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WORKSHOPS & PHOTO TOURS
ICELAND 2020 PHOTO & WALKING TOUR
July 19th – August 2nd 2020 Postponed due to Covid
with Rob Brown & Shaun Barnett
Join Rob Brown and Shaun Barnett on a once in a lifetime tour of Iceland’s remarkable country. Rob has led photography and walking tours to this incredible part of the world for the past five seasons while Shaun has been through many of these places on his last trip to Iceland in 2016.
This trip is for people wanting to experience the best Iceland has to offer, get off the beaten track into the heart of the Icelandic highlands, and have an authentic adventure in this most elemental of landscapes.
On this expedition we’ll be using a mixture of camping, hostels and hotel accommodation at places we have used before. Accommodation is chosen to give the best opportunities for walking and photography so there will be two nights camping in the highlands and six nights in huts to make the most of being on location. This expedition is mainly about day walks from a comfortable base, enjoying the landscape and photography. We will have the flexibility to be out in the best light so we’ll often be up early and eating on the run during the day.
PRICE $7,800 NZD
ex Reykjavík including meals, accommodation and transport.
Optional extra of two extra days through the highlands to Akureyri with guides available on request visiting Kerlingerfjoll and Hverevellir.
Contact Rob for more details: rob@robbrown.co.nz
Download a pdf of the Itinerary
ITINERARY
DAY 1
You will have already arrived in Reykjavik and spent some time exploring the capital city of Iceland.
Our trip officially starts with a mid morning flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri included in the price. The group is met at Akureyri airport by our guides for the short drive to our accomodation. We spend the afternoon exploring Iceland’s second biggest city.
DAY 2
We leave early morning and travel through to Myvatn. After a short walk around the pseudo-craters on the south side of Myvatn at Skútustaðagígar, we then go to the Dimmuborgir lava formations for lunch. From here we head to an afternoon climb of the crater Hverfjall. From the Myvatn area we drive to Husavik and our accomodation for the night. Here there is an option for those that want it to go whale watching. The harbour of Husavik is probably the best place in Iceland to see these mammals.
DAY 3
An hours drive from Husavik takes us to Ásbyrgi. Here we do a short walk into the lake at this interesting geological formation. In the afternoon we head to Jökulsárgljúfur river canyon and do a longer walk between Hafragil and Dettifoss. In the late afternoon we drive to Thorsteinskali Hut.
DAY 4
In the early morning we drive into the Askja Crater area. Three hour walk across the crater area to Viti. After lunch we begin the long drive to Borgarfjordur Eystri. We break this five hour drive with stop at Möðrudalur. This is one of our longest travelling days and we finish in this remote eastern village at our comfortable accommodation in Borgarfjordur.
DAY 5
We spend the whole day in Borgarfjörður Eystri exploring this beautiful east Iceland village and if weather allows will do one of the many day walks in the area. In the evening we get a further opportunity to photograph puffins out near the coast.
DAY 6
After an early morning visit to see the activity at the Puffin colony we leave for the South Coast. We stop for a walk to the impressive waterfall of Hengifoss for walk (2 hours) and lunch. We will stay at the small south coast village of Höfn. Dinner will be in a local restaurant and if weather permits we will do an evening trip to one of the glaciers near Höfn.
DAY 7
We set out early in the morning for the one hour drive to the spectacular glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon. In the afternoon we walk to secret canyon near the glaciers before settling in to our accommodation near Jokulsarlon. We’ll get to experience a sunrise and sunset at Jokulsarlon and ice beach.
DAY 8
Leaving the glacier country we travel to the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Along the way we stop for a short walk at Skaftafell National Park. Late afternoon we break at ‘the Klaustur’ for a food shop and swim at the local pool before heading into Lakagígar in the evening. We stay at Blagil Hut in highlands near the Lake Ranger Station. We will have the whole evening to enjoy walks around the spectacular Laki craters area.
DAY 9
Early morning we travel back down the F206 4WD road to Kirkjubaejarklaustur (1 hour drive). From here we head back up another metal road (the F208) to Eldgjá Canyon – the largest volcanic canyon in the world. Day walk here from top of canyon to the waterfall and ranger kiosk.
Leaving here late afternoon we continue along the F208 to F235 to Langisjor. Here we stay for two nights in this area
DAY 10
We spend a second day exploring the highland lakes area and if the weather allows we’ll climb the Sveinstindur mountain which gives a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding lakes area.
DAY 11
Early morning we travel into Landmannalaugar, an area of impressive rhyolite mountains in the Fjallabak Nature Reserve. Here we have the options of a short walk and hot pools or a longer climb of Brennisteinsalda (4 hours return). In the afternoon we travel back down the F208 and onto the F233 and F210 4WD roads and into Lake Álftavatn area. Accommodation here will be in the hut at Álftavatn where we will spend two nights exploring this area. There will be an option for those wanting to walk the section of track of the Laugavegur Track from Landmannalaugar through to Álftavatn.
DAY 12
We spend a second day exploring the landscape around Lake Álftavatn. There will be numerous walking options from a day walk back along the Laugavegur Track through to a climb of Stórasúla. We stay a second night at the hut at Lake Álftavatn.
DAY 13
Depending on the weather and river crossings, we’ll head out from Lake Álftavatn via either the F210 or F261 highland roads. Exiting these roads we head around to the Volcano Huts campsite at Þórsmörk (Thor’s Forest). Here there are multiple afternoon walk options into the surrounding valley and mountain area at the edge of the highlands. If time permits we will do a midnight sun photography trip to the Seljalandsfoss.
DAY 14
We will start early from Þórsmörk and head to Skogar along the South Coast. The last day on the road will be a relaxing with a morning walk along the Skogar River, a trip to the Skogar museum and finally a short walk up to the historic hotpool at Seljavallalaug.
In the afternoon we travel back to Reykjavik via Þingvellir National Park – the historic home of Icelandic democracy
and an important cultural and natural site. From here it is just a one hour drive to Reykjavik and our accomodation at Gest-inn Guesthouse, Reykjavik at 3pm.
DAY 15
For those leaving Iceland, our guides will transport you to the Airport at Keflavík for international flights.
Laki Craters, Vatnajökull National Park
Ice on the beach near Jökulsárlón Lagoon
Puffins, Borgarfjörður Eystri
Eldgjá Canyon
Church, Vik
Fjallsárlón