Day 1 – Arrival to Reykjavik

After arriving in Keflavik, we pick up our four-wheel drive vehicle. You then drive to our accommodation in Reykjavik. Perhaps you will be able to photograph your first aurora today.

Day 2 – Onward journey to Hvammstangi

You drive north along the ring road. On the way, you have the opportunity to photograph lava fields, watercourses and great views of the mountains. Icelandic horses on the pastures along the road are also always very desirable photo motifs.

In the evening you try to photograph the Hvitserkur rock at sunset, and later with the Northern Lights.

Day 3 – Hvitserkur

The famous Hvitserkur basalt rock is not far away. This allows you to photograph this fantastic sight at sunrise, sunset and also at night during the Northern Lights. In the vicinity there are also beautiful waterfalls and the barren Vatnsnes peninsula with lighthouses and a colony of seals on the west coast.

Hvítserkur is a basalt rock on the east coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula in the northwest of Iceland. The approximately 15-metre-high rock, which is hollowed out in two places, is located on Húnafjörður and is a nesting site for various bird species, such as kittiwakes and fulmars.

Day 4 – Journey continues to Akureyri

You leave the N1 ring road and drive along the north coast. You stop in the small picturesque village of Siglufjördur and the fishing port of Dalvik. In the afternoon we reach Akureyri. Our hotel is located outside the town.

Day 5 – Via Laufas to Godafoss

On our onward journey, you visit the old peat farm Laufas and the small fishing village of Grenivik. From there you continue through barren valley landscapes to Godafoss. Our hotel is located in the immediate vicinity of the impressive and beautiful waterfall.

Today you try to photograph the sunset and the Northern lights over Godafoss.

Day 6 – Godafoss & Aldeyarfoss

Today you spend most of the day with landscape photography. Godafoss and the inland Aldeyjarfoss are our photo locations, which you want to photograph in the best light. If the weather forecast is good, you will try to photograph Aldeyjarfoss early in the morning. Aurora hunting is planned also for the evening.

Day 7 – Further to Husavik

Today’s drive is short. On the way, you visit an old Icelandic farm with a beautiful little church. Husavik has a very picturesque harbor. In the afternoon an optional whale watching tour in the fjord is planned. Humpback whales, blue whales and dolphins can often be seen here. The small lighthouse north of Husavik is a perfect spot for aurora borealis.

Day 8 – Photographing waterfalls

From Husavik you follow the north coast of the island and arrive at Asbyrgi. The horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi gorge is part of the Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in North Iceland. From here you follow the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum and reach three impressive waterfalls: Hafragilsfoss, Dettifoss and Selfoss.

You can spend the sunset at one of these three waterfalls. Afterwords you continue south and shortly before you meet the ring road again, we reach our accommodation located in a secluded area. In the event of aurora borealis, we choose one of the waterfalls as a photo location.

Day 9 – Studlagil Canyon

If the forecast is good, you can drive to one of the impressive waterfalls again at sunrise. You then continue north-east to Studlagil Canyon. The canyon has basalt columns on both sides and offers a spectacular landscape. You take photos of the canyon at sunset, and also visit the canyon at night when the Northern Lights may occur.

Day 10 – From Studlagil Canyon to Myvatn

After the sunrise photo shoot and breakfast, you head west again. Destinations are the Hverir geothermal field, the Viti crater in the Krafla area and Lake Myvatn (Mücken) with its many volcanic rocks and islands. Myvatn is our destination for the day.

Day 11 – Offroad-Tour to Askja

Today an optional excursion by super jeep to Askja stands on the plan (not included).

Day 12 – Drive back to Varmahlid

From Myvatn you drive to the west of the island. You reach the small town of Varmahlid via Godafoss and Akureyri. On the way, you make various photo stops along the ring road. There is an old wooden and peat church near our accommodation.

Day 13 – Varmahlid – Kjölur – Gardur

From Varmahlid you set off on our highland crossing on the Kjölur route. If this highland road is closed, we will follow the ring road back to Reykjavik and from there on to Gardur near the airport.

You will visit the lighthouse or an abandoned farmhouse in the evening. They provide ideal backgrounds for aurora photographs.

Day 14 – Reykjanes peninsula

You explore some of the many photographic highlights on the west side of the Reykjanes Peninsula. There are volcanoes, geothermal fields, rocky peaks in the raging surf, historic churches, lighthouses and much more. In the evening you will go again for aurora hunting.

Day 15: End of the photo tour

The photo tour ends today. We drive to the airport for the return journey.

For whom is this photo tour suitable?

This photo tour is aimed at both beginners and advanced photographers. You have a basic knowledge of shutter speed, aperture and ISO and are be able to set these on your camera. On this photo tour, you will be individually supervised according to your photography skills.

Weather

September is considered the transition month from summer to fall in the north of Iceland. The weather conditions are cooler, but often stable. Average temperatures during the day are around 8-9 degrees. At night it cools down to around 5 degrees or below and ground frost is possible. There is an average of around 9 days of rain in September. There is often a moderate wind. The nights get darker from mid-September, which is perfect for Northern Lights.

Auroras are a natural phenomenon. Visibility depends, among other things, on the activity of the sun and the weather (cloud cover). Auroral sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Iceland’s forces of nature

Iceland is one of the most active geological regions in the world, characterized by powerful forces of nature. It is precisely these natural phenomena that make Iceland a very special travel destination. With rapidly changing weather and often dramatic lighting conditions, fantastic photos are possible. The country is known for its geothermal activity, which is visible through geysers and hot springs. Northern lights and the midnight sun make the forces of nature visible in the sky. Our local guide is very familiar with the forces of nature in Iceland. Our daily program will be adapted to the current weather conditions and our route may be changed slightly to make the most of the photo tour.

Fitness level

You have a good basic level of fitness to be able to take part in short, moderate hikes. Depending on the weather, we will go on short, easy hikes of up to two hours.

Clothing

Due to the changeable weather in Iceland, you need to be prepared for all weather conditions. We therefore recommend breathable functional clothing based on the layer principle, which transports sweat to the outside without losing heat and dries quickly.

Half double room

Single travellers can book half of a double room. If there is no other guest who wants to share the room, the single room surcharge will apply.

Insurance

We strongly advise you to purchase insurance for cancellation and return journey costs, which will be needed in the event of a secluded region being evacuated, a local hospital stay or return travel costs to your home country.

Travel information FDFA

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) regularly publishes information on countries where there are potential security or other risks. The FDFA’s travel advice is based on its own sources of information that are considered to be trustworthy. This travel advice can be found on the FDFA website: www.eda.admin.ch

The Terms and Conditions

TCs of Amazing Views Adventure Tours apply, as well as all other conditions which are listed in the descriptions for the respective trips.

Prices

We reserve the right to change prices (especially due to exchange rate fluctuations).

Organization

This trip is organised by our partner Freiraum Fotografie.