Iceland Tour
LPS MEMBERS ONLY
Price
£2650pp
Dates
6th March - 12th March 2027
Group size
Max 6
Includes
6 Nights accommodation - Breakfast - local transport & parking fees - photography support & guidance by myself and James Rushforth
Not Included
Flights - Travel Insurance - lunch - dinner - drinks - £300 is usually sufficient for the week.
Start / End Point
Keflavik Airport
Level of Fitness
Average level of fitness required - You must be able to walk on uneven, sometimes slippery ground.
Join myself and James on an epic adventure through Iceland, a land of fire and ice that has captivated photographers from around the world. From the thundering waterfalls and black sand beaches to the glacial lagoons and volcanic landscapes, Iceland offers a diverse and dramatic backdrop for your landscape photography. During this iceland photo tour, we’ll explore rugged coastlines, and photograph Iceland’s iconic landmarks, all while embracing the ever-changing weather that makes each shot unique and each evening we will be chasing the Northern Lights if they show!
James Rushforth is a climber, mountaineer, skier, travel writer and guest speaker. An internationally acclaimed photographer and author who has worked with distinguished publishing houses Rockfax, Cicerone Press and FotoVue. James is amongst the world’s most awarded photographers, and was the Travel Media Awards Photographer of the Year in 2022, GTMA Global Travel Award winner and British Drone Photographer of the Year in 2020, the British Guild of Travel Writers Photographer of the Year in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, a double category winner at the International Photography Awards in 2018, and Epson Digital Splash Photographer of the Year, also in 2018.
In 2021 James authored ‘Photographing Iceland’ – a two volume set of photo-location guidebooks that would claim four prestigious publishing awards during 2022 – Travel winner at the Best Indie Book Awards, Guidebook of the Year at both the British Guild of Travel Writers and Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild annual awards, and Travel Guidebook of the Year at the Foreword INDIES awards. Based in the UK, James spends much of his time exploring the Italian Dolomites and Iceland, where he has authored a number of books to both regions. He has partnered with Wild Photography Holidays to lead specialist photography workshops to the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, India, the Faroe Islands, Romania & Italy.
South and South East Iceland in March is an incredible destination for photography, offering a unique blend of winter’s lingering beauty and the early signs of spring. The combination of dramatic landscapes, changing weather, and special lighting conditions makes it an ideal time for capturing stunning images. Here’s why March is such a great time to photograph these regions:
1. Northern Lights
March is still well within the prime season for Northern Lights photography in Iceland. The nights are long, dark, and clear, providing perfect conditions to capture the Aurora Borealis dancing across the sky. The combination of the Northern Lights with dramatic landscapes like Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon or Reynisfjara Beach creates a truly magical scene that’s ideal for stunning long-exposure shots.
2. Dramatic Winter Landscapes
Although winter is beginning to fade, March still offers beautiful snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and ice caves. These features, such as Vatnajökull Glacier or the ice caves around Jökulsárlón, are at their most pristine in early spring. The glaciers still have their brilliant icy blue hues, and the snow contrasts beautifully with the black volcanic rock and the bright skies, creating striking images of Iceland’s rugged beauty.
3. Golden Hour Light
As the days start to lengthen in March, the golden hour — the soft, warm light just before sunrise and after sunset — offers exceptional photography opportunities. The low-angled sunlight creates long shadows, enhancing the textures of waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, or illuminating the basalt columns at Reynisfjara in a beautiful glow. The ever-changing skies, with their mix of soft pinks, purples, and oranges, make for incredibly atmospheric and dynamic images.
4. Less Crowds
March falls just before the busy summer tourist season in Iceland, which means you’ll have more space to photograph popular locations without the large crowds that arrive in the warmer months. Locations like Skógafoss, Jökulsárlón, and Diamond Beach are less crowded, allowing for better, more serene shots without waiting for other tourists to clear out of your frame.
5. Transition Between Winter and Spring
In March, Iceland is in a fascinating transition between winter and spring, which offers unique photographic opportunities. There’s still snow on the ground, but you may start to see hints of green moss or early signs of plant life emerging. The changing weather also means varied light conditions throughout the day — from bright, clear skies to moody, overcast clouds or dramatic storms — giving your photos an ever-changing range of atmospheres. The blend of ice and budding spring elements creates a compelling visual contrast.
6. Frozen Waterfalls and Unique Ice Features
Waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss can freeze in March, giving them a striking, otherworldly appearance. The ice formations around the waterfalls, combined with the possibility of rainbows appearing in the mist, provide excellent photographic moments. Similarly, Diamond Beach, with chunks of ice washed ashore, can create beautiful scenes when the ice is more prominent during the colder months.
7. Vibrant Skies and Stormy Weather
March is known for its variable weather, with both clear skies and stormy conditions. These storms can create dramatic skies, with fast-moving clouds, strong winds, and moody light. The changeable weather offers the chance to capture powerful images of nature in motion, whether it's waves crashing against the shore at Reynisfjara, storm clouds looming over the Vatnajökull Glacier, or the sun breaking through after a snowstorm.
8. Wildlife Photography Opportunities
While March is still early in the spring, you might begin to see puffins and other seabirds returning to Iceland's cliffs. Although peak puffin season is in the summer, early spring is a great time to capture these birds as they start to appear around spots like Dyrhólaey. Seals are also active around the Jökulsárlón lagoon, often lounging on the icebergs, providing another opportunity for wildlife photography.
9. Accessible but Scenic Locations
In March, many of Iceland’s famous photography spots are still accessible, especially along the Ring Road. Unlike in mid-winter when some roads may be closed due to snow, the main roads are usually clear, making it easier to get to iconic spots like Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, and Jökulsárlón. This accessibility, combined with the wintery landscapes, ensures that you won’t miss out on any of Iceland's natural beauty.
Conclusion
March in South and South East Iceland offers photographers an ideal blend of winter’s lingering beauty and the first hints of spring. The low light of the golden hour, the possibility of capturing the Northern Lights, the dramatic landscapes, and the chance to photograph ice caves, waterfalls, and wildlife make this month an excellent time for photography. The quiet and less crowded atmosphere further enhances the experience, allowing photographers to capture Iceland’s raw beauty in its most serene, magical state.
Hope you can join us for 6 nights on this majestic Island.
Itinerary
The tour begins and ends at Keflavik International Airport (KEF). When booking flights, please arrive no later than midday on arrival day. If you need to travel the day before, let me know, and I can arrange to collect you from your accommodation in the Keflavik or Reykjavik area.
Day 1 – Saturday 6th March
Keflavik Airport – Skogafoss
I will collect all 6 participants from the airport Saturday afternoon, This is a free service provided by me for the Saturday only, as I cant charge for this. (times will be given via our WhatsApp group chat)
We will be travelling in a nine seater minibus so there will be plenty of space for all our luggage. We will then head to our first accommodation of the trip, we will be staying at the Hotel Skoga. We will have our evening meal at the nearby Hotel Skogafoss. If the Aurora comes out to play we are perfectly placed to take the short walk to the 200ft waterfall and capture the wonderful colours above it.
Day 2 – Sunday 7th March
Skogafoss Waterfall – Kvernufoss Waterfall –Solheimasandur Plane Wreck - Diamond Beach
Our first dawn shoot of the trip will be at the impressive Skogafoss waterfall, once we have all captured some great images we will head back to the hotel for breakfast.
We will then start our short journey east after breakfast and to our second location, Kvernufoss waterfall, then we will visit the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck if time allows it, from here we have a slightly longer drive to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, this is one of Iceland’s most famous photography locations. The lagoon is filled with floating icebergs that have calved from the nearby Vatnajökull Glacier. The soft light and reflections in the water create a surreal, almost otherworldly scene, particularly at sunrise or sunset. Just across from the lagoon is Diamond Beach which is scattered with ice chunks that have washed ashore, creating sparkling, jewel-like contrasts against the black sand. This location offers incredible photo opportunities, especially during the golden hour or in stormy weather. We will shoot sunset here before moving onto our second accommodation of the trip at the Hali Country Hotel at Jokulsarlon. Our evening meal will be at their restaurant.
Day 3 – Monday 8th March
Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon – Diamond Beach – Stokksnes/Vestrahorn, Hofn
Today’s dawn shoot will see us back to Jokulsarlon to capture the beach at sunrise before heading back to the hotel for breakfast. We shall then head back to the lagoon to capture the floating icebergs that slowly drift by.
After the lagoon we then head further east and to the mighty Vestrahorn. We will be shooting from Stokksnes towards the impressive Vestrahorn mountain. The black, volcanic beach complete with shallow water creates stunning reflections, the stillness of the lagoon or tidal pools, combined with the imposing backdrop of Vestrahorn, makes for captivating and symmetrical shots. During sunrise and sunset, the soft, warm light enhances the reflections, producing breathtaking images of the mountains in a serene, golden glow. Next to the beach there are the sand dunes, these are covered in beautiful yellow grass which there are endless compositions to play with. We will stay here for sunset before heading to our third accommodation of the trip, Hofn Guest House.
Day 4 – Tuesday 9th March
Stokksnes/Vestrahorn, Skútafoss Waterfall, Eystrahorn - Hofn
This morning we head out early and return to Stokksnes to shoot the Vestrahorn for sunrise before returning to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we then head to the furthest point east on our trip to Skútafoss Waterfall, we then head back to the iconic mountains of Eystrahorn where we will stay for sunset. We then head back to stop at the Hofn Guest House again and our fourth night of the trip.
Day 5 – Wednesday 10th March
Stokksnes/Vestrahorn, Hofn – Reynisdrangar sea stacks, Vik
Today we once again return to Vestrahorn for sunrise before heading back to the hotel for a well earned breakfast. After check out, we the start our journey back west to the town of Vik, here we will be visiting the beautiful black sandy volcanic beach of Reynisfjara, where we will be photographing the stunning sea stacks at sunset. Tonight we we will be stopping at the Hotel Kria in Vik.
Day 6 – Thursday 11th March
Dyrhólaey, Vik – Myrdal Church Vik – Reynisfjara Sea Stacks Vik – Reykjanes Peninsula – Keflavik
We will be out yet again early for the pre dawn colours on our last sunrise shoot together, we’ll be shooting the iconic sea stacks from Reynisfjara beach before breakfast in the hotel.
After check out, we will head up to Myrdal Church in Vik, from here we visit the headland of Dyrhólaey near Vik to shoot Arnardrangur sea stack and Reynisfjara Beach from the higher viewpoint. There are also other sea stacks to shoot from this headland.
We then head west again to the headland of Valahnúkamöl, here we can shoot the Gunnuhver Volcano and hot springs and sea stacks at sunset before heading to a final accommodation of the trip at the beautiful Lighthouse Inn near Keflavik.
Day 7 – Friday 12th March
Departure Keflavik Airport
It is an early flight home to reality. Safe Travels
GOOD TO KNOW
There will be opportunities throughout the trip to visit cafes and the odd restaurant if we have time. But primarily, we will be eating as we go.
Hiking – Many of the locations are easy access from the car. You must be able to walk on uneven, sometimes steep and slippery ground.
Spending Money –The average is between £200-300 for the week. Card is accepted everywhere, cash isn’t needed.
UK Mobile Network – If coming from the UK, your data roaming will work and come out of your data back home.
