Stunning 10 Day Northern Lights Winter Photography Workshop in Iceland with Ice Caving

The real adventure begins. A bus will pick you up from your hotel and take you to your first destination and home for the next two days, the magical Snæfellsnes peninsula.

Often heralded as Iceland in miniature, Snæfellsnes boasts a bit of everything Iceland has to offer, and you will have the opportunity to capture the dramatic coastline as well as the vast Búðahraun lava fields.

As you get ready to spend a night on this photogenic peninsula, be sure to keep your eyes skywards as Snæfellsnes is a famous Northern Lights hotspot.

On your third day, you have the opportunity to explore the rest of the peninsula, crossing north over looming mountains for the chance to capture the most iconic sight of Snæfellsnes, the majestic mount Kirkjufell.

Not only are you and your camera spoilt by the fascinating angles of this snowy mountain but the nearby waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss offers an impressive foreground to an already stunning scene.

You will once again spend a night in Snæfellsnes after further Northern Lights hunting.

Saying goodbye to Snæfellesnes may seem tough but be prepared to herald the South Coast, one of the most popular and photographed parts of Iceland, and for a good reason.

Your first stop will be Seljalandsfoss which boasts a large cave behind it offering the unique experience of being able to photograph this waterfall from all angles. Skógafoss is the next stop, a thundering waterfall which can be shot from both the top and the bottom. If you are blessed with sunshine, you can look forward to capturing a rainbow or sometimes even two in the mist created by this powerful landmark.

The next stop is the arresting Reynisfjara beach made up of beautiful lava pebbles and featuring basalt columns as well as the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Ever vigilant for Northern

Lights, you will spend your night in the picturesque town of Vík.

Halfway through your trip and your nature photography skills and memory card should be expanding nicely. Day five will focus on Vatnajökull National Park which offers an array of landscapes from glaciers to waterfalls, dark sandy beaches to basalt columns.

The National Park is a captivating and extremely varied area surrounding Europe’s largest glacier, providing no end of inspiration for photographers, amateur and professional alike.

Vatnajökull park’s breathtaking scenery offers the perfect setting to capture the Northern Lights so again, spend your evening with your eyes peeled skywards.

Another day, another opportunity to explore Vatnajökull National Park and one of Iceland’s most memorable scenes, Jökusárlón glacial lagoon. At the foot of the glacier, mesmerising icebergs float in the clear glacial water, and you will be captivated by the astonishing blue hues rendered in the assorted ice cliffs.

Later in the day, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour and photograph a natural ice cave. Your guide will lead you up the glacier and show you how to capture the vivid blue colour found within the cave. 

You will then retire for the night in accommodation close to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Day seven presents another opportunity to unravel the many wonders of Iceland’s largest national park.

You will be taken to the extraordinary Vestrahorn mountain which dominates the landscape 454 metres above the black lava beach of Stokksnes peninsula. The wild nature of the mountain and the waves crashing at its base are perfect for any photography lover.

The usual search for the aurora will keep you busy in the evening, and you will spend the night in the national park area.

Onto Skaftafell, a wilderness preservation area within Vatnajökull National Park. The raw natural beauty of this area leaves no end to inspiration with its volcanic peaks and glacial features. Worth particular mention is the stunning Svartifoss waterfall, named after the black basalt columns it tumbles over which inspired the architects of Reykjavík’s famous Hallgrímskirkja church.

Sunset will be enjoyed in the Reynisfjara area and the night spent in Vík village.

The first stop of the day will be Þingvellir National Park, the seat of Iceland’s first parliament, positioned where the Eurasian and North-American tectonic plates pull apart. You will also be able to admire the waterfall Öxaráfoss and the stunning Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake.

Next stop is the geothermal park at Geysir which lends its name to geysers all over the world. The spouting hot spring Geysir itself now lies dormant, but another by the name of Strokkur still erupts to heights of 15-20 metres and makes for exciting and impressive photo fodder.

Last but not least is Gullfoss, the ‘golden waterfall’, which in the winter flows over icy structures adding to its majesty making it one of the best locations to take photos in Iceland. This attraction marks the end of your photo trip to Iceland, and you will return to Reykjavík for the night.

Your winter photo tour of Iceland is over, leaving you to develop memories and photos. An airport transfer will take you from Reykjavík to Keflavík International airport to make your journey home.