Iceland Photo Tour Plan
Day 1. Arrival (Reykjavik)
Meet up at Keflavik airport, arrival time is flexible. It will be a calm adaptation day including walks in the city center and in the port, a visit to hot springs and watching the sunset on the waterfront overlooking the monument of Drakkar. We will spend the first night at Reykjavik’s camping site.
Day 2. Geysir
We leave Reykjavik early morning for the village of Geysir to photograph Strokkur, the most famous geyser in the world, which erupts about every 15-20 minutes at a height of 20 meters. Near the village there is a small, little-known, but very unusual waterfall named Braurfoss, we will take photos of it too and then move on to the largest release of water in Europe, Gullfoss waterfall (the Golden waterfall).
If we are lucky with the sun, we will see a rainbow (or a few!) in the foreground of the waterfall. Then, we will go to Landmannalaugar, the heart of the Colorful Mountains. The name translates as “the bath of the men of this Land.” The hot river flows right out of the lava field in which we can swim and enjoy the incredible scenery. Here we will set up our camp for 2 nights.
Day 3. Landmannalaugar
On the third day of this Iceland photography workshop we will do a trek in the Colorful Mountains. These rhyolite mountains are full of various minerals; that is where the wealth of the color palette comes from. We will see many smoking fumaroles, mountain rivers, waterfalls, lava fields, and craters of extinct volcanoes. It will be a very beautiful and life-time memorable track.
Another advantage is that the trek is not difficult and even children can walk it. It takes about 5-6 hours with a maximum drop of 500-600 meters. During the trek we will make a lot of beautiful panoramic shots. In the evening we will photograph the sunset with a beautiful view over the golden ridge of the mountains and swim in the hot river.
Day 4. Vik
We will head to the village of Vik. We will drive along one the most beautiful of roads in Iceland, wading through dozens of rivers, enjoying and shooting incredible landscapes that will include snow-capped mountains, endless velvet fields, rivers and lakes, and a land dotted with lava flows. It will be a scenic unforgettable drive.
We will arrive and set up camp in Vik, the most southern town of the country. At sunset we will go to see two beautiful waterfalls. The first one is Gljufrabui, little known, but very beautiful. It is hidden in a narrow gorge, almost in a cave, and is very difficult to shoot, our photo guide will give you a detailed tour that will help you to take unique pictures. Then, in pre-sunset light, we will shoot one of the most beautiful and famous waterfalls called Seljalandfoss. This is the only waterfall that can be photographed from inside, there is a path that allows you to take a walk around it.
While the low sun is still shining, we will move to one of Iceland’s most iconic beaches: Reynisfjara. There we will see Atlantic puffins for the first time, and will photograph incredibly shaped basalt columns, caves, and legendary rocks of petrified trolls in the sea. After sunset we return to the camp to rest.
Day 5. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
At dawn we will visit the famous Dyrholay Cape. We will photograph beautiful landscapes of rocky shores with Atlantic puffins in the first sunrays. You will need a 400mm lens or bigger to be able to take good shots. Then we go to the very popular Scogafoss waterfall. This is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, and we will try to get there before the buses with tourists.
After our morning photography trip, we will have breakfast, fold the tents and head to the east to Skaftafel town. On the way we will stop by the most famous canyon Fjaðrárgljúfur. It will be about an hour’s walk along the cliffs ends with a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the waterfall. We will set up a camp in Skaftafel, have some rest and then explore the famous Icelagoon (Jokulsarlon) at sunset. You will enjoy photographing drifting majestic icebergs in the rays of the sunset contour light.
Day 6. Glacier
It will be the most sleepless night of our photography tour, but it will be worth it. We will meet the sunrise in Icelagoon, by the ocean, where the waves of the anthracite beach carry ice floes, and sometimes whole icebergs. To shoot them in the first rays of the rising sun, is, perhaps, the main highlight of our photo tour and if we are lucky with the weather conditions, it will be one of the best dawns of your life. And we will do everything possible to make it happen.
Then we go back to the camp and if the weather is favorable, you will enjoy a flight in a seven-seat plane. It will be an hour-long flight over southern Iceland, you will enjoy the views of the colorful mountains, beautiful rivers, Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajokul, and the alien landscapes that surround Longisjor lake. This flight might become one of the most amazing visual experiences for you. For the security reasons, there is only one window that can be opened on the plane, so only one person is able to take photos. However, we normally agree that the pictures are shared between all participants and do not have a copyright. If you are interested in an individual flight, we can arrange it for you, the cost is approximately 1500 euros.
During the day we will rest, take a walk around Svinafell glacier, and in the evening, we go to photograph the most elegant waterfall of Iceland Svartifoss, its narrow transparent water flow is framed by the basalt rocks. It was this scenic view that inspired the architect Guðjón Samúelsson to create the largest temple of Iceland Hallgrímskirkja. Since it is a very popular place we will take pictures around 21.00 to avoid crowds of tourists.
Day 7. Lake Myvatn
On the seventh day of our photography workshop we will head to the North of the island to the shores of the steaming volcanic lake Myvatn and spend 2 nights there. It will be the longest transfer of the tour; about 5 hours. After setting up a camp, we will go on a sightseeing trip around the lake and walk among mini craters, enjoying completely different landscapes compared to the south.
In the evening after a long road trip we will relax in the thermal lagoon, which we prefer over the famous Blue Lagoon. There are less people, 2 saunas, cold beer available right in the hot lake, and beautiful views around. We will have a good rest and gain energy before the final part of our eventful trip.
Day 8. Myvatn area.
On the 8th day of our photography trip we will start our morning at Dettifoss, the most mystical and captivating waterfall. We will take pictures and enjoy the primal energy of its powerful muddy stream. Prometheus, the film by Redley Scott begins with the scenes of this waterfall. Then we will go to Sellfoss waterfall; numerous streams of which fall along the walls of a long canyon.
After the waterfalls we will go to Husavik, a fishing village where we will take a boat and set off to go whale-watching. We never know if we are going to be lucky, however, in 9 out of 10 cases we photograph the giant tails of these magnificent creatures, and sometimes the whales can even emerge ten meters away from the ship. This trip will end with a hot cocoa from the captain.
After whale-watching we return to Myvatn village to relax. In the evening, we will visit the famous Grjótagjá cave, when John Snow and Ygritte make love, right after one more “You know nothing, Jon Snow” statement )) And at the sunset we will go to the famous Godafoss waterfall (waterfall of the gods) that in addition to its beauty has a historical prominence. The old idols were thrown into its three majestic streams, when Iceland accepted Christianity.
Day 9. Hvitserkur
We will go to the north-west of the island to the town of Hvitserkur where we will camp. In the evening, we will go to shoot photos of the seals that are enjoying the sun on the rocks of the surrounding bays. After that we can go to the hot springs.
Day 10. Reykjavik. Departure.
It will be your final day of this eventful photography workshop. We will start our day early to photograph the iconic Icelandic rocks, Hvitserkur, that resembles a dinosaur drinking water, in the rays of the rising sun. Then we will fold up the camp and head to Reykjavik. We will arrive at the town after lunch and stay in a camping area. You can fly home in the evening on the same day, or the next day.
Gallery
Food & Clothes
You will enjoy delicious food cooked by our photo guide, who is an excellent chef. The menu includes grilled Icelandic lamb, salmon, seatrout, fresh green salads, nicoise salad, risotto with seafood and mushrooms, couscous with paprika, pasta with tuna, garlic and zucchini, and different soups. We would greatly appreciate your little help during the cooking process, but it is not required.
On rare busy days we will eat in restaurants. There are supermarkets with high quality fresh food all over the country where we can find everything we like. Food and alcohol costs are not included in the price of our tour and are divided by the number of participants. If you have specific dietary requirements, please, inform us in advance.
You will need hiking boots, we prefer the LOWA brand; the boots of this company will serve for decades and are very comfortable. Other brands are also good, pay attention to the sole – we find Vibram the best (we don’t make promotion for any of these brands, our recommendations are based on our experience). It is better to buy hiking boots that are half a size bigger than your original size, because you will wear warm socks underneath (another item you need to take!), ski socks will be suitable too, or hiking ones. If you don’t have hiking boots and cannot buy them for some reason, we recommend solid sneakers instead. Ideally, you will have both running shoes and hiking boots.
You will need a good water and windproof jacket, fleece top and thermal underwear. We will have a long hike (5 hours) only once in the Colorful mountains. Also take a fleece hat, gloves, and puffer vest if you have because there will be cool sunrises, for example at the ice lagoon. Please, take your towels! We will regularly visit hot springs, so don’t forget about swimsuits or swimming trunks and crocs/flipflops.
Jeans are good for walks in Reykjavik. We take care of warm sleeping bags, mats and pillows as well as tableware and cutlery.
IMportant information
In this tour we will live in a large tent with a standard high ceiling hall, in which you can stand upright, and 3 separate bedrooms for 2 people each. If you want to spend the night in a separate tent, inform me in advance and I will provide it for you.
All the sleeping bags, mattresses, and pillows I will carry with me. The equipment is tested, it will not be cold, and the sleeping bags are used at -12 degrees. We will stay at campsites, close to the main attractions. There will always be a hot shower and a warm toilet.
You won’t need to cook or wash the dishes, the food will be pretty refined. I will take with me a gas grill. Iceland has the world’s best mutton, fresh salmon and arctic char. In stores you can easily find a lot of vegetables and fruits. The cost of food for 2 weeks will not exceed 300 euros per person. I will also take with me plates, forks, spoons, etc. Alcohol in Iceland is quite expensive, so it is better to bring it with you or buy in duty-free.
If you have additional questions, feel free to ask me by e-mail.
Tour Price
Camping and logistics
Photo workshops
Air tickets
Food