After arriving in the KEF International airport, we will take a transfer to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We recommend booking on the British Airways flight which arrives late in the morning. On our way, we will see many naturally occurring landscapes begging to be photographed. The scenery is ideal to capture Iceland’s stark contrasts, being composed of sparkling fjords, dramatic volcanic peaks, sheer sea cliffs, sweeping golden beaches and crunchy lava flows.
As our first day comes to an end, we will rest and rejuvenate at the Fosshotel Hellnar. This accommodation provides comfort, gorgeous views, and delicious meals. Furthermore, it is located only 6km from the Snæfellsjökull National Park and has quick access to the coastline as well as the famous ‘Black’ Church.
All daily itineraries will be dependent on the weather. That said, the plan is to get up for sunrise (3AM) to go and photograph the marvellous Kirkjufell mountain, beautifully reflected in a lagoon nearby. Situated near the peaking Mt. Kirkjufell in Kirkjufellsa river lies the mighty Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall. We will get to experience and photograph as the water drops five meters into three separate spouts, creating several tiers of majesty. We will be aiming for a sunset shoot at about 11PM, so much of the day will be spent resting.
Day three is all about exploring the coastline around Hellnar. Here there are some phenomenal rock arches and volcanic rock features to draw the eye. Besides the coastline, the area around Hellnar offers some extraordinary mountain views, impossibly tall waterfalls and iconic Icelandic churches to photograph. As with the previous day we rest during the bulk of the midday, but shoot through the best light in the late afternoon and early morning.
Day four marks the first of our long travel days as we make our way to the south of the island. The idea is to go up and over the highlands to the north of Reykjavik, passing through Thingvellir National Park. This spot is famous for the fault line between the European and North American tectonic plates that lie beneath the island at this point. The result is a series of large natural lakes, and fault lines that create yawning depths and gorges.
We will spend the evening at Hotel Katla, where beautifully atmospheric and cozy bedrooms will lull you into a peaceful sleep. The hotel also has several outdoor hot tubs and Vík’s black sand beach is only a 5-minute drive.
As an exciting extra we are planning to travel to the beautiful Thorsmork Valley which is nearby Vik. The Valley is only accessible on foot or by ‘Superjeep’. This enables us to get deep into the mountains for some unique landscape photography opportunities. This protected reserve is a photographer’s paradise, with views seemingly drawn from an enchanting fantasy. Rock formations twist skyward and fluorescent arctic flowers burst of colours; a simple divine landscape to capture on camera. The verdant realm is surrounded by snowy mountain ridges, valleys covered by wild flowers, crinkled canyons, frozen rivers and three looming glaciers (Tindfjallajökull, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull), which protect this quiet spot from some of the region’s harsher weather.
The coastal cliffs around Vik are the main reason that brings us into this spectacular area. The extraordinary cliffs of Rynisfjara beach and lighthouse Dryholaey are all close
by, allowing for multiple visits if necessary.
Dryholaey is not just the area of a lighthouse, but it’s also the rocky plateau and the impressive ‘Cathedral Arch’ as well as the view of the ‘Black Beach’ that we are after.
Rynisfjara, on the other hand, is backed by a massive cluster of basalt columns which give birth to an outstanding photographic scenery. There are several extremely photogenic farmsteads and churches in the area, as well as some historic ‘turf’ houses. Expect to shoot the coastline from both the shore level, as well as up on the ramparts of the cliffs. At all times watch for rogue waves: you may be swept away!
After breakfast at the hotel, the morning will be spent photographing Höfn village, on the eastern side of Iceland, for an authentic cultural experience. The road intersects some beautiful landscapes, including endless fields of lupine flowers as well as vast volcanic plains. We will spend some time photographing scenes as we travel towards the area between Vatnajokul National Park and Hofn. The idea is to simply enjoy the drive and take advantage of the epic Icelandic landscape.
Hofn fishing town is next to an abandoned film set replicating a Viking village, and is truly unlike anywhere else in the world! This quaint village sits by the Hornafjörður fljord and features authentic Iceland’s fishing culture to photograph. The evening will be spent at Glacier World Guest-house Hoffel, where you will find public hot tubs in stunning natural settings.
After a good rest we make for an early morning start visiting one of Iceland’s natural wonders – Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon. The peculiarity of this place lies in the fact that this work of nature developed relatively recently, as a result of melted ice from the enormous Vatnajokul glacier that makes up 90 percent of the National Park. Each visit is incomparable as the lagoon is formed naturally and continuous to expand. If the clouds are cooperating, sunrise means for beautiful alpine glow on the background mountains and the water turns pale pink in its reflection, while clear blue icebergs sail by.
We then move down the outflow to the equally extraordinary ‘Diamond Beach’. On the seashore of the lagoon lay ice-chunks polished by the ocean, resembling diamonds, which earned the beach’s nickname. The contrast of the ice against the black sand is phenomenal to capture on camera, and it’s embellished by sun hanging on the horizon.
On day nine, we set off for the amazing Vestrahorn Mountain before dawn (which is around 2:30AM). The backdrop of Vestrahorn creates superb photos, especially when the warm light sets in. This incredible location is composed of black sands that create wavy dunes topped by vibrant green terraces. Nevertheless, even when the light is poor the scenery is reminiscent of J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ (and makes for incredible black and white imagery). Since we are staying nearby we can make multiple visits to the area and around this extraordinary mountain.
After a rewarding day, we will kick back at our Glacier World Guest-house Hoffel. These open country accommodations promise quaint landscapes, comfortable rooms, and yummy local.
An early morning rise is an option, but at this stage a decent night sleep is more likely. After breakfast we then set off back the way we came, heading along Route 1 back past Vic to Hella. We will go back to sites previously visited, in order for you to explore these areas further with your photographic lens. This is the longest of the drives during the trip, so we take the day as it comes.
We will cap the night’s magic at Stracta Hotel and decide on an evening shoot, based on tiredness level, light and weather.
The last part of our stay is reserved to take in and potentially re-photograph some of the more iconic waterfalls in the area, such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. There is a possibility that we will already have seen these locations, but this gives us another opportunity in case we have missed them, or if the weather hasn’t always been in our favour. Around midnight, we’ll shoot the famous wrecked DC3 plane. From there we aim for a dawn photography at Skogafoss waterfall before heading back to Hella for breakfast. Most of the day is spent resting and catching up on critique sessions and Photoshop.
After dinner we set out to catch the last light on the beautiful Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Foamy white falls fiercely plummet sixty-three meters into the Seljalands River; this water then cycles back into the sources’ origin in the volcanic glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The striking scenery will provide you with very unique photographic opportunities. Also, the Seljalandsfoss allows access to a mysterious cave and to a walking path behind the curtain of cascading water!
The final day is indeed a travel day. Before breakfast, we’ll get in the last shots in the warm morning light, after which we head straight to the airport in order to catch an early flight home. Photographers can book their flights to leave on the 10th June, or we can also help arrange a longer stay on the island.
