Highland Adventure photographic tour

12 July – 19 July 2012 (8 days, 7 nights)

About the tour:

From my own personal experience, the highlands are an amazing place to visit, and always full of surprises.

The entire highland area is an exceptional place to photograph, as the landscape is full of contrast and the light and colours are always changing.  The mountains attract clouds and rays of the sun often stream through the layers of clouds.  The vegetation is mostly mossy, so you will see volcanic black sand against varied green colors of moss, and in the Landmannalauger and Hrafntinnusker area you will see light colours of rhyolite.  There are also rivers and streams that help create patterns in our photographs.

We will be travelling in a 4x4 vehicle, so there will be no problems crossing the terrain and rivers.  We will go to some very remote places not often visited by tourists, and on some of the days you may only see a few people during the whole day. These places are among the best locations in Iceland to photograph.  For example, we will visit Hrafntinnusker at an elevation of 1,000 metres and only accessible in middle of summer.

During our tour we will also see the most well known and popular locations in Iceland such as the glacier lagoon and the south coast of Iceland.  We will also be doing some hiking, so please bring good hiking shoes.

The schedule of the trip may be moved around in order to get the best weather conditions and light at each location, so be prepared to be flexible so that we can make this tour as successful as possible.

You are most welcome!

Haukur Snorrason photographer.

Itinerary

Day 1: South coast to Hrifunes

Thursday 12th July

Haukur will pick you up in the morning from your hotel in Reykjavik, and head to Hrifunes guesthouse. We will explore the south coast making a stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, Skogafoss waterfall and Dyrholaey Cape with its black sand beaches and puffins.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 2: Fjallabak Nature Reserve (south route)

Friday 13th July

We will take the Öldufell route towards Fjallabak Nature Reserve and then head to the Hólmsá River and waterfalls.

We will be travelling through black sand dunes and see neon green moss.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 3: Langisjor Lake and Sveinstindur Mountain

Saturday 14th July

Langisjor Lake lies southwest of Vatnajökull glacier in a beautiful and picturesque landscape.  It is 20 kilometres long and up to 2 kilometres wide.  The lake is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Iceland with many islands, cliffs and spectacular landscape surrounding it.  To the east of Langisjór Lake are the Hyaloclastide Mountains, Fögrufjöll.  Towards the west you will see the Breidbakur Mountain, famous for its moonscape, and on the south of the lake is the Sveinstindur Mountain and glacial river Skaftá.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 4: Landmannalaugar area

Sunday 15th of July

Today we will head to north Fjallabak towards Landmannalaugar, making photographic stops on the way at places such as Eldgja, Lake Frostastadavatn and the red crater lake Ljotipollur.

There is also a hot spring river where you can bathe just two hundred metres from the Landmannalaugar hut, so do bring your swim suits as you can take a bathe there in the evening.

Accommodation: Landmannalaugar hut

Day 5: Landmannalaugar area

Monday 16th July

In Landmannalaugar you can see plenty of evidence of volcanic activity including rhyolite mountains, Laugahraun lava field and the multicolored Brennisteinsalda mountain with its steaming sulphur pots.  You can also visit Blahnukur mountain which has a stunning view from a 943 metre high peak.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 6: Jokulsarlon Glacier lagoon and Skaftafell National Park

Tuesday 17th July

We will drive east towards the Vatnajökull Glacier, stopping in Skaftafell National Park for a one to two hour hike to the Svartifoss waterfall.  From there the tour will continue to the glacier lagoon via the Svínafell glacier and Fjallsarlon lagoon.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 7: Hrafntinnusker

Wednesday 18th July

We will depart early in the morning and drive up to the remote Hrafntinnusker area, Iceland´s second most powerful geothermal area.  The route to Hrafntinnusker will present us with many beautiful photographic opportunities.  At Hrafntinnusker, we will do a two to three hour walking tour in order to fully appreciate the colorful geothermal hot springs.

Accommodation: Hrifunes guesthouse

Day 8: Fjallabak Nature Reserve (southern route) towards Reykjavik

Thursday 19th July

We will head towards southern Fjallabak through the Snaybylisheidi route, stopping at Axlarfoss waterfall, and photographing the Maelifellssandur volcanic sand that is surrounded by glaciers.  We will then drive down Fljotshlid to the route one towards Reykjavik.

Accommodation: Hotel in Reykjavik

Tour facts

Name of tour: Highland photographic tour

Price

Price per person: double room is ISK 447.600 for a group of 6-8 people. 
Price per person: single room is ISK 492.360

Price Includes:

Accommodation: Hrífunes Guesthouse www.hrifunesguesthouse.is with made up beds and shared facilities (two rooms sharing one bathroom). Accommodation at Landmannalaugar hut with sleeping bag.

Meals: Breakfast from the second day until last day, picnic lunch every day dinner from the first day until the second to last day (two to three course meals, Icelandic specialities such as fish and lamb (vegetarians are most welcome and catered for if we are notified in advance).

Transportation & guiding: Professional English speaking driver guide and photographer, Vehicle: 4X4

Not included: Cost of flight to Keflavik/Iceland, transportation to and from airport (although this can be arranged), hotel accommodation in Reykjavík and alcoholic beverages.

more information: info@phototours.is