Compare Iceland Discovery by Intrepid Travel vs Aurora and Ice Caves Photo Tour around Iceland by Iceland Photo Tours

Day 1 Reykjavik

Hallo! Welcome to Reykjavik, which lies just below the Arctic Circle. The city sees around four hours of sunlight a day in winter and 22 hours or more in summer. Surrounded by volcanic peaks and crystalline ocean and boasting a vibrant arts and nightlife scene, Reykjavik's contrasts are utterly beguiling. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at your accommodation. If you arrive early, why not head to the National Museum, which depicts the history of Iceland from the ninth century – when the first Vikings from mainland Scandinavia arrived and settled – to the present day. Or perhaps join locals who gossip and chatter in the Laugardalslaug Geothermal Pool.

Day 2 Golden Circle / Hvolsvollur Valley

Make an early start to beat the crowds on the Golden Circle route. Head to Thingvellir National Park, home to the Parliament Plains and location of Iceland’s first parliament. Thingvellir also contains the Silfra fissure, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. The resulting gap is partly filled with fresh water and is clearly visible. From here head to the Geysir geothermal area, checking out Strokkur and watching as the geyser swells with blue water before erupting and shooting some 20-30 metres in the air. Be spellbound by the immense beauty and sheer power of the Gullfoss (Golden) double waterfall on the Hvita River, before proceeding to a remote farm in the Hvolsvollur region, our overnight stop for the night.

Day 3 South Coast / Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Begin the day with a visit to breathtaking Seljalandsfoss waterfall, followed by Skogafoss waterfall. At 25-metres wide with a 60-metre drop, this waterfall roars. You can feel its power up close with a strenuous walk up a windy set of stairs up to a stunning viewpoint. The black sands and bizarre, rectangular rock formations of Reynisfjara are up next. The last stop of the day is the famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Make sure you head down to Diamond Beach, where some of the icebergs are washed onto the black sand. Your leader can help you book an optional walk on the mottled blue, grey and black face of one of the tongues of Europe's largest glaciers, the epic ice cap of Vatnajokull. From Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon it is not far to our overnight stay, located on another lagoon that is sheltered by a black sandbar.

Day 4 East Fjords / Modrudalur Valley

Start the day by returning to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Cruise between jagged icebergs in an included boat tour. Then take a scenic drive along the rugged coast of the East Fjords. Enjoy spectacular views of high mountains, deep fjords, spectacular waterfalls, glaciers and quaint fishing villages. Make stops along the way at small but notable towns like Djupivogur, which became a member of the cittaslow movement in 2013 and is aiming to be the Happiest Town in Iceland, and drop by Egilsstadir, home to the mythic Lagarfljot Wyrm. Continue along mountain roads into the highland to the farm village of Modrudalur. At 469 metres (1539 feet) above sea level, Modrudalur is the highest inhabited place in Iceland, and snow can be seen almost year-round. Stretch your legs with a walk to the farm's church, built in 1949 by farmer Jon Adalsteinn Stefansson in memory of his wife. Spend the evening on this unique farm, which is small but rich in history.

Day 5 Lake Myvatn / Akureyri

Set off for magnificent Dettifoss, Europe's mightiest waterfall at 100-metres wide and with a 45-metre drop into the craggy shores of Jokulsargljufur canyon below. It’s so powerful that it’s vibrations can be felt underfoot. Continue to volcanic Lake Myvatn. Next is Namaskard, where steam rises from the sulphuric terrain and it’s hard to believe you’re on Earth and not Mars. Take a walk around the lava stacks and caves of Dimmuborgir and then observe the massive pseudo craters of Skutustadir. Continue to the crescent shaped Godafoss waterfall, where legend says a lawmaker priest threw the idols of the Norse gods when Christianity became Iceland’s official religion in AD1000. Travel on to Akureyri and settle into your accommodation for the evening.

Day 6 Akureyri / Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Situated at the head of Iceland's longest fjord, Akureyri is the nation's second-largest city. Embark on a short walking tour of the town, taking in the striking church and other local sights. Later, continue to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, home to the magnificent Snaefellsjokull Glacier, which played a starring role in Jules Verne's 1864 novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Next up is Lysuholslaug, where you can bathe in thermal pools (depending on the season) or check out the Icelandic horses grazing in the fields. Look forward to an included home-cooked dinner this evening.

Day 7 Snaefellsnes Peninsula / Reykjavik

Continue exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, beginning with the white beach at Budir, then go on to Arnarstapi, where a short stroll along the coastal cliffs exposes you to rich bird life and other wonders of nature. Continue on to the basaltic pebble beach Djupalonssandur. In the afternoon head back to Reykjavik to complete your circuit of Iceland. You may wish to book an optional whale watching tour for late afternoon if you are here between May and December. The rest of the evening is yours for the taking. Perhaps head out for dinner with your fellow travellers and toast with a glass of Brennivin, a savoury schnapps.

Day 8 Reykjavik

Today is departure day and time to say sjaumst (see you soon)! Check out time is at midday. If you are departing later, you can arrange with reception to store your luggage at the hotel. If you wish to spend more time in Reykjavik, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Please speak to your booking agent at the time of booking. Perhaps browse some of the city's great art galleries. If you feel like something more active, book yourself on a Silfra Fissure snorkelling adventure, where you’ll discover this underwater ridge with water visibility of up to 120 metres. Alternatively, while away the hours with a soak in the geothermal waters of the famous Blue Lagoon.

Day 1 -Arrival

Upon arrival at Keflavik International Airport, you will take the quick comfortable FlyBus to Reykjavik. Afterwards, you will meet in the lobby of your hotel in the afternoon and go out for the group dinner to get to know each other and discuss our upcoming adventure all over Iceland. Accommodation: Reykjavik

Day 2 - Snæfellsnes peninsula

You will be picked up at 8 in the morning at your hotel in Reykjavik. You will start the tour by driving to the awesome Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland where you will spend two nights. You will have a chance to photograph the jagged rock formations and columnar basalt on the coast of Arnarstapi, a quaint fishing village where you can find the ocean waves creating a great interplay with light. The little black church of the Budir hamlet will also be a picture perfect with the great backdrop of the glazed icecap of Snæfellsjokull Glacier around the big lava field and windswept area. And of course to cap off the day, Mt. Kirkjufell, as one of Iceland´s most beautiful mountains with its special cone-like shape and steep hills, will be an amazing foreground of Aurora Borealis making this a masterpiece for your portfolio. Accommodation: Snæfellsnes

Day 3 - Snæfellsnes peninsula

You will continue our amazing quest to explore the exceptional beauty of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, also known as the "miniature Iceland". You will explore and photograph the extraordinary coastline dotted with small villages, the iconic lush fjords and the majestic mountains around the area. Get ready to get an amazing shot in Londrangar with its raw beauty of the ancient volcanic basalt plugs rising out of the ocean. Accommodation: Snæfellsnes

Day 4 - Hvitserkur

On this day, you will head to the North of Iceland for the the wild and remote Vatnsnes Peninsula which is known for its vast and partly uninhabited land joint by some rocky hills and green grazing land. This will be a great chance to see and photograph the beautiful Icelandic horses on the wild. As you head to the eastern side of the peninsula, you might encounter some seals in their natural habitat along the coastal region of Strandir in the Westfjords. But you will primarily focus on Hvitserkur, a 15 m high basalt stack rising from the sea which resembles a drinking dragon and in another viewpoint, a huge troll. Icelandic legend tells of a troll who forgot to flee from the light of the rising sun, turning him into a stone. This mysterious rock has a great photogenic appeal and they will make sure that you will be here when the magic will happen. Of course, light is a key element in landscape photography and timing the location of the sun is very important. Accommodation: Akureyri

Day 5 - Lake Myvatn

After an early breakfast, you will head to Godafoss for a sunrise shoot. At this time of the year, this "fall of the gods" should be covered with ice, making the falls more divine and scenic for a sunrise shoot. This is actually one of Iceland‘s most popular and stunning falls with its elegant semicircular arc shape.

Afterwards you continue our adventure as you drive towards the lake Myvatn, which was formed by a huge basaltic lava eruption creating volcanic landforms, lava pillars and pseudo craters around the area. Given time, you will also explore the unique sculptures and rock formations of Dimmuborgir. This is a great chance to experience this wild geological landscapes where some of the scenes of the TV series Game of Thrones were shot. Overnight at Myvatn.

Day 6 - Lake Myvatn

On this day, you will travel by a super jeep to get to the two of Iceland‘s most beautiful waterfalls in the central highlands, Aldeyjarfoss and Hrafnabjargafoss. These are both located in the Skjalfandafljot river. The contrast between the huge black bent basalt columns at the 20 meter high Aldeyjarfoss and the clear water of the fall becomes more impressive in its frozen winter clothing. Similarly, Hrafnabjargafoss offers a dramatic sight having it drenched in snow. It is tough to get to these falls especially on icy roads during winter but the contrast of the snow terrain, waterfalls and a clear blue pool at its feet makes this photography opportunity worth the effort. Overnight in Myvatn.

Day 7 - Lake Myvatn

As you explore and photograph more this region, they will bring you to the colorful geothermal area of the Namaskard mountain, an area that is alternatively known as Hverarond or Hverir. Here you can photograph a lot of solfataras and boiling mud pots, which are themselves surrounded by sulfur crystals. Of course, this terrain gives off a lot of hot steam so they advise caution. In addition to this, Hverfell, one of the world‘s largest explosion crater with around 1 km in diameter, is around the area which you can climb to have a great view of the wild snow-clad landscape. Given some extra time, you can dip and relax in Myvatn Nature Baths, the Blue Lagoon of the north. Overnight in Myvatn.

Day 8 - East Iceland-Djúpivogur

You continue our Iceland experience to the east where you will visit the Jokulsargljufur National Park. On the way there, you will shoot Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall with its 100 meter width and 45 meters drop. Dettifoss will give you both an epic picture and an unforgettable experience as you witness its powerful and massive volume of plummeting water with a plume of spray that can be seen a kilometer away.

Afterwards, you carry on our adventure to the highland desert and over a mountain pass into the beautiful Eastfjords eventually reaching the realm of the Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s largest glacier and a national park. This area is full of texture with its mountainous fjords along the Eastern coast. You will stay overnight in the small fishing village of Djupivogur and get to experience this quaint harbor and its unspoiled old buildings surrounded by marvellous mountains. Here you have the chance to photograph the reflection of the beautiful fjords and waterfalls, such as the Rjukandi Fall. Accommodation: Djupivogur

Day 9 - Jokulsarlon

From the fjords of Djupivogur, you will head to the famous Vatnajokull National Park where you can see some of the unique sceneries that can only be found in Iceland. You will be spending three days near Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon is located. This is a great location for us to capture the phenomenal huge blocks of ice floating on the glacier lagoon embellished with the light of the setting sun or much better, under the Northern lights. Most likely you will also find some playful seals swimming in the lagoon. Accommodation: Jokulsarlon

Day 10 - Jokulsarlon

As you continue exploring the icy wonders of the beautiful Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon on the east of Vatnajokull, you will have a lot of chance to photograph the multitude of glistening icebergs floating towards the ocean and the ice crystals which are scattered on the black sands. Our day begins before sunrise in the black beach as you capture the first rays of the sun highlighting the lustrous ice amidst the waves of the ocean. You will also photograph other breathtaking glacial lagoons that can be found in the area as you head to the highlight of the day: ice caves. As you enter the subglacial ice caves, you will be amazed not only by its incredible natural shapes and cavities but also its colour as it absorbs almost all visible light and turns itself into blue. This will be the moment when time seems to freeze and everything feels surreal and you will preserve this moment using our wide-angle lens camera for a unique and enduring photo. Accommodation: Jokulsarlon

Day 11 - Jokulsarlon

On this day, you will drive to the east of Vatnajokull for the glorious 454 meter high mountain rising above the black lava beach of the Stokknes peninsula. Vestrahorn is composed of several steep peaks with a rare peak shape called Brunnhorn located eastwards stretching all the way to the sea. These peaks when illuminated by a rising or setting sun give this mountain an impressive aura making a perfect background with foreground of water trails as the mighty waves recede over some rocks at the edge of the beach. You will constantly seek and follow the best light possible for shooting this mountain and its surroundings.

As our journey progresses you will constantly be following and seeking the best possible light. Sunrise and sunset are particularly recommended for photographing Vestrahorn and its surroundings, as they offer an amazing display of light over this epic mountain. Accommodation: Jokulsarlon

Day 12 - Vik

On the 12th day of our tour, from Vatnajokull National Park, you will drive south to explore the one of the most popular tourist sites in Iceland. This region boasts an all seasons different beautiful natural attractions of volcanoes, lava fields, glaciers, lakes, black beaches, cliffs and sea stacks and of course their waterfalls. However for this day, you will be focusing on Vik and its enchanted black sand beach beach with a basalt sea stack that sticks out of the sea called Reynisdrangar. These stacks are believed to be trolls turned into rocks when exposed to the rays of the sun. You will also explore another celebrated black beach in Reynisfjara which has been considered as the most beautiful non-tropical beach in the world because it offers different views of the spiky sea stacks along with massive basalt cliffs and caves rolled. Capturing the rolling strong and wild waves will add spice to this great scenery giving us another opportunity of another epic image. Accommodation: Vik

Day 13 - Heading back

After a hearty breakfast, you will capture more out of this world locations while driving back to Reykjavik. The first stop will be the Dyrholaey peninsula where you can see a different angle of the black lava columns of the Reynisdrangar along with the other mighty cliffs and stacks by the long stretch of the black sandy beach. You will also see a gigantic black arch of lava standing in the sea in front of the peninsula. You will pass two active volcanoes, Hekla, a 1490m high snow-topped mountain where devastating eruptions often took place throughout Iceland’s history earning it the name “gateway to hell,” and the famous Eyjafjallajokull, the flight stopping volcano from 2010. Another possible destination is Solheimajokull Glacier where mighty cliffs and mountains accompany the rugged glacier tongue. Next, you will shoot the two famous waterfalls in this region. Skogafoss, one of the biggest falls in the country with a drop of 60 meters and width of 25 meters, used to be the sea cliff of the former coastline. When the coastline receded seaward, the old cliffs remained and made a clear border between coastal lowlands and the Highlands of Iceland. On sunny days, the sprays from this mighty falls may produce a single or sometimes even double rainbow. After, you get to make some awesome shots of Seljalandsfoss by walking behind the waterfall. Accommodation: Reykjavik

Day 14 - Departure

After a delightful breakfast and a warm farewell to the group, you will depart traveling with the FlyBus to Keflavik Airport.