Compare Iceland in Autumn Photography Workshop by Iceland Photo Tours
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 5,700 |
| Price Per Day | $ 518 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
| Description |
There’s not a lot you can say that will do justice to Iceland as a natural spectacle. Luckily there are plenty of pictures to whet your appetite for photography below! To truly appreciate the incredible landscapes, epic waterfalls, mystical northern lights and glacial wonders, your best bet is to hop on a plane and come on over... The autumn months are the perfect time to do exactly that. Being a period of natural transition, October brings with it a series of changing forms, lights and colors, in a last hurrah before the coming winter. It’s true that by this time of year the days are growing fairly short, but it’s also around October that the wondrous northern lights begin to show themselves, so that’s something of an upside. |
Day 1 - Arrival
On day one you will land at Keflavik international airport, before catching the comfortable FlyBus to your hotel in central Reykjavík. You’ll meet you in the evening in the lobby of your hotel, and head out for dinner as a group. It’s a great opportunity to get to know each other, and you’ll take some time to discuss your itinerary and the adventure to come.
Accommodation: Reykjavik
Day 2 - Snæfellsnes peninsula
On the morning of the second day the group will head north to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west of Iceland. On the southern part of Snæfellsnes you will photograph the rugged wilderness of the coastline, where jagged cliffs and unusual rock formations act as spectacular foregrounds for potential shots of the northern lights. Even if the Aurora Borealis don’t show themselves on this day, the sights of Arnarstapi and the bewitching black church near Budir will definitely be enough to keep us occupied.
Next up, you will explore the peninsula a little more with a trip to the rocks of Londrangar, a collection of volcanic basalt rising dramatically from the ocean. After just a day here, you’ll begin to understand why Snæfellsnes is often described as “Iceland in miniature” - so many incredible natural spectacles can be found, and there are endless opportunities for patient photographers. Accommodation: Snæfellsnes
Day 3 - Snæfellsnes peninsula
On day three our adventures on the peninsula of Snæfellsnes continue. The aim will be to cover the sights and locations that we didn’t manage to fit in yesterday, skirting along the quaint coastal villages and taking in the mighty Snæfellsjökull glacier.
As we head to the northern end of the peninsula, one of the highlights of the entire trip will come into view. With its almost-perfect cone shape, the mountain of Kirkjufell is a fairytale sight in a fairytale location. We will shoot it with the charming Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall in the foreground, and Grundarfjordur Bay right behind. If we’re lucky enough that our visit coincides with the northern lights, the whole group will get shots that will last a lifetime. Accommodation: Snæfellsnes
Day 4 - Hraunfossar – Golden circle
On day four our journey continues, as we head back inland toward Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. First up, a stop at the blue waterfall of Hraunfossar. It’s not so much a single waterfall as a series of cascading falls, which during the autumn months are surrounded by the many shades and tones on the season.
Next we will explore the Golden Circle. Oddly for a circle, it has three points. The first is Thingvellir National Park, an area of incredible historical and geographical significance. The park marks the spot where the original Icelandic parliament was founded, and its giant fissures signal the meeting point of two continental plates. We will then take a drive up to the mighty Gullfoss, a spectacular waterfall that offers plenty of vantage points, a picturesque setting and fine mist to add some texture to proceedings. The final point of the Golden Circle is the Geysir geothermal area. Here there are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for photographers patient enough to capture Strokkur, which shoots steam high into the air every ten minutes or so. Accommodation: Geysir area
Day 5 - Vik
Day five marks a change of direction for the group, as we head south toward some of Iceland’s lesser known, but arguably more impressive, natural scenes. The scenic south coast is home to dramatic black sand beaches, amazing rock formations and a number of mighty waterfalls. We will photograph the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which has an opening behind the water to allow for some extraordinary shots from the stony recess at its back. Another waterfall, Skogafoss, is nearby too. The group will also explore some of Iceland’s finest coastline, taking in the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, the magnificent views from the stone walkway of Dyrholaey, and the breathtaking stretches of black sand beach as we head for Vik. Accommodation: Vik
Day 6 - Vatnajokull National Park
When many people think if Iceland, they will probably picture scenes that can be found within the Vatnajokull National Park: Fire and ice. That’s where we will head on day six. The group will spend three days in the area, which gives you a good idea of just how many sights and scenes there are to capture and enjoy. The Vatnajokull National Park is most famous for its combination of volcanoes, glaciers and icy lagoons. Vatnajokull is actually Europe’s largest glacier, and Iceland’s highest summit, Hvannadalshnjukur, can also be seen in the area. It’s a place of magnitude and pure natural theatre - In honesty, three days probably isn’t enough.
Aside from the glacial lagoons, mountains and extremes of ice and fire, there are waterfalls too! Skaftafell and Svartifoss will both be on our list to shoot. Accommodation: Glacier Lagoon
Day 7 - Vatnajökull National park
Picture the scene: Glistening, miniature ice sculptures wash up on a black sand beach as the sun begins to rise. You’re probably starting to understand why the Vatnajokull National Park is a photographer’s dream, full of different lights, contrasting textures and an array of natural wonders. On day seven the group will concentrate on the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. There we will observe as enormous icebergs break free from Europe’s largest ice cap and float silently out to sea. We will visit the volcanic, black sand beaches and marvel at the crystal clear ice washed ashore, and hopefully the elusive aurora borealis will come out to meet us. Accommodation: Glacier Lagoon
Day 8 - Vatnajökull National park
As you’ve probably guessed by now, there is so much to explore in the area that we will largely spend our time moving from one incredible sight to another. The exact itinerary will be flexible, depending on the group’s preferences, the light and the weather conditions. One thing’s for sure; few places in the world exhibit such a wide range of natural phenomena as Vatnajokull National Park,so you can be assured that your expert guides will be constantly on the hunt for the best possible photographic opportunities.
Eventually though, all good things must come to an end. We will drive further east to Stokksnes Beach, where we will capture the dramatic peaks of Mt. Vestrahorn alongside the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. If the northern lights make an appearance, this could be the photo opportunity of a lifetime. Accommodation: Glacier Lagoon
Day 9 - Vik
On day nine we will be turn back to Vik and drive along the south coast. There are plenty of sights still to see along the shoreline, from mountain peaks, glacial outlets and mossy lava fields to wild Icelandic horses. Again, we will choose our locations accordingly, depending on conditions and timings. Accommodation: Vik
Day 10 - Heading back
On the tenth day of this photography workshop we will head back to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. There are plenty of sights on the way, and there will be one final chance to pick the brains of our expert guides as we capture the sunrise on Reynisfjara beach, with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the background.
Day 11 - Departure
After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, you will head back to Keflavik International Airport, carrying with you a load of unforgettable memories and a bunch of fully loaded memory cards.
