As a great novelty since 2021, we now offer you our Northern Iceland Photo Tour, with dates for 2025. This trip is the perfect complement to our already established Iceland Photo Tour, where we visit part of the West and the entire South coast of the island. As in this latter trip, it is a journey completely focused on landscape photography, as well as night photography in search of the Northern Lights.
Although the southern coast of the island is the most frequently visited, Northern Iceland is just as spectacular as the rest of the island. Therefore, the photographic potential of this Northern Iceland Photo Tour is at least as extraordinary as the southern tour. During the 8 days we will spend at the destination, we will be able to photograph stunning waterfalls, dizzying cliffs, mountains, and gorgeous lakes. All of this, constantly surrounded by the fascinating Icelandic landscapes.
Moreover, doing this Northern Iceland Photo Tour in winter (or late autumn, depending on the dates of each departure) will allow us to photograph the most incredible winter landscapes. At the same time, we will have very high chances of capturing the magical Northern Lights. The fact that the climate in northern Iceland is harsher than in the south means that there is a greater chance of photographing the incredible snowy landscapes in the area. Without a doubt, Northern Iceland is a perfect destination for any lover of landscape and Northern Lights photography, so we can assure you that this is a truly special trip that we will make the most of.
Our Northern Iceland Photo Tour is absolutely focused on landscape and Northern Lights photography. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best destinations in the world if you love landscape and nature photography. Thanks to its extraordinary volcanic activity and incredible glaciers, Iceland is pure natural beauty. A perfect place to admire the power of nature at its peak, on a trip designed for you to make the most of its unequaled photographic opportunities.
Moreover, traveling during this part of the year, it is almost certain that we will find snow and winter conditions. Although this may complicate some of our plans, or even force us to modify parts of our itinerary, the reward of being able to photograph Iceland’s amazing snowy landscapes will make it all worthwhile. Few destinations offer such magical opportunities for winter landscape photography.
Some of the locations we will visit include waterfalls such as Godafoss, Kirkjufellsfoss, Aldeyjarfoss, and Dettifoss, all of them truly stunning; lakes like Myvatn; craters like Viti and Hverjfall; impressive rock formations like Hvitserkur; spectacular geothermal areas such as Hverarond; and fabulous mountains and fjords.
Additionally, we will also take the opportunity to explore and photograph some of the picturesque towns and small cities of Iceland, such as Grundarfjordur, Akureyri, or Myvatn, along with small harbors and beautiful churches.
But, undoubtedly, one of the greatest incentives to join a photo tour in Iceland is the extraordinary possibilities for photographing the Northern Lights. Iceland is one of the best destinations in the world to witness and photograph the Northern Lights, so we will attempt to capture them every day of our Northern Iceland Photo Tour . With a bit of luck, it is very likely that we will achieve our goal of photographing this magical natural phenomenon.
We organize this Northern Iceland Photo Tour in these weeks of autumn or winter to have the best chances of photographing winter landscapes and because it is one of the best times to photograph the Northern Lights.
On the one hand, during this time of the year, it is almost certain that we will encounter snow and ice formations, so we will be able to capture the fantastic winter landscapes of northern Iceland, obtaining perfect conditions for this type of photography.
At the same time, and as the main objective of the Northern Iceland Photo Tour , it is an ideal time to try to photograph the Northern Lights. Every year, thousands of people from all over the planet come to Iceland to witness the incredible dance of the magical Northern Lights. Doing this Northern Iceland Photo Tour at this time provides the best chances of the entire year to achieve this. On our side, we will analyze solar activity and weather conditions each day to maximize any opportunity we have to photograph the Northern Lights.
Lastly, we consider it more appropriate to visit northern Iceland outside of the months with the worst weather conditions, such as January and February. This way, we will have a higher chance of reaching all the locations planned for the Northern Iceland Photo Tour , while still enjoying Iceland’s winter landscapes.
Our Northern Iceland Photo Tour will begin with the group meeting at Keflavik International Airport, Iceland, in the middle of the day. After introductions, we will start our journey north, which will take us to divert west after a few kilometers of travel. Once we reach the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, we will head to the village of Grundarfjordur.
Once in the area, we will go to photograph the sunset next to the Kirkufellsfoss waterfalls. From here, we will enjoy the view of the famous Kirkjufell peak, the most photographed mountain in Iceland. In such a beautiful setting, we will have countless photographic opportunities.
After sunset, we will evaluate the options for photographing the Northern Lights, returning to the same location if there are chances of witnessing them.
On this first sunrise of the Northern Iceland photo tour, we will revisit the area in front of Kirkjufell mountain. From here, we will once again immortalize the waterfalls at its foot, as well as the lagoon nearby. We will pay attention to the likely presence of ice in the area, which would provide us with fantastic close-ups to compose our images.
After starting our route, we will consider the possibility of visiting some of the local spots, such as the beautiful Budhir church.
Next, we will leave the peninsula to resume our journey north on the island. Today we will have a travel time of about three hours to our destination, although we will make several stops along the way. Among these, we can highlight the Kolugljufur canyon and the Þingeyraklausturskirkja church.
For sunset, we will head to one of the most anticipated locations of the Northern Iceland Photo Tour , the spectacular Hvitserkur. This impressive rock formation, commonly known as “Rhino” for its resemblance to the silhouette of a rhinoceros (or, for some, an elephant drinking water), will offer us extraordinary photographic opportunities. As the sun begins to set, we will ensure to capture the best compositions of this incredible location.
At the same time, this will be the chosen place to attempt to photograph the Northern Lights during the night we spend in the area. Therefore, we will keep an eye on the weather conditions to take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy clear skies, allowing us to photograph the Northern Lights.
Today, we will return to the Rhino to photograph it once again, this time under the light of dawn. After making the most of our session, we will head east, skirting the north of the island.
The journey to our destination will take a similar amount of time as the previous day. We will also be making several photographic stops to immortalize some of the most stunning locations around us. Among the places we will visit, we can highlight Vatnshlidharvatn lake, which may already be frozen, and Glaumbaer, featuring its museum made up of old houses with grass-covered roofs.
Additionally, we will pass through the Vaglaskogur Forest, the second largest (and one of the few) in Iceland, before reaching the fabulous Godafoss waterfall. Depending on how we manage our time, we may not stop at the waterfall, as we will revisit it in the coming days, aiming to maximize our time at the final location of the day, the spectacular Aldeyjarfoss waterfall. This will be the site where we will photograph the sunset, one of the most impressive waterfalls in all of Iceland. The beauty of the setting, further highlighted by the likely presence of snow, will ensure we enjoy one of the most rewarding sessions of this photo tour in Northern Iceland.
Once it gets dark, we will remain in the vicinity of Aldeyjarfoss, looking for any opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights. If we are fortunate enough to witness the magical phenomenon in a place like this, it will be one of the most unforgettable moments of the entire Northern Iceland Photo Tour.
This time, we will wake up early to photograph the sunrise at the beautiful Godafoss waterfall, which offers one of the most stunning views of the entire Northern Iceland Photo Tour. A place like this provides endless photographic opportunities, so we will ensure to spend enough time in the area to make the most of its potential.
Later, we will head to the nearby Myvatn Lake, where we will spend the rest of the day. In the surroundings, we can enjoy a myriad of locations with tremendous photographic potential. Besides the lake itself, we will visit the lava fields of Dimmuborgir, which will offer us incredible compositions.
Nearby, there are two beautiful caves, Grjótagjá and Stóragjá, although their accessibility will depend entirely on the weather conditions and the amount of snow in the area. If we can access them, we will undoubtedly enjoy some fantastic photographic opportunities.
Finally, we will visit the nearby Höfði Forest, where we will stay to photograph the last light of the day. After that, we will be very attentive to any opportunity to witness the Northern Lights, ready to head out and try to capture them.
Today, we will continue exploring the entire area around Myvatn Lake. This region is notable for several areas with intense geothermal and volcanic activity.
First, we will visit the pseudocraters of Skútustaðagígar. After that, we will head to the Namaskardh volcanic area, filled with fascinating fumaroles and sulfurous pits.
In the afternoon, we will visit the impressive Hverfjall volcano and the Krafla crater, locations that will provide us with fantastic opportunities, contrasting with the snowy landscapes that we will likely have around us. We will spend the rest of the day photographing both sites, including our sunset session.
Once again, we will be on the lookout for any opportunity to photograph the Northern Lights, for which we will head to one of the locations along the shore of Myvatn Lake.
For today’s sunrise, we will travel to one of the most anticipated waterfalls of the Northern Iceland Photo Tour , Dettifoss. Once again, this location offers multiple possibilities that will delight all participants. It is known as the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe, due to its enormous water flow.
Additionally, the canyon through which it flows, Jökulsárgljúfur, forms other nearby waterfalls, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss, which we will also photograph.
After these visits, we will continue eastward to reach another waterfall, Rjukandi, on our way to the spectacular Studlagil canyon, whose walls are formed by magnificent columns of basalt rocks. Such a unique location will provide some of the best photographic opportunities of the Northern Iceland Photo Tour , so we will spend sufficient time in the area.
For the sunset, we will begin our journey back westward, heading once again to Godafoss, where we will photograph the waterfall under the last light of the day.
Once again, we will be on alert to try to photograph the Northern Lights, for which we would head back to this magnificent waterfall.
Today we will wake up early to photograph a new sunrise near Ljósavatn Lake, after which we will embark on the journey back south on the island, on a long travel day.
However, as usual, we will continue to make various stops to photograph new locations, or to revisit some of our favorites or those we didn’t have time for.
We will also stop briefly in Akureyri, the largest city in northern Iceland and the largest in the country excluding Reykjavík, the capital, and its surrounding towns.
In the afternoon, close to our accommodation, we will head to Oxararfoss, the waterfall where we will photograph the sunset, and from where we will also make our final attempt to capture the Northern Lights during the trip.
En nuestro último día del viaje, madrugaremos para dirigirnos hacia el Aeropuerto Internacional de Reykjavik, a poco más de una hora. Una vez allí, nuestro Viaje Fotográfico al Norte de Islandia llegará a su conclusión. 
Keflavik International Airport, Iceland (Google Maps)
This Northern Iceland Photo Tour is recommended for all audiences, with no predetermined minimum physical fitness level required to participate. It is sufficient to be able to walk for a few minutes, as the vast majority of the locations are close to where we will park. It should be noted that it is very likely that we will have to walk on snow or ice, but some crampons will make this quite safe.
Similarly, there is no age limit, as long as health and fitness are reasonably good. You simply need to be prepared to endure the cold temperatures in the area!
It is not at all necessary to have a minimum photography level to participate in the trip, nor, of course, to be a professional photographer to join. All our Photo Tours are suitable for all levels, even for those who are new to photography or who simply want to take photos with a compact camera or even with their mobile phone. Our guides and instructors provide personalized attention to each participant, helping them capture the best images of the destination.
A Northern Iceland Photo Tour at this time (November/December or February/March) involves facing quite low temperatures, although not as harsh as one might think given the destination’s latitude. On average, daytime temperatures can range between 36ºF (2ºC) and 25ºF (-4ºC), dropping to around 25ºF (-4ºC) to 15ºF (-9ºC) during the night or at dawn. However, strong winds are also common, which can lower the perceived temperature.
Therefore, it is necessary to be well-prepared for the cold by dressing in layers. A warm coat or parka, ideally down-filled, should be worn, along with a waterproof jacket or Gore-Tex coat for rainy days, which are also frequent on the island. In any case, upon confirming the trip reservation, you will receive our recommended gear guide for more information and details on this.
This Northern Iceland Photo Tour does not include any meals (breakfast, lunch, or dinner). This will allow us maximum flexibility during the trip to make the most of the time on what matters most to us: photography. Typically, we have breakfast at the hotel or at local cafés, before or after the sunrise session, depending on its timing or how long the good light lasts. Many times, we have lunch on the go, with items purchased from supermarkets (sandwiches, fruit, snacks, etc.), and then we have dinner at local restaurants or at the hotel. In any case, we will take the opportunity to try Icelandic food, visiting quality places we already know (the lamb, as well as the seafood and various types of fish from Iceland, are highly recommended!).
Currently, the main payment option we have is the bank transfer. However, if you prefer it, we also have other payment options, such as credit or debit card, PayPal or Transferwise. Please notice that these other payment options may apply a commission fee. You can ask us about these different payment options.
If you choose to pay by credit or debit card, or by PayPal, you can process your payment online, when you finish the booking process. For bank transfer payment, you just have to proceed with the booking and then, once you finish the process with the chosen payment method, you’ll receive an email with al the instructions and bank details.
During our Northern Iceland Photo Tour, we will stay in mid-range/tourist hotels or guesthouses, always on a room-only basis, sharing a double room with another participant in the trip, with a private bathroom. The accommodations are usually of good quality, although it is true that sometimes, in some of the locations we visit, there may not be many options to choose from.
If you are traveling with someone else, you can share the room, but if not, we will assign you a roommate, always of the same gender. In any case, there is the possibility of booking single room accommodation for an additional fee.
Anyone can join this Northern Iceland Photo Tour, regardless of which country they live in. Although our offices are located in Santander, Spain, our trips are open to participants from anywhere in the world, so we have clients from countries all around the globe. However, Spanish will always be the language used during the trip (sometimes along with English).
Our Northern Iceland Photo Tour will start at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland. All participants must be at this meeting point on the day the trip begins, at a time we will determine, and they will need to arrive from their place of origin. Therefore, it is not necessary to go through Spain before the start of the trip.
As soon as you sign up for this Northern Iceland Photo Tour, we will send you our travel guide and equipment recommendations for the trip. This recommendation refers to both clothing, accessories, and necessary items to bring on the trip, as well as photographic equipment. In short, you won’t have to worry about anything, as our experts will inform you of everything you need to bring to make the most of this trip.
A first tip for the Northern Iceland Photo Tour is to wear a coat or parka in bright colors, such as red, orange, light green, or yellow. This will make it easier for us to take fantastic portraits of you at some of the most incredible locations on the island!
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