Aurora Borealis & Ice Cave Photo 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.
Highlights
Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis nights in the glacier lagoon and other unique locations
Ice Caves – Ice Caves and ice formations
Waterfalls – Major waterfalls such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Svartifoss
Glaciers – Glacier Lagoon and The Ice Beach
Transportation – Super Truck transport into remote glaciers and ice caves
Professional Photography Guides – All of our guides are professional photographers based in Iceland with years of experience leading photography workshops
Activity Level – Easy to medium. Access to Ice Caves vary
Small groups – Maximum number of participants: 8
Duration – 8 days / 7 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 of $1,000 USD upon booking
- Payment in full is required 90 days prior to the tour starting date
- Double occupancy accommodations for seven nights at hotels, while single rooms are available upon request
- Single room supplement adds $850 USD
Total price: $4,900 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
- Private airport transport directly to and from your hotel in Reykjavik
- Private ice cave tour
- Safety gear will be provided, such as helmets and crampons
- Northern lights photography
What's not included
- International flights
- Cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Gratuity for your photography guide
- Dinner on the last night
Ice Caves, Aurora Borealis and Winter on the South side of Iceland
Arctic 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
Epic photo tour with Skarpi
Awesome 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 4×4 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
Itinerary
DAY 1 – Arrival in Reykjavik
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. 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. If you arrive early, you can photograph some of the top attractions in the city such as the Harpa concert hall, Hallgrimskirkja, the Sun Voyager or Perlan.
DAY 2 – Þingvellir National Park & Vík
We start early in the morning from Reykjavík, and drive directly to our first shooting location in Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park and begin our photography adventure. From Þingvellir, we travel to the town of Vík along the South Coast where we will spend the night. 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
After breakfast at our hotel, we’re off to capture the sunrise on the famous ice beach along the south-east coastline of Iceland. We will photograph the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon area for the next two and a half days and have a plethora of great locations to choose from. We lodge close to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in order to be in prime locations during the best light, and when the sky is clear and the aurora is active, we shoot the northern lights dancing over the lagoon. 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, Vestrahorn
The Stokksnes area is below Vestrahorn, a 454-meter high mountain and a fascinating geology site formed by unstratified plutonic rock, mostly gabbro as well as some granophyre. East of the mountain is a strange-shaped outcrop called Brunnhorn that stretches out to sea. Vestrahorn 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 & Vík
We’ll pass through Skaftafell both on our way to and from the south-east. We’ll shoot some of the stunning landscapes there for at least one sunset. 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.
DAY 7 – Vík – Finish in Reykjavík
After our breakfast and sunrise in the Vík 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
Transfer to Keflavik international airport.
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.