Iceland Highlands Extreme – Volcanic Landscapes, Waterfalls & Geothermal Wonders | Wild Photography Holidays - Photography & Adventure Travel

Iceland Highlands Extreme – Volcanic Landscapes, Waterfalls & Geothermal Wonders

Highlights include…

• One of Europe’s last wilderness areas
• Kverkfjöll & Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest Icecap
• Areas seldom visited by other photographic tours
• Spectacular waterfalls: Gullfoss, Aldeyjarfoss, Dettifoss, Selfoss & Goðafoss
• Vast water filled crater at Askja
• Colourful geothermal & volcanic phenomena
• Kerlingarfjöll and Gýgjarfoss waterfall
• Relaxing spas in dramatic locations
• Hveravellir colourful hot springs
• Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon
• The Golden Circle
• Hverfjall Crater
• Sunrises and sunsets in dramatic location
• Icelandic horses
• Lake Mývatn and Dimmuborgir lava towers
• Opportunity for aerial photography
• Possibility of aurora

“The workshop was extremely well organised and the tuition from the leaders was the best we have ever had, even down to the processing of images using Lightroom. We were taken to the beautiful and varied locations at the best times of day and night (occasionally we were allowed to sleep!!). The leaders knowledge of the area was such that in the event of inclement conditions there was always an alternative location to visit. Thank you so much for a fabulous holiday.”

Margaret and John 2022

Introduction

This is an exceptional summer expedition through some of Iceland’s most remote and visually stunning wilderness areas. Whilst the majority of travellers to Iceland remain in the south and west of the country we are inviting you to take the ‘road less travelled’ by joining us on this breathtaking photographic adventure that will include the remote, vast and uninhabited interior of Iceland. This is a remarkable place for landscape photography and indeed it is only accessible for a few weeks of the year. Nowhere in Iceland will you find anything to compare with the stark, raw beauty of Europe’s last true wilderness.
Travelling in a 4×4 vehicle we will have access to areas that are beyond the normal scope of visitors. We explore an untouched desert, remarkable waterfalls, extraordinary volcanic landscapes, national parks, impressive canyons and wild geothermal areas. As always, this adventure allows a certain amount of flexibility. We are always prepared to change our plans to make the maximum use of the prevailing light and weather.
Despite travelling to some totally off the beaten track locations, some of the time we stay in lovely scenically located hotels or cottages with excellent facilities. The options to bathe in relaxing and scenic spas are also an option.
Whilst this is not a trip specifically for the aurora, the nights at this time of year have become dark again and it may be possible to spot some early shows of this gorgeous phenomenon. In all, this expedition is an excellent opportunity for landscape photographers and travellers who want to experience and photograph some highly unusual landscapes. Those of you that enjoy mobile phone photography will be very welcome and tuition will be given. Drone photography is also welcome, we will advise participants where this is allowed. It is the drone photographers’ responsibility to ensure that they do not impinge on the peace of others in the surroundings. All participants will enjoy the opportunity to return home with a truly unique portfolio of images and an insight Iceland’s road less travelled.

Daily Itinerary

For full details please download the trip description PDF

Day 1: Arrive Reykjavík and Transfer to Hotel

Wild Photography Holidays’ services commence with an included transfer from Keflavík airport to our first night city hotel in the heart of Reykjavík. Our group will meet together for the first time at 18:30 for introductions and a trip briefing before heading out to a nearby restaurant for dinner together.
Hotel Reykjavík (D)

Day 2,3: Golden Circle and Kerlingarfjöll

We will leave Reykjavík early and head to the Golden Circle one of the most famous of all scenic routes in Iceland. It is historically significant and photographically worthwhile. Our locations will include the stunning Gullfoss waterfall, the magnificent Geysir Strokkur, Þingvallavatn, and the scenic beauty of Þingvellir National Park.
After lunch we leave the crowds behind to travel along the famous Kjölur highland route towards Kerlingarfjöll. The geothermal area around Kerlingarfjöll (‘Ogress Mountains’) is where ice and fire meet. During our explorations here we will encounter geothermal phenomena such as bubbling mud pools, fumaroles, hissing fissures, waterfalls and snow. The orange mountains enveloped in steam present us with a landscape that is truly Tolkien.
We will stay for two nights in a comfortable hotel central to all our locations.
Hotel Kerlingarfjöll (B,L,D)

Day 4: Hveravellir, Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn

We will have an early breakfast before travelling north to explore and photograph the interesting geothermal area of Hveravellir, a steamy and green oasis midst the vastness of Iceland’s interior Highlands. Here we will find interestingly shaped smoking fumaroles, a plethora of colourful earth and sky blue boiling water. There is a gorgeous geothermal pool here if you fancy a dip in a truly unique place.
After lunch we will continue north through the Highlands towards Iceland’s northerly capital Akureyri where we will stop for coffee and cake before starting the last leg of journey. Hopefully we will be able to photograph the lovely waterfall Goðafoss en route to our lakeside cottages by Lake Mývatn.
Lakeside cottages (B,L,D)

Day 5: Mývatn’s Geothermal Locations

Today at sunrise we will explore this unique ‘hot’ area right on the edge of Iceland’s interior desert, the steam from red hot fumaroles and geysers looks fabulous when back-lit by the morning sun. Following breakfast we will continue to more geothermal locations. The whole area lies bang on the boundary of the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates. The plates move apart at a rate of about two centimetres a year. Volcanic lava wells up between them and fills up the rift. The volcanic activity in the area is considerable.
Mývatn’s surroundings are varied in landscape and amazing geological formations – we will have a busy time fitting them all in! It is likely that we will visit the Mount Krafla area with lava fields, the startling blue crater lake Víti and steaming fissures. The bubbling geothermal area of Námaskarð, black lava pillars and arches at Dimmuborgir and the striking black ash crater of Hverfjall. Photographically the whole area is a kaleidoscope of unbelievable colour and textures. The lake itself is home to a remarkably diverse number of waterfowl.
Lakeside cottages (B,L,D)

Day 6: Mývatn Area

The biggest and most impressive pseudo-craters in Iceland are at Skútustaðagígar in the Mývatn area of North-Iceland. These are one of the most interesting natural phenomena in Iceland. This morning we spend time walking and exploring this dramatic area before heading to the coastal fishing town of Húsavík. Following lunch in a local restaurant there will be an option to discover the stunning beauty of Húsavík’s Skjálfandi Bay on a boat tour while observing whales, dolphins, and sea birds in their natural habitat. There will also be a chance to visit the Geo-Spa which is beautifully located by a lighthouse on a cliff-top overlooking the ocean. We return to the Mývatn area for our evening meal and preparations for our following days departure into the interior of Iceland.
Lakeside cottages (B,L,D)

Day 7: Dettifoss, Selfoss and Dreki

After breakfast we will depart for our four days exploration of the Vatnajökull National Park and Iceland’s Northern Highlands. Our first stop will be at Dettifoss & Selfoss, spectacular waterfalls in the national park of Jökulsárgljúfur. The Jökulsá river flows from Europe’s largest ice cap Vatnajökull. The waterfalls plummet into the canyon, which is rather like a miniature replica of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The east banks of Dettifoss and Selfoss are easily reached by well-marked trails and there are several interesting vantage points where we can photograph from. Dettifoss was used as a location in the dramatic opening scene of the film Prometheus. Rainbows in the spray of the falls are a common and beautiful sight.
Mid afternoon we continue our journey away from civilisation and into the interior, a huge uninhabited wilderness area. We cross the vast Ódáðahraun desert and usually encounter three or four interesting river crossings before we arrive at Dreki where we will stay for 2 nights.
Dreki Mountain Accommodation (B,L,D)

Day 8: Askja & Drekagil

Dreki is perfectly located close to the fabulous canyon of Drekagil and a just a short drive through relatively recent lava fields to Askja and the strikingly blue Lake Víti and Öskjuvatn. Water has filled the caldera that remained following the eruption of Askja in 1875. The interesting walk to see this spectacle is around one mile each way. The first sighting of these two remote lakes never fails to induce an OMG moment for photographers.
Dreki Mountain Accommodation (B,L,D)

Day 9,10 Kverkfjöll Exploration

Early morning we will travel to our next destination Kverkfjöll. The most recent volcanic eruption in Iceland and this particular area was the Holuhraun volcanic eruption in Bárðarbunga that started in August 2014. This massive eruption lasted until February 2015 and the lava defines the landscape. We cross this lava desert followed by the raging glacial torrent of the Jökulsá River to arrive in a remote area at the very north-most tip of the Europe’s largest Ice Cap, Vatnajökull; a true virtually untouched wilderness area. The area is a true meeting point of ice and fire and it is one of Iceland’s most powerful high-temperature areas.
One of the main locations we will visit and photograph today is the edge of the glacier where an ice cave may sometimes be found. The glacier cave is formed by a volcanic hot water spring beneath the Vatnajökull glacier. The terrain around the glacier itself is full of fascinating detail for photographers, plant life and mosses vibrant against the black sand, unusually coloured rocks deposited by the glacier and shimmering rivulets of water. The evening light out in this remote Arctic desert is often very spectacular.
Sigurðarskáli Mountain Accommodation (B,L,D)

Day 11: Kverkfjöll to Egilsstaðir to Reykjavík

Following a sunrise shoot and breakfast we will pack up for our journey to Egilsstaðir. En route there will be stops for photography as we will take a different route. We will head to Möðrudalur a farm settlement right on the very edge of Iceland’s interior. It is the highest inhabited place in the country at just 469 m above sea level, a good spot for a lunch stop. We will have dinner together in Egilsstaðir before taking the evening flight to Reykjavík for our last night’s hotel stay.

Day 12: Homeward Flights

There will be early morning Flybus transfers to Iceland’s international aiport.

Joining arrangements and transfers

WPH services commence with an included Flybus transfer from Iceland’s international airport Keflavík to our first night hotel in the heart of Reykjavík. The Flybus is the most convenient way to get from the airport to Reykjavík and back. The buses run all day and the bus stop is right outside arrivals.

What’s Included

• 3 nights in lakeside cottages
• 4 hotel nights
• 4 mountain hut nights
• Lightweight sleeping bag
• All meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Transfers to and from Reykjavík airport
• All transport
• Flight Egilsstaðir – Reykjavík

What’s not included

• International flights
• Alcoholic beverages
• Snacks and beverages other than with meals
• Travel insurance
• Spa visits
• Helicopter/plane flights for aerial photography
• Anything not mentioned in the Included section above

Accommodation

We will be using a variety of accommodation.
Reykjavík & Kerlingarfjöll (4 nights): hotels, private rooms with attached bathrooms.
Mývatn Lakeside cottages (3 nights): two bedroom cottages. Participants will have a private bedroom, a shared bathroom with shared kitchen and sitting room.
Highlands (4 nights): warm, modern mountain huts with shared sleeping areas and bathrooms. The mountain accommodation is quite literally the only place to stay in order to photograph in such remote locations. For the mountain nights we will provide all guests a new unused sleeping bag. The single supplement is only for the 7 hotel/cottage nights.

Complete Itinerary and Full Details

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