Aurora Borealis & Ice Cave January Photo Workshop

Sign up now

About this workshop

Arctic Exposure has been offering the Aurora Borealis & Ice Cave Photo Workshop for the past seven years, and we can confidently say that we have become experts in this area of Iceland. During this photo workshop, we focus on the breathtaking northern lights (aurora borealis) and the incredible ice caves that you find in many of Iceland’s glaciers.
We will explore many of the better-known locations of Iceland as well. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Reynisfjara black sand beach and the glacier lagoon, among others, along the South Coast. These are all the striking locations of Iceland that you may recognize from travel programs, movies and thousands of traveling photographers. The frozen winter landscape enhances the beauty of these unique locations and creates a perfect background for northern lights photography.
We will also visit many lesser-known locations along with the gorgeous ice caves. Every year, new caves are molded by the glaciers and each year, we have to explore for new caves and see if the older ones are safe, or still there. For these expeditions, we use our specially modified super trucks for transport and get as close as possible to the glaciers and ice caves.
During this workshop, our focus is on you and helping you improve your photography in astonishing locations. South Iceland has amazing soft light in the winter, glaciers and ice turn into magical sculptures. With only eight participants per group, everyone will have time with our skilled photography guides who are happy to answer every question that might come up. We welcome all photographers, from beginners to advanced. This is the perfect photo workshop to get your first taste of Iceland and explore the stunning glaciers in winter in contrast with the black volcanic sand.

Workshop Summary

Date – January 10 - 17, 2025

8 days / 7 nights

Price – $5,400

Deposit of $2,000 upon booking. Single room supplement adds $850

Guide – Halldór Kolbeins

Halldor has over two decades of experience so you'll be in great hands

More info

Available – 4 spots left

Maximum of 8 participants

Activity Level – Easy to Medium

See our FAQ page for our acitivity level guide

More info

Location – Iceland

South Coast of Iceland

Itinerary

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 or Reykjanes Peninsula. For cancellation and refund policy for our workshops, please visit the Terms & Conditions page.

DAY 1

Arrival in Iceland and check into your hotel in Reykjavik. Check-in starts at 3 p.m. In the evening, we meet for a group dinner in Reykjavik where we briefly go through the tour itinerary, safety instructions, and some practical things before we start our adventure in Iceland.

DAY 2

Þingvellir National Park and Vik i Myrdal. This area has some of the most iconic waterfalls and dramatic seascapes in the country, such as Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skogafoss waterfall, Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and Dyrholaey peninsula.

DAY 3 & 4

Glacier Lagoon, Ice Beach & Ice Caves. We will photograph the Jökulsárlón or Glacier Lagoon area for the next two and a half days and have a plethora of great locations to choose from. We will explore the best available ice cave deep under the Vatnajökull glacier, for which we will provide all safety gear such as helmets and crampons. Never enter ice caves without an Icelandic guide and safety equipment.

DAY 5

Höfn, Stokksnes and Vestrahorn mountain. The Stokksnes area is below Vestrahorn. It is a very picturesque mountain with black sand dunes in the foreground and a shallow beach with reflections. In winter, we can expect spectacular light on the mountain.

DAY 6

Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Vik i Myrdal. All of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve is surrounded by spectacular scenery such as glaciers, some of the highest mountains in Iceland, and waterfalls such as Svartifoss (Black Falls), to name a few. To visit Svartifoss there is about an hour hike.

DAY 7

Vik and finish in Reykjavik. After a morning shooting in the Vik area, we travel back to Reykjavík, visiting some excellent shooting locations on the way. We check into our hotel in the capital and say farewell as the workshop concludes here. You then have some time to go out for dinner, explore, photograph or just rest for your flight home tomorrow.

DAY 8

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.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Send us your name and email, and we'll get back to you.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXTEND YOUR STAY IN ICELAND?

It’s easy to arrange private day tours before or after the workshop. Popular day trips include the Snæfellsnes Peninsula or The Golden Circle. We can also set up custom tours based on your preferences.

For cancellation and refund policy for our workshops, please visit our Terms & Conditions page.

What's included

All accommodations with private bathrooms during the workshop

Guided by a professional Icelandic photographer

Image critique and post-processing session

4x4 truck transportation

All meals, except dinner on the last night

Ice cave tour

Safety gear will be provided, such as helmets and crampons

Northern lights photography

Packing list and equipment recommendations for this workshop

What's not included

International flights

Cancellation and travel insurances

Alcoholic beverages

Dinner on the last night

Gratuity for your photography guide

Airport transfers from KEF airport to Reykjavik and back

Workshop photo gallery

Testimonials

Ice Caves, Aurora Borealis and Winter on the South side of IcelandArctic Exposure’s Photo Workshop of Northern Lights, Ice Caves, and diamonds on the black beach was a fabulous week of capturing beautiful photos. Our guide Aron was so knowledgeable, showing our small group all of his special spots and knowing when to be there depending on the weather plus avoiding the many tourists. I am so glad I chose Arctic Exposure’s trip around the southern part of Iceland. It was Awesome....!Workshop date February 2020

Peggy Sue

Epic photo tour with SkarpiAwesome trip!!! I highly recommend choosing Skarpi if you want to take this epic photo trip. Went on week long photo tour with Skarpi in Dec 2019 along the south coast of Iceland. Skarpi took us to stunning locations to shoot several waterfalls, 2 ice caves, horses in the snow, a glacier lagoon, chunks of glacier looking like massive transparent ice cubes on a black sand beach and my favorite: the northern lights (Aurora Borealis).Skarpi is a native icelander who has been running tours for many years. He knows just about everyone. We went in his jacked up 4x4 mercedes sprinter that got us easily over iced up backroads to cool spots where the run of the mill photo tour bus can't go. Skarpi keeps it to small groups so all get his help and all get to know one another. Keeping it small also allows him to be flexible one what we do and shoot based on weather and needs and wants of our group. I learned a bunch about landscape longer exposure photography, merging images in lightroom and other lightroom techniques to get the most out of these stunning settings.I took my 82 year old dad who had just as good a time as I, with amazing photos and great stories. The daylight is very short and the landscape and ice caves are surreal like another planet. well worth the adventure.Skarpi arranges all hotels and meals and generally less touristed places outside of Reykjavik. Skarpi loaned us all a set of crampons for walking the icy trails when needed. But i highly advise many layers as it gets cold out in the wind. there are a bunch of stores to buy extra gear if you are underprepared in Reykjavik. Highly recommend a bag of ski type hand and foot warmers for the week.I researched other providers who looked like they tried to copy Skarpi's itinerary but none had his local knowledge and experience.Workshop date December 2019

Abs