3 Day Midnight Sun Photo Tour of the South Coast & Vatnajokull National Park
Description
Summary
Description
Spend three days in the land of ice and fire, capturing the beauty of the wild, Icelandic nature. This photography workshop focuses on shooting what many argue is Iceland’s most beautiful area, the South Coast.
You will travel to Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell Nature Reserve, the Diamond Beach and the iconic Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and photograph their many wonders beneath the light of the midnight sun. Professional photo guides will accompany you throughout, providing insight to help you get the best pictures possible.
This workshop is suited to both professional and amateur photographers alike. You will have opportunities to photograph the iconic sites that make this country famous, as well as hidden gems that are much lesser known, such as the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon. By the end of the tour, your portfolio will be full of unique and diverse images.
Your two nights of accommodation will be pre-organised before your arrival, as will all transfers to and from your shooting locations. Your award-winning photoguides will be with you throughout, guiding you towards the best vantage points and the most interesting lighting.
Do not miss this opportunity to photograph Iceland in summer, with a focus on its most beautiful region. Check availability by choosing a date.
Included
Map
Attractions
Seljalandsfoss
Skógafoss
Dyrhólaey
Reynisdrangar
Vatnajökull National Park
Jökulsárlón
Diamond Beach
Vík
Skaftafell 
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
IcelandActivities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - South Coast
On your first morning, you will be picked up from Reykjavík and whisked away to the South Coast towards your accommodation on the other side of the island.
The route might be long but don't worry, you will make plenty of stops at stunning locations to break up the journey. The first two sites you will visit are the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, found just off the main road, Route 1.
Both fall from cliffs near the coast from heights of over sixty metres, but other than that, they are nothing alike. Seljalandsfoss is narrow and picturesque, with a cavern behind it that allows you to fully encircle the water. Skógafoss, meanwhile, is wide and powerful, with many rainbows arching from its stormy spray.
Next, you will admire and photograph the coastline near the village of Vík. The Dyrhólaey cliffs and rock arch are spectacular features, made even more photogenic from May to August by the puffins nesting on them.
They are not the only fascinating geological sites here, however; the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise over sixty metres from the tumultuous waters of the North Atlantic. Capturing them with the black sands of Reynisfjara beach makes for a hauntingly beautiful composition, no matter the weather conditions.
You will continue along the South Coast until you reach Skaftafell, a nature reserve nestled under the great Vatnajökull glacier. Under the midnight sun, you have no time limit to your photography, and will be able to shoot its many features, from unique waterfalls to the many glacier tongues and lagoons.
Often labelled Iceland’s paradise for hikers, it is just as much a haven for shutterbugs. In the evening, you will head to your accommodations in the area, no doubt with new skills already, and a memory card full of incredible additions to your portfolio.
Day 2 - Vatnajokull National Park
On day two, you will photograph one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved sites, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. It is here where mighty icebergs break away from the glacier tongue Breiðamerkurjökull, and fill a vast lake, before slowly making their way to the ocean.
The site makes for incredible landscape photography but you will find the ice up close is quite as fascinating a subject as well. You should also keep your eyes peeled out for seals, as many call the waters home.
Adjacent to the lagoon is a stretch of coastline that has been nicknamed the Diamond Beach as it is on the black sands here where smaller bergs sometime wash up on shore.
As they glisten in the sunlight, they resemble the precious stones that give the beach its nickname. The contrasts of ice, black sand and blue ocean make for some incredible compositions.
While both of these sites are amazing, they are also very popular. You will, therefore, take some time to head to the much lesser-known Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon, where you will be able to get wider-angle shots without worrying about tourists getting in the way. This lake is smaller but just as stunning.
You will shoot under the midnight sun until it is finally time to return to your accommodation for the night.
Day 3 - Back to Reykjavik
Now it is time to make your way back to Reykjavík. Before heading off, however, your photoguides will take you to several new destinations in Vatnajökull National Park.
There, you will be able to capture some fascinating landscapes, including Vatnajökull itself, Europe’s largest ice cap. On your return journey to the capital, you will make many stops to stretch your legs and photograph new landscapes and features, as well as those you have already shot under different lighting and conditions.
Finally, you will reach Reykjavík, no doubt with a host of new skills, friends, and a portfolio you can be proud of.
What to bring
Good to know
The maximum group size for this tour is 12 guests, allowing for a closer relationship with your photography guide and better photos at more remote sites. You will also receive post-processing videos from award-winning photographers worth over $1,500 and highly informative and easy-to-follow photography and post-processing lectures. The vehicles you travel in and the hotels you stay at are some of the best in Iceland. Crampons and rubber boots are free to all guests throughout the tour.
Disclaimer
We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.
The tour is always dependent on weather, as the Icelandic weather can indeed be highly unpredictable. Likewise, visits to ice caves are dependent on favorable conditions, and indeed the ice caves themselves are not permanent. When it comes to the Northern Lights, while they are most likely to be seen between September and April, there is no guarantee that they will appear on a given day.
Departure Schedule
19-21 Jun 2025
19-21 Jun 2026
