Unforgettable 7-Day Iceland in Summer Photography Tour with Luminar Adventures

You'll enjoy breakfast at your hotel on day two, board a comfortable bus, and embark on a journey to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Your guides will brief you on your destinations as you travel and tell you about your surroundings, and you are welcome to ask any questions.

You have four main photography destinations on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula today, though they are subject to change based on conditions. The expert photographers will be on hand at each of them to help with your camera settings and compositions. They have photographed these sites before, so they will provide valuable knowledge.

The first major destination is Arnarstapi village. Beautiful coasts and unique geological formations surround this fishing settlement. Capture the rock arch of Gatklettur amongst foaming waves, the birds nesting along the craggy shore, and historic houses being slowly reclaimed by nature.

You can also shoot the desolate lava field of Hellnahraun, which spreads out behind the village. The contrasts between the charming, colorful town and this barren stretch can create fantastic compositions.

Secondly, you'll head to the hamlet of Budir, where you will find the Budakirkja church. Depending on how you shoot it, this area has a captivating air of abandonment, romance, and history. The Snaefellsjokull glacier towers behind Budir, adding depth and drama to your compositions.

Your third main destination for the day is Mount Kirkjufell. Sometimes called 'the most photographed mountain in Iceland,' Kirkjufell's dramatic shape, grand scale, and magical surroundings make it a breathtaking subject. The mountain was even featured in the last seasons of Game of Thrones.

On still days, you may be able to capture Mount Kirkjufell's reflection in the seas that surround the mountain.

Your final major destination is the Londrangar sea stacks. These volcanic pillars boast a breathtaking seaside location and are a significant nesting ground for birds. You can practice your wildlife photography by capturing these creatures as they swoop through the sky or shoot the broader landscapes for beautiful additions to your portfolio.

After a fantastic day of photography, you'll return to your hotel in Reykjavik.

On day three, you'll leave Reykjavik to begin your two-day shoot in the Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve. This highland area has craters, hot springs, rhyolite mountains, and countless walking paths, making it a fantastic location for photographers.

The drive to Landmannalaugar is breathtaking. En route, you'll pass geothermal areas, coastal landscapes, and waterfalls. Once you reach the highland road, the journey will get much more bumpy and exciting, and you may even cross a river or two!

Luckily, your bus is designed for such a journey.

There are many incredible photography spots throughout Landmannalaugar and its surrounding area, so you'll be very grateful to have two days here. Where you go will depend on the conditions of the day. Frostastadahals is a remarkably breathtaking area, most famous for Frostastadavatn Lake.

This photogenic feature blends lush vegetation, striking blue waters, and colorful lava fields, providing endless compositions for your portfolio.

Sigoldugljufur Canyon is just as stunning, with vivid green moss and countless waterfalls. Many sections of it feel as if they were pulled from fantasy. Despite its beauty, the canyon is relatively unknown, so you don't have to worry about crowds getting in the way of your shots.

Landmannalaugar is most famous for its rhyolite mountains and hot springs. The rocks that form the peaks have many volcanic minerals, giving them strange colors that beg to be photographed. As the light and conditions change throughout the day, they'll provide completely different compositions.

Meanwhile, the steam rising from the hot springs allows you to bring an element of mystery into your pictures. On top of this, you'll have a chance to bathe in these natural pools, providing a perfect way to relax at the end of the day. Make sure to bring your swimsuit and towel!

You'll spend a night in the area.

After breakfast, you'll spend day four of your week-long workshop continuing your photography of the Landmannalaugar Nature Reserve and its surrounding area. One of the attractions you may shoot at is the Veidavotn Lake region.

Around fifty highland lakes fill the space between two fissures, each with a unique appeal. This area also has many craters and lava formations created by a dramatic eruption in 1477. You may have the chance to photograph other crater lakes, including Ljotipollur.

Though its name translates to 'the Ugly Puddle,' this feature has outstanding beauty.

You may also be able to shoot the breathtaking mountain of Blahnjukur and the glaciers surrounding the Landmannalaugar reserve. No matter where you turn your camera in Landmannalaugar, you'll find a fantastic shot awaiting you.

Of course, your excellent landscape photography guides will be on hand to ensure you find the best subjects, catch the right light, and make the most of your camera settings.

The waterfalls of Haifoss, Granni, and Hjlaparfoss are slightly outside of the Landmannalaugar area but make for fantastic photography. Haifoss is one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, standing at 400 feet (122 meters) and tumbling down a dramatic cliff with great force. Granni falls a short distance away and can be photographed in the same frame as its neighbor.

These waterfalls are part of the Fossa River, a tributary of the Thjorsa river system, the longest in Iceland. Hjalparfoss is slightly more challenging to reach, but the incredible photographs will make it well worth it.

Note that this feature is more condition reliant than the other attractions, but August weather will usually keep it accessible.

After a fantastic day shooting around Landmannalaugar, you may have another opportunity to enjoy natural hot spring bathing in the pools. You'll then head to your South Iceland hotel for a well-deserved rest.

On the fifth day of your photography adventure, you'll head to 'the crown jewel of Iceland's nature,' the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. This enormous lake rests between the ocean and a glacier tongue and is filled with thousands of icebergs throughout the year.

Each is a unique subject for photographers, as their sizes and shapes vary dramatically. Some tower to the height of multistory buildings, some feature arches and caves, and some turn in the waters as they travel, revealing new compositions.

Their coloration is another reason that the icebergs make for such great subjects. Most have the gleaming whites of the glacier from which they originated, but many have striking electric blue shades. Many also have veins of black ash from eruptions that occurred centuries ago.

Wildlife photographers will also love the abundance of animals at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. Seals can be seen playing in the water or resting in their dozens on the larger icebergs. Seabirds also nest in the surrounding area, though you should keep your distance to protect the eggs (and yourself from the defensive parents!). Your expert guides can help you safely capture them on film.

As if the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon was not impressive enough, it is beside another incredible attraction: the Diamond Beach. This mystical shoreline is the final resting place for the icebergs after they leave the lagoon, having been washed on the black sands to slowly melt in the surf.

As such, you can take countless images of this unusual, beautiful scene for your portfolio. You'll be grateful to spend the entire day at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach because of the area's endless photography opportunities. Furthermore, the landscape is ever-changing, so you'll be able to create a diverse and unique portfolio.

You'll spend your night at a hotel in the area.

On day six of your week-long tour, you'll continue to explore and photograph South Iceland. You'll start by heading to a breathtaking corner of Vatnajokull National Park, the Skaftafell Nature Reserve.

Skaftafell has a range of diverse landscapes and dramatic features that beg to be photographed. Most notably, it is sheltered by glacier tongues pouring from the largest ice cap in Europe, Vatnajokull Glacier.

These stunning natural features create beautiful rivers and waterways and feed into the striking Svartifoss waterfall. Svartifoss is a fantastic subject because of its size and the lava formations surrounding it. Black hexagonal basalt columns rise on either side of its cascade, creating brilliant photographic opportunities.

The unique appearance of the Svartifoss waterfall has influenced many Icelandic artists and architects, with landmarks such as Hallgrimskirkja church and the Harpa concert hall reflecting its qualities.

The Skaftafell Nature Reserve also has beautiful woodlands, dramatic lava fields, and black sand deserts, all providing fantastic compositions.

After photographing this beautiful area, you'll drive back along the South Coast towards Vik village, where two incredible destinations await. The first is the Reynisfjara black sand beach, once honored as one of the world's most beautiful non-tropical beaches.

The beauty of Reynisfjara comes from a combination of its eerie volcanic sands, its powerful waves, and its dramatic geology. The Reynisfjara sea stacks, which tower offshore, are brilliant subjects, particularly considering local folklore, which describes them as frozen trolls.

The second major attraction is the Dyrholaey rock arch. This feature is large enough for ships to sail through, and some pilots have even flown small planes through it. As such, photographers will enjoy featuring its scale and shape in their landscape pictures.

Dyrholaey is also one of the best places to see puffins in Iceland. They nest here in their thousands and can be captured resting in their couples, soaring through the skies, or diving into the waters.

After another fantastic day of photography, you'll retire at a hotel in Vik. You may have time in the evening to shoot this quaint settlement under the midnight sun.

On the final full day of your Iceland photography tour, you'll head to Reykjavik for your workshops and lectures in post-processing techniques, allowing you to make the most of your incredible new portfolio.

You may have the opportunity to stop en route from Vik to Reykjavik for a few final shots. For example, you'll pass Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, both magical subjects.

Skogafoss waterfall is particularly powerful, creating a vast cloud of mist as it crashes into the ground. Seljalandsfoss waterfall is more unique, falling in a gentle cascade before an enormous cavern.

Once you are back in Reykjavik, you'll start editing your pictures with Luminar Adventures and representatives from Skylum. As a group, you'll look through each other's photos to suggest the best shots, learn how post-processing techniques can elevate your images from great to incomparable, and listen to lectures about continuing your photography journey.

This educational experience is as entertaining as it is informative. Few budding photographers have access to such expert information and resources, and what you learn here can help your camera skills reach professional levels.

After your professional photo guides have shared their expert, insider knowledge, it's time to relax! Your group will join a fantastic party where you'll unwind, reflect on your journey, and cement your new friendships.

If you don't have an early flight tomorrow, you can use this time to indulge in Reykjavik nightlife. The capital of Iceland has a range of fantastic bars and pubs you can enjoy under the midnight sun, showing you a different side to Iceland than the incredible nature you've been photographing the previous week.

Otherwise, you can use your new skills to try some urban landscape photography around the city's beautiful sites.

Though this tour ends with the party, a night in a Reykjavik hotel on day seven is included in the price, as is breakfast the following day!