5-Day Summer Photo Tour | Black Sand Beaches, Waterfalls & Glacier Lagoons

On day two, you’ll have the chance to return to Reynisfjara to capture its famous sea stacks from a different angle, in different conditions.

Thereafter, you’ll continue on your journey towards the wild and wonderful vicinity of the Vatnajökull National Park, stopping at vast mossy lava fields and the feather-shaped Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon along the way. On a clear day, you’ll have a fabulous view of the glaciers glistening all around between snow-capped mountain peaks as you make your way along the coastline.

You’ll reach the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon by the late afternoon, where massive icebergs that have calved from the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull glacier float in the calm waters beneath the warm light of the Midnight Sun. 

Get your telephoto lens ready as there will be excellent opportunities to capture the diverse sea birds that nest in the area during summer. You might even spot a seal or two hauled out heavily onto the ice! As the sun gets lower upon the horizon, casting the sky in a fiery hue, you’ll head to the nearby Diamond Ice Beach—a breathtaking stretch of black sand that you’ll find dotted with glistening icebergs, resembling jewels beneath the sun. 

They make for the perfect subjects as the waves swirl around, creating dreamy drawn out motion effects. Don’t worry if you don’t manage to get your technique down pat today as photography at the Diamond Ice Beach presents a whole new set of challenges. You’ll have the chance to refine your skills in the days to come.

In the evening, you’ll retire to your accommodation in the vicinity of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Depending on the conditions, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the Diamond Ice Beach can look completely different, so you’ll return to shoot them in the morning on day three.

Although you could spend hours here, there is a lot more to see, so you’ll have to peel yourself away finally!

The afternoon will be spent immersed in the wild beauty of the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, right at the edge of the largest glacier in Europe. This area is well-known for its abundant flora and fauna, spectacular hiking trails and magnificent glacier tongues.

As the Midnight Sun takes on that familiar golden glow, your photo guide will take you to some lesser known locations off the beaten track, including the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon which is smaller but just as breathtaking as its larger counterpart, Jökulsárlón.

You’ll retire for the night at your accommodation in the vicinity.

You’ll rise early on day four to revisit the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the Diamond Ice Beach for another thrilling shoot, before making your way to the outskirts of the Vatnajökull National Park. Your main subject for the day will be the mighty peaks of Vestrahorn, looming large against the horizon. 

Jagged and grey, this mountain stands out dramatically amidst rolling black dunes, with the waves of the North Atlantic Ocean crashing in from the side. It makes for endlessly dramatic compositions, so you’ll spend a significant amount of the day travelling around the Stokksnes Peninsula, capturing the peaks from different angles.

Again, your photo guide will take you to some lesser known locations that they have hidden up their sleeves, to make the most of the golden light.

You’ll retire for the night in the vicinity of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Day five marks the penultimate point of your Midnight Sun photography tour in Iceland and you’ll start the day off with a bang with one final chance to get your feet wet at the Diamond Ice Beach and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. 

Thereafter, you’ll begin making your way back to Reykjavík, though not without a detour through Iceland’s most famous route—the Golden Circle. Your first stop will be at the immensely powerful Gullfoss waterfall, where glacial water thunders across two tiers, plunging into a dramatic canyon below.

There are a number of different compositions to be found here so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the area in detail.

Next, you’ll have an opportunity to immerse yourself in Iceland’s seething volcanic landscapes at the Geysir Geothermal Area. Aside from the exploding fountain geyser called Strokkur, the area is littered with steaming fumaroles, hot springs and bubbling mud pots.

Your final stop will be at Þingvellir, Iceland’s only mainland UNESCO World Heritage Site. The scenery here is captivating, and you’ll soon find out why. Located in a rift valley between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, there are incredible lava fields to photograph, ravines full of crystal clear spring water, as well as the small waterfall Oxararfoss surrounded by smooth rocks. 

You’ll also have a spectacular view of Iceland’s largest natural lake, Þingvallavatn, which makes for a fantastic subject on a backdrop of mountains and bathed in the warmth of the Midnight Sun.

Your photo guide will ensure that you reach Reykjavík in the evening – just in time for dinner and to explore the city at your leisure if you so wish—no doubt with memory cards packed with photos, brilliant new landscape photography skills and amazing memories from your five-day summer photography adventure in Iceland.