Photo tour with focus on Icelandic highlands

Photo tour with focus on Icelandic highlands

with Tim Vollmer/Iurie Belegurschi/Marketa Kalvachova

Day 1: Arrival Keflavik airport Iceland

You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to the hotel in Reykjavik. You have your individual leisure until orientation meeting at 5 pm. Dinner and overnight in Reykjavík.

Day 2: Golden Circle

We head out of Reykjavík and make our first stop at Nesjavellir geothermal area. Here you will have a great view over lake Þingvallavatn and surrounding mountains. Next we visit Þingvellir National Park where Iceland´s parliament, Alþingi was founded in 930. This is a UNESCO World Heritage area a natural wonder and extraordinary location for photographers. www.thingvellir.is On we go to Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. The waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, and Geysir geothermal area, known for its spouting hot springs. Strokkur (the Butter churn) spouts every 3–8 minutes up to a height of 25 metres. Overnight at a hotel in the area.

Day 3: Hveravellir – Kerlingafjöll

We head up to the highland to Hveravellir a unique nature reserve situated on the Kjölur (means:keel) route in the middle of the west highlands between the glaciers Langjökull and Hofsjökull. We will visit the geothermal pool at Hveravellir where both hot and cold water flows to the pool. Over 20 people can comfortably bathe in the pool at the same time. The pool and its entire surroundings are magnificent, offering a beautiful view of the geothermal area and Langjökull glacier. From Hveravellir we drive to Kerlingarfjöll Mountains. Overnight in one of houses in Kerlingafjöll.

Day 4: Hiking in Hveradalir in Kerlingarfjöll mountains

Kerlingarfjöll (woman´s mountains) are very different to the environment around, both in shape and colour. As you approach the mountains you enter a desolate, fantacy land scenery with spectacular flow of colours. Hveradalir valleys the hot spring area are covered with multi coloured geyser clay. The dense clouds of steam, the liparite mountains and the glaciers, all add to the diversity and beauty of this very special place. Overnight in Kerlingarfjöll

Day 5: Landmannalaugar

From Kerlingarfjöll resort we head up to another highland area Landmannalaugar. First we drive along the beautiful classic countryside of Iceland through the valley Þjórsárdalur which offers a variety of natural beauty. We will stop at one of the attractions named Gjáin, a beautiful unspoiled gorge accessible on foot from the preserved and remarkable farmhouse Stöng which from the settlement days was buried under a layer of volcanic ash. From here you have a stunning view to the very active volcano for centuries, Mount Hekla, one of the most famous and “infamous” volcanoes in Iceland. It is thought that Hekla has had at least twenty eruptions since the settlement of Iceland. Overnight at guesthouse Hrauneyjar

Day 6: Hiking in Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar literally means people’s pools and is situated in the southern highlands close to the volcano Hekla. The name refers to the natural geothermal pools which travelers can bathe in. There are some unusual geological elements in the area such as multicoloured rhyolite mountains and lava fields. In the summer the mountains display a wide spectrum of colours including pink, green, brown, yellow, purple, blue, black and white. Here you will enjoy an easy two to four hours hiking tour along the path through the lava field to the colourful and picturesque mountain Brennisteinsalda (Sulphur Wave). Overnight at guesthouse Hrauneyjar.

Day 7: Landmannalaugar – Reykjavík

We will drive a part of the Sprengisandur highland road the longest of the Icelandic highland roads (200km). It begins near the volcano Hekla in the south and lies between the glaciers Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull. We drive along the Iceland’s longest river Þjórsá the biggest supplier of electrical power with many impressive waterfalls such as Háifoss (122 m) at the head of the valley, Hjálparfoss at the mouth of the valley. We drive onward to Reykjavík along the south coast, stopping on the way to enjoy the beautiful landscape.

Day 8: Transfer to Keflavik airport.