Get off the beaten track and explore the mysterious Highlands of Iceland on this 6-day camping and photography adventure! Let us whisk you away on our custom built 4x4 truck as we chase the glorious glow of the Midnight Sun through these incredible landscapes. Due to the rugged and wild nature of the Highlands, there will be no set itinerary as we work with the available conditions to ensure that you will be at the right place and the right time to capture these areas under the best available light.

Our experienced photo guides will be on hand to ensure you learn as much as you can about landscape photography in Iceland while you are onsite and in-field! With miles of knowledge beneath their belts, you can take the worry out of planning and relax, allowing them to get you to where you need to be.

There’ll be no need for burden as you’ll receive your very own Expedition tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag for the entire duration of the trip. You won’t go hungry or thirsty either – clean drinking water will be provided throughout the workshop. We’ll also dine in some Highlands huts and have delicious meals cooked and served up for you in a large kitchen tent with a BBQ grill.

The Highlands cover most of the interior of Iceland and are the last frontier for avid landscape photographers with a true heart for adventure. This rugged and remote area is home to some of Iceland’s most spectacular landscapes, featuring volcanic deserts, breathtaking mountains, steamy geothermal activity and lush oases amidst the barren surrounds. It is only accessible during the summer months, when the snow has melted away and the mountain passes are open to traffic. If you’re longing to get away from the crowds on the Golden Circle, then the Highlands offer a unique serenity with extreme natural beauty and countless photo opportunities to keep you occupied for days.

Total price: 2900 USD

Workshop Overview

The entire tour will be conducted under the helpful eye of our experienced photoguides, who are both experts in landscape photography and shooting in Iceland’s diverse and splendid lighting conditions. Having travelled extensively in the Icelandic Highlands, they will be on hand to ensure your safety and to help you develop your skills throughout the workshop.

There will be no need to burden yourself, as every participant will be provided with their own Expedition tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag for use throughout the trip. Delicious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner will be cooked and served for you in a big kitchen tent with a BBQ grill, though we will also dine in some huts in the Highlands. Don’t fret about thirst, as we will ensure that clean drinking water is provided.

The Highlands are mostly rugged and uninhabitable, covering a large part of the interior of Iceland. The area that we will explore was carved over a long period of time by volcanic activity and can only be crossed during the Icelandic summer. It is a raw and powerful place, where deserts of black sand, steaming hot springs and barren glacial moraine are interspersed with lush fields of vegetation like a paradise.

With such an abundance of photographic opportunities, the Highlands of Iceland provides avid photographers, both aspiring amateurs and established professionals, with countless subjects upon which to improve their landscape photography skills. Make sure you do not miss this excellent opportunity to explore the Highlands on this unique camping photo workshop, which will take you off the beaten path and into the very heart of Iceland itself. Choose a date and check the availability of our upcoming Highlands Camping Photo Workshop tours.

Fitness Requirements

Beginner / Intermediate.

Photographing the Highlands requires some degree of hiking. There won’t be any long hikes, but there will be a few short hikes to get to certain locations.

We will always have two photo guides to assist you. If there are differing fitness levels throughout the group, then we may even split into two smaller groups with one guide assigned to each, in order to accommodate for longer hikes if required.

Always keep in mind that the weather conditions in the Highlands are largely unpredictable, so be prepared to withstand low temperatures at night as well as strong winds. However, the time of year that we will be camping is often calm, though as in all mountainous areas, conditions may change rapidly.

Accommodation and Food

During this workshop, we will be camping at registered campsites, with access to showers and toilets. Every participant will receive their own Expedition tent, pad and sleeping bag for the duration of the trip, though if you prefer, you may bring your own sleeping bag and inflatable mat.

All food and drinking water is included in the price of this tour. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be cooked and served for you in a big kitchen tent with a BBQ grill. There will be times though when we will dine in some of the Highlands huts.

Shooting Locations

Due to the nature of the Highlands and unpredictable weather conditions, we will work according to a flexible itinerary for the duration of this tour. Some of the incredible locations that we will visit include:

Þórsmörk Nature Reserve

Situated in the southern Highlands, Þórsmörk is a mountain ridge nestled between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, and Tindfjallajökull in the Valley of Thor. It is a popular hiking destination, marking one of the ends of the famous Laugavegur walking trail. This lush green oasis is a unique sight to behold, offering up many opportunities for photography amidst the almost fantasy-like landscape. The many rugged and rocky outcrops provide spectacular views of the valleys and rivers that run beneath.

Landmannalaugar

On the other end of the Laugavegur walking trail is Landmannalaugar, an area famous for its colourful rhyolite mountains, gorgeous waterfalls and steaming hot springs. Situated on the edge of the Laugahraun lava field, this geothermal area is one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, featuring a number of crater lakes and an almost surreal atmosphere, somewhat akin to being on another planet.

Hveravellir Geothermal Area

Hveravellir is a unique nature reserve within the central Highlands, where multi-coloured fumaroles, hot springs and geothermal pools abound. This pristine geothermal area to the north of the enormous lava field Kjalhraun is located between two glaciers, Langjökull and Hofsjökull. The boiling water here is a crystalline blue, offering up a number of photo opportunities that will surely impress.

Kerlingarfjöll Geothermal Area

Kerlingarfjöll is an incredible mountain range that is famous for its colourful, rhyolite peaks and steaming hot landscape. It is the third largest geothermal area in Iceland and makes for stunning photography, seeming like a scene straight from another planet. Its contrasts and forms will take your breath away, with endless opportunities for unique and fascinating compositions.

Þakgil

Þakgil canyon is one of the hidden gems of Iceland. Situated in a beautiful valley and surrounded by dramatic mountains, its amazing green vegetation makes it seem like an oasis in the surrounding dark and volcanic landscape.

South Fjallabaksleið

If conditions allow, then we may be able to visit the South Fjallabaksleið, an old Highland route with strong volcanic activity. Here, you will find vast areas of sand, ash and lava covered by beautiful green moss.

Although we will be working with a flexible itinerary, we will try to get through as many of the locations as possible during the entire camping tour to ensure that you have a truly immersive experience within the wild and wondrous landscapes of the Highlands. If we are unable to reach any of the locations listed, then our guides will offer replacement suggestions that will be just as fascinating and beautiful, as our primary objective is to help you build your landscape photography portfolio!

Included:

Two Professional photo guides.

Transportation in a spacious, comfortable 4x4 truck.

Expedition strength tent, sleeping pad and Sleeping bag. One pers. per tent.

All camping fees

Food and drinks.

Not included:

Flight Tickets

Hotel in Reykjavik

Alcoholic beverages

Cancellation and Refund Policy

We strongly recommend you to get a Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance after booking your trip. If you cancel and the Workshop is otherwise filled, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $300 service charge. If you cancel and the Workshop does not fill, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule, based on the full fee of the Workshop:

Greater than 90 days from the start date of the Workshop: full refund minus $300 service fee.

75 days or more: 75% refund

60 days or more: 50% refund

Less than 60 days: no refund

Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.

Disclaimer

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the Icelandic weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, visits to ice caves are dependent on favorable conditions, and indeed the ice caves themselves are not permanent. When it comes to the Northern Lights, while they are most likely to be seen between September and April, there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.