North Iceland’s Winter Wonderland – Volcanos, Waterfalls & Aurora | Wild Photography Holidays - Photography & Adventure Travel

North Iceland’s Winter Wonderland – Volcanos, Waterfalls & Aurora

Highlights include…

• Cozy lakeside accommodation
• Northern lights
• Superb home cooking
• Bathe in Mývatn Spa (optional)
• Ice encrusted waterfalls
• Goðafoss, Dettifoss & Selfoss
• Bizarre lava formations
• Volcanic craters
• Bubbling mud pools
• Frozen lakes
• Snowy landscapes
• Steaming lava fissures
• Tabletop mountains
• Two spectacular flights across Iceland
• Icelandic horses in winter

Introduction

Introducing an exciting new winter trip based far from the madding crowd in Iceland’s frozen North. Flying from Reykjavík on day two, we make a spectacular flight North with Air Iceland Connect to a truly Icelandic winter wonderland. From desolate craters to bubbling mud pools and geothermal caves, the area around Lake Mývatn is a microcosm of all the natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Participants will be blown away by the diversity and uniqueness of the photographic locations. Weird, wonderful snowy landscapes, geothermal phenomena, frozen lakes, wacky lava formations, ice-encrusted waterfalls with some fine locations for the northern lights. A special treat will be a dip in Jarðböðin one of Iceland’s premier outdoor spa pools set right in the midst of this remarkable winter wonderland. North Iceland will generally experience the aurora before the south purely due to its more northerly position. Where better to see the aurora than from the shore of Lake Mývatn where we stay for five nights in warm, cozy cottages facing the northern skies. Expect to return home with some magical and unique Icelandic winter images together with a bunch of good memories and new friends!

Brief Itinerary

For full details please download the trip description PDF

Day 1: Arrival and Reykjavík

Transfer from International airport to our Reykjavík Hotel.

Day 2–6 Fly to Akureyri – North Iceland

On Day 2 we transfer to Reykjavík’s domestic airport for the morning flight to Iceland’s Northern Capital, Akureyri. From the airport it is only an hours drive to our well situated accommodation by Lake Mývatn. Our base is central and close to all locations affording the flexibility of making on the spot decisions about where and when to photograph, we will be guided by variables such as the weather, snow cover, ice formations, sunrise and sunset, aurora forecasts and participants energy levels. Here is a brief summary of some locations that we expect to photograph.

Goðafoss

One of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland.

Northern Lights

The area around Reykjahlíð is especially fine for photographing the Northern Lights, reflections of the Aurora cast on Lake Mývatn are especially photogenic.

Dettifoss & Selfoss

Two of Iceland’s most powerful and remote waterfalls

Jarðböðin

North Iceland’s own Blue Lagoon a great way to relax and catch the Northern Lights at the same time.

Dimmuborgir

Weird lava formations, dark castles that make for a really unusual landscape when combined with the snow. This is also home to one of Iceland’s most iconic birds, the Gyr Falcon.

Grjótagjá

Subterranean geothermal cave with mysterious light.

Hverarönd

Surreal and colourful, a geothermal landscape bursting with mud pots, steam vents, sulphur deposits, boiling springs and fumaroles.

Pseudo Craters

Crater groups on the shore formed by steam explosions as glowing lava poured into Mývatn; ideal subjects for some very graphic and unusual landscape images

Lake Mývatn

During the winter most of the lake freezes over and we can wander out onto the ice often encountering fishermen making holes to fish for trout in the icy depths.

Hverfjall Crater

In winter this snow-covered crater dominates the village skyline; it is possible to walk to the rim for some really wild and different aerial shots of the surrounding landscape.

Other Location Possibilities

Icelandic horses, geothermal pools, steaming lava fissures, local lava ovens where bread is baked. The last eruptions in this area finished in 1987 so the whole area is covered with some rather new lava; some still steaming!

Day 7: Photography and flight to Reykjavík

We will spend the day photographing en route. We will have an early celebratory last night dinner in Akureyri before catching the evening flight to Reykjavík.

Day 8: Transfers to the International airport

Transfers to the International airport and homeward flights

What’s included

• 7 nights accommodation
• All meals
• Domestic Transfers
• Photography tuition
• Two Iceland flights
• Single rooms without extra charge

What’s not included

• International flights
• Transfers to/from Keflavik airport
• 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 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.