Iceland’s Southern Highlands – Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk & Fjallabak Nature Reserve | Wild Photography Holidays - Photography & Adventure Travel

Iceland’s Southern Highlands – Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk & Fjallabak Nature Reserve

Highlights include…

• Landmannalaugar’s rhyolite mountains
• Stakkholtsgjá ravine and waterfall
• Fjallabak Nature Reserve
• Canyons of Þórsmörk
• Mælifell emerald green volcano
• Hrauneyjafoss waterfalls
• Black sands & glacial rivulets
• Landmannahellir
• Rauðibotn crater
• Frostastaðavatn lake & Strútur crater
• Drive the F208 – Iceland’s most beautiful road
• Háifoss, Granni & Hjálparfoss waterfalls
• Braided channels along the Tungnaá river
• Ljótipollur, Hnausapollur & Gjáin Valley
• Rauðufossakvísl

Introduction

Iceland offers some of the best photography locations worldwide, none more so than within the vast interior of Iceland where we encounter the wild uninhabited region known as the Southern Highlands the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Travelling into these wild areas is only really possible for maybe three months in summer when the road is clear of snow. The combination of a specialist vehicle/driver and photographic guides with excellent local knowledge allows the enthusiastic and adventurous landscape photographer an unrivalled opportunity to visit a number of unique and seldom frequented locations. We will include some of the remotest and most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world.
Your photographic guides will be WPH owners Martin Sammtleben and Geraldine Westrupp who will be joined James Rushforth, acclaimed author of Photographing Iceland. This is a vastly experienced team well qualified to enable you to make the very best photographically of your highlands exploration. We will be travelling together in a specially modified 4×4 vehicle expertly driven by our Icelandic driver-guide. The walking trails and locations between Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk and Mælifell have been nominated several times by National Geographic as a world-class locations for remarkable and unique photography. There will be many options to explore locations close to our bases and our well modified vehicle will also enable guests of all abilities to travel to some fabulously rewarding, remote and truly out there Icelandic Highland locations.
This is an exciting photographic adventure in one of Iceland’s most sought after areas. We have recently added four nights in a highland hotel with single or double ensuite bathrooms replacing the previous mountain hut/sleeping bag accommodation. We have also ensured that we are able to visit an array of superb photographic locations by utilising a high-end, comfortable and roomy 4×4 Vehicle, to enable all our guests to travel and access these superb and remote locations.

Photographic Tutors and Guides

This tour will be led by Martin Sammtleben, Geraldine Westrupp and James Rushforth, author of Photographing Iceland.
Images in the gallery on this page are by James Rushforth.

Daily Itinerary

For full details please download the trip description PDF

Day 1: Arrival in Reykjavík

Participants will be arriving on a variety of flights; Flybus tickets will be sent out in advance. The first night’s accommodation in a three-star Reykjavík city hotel is included. We will meet for introductions and a tour briefing at 19:00 before heading out into the city for dinner together.
Hotel Reykjavík (D)

Day 2: Drive to Þórsmörk

Our adventure starts after an early breakfast, as we follow the ring road south before branching out off the beaten track onto the 4×4 road to Þórsmörk. We will stop to explore Gluggafoss and Nauthúsagil Ravine on the way – two beautiful and seldom frequented waterfall locations. The drive is exciting, with no less than 15 rivers to ford. Fortunately, we will be travelling in a specially modified vehicle driven by an experienced Icelandic driver. The challenging approach will make for some dramatic photo opportunities and the landscape we will pass through is superb. Our accommodation, The Volcano Huts in Þórsmörk are perfectly located for exploring this fascinating area.
Volcano Cabins Þórsmörk (B,L,D)

Day 3: Exploring Þórsmörk

Þórsmörk is tucked away between 3 ice caps, Mýrdalsjökull, Tindfjallajökull and Eyjafjallajökull the latter of which brought European air travel to a standstill during its 2010 eruption! Þórsmörk or ‘Thor’s forest’ offers some fabulous and unusual photography. Over the next two days, we will explore this intricate network of birch studded canyons. This will be both on foot and using the vehicle to get us further afield. One such canyon is the Stakkholtsgjá a mystical 100 metre deep canyon. Entering the gorge we pass through high palagonite cliffs festooned with dripping green vegetation and fascinating caves. The ravine itself leads to a majestic waterfall. The volcano huts are in a stupendous location for photography.
Volcano Cabins Þórsmörk (B,L,D)

Day 4 & 5: Southern Highlands & Fjallabaksleið Syðri

Leaving Þórsmörk we will return to the ring road to make a quick stop at Hvolsvöllur to resupply before entering the southern highlands proper. More challenging driving awaits with several large river crossings as we drive Fjallabaksleið Syðri, one of Iceland’s most stunning and awe-inspiring mountain roads with with photographic stops at the lake Álftavatn and Mount Hattafell together with any other sights that catch our creative attention. Our remote highland accommodation is situated directly underneath the mesmerizing and legendary Mælifell mountain. This stunning solitary green moss covered volcano is surrounded by a dramatic black expense of volcanic desert and it is an ideal base for exploring the nearby Hólmsárlón lake together with the opportunity to explore several secret craters.
Strútur Mountain Hut (B,L,D)

Day 6: Strútur to Hrauneyjar via Landmannalaugar

Frequently cited as one of the most scenic drives in the world, our southern approach to Hrauneyjar via Landmannalaugar along the F208 contains a wealth of photographic opportunities. This really is the road less travelled. The journey is fascinating with many river crossings and stunning vistas which unfold one after another. We may make a short diversion to the Eldgjá canyon before arriving at the Landmannalaugar camp grounds for some evening light Passing through stunning landscape we continue North to our comfortable Highland Hotel, home for the next four nights.
Highland Hotel Sprengisandur (B,L,D)

Day 7,8,9: Landmannalaugar Exploration

For the next three days we will explore some magical locations in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve:

Fjallabak Nature Reserve: this area in the Icelandic Highlands surrounds Landmannalaugar and has been protected since 1979. The entire area is more than 500 metres above sea level and characterised by colourful mountains, geothermal valleys and volcanic activity. The colour is due to the rhyolite and obsidian making the ground appear green, blue, pink, red and yellow. Lava fields, rivers and lakes also make their mark on this Nature Reserve. We will explore and photograph the very best that this unique area offers.

Hrauneyjafoss waterfalls & Sigöldugljúfur canyon: this superb location is a little north and close to our hotel on the Sprengisandur Road. After parking a short walk of one kilometre takes us to the edge of the Sigöldugljúfur canyon and we can look down on the turquoise water flowing in the river below. This rugged canyon winds, twists and turns into the distance. Waterfalls of all descriptions burst through its sides, splashes of green adorn the canyon walls, complementing the bright water below. You can stroll along the canyon’s rim to capture many unique perspectives of the waterfalls. Sigöldugljúfur is also called the “Valley of Tears” for to some it looks like the canyon is crying!

Landmannalaugar in Fjallabak: an outstanding visual spectacle. Winding between the pyramid peaks lie a series of braided rivers, blue crater lakes and steaming hot springs that gave the area its name (bath of the landsmen). The natural hot pools located at Landmannalaugar campsite area provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy the landscape. There is a lifetime’s worth of exploration to be done around here. Thanks to the proximity of peaks such as Bláhnjúkur and Suðurnámur, it’s possible to make the most of the golden hours as well as taking advantage of any dramatic light throughout the day. Our vehicle makes exploration very accessible for many locations.
Highland Hotel Sprengisandur (B,L,D)

Day 10: Hrauneyjar Highland Hotel to Reykjavík

Our drive back to Reykjavík on the last day of our Highlands exploration provides a suitable finale to the tour and we will stop at several locations including:

Háifoss, Granni & Hjálparfoss: Háifoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland is 122 meters high and the third highest in the island. It is situated in Fossá river, which is a spring water tributary of Iceland’s longest glacial river the Þjórsá, The glacial river Þjórsá runs through Þjórsárdalur and has created a deep gorge where the two waterfalls Háifoss and Granni cascade down. We can photograph from the rim of the canyon or from the bottom depending on energy levels.

Ljótipollur: an explosion crater and lake in the south Highlands. Its name means ‘Ugly Puddle’, despite the fact it is an incredibly beautiful site. Ljótipollur features blue waters, green vegetations growing up and down its slopes surrounded by vividly coloured red lava rock. It is part of the Veiðavötn volcanic area in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve

Hnausapollur: Bláhylur lake also known as Hnausapollur, is an easily accessible and stunning sky-blue crater lake in the heart of Iceland’s Southern Highlands. It is just a short drive from Ljótipollur.

Gjáin Valley: located on the very edge of the Þjórsárdalur valley, the lush green Gjáin valley is surrounded by stark and barren landscape which gives us an interesting contrast to the greenery of Gjáin. We will encounter a large waterfall called Gjárfoss, a beautiful green oasis in the surrounding black desert.

Once back in Reykjavík we check in to our city hotel before heading out for a final celebratory dinner together.
Hotel Reykjavík (B,L,D)

Day 11: Homeward Flights

WPH services finish after breakfast. Guests may transfer on this day to Iceland’s international airport for homeward flights. If you would like to stay at the hotel for an extra night, please enquire at the time of booking this holiday.
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What’s Included

• Accommodation 10 nights
• All meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Guides/Icelandic driver
• Airport transfers in Iceland
• Sleeping bag

What’s not Included

• International flights
• Alcohol and soft drinks
• Anything not mentioned as included

Accommodation

In Reykjavík the first and last night is in a 3-star city hotel with private bathrooms. Two nights in the Volcano Huts Þórsmörk comprise modern cabins with single or double rooms. The toilets are shared. They are close to the rooms & inside the building. There are also hot showers and more toilets outside the building. There are also excellent natural hot tubs. The Strútur Mountain accommodation (2 nights) is all together in one sleeping area. WPH will provide new unused sleeping bags. There are hot showers and toilets outside close by the main building. The Highland Hotel (4 nights) Single or double hotel rooms with private ensuite bathrooms. If you pay a single supplement this will ensure a private room in Reykjavík (2 nights), Volcano Cabins Þorsmörk (2 nights) and the Highland Hotel (4 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.