This Icelandic highland photography workshop is not currently scheduled. The highland of Iceland remains one of the most compelling and dynamic landscapes I work in and new departures are possible as interest develops. If you would like to participate in a future Iceland photography workshop, please reach out through the Contact page.
Small Group | Remote | Awe-Inspiring
Imagine unspoiled landscapes as far as the eye can see - black sand deserts leading to impossibly green moss-covered mountains, hundred meter high waterfalls plunging into deep ravines, volcanic craters filled with azure lakes, and immense glaciers looming in the distance. Join me on a photographic journey into this otherworldly landscape. The Icelandic Highland Adventure will introduce you to a part of Iceland unvisited by most, free from tourist crowds, traffic, and noise. Together we’ll ford rivers, drive up mountainsides, and traverse lava fields, all to get the best photo opportunities that Iceland has to offer.
Dates: Not Currently Scheduled Location: Southern Highland of Iceland Duration: 7 Days/6 Nights Accommodation: Hotel Rooms Physical Difficulty: Medium, Tailored to Group Group Size: Maximum of 8 Participants Guides: Þorkell Héðinn Haraldsson & Timothy Keeney Price: To Be Determined at Time of Scheduling
Highland Primer
Generally speaking, the highland of Iceland comprises much of the interior of the country at an elevation of 300m/1,000ft or higher. Snow-covered from October through June, there are few paved roads and most rivers remain unbridged. Because freezing weather, precipitation, and heavy winds can occur there year round, a visit to the highland requires you to be prepared for anything. The reward for meeting the terrain and weather challenges is the ability to behold visual riches well beyond the famed Golden Circle and south coast attractions.
The focus of our tour will be the southern highland, an area loosely bounded by the peak, Búrfell, in the west, the glacier, Vatnajökull, in the east, the reservoirs on the river, Tungnaá, in the north, and the glacier, Mýrdalsjökull, in the south. Indicated by the purple oval on the map, the area looks small but feels vast and remote when you are immersed in it.
Late August through September often provides a strong balance of road accessibility, emerging autumn color, and reduced visitor traffic, making it an ideal window for a highlands photography workshop. Average temperatures during this period can be brisk, but with proper outerwear, participants are well-equipped to enjoy the scenery in a range of weather conditions. Because this timeframe falls near the autumnal equinox, daylight hours generally allow ample time to explore while still offering sufficient darkness for rest and potential northern lights viewing. The graphic below from Wanderlog provides a snapshot of weather averages for September at Landmannalaugar in the highland.
Info & Pricing
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Expert guiding by Thor and Tim
Detailed information about each location, including geological history, name significance, and cultural context
Transportation via vehicle modified for off-road travel in the highlands
Professional coaching on camera use, photo composition, and image editing
6 nights hotel accommodation
Breakfast at hotels
Lunch on tour days
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Flights to/from Iceland
Transfers between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik*
First and last night hotel stay in Reykjavik*
Dinners
Travel insurance
Photography gear
*While the tour price does not include this, I am happy to offer suggestions or, for a small fee, assist with bookings
WHAT TO BRING Photography Gear
Camera body
Lenses
Lens filters
Sturdy tripod
Batteries, storage cards, and cleaning supplies
Rain cover for camera
Camera bag/backpacks
Drone (optional)
Laptop to back-up and edit photos (optional)
Personal Gear
Hiking boots and wool socks
Waterproof boots (optional)
Warm layers
Waterproof outer shell jacket and pants
Warm hat and gloves
Face mask (optional)
Bathing suit and pool footwear (optional)
PRICING
Future pricing will reflect group size, lodging, and seasonal conditions at the time of scheduling
A $500 deposit will be required to hold your space
THE FINE PRINT
Deposit is due at time of booking; your space is not reserved until we receive your deposit
Full balance is due 60 days prior to start of trip; if we do not receive your balance by this time, we reserve the right to cancel your space
Travel Insurance is highly recommended
Full Terms & Conditions will be provided at time of booking before deposit is collected
Your Guides
Þorkell Héðinn Haraldsson Thor is a native Icelander and owner of Iceland in Motion. He combines his passion for the outdoors with an unparalleled knowledge of the Icelandic landscape and keen sense of humor to offer the best experience to his clients. Thor is a photographer, drone pilot, and northern lights expert and is dedicated to ensuring your journey through Iceland’s stunning landscapes is safe and memorable.
Timothy Keeney Tim first visited Iceland on a vacation in 2017 and was immediately captivated by the incredible density of striking landscapes to photograph there. He has returned year after year to explore more deeply into this amazing country and has developed a profound respect for its land and culture. When not in Iceland or planning his next trip to Iceland, you can find him photographing the many waterfalls of his home state of Connecticut or traveling in the mountains and deserts of the American Southwest, where he first found his love of landscape photography.
Sample Itinerary
Day 0/Saturday
Arrive at Keflavik Airport
Meet for dinner in Reykjavik to get to know each other and review trip logistics
Day 1/Sunday
After an early breakfast, depart Reykjavik for the highland
Visit two of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, optionally hiking to the canyon floor for a different perspective
Stop at a canyon with falls that spring forth from its rocky walls, pouring into a bright blue river below
Drive to the rim of two large craters filled with sky-blue water
Photograph sunset overlooking one of the largest braided glacial rivers in the highlands
Day 2/Monday
Begin by climbing the slopes of the volcano, Hekla, with a chance to see a red-rimmed crater perched on its side
Hike to a unique fan-shaped waterfall that appears red due to the underlying rock, optionally continuing to the place where the water emerges from underground
Explore the spectacular landscapes of Landmannalaugar, including rhyolite mountains, geothermal areas, and lava fields
Day 3/Tuesday
Before heading back to the highland, stop by a unique waterfall that drops behind a rock window
Behold a horned mountain that resembles a triceratops
Enter the heart of the southern highland where the photographic opportunities are infinite; highlights include a meandering canyon with waterfalls, moss-covered peaks, and the massive Mýrdalsjökull glacier ever-present in the distance
Time and interest-permitting, drive to a rarely-visited area of tan and rust-colored mountains bisected by waterfall-filled creeks - a drone lover’s paradise
Day 4/Wednesday
Journey to an iconic cone-shaped mountain sitting starkly in the middle of a black sand desert
Embark on a short hike to a pair of highland gems: a long aquamarine lake and a deep crater with a small lake inside
On the way back to our hotel, ford a river right at the top of a dramatic waterfall
Day 5/Thursday
Peer over the edge of a 1,000 year old volcanic chasm with a magnificent two-tier waterfall on the opposite side; for a closer look, hike down into the gorge to the base of the falls
Photograph a series of three perfectly-aligned peaks flanked on one side by the glacial river, Skaftá
Visit one of the largest natural lakes in the country, situated at the base of the glacier Vatnajökull, optionally hiking to the top of a lakeside peak for a better perspective on the geography
Day 6/Friday
Stop at a beautiful combination plunge/horsetail waterfall only accessible via a river crossing
Make our way to a series of volcanic craters, each with its own personality, formed in several eruptions in the 1700s
Gaze across the Skaftá flood plain at the locations we visited the prior day, putting things into further context
Time-permitting, photograph one or more lesser-visited waterfalls on the even return to the hotel
Day 7/Saturday
Depart our hotel to begin making our way back to Reykjavik, but not without a few more adventures
Hike the Fimmvörðuháls “Waterfall Way” with the opportunity to see as many as 25 waterfalls along the way
Cap off the trip with a visit to one more cascade - a small but mighty sky-blue waterfall with hundreds of individual water channels pouring into a central gorge
Return to Reykjavik and prepare to depart the following day
Northern Lights!
September is perfect for aurora viewing, with sufficient darkness and weather that is still mild (by Icelandic standards!). Thor, one of Iceland’s top aurora experts, will ensure that if there are lights to be seen after the sun goes down, we will see them.
