumental in raising awareness and funds for global issues including the rights of women and children.

DEBRA JEFKIN-ELNEKAVE left a career in the corporate world to study photography and travel to the far reaches of the Third World. She now devotes her life to revealing the untold stories of extraordinary people living in the remnants of time. Her clients include Northwestern University, Cedco Publishing, Ziyad Brothers Food Imports, New World Outlook, Skipping Stones, General Board of Global Ministries and private art collectors. She is also a frequent presenter on a range of topics, including Burma, Turkey and Cultural Identity Through Body Art. Although Debbie's photographic interests include nature, history and architecture, she finds photographing indigenous people to be the most challenging and rewarding. She is equally at home with Niger's Wodaabe, Ethiopia's Karo, India's Soura, Thailand's Akha, Burma's Pa'o, or Guatemala's Maya.

CHRISTOPHER LIU (Liu Liqun) is an award winning professional photographer in Beijing (ranked #3 in China by Agfa) who has guided several Photo Explorer Tours in China and Tibet. His photographs have appeared in the U.S. in National Geographic Traveler, Global Finance, Utne Reader, China Business Review, corporate publications and books. He has worked as a journalist, photo magazine editor, and for an ad agency, is active in the national Chinese Photographers Association, writes a column for The China Photo News, and represents ChinaStock in Beijing.

TIM THOMPSON is a former-journalist-turned-photographer who has been awarded SATW's Travel Photographer of the Year title three times. He has photographed on all seven continents and carried out several assignments for National Geographic, Travel/Holiday, Outside, and Islands magazines. He has photographed three book projects for Smithsonian and six other books including Ireland and Puget Sound for Graphic Arts Center Publishing.