4 Day Northern Lights & Ice Cave Photo Tour

The itinerary on days 2 and 3 will remain flexible due to the unpredictable nature of the weather in Iceland. Our guides will continually monitor the conditions to ensure that you will be in the right places at all the right times to capture the beauty of the landscapes.

Among some of the highlights will be a sunrise shoot at one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved sites, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. The sky-blue water is filled with icebergs that have broken off from a nearby glacier and now drift slowly through a small inlet towards the ocean.

Next to the lagoon is a stretch of coastline that has been nicknamed the Diamond Beach. Here, icebergs from the lagoon wash up onto the black sandy shores where they resemble glistening jewels in the low sunlight. The scene makes for fantastic long exposure photography.

Another highlight will surely be when you enter an ice cave. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the natural shapes that make up the ice cave as you make the most of the light bouncing off the crystal blue walls. Depending on the conditions, your photo guides may take you off the beaten track, to the lesser known Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon on the southern end of the Vatnajökull glacier.

This majestic lagoon is filled with icebergs, just like its larger neighbour Jökulsárlón, though much more tranquil. If the Northern Lights make an appearance in the evening, then you will be in the right place at the right moment to capture them reflected upon the glassy surface of the lagoon.

You will shoot the Northern Lights until it is finally time to return to your accommodation for the night.

On this day, you will have the opportunity to further hone your long exposure photography skills at the Diamond Ice Beach and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, before heading into the Vatnajökull National Park to photograph other areas – weather and time permitting.

Your trusty guides will review the conditions and take you to the best places to shoot as you slowly make your way towards the fishing village of Vík. Some of the options for the day include the wild and wonderful Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a rugged region known for its awe-inspiring panoramic view, home to the breathtaking Svínafellsjökull glacier.

You could also visit the mighty Vestrahorn mountain with its undulating landscape cloaked in the delicate colours of winter or the massive ancient canyon Fjaðrárgljúfur that was created by glacial melt millions of years ago.

Eventually, you’ll arrive in Vík, where you will spend the evening hunting for the Northern Lights before retiring to your accommodation for the night.

This will be your final day of shooting and you will make the most out of every single second! The day will begin with a sunrise shoot at the haunting Reynisfjara black sand beach, where the black basalt columnar cliffs contrast with the violent waves of the North Atlantic Ocean as they crash around the Reynisdrangar sea-stacks.

On your return journey to Reykjavík, you will make your way through Iceland’s famous Golden Circle to photograph the volcanic landscapes and geothermal features that give this country the nickname of the “Land of Fire and Ice”. It is made up of three iconic sites: Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir.

At Þingvellir, you will be able to see the continental drift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, as well as photograph the impressive cracks and faults that traverse the region. Here, you will also find a small but charming waterfall named Öxarárfoss, which makes for a strikingly beautiful scene in winter when the majestic cliffs that surround it are swathed in ice and snow.

Next, you will visit the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall that can be photographed from various points of view. It produces a massive amount of spray that encapsulates its thundering power as it flows over cliffs of ice, plunging into the snowy canyon below.

Your final stop will be at Geysir, where the earth seethes with geothermal activity. Your photography skills will be tested by the exploding fountain geyser, Strokkur, as it spouts hot water into the air up to 20 metres high!

Finally, you will reach Reykjavík, no doubt with a plethora of new landscape photography skills, amazing friends to keep in touch with, and a landscape photography portfolio of Iceland in winter that you can be proud of.