10 Day Northern Lights and Ice Caves Photo Workshop in Iceland

Come away with us on a 10-day winter photography adventure to the spectacular Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the South Coast of Iceland! Explore the icons of these world-famous areas in the midst of winter, including the majestic mountain Kirkjufell, the charming black church of Budir, the incredible Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, mysterious ice caves and stunning waterfalls. Expand your landscape photography portfolio and develop your skills in-field with professional photography guides, who will ensure that you are in the right place at the right time to take advantage of all that is on offer throughout the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and South Coast during winter – a wonderful time of the year when the nights are long and the chance to photograph the Northern Lights in Iceland increases exponentially!

The day begins early as we board our specially-modified 4x4 vehicle, bound for the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the north west of Iceland! The area is particularly photogenic with a wild coastline punctuated by spectacular basalt rock formations and huge, windswept cliffs.

Our first shoot will be at the extraordinary basalt columns of Arnarstapi and the basalt arch called Gatklettur, for which the small fishing village is most-famous. Surrounded by rocks and with a light dusting of snow, this incredible rock formation makes for incredible long exposures as the tumultuous waves of the ocean crash in around it.

Nearby is the charming black church which sits in the hamlet of Budir, amidst the Budahraun lava field. It makes for a stunning subject surrounded by a blanket of snow with majestic mountains all around.

Our sunset shoot will be at Londrangar, uniquely formed remnants of volcanic dikes that stand tall like a castle reaching out towards the sea. With any luck, there will be a chance to photograph the Northern Lights in the area, so be sure to keep your camera ready!

You will spend the night at Snaefellsnes.

We’ll continue exploring the rugged coastline of Snaefellsnes, photographing its charming fishing villages and dramatic landscapes.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to the iconic Kirkjufell by the town of Grundarfjordur – a mountain which you may recognise from the TV series, Game of Thrones. This characteristic pyramid-shaped mountain makes for a stunning backdrop and its mysterious hidden eye becomes visible when it is covered in a dusting of snow. Nearby you will find the beautiful waterfalls of Kirkjufellsfoss, which make for an incredible composition when photographed together with the mountain in the background. Depending on the weather, these waterfalls may even be frozen, creating a myriad of opportunities to capture unique photos of this popular mountain.

If we are lucky, then we’ll have the perfect scene to capture the Aurora Borealis as it dances across the night sky at Kirkjufell.

Your night will then again be spent at Snaefellsnes.

On day four, we will make our way towards the spectacular South Coast of Iceland, home to some of the country’s finest scenery.

Our first shoot will be at the enchanting Seljalandsfoss waterfall, famous for the fact that you’ll be able to walk all around the water as it plummets down from above, on a 360 degree path that circles behind the waterfall inside a cavern. Next up is the majestic Skogafoss waterfall – perhaps the most famous waterfall in all of Iceland. This waterfall has been used as a backdrop in movies such as the Secret Life of Walter Mitty and it’s no wonder why. Surrounded by snow-covered cliffs, it takes on a dreamy look in the midst of winter!

For the latter part of the day, we will make our way towards the famous black sand beach of Reynisfjara for a sunset shoot at the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. These majestic rock pillars are particularly photogenic as they appear to rise from the roaring sea waves.

If the Northern Lights come out to play, then we will photograph them at the sleepy fishing village of Vik. Your night will then be spent at Vik.

Day five sees us making our way into the spectacular Vatnajokull National Park, home to Europe’s largest glacier. There’ll be plenty to shoot, from bright blue glacier tongues to dark sandy beaches, as well as the gorgeous waterfalls Hundafoss and Svartifoss within the protected wilderness area of Skaftafell Nature Reserve.

Hundafoss is the first and tallest of a series of waterfalls that lead up to the famous Svartifoss, plunging from a cliff towards the thick foliage in the canyon below. Meanwhile, Svartifoss never fails to stun, fed by the ice-cold meltwater of the Svinafellsjokull glacier and surrounded by dark lava columns.

With so much on offer, we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the area and if luck is in our favour this evening, then we’ll have another chance at photographing the Northern Lights.

Accommodation for the night will be in the vicinity.

We’ll continue our journey within the Vatnajokull National Park, towards the tranquility of the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which borders the park in the south east of Iceland. This is where massive icebergs that have calved from the nearby Breidarmerkurjokull glacier float serenely before cruising out to sea. There is an abundance of wildlife to photograph here, even during the winter. Strap your telephoto lens on as no doubt, there’ll be seals hauling out onto the icebergs and splashing about in the near-frozen water.

The highlight of the day though will be exploring and photographing an ice cave below the depths of the dark and murky Vatnajokull glacier. You’ll have ample time to capture the light bouncing off these solid frozen walls, as they come alive with brilliant blue hues and shimmer like crystals one could only hope to find in Superman’s lair.

Later in the evening, we’ll continue our chase for the Northern Lights over the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon – an incredible setting for enchanting photos, should the aurora make a display.

Your accommodation for the night will be near the lagoon.

Day seven sees us heading towards ‘Batman Mountain’ in east Iceland. Also known as Vestrahorn, this majestic mountain is aptly named as its unique peaks resemble the mask of the comic superhero himself.

The landscape that lies at the foot of Vestrahorn is simply stunning, featuring undulating sand dunes interspersed with frozen ponds and dotted with layers of snow. The compositions here are endless and time will fly as you immerse yourself capturing all that is on offer at this wonderful coastal location.

We’ll spend the day capturing this amazing mountain from all angles until the sunset takes hold, as the waves of the North Atlantic Ocean rise and fall against the black volcanic sand beach. There’s no denying that Vestrahorn is an epic backdrop for the aurora, so if the Northern Lights make a display, then we will stay here in the evening to photograph it.

Your night will be spent in the Vatnajokull area.

On this day, we will once again explore the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, taking another glimpse at Svartifoss and Hundafoss. If conditions are right, then we’ll be able to photograph the volcanic peaks of Mt Kristinartindar in the distance – a nice background to the white snow-laden foregrounds of Skaftafell. We’ll visit another stunning glacier lagoon as well as the majestic glacier outlet, Svinafellsjokull, where giant coarse blue and white icebergs make an interesting contrast against the soft winter light.

Our evening will be spent at the windswept Reynisfjara black sand beach, where we will capture the last rays of light as the sun sets behind the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, hoping for another display of the Northern Lights.

Your night will then be spent at Vik.

This will be our final day of shooting in Iceland and we’ll spend it shooting the three natural attractions that make up the Golden Circle in Iceland: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.

The landscapes at Thingvellir are immensely fascinating, situated within a rift valley at the site of the separation of two tectonic plates beneath the ground. At the end of the valley is the beautiful Oxararfoss waterfall, surrounded by frozen rocks as it plunges into an icy pool below.

At Geysir, you’ll have the opportunity to photograph the fountain geyser Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes shooting hot water 20 metres into the air! The steamy geothermal landscape here is beautifully complemented by the snowfall during winter, resembling a winter wonderland from another planet.

We’ll finish our adventure at one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, Gullfoss, where water tumbles powerfully into a steep canyon towards the Hvítá river below. In winter, this immense waterfall can sometimes freeze over, giving it an almost eerie feel.

Once we have covered the entire Golden Circle, we’ll make our way slowly back towards Reykjavik for our final group dinner and bid each other farewell as this incredible winter adventure in Iceland comes to an end.

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.

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.

Total price: 4900 USD

New 2024 Dates

The highlights of our photography workshop:

Northern Lights Photography

Ice Caves Photography

Jokulsarlon and the Ice Beach

Snaefellsnes peninsula

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival

Day 2 - Snaefellsnes

Day 3 - Snaefellsnes

Day 4 - Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Reynisfjara, Vik

Day 5 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 6 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 7 - Vatnajokull National Park

Day 8 - Skaftafell, Vik

Day 9 - Golden Circle and return to Reykjavik

Day 10 - Transfer to Keflavik Airport

Included:

Not included:

Cancellation and Refund Policy