Hi folks, just had a lucky break and both my wife and I (avid photographers both) have managed to arrange a 10 day trip to Iceland in early September. We will be on our own with a vehicle and intend to bring camping gear over. Should be fun to do again as we haven't done significant camping in 20 years!
We both love landscape photography although a few birds would not be a huge imposition! We've been scouring through Michaels suggestions on the site but would love some suggestions regarding a route and stops not to miss at this time of the year.
Thanks a million folks.
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Hi
I visited Iceland on a photographic workshop in 2006 and agree with all the suggestions. I will give you our 10-day itinerary as it shows what can be packed in. We covered most aspects of the Island, but we needed one of their special four-wheel drive coaches to do it all. High clearance is needed to get across the rivers if you go through the Central Highlands. Apart from the Central Highlands we found most of the roads were OK. On finishing the workshop we spent 3 nights at Grundarfjordur exploring the Snæfellnses peninsula on our own. This is a wonderful area, which can be explored easily by car and foot, and it offers most of what Iceland has to offer but in a very small area. We found accommodation good in most place and reasonably priced and as others have said I would avoid camping.
Have a good trip.
Kathy
Day 1 – From the airport along the coast to Krisuvik, which is a hot spring area, and we then went on to the Nesjavellir geothermal area.
Day 2 – We visited Thingvellir World Heritage Area Park, which has extensive tectonic fissures, calm deep water, waterfalls and lava formations. From Thingvellir we crossed Lyngdalsheidi to the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. The geysir Strokkur (Piston) erupts 4-5 times per hour. From Gullfoss we continued east to Hrauneyjar, We stayed at Highland center Hrauneyjar, I think the choice is this or camping but it is worth it.
Day 3 – We traveled from Hrauneyjar to Landmannalaugar where we spent the full day in Landmannalaugar. The range of colours here offers some spectacular photography. The yellow, brown and red ryholitc formations are fascinating; these are bright yellow sulphur deposits on black lava surrounded by red clay and ultra green moss. This was the best days photography.
Day 4 –We drove across Sprengisandur to Laugarfell and on to Godafoss. Sprengisandur is a vast grey desert in between two major icecaps. Further north we drove on the banks of the river Sjalfandafljot with its spectacular waterfalls Hrafnabjargafoss. We also stopped at Aldeyjafoss and Godafoss falls.
Day 5 –We went to the fishing village of Husavik at Skjalfandi Bay. Enroute we drove past vegetated lava and went on a whale watching tour out of the fishing village of Husavik with its colourful houses and lively fishing harbour not forgetting it’s interesting museum.
Day 6 – We then traveled east over Tjornes peninsula where we stopped at Asbyrgi canyon, Hljodaklettar columnar basalt and Dettifoss waterfall in Jokulsargljufur NP. We ended the day at Lake Myvatn
Day 7 –We spent a full day in the Myvatn region. Places of interest include Hverfell, Dimmuborgir, Lake Myvatn, Leirhnjukur, and Hverarond.
Day 8 – This was a very long day of driving from Myvatn to Egilsstadir and finally to Hofn with a visit to Krafla volcano, then over Oxi pass to enter the glacier valleys of the East Fjords.
Day 9 –We drove along the south coast to the Glacier lagoon and further on to Skaftafell NP. Look out for Vatnajokull’s white ice capped peaks along with tremendous icefalls and outlet glaciers flowing down to the lowland and carving into the Glacier Lagoon. For bird photography especially puffin and Great Skua Ingolfshofdi is well worth a visit.
Day 10 – Drove along the south coast back to Reykjavik with numerous waterfalls, canyons, cliffs, glaciers, sea stacks and volcanoes.
