The Ultimate highland adventure photo tour. August 2026.
Unrivaled Beauty of less travelled places - 9 days around spectacular highlands.
FOR 2026 - AUGUST 10 - 18th
We are happy to announce this brand new 9 day tour–hard to beat in terms of variety, the number of secret places we'll visit and magical landscape you'll see. You will be led to the highlands in the western and southern parts of Iceland with the expertise of native Icelandic photographer Haukur Snorrason. This tour takes you to the most spectacular highland pearls Iceland has to offer. The highland roads are only open late summer. Also, they can be hard to drive with their open rivers to cross. But these difficult to reach locations are our specialty, and you will see endless jaw-dropping spots undiscovered by most tourists. You will experience moonscape, colourful mountains, green moss-covered mountains, rivers—nature's artwork of lines and patterns decorating the terrain.
- Price includes:
All accommodation during the tour. Full board meals, transportation & guiding: Professional English speaking photographer as guide, Vehicle: Modified spacious 4X4 truck.
Price per person: double occupancy is ISK 835.000.- / Price per person: single occupancy is ISK 930.000,-
From the Tour
FROM YOUR HOTEL IN REYKJAVIK TO THE COLOURFUL HIGHLANDS IN KERLINGAFJÖLL MOUNTAINS.
Pick up at hotel in Reykjavik. We start by driving to the Hellisheidi geothermal area 40 min. outside Reykjavik for the first shoot. We travel into the interior via Gullfoss Waterfall along Kjölur (Keel), a highland route, which takes us from South to North Iceland. We stay midway in a small highland hotel in colourful Kerlingarfjöll Mountains (Women’s Mountains) for 1 night. Accommodation Highland hotel Kerlingafjöll.
FROM KERLINGAFJÖLL MOUNTAINS TO GULLFOSS
Kerlingafjöll Mountains are an old volcano with geothermal heat and hot springs bubbling in the hills. Many mineral deposits colour the hills, you will see mud pots and steam rising into the air. We photograph Gýgjarfoss waterfall before heading back south to a hotel near Geysir area where we plan to be very early morning to enjoy photographing the only spouting hot spring in Iceland well before tourists arrive. Hotel near Geysir.
SPAUTING HOT SPRING STROKKUR EARLY MORNING AND THEN BACK TO THE HIGHLANDS.
After a early morning start at the Geysir area we enjoy breakfast before we head back to the highlands. The Gorge and Háifoss waterfall are on our menu today. Fishing lakes will be our evening or morning shoot depending. The line of places to visit in southern highlands are all played by the weather. We stay in a highland hotel next three nights. Accommodation Highland hotel.
THE HIKE. SULPHUR MOUNTAIN IN LANDMANNALAUGAR.
We aim to hike to Brennisteinsalda or Sulphur mountain to be there at the right time in the afternoon for the perfect angle of the sun to photograph one of the most colourful canyons in Iceland. This hike is at a slow pace, approx. 3-4 hrs. Accommodation highland hotel.
DÓMADALUR ROUTE, RED WATERFALL, VALAGJÁ CANYON.
Moonscape landscape. Volcanic landscapes. Hekla Volcano ash and lava, volcanic sand fields where Ridley Scott shot his future film Prometheus. Easy hike to Raudifoss - the Red waterfall. Accommodation highland hotel.
FJALLABAK NORTH. LANGISJOR LAKE.
We check out from our highland hotel and take another great highland route to the remote Langisjór lake. Moonscapes in mix with green moss. Fire Canyon and Ófaerufoss waterfall. Accommodation Hrifunes house for next three nights.
ÖLDUFELLS ROUTE. THE RED CRATER.
We enjoy less driving today into our "backyard" in Hrifunes. we drive into Öldufells route and photograph great waterfalls and the black and green colours that dominate the area and make a hike into the Red crater. Accommodation Hrifunes house.
SKAFTÁRÓSAR RESCUE SHELTER AND HAFURSEY MOUNTAIN. KATLA GLACIER.
We will visit a remote black sand desert on the near the coast where you will find an old orange seaman rescue shelter and an old lighthouse. Back inland in the afternoon to photograph Hafursey mountain ( Goat mountain ) and the Zepra coloured Katla glacier. Accommodation Hrifunes house.
FINAL DAY, HIGHLAND ROUTE TO REYKJAVIK VIA MOUNTAIN MAELIFELL AND MARKARFLJÓTSGLJÚFUR CANYON
We will photograph Mt. Maelifell in the morning light where it stands, green moss covered, out of the black sand plain. The other big theme of the day is Markafljótsgljúfur Canyon with its volcanic colours and colour deposits. ETA in Reykjavik between 5 and 6 PM.
Accommodation: All accommodation costs during the tour. Pick up and drop off at hotel in Reykjavik.
Meals: Breakfast from the second day until the last day, picnic or light restaurant lunch every day, dinners from day one until the second to last.
Transportation & guiding: Professional English speaking driver guide and photographer, Vehicle: 4X4 truck and gasoline.
Not included:
Cost of flight to Keflavik/Iceland, transportation to and from airport and hotel accommodation in Reykjavík.
more information: info@phototours.is
Climate and clothing recommendations
The Gulf Stream is what makes Iceland inhabitable, and without it, the whole country would most likely be covered by ice. The winters are fairly mild and summers are cool. The weather can be unpredictable and very windy and rainy at times. A popular saying in Iceland is “if you don’t like the weather right now, just wait five minutes” as you may occasionally experience the four seasons all in one day: sunshine and mild temperatures to windy, cool temperatures with rain or even snow. The average temperature in January is 0 C (32 F) and the average temperature in July is 12 C (54 F)
In the view of the climate description above, we can only advise visitors to be prepared for everything. No matter what time of year you plan to visit Iceland, always pack some warm and water resistant clothes, hats, gloves and good walking shoes.
Practical list, independent of the season of the year
Clothes:
1. Warm underwear
2. Sweater or a warm jacket/coat
3. Wind- and waterproof overcoat and over trousers
4. Extra pair of warm socks
5. Gloves and a cap
6. Hiking shoes (waterproof boots for winter photo tours)
7. Slippers and possibly light trainers
9. Sunglasses (optional!)
10. Electric converter (Iceland uses 220 volts)
11. Torch or headlight (winter photo tours)