The land of Fire and Ice welcomes you to an immersive and luxurious 11-day photography tour on Iceland’s Ring Road. This memorable photo-centric tour across Iceland’s shorelines and countryside will see some of the most iconic and lesser-known landscapes.

Each day combines guided location shoots and hands-on technical coaching as we traverse around Iceland’s perimeter in 4×4 vehicles, exploring the moody landscapes that the country has to offer.

In addition to the photo-rich landscape, the tour includes group critique sessions to refine composition, exposure, and storytelling. Whether staring at an evening aurora, enjoying an authentic Icelandic breakfast,

fording glacial rivers or swapping stories around the fire, the moments in between the photos are often the most memorable.

Ideal for beginner, intermediate or advanced photographers seeking varied light, dramatic terrain, and collaborative learning across diverse Icelandic landscapes who want both strong location variety and focused technical/creative development in a compact travel format.

Photo Skill: Beginner to Semi-Professional

Cost: $9,500 (USD). Price includes single room.
Shared room discounts are $400 per person.

Group size: 8

Physical Difficulty: Intermediate. While driving along the Ring Road we will experience many beautiful hikes that range in difficulty of both distance and terrain with the average hike being 2-4 miles.

Some hikes include both river crossings and elevation, but are accessible without significant effort. Participation in the itinerary is strongly encouraged so that each participant can get the most out of the experience.

Tour dates: August 23rd - September 2nd, 2026

WORKSHOP INCLUDES:
-Memorable landscape photography locations all around Iceland during late summer/early autumn
-Hands on guided photography sessions in the field
-All breakfasts and dinners throughout the tour
-All transportation during the tour
-All accommodations
-Critique and editing sessions, including post processing in Lightroom
-Airport pickup/dropoff: Starting Reykjavik Airport (KEF) at 11:00 a.m. on August 23rd. Ending Reykjavik Airport (KEF) at 9:00 a.m. on September 2nd.

NOT INCLUDED:
-Flights to/from Reykjavik
-Insurance. All participants are required to have the insurance appropriate for hiking, traveling, gear, health, accident, etc.
-Alcoholic drinks
-Clothing
-Lunches and snacks
-Photography gear

Itinerary Highlights

ARRIVAL IN REYKJAVIK/HIGHLAND WATERFALLS | 1 Night

Once we complete pickup, we will head straight off into the highlands to spend time at two lesser visited locations: Hnausapollur and Sigoldugljufur. Iconic and jurassic, yet hard to reach, these two beautiful scenes are nestled

in the southern highlands, far away from the crowds of the south coast. After spending sunset at Sigoldugljufur, we will dine as a group at our hotel (Landhotel) and prepare for the coming journey ahead.

VIK/MAELIFELL/VALLEY OF THOR | 3 Nights

On the second morning, we will load our gear and embark on our first stop of the day, the beautiful waterfall Seljalandsfoss, for a sunrise shoot.

If we are lucky, we will have sunlight and the location to ourselves, giving ample opportunity to experiment with composition while behind the waterfall. Have your waterproof shells and camera covers ready.

We will continue driving up the Valley of Thor, stopping for a long midday hike down the river filled canyon of Stakkholtsgja for lunch. We will take our time exploring, ultimately ending up in a hidden waterfall which holds

perfect conditions for wide angle and long exposure photography. This hike includes multiple river crossings, so waterproof boots are a must in order to stay comfortable. Once we exit the canyon, we will continue further

up the Valley of Thor as we make our way to our sunset location, the Mountain of Valahnjukur - one of my favorites. Depending on the weather, the valley will begin to open with autumn color and golden light as we ascend

the mountain to its peak and wait out sunset. Because of the longer August days, we will have time to hike back down to our vehicles before night sets in. After arriving to our hotel (Hotel Kria), we will enjoy a much deserved

meal and rest. If we have favorable weather, the next morning will see our long drive out to the dormant and sought after volcano of Maelifell. The drive is most memorable as we pass sunken valleys, hidden waterfalls, lava fields, arid

black sand deserts and multiple river crossings. This iconic volcano offers beauty from the ground or air with its stark green cap contrasted against the black desert sand. We will take our time at this location, as there are many

variations of composition to explore. As sun sets, we will exit the highlands to return to our hotel in Vik for dinner. Our final day near Vik we will explore some of the more well-known attractions including the town, Dyrholaey Lighthouse

and the basalt columns of Reynisfjara. We will wrap up the day with a sunset hike along the cliffs of Reynisfjall to see the sea stacks during golden hour before dining at our Vik hotel one last time.

GLACIER LAGOON/STOKKSNESS/ASBYRGI | 2 Nights

On the fifth morning, we will load our gear and begin the trek northeast up the coast, stopping at the stunning canyon of Mulagljufur for a lunch hike. There is much to experience on this hike, so we will be spending most of the day

exploring compositions, angles, and subjects. This canyon offers plenty of beauty from both ground and air, so extra batteries are a must. Once we have finished hiking the canyon rim, we will view sunset from Jokulsarlon (Glacier Lagoon),

catching the ice reflect the setting sun against the stark black sand beach. We will enjoy dinner at a new hotel (Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon), which has outdoor hot tubs for anyone that would like to partake.

The next morning, we will leave bright and early in order to catch sunrise at the beautiful mountain of Stokksness. The landscape around Vestrahorn is stunning, and we will relax knowing that there is plenty of time to

explore where the large black sand dunes meet the North Sea. We will break for lunch in the seaside town of Hofn before heading back to our hotel to give opportunity for anyone to rest.

Before dinner at the hotel, we will have our first group editing session to take the opportunity to work on images captured throughout the trip. After dinner, there will be an optional sunset shoot at Glacier Lagoon

in order to maximize varying composition and light of the beautiful glacial ice. After a hotel breakfast, we will load our gear and continue our long drive north, minimizing stops in order to make it to our next destination,

the dramatic waterfall of Dettifoss. We will watch the landscape change drastically as we ascend into the lunar-like landscape of the northeast, with Dettifoss marking its significance as being the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe.

After a late lunch, we will end our day exploring Asbyrgi canyon, a sunken valley hidden away from the Ring Road and main tourist routes, and the bright Tjornes Lighthouse marking the coastline of the arctic ocean. We will end the day

having a late dinner in the beautiful city of Akureyri before heading to our northern lodge (Svart Lodge) for the next two nights. The lodge is beautiful, but note that it offers limited single room options.

NORTH LODGE/KALFSHAMARSVIK/HVITSERKUR | 2 Nights

On the eighth morning, we will rise to a late breakfast and enjoy some relaxation time in the city of Akureyri. The city offers plenty of photo and shopping opportunities to those who would like to buy memorabilia for family and friends.

We will hit the road midday and drive west to the bay of Hunafjordur, where we will spend the rest of the day photographing the basalt Kalfshamarsvik Lighthouse and the stunning Hvitserkur sea stack. If sunset and tide are on

our side, everyone will walk away with some amazing images. We will spend as much time as we can capturing the sun set behind Hvitserkur before heading back east to our lodge to enjoy dinner, the outdoor hot tub, and a campfire.

SNAEFELLSNESS PENNISULA/BUDIR/KIRKJUFELL | 1 Night

The next morning, we will load our gear to begin our journey southwest, making a quick stop at Kolufoss waterfall in Kolugljufur Canyon. Located just off the highway, its convenience brings tourists, but is still too beautiful of a

location to pass by. As we drive the long road south through the northern mountains of Iceland, our scenery will be filled with horses, farmland, and deep valleys. With any luck, the skies will open, painting the valleys in beautiful rays of sun.

We will arrive at the famous Kirkjufell, where we will spend the rest of the day exploring creative compositions of this iconic mountain. With its nearby waterfall and river, this location offers a wide variety of subject arrangements, especially

as the sunset light sets in. After we have thoroughly explored this location, we will end our day at our hotel (Fosshotel Hellnar) in the small village of Hellnar.

SOUTHWEST COAST/GLYMUR | 1 Night

We will take our time leaving the Snaefellsness pennisula, stopping by lesser visited locations like Malariff Lighthouse and the small town of Arnastapi, which offer unique photos that are not often seen. As we head south, we will visit

our last waterfall hike of the tour - Glymur. We will arrive around noon, taking our time to ascend the trail to its peak and enjoy stops along the way for photos and a pack lunch. The view at the top is stunning and offers a gorgeous view

of the valley chasm below. As we conclude the journey, we will drive through Reykjavik to our boutique hotel (Hotel Berg) in Keflavik to enjoy a relaxing evening of dinner, conversation, and a photo session critique. These sessions are

meant to be fun and provide an opportunity to hear immediate feedback on photos taken throughout the trip. They also allow the group to relive great memories made along the way.

END OF TOUR | September 2nd

Breakfast is included in the final morning of the tour prior to departure. Should you need to leave for the airport earlier than the group caravan, our hotel is conveniently right near the airport (KEF), and offers free shuttle service that can be coordinated.

You are more than welcome to stay in Iceland longer, but please be sure to coordinate your own transportation and stays as we will be checking out of the hotel by 8:30 a.m. to head to the airport.

EXPERIENCE AND LOGISTICS

We keep this tour intentionally small for a more personalized and private experience. That being said, in order to maintain a mobile group footprint, here are some considerations as we travel:

• Hotel accommodations are quite nice, but since we focus on location proximity to shooting sites, the tour will include quite a lot of driving time. We will have two 4×4 5-seater vehicles, and we want to

  ensure the comfort of all participants, so please be sure not to overpack. We suggest a footprint of two bags - one large duffel for clothing, and one 25/35 liter day pack for your camera gear. Small bags/cases for drones are also okay.

• Throughout the trip, we will be doing a mix of easy walks and moderate hikes; which will include slippery or uneven terrain. As such, sturdy waterproof boots are required. Hiking poles are suggested if you’d like more confidence in your footing.

• While we have a fairly planned itinerary, we may need to make adjustments based on weather or lighting conditions. Iceland weather is less dramatic in the summer/autumn, but can still be extreme and unpredictable.

  Temperatures in August/early September will be between 45 - 60 degrees fahrenheit, but there is always a possibility that we experience high winds and rainfall. Unless the weather is dangerous, we still plan on shooting in unfavorable weather,

  as some of the best photography can be captured during these times. As such, it is important that you have waterproof options for your clothing (outer shells for torso and legs), boots, and gear (backpack shell and camera cover).

  This keeps you comfortable, dry, and out in the elements longer in order to capture your ideal photos.

COLLABORATION & LEARNING

Hands-on learning is key, so while at each location, feedback and coaching will be available to ensure you consider how to balance your photo goal with all elements of the scene. This includes but is not limited to exposure, filters,

long exposure, focus stacking, focal length, composition and drone operation where permissible. In addition to hands on learning at each location, we will be having one dedicated editing session and one dedicated critique session

during the tour. An important part of the creative process, these sessions allow you to integrate best practices into your post production workflow.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Photo opportunities include dramatic coastal, glacial, volcanic, and highland scenes with variable landscape subjects and lighting. Depending on evening cloud conditions and intensity of the KP index, aurora is also possible.

WHAT TO BRING

• A DSLR or Mirrorless camera - To capture all of your amazing landscape photos.

• Lenses - Bringing a couple varied focal lengths that cover a range from 14mm - 150mm is helpful. There won’t be a necessity to bring any wildlife focal lengths, as the only animals we are likely to see are Icelandic

  horses and puffins (highly unlikely this time of year). However with the possibility of nighttime photography, it is suggested that you include a low aperture wide prime.

• Circular polarizing filters - While they aren’t a necessity, they can help remove glare from water and sky.

• Cleaning Kit/portable hand towel - There is a high likelihood that we will be shooting in the rain during the tour, so these additions can help keep your kit dry and spot-free.

• Tripod - highly suggested for low lighting conditions and low exposure photography.

• 25/35 liter backpack - needed to carry your gear during hikes.

• Drone - While not required, Iceland offers some of the most beautiful drone photo opportunities. Iceland is not as regulated as other countries regarding drones, however, you are still responsible to know and adhere to local guidelines and laws.

• A more detailed packing list will be sent to participants who sign up by filling out the registration form below.

REGISTRATION

In order to secure your reservation, a deposit of $2850 is required at time of booking. Please complete the form below, and review our terms and conditions.