During this tour, you will experience Iceland through various weather conditions and have the opportunity to photograph extreme landscapes in ever changing colors. Despite the winter, Iceland is not always covered in snow, and due to the low sun and varied weather conditions between North and South Iceland, the island displays exceptionally beautiful light and contrasts, which give way to plenty of variety in your photographs. We will take advantage of beautiful winter sunrises and sunsets (when presented) which will play a major role in some of the best locations available. We will take Route 1 with a few detours, stopping at the highlights of Iceland´s natural landscape, subject to weather and accessibility during the winter. A big advantage for photographers at this time of the year is that there are fewer people around compared to the summer. During the evenings, we will keep a lookout for the Northern Lights.
Duration: 9 Nights, Winter
Price: From $7,105 per person
Included:
- Accommodation 11 nights in farm hotels and guesthouses during the tour (Not in Reykjavík).
- Breakfast from the second day until the last day, picnic or light restaurant lunch every day, dinners from day one until the second to last day.
- Professional English speaking driver guide and photographer, Vehicle: 4X4 truck (Jeep) and gasoline.
Not included:
- Flight to and from Iceland.
- Transportation to and from airport (although this can be arranged).
- Hotel accommodation in Reykjavík. You will need a pre and a post night in Reykjavik.
- Travel Insurance.
We will stay at farm hotels and guesthouses that offer personal service and home cooked food. Some days we will take packed lunches with us which allows us more freedom in the field when needed. Driving around Iceland in wintertime is like a "box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get".
Climate and clothing recommendations:
The Gulf Stream is what makes Iceland inhabitable, and without it, the whole country would most likely be covered by ice. The winters are fairly mild and summers are cool. The weather can be unpredictable and very windy and rainy at times. A popular saying in Iceland is “if you don’t like the weather right now, just wait five minutes” as you may occasionally experience the four seasons all in one day: sunshine and mild temperatures to windy, cool temperatures with rain or even snow. The average temperature in January is 0 C (32 F) and the average temperature in July is 12 C (54 F).
In the view of the climate description above, we can only advise visitors to be prepared for everything. No matter what time of year you plan to visit Iceland, always pack some warm and water resistant clothes, hats, gloves and good walking shoes.
Clothes:
Practical list, independent of the season of the year
1. Warm underwear
2. Sweater or a warm jacket/coat
3. Wind- and waterproof overcoat and over trousers
4. Extra pair of warm socks
5. Gloves and a cap
6. Hiking shoes (waterproof boots for winter photo tours)
7. Slippers and possibly light trainers
9. Sunglasses (optional!)
10. Electric converter (Iceland uses 220 volts)
11. Torch or headlight (winter photo tours)
The schedule of the trip may be rearranged for the best weather conditions and light at each location, so be prepared to be flexible. This way we can make this tour as successful as possible.
West Iceland – Borgarfjörður and Snæfellsnes Peninsula
We will pick you up from your hotel around 8:00 am and drive to Hvalfjörður-Fjord and from there toward Borgarfjörður Fjord. We will visit Hraunfossar Waterfalls (Lava Waterfalls) and another spectacular waterfall close by, Barnafossar (Children’s Waterfall according to folklore).
Accommodation: Hotel in the area.
Skagafjörður Fjord, Icelandic Horses and Secret Waterfall
We will travel through Iceland farmlands, photograph horses. Visit Godafoss waterfall. Northern Lights Hunt.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mývatn area.
Goðafoss Waterfall and Lake Mývatn Area
We will be at first light at Goðafoss, one of Iceland's top waterfalls to photograph. We will spend other half of the day around Lake Mývatn. By the lake are various lava formations like Kálfastrandavogar Lava Rocks that rise out of the lake and near by the Hverfell Volcano.
Accommodation: Hotel in Lake Mývatn area.
Hverarönd Geothermal Area and Möðrudalsöræfi Highland Road
We do morning photography in the area and check out around noon.We drive into higher ground, look for blowing snow and mountain lines. We have a very interesting place to stay in next night, in a small hotel in the interior of Iceland.Cant get much more remote or dark for Northern lights than there.
East Fjords
The east coast boasts of long, narrow fjords with steep sides and jagged mountain peaks as well as picturesque fishing villages.
Accommodation: Hofn
East Fjords and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
We will be at the beach to phoograph the first light of Vestrahorn area.
We will head further south and make stops both at random and at planned locations along the east coast until we get to the glacier lagoon in the late afternoon. In the evening, we will look out for the Northern Lights and hope to get to photograph them by the Glacier Lagoon.
Accommodation: Close to Glacier lagoon
Glacier Lagoon and Vatnajökull National Park
This day is all about the ice cave. We meet with our glacier guide who is the most experienced in Iceland in this field. (He comes from a reliable local company; Coast to Mountains) Ice caves change year to year in size and shape so we never know what to expect but we always hope for the amazing blue colour. This tour takes all day long, you can expect about 3 KM walk each way to the cave. Tripods are needed. Rest at hotel, dinner and if presented; Northern lights hunt at the Ice lagoon. Accommodation: Close to the Glacier Lagoon.
Ice Cave Visit, Lómagnúpur Mountain to Hrífunes
We get ready for first light at the Glacier Lagoon. Check out at ease, then we start moving along Vatnajökull Glacier National Park. We stop at Fjallsárlón ice lagoon and Svínafellsjökull glacier tong. Northern lights hunt by the pond in Hrifunes. Accommodation; our own cosy Hrifunes guesthouse.
Remote Black Sand Beach, Old Rescue Shelter and a Shipwreck
We take an early start an drive towards the black sand beach with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. This time of year sunrise is right behind the stacks. Afterwards we drive down to cape Hjörleifshöfði and the lonesome rocks that stand out of the black sand. Lunch and a rest at our guesthouse. Afternoon we spend photographing horses in the area and the pseudo craters in Álftaver. Northern light hunt by the pond. Accommodation Hrifunes guesthouse.
First Light at the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks, Cape and Cliffs
Final day. We will leave Hrífunes early for first light photography at the beach of Reynisfjara where you find columnar basalt formations and the Reynisdrangar Rocks standing in the sea. We will drive along the south coast towards Reykjavík stopping at various locations: Dyrhóley, Skógafoss waterfall among others.
Estimated arrival time in Reykjavík around 18PM.
Price:
| Accommodation | Price per person |
|---|---|
| Double Occupancy | $7105 |
| Single Occupancy | $7,816 |
Scheduled departure: January 29 – February 7, 2019. Please note: Minimum number of participants is 6. Maximum number of participants is 9.
Participants: min 6, max 9
