North Iceland Photography Tour

On arrival, meet our local guide/driver who will accompany you and Jonathan throughout this photography tour. Enjoy a scenic drive of Iceland’s capital of the North – Akureyri, including a visit to Hlíðarfjall for panoramic views over the Fjord. Late afternoon, check in to the Hotel Kjarnalundur for four nights. Its location allows us to take advantage of the dark skies, improving our chances for the opportunity to see the northern lights. Maybe take a dip in one of the hotel’s hot tubs then in the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

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After breakfast, set off on an all-day excursion to explore three of the five sights that make up the Diamond Circle of North Iceland. The first stop is Goðafoss Waterfall, long known as one of the most beautiful sights in Iceland. Located right off the Ring Road, the water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 metres over a width of 30 metres. Continue to the fishing village of Húsavík on the eastern shore of Shaky Bay, part of the Diamond Circle and known as the Whale Capital of Iceland. Húsavík served as the setting of, and inspiration for the song Húsavík, in the 2020 Netflix film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

In the afternoon, explore Ásbyrgi Canyon, a spectacular horseshoe-shaped depression in the northeast of Iceland, steeped in folklore. Part of the extensive and dramatic Vatnajökull National Park, it is undoubtedly one of its most breath-taking sights. Visitors to Ásbyrgi will quickly take note of the canyon’s 100-metre-high cliff faces, as well as the thick woodland of birch and willow below, creating an area quite unlike that found anywhere else across Iceland. In the evening, enjoy dinner back at the hotel and maybe a relaxing dip in the hot tub. (B,D)

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This morning head out to Siglufjörður, a town of about 1,300 people located on the tip of the Troll Peninsula. It is the northernmost town of the mainland and home to one of our favourite museums - The Síldarminjasafnið herring museum. It is the largest marine and industrial museum in Europe, where visitors can learn about the pursuit of the "silver darlings", the processing of that valuable commodity and the lives of the “Herring Girls”.

Savour the peace and tranquillity of the area and stop for numerous photo opportunities during a scenic coastal drive along the longest fjord in Iceland. Late afternoon, visit North Iceland’s latest attraction – the Forest Lagoon (included entrance and towel rental – 2 hours). (B,D)

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Today, spend approximately ten hours exploring the last two sights of the Northern Iceland's Diamond Circle - Lake Myvatn and Dettifoss Waterfall. 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.

A decidedly lunar-looking location, with scorched yellow earth and sulfuric acid melting the ground into bubbling mud, Hveraströnd Sulfur Springs is another popular site to visit in the area, which lies at the foot of Námafjall (Mine Mountain). See Dimmuborgir Lava Formation: these twisted towers of coagulated rock breach the earth’s surface to form a lava field full of giant pillars and arches.

The last stop of the day will be Dettifoss, fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Enjoy taking photos of these thunderous falls toppling 45 metres down to the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. In the evening, enjoy a final group dinner. (B,D)

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