Day 1 – Friday, April 10th – Reykjavik at Leisure
Your first feeling of Iceland starts right at the airport as the Leifur Eiriksson Keflavik airport is small, on an international level, and easy. Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall, welcoming you to Iceland. Your driver will drop you off at your hotel.
The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik, is a small city on an international scale but it makes up for it with its friendly atmosphere. There is a lot to do in Reykjavik, including museums, and famous buildings or just sit down at a coffee house and watch Icelanders go about their business.
Suggested Highlights:
– House of Parliament: A classic 19th-century structure, built in 1881. It houses Althingi, the Icelandic parliament. Next to the parliament is Reykjavik Cathedral which is the seat of the Bishop of Iceland.
– Harpa: A concert hall conference centre by the Reykjavik harbour. The structure consists of a steel framework clad with geometric-shaped glass panels of different colours
– Hallgrimskirkja: Standing on top of a hill, Hallgrimskirkja church towers over the city of Reykjavik. The church tower is 75 meters high and from the top you have a panoramic view of Reykjavik.
Accommodation – Exeter Hotel – 1nt
Day 2 – Saturday, April 11th – Reykjavik => Snaefellsnes Peninsula (B, D)
Today we drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Snaefellsjokull Glacier is the location Jules Verne picked as the beginning of his book, Journey to the centre of the earth. Snaefellsnes peninsula is a bird’s paradise, with sandy beaches on one side, the mountains on the other and Snaefellsjokull glacier towering over.
It will quickly become apparent why Iceland draws so many landscape photographers and travellers worldwide. Visit the spectacular Hraunfossar where waterfalls cascade out of an ancient lava flow. The contrast of the cold water flowing out of warm autumn-coloured shrubs makes for some great photography.
Our final destination is Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall for sunset. This is regarded as the most photographed scene in all of Iceland.
Highlights
– Gerduberg: wall of beautiful basalt columns, forming geometric patterns in the cliffs.
– Kirkjufell: A beautiful mountain near the town of Grundarfjordur. This mountain has become an icon for photographers because of its unique shape and the small waterfall that runs in front of it.
Accommodation – Hotel Budir– 2nts
Day 3 – Sunday, April 12th – Snaefellsnes (B, D)
Today we continue to explore the magical Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Throughout the day there will be numerous stops to visit and photograph the amazing scenery, including the Buoakirkja Black Church, Arnarstapi Village, the rugged shoreline of Londranger, Ingjaldsholl Church and more.
Highlights
– Snaefellsjokull glacier: Snaefellsjokull glacier lies atop an extinct volcano. A magnificent sight, it rises, solitary, at the end of the peninsula, into the North Atlantic sky.
– Hellnar: An area with rugged shore cliffs and abundant bird life. Nearby are a wealth of caves, volcanic craters chasms and fantastic lava formations.
– Djupalonssandur: A sandy beach on the foot of Snaefellsjokull. It was once home to sixty fishing boats and one of the most prolific fishing villages on the Snaefellsnes peninsula but today the bay is uninhabited.
Day 4 – Monday, April 13th – Snaefellsnes => Siglufjordur (B, D)
This morning we depart early for our long day of driving to the north of the Island. During our travel, the landscape will be constantly changing. As we wind our way around bays and past spectacular mountain ranges there will be numerous stops for photography. We will enjoy scheduled stops to visit Kolugljufur Canyon/Kolufossar waterfall, Flodhidh Lake and Kalfshamarsviti Lighthouse with its amazing basalt rock formation. We end our day at Sauoarkrokur on the shore of Skagafjorour Bay, a small town of 2,600 people and the second-largest town in Northern Iceland.
Highlights
– Kolugljúfur Canyon: A hidden gem along the Ring Road of Iceland, Kolugljúfur Canyon houses many beautiful waterfalls. Sculptured perfectly with a cluster of numerous small waterfalls, Kolugljúfur or Kolugil, is a gorge in the great salmon river Víðidalsá which runs through the valley of Víðidalur.
– Siglufjordur: Home to the world’s greatest herring museum, a ski slope in winter, and a golf course in the summer. The centre of town is the small “marina village,” compared to a very miniature version of Copenhagen’s Nyhavn, with brightly coloured restaurants, and outdoor seating facing a decorative array of small craft at anchor.
Accommodation – Siglo Hotel – 1nt
Day 5 – Tuesday, April 14th – Siglufjordur => Myvatn (B, D)
Today we make our way across the northern part of Iceland heading towards Lake Myvatn geothermal area. In the morning much of our travel will be through mountains where snow is most likely to be seen, offering some spectacular landscape opportunities.
After lunch, it’s time to photograph two amazing waterfalls. The first we visit is the more remote Aldeyjarfoss waterfall which will involve some walking, however, it is certainly well worth the effort. We then return to photograph Gooafoss waterfall (Waterfall of the Gods) from two different vantage points before sunset.
Our day ends at Lake Myvatn where we enjoy a two-night stay. Myvatn is a shallow lake situated in an active volcanic region and attracts numerous waterbirds.
Accommodation – Fosshotel Myvatn – 2nts
Day 6 – Wednesday, April 15th – Myvatn (B, D)
Today we continue to explore the Myvatn area, particularly the lake and surrounding features. As we travel around the lake, we are afforded numerous views of the lake and surrounding landscape, including Hverfell crater mountain which was formed in an explosive eruption approximately 2,500 years ago. The region is also a hotbed for birdwatching, with many species of duck found in the waters throughout the year.
Highlights
– Skutustadagigar: An unusual collection of pseudocraters formed some 2,300 years ago. This volcanic landform resembles a crater however is not formed from the eruption of lava.
– Dimmuborgir: Translates as “Dark cities”, the area consists of a massive collapsed lava tube formed by a lava lake. See various volcanic caves and rock formations that will make you feel as if you are in another world.
– Krafla: A caldera of about 10 km in diameter. It reaches up to 818 meters. In Krafla there is a crater lake called Viti, which translates to Hell.
– Namaskard: Just south of Krafla, although not within its caldera is Mount Namafjall. The area beneath the mountain is called Namaskard, a geothermal area with steaming fumaroles and boiling mud pools.
Day 7 – Thursday, April 16th – Myvatn => Dettifoss => East Fjords (B, D)
Today we begin the drive east. On the way, we make a stop at Dettifoss, the second most powerful waterfall in Europe. This stop will involve some cautious walking, particularly if they have had snow.
As we travel there will be plenty of opportunities to photograph remote churches with spectacular mountainous landscapes in the background, as well as the unique grass-covered buildings.
Highlights
– Dettifoss waterfall: 100 meters wide and a drop of 45 meters and has an average water flow of 193 m3/s making it the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Accommodation – Hotel 1001 nott– 1nt
Day 8 – Friday, April 17th – East Fjords => The East => Jokulsarlon (B, D)
Today enjoy a spectacular drive, heading south down the eastern part of Iceland to Jokulsarlon. Beautiful bays, remote fishing villages and incredible coastline scenery fill our day of travel, so you should expect and be prepared for many photographic stops.
Our final photoshoot of the day is at Vestrahorn Mountain, on the Stokksnes peninsula near Hofn and one of the most impressive scenes in all of Iceland.
We then continue towards Jokulsarlon, one of Iceland’s most visited locations.
Highlights
– Bulandstindur: The mountain Bulandstindur towers over the small village of Djupivogur.
– Stokksnes: A replica of a Viking village built for a movie that was never made but the village still stands and is open to visitors.
– Wildlife: There are many bird species on the east fjords and seals can often be seen swimming close to the shoreline.
Accommodation – Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon – 2nts
Day 9 – Saturday, April 18th – Jokulsarlon (B, D)
Jokulsarlon and Fjallsarlon are both located in the southern part of Vatnajokull Glacier, which is the biggest glacier in Iceland. Both lagoons offer stunning scenes of mountains, glaciers and floating icebergs but Jokulsarlon is far bigger and attracts more crowds. The main difference between the two, other than the size, is that Jokulsarlon is connected to the sea while Fjallsarlon is not, therefore, the icebergs of Fjallsarlon stay there until they’ve completely melted while the icebergs of Jokulsarlon often wash out to sea and are then returned on to the beach creating the “Diamond Beach”.
Highlights
– Diamond Beach: The black sand beach is scattered with clear, often blue-tinted icebergs of varying sizes, sparkling in the sunshine.
– Lagoon ride: Boat ride on the ice lagoon. This is the perfect place to experience unspoiled nature and a unique environment where huge icebergs calve off the largest glacier in Europe, the great Vatnajokull, and float around the lagoon in all shapes and colours.
Day 10 – Sunday, April 19th – Jokulsarlon => Skaftafell => South Shore (B, D)
Today, we drive along the picturesque south shore of Iceland. Skaftafell National Park and Vatnajokull National Park united into the biggest national park in Europe and it offers unbelievable scenery. There are a number of hiking routes in Skaftafell, like the Skaftafell glacier route and the Svartifoss waterfall route. As we travel there will be numerous stops on the side of the road to photograph nearby waterfalls and churches/farms amongst the mountainous landscape
Highlights
– Skaftafell: The scenery around Skaftafell is full of stark contrasts. The various glacial tongues are flanked by jagged mountains, with the glacier-topped peak of Hvannadalshnjúkur rising highest, or up to 2109 meters (6921 ft.) making it the highest point of Iceland.
– Svinafellsjokull Glacier: A short hike to see the glacier tongue breathtaking outlet glacier crawl down a valley from the main glacier, Vatnajokull Glacier.
– Fjardargljufur Canyon: The canyon is about 2 km long and is about 100 meters deep. There is a hiking trail that follows the edges and gives you a beautiful view of the canyon.
Accommodation – Kria Hotel – 1nt
Day 11 – Monday, April 20th – South Shore => Gullfoss => Geysers (B, D)
The south shore of Iceland is well known for its beauty. Waterfalls that make your jaw drop and black sandy beaches that go far beyond what the eye can see are just half of what you are about to witness today. We also explore some of the Golden Circle, with a visit to the mighty Gullfoss waterfall and the Geysir area.
Highlights
– Black sandy beaches: Walk on the black sand beach of Reynisfjara and see waves of the North Atlantic break on the beach.
– Reynisdrangar: Basalt sea stacks in the North Atlantic Ocean. Legend says that the stacks originated when two trolls dragged a three-master ship to land unsuccessfully and when daylight broke, they became needles of rock.
– Dyrholaey: The view from Dyrholaey is easily recognized due to the holes in the bottom of the cliff where the ocean flows. The view from the top is magnificent, as you can see over the south shore in both directions and as far as the eyes can see south over the Atlantic Ocean.
– Skogarfoss waterfall: It‘s usually counted as one of Iceland‘s most beautiful waterfalls. It thunders down into a small canyon and it‘s easy to walk all the way up to it and capture the moment in all its glory.
– Geysir area: Home to a number of hot-spouting geysers. The most famous one is Great Geysir itself but the most energetic one is Strokkur, which spouts every few minutes up to the height of 40 meters.
– Gullfoss waterfall: Iceland‘s most famous waterfall, plummeting down 32 meters in two stages directly to the canyon below. The water in Gullfoss comes from the second biggest glacier in Iceland, Langjokull Glacier.
Accommodation – Exeter Hotel – 1nt
Day 12 – Tuesday, April 21st – Private Departure Transfer
This morning our time together ends. So after breakfast, we will say our goodbyes and you’ll be transferred to the airport for our journey home.
*Itinerary subject to change depending on weather and shooting conditions.
