Southern Contrasts – Glaciers, Volcanoes and Waterfalls

Highlights include…

• Walking on the Eyjafjallajökull glacier
• Photograph the Eyjafjöll eruption
• Skaftafell National park
• Glacial iceberg lagoons including the Jökulsárlon
• The Blue Lagoon
• Colourful geothermal areas of Hengill Volcano
• Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss and Geysir

Latest News

We are excited to announce that this departure will allow guests the incredible opportunity of staying in the area where the recent volcano erupted on the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier 20th March 2010. We have reserved accommodation in the cosy Fimmvorduhals mountain hut putting guests right there on the glacier in prime position to take some awesome photos of this latest Icelandic phenomena.
Iceland Express are offering a ‘Volcano Special’ to Iceland with dates that fit perfectly with this departure, £79 each way, the offer is first come first served and available for flights until the 31st May 2010.

General Summary

An early season photographic holiday combining some of Iceland’s classic and iconic sights with some less visited places. Locations include the geothermal areas of Hengill Volcano, a kaleidoscope of colour, Þingvellir National Park, a thrilling walk onto the Eyjafjallajökull glacier allows us a different perspective of this icy location; bluish green crevasses, glacial caves, waterfalls and a magnificent landscape of sea, ice and of course the the Eyjafjöll eruption. Further East we explore the Skaftafell national park, glacial iceberg lagoons, black beaches, a basalt columnar waterfall and magnificent close up views of Iceland’s highest mountain Hvannadalshnúkur.

Although 1st May is the official first day of summer in Iceland, the roads and tracks through the interior of Iceland will remain snowbound until the end of June. During May, the mountains and the highlands will still have a covering of snow making this the perfect time for those spectacular and unusual wintery shots. At the end of May the temperatures are increasing and we will be just three weeks from the summer solstice, essentially it will be light all day with the sun disappearing for around three hours only. This will give us several hours of ambient light, great sunrises and sunsets that go on and on!

Brief Itinerary

For full details download the PDF dossier

Day 1 – Blue Lagoon

There will be a single transfer meeting the flights arriving in Keflavík international airport at approximately 3.00 pm. After clearing customs we will travel directly to one of Iceland’s most famous destinations: the Blue Lagoon.

Day 2 – Þingvellir National Park & Hengill Volcano

The spectacular cliffs and rift valleys of Þingvallavatn together with amazingly varied and impressive geothermal terrain of the Hengill Volcano

Day 3 – Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss

Today we get the opportunity to photograph three superb waterfalls combined with Geysir and the vivid aquamarine colours of Kerið crater lake

Day 4 – Eyjafjallajökull glacier

A thrilling walk that ascends 1000 metres to stay in the cosy Fimmvorduhals mountain hut located between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull Glaciers allowing us a remarkable and close up perspective of bluish green crevasses and the magnificent surreal landscape covering Eyjafjöll where the volcano has ripped a fiery hole in the glacial ice spewing out lava, flames, volcanic ash and steam.

Day 5 – To Skaftafell National Park

Descend to Skögar to be re-united with our transport for a drive along the wild and awe-inspiring South coast of Iceland to Skaftafell National Park, periodically stopping to capture those special landscapes.

Day 6-7 – Skaftafell National Park

Skaftafell National Park is an oasis wedged between sand and glacier. Its is uniquely beautiful encompassing a breathtaking collection of peaks and glaciers, there will be plenty of superb photographic opportunities here to keep us occupied for the two full days that we spend here.

Day 8 – Skaftafell to Reykjavík

We should arrive back in Reykjavík late afternoon, depending on photography stops. After hot showers in our comfortable city centre guest house we head out for a celebratory dinner in the city.

Day 9 – Early morning transfer to Keflavík international airport

Homeward flights

What’s included

• All Accommodation, 2 nights guesthouse, 4 nights hotel, 1 night mountain hut, 1 night comfortable hostel
• Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner except for Day 1 (dinner only) Day 9 (breakfast only)
• All in country transport: exclusive use of comfortable bus specially adapted for any rough terrain
• Transfers to and from Reykjavík’s international airport
• Guide
• Photographic tutor
• The Blue Lagoon

What’s not included

• International flights
• Alcoholic beverages
• Snacks and beverages other than with meals
• Travel Insurance

Complete itinerary and full details

This page is only a brief summary. A complete itinerary and full details can be found in our PDF dossier. It is important that you read the full day-to-day description and further information for this holiday before making your booking.

Booking this holiday

As an incentive for people who would like to book a group holiday, we are offering one totally free place for each 10 people booked. The free place can be used as a perk for the organisor, or maybe spread the reduction to benefit the whole group or to donate the savings to a worthy cause – this is entirely up to you.

Contact us by email and we will send you a booking form either online or in the post.