Iceland

Aurora Photo Tour

09 to 17/03/2024 (Registration Open)

DATES

TEAM

GENDER

VALUE

SINGLE ROOM

SIGNAL

GROUP

LEVEL

09 to 17/03/2024

VICTOR LIMA & GIULIO COBIANCHI

LANDSCAPE / AURORA BOREAL

3800 EUROS

800 EUROS

8 to 12 PARTICIPANTS

ALL LEVELS

ABOUT THE TOUR

Join award-winning photographers Victor Lima and Giulio Cobianchi on this 8-day adventure through Iceland in search of the wonderful spectacle of the Northern Lights, as well as, of course, the incredible landscapes of the Land of Fire and Ice. This will be a great opportunity to observe and photograph the Aurora Borealis, as we tour Iceland's cinematographic sceneries.

Iceland is one of the best places in the world for observing the Northern Lights and capturing images with the Aurora Borealis in the background. Throughout the tour, your guides will be attentive so that all opportunities for observing the Aurora Borealis are taken advantage of and that the images produced, in addition to being the record of unique moments in the life of each of the participants, are in accordance with the best techniques applicable to this type of photography.

On this expedition you will travel in comfortable vehicles suitable for traveling through Iceland's iconic landscapes during the winter. At the beginning of our adventure, you will meet the'Golden Circle', region home to Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall, all located in southwest Iceland. Next, we will travel along the stunning south coast of the country, where we will visit the waterfallsSeljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of the most beautiful and visited in Iceland. Continuing on the south coast, we will meetthe black sand beach Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach, the mighty mountain Vestrahorn and much more.

Whether you are just a nature admirer or even a professional photographer, come with us on this expedition in search of the Aurora Borealis in Iceland and bring back in your luggage, in addition to incredible images, unforgettable memories of one of the most impressive places on the planet.

Trip Itinerary

Below, you will find the complete program for this trip, which will take place from 09 to 03/17/2024.

Day 1 - Arrival and Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Victor Lima and Giulio Cobianchi will await your arrival at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) until 12am.

Right after our first lunch with the whole group, we'll head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, home to some of the most photogenic scenery in all of Iceland.

After a well-deserved rest at the hotel, we'll head to the first sunset photography session in the Kirkjufell mountain region, one of the most beautiful and photographed in all of Iceland.

During the night we will be on the lookout for the first opportunity to see and photograph the Aurora Borealis.

Overnight in Grundarfjörður.

DAY 2 - Second day in Snæfellsnes

On our second day in Iceland, we will explore and photograph the main sights of the peninsula of Snæfellsnes.

Along the road we will make some stops to photograph the lava fields and even go up to the crater of a small extinct volcano, if the wind allows it. We will follow the beautiful roads of the peninsula until we reach Arnastapi, where we will walk along the seafront and photograph the most beautiful cliffs in the region, including arches and stone bridges by the sea.

One of the main attractions of our day will be the visit to the Black Church of Budir, which is undoubtedly one of the postcards of the region.

At the end of the afternoon we will decide where we will do the sunset photography section and also during the night, in another attempt to photograph the aurora borealis.

Overnight in Grundarfjörður.

DAY 3 - South Coast of Iceland

We will follow towards the south coast of Iceland. We'll start the day by visiting two of Iceland's most amazing and beloved waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.

The first is a narrow waterfall that drops in a free fall of 63 meters and has the rare distinction of being able to walk behind it. Skógafoss is known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland and can be photographed from the top as there is a staircase that leads up and past other amazing waterfalls. Skógafoss is also known to produce a spectacular double rainbow when the light is in the right position.

Later, we will head towards the southernmost point of the mainland to witness the dramatic scenery of the famous Reynisfjara beach. The rock formations of Reynisdrangar, the black sands of the coast, the waves of the North Atlantic Ocean, the pyramid formed by basalt columns of Garðar and the richness and diversity of seabirds in this region make this one of the most photogenic places of all. that you will find on your journey.

The south coast of Iceland is one of the most beautiful places to photograph the Northern Lights, in case it appears.

Overnight in Vik.

DAY 4 - Vatnajökull National Park

On this day, we will head towards Vatnajökull National Park, which is home to the largest glacier in Europe. The park and the Snæfellsnes peninsula share the characteristic of offering a little bit of everything that Iceland has to offer.

Focusing on the southern and eastern regions of the park, you will witness large glaciers and glacier tongues, as well as dark sandy beaches.

In addition to this fantastic scenery, you'll continue your search for the Northern Lights, lending an even more otherworldly feel to the scenery. This is a particularly good time of year to photograph the aurora, as the nights are long.

Overnight in the area close to the park.

Day 5 - Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

On this day we will have plenty of time to photograph the beautiful lagoon of the Jökulsárlón glacier, in the eastern part of the Vatnajökull National Park. Huge icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier create the lagoon, each unique in shape and color as they drift out to sea.

Walk among ancient ice floes at Diamond Beach and take advantage of many unique photo opportunities. The incredible view, magical light, various reflections, shimmering ice and snow that are contrasted by dark sand all combine to make the area a photographer's dream.

Wide-angle lenses are recommended here to take unforgettable pictures. Afterwards, watch out for the Northern Lights, which particularly complements this wonderful area.

Overnight in the area close to the park.

Day 6 - Vestrahorn and Eystrahorn

On the sixth day of the expedition we will have ample opportunity to photograph the mighty Vestrahorn mountain, 454 meters above the black lava beach of the Stokksnes peninsula. The mountain is made of unstratified plutonic rock (gabbro and granophyre) and is one of the main attractions on the south coast of Iceland.

In addition, we will visit the Beach of the Hvalnes Nature Reserve, one of the most beautiful places we will visit along our itinerary and home to the Eystrahorn mountain.

At night, when the aurora borealis graces us with its presence, the surreal landscape of this region is even more impressive.

Overnight in Hofn.

Day 7 - Skaftafell and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

On this day we will head to the Skaftafell Nature Reserve, an area that is home to the Kristínartindar volcanic peaks, stunning glacial lagoons and the majestic Svínafellsjökull glacier outlet.

After visiting Skaftafell we will have more time to photograph the fascinating Reynisfjara area. Sunsets at this location are sure to make for some particularly amazing photos. By staying late into the night, we will have more opportunities to capture the Northern Lights in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Iceland.

Overnight in Vik.

Day 8 - The Golden Circle and Reykjavik

On the last day of our Iceland journey, we will visit 'The Big Three' of Icelandic natural attractions, considered essential for all visitors to the country and known as 'The Golden Circle'. These three attractions are Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall, all located in southwest Iceland.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Þingvellir National Park is one of the most important sites in Iceland. It was here that the old national assembly was founded, and the current parliament in Iceland, Alþingi, still bears his name. The area is situated in a fissured valley and evidence of tectonic plate movement can be seen in the impressive Almannagjá gorge, where the beautiful Öxarárfoss waterfall tumbles. This park is certainly one of the most picturesque places in Iceland. We also recommend photographing the ring of mountains that surround the region, as well as Lake Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland.

The famous Geysir in the Haukadalur Valley lends its name to geysers across the world. The surrounding geothermal area is also widely known as the Geysir Geothermal Area. This is our next destination. Geysir rarely erupts, but its neighbor Strokkur does so with gusto, spewing water to a height of 15 to 20 meters.

Finally, there is the “golden waterfall” Gullfoss, considered by many to be the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland and certainly the most sought after by photographers and nature lovers. Gullfoss belongs to the Hvítá glacier river and falls 32 meters into the narrow river gorge.

After visiting the "big three" attractions of the Golden Circle and having seen many of Iceland's top natural attractions, you will return to Reykjavík for your last night in Iceland. This day will also be your last chance to photograph the Northern Lights during the tour, so keep an eye out and keep your camera ready.

DAY 7 - End of Adventure in Iceland

Transfer Hotel x Airport included according to the return flight (the choice of flight is free - the rate does not include late checkout).

*Program may be subject to change, which will be communicated to all participants prior to travel.

Day 09 - End of Iceland Adventure

Transfer Hotel x Airport included according to the return flight (the choice of flight is free - the daily rate does not include late-checkout).

*The program may be subject to changes, which will be communicated to all participants before the trip.

MORE INFORMATION

PRICE AND PAYMENT METHOD

The total price of the tour and payment methods are as follows:
- Total price: 3800 Euros - 8 to 12 participants;
- Down payment: 800 Euros - Upon registration;
- Balance: 3000 Euros - Up to 60 days before the start of the tour;
- Single room: 800 Euros;
- The above prices consider payments via bank transfer;
- Payments via PayPal or Credit Card upon request.

The tour price includes:

- Accommodation in a double room shared between participants;

- Breakfast at the hotel;

- Private land transport with a guide for the entire duration of the tour;

- Tickets to national parks;
- Continuous assistance from photographers Victor Lima and Giulio Cobianchi.

NOT included:

- Travel insurance (mandatory);
- Air tickets;
- Personal expenses;
- Expenses with optional/extra activities;
- Supplement for single room;
- Anything not expressly mentioned as "included";

- Photographic equipment, notebook and etc.

To reserve a spot, a down payment of 800 Euro is required. The balance to be paid must be settled up to 60 days before the start of the tour and will be calculated as described above;

If the participant chooses to stay in a single room during the tour, he must pay a supplement 800 Euro;

As registrations go on, the available rooms are filled respecting the registration order, always joining participants of the same gender or couples. In case the participant who signed up late is involuntarily accommodated in a single room, due to the distribution of participants among the available accommodations, he must pay a supplement of 500 Euro for the accommodation individual;

The payment method preferred is bank transfer, in which we offer a 5% discount on spot payments upon registration. In the case of payment via PayPal or credit card, an additional fee will be charged, which may vary from 7% to 15%, depending on whether the payment is made in full or in installments;

In order for each tour participant to receive the necessary attention to achieve the best possible results in capturing their photographs during our Iceland adventure, the maximum number of participants on this tour will be limited to 12 people;

The minimum number of participants for tour confirmation is 8 people. The confirmation of the tour will take place with the discharge of the total amount of the trip by the minimum number of participants mentioned above, within the deadline of 60 days before the start;

If the minimum number of participants for the Tour is not reached, the amount paid may be refunded in full or, if this is the interested party's option, it may be relocated to one of our similar events with available places;

The date of the event may be changed due to situations involving public calamity or restricted access to the event location., such as: floods, storms, landslides, epidemics, etc. In this case, participants must choose to participate in the event in question on its new date or else keep the credit of the amount paid to participate in some other event with available places;

This provision of service is restricted to issues related to the Photography Tour, including accommodation, transportation during planned outings and accompanying photographer Victor Lima. Any other personal issues, such as individual documentation problems andetc., are not the responsibility of the Tour organization.

The team responsible for accompanying the group during the tour will be led by photographers Victor Lima and Giulio Cobianchi. Both photographers have already been awarded internationally for their work in landscape photography, in addition to having their images published in the main vehicles of the world media, including NASA;

The languages spoken during the tour will be Portuguese, English and Spanish.

EQUIPMENT

Regardless of your equipment, professional photographers Victor Lima and Giulio Cobianchi will provide the necessary assistance so that your travel records are made in the best possible way and so that they illustrate well all the beauty of Iceland's landscapes.

For those who intend to record images of the trip in a more professional way, the recommended photographic equipment consists of a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, with at least two lenses, one wide angle and one medium telephoto, and a tripod. Optionally recommended: Photo filter and remote trigger. Also, don't forget:

Additional batteries;
Cloths for cleaning lenses;
Memory cards and etc.

WHAT TO WEAR

Icelandhave very unpredictable weather, every 30 minutes or so there can be change in weather conditions such as cloud formation, change in lighting and wind, so waterproof boots are required and jacket. It's best to layer clothes, so you can add or shed layers according to the weather. Example: thermal underwear, wool or polar fleece middle layer, windproof and waterproof long coat and jacket, which also covers the legs. Spare socks and hiking boots are recommended.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Passport valid for at least 6 months;
Travel insurance.

REFUND AND CANCELLATION RULES

If a participant decides to cancel his reservation, he may do so at any time by communicating as soon as possible to the address ofofficial email of the organization of the tour.

However, keep in mind that cancellation by a participant would create difficulties in managing the reservations, in addition to the risk of not reaching the minimum number of participants for the tour to take place.

Below are the cancellation rules:

The registration fee (down payment) is equivalent to the payment of the agency and intermediation Service Fee (according to art. 2, paragraph 7, of Law n. 14.046/20), and will not be refunded under any circumstances, not even fortuitous event or force bigger;
Up to 60 days before the start of the tour, the amount paid so far by the participant can be refunded, minus the down payment;
Between 60 and 45 days before the start of the tour, 50% of the amount paid so far by the participant can be refunded, minus the down payment;
With less than 45 days left for the start of the tour, the amounts paid by the participant will not be refunded.
In the event that the participant who wishes to cancel his registration finds another person to take his place, the amounts paid so far may be refunded, minus the down payment. It is worth mentioning that the substitute must be a person who has never participated in events promoted by the tour organization and who has not yet expressed interest in this or other trips;
In the event that we complete all available places for the formation of the group, a refund of 70% of the amounts paid by the participant who canceled his registration may be made, subtracting the value of the down payment.