From breathtaking mountains, waterfalls, and glaciers to volcanic beaches, colorful wildflowers, and wildlife, Iceland is a photographer’s paradise during the summer.
Join us for an Iceland Summer Photo Tour where we will capture the natural wonders of the “Land of Ice & Fire,” from majestic landscapes lit by the endless midnight sun to the remotest areas in the Icelandic highlands, accessible only during the summer.
Our Iceland summer photography trips will take place in June & July when the flowers are in bloom, the highlands are accessible, and the days are the longest, so you can enjoy the real midnight sun.
June 23 - July 1, 2026 & July 2 - July 10, 2026
9 days and 8 nights
(Double ocuppancy)
Private accommodation may be available for a feeDuring this Iceland summer photo tour, we will photograph the majestic landscapes of Southern Iceland and the highlands, where you can find the most photogenic locations Iceland has to offer.
Summer is one of the best seasons of the year to visit Iceland, as the beautiful midnight sun provides up to 6 hours of magical light and enough time to visit different locations. We will visit iconic and popular waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Kvernufoss; photogenic glaciers like Svínafellsjökull; huge glacial lagoons like Jökulsárlón; black sand beaches; majestic mountains such as Vestrahorn in the east; and much more.
This is also the only time of year when you can visit the remotest areas of the island in the Icelandic highlands once the roads are open. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to capture the real wilderness of Iceland away from the crowds and with plenty of hidden gems that most visitors never get to see and photograph.
Beyond the landscapes, Iceland offers other natural wonders in June, including summer visitors like puffins, green moss, and colorful wildflowers everywhere.
We will personally help you capture the best possible images and show you the best techniques to shoot any type of subject, including landscapes, aerial images, wildlife, etc.
The itinerary is indicative and subject to changes based on weather and road conditions. In particular, the section of the trip covering the Highlands may be affected, as the F-roads in the Highlands remain closed during the winter and usually open at some point in June. If the roads are still closed during the tour, an alternative plan within the Highlands will be sought, always with the goal of maximizing photographic opportunities.
Our Iceland summer photo tour itinerary will be flexible. We are experts in Iceland, which is like a second home to us, so we will decide the best locations every day according to the weather conditions. That way, you can make the most of this trip.
During this photo tour, our goal will be to take advantage of the midnight hours so you can capture your photos with the best light. Little by little, we will adapt our sleep schedule depending on the day and weather conditions.
The tour will begin before noon at our hotel near Keflavik, where we will meet to start the adventure!
After a welcome speech and meet and greet with the rest of the group, we will visit our first location: Reykjanes Lighthouse and the beautiful volcanic cliffs of Valahnúkamöl. Reykjanes Lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses in Iceland and it’s surrounded by beautiful volcanic scenery.
Once in the area, we will shoot some photogenic sea stacks and our first sunset over the Icelandic coastline before resting in our hotel.
On the second day of our Iceland summer photo tour, after our breakfast, we will drive east on the popular “Ring Road”, the main road that we will follow for most of the trip.
Our first stop will be Kerid, an old volcanic crater with a gorgeous display of reds, greens, and blues. This crater is famous for the lake that’s in the middle and filled with groundwater. Later, we will photograph the most iconic waterfalls in Iceland. The first will be Skógafoss, a famous Icelandic “foss” that is almost 200 feet tall. This location has been featured in popular TV shows, such as Vikings and Game of Thrones, for good reason. We’ll plan our shoot for midday when the sun illuminates the waterfall and creates spectacular rainbows.
We will then visit another photogenic waterfall called Kvernufoss, which is located in a magical canyon that looks straight out of a fairy tale. Here, we will focus on capturing the waterfall by using the stream as the perfect leading line.
After dinner, at around 10 PM, the golden hour starts, and the magical light goes on for hours. Our plan is to visit Seljalandsfoss and hopefully experience one of the highlights of the trip: photographing the midnight sun illuminating the waterfall from behind with the wildflowers.
On the third day of our Iceland summer photo adventure, we will continue driving east and make several photography stops along the way.
We’ll photograph Iceland’s most celebrated summer visitors: the Atlantic puffins! We will visit some cliffs around Dyrhólaey where the puffins nest during the summer and busy themselves looking for food for their chicks. Photographing puffins is not easy (especially when they’re flying), but we’ll show you the best techniques to capture them.
After this, our next location will be the impressive Lómagnúpur, a glacier-shaped mountain where you can shoot reflections and some wonderful drone images. The third stop will be at the first glacier of the trip: Svínafellsjökull, one of the most impressive glaciers in Iceland, where you can literally touch the ice.
Finally, we will end up at the famous Jökulsárlón lagoon, the largest glacial lagoon in Iceland, where huge chunks of icebergs fall off the famed Vatnajökull Glacier. This is an astonishing location and the most photogenic glacier in Iceland, so we’ll plan plenty of time for you to capture the lagoon from different perspectives under the ethereal light of the midnight sun.
After recharging our batteries and having a nice breakfast at our hotel, we will do a morning photo shoot at the iconic Diamond Beach. It is a unique black sand beach where you can find the ice chunks from the Jökulsárlón Lagoon that are carried here by the tides and waves. This location offers endless photographic possibilities, and we’ll show you how to capture the iconic long-exposure shots of the icy diamonds and the water streaks using lens filters.
After a short 10-minute drive from the beach, we will visit the huge Fjallsárlón glacier, another of the most stunning glaciers in the area. For the rest of the day, we’ll continue east on the Ring Road. Here, the landscape changes dramatically, and you’ll start seeing the first jagged peaks that are typical of the Iceland East Fjords.
After settling in and having dinner in the popular fishing town of Höfn, we will drive to the easternmost point of the tour, Hvalnes Lighthouse, to enjoy the midnight sun lighting up the pointed peaks of the imposing Eystrahorn mountain and the marvelous Vestrahorn (Stokksnes), probably the most photogenic mountain in Iceland.
On the fifth day of our trip, we will take back the Ring Road, stopping along the way at some spots we missed and photographing some of the previous locations under different light conditions.
Our first stop will be Fjadrárgljúfur, a beautiful canyon of glacial origin created by the progressive water erosion. The vegetation is spectacular around this area, especially during the summer. We will take you to the best viewpoints to capture this fairytale-like canyon.
If time allows, we will take a short hike to Svartifoss Waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park. This walk offers plenty of photogenic views of waterfalls, mountains, and glaciers. Once we are at the final location, we will make a longer stop to shoot the basalt rock waterfall.
Another possible stop will be at the massive, green, mossy lava field of Eldhraun before arriving in Vík, the southernmost populated area in Iceland and one of the most photogenic towns. Here, we will visit some locations like the famous black sand beach of Iceland, Reynisfjara, where you can shoot impressive basalt rock formations, caves, and sea stacks.
After dinner, we’ll venture off the beaten path to Þakgil (Pakgil), a hidden gem nestled between steep mountains and deep ravines. This secluded valley offers a stark contrast to the coastline, with surreal landscapes, mossy cliffs, and absolute tranquility. It’s the perfect spot for a peaceful evening walk or simply to enjoy the unique silence and untouched beauty of the Icelandic highlands.
The next day, we’ll start the wildest part of our trip by visiting the dramatic Highlands of Iceland!
The Icelandic Highlands are a huge, unpopulated expanse filled with glaciers, thermal springs, and rugged peaks. For the next 3 days, we’ll head off the beaten track in Iceland to encounter some of the most remarkable and harsh terrains on the island.
This wilderness area that covers the interior of Iceland is only accessible during the summer months when there’s no snow on the roads and the water levels at the rivers are lower. Even during this time, the rugged terrain makes traveling challenging, considering the rough terrain with dirt roads and river-crossings. Fortunately, we’ll have a special 4WD bus specially designed to travel on the highlands and an experienced driver to make this a fun adventure to remember.
To start the adventure, the first stop will be Axlafoss, a stunning 26ft waterfall situated deep in the Highlands of Iceland. Later, we will take one of the wildest roads in Iceland and, after many miles of martian landscapes and river crossings we’ll get to Maelifell, A 2,595ft tall volcano covered in green vegetation that rises prominently in a desert of black sands. At this point, you’ll feel like being on anoher planet, and the best is yet to come!
From Mælifell, we continue our highland crossing toward Hvanngil, a peaceful oasis surrounded by rhyolite hills and lava fields. We’ll take a break here to stretch our legs, soak in the scenery, and perhaps have a picnic-style lunch in nature.
After this, we’ll arrive at our hotel, The Highland Center. The Highlands doesn’t offer any services apart from some distant huts, but we have the privilege of having access to the only hotel operating in this remote area of Iceland, where we’ll have the comfort of a standard hotel in the middle of nowhere.
For sunset, we’ll venture into Sigöldugljufur to capture the midnight sun and end our day. Often regarded as one of Iceland’s hidden treasures, Sigöldugljúfur is a fantastical area in the central Highlands. It’s famous for its numerous waterfalls, strikingly blue waters, lush vegetation, lava formations, and stunning scenery.
On day 7, we’ll do some editing lessons in the morning.
In the afternoon, we’ll visit possibly the most spectacular area in the entire Highlands of Iceland!
After a relatively short drive from our Highlands Hotel, we’ll arrive in Landmannalaugar; a breathtaking area in the highlands, famous for its vividly colored rhyolite mountains and geothermal hot springs.
This wild area is very popular for hiking, soaking in natural hot springs, and exploring extensive lava fields. Photographically, it’s simply paradise, with spectacular badlands full of vibrant colors and mountains that seem to be taken from a fantasy book. We’ll spend most of the day walking and photographing across the most photogenic areas of the park.
After finishing our visit, we’ll stop at the nearby Frostastaðavatn, one of Iceland’s most picturesque lakes. Nestled between rugged volcanic hills and lava fields, the lake’s deep blue waters create a stunning contrast with the surrounding black and red earth. The area offers fantastic photo opportunities and a peaceful moment in the vastness of the highlands.
Then we’ll stop to photograph the oval-shaped lake of Bláhylur, and the Ljótipollur crater lake. These two lakes and area in general are a paradise not only for wide-angle and telephoto lenses, but also for aerial photography with drones. We’ll take some time to capture the stunning vistas both from the ground and from the air.
On day 8, we’ll return to civilization but first, we’ll visit some of the last hidden gems of the Icelandic Highlands!
Our first photo shoot of the day will be at Haifoss, an impressive waterfall in Iceland that plunges down into a deep gorge, creating a stunning visual contrast against the surrounding rugged landscape.
The next stop will be at Hjalparfoss, a stunning double waterfall located in the Þjórsárdalur Valley. It is formed where two rivers, the Þjórsá and the Fossá, converge in a basaltic lava field.
After this, we’ll visit and photograph Þjófafoss, one of the hidden gems of South Iceland. Set on the Þjórsá River, Iceland’s longest, Þjófafoss (meaning “Thieves’ Waterfall”) cascades powerfully beneath the brooding presence of Mount Búrfell. The raw, almost lunar surroundings make this an unforgettable stop and a dramatic farewell to the highland wilderness.
We will continue driving back where everything started in Keflavik.
Our photo tour to Iceland ends at the hotel where we started our trip. From here, you can book a free shuttle to the airport.
Deposit: $2,500 USD
A $2,500 USD deposit is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. You can also pay in full at any time. The remaining balance is due 120 days before the start date of the tour. If the remaining balance is not paid in full by the due date, you will lose your spot.
Below, you can watch a video that we filmed in most of the locations that we will visit on the trip.
This workshop is mainly focused on landscape photography with possibilities for wildlife and aerial photography.
What you learn during the workshop will vary according to your goals and skills. Your instructors are professional photographers with extensive experience who will help you take your photography to the next level.
During the tour you’ll have the opportunity to learn:
Some of the photography basics you can learn during the workshop are:
Some of the post-processing techniques that you can learn with the included tutorials are:
David Aguilar will be the tour leader throughout this Iceland photography workshop, and he will make sure that you get the best photography results and experience out of this tour. He will help you with your photography, technique, and composition in all your landscape, wildlife, and aerial images.
David is a real expert on Iceland after countless trips all around the island over the last decade. He has led many Iceland photo tours before, and he’s very knowledgeable about the most photogenic locations, the weather patterns, and the best techniques to capture breathtaking landscape images. He’s also a master drone pilot and can help you with your aerial photography on this trip.
David’s main passion is traveling and helping others with their craft. He’s traveled extensively, not only in Nordic countries like Iceland and Norway but also across vast areas in European Alps and South America. He currently lead photo tours in many different regions of Europe and South America.
He’s also a skilled post-processing editor and has helped countless photographers over the last few years with his online landscape editing courses.
Unai Larraya will be the tour coleader on this summer Iceland photo tour. He is an expert landscape photographer who will make sure you end up with the best possible images.
Unai is an experienced landscape and wildlife photographer based in the north of Spain. He has refined his photography skills while traveling around the world over the past few years and has taught many other photographers along the way.
Since Unai started his photography journey, he has won multiple awards in recognition of his outstanding photography and editing skills.
With Unai you’ll learn about composition, shaping light, color theory, focus stacking, and more. He will also show you how to implement all these techniques into your workflow to take your photography to the next level!
We will send you a complete list of everything that we recommend for this tour upon sign-up. Below, you can find a summary of things you might need:
You may be interested in this guide where you can dive deeper into photography equipment for traveling.
The average temperature in Iceland in June is 48ºF (9ºC) but the weather is very variable, going from warm and sunny to windy and rainy in a matter of hours. You should be prepared for all seasons and bring warm clothing. Some of the things that we recommend bringing on this Iceland photography tour are:
You will find more items and details in the official list of recommendations that we provide upon registration.
The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). We recommend getting ISK from in your home country, although, if that is not possible, you can purchase some at Keflavík Airport.
In almost 100% of places in Iceland, you can pay by credit or debit card, no matter how small the amount is, so you won’t need much cash for the trip.
Iceland follows the visa regulations of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality and duration of stay, a visa may be necessary. We are here to assist you with the visa application process and provide guidance. It’s essential to verify the specific visa requirements for your country of residence prior to your trip.
Visitors from most countries (such as the United States and Canada) don’t need a visa to visit Iceland for less than 90 days. Remember to consult the official embassy or consulate of Iceland for the most up-to-date and accurate visa information based on your nationality and circumstances.
The accommodation on this Summer Iceland Photo Tour is double occupancy in shared bedrooms with two individual beds and a private bathroom. We also offer single occupancy rooms in all hotels on the trip for an extra $1,590. If you are interested in having your own room, please let us know on the signup form below since the single occupancy rooms are subject to availability.
During the trip, we are staying in top-rated hotels close to the best locations, where you can see marvelous views of the Icelandic landscapes.
We’ll also have the unique opportunity to stay in the only hotel in all the Icelandic Highlands, the Highland Center Hrauneyjar, for two nights.
All transportation and fuel are included during the tour. We’ll be traveling in a private 4WD bus for the duration of the trip. This bus looks like a rugged bus on the outside, but it’s fully equipped inside with all the amenities of a normal bus like reclining seats, Fridge, USB ports, etc.
This bus will take us not only to the classics of Iceland, but also off the beaten track into the heart of the Highlands. From bumpy roads to river crossings, the bus and our expert drivers will ensure a safe and fun ride across the stunning Iceland scenery.
Most of the locations on this tour require a short walk from the parking lot.
However, we’ll sometimes be walking on flat to moderately uphill paths to find the best compositions. These paths are mainly gravel and rocks.
For this reason, we recommend being in good physical shape in order to enjoy this tour to the fullest.
During this tour, we’ll have the assistance of local bus drivers and guides certified by the Icelandic Tourist Board (“Ferdamálastofa”).
Iceland follows the visa regulations of the Schengen Area. Depending on your nationality and duration of stay, a visa may be necessary. We are here to assist you with the visa application process and provide guidance. It’s essential to verify the specific visa requirements for your country of residence prior to your trip.
Visitors from most countries (such as the United States and Canada) don’t need a visa to visit Iceland for less than 90 days. Remember to consult the official embassy or consulate of Iceland for the most up-to-date and accurate visa information based on your nationality and circumstances.
Update on ETIAS:
A new travel authorization system called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026. Once implemented, travelers from many countries — including those who currently do not require a visa, such as the United States and Canada — will need to apply for ETIAS before entering the EU.
Since this requirement won’t be in effect during our tour, no ETIAS application is needed at this time, but we encourage you to stay informed about future travel requirements for upcoming trips. You can find more details on the official ETIAS website.
You should book your flight to Keflavik International Airport.
The price of round-trip flights to Iceland from Europe and the US is approximately $300-600 USD. We recommend this article to find the best flights to Keflavik from your current location.
Meals are not included except for breakfast at the hotels. We will have breakfast in our accommodation and have a big meal at dinner in one of the local restaurants (We also know where to find the tastiest local Icelandic food 😉
During the day, we will eat snacks/picnic to speed up and maximize the time for photography.
Neither supermarkets nor restaurants are cheap in Iceland, so we recommend preparing to spend about $60-$80 USD on food per day.
All the parking/entrance fees, such as for Stokksnes, are included in the price of the tour.
Our workshops are completely centered on photography: finding the best lighting conditions during the trip and creating an intensive experience that is conducive to learning and taking the best images.
Our workshops are limited to small groups with a ratio of no more than six students per instructor. This is also an important factor for providing the attentive instruction you need during the tour.
During this workshop, we will photograph the famous locations in this destination as well as some hidden gems that we have discovered while exploring in the past that are rarely visited or photographed.
We will discuss your goals before the tour so we can create a dedicated instruction plan for you. It doesn’t matter what your age is or your skills are; we will design your plan and provide you with materials before, during, and after the workshop so the learning process is not limited to just the tour.
We have spent years designing national and international photo tours with successful results, helping photographers with everything from the simple task of getting off Auto to the ambitious goal of capturing complex images.
Beyond the photography, our photography workshops help build strong bonds that last forever. After our trip, you’ll feel like you have been with a group of friends rather than on a standard tour. We are thankful to have plenty of repeat clients who keep traveling and learning with us.
Whether you are experienced or just starting out in photography, you are welcome, and I am convinced that you will progress very fast. Together, we will get you back home with a greater and deeper knowledge of many photography topics.
Once you sign up for the workshop, we will discuss your skills and goals for this tour, and I’ll organize a teaching plan so you can make the most of this experience.
Most of the locations on this tour require a short walk from the parking lot. However, we’ll sometimes be walking on flat to moderately uphill paths to find the best compositions. These paths are mainly gravel and rocks. For this reason, we recommend being in good physical shape in order to enjoy this tour to the fullest.
There is no age limit. This trip is perfect for anyone over 18 years old who wants to photograph Iceland with us.
Non-photographer companions are welcome to join the tour, and they need to book a spot under the same price and conditions as any other participant. (We don’t allow non-participant companions tagging along with the group). We have had plenty of non-photographer companions over the years and all of them enjoyed an amazing experience. As long as they enjoy nature, beautiful landscapes, and are a bit patient with the schedules of a photo tour, joining the trip can be a great experience regardless of the shooting.
Capture the Atlas is drone-friendly. Both guides are experienced drone pilots and can help you with your drone photography.
We will advise you on the areas where you are allowed to fly and show you the best aerial photography techniques.
We have had the opportunity to work with and help countless photographers in Iceland over the last years:
Active volcanoes, endless glaciers, wildflowers, black sand beaches, mountains & fjords, puffins, skies colored by the midnight sun… Iceland is a paradise for photographers for good reason. It’s very easy to feel like you’re in a fantasy world when you see and shoot in all these breathtaking locations, and this trip will help you discover all the spectacular things that Iceland has to offer.
Expect excitement like on no other trip when you visit the highlands! It requires a higher dose of adventure but offers some of the most isolated and stunning views that you’ll ever see. Traveling in special vehicles across this rough terrain will make you feel the real wilderness of Iceland!
Iceland is one of the first places I started shooting when I first picked up a camera many years ago. I fell so profoundly in love with everything on the island that I’ve traveled there every year since that initial trip. Iceland is our signature photo tour for many reasons, and on this trip, you’ll discover the magic of Iceland at its best!
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