Around Iceland Summer Photo Workshop
In our Around Iceland Photo Workshop—Summer, we cover the very best of the extraordinary arctic country. The summer season in Iceland is particularly unique because the days are endless with nearly 24 hours of sunlight therefore, you can expect long days as sunset and sunrise are only a few hours apart. The summer months are also the time when Iceland welcomes the Atlantic puffin back to its shores and we make time to visit a puffin colony during the 11-day workshop.
Along with the midnight sun and puffins, we will take you to a variety of glaciers, glacial lagoons, black beaches, waterfalls, geothermal zones, lava fields and seascapes on our journey around Iceland. This is an ideal photo workshop for nature photographers who want a fantastic introduction to the diverse landscape Iceland has to offer.
This workshop is for photographers who are seeking a more personal experience. Our small groups consist of no more than ten photographers at a time and our workshop is all-inclusive. The workshop fee includes guiding, accommodations, all meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner), transport in a 4×4 super-truck, and post-processing tips.
Highlights
The Atlantic puffin – While they are back on Icelandic soil between the months of May to mid-August, we make sure to pay them a visit
Waterfalls – Stunning waterfalls, lakes and rivers under the midnight sun
Midnight sun – The endless daylight gives us endless photography opportunities
Amazing landscapes – The unique colours of Iceland are on full display during the summer months. The green moss and black lava create amazing contrasts
Transportation – In order to travel across the rugged Icelandic terrain in comfort and ease, our groups travel in specially modified and spacious 4×4 super trucks
Professional Photography Guides – All of our guides are professional photographers based in Iceland with years of experience leading photography workshops
Activity Level – Easy
Small groups – Maximum number of participants: 10
Duration – 11 days / 10 nights
All-inclusive workshop – Included in the price of the workshop are your accommodations, all meals, guiding and transportation
Schedule
2023
Date
Available
Guide
2024
Date
Available
Guide
Payment info
- Deposit payment $2,000 USD
- Payment in full is required 90 days prior to the tour starting date
- Double occupancy accommodations for ten nights at hotels, while single rooms are available upon request
- Single room supplement adds $1,000 USD
Total price: $6,900 USD
SIGN UPWhat's included
- All accommodations with private bathrooms during the workshop
- All meals
- Guided by a professional Icelandic photographer
- Image critique and post-processing session
- Super truck transportation
- Puffin photography (May-August)
What's not included
- International Flights
- Cancellation Insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Dinner on the last night
- Gratuity for tour guide
- Airport transfers
My wife and I just completed the June “Around Iceland Photo Workshop” with Skarpi. It was a fantastic trip with great photo opportunities! We learned so much! Skarpi was respectful of everyone’s skill level and creativeness. He helped out and gave individual instructions in a very unobtrusive manner. If you wanted help he was there for you, and if not, he just checked if everything was going OK. His suggestions were always very positive and encouraging; bringing the best out in our photography! There were many late lights taking sunset pictures, but so worth it! We were usually able to photograph when there were no crowds around. Skarpi gave suggestions on the bus as to what lenses may be appropriate at each stop. Skarpi is friendly and easy going with a great sense of humor. The group size was great (only 9 of us), and it was great to travel with photography minded travelers. The bus was comfortable and well maintained. The wi-fi worked very well. All our pre-trip emails to Arctic Exposure were answered promptly, providing all the information requested. The suggested packing list for clothing and photo equipment was sent to us well in advance of the trip. We stayed in really cute and comfortable hotels and guest houses. The food was phenomenal and we were never hungry. It was the trip of a lifetime! Looking forward to attending future workshops with Skarpi!!!
Itinerary
DAY 1 – Arrival in Reykjavík
As always, we will need to be flexible and adjust to the weather conditions to make the most out of our workshop and travel safely.
Arrival in Iceland and check into your hotel in Reykjavik. A group dinner and meeting will be held on the first day where we will go over the itinerary and prepare for our adventure in Iceland.
Þingvellir
DAY 2 – Þingvellir & the Highlands of Iceland
We begin our journey early from our hotel in Reykjavik and travel to Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park known for Alþingi (Althingi)—the site of Iceland’s first parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of two tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault.
We travel onwards to the highlands of Iceland and stop at the 122m high Háifoss waterfall—the fourth highest waterfall in Iceland. We continue to Landmannalaugar in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Hopefully, we have time to take a dip in the natural geothermal pools but this area of the highlands of Iceland has endless photography opportunities.
DAY 3 – South Coast, Seascapes, Waterfalls & Birds
Once again, we begin early from our hotel in the highlands and travel downwards to the south coast where we will spend the day photographing seascapes and a few of the majestic waterfalls in the area. We’ll take a walk behind the Seljalandsfoss waterfall (don’t forget to pack a weather-sealed camera body!), and photograph all angles of the Skógafoss waterfall. We will spend our evening around the quaint town of Vík í Mýrdal (which has a beautiful country church surrounded by fields of lupine wildflowers), and photograph the Dyrhólaey sea arches, sea stacks, and puffin colony. We will spend the night in the Vík area.
DAY 4 – Vík, Black Beach & Vatnajökull National Park
We start the day by continuing to shoot some of the unique landscapes in the Vík area and then head eastwards. We drive through beautiful lava and moss-covered fields and pass a few glaciers on our way to Skaftafell National Park. Once in Skaftafell, we will photograph glaciers and Hvannadalshnjúkur—the highest mountain in Iceland. We will spend the day around the Vatnajökull glacier and spend the next two nights at a nice hotel in the center of the Vatnajökull area.
DAY 5 – Glaciers, Glacier Lagoon & Glacier Beach
We’ll spend the day photographing beautiful landscapes as well as the jaw-dropping Jökulsarlón glacier lagoon, glacier beach, and the surrounding area. Numerous hours can easily be spent here photographing huge icebergs in the lagoon with the beautiful Breiðamerkurjökull glacier in the background—a classic photograph from Iceland. We will return to the glacier lagoon for sunset and possibly sunrise to get the best light.
DAY 6 – Mountain Lagoon, Stokksnes, Vestrahorn
The picturesque East Fjords are calling us on day six, and we will have the opportunity to photograph more glacier lagoons as we go off the beaten path to Heinabergslón before heading further east to Stokksnes.
We will stop at the more jagged coastal peaks of Vestrahorn and Eystrahorn, as well as excellent locations to photograph sea stacks, dramatic winding roads and cascading streams down the steep terraced mountains.
Along the way, we will perhaps cross paths with reindeer—the trademark of East Iceland. We make our way further east, stopping at a few hidden gem locations and spend the night at Djúpivogur.
DAY 7 – Dettifoss, Mývatn & Geothermal Pools
On day seven, we head towards the heart of North Iceland, Lake Mývatn, where we will spend the next two nights. We’ll witness the immense power of Europe’s largest waterfall by volume, Dettifoss, and take some shorter hikes in the river canyon of Jökulsárgljufur National Park to see rock stacks dividing the powerful Jökulsá á Fjöllum river.
In the Mývatn lake area, we’ll photograph geothermal steam vents, bizarre volcanic formations, and fields of craters that will give you the impression that you have landed on the moon. If the group is interested we can visit the Mývatn Nature Baths for a swim—a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2,500 meters.
DAY 8 – Mývatn Lake & Waterfalls
The Northern part of Iceland is known for a trio of waterfalls that are often called “The Majestic Waterfalls”. Dettifoss is among them and on day eight, we visit the other two. Both are large in volume and surrounded by picturesque landscapes. The first Aldeyjarfoss waterfall with its basalt column front and the second Goðafoss waterfall (nicknamed by one local as ‘The Beauty’ in comparison to ‘The Beast’ of Dettifoss), the name Goðafoss could be translated roughly as “The Waterfall of The Gods”.
DAY 9 – Mývatn, Skagafjörður & Waterfalls
After sunrise and our breakfast at the Mývatn hotel, we travel down the northern coastline. Along the way, we will stop at some lesser-known locations and spend the night in Northwest Iceland.
DAY 10 – Hvítserkur, Borgarfjörður, Reykjavík
The day begins with sunrise at seascape Hvítserkur, a 15-meter high monolith or sea stack. Legend has it that Hvítserkur is a petrified troll, while others believe that it is a volcanic plug from a long time ago. Whichever you choose to believe, you will agree that it is an extraordinary photo opportunity.
After lunch, we head towards Reykjavik and stop at a few waterfalls that we pass along the way. West Iceland is known for its impressive waterfalls, salmon fishing, and Viking Sagas. We will also make a stop to photograph Icelandic horses before we arrive at our hotel in Reykjavík.
When in Reykjavík, we will assist you in checking into your hotel and say farewell as the workshop concludes here. You then have time to explore, have dinner or just rest back at the hotel.
DAY 11 – Departure
Departure day. Breakfast is included at your hotel, and check-out is at 11 am. You can schedule your flight at any time that’s suitable for you.
If photographers would like to extend their stay in Iceland it is easy to arrange private day tours before or after the workshop. Popular day-trips include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula & the Highlands of Iceland.
For cancellation and refund policy for our workshops, please visit the Terms & Conditions page.