Join us for an Iceland Photography Adventure of a lifetime in October 2023.
Location: Tour begins in Reykjavik, Iceland travels throughout the South of Iceland, and ends in Keflavik.
Dates: Monday 2nd October, 2023 to Friday 13th October, 2023.
We recommend all participants arrive in Reykjavik a day or two early to allow for any flight delays and to see the beautiful capital.
Duration: 10 FULL days of touring and photography (not including arrival and departure days).
Participants: 8-12
Experience Level: All levels
Fitness Level: A moderate level of energy will help you get the most out of this tour. There are some locations that may require up to 6km hiking with elevation gain, but the vast majority of activities are easily accessed and photogenic alternatives to more strenuous activities are available.
Instructors: Mieke Boynton, Matt Palmer, Kaspars Dzenis (learn more about us below).
Cost: $7200USD Twin Share, $8200USD Single. A $1500USD deposit must be made to reserve your place, with the remaining amount due 30 June, 2023.
Aerial Photography Supplement: $1000USD for participants wishing to take aerial photographs. This will be pooled to create opportunities to shoot in the best conditions, with any remaining funds refunded.
Inclusions:
Meals - ALL breakfasts and dinners during the tour including a special welcome and departure dinner.
Transport and instruction from three instructors throughout the tour.
3-4 star high quality accommodation, including on your day of arrival (11 nights)
All activities (see itinerary) except for aerial photography flights.
Educational Resources for photographers that are less confident in their skills in the lead up to the tour so you can get the most out of your time in Iceland.
Before the tour, we can be available for a zoom meeting to ensure your trip preparation is going well.
We will also run a zoom get-together after the tour is completed to share photographs and editing tips.
Not included: You will need to organise flights to and from Reykjavik International Airport, and you must have travel insurance. Lunches, alcohol and additional room service is also not included, unless by prior arrangement. Aerial photography requires an Aerial Photography Supplement due to the cost of aircraft and in fairness to non-flying participants.
A different kind of Iceland tour...
This tour will allow you to immerse yourself in photography for ten full days, taking in the very best of Iceland's South Coast along with plenty of hidden gems.
October is a fantastic month to be traveling. The massive crowds have subsided, snow is starting to fall in some areas of the country, and the Aurora Borealis has ample opportunity to make an appearance. While there will be plenty of rain, it will be drizzle and not the volatile winter storms that are yet to come. And we have a good window of light that allows for plenty of daytime photography without burning out.
Your instructors are recognised landscape photographers with over 500 awards between them. With both Mieke and Matt having formal education training and Kaspars an expert on Icelandic landscapes, we are leading this tour to help YOU take amazing photographs and develop your photography in the field. We will have our cameras with us, but YOUR photography always comes first.
All three instructors have travelled Iceland's South Coast, so we know some amazing places that we would love to show you.
Flexibility creates opportunity. Our itinerary below focuses on photography-rich areas on the South Coast and the stunning Vatnajokull glacier. Instead of driving from one hotel to another while making stops, we will be out making photographs instead. Our plans will be kept flexible so that we are in the best places for dramatic and exciting photography and memorable life experiences.
We have multiple vehicles and instructors, allowing us to split up on some days so that you can see and do what most interests you. We can also jump on opportunities to photograph the Aurorea Borealis.
Sometimes our plans may have to change due to weather, and snow is possible which may restrict our access to certain areas. We are prepared for this should it occur, and all three instructors have winter driving experience.
Transparency is important to us. We have deliberately not counted arrival or departure days in our ten day tour (many would list it as a 12 day tour) as we don't believe that's very fun!
The tour is licensed appropriately by having Kaspars on board with an Icelandic Tourism License. This is a license only given to Icelandic residents and is a requirement of operating tours in Iceland. It is important for us to operate in good faith with Icelandic laws, as well as respecting the natural and cultural values of Iceland.
Itinerary
This tour will allow you to immerse yourself in photography for ten full days, taking in the very best of Iceland's South Coast along with plenty of hidden gems.
October provides us the perfect opportunity to potentially see the Aurora Borealis and some snow on mountain peaks.
Please note the itinerary is subject to change depending on weather, and to allow us to visit the most incredible places at the right times for photography.
Day 0:
Tour group meets for an delicious dinner in Reykjavik, with the opportunity to meet other participants, your guides, and to toast to our upcoming trip! Accommodation in Reykjavik will be ready for you.
Day 1-2 - Southern Interior:
The first part of our journey contains some of Iceland's most iconic locations as well as some stunning places off the beaten track.
Starting with the Golden Circle route, we will see a continental rift, the iconic Gullfoss waterfall and geyser Strokkur erupting 15-20 metres into the air (and sometimes even up to 40metres!).
Off the beaten track we will take in the mystical Gjain valley and the stunning gorge containing Haifoss, as well as Thjoldveldisbaear - a beautiful viking-era style farmhouse.
The second day will end with us in Vik, one of the most picturesque regions of Iceland. We will also keep our aurora and cloud forecasts at the ready, with potential to photograph the aurora with some stunning waterfalls.
Day 3,4,5 - South Coast:
Staying in the town of Vik for three days will give us a great opportunity to explore the amazing Southern region of Iceland.
The native beauty in this area of Iceland is astounding.
The coastline is stunning and rugged with volcanic black sand beaches. Rock structures such as Reynisdrangar and Dyrhólaey will make for amazing features against the crashing waves. Reynisdrangar is one of the most dangerous places in Iceland, but perfectly safe with respect for nature, so a safety brief will be provided on this area.
Not only does the South Coast contain waterfall icons such as Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, but also lesser appreciated but still beautiful falls like Kvernufoss and Femri-fellsfoss.
The mountains contain riches including Solheimajokull glacier, Fjaðrargljufur Canyon and some intriguing hidden places.
For those who love a little rustic gold, Vik also has the crashed Douglas C-47 Skytrain on black sand beach, and the historic buildings of Drangshlíð and Rutshellir.
The area is also home to Icelandic Horses for which we will schedule an experience and photoshoot during the tour. This allows us to experience these majestic creatures without disturbing farmers or farm horses.
As always, we will be ready for any positive aurora forecasts with great locations to photograph it.
Finally, for those who have paid an aerial supplement, we will be keeping an eye out for flight windows. While all three instructors are experienced in aerial photography, Mieke, one of Australia's top aerial photographers will be especially valuable in assisting you to capture the beauty of Iceland's braided rivers and mountains from above.
Each day, itineraries will be set depending on conditions and there may be opportunities to split into groups to tailor outings further.
Day 6,7 - South-East
To reduce driving times later, this day will include a 2.5-3hr drive to Hofn in the South-East. After sharing the story and receiving the good luck of Laufskálavarða - a special place with thousands of cairns created by historic Icelandic peoples, we will head towards Vatnajokull and some incredible road-trip scenes.
The increasingly famous Fjaðrargljufur Canyon is a great stop for any that have not yet seen it while based in Vik. There are also the beautiful waterfalls of Stjornafoss and Foss a Sidu with some great views from nearby Dverghamrar.
Before the sun goes down, we will take in one of Iceland's most picturesque and photogenic mountain vistas.
The next morning, we will take in the iconic vista of Vestrahorn with lots of great foreground options, and the stunning waterfall of Skutafoss. After brunch, we will head towards one of Iceland's most picturesque places...
Day 8,9 - Vatnajökull
The Vatnajökull icecap covers approximately 8% of Iceland and the massive volume of ice is impossible to fathom. Its activity over millennia has created amazing landscapes that we will take in from the water, and by entering its majestic ice caves.
Further from the glacier, we will spend plenty of time at the gorgeous Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon and nearby 'Diamond Beach' to photograph icebergs against black volcanic sand.
Waterfall lovers will appreciate Svartifoss and its impressive basalt columns, as well as other hidden gems nearby.
Those that are ready for the challenge may experience an epic canyon hike leading to some of the most stunning views in Iceland.
We will be keeping an eye out for the Aurora dancing over the beautiful ice jewels of Jokulsarlon as well as weather windows to take in some incredible braided rivers and glaciers from above.
Day 10 - Reykjanes
Those that know Iceland know that Reykjanes Peninsula holds underappreciated treasures! On our final full day together, we will drive back from Vatnajökull - with time for a stop or two, and perhaps take in some of the beautiful sights of Reykjanes such as one of its many geothermal areas, or the stunning Gunnuhver, Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnukamol coastal area.
There is also an abundance of scenic abandoned homes in bleak landscapes here that Matt photographed for his Abandoned in Iceland project.
While we celebrate our time together at our final dinner, if conditions allow, we may extend our night by aurora chasing one last time!
Day 11 - Keflavik / After Tour
Your hotel accommodation staff are experts in airport transfers to Keflavik International Airport for anyone heading home or abroad straight away. Otherwise there is transport available to the capital Reykjavik to spend some more time, or transfer to other experiences such as Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon.
By this time, you will have memory cards with stunning images of this incredibly beautiful and special country, plenty of happy memories, and probably plans to come back as soon as possible. Don't say we didn't warn you! 🙂
Meet your guides
Mieke Boynton
Landscape and Aerial Specialist
Matt Palmer
Landscape Photography Specialist
Matt has extensive experience in multiple genres of photography including in documentary and landscape photography.
Passionate about story-telling through imagery, his series on Tasmanian fire impacts helped him receive 2019 Australian Professional Photographer of the Year and Landscape photography awards.
Kaspars Dzenis
Licensed Iceland Tour Operator
& Landscape Photographer
Kaspars is a landscape photographer living in Iceland.
Believing that Icelandic nature has a profound impact on anyone who sets eyes on it, Kaspars can provide educational tips and insights in landscape photography as well as the history and cultural significance of special places.
Are you interested in joining us?
Please register your interest below. We will be in contact to provide you any additional information you require before booking and a full itinerary document. When you are ready to proceed you will be supplied with our full tour agreement and payment details.