Midnight sun photography holiday in Iceland
Description of Midnight sun photography holiday in Iceland
HIGHLIGHTS
Luminous icebergs floating in a turquoise lagoon • Game of Thrones locations • Stokksnes and Vestrahorn • Skaftafell and Vatnajökull’s glacial landscapes • Sea washed ice on black volcanic sand • Sunrises and sunsets in dramatic locations • Hours of ambient light • Vík, black sands, sea-stacks & basalt columns • Peak time for birds in Iceland • Lake Mývatn and Dimmuborgir • Colourful geothermal areas and volcanic landscapes • Waterfalls Dettifoss, Selfoss, Aldeyjarfoss, Goðafoss & Gullfoss • Hvítserkur on Vatnsnes Peninsula • Sea Stack & Seals • Kerlingarfjöll and the Highlands • Iceland’s Golden Circle
INTRODUCTION
During the month of July it is light all day with the sun disappearing only briefly. There are several hours of ambient light with endless sunrises and sunsets, a superb time to be in Iceland! For those who might be interested this tour takes in many of the locations that were used to film the latest Game of Thrones. Our locations are well chosen and photographically rewarding and they take us to five totally contrasting geographical areas of Iceland. Down in the south east we will be central to some iconic locations such as Iceland’s huge Vatnajökull ice cap, Skaftafell National Park, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the black beaches festooned with sparkling sea washed ice sculptures. In the north-east we are based in one of Iceland’s premier photographic locations, Mývatn where we will encounter three of Icelands ‘big’ waterfalls, desolate craters, bubbling mud pools and geothermal phenomena. This unique area is a microcosm of all the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. It is also a fabulous location for bird enthusiasts.
Our next base is in remote coastal north Iceland on the Vatnsnes Peninsula home to seals and the majestic Hvítserkur Sea Stack - the Troll of North-West Iceland. From Hvítserkur we drive south on the Kjölur road through Icelands Central Highlands. We will visit two unique geothermal areas en route: Hveravellir and the geothermal area around Kerlingarfjöll where glacier and geothermal phenomena meet, a landscape that is truly Tolkien. Our last locations in Iceland’s South-west comprise Iceland’s famed ‘Golden Circle’. Our guides know the landscapes intimately, so you can expect to return from this workshop with an understanding of image processing techniques, a portfolio of remarkable, creative images and a bunch of great memories!
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN A NUTSHELL
This remarkable summer workshop concentrates on five main geographical locations…
SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH ICELAND: photography against a backdrop of mountains, glaciers, icebergs and black sand beaches.
MÝVATN: a remarkable area in Northeast Iceland renowned for its dramatic geothermal and volcanic landscape, fabulous waterfalls and amazing birdlife.
HVÍTSERKUR: remote northerly coastal peninsula with seals
KERLINGARFJÖLL: geothermal Ogress Mountains in the Highlands
GOLDEN CIRCLE: Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir in South West Iceland
Price information
Check dates
Travel guides
Reviews
1 Reviews of Midnight sun photography holiday in Iceland
Reviewed on 25 Jul 2019 by Lynne Wilson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting the glacial lagoons and ice beach in South Iceland. The Lake at Myvatn - utterly serene and beautiful
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for all weather conditions; be ready for some long journeys between some stopovers. Also toilets can be hard to find once off the beaten track.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We stayed mainly in small, local guest houses /accommodations with local produce. It was an education it itself to see how carefully Iceland was trying to protect and look after the environment, and not to bow to too much commercialisation around key sights . Even the Golden Circle, busy as it was, was trying to conserve impact on the environment (eg. small spread out car parks).
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a great holiday. I travelled with a small group (5 + 2 leaders). They looked after us incredibly well and the cost of the holiday included literally everything bar alcoholic drinks - one couple commented at the end that they hadn't had to spend any extra money at all. There were plenty of stops on long journeys, and whilst the weather sometimes interfered with photographic opportunities, overall we had much better weather than expected. I saw everything I wanted to, and more!
Responsible Travel
Planet
We encourage you to travel responsibly and to consider the following guidelines:- When out in wild places, please keep erosion to a minimum, keep to footpaths and avoid stepping on, or picking native flora. Iceland is fragile unstable environment. The country is currently embarking on many conservation and habitation projects such as tree planting to reduce erosion.
- When near wildlife or bird colony’s we minimise human disruption of the natural environment. We take considerable care during breeding seasons so as to not disturb nesting birds and wildlife.
- Take time to carry out some research about Iceland, being able to speak a few words of Icelandic is always appreciated.
- Water sources in Iceland are exceptionally pure and we discourage buying plastic bottled water. A metal or heavy-duty plastic bottle such as Nalgene to refill with water from a safe source is recommended to all of our guests.
- River water could also be a supply drinking water, please do not contaminate river water supplies by washing in it. Any washing products should be phosphate free
- Respect local customs religion and traditions.
- Don’t take photographs of local people and places of religious significance without permission.
- Keep promises! Send copies of photos to local people if this is what you have said you will do.
- Read the labels and buy local products such as food and souvenirs so that money directly benefits the community.
- Reduce pollution and carry out all litter. Recycle wherever possible. Iceland has one of the lowest levels of environmental pollution in the world and it is good to keep it this way.
Our small group ethos, sharing of transport and preferred mode of exploring locations is by foot thus reducing pollution, environmental noise and damage to what is often an especially delicate ecosystem.
We support the Environment Agency and the National Parks of Iceland through passing on information about their policy and raising awareness of current issues and environmental sustainability. The Environment Agency hosts volunteers from all over the world and works closely with a variety of international organisations. The programme is organised in partnership with the British conservation volunteer organisation BTCV.
Wherever possible we work electronically and promote considerate use of digital resources. We are primarily web based for all administrative communications with minimal use of office paper.
If you decide to travel with us please ask for our links page where you will find comprehensive information on travel, health, environmental concerns, preparing for your holiday, local cultures and how to support local projects.
People
Tourism, fishing, farming and local crafts such as knitting are seen as a viable and sustainable way of helping to restore economic stability to the country and also giving a sense of dignity to Icelanders. More than ever communities have to return to their roots and rely on traditional ways of making a living. We support local micro business by seeking out artisans and contemporary home made crafts during our stay. We always ensure that participants on our holidays get the opportunity to see and purchase local products.In particular communities away from the central hub of Reykjavik are relying on visitors to boost their economy. We have been supporting these less visited areas for many years and we are rewarded with a very personal service, quieter locations, fresher home grown produce and insight into the lives and folklore of local people. We seek out small family run hotels and support local tourism enterprises such as eating at the small fish soup 'shack' down on the beach in preference to the rather more up-market restaurants, knowing that the fish will be freshly caught that day by local fishermen.
These local providers appreciate our on going commitment to their livelihoods and in turn we have built mutually beneficial relationships with our all of our hosts and local guides. All of our service suppliers are informed of our responsible travel policy which is clearly visible on our website. Local food can be obtained easily in Iceland, for example fish, lamb, dairy products, vegetables grown in geo-thermally heated green houses. Each day we buy local produce for our picnic lunches to be eaten on location and our accommodations pride themselves in introducing us to local Icelandic fare for both breakfast and dinner.
Our holidays are immersive and are designed for photographers by photographers. We pride ourselves on our research, interest and appreciation of the historical and cultural context of each country we travel through.
Popular similar holidays
Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
From £4100 - £4400 10 days excluding flights
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
Greenland photography tour, Uummannaq & Ilulissat
From £5800 9 days excluding flights
Photograph epic and remote winter landscapes and the aurora
Ladakh photography tour in India
From US $6950 13 days including domestic flights only
Photographic journey through the most remote part of India
