The ultimate playground for every nature photographer: from glaciers to volcanoes, from waterfalls to canyons – Iceland truly has it all.
Next autumn, join us for the adventure of a lifetime in the “Land of Fire and Ice”.
2026
Many people call it “The Land of Fire and Ice”, but that’s an abbreviation for the land of glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, black sand beaches, geothermal areas and much, much more. The list just goes on: Iceland is a country filled with some of the most incredible natural landscapes of the world, every corner of the island is dramatically different and offers a variety of landscapes like no other.
On this 10 days workshop, we will explore the South coast from West to East, and then back again West to finish in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the Golden Circle.
We will make sure to shoot all the iconic landscapes of the island, from the Vestrahorn to the Jokulsarlon Lagoon, from the Kirkjufell to the cliffs of Dyrholaey. We will not stop at the most iconic locations though: your leader will also take you to some of the less known gems that this country has to offer – making sure that you will come back home with a great variety of images, ranging from the grand landscapes to the intimate views and everything in between.
We decided to set the dates for late November as it’s a great time to shoot both during the daytime and during the night too in case the northern lights decide to show up! The days are still long enough, with about 8 hours of daylight and the winter snowstorms shouldn’t have started yet. All in all, November is a great season to explore Iceland!
Truth is that we never run two identical workshops – due to the weather, due to the light, due to the length of the days at any given time of the year and a bazillion other variables that come into play when dealing with outdoor photography.
Take this general itinerary for what it is – and by any means don’t think that we’ll stick to it at all times!
Walking/Hiking: There won’t be any hiking on this workshop; all the locations will be within a 5/10 minutes walking range from the parking, making the tour suitable for everyone in normal health conditions.
Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Arrival and Transfer to Hella (10:30AM/1PM)
Welcome to Iceland! After arriving early in Keflavik, we’ll gather our gear and set off towards Hella.
We generally recommend to arrive either early in the morning or the night before, so that we can make the most out of day 1 too!
The scenic drive, about an hour and a half/2 hours, will give us our first glimpses of Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes. Upon arrival, we’ll enjoy a welcome lunch together and check in into our hotel!
Afternoon: Briefing/Small Break
Between lunch and the early afternoon, we’ll hold an little briefing where your guide will introduce the itinerary, discuss key photography techniques, and prepare you for the adventures ahead!
Evening: Sunset Photography Session
As the day winds down, we’ll embark on our first sunset photography session not far from where we are staying in Hella, capturing the warm golden light over one of Iceland most iconic waterfalls, Seljalandfoss. A hearty dinner will wrap up our first day!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise at Skogafoss Waterfall
We’ll start our day early at the magnificent Skogafoss Waterfall, capturing the sunrise over its furious waters. This is hands down the most famous waterfall of the whole island, hence we will go there early in the morning to avoid as many crowds as we can!
Mid-Morning (10:30AM/1PM): Transfer to Vik & Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Vik and have lunch when we arrive there, before heading to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and the Dyrhólaey Arch. These locations offer dramatic cliffs, powerful waves, and striking basalt columns.
Hotel Check-in (2PM)
After lunch, we’ll drive to the hotel to make the check in and leave our stuff there before heading out again for the evening!
Evening: Sunset at Vik Beach
As the sun sets, we’ll capture the last light at Vik Beach, using the (hopefully) glowing sky to create powerful compositions.
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
One sunrise session around the Vik area before continuing our trip towards East: we’ll photograph the iconic Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks as the first light illuminates the dramatic coastline. Since this beach can be quite dangerous due to the big waves, your tour leader will keep you safe and tell you how close (or how far) you should stand from the water.
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Transfer to Jokulsarlon
After breakfast, we will leave Vik and start our transfer to Jokulsarlon, the ice lagoon; this bit of road is probably one of the most spectacular of the whole country – so you will have a really enjoyable and spectacular driving ahead!
After a couple hours, we will arrive at the ice lagoon and we will finally get something for lunch too.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
As the sun sets, we’ll return to the Glacier Lagoon to capture the ethereal ambiance of dusk settling over the icy expanse. The interplay of light and ice during this time is truly magical.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to have a well deserved dinner at the hotel since we’ll be pretty far away from any town.
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Our morning begins with a magical sunrise session at Diamond Beach. As the first light of day kisses the ice chunks scattered along the black sand, we’ll have the chance to capture the glistening, almost ethereal landscape. With the crashing waves in the background, the contrast between the deep black sand and the glowing icebergs creates a dreamlike setting that every photographer longs for.
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Transfer to Hofn
After breakfast and check-out, we’ll journey east to the picturesque town of Höfn, a charming coastal village renowned for its seafood and sweeping mountain views. It will take us no more than one hour to arrive; as we reach the town, we will head out to grab something for lunch and then check in into our hotel.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
As the golden hour approaches, we’ll venture to Vestrahorn, one of Iceland’s most breathtaking mountain landscapes. Known for its jagged peaks, black sand dunes, and moody reflections, this location provides a wealth of photographic opportunities. If conditions are favorable, we may even catch the Aurora Borealis shimmering above the mountain—a truly unforgettable sight!
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to top it up with a good dinner in Hofn! This little town is particularly famous for their langoustines and fish in general.
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Hofn is probably one of the most rich areas when it comes to photogenic landscapes; that’s why we are spending two nights here, to make sure we are getting the best possible images in all the most iconic spots as well as the hidden gems of the area! This morning, depending on the weather we got the previous day, we will hit the Vestrahorn again or the Eystrahorn.
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Scouting/Exporation – Skutafoss
After breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to this pretty unique waterfall – Skutafoss; not the biggest by any mean, but definitely an incredibly beautiful one! We’ll spend the day playing with long exposures.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
Tonight we will head back to one of the “horns” or even the Jokulsarlon ice lagoon – depending on what’s the weather like in these locations! Being located in Hofn, we’ll have an easy access to a plethora of different locations and your guide will decide which one to visit based on the forecast.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After sunset is over, we’ll head back to Hofn to get our well deserved dinner!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Before starting our journey back West, we will do one last sunrise at one of the “Horns”, either the Vestrahorn or the Eystrahorn, depending on the weather forecast for that day! These mountains will be one of the highlights of the trip – and we’ll make sure that you come back home with some spectacular frames of these landscapes.
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Transfer to Vik
Today, we embark on a scenic drive back toward Vik, but not without making some incredible stops along the way. One of our key locations will be Svínafellsjökull Glacier, an awe-inspiring tongue of the vast Vatnajökull ice cap. Here, we’ll have the opportunity to capture the intricate textures and deep blue hues of this rugged glacier, a location often used in Hollywood films due to its otherworldly beauty.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
As the day draws to a close, we’ll return to Vik Beach for a final sunset shoot. The stark beauty of the black sands, combined with the ocean’s ever-changing mood, will provide another opportunity to refine our techniques in long-exposure photography.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to top it up with a good dinner in Vik!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Before starting the longest drive of the whole tour, if conditions are favorable we might visit again Vik Beach or Reynisfjara to shoot the basalt columns one last time!
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Transfer to Grundarfjordur
Longest transfer of the tour: a whopping 4 hours drive awaits us, all across the south west part of the country to reach the idyllic peninsula of Snaefellsness. This area is often called “Iceland in Miniature” due to its diverse landscapes. By early afternoon, we’ll arrive to Grundarfjordur, a small village located next to one of the main reasons why we travelled all the way up here: Mt. Kirkjufell.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
Tonight we’ll shoot one of Iceland’s most recognizable landmarks: Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall. The symmetric peak, mirrored by the flowing waterfall, makes for an iconic and photogenic scene; we will play with several different compositions, from the classic waterfall frames to some more particular takes by the nearby lake.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to top it up with a good dinner in Grundarfjordur!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Our sunrise session takes place at the Londrangar Basalt Cliffs, where towering sea stacks rise dramatically from the Atlantic Ocean. The interplay between the rough seas and the golden morning light makes for a truly magical setting.
Mid-Morning/Lunch: Mid-Day Shooting/Lunch
After breakfast, we’ll visit the Black Church of Búðir, a stark yet elegant structure standing alone against the rugged Icelandic landscape. Following lunch, we’ll continue to Snæfellsjökull Glacier, the magnificent ice-capped volcano that inspired Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
For our sunset session, we’ll make our way to Arnarstapi, where the basalt cliffs, sea arches, and crashing waves provide a striking subject against the fiery hues of the setting sun. This is a perfect location for experimenting with long-exposure seascape photography.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to top it up with a good dinner in Grundarfjordur!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
One last sunrise session in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula before heading to a new area: what better place to spend it if not Mt. Kirkjufell? This morning we will shoot the “Church Mountain” under a different light, like we’ve never seen it before!
Mid Morning/Lunch: Transfer to the Golden Circle
After breakfast, our journey continues to Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, beginning with the Geysir Geothermal Area, where the Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes, offering thrilling photographic opportunities.
Afternoon: Sunset Session (3PM/6PM)
For our sunset session, we’ll visit a small waterfall called Bruarfoss that became famous amongst photographers over the years due to its incredible turquoise water. A truly spectacular location and a bit out of the way compared to all the major spots in the area, with hopefully a bit less crowds.
Dinner: 7:30PM
After another long and productive day – it’s time to top it up with a good dinner at our hotel!
Aurora Hunting Session: 8PM/…
We obviously can’t say exactly when (or where) we will go – but you can be sure of one thing: if there’s the slightest chance of seeing the northern lights, we’ll make sure to go out after dinner to catch them! This is valid for every single night of the trip, regardless of where we are. Your tour leader will know where to take you in case the sky is clear and the aurora decides to show up!Sunrise: ~09:00 AM | Sunset: ~05:20 PM
Morning: Sunrise Session (8AM/11AM)
Before heading back to the airport, we’ll try to make one last attempt at catching the golden sunrise light over the thundering Gullfoss, the biggest waterfall of the whole Golden Circle!
Transfer to the Airport/Departure:
After breakfast, we’ll start making our way back to the airport; the drive will be fairly long (about 2 hours), so we recommend every guest to book a flight either late on that day or to stay one last night either in Reykjavik or close to the airport. We can drop you off at both locations – just contact us before so that we can confirm.
– Scroll down, find the “book now” button, fill in your details and follow the process to the check-out. You will be able to leave a refundable deposit (500€ x person most of the times) via credit/debit card, bank transfer or even Paypal.
– Scroll down to the very end of the page to find the contact form or visit the “Contact Us” page to, well.. Contact us! We will be more than happy to help you with any request you have and set up the ideal workshop you have in your mind – and ultimately give you all the details to complete the deposit and secure your spot on the tour.
In either case, we only ask for a 500€ deposit to confirm your spot – we will then reach out around 2 months before your workshop starts with a link to complete the remaining part of the payment. If you booked last minute and need to pay the entire quote right away – we will be in touch as soon as we receive your reservation with the aforementioned link!
Why? So that you to get your own room for yourself without having to share it with anyone else. The single supplement is something we add at cost price (if not less), and as annoying as it might be, that’s something that unfortunately we can’t avoid.
That’s also how we manage to guarantee every workshop departure, even if you are the only participant for that date.
Of course you can opt for the single supplement even if you are traveling with friends and you like to have your own personal space.
– Digital Camera (preferably a DSLR or mirrorless camera, APS-C, micro 4/3 and FF will be more than fine);
– An ultrawide lens (e.g. Nikon 14-24mm, Canon 16-35mm, Tamron 15-30mm, Tokina 16-28mm etc); we recommend a lens with a wide maximum aperture (like f/2.8) in case we might do some night photography.
– A standard zoom lens (e.g. Nikon/Canon/Sigma 24-70mm or 24-105mm);
– A telephoto zoom lens (e.g. various Nikon/Canon/Tamron/Sigma 70-200mm);
– A super telephoto zoom lens (e.g. Sigma/Tamron 150-600mm); this lens is not necessary but we recommend it anyway since it allows to capture the far away details of the landscapes;
– A sturdy tripod that permits to do some long exposure photos, specially at twilight;
– A set of ND filters; these are the only filters we feel to recommend, since they become useful when you need to stretch the exposure time a little bit during some difficult light conditions;
– A camera remote to avoid blurry shots.
Well then, this workshop might be the one for you!
Andre Erlich2024-10-14Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A great tour in spite of some weather hostility. Leonardo is a great guide and knows probably every photo opportunity in every light situation. He's also extremely helpful with composition and other photography techniques. Although I consider myself an experienced (amateur) photographer, I still learned quite a lot from Leonardo. I strongly recommend this tour with this guide. Thank you Leonardo for your guidance and insights Andre Erlich, Paris, France Beth F2024-09-25Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Don’t hesitate to book a trip with Leo at Tuscany Photography Tours. Your experience will cover everything from camera instruction, to finding locations to best capture what Tuscany has to offer, to local history…to dining at some of the best local restaurants in Tuscany. Leo is very organized and has the perfect disposition to make the trip instructive, as well as fun. His help with how to handle the raw files after the photo shoots is an added plus. Leo makes the trip easy for the guests by doing all the prep work, including booking the hotel. He also knows how to be flexible with the schedule based on weather and light conditions. You won’t be disappointed by joining him in Tuscany, or one of his other main locations. Enjoy it! Peggy Swords2024-05-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Leo is the perfect choice for a photographic tour of Tuscany. He has detailed knowledge of the places to shoot, in which weather, and what time of day to optimize your time in Val D'Orcia. He combines that with charm and wit to keep you entertained during the waiting times, drives, and meals. He also selects fantastic local Agritourismo locations for your stay and local, often family-owned restaurants for your gastronomic delights while on tour with him. There is just no comparison! Janet2024-05-09Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just returned from a delightful week with Tuscany Photography Tours, led by Leonardo Papèra (Leo). A native Tuscan, Leo is an expert in the region, an accomplished photographer, a gifted teacher and a delight to have as a guide of the Tuscany region. We travelled to well known key photography locations as well, lesser-known places for beautiful shots that provided us great learning opportunities as well as unusual beautiful photos. Leo quickly assessed each of our technical and composite skills and tailored his teachings and support to each of our individual needs. His full attention was on his clients at each photo shoot. Unlike some tours I have experienced, he approached each of our photo sessions as a workshop and I have come away from the week with a significant advanced knowledge of composition, how light plays in photography and an understanding of the need to 'see the story' before I take the shot. Leo's goal was to ensure that each of us walked away better photographers. In addition to his own personal photography skills, Leo is a born teacher; he is professionally critical in his feedback. As I continue my photography journey, I will carry with me, his encouraging words - 'you can do better'. He has built relationships in the Tuscan community with local establishments which meant each day we dined in beautiful restaurants and ate delicious Tuscan food. Every meal with Leo meant joyful conversations, laughter and sometimes more lessons. In addition to beautiful photography sessions in historic Tuscany, he spent time walking through how he produces the photographs in Lightroom and Photoshop. He freely shared his knowledge in pre and post photography and provided us tools to move forward on our own. And last, with his easy style and sense of humour - the week was absolutely delightful. As I move forward in my own learning of photography, I will be following Leo and looking for future workshops with him. Thank you, Leo! Patricia López2024-05-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Leo is an extremely talented photographer, very professional and generous. I participated in the Tuscany Spring Tour and had a wonderful time! He not only cares deeply about teaching his art, but also about providing his customers with an authentic Italian experience. He is careful in selecting a combination of locations that include famous sites, hidden gems and various types of environments that can provide different learnings. I was very surprised to find out that the tour also included some walks around different towns in Tuscany. During the tour, Leo provided thorough explanations to help us improve our photography skills, but first challenged us to think of the solution ourselves. His editing workshops were amazing, he showed us how he edited more than 8 of our own pictures, which was also recorded for our benefit. In general, I was shocked to learn how many tours he leads (many), because of the commitment he brings to each one of the participants. Thank you for a wonderful experience! Arnold Brown2023-11-28Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have wanted to do a photography tour for many years and finally chose Tuscany Photography Tours. I am so glad that I did. All the arrangements were first class, the service was exceptional and the photography opportunities outstanding. I would highly recommend Leonardo and hope to take another tour with him. yang michael2023-11-14Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It’s an amazing workshop. Leo did excellent job for organizing from logistics, right spots for shooting and great meals arrangements. He is also a great landscape photographer and shared a lot knowledge, skills and experience of Tuscany photography. Best Wish for his future success! Mary S2023-11-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What a unique experience! Leo is not just a passionate and very skilled photographer, he is a patient teacher and fun and resourceful guide. Our Tuscany tour combined intense work on photography, breathtaking landscapes and immersing ourselves in the local way of living to create a lifetime experience. I really appreciated the small group, the exclusive locations, and highly professional booking process. Not to mention that my photography skills notably improved during the tour. The whole experience is rounded off by some super useful hands on instructions on photo editing. I definitely look forward to joining another of Leo's tours. Arun R2023-11-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Leo was an excellent guide. I don’t say that lightly as not all photography experts are great guides with good interpersonal skills, but he definitely meets both requirements. Coming from such a long way away, it was important I found a guide who was prepared to take me to more adventurous and remote locations in the Dolomites rather than just doing the typical shots everyone does, and once Leo understood what I was after, he carefully planned on location at the right time. I think he would be one of the best photography guides running tours in the Dolomites. Being a fairly independently minded photographer he was able to read this correctly and didn’t try to over coach me but offered helpful advice when it was sought. Leading up to the trip, I asked many questions and he was patient and helpful each and every time and went above and beyond to organise an outstanding experience for me. I don’t regret going with him at all and hope we can travel together again as we had a lot of laughs along the way. Thanks mate! It was a pleasure. Thank you for some life long memories. Mark Brown2023-10-27Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Experience of a lifetime! Leonardo is the best host imaginable for a photo tour - fun, friendly, kind, supportive, knowledgeable, and intensely capable. His ability to help tour members with their compositions, photo settings, and even post-processing is spot-on, yet at no point did he boast about his own work or look down on the tour members. Even if you're more interested in going along for the ride than taking photos (perhaps accompanying a partner), you'll have a blast, with Leo arranging magnificent hotels, meals, and places from which to enjoy the majesty of this world, or even a bit of shopping. The all-inclusive formula also means that you can leave all the logistics of hotel check-ins and meal payments up to him (and his perfect Italian). The route we took through the Dolomites was perfectly planned to start with a "Wow" and then build upon it each day. By the final location, we were absolutely awestruck. Leo was able to easily adjust plans based on inclement weather, and at no point did we feel shortchanged. If you're considering booking one of his photo tours, stop thinking and just do it. 🙂
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