iceland in winter€¦ · iceland in winter tour! vast landscapes, waterfalls and seascapes...

Backcountry Journeys – Iceland in Winter 1

Landscape & Wildlife Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris 928-478-1521 | [email protected] | www.backcountryjourneys.com

Iceland in Winter

"In Iceland, you can see the contours of the mountains wherever you go,

and the swell of the hills, and always beyond that the horizon. And

there's this strange thing: you're never sort of hidden; you always feel

exposed in that landscape. But it makes it very beautiful as well."

-Hannah Kent

Trip Packets

Our PDF Trip Packets are being

updated all the time. Ensure you

have the most recent version by

clicking here.

Last Published: April 9, 2020

Pricing, Dates & Booking

For current pricing, trip dates

& online reservations please

see our website.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.backcountryjourneys.com/

https://backcountryjourneys.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Iceland-in-Winter.pdf

https://backcountryjourneys.com/photography-tours-workshops/iceland-winter/




Trip Overview

Any photographer who has been attracted to the wonders of Iceland are

familiar with Mount Kirkjufell, whether they know it or not. Kirkjufell,

found on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, is that famous image synonymous

with Iceland photography, and it is one of the centerpieces on our

Iceland in Winter tour! Vast landscapes, waterfalls and seascapes

complete this beautiful winter tour of Iceland.

Our Winter tour of Iceland will focus on the utterly surreal and

fantastic winter landscape of the South Coast and the Snæfellsnes

Peninsula of Iceland.

After darkness falls we’ll be sure to look up into the arctic night sky for

the Aurora Borealis, as this surreal and highly sought-after light show

is common at this time of year. With luck, we may even be able to

photograph the aurora over Mount Kirkjufell!





As the most visited part of Iceland, there are many well known spots on

the South Coast, like ice caves and Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss

waterfalls. In winter, however, the crowds of tourists have faded, and

these fantastic spots as well as other lesser known visual gems, will be

ours for the taking! Join Backcountry Journeys on the South Coast &

Snæfellsnes in Winter tour and have yourself a winter trip of a lifetime

in Iceland!

Highlights

• The Best of Iceland

• Great time for Northern Lights

• Glacier photography at its finest

• Stunning winter seascapes

• Small Groups

• Great local hotels

• Fantastic meals included

• Learn from & shoot alongside a seasoned pro

• The best local guides





Noteworthy Travel Logistics

• This trip begins & ends in Reykjavik, Iceland

• We will meet at our hotel in Reykjavik at 5pm on Day Two (day

one is a travel day):

Hotel Klettur*

Address: Mjoelnisholti 12-14, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland

Phone: +354 440 1600

*Please note: Exact hotel is subject to change - equivalent hotel may be substituted.

If you are planning on arriving early or staying late please contact us.

• The airport to fly in/out is Keflavik International Airport (KEF)

Transportation On-Tour

• We will provide ground transportation throughout the trip from

Reykjavik throughout Iceland.





Iceland immigration The easiest airport in the world! If asked the purpose of visit,

please say you are on a photographic holiday if they want to know

where you are staying, you can give the names of our hotel.

Airport Transport Transportation from (KEF) Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Hotel: Just

outside the doors of the Keflavik Airport there will be a big white

bus, “Reykjavik Excursions / Grayline” they will take you right into

Reykjavik, right to the hotel. It’s called “Flybus” and the info is

here: re.is/flybus. You will receive your ticket ahead via email the

ticket is flexible and is valid for every arrival and departure. Tell the

driver at what hotel you want to get off. You’ll also use Flybus to

take you back to Keflavik Airport on your return. They pick up

directly from the hotel on an hourly basis. The bus also has wifi.

• Passport:

You must have a current passport to enter the country.

Immigration may deny entry if your passport is damaged. Visitors

are required to carry appropriate documentation at all times.

Tourists should carry their passports when taking domestic air

flights, driving, planning to use a credit card, traveling overnight

or a considerable distance from their hotel. You must have at least

two blank passport pages to enter Iceland.

• Tourist Visa:

Not required for stays less than 90 days, but return ticket

required

• Money:

The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Many places

(restaurants, bars, tourist attractions) will take US dollars,

Canadian dollars, Euros, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish

currencies. Payment: Icelanders usually pay for everything by

credit or debit card.



https://www.re.is/flybus/



The local currency is ISK and is about $USD 1 = 100 ISK

(currency rate does change fast – please click here for an updated

rate). Due to capital controls in Iceland, this currency is not

traded outside of Iceland. You don’t have to bring large sums of

cash as credit cards are accepted everywhere in Iceland and local

ATM´s will provide you with cash if needed. If you use a credit

card it is a good idea to let your bank know that you will be

travelling as in some cases they do block credit cards when

transaction appear from a different corner of the world.

• Voltage

Iceland uses 220V, 50Hz AC. Most modern chargers accept both

110V and 220V. Make sure yours does and remember to bring

outlet adapters if needed. Iceland uses the two round pole outlets

common in Europe.

• Cellphone

You can purchase a prepaid sim card on Icelandair flights, or you

can purchase one at the airport on arrival. If using your home

service, be sure to check for deals for using data and calling

service while in Iceland.

• Wi-Fi

All the places we stay at have Wi-Fi internet access. A couple of

places might charge for internet access but otherwise, it is free.

• Time Zone

Iceland is all year on GMT



https://www.cb.is/statistics/official-exchange-rate/



Itinerary

Please note: This is a “standard” tour so there is little to no hiking on

this trip. Most meals included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day One (Travel Day)

Depart from home.

Day Two (D)

Arrive in Iceland and check into your hotel in Reykjavik. Group dinner

and meeting at 5pm.

Days Three & Four (B,L,D)

We’ll get an early start this morning, heading to Þingvellir National

Park where we’ll find a wonderful winter landscape. After capturing the

glorious colors at sunrise, we’ll continue west to even more icy

landscape on display at remote waterfalls and farm areas most might

miss. We’ll spend the night in Snæfellsnes.

Day three of this tour will bring us to the famous Kirkjufell mountain,

which is quite possibly the most photographed mountain in Iceland. As

we circle the other spectacular locations as we circle the Snæfellsnes

peninsula we’ll see and photograph other spectacular locations, like

Lóndrangar, Arnarstapi, the Black church at Búðir and others. On this

night we’ll look to capture the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) over

Kirkjufell. Truly a “Dream Shot” for many photographers.

Days Four & Five (B,L,D)

Our sunrise shot this morning will take place in Snæfellsnes before we

travel to the South Coast so as to capture images of some of the more

well-known Iceland waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. We’ll

lodge in Vik surrounded by unreal land and seascapes. We’ll have two

days to explore the area around Vík í Mýrdal. Here we’ll find glaciers





and ice caves, as well as some of the most magnificent seascapes and

rock formations on the south coast. We’ll be shooting at Dyrhólaey,

Reynisdrangar and Vík to name just a few of our locations during days

four and five of this tour.

From Vík we’ll travel east to Vatnajökull National Park and Glacier

Lagoon area. En route we’ll stop at mysterious locations such as the

moss-covered lava fields in Eldhraun, turf roof churches, and Skaftafell.

Today we’ll hike to the Black Falls and glaciers, as well.

Days Six & Seven (B,L,D)

This morning we’ll start the day with sunrise photography on the

famous Diamond Beach, near Glacier Lagoon. We’ll photograph the

area around Glacier Lagoon for the next two days because there are an

incredible amount of locations here to choose from!

This part of Iceland offers opportunities to photography Ice Caves,

glacier lagoons, glaciers, and waterfalls. Hopefully, we get lucky, and

the Northern Lights show themselves at least one night.

Sitting east of the Glacier Lagoon is Mount Vestrahorn, a 1,489-foot-

high mountain formed of unstratified plutonic rock, gabbro and

granophyre. Interesting study in geology, for sure. East of the mountain

is a strange-shaped outcrop called Brunnhorn that stretches all the way

out to sea. Vestrahorn is a very picturesque mountain with black dunes

in the foreground and a shallow beach with reflections. We’ll have

interesting compositions from our vantage points here. In winter we can

expect spectacular light on the mountain, as well.

Day Eight (B)

Our final day will start with one last Iceland sunrise shot. After

breakfast we’ll begin back to Reykjavik, shooting good locations while

traveling. Upon our return to Reykjavik, we’ll say our farewells and

depart.





Please Note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and nature photography we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions regarding wildlife or natural phenomena.





Trip Details

Physical Requirements All participants must be in good physical condition and have the ability

to hike/ walk with camera equipment and essential hiking gear. For

example, tripod, camera, lense(s), sunscreen, water (up to 2 liters

person), snacks, and extra layers (if necessary). The weight of your pack

largely depends on what gear you choose to bring on each hike.

Typically backpacks weigh between 15 and 20 lbs. For those serious

photography buffs packs could reach 35 lbs! But remember the choice is

yours

Group Size

We keep groups small to maximize your one on one time with the

guide/instructor.

Trip Length

8 days

Fitness Level:

Easy. Standard trip with light walks.

Meeting Time and Place

5pm on Day Two in the lobby of our Reykjavik Hotel.

Trip Conclusion

International flights home can be booked anytime starting the

afternoon of Day Eight.

Price/Dates:

Please see our website for current pricing and dates.

Accommodation

We will be staying in quaint & cozy local hotels throughout the country.

The first night of the trip and last will be at our hotel in Reykjavik.






Meals

Most meals are included during the trip dates. Our lodges generally

serve a buffet breakfast while lunches will mostly be picnic style in the

field. Dinners will be served at our place of accommodation or at a local

restaurant.

Weather

Expect temperatures with highs in the 30s and lows in the mid-teens.

The weather can do just about anything in the winter; however it makes

for breathtaking photos. Remember some of the best photographs are

made before, during and immediately after a storm cycle. There is no

such thing as bad weather just poor layering and gear choices – please

plan accordingly! For more info on what to bring please email or call us.

Make sure you are prepared for rain and/or snow!

General links to Weather Conditions: Reykjavik, Iceland

We recommend checking the weather prior to your trip departure to

plan your gear and clothing packing accordingly.

Price Includes

Most meals, ground transportation, accommodation during the trip

dates, professional photography instruction, medically certified guide &

local Icelandic guides, & gratuities for service personnel such as drivers,

pilots, captains as well as hotel & restaurant staff.

Price Does Not Include

Airfare, alcoholic beverages, accommodations before or after the trip

dates, Souvenirs, one meal on your own & trip leader gratuities (industry

standard is typically 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience.)



https://d.docs.live.net/640adbc3113983a7/Documents/Backcountry%20Journeys/Trip%20Packets/Reykjavik,%20Iceland



Gear List

This gear list should answer a lot of your gear questions so please read

through this carefully. If you still have questions, please give us a call.

Your clothing should be a system of layers that you add and subtract

according to the weather and temperature. A good pair of good synthetic

“Smartwool” type socks under sturdy boots works well. Clothing should

be light-weight nylon pants (maybe base-layers), a polypro shirt and

either a sunhat or warm hat depending on the weather. As weather

conditions change add insulating and waterproof layers to your base

setup. Don’t bring any cotton clothing. Cotton is not a good insulator

and once it gets wet it takes forever to dry. Absolutely no jeans!





Photo and Field Gear

Recommended Camera Gear:

• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. (Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic etc.) • Medium Telephoto Zoom Lens (100–400mm zoom or equivalent) • Wide-angle Lens (10-20mm, 16-35mm or equivalent zoom) • Normal Lenses (ranging from approximately 35mm to 100mm)

• Sturdy but lightweight Tripod (must be able to carry this for walks)

• Memory Cards

• Batteries & Chargers

• Lens cleaning pen & cloth

• Camera Day Pack (this should appropriately carry all your camera

& hiking gear and have a rain cover)

• Camera Rain Sleeve

Optional (but recommended) Camera Gear:

• Back-Up Camera Body

• Filters such as a circular polarizer and neutral density

• 1.4x tele converter

• Macro-Lens (snowflakes anyone!)

• Laptop Computer with Lightroom / Photoshop Pre-Installed (for

personal use in hotels for downloading images while on tour)

• External Hard Drives

• Remote Shutter Trigger

• Camera’s Instruction Manual





Suggested Field Gear & Clothing:

• Base Layers (top & bottom): Mid-weight long-john style thermal

underwear (merino wool is best) • Mid Layers (top & bottom): Heavier weight long-john style

thermal underwear (merino wool is best) • Heavier Mid Layer (top & bottom): Heavier fleece or wool jacket /

fleece pants

• Top Layers: Insulated snow pants & good winter jacket or parka

(heavy, puffy down jackets that are water-resistant are best):

extreme cold weather brands such as Canada Goose perform leaps

and bounds above the rest.

• Weather-Proof Layers: Weatherproof jacket that goes over down-

jacket

• Thick down, wool, or fleece vest is also essential for keeping your

core toasty.

• Heavy, warm, ski mountaineering socks (wool / merino wool) • Insulated winter boots (high performance insulated boot that is

supportive, waterproof, lightweight, and breathable.)

• Hand-wear: Light-weight fleece gloves + heavy down gloves over

the top as well as heavy-duty waterproof mittens.

• Hand warmers and toe warmers are fantastic.

• Warm hats: Thick beanie plus aviator style winter cap is optimal!

• Scarf or neck warmer / balaklava

• Headlamp with multiple spare batteries (there are short daylight hours during the winter)

• Gaiters (optional, but recommended, depending on your ski pants) • Shooting Gloves

• Knee / butt pads (for low-angle shooting)

• Casual wear for around town & in the hotel

• Trekking poles (optional) • Personal toiletries & medications

• Money, for tipping your guides (industry standard is generally 10%-20% of the trip cost based on your experience), and for any

personal expenses not included in the tour package such as alcoholic

beverages, a few of the meals, souvenirs, etc.





This is a general list. Please Call with any questions!

Note on Packing for the tour: Please pack your extra clothing, toiletries, extra camera gear, and other travel items into a suitcase, duffel or travel bag. One suitcase or duffel bag per person plus camera gear bag is optimal. You will not bring all your camera gear on every outing. Each evening you will be briefed on which lenses, filters, etc. you will need to carry the following day on the scheduled tour. Even though our transportation is spacious we kindly ask you to pack light as it will make everyone’s life on the tour easier. During the days when we travel between hotels, your suitcase will not be easily accessible.

