DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in ReykjavÃk Participants will be arriving on a variety of flights, Flybus tickets will be sent out in advance. The first night accommodation in a three star ReykjavÃk city hotel is included. We will meet for introductions and briefing at 19:00 before heading out into the city for dinner which is included in the price of the tour. Hotel ReykjavÃk
Day 2: ReykjavÃk to VÃk Leaving after breakfast to take advantage of all the daylight hours. As we travel along the south coast our locations en route include the classic waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. During the afternoon we will arrive in VÃk famed for it's black beaches, sea stacks and basalt columnar architecture including Reynishellir a superb basalt cave. This location lends itself to both abstract, mono and unusual landscape photography. Our hotel is just five minutes walk from one of VÃk’s beaches with great views of the sea stacks. Hotel VÃk
Day 3: To Skaftafell National Park This morning we may revisit the black beaches of VÃk and/ or Dyrhólaey depending on the light and what we managed to capture the previous day. This session will be followed by a journey along the wild and awe-inspiring south coast of Iceland. We pass through vast lava fields and huge glacial sandurs, mountains and glaciers stopping whenever the light and subjects are inspiring. By midafternoon we should have arrived at the SvÃnafellsjökull glacier where we will encounter and photograph remarkable close up perspectives of bluish green crevasses and the milky brown lagoon. This surreal icy landscape includes vistas of Iceland’s highest mountain; Hvannadalshnjúkur. There is sometimes a beautiful ice cave although it is worth noting that we can never predict what these natural phenomena will be like until we arrive as they are constantly changing. Driving East in the early evening we will take our first short look at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon; a location that we will become increasingly familiar with over the coming days. For the next four nights we are based in a comfortable guesthouse beautifully located by the Atlantic Ocean just forty minutes from Skaftafell National Park and only ten minutes from the Jökulsárlón. Hotel Hali (4 nights)
Day 4–6: Southeast Iceland Locations Our base is very well situated for all our locations; just a ten minute drive to the glacier lagoon and the black sand beach. Both locations are excellent for both sunrises and Aurora; we can be there in a very short time. Our daily locations are chosen in conjunction with the weather or the Aurora forecasts. We have to be very flexible to get the best images and we will often revisit worthwhile locations. With this in mind here is an overview of locations for days 4–6 in no particular order… Brei›amerkursandur beach – here we find the sea washed ice and icebergs; a particularly good place to be at sunrise when the sun brings out the colours and striking structure of the ice; an excellent subject in its own right or as interesting foreground detail. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon – we will photograph here on several occasions in varying light conditions. Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon – a remote less visited location with a dramatic glacial and mountain backdrop. Mountain landscape locations – east of our accommodation including small lakes with great reflections. Natural ice caves – the Vatnajökull glacier is Europe’s largest ice cap, we will photograph an ice cave depending on the conditions. SvÃnafellsjökull glacier – we get really close to the complex and jumbled glacier with its blue green ice and sometimes we photograph in an ice cave depending on conditions. Secret Locations – as you can imagine from tutors who know Iceland intimately, we have quite a few secret locations up our sleeves!
Day 7: Return to ReykjavÃk This morning we will take a final visit to the glacier lagoon and beach for sunrise and morning light; basically photographers could visit this location a thousand times and never tire of its magic. After lunch we drive back to ReykjavÃk arriving in time for dinner. Hotel ReykjavÃk
Day 8: Transfer to International Airport Today participants can choose to leave on any flight as the transfers are always timed to connect to the flights. Check out from the hotel is around midday but hourly extensions can be purchased.