How would you are taking an island drone trip? If you happen to work within the drone trade, you may even have the ability to write off this Mauritius drone journey as a enterprise expense.
Belgium-based, award-winning aerial photographer Johan Vandenhecke is internet hosting a six-day lengthy drone photograph journey to Mauritius, a shocking, tropical island within the Indian Ocean.
The journey, which will probably be comprised of a small group of different drone lovers (there are solely 5 spots whole per journey), guarantees to mix each studying, enterprise, and enjoyable and rest. Over the course of six days, Vandenhecke will present you the most effective drone spots on the island of Mauritius, serving to you to enhance your drone images by means of stay workshops within the subject. Then, you’ll head again to the personal villa for composition and enhancing workshops.
Moreover droning, different extra vacation-type actions are on the docket, together with outside adventures like sundown crusing, waterfall trails and unimaginable mountain peaks, plus a swimming with dolphins tour that entails your drone.
Costs begins at €3,000 (about $3,200 USD) for a 6-day keep, all-inclusive journey. You’ll solely have to pay in your personal flight there. You possibly can join by means of the shape on his web site (and do please let him know I despatched you!).
And join quick. Vandenhecke simply knowledgeable me that there are solely two extra spots accessible within the first week (although there are all 5 spots nonetheless accessible as of this writing within the second week).
When is the Mauritius drone journey?
The Mauritius drone photograph journey is being supplied on two separate weeks in 2023: the final week of September and the primary week of October.
The primary journey (simply two spots left) runs September 25 by means of October 1. The second journey (5 spots left) runs October 2 by means of October 8.
That’s best to make the most of what most consultants think about is the most effective time to go to Mauritius, which is from Could to December. Throughout that point, it’s cool, dry and sunny (versus the island’s moist cyclone season from January to March).
And given the autumn departure, you’ll additionally have the ability to escape what’s anticipated to be summer season journey chaos.
Who’s Johan Vandenhecke, and why is he main a drone trip?
Johan Vandenhecke, does all issues drone images. He takes aerial pictures for rent, he runs an internet drone class referred to as Drone Adventurer Masterclass+ (which I occur to think about the finest drone photograph programs for 2023), and he’s additionally the creator of a number of free drone eBooks. He’s additionally run related drone photograph journeys in Iceland and Azores (an archipelago within the mid-Atlantic that’s an autonomous area of Portugal).
Primarily based in Belgium, Vandenhecke has labored with manufacturers comparable to DJI, Land Rover, Jaguar, Atlantis Dubai, 4 Seasons resorts and is a member of Superb Aerial Company.
His programs, books and ideas are primarily centered round DJI drones — maybe unsurprising given his first private drone was the DJI Mavic Air. He then moved on to the DJI Mavic 2 Professional and in 2023 upgraded to the DJI Mavic 3 Traditional drone, which is the cheaper model of the DJI Mavic 3 drone (and my choose for finest drone for skilled photographers).
As a result of Vandenhecke works as a contract photographer himself, he’ll additionally have the ability to supply up enterprise recommendations on the journey. Actually, his personal Drone Adventurer Masterclass+ on-line course covers not simply images itself, however how one can work with manufacturers and how one can negotiate. He’s additionally constructed up a priceless useful resource library of digital merchandise like e-mail templates for making drone-specific enterprise contacts.
The place is Mauritius, and is it value visiting?
You already know these beautiful resorts with overwater bungalows that provide scuba diving in crystal clear, turquoise waters? These beautiful, paradise holidays most of the time happen within the Indian Ocean, which is dwelling to tourist-friendly island nations together with the Maldives and Seychelles. Whereas luxurious vacationers typically gravitate towards these two, it’s actually Mauritius that’s the hidden gem of the Indian Ocean to many American vacationers, who have a tendency to provide choice to the opposite, more-luxury minded ones.
And actually, Mauritius is the preferred island within the Indian Ocean. Vacationers flock to the island as a result of its obtained luxurious resorts which are nonetheless reasonably priced, plus loads of stuff to do together with stay leisure, world-class golf programs, and family-friendly activites.
Mauritius additionally has robust, constructive diplomatic relations with the U.S., which have been established in 1968, following the nation’s independence from the UK. Mauritius is taken into account to be one among Africa’s most secure and developed economies, which the U.S. State Departments attributes to it having a multi-party democracy and free market orientation. It’s additionally thought-about by the State Division to be a particularly protected nation to go to.
The island is simply 45 km (28 miles) in width and 65 km (40 miles) in size, so getting across the island is comparatively straightforward with a rental automotive or by taxis.
Plus, assuming you’re coming from the U.S., it’s not far (comparatively talking) from different locations in Africa, like Kenya or Tanzania, do you have to need to mix your Mauritius drone photograph trip with, say, a wildlife safari.
Is the Mauritius drone journey value it?
Now I haven’t been on the Mauritius drone journey myself (I would like $3,200 to e book it myself, trace trace! And likewise want to seek out time to get off work!). So, I can’t communicate from expertise if it’s value it.
And at €3,000 (about $3,200 USD), the Mauritius drone trip actually isn’t low cost. However contemplating it’s all-inclusive (apart out of your flight there), it may not turn into all that rather more than a trip you’d plan your self when you add up particular person out-of-pocket prices like taxis, meals and different incidentals.
The lodging are beautiful. You’ll in a lovely luxurious villa with a pool and ocean view — and there’s a non-public chef to cook dinner for you. Whereas not a assure, count on to see wildlife together with loads of spinner dolphins and — should you get fortunate — resident sperm whales or migrating humpback whales.
Plus, he plans all the things for you, so it’s stress-free in your finish.
If you happen to’re based mostly within the U.S. and fly drones for work, you could possibly take the journey as a tax deduction (although seek the advice of with a tax legal professional or accountant earlier than you do). Usually although, in case your journey is deemed essential, takes you away out of your tax dwelling longer than an atypical day’s work and it is advisable sleep away from dwelling, you possibly can qualify to deduct your journey bills. You possibly can deduct bills like airfare, prepare fare, taxis, baggage prices, resort prices and as much as 50% of the price of your meals.
And even should you can’t afford to go on the Mauritius drone trip (or simply don’t have time in your schedule), right here’s one other comfort prize. You may join Vandenhecke’s digital drone class referred to as Drone Adventurer Masterclass+. Vandenhecke is providing Drone Woman readers $50 off the course utilizing promo code SALLY50.
To e book the Mauritius drone journey, e-mail Vandenhecke by means of the contact type on his web site, upon which you’ll have to fill out a secondary type and submit your journey deposit (please let him know I despatched you, by the best way!).
And don’t neglect to get occurring renewing your passport (or making use of for a brand new passport, if that is the primary time in a foreign country, as U.S. passport processing instances are longer than ever)
