Current Photo Tours 2013 Schedule

     - Iceland Photo Tour - July 5th to 13th, 2013

             - Ireland Photo Tour - August 17th to September 1st, 2013

                  - Washington DC Photo Tour September 26th to 30th, 2013

                        - Namibia Photo Tour - October 23rd to November 7th, 2013

 Iceland Photo Tour - "Journey to the Land of Fire and Ice"

Iceland Photo Tour - "Journey to the Land of Fire and Ice ... the forces of nature have created a volatile playground of colour and beauty.  Get ready to discover one of the most beautiful places on Earth."

The diverse landscape of Iceland offers up many photographic opportunities. Featuring beautiful waterfalls, geysers, volcanos, geothermal activity, black sand beaches, glaciers, icebergs, lighthouses, turf roof houses, Icelandic or Storybook horses and interesting architecture, all packed on this amazing isle.

I'm very excited about this photo tour and to share it with all the photographers that join us on this trek.  July in Iceland, the sun remains above the horizon for almost the whole night, adding to our experience. This tour will offer you a great cross section of Icelandic life, her culture, wildlife and landscapes.

My co-host for our Iceland tour and the newest edition to our Photo Tour Trekkers Team is Ottawa Photographer Vanessa Dewson.  Vanessa owns her own photography business in Ottawa is is an avid traveller, always looking for interesting places to explore, photograph and experience.  Vanessa is well versed in Photoshop, conducts workshops, a member of the PPOC (professional photographers of Canada) and is an excellent presenter.  Vanessa has spent time living in South Africa and is billingual.

On this tour we will be offering departures from Ottawa and Toronto.  As a group we will fly direct from Pearson International Airport in Toronto to Keflavik International Airport in Iceland.  We will start our Iceland experience with a photo shoot on Reykjanes Peninsula, then continue along the lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula which lies on one of the world's major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge.  We will stop at the bridge between two continents. The bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America.  Then to the shore, close by Reykanes lighthouse and onwards to Iceland’s largest mud pool, Gunnuhver.  We will stop at the Blue Lagoon where you will have the opportunity to swim in the mineral rich water.  On our way into Reykjavík we will travel through the lunar landscape of Krýsuvík and stop at Seltún geothermal area and Kleifarvatn lake.  Check into our hotel in Reykjavík we are located at the Radison 1919 in downtown Reykjavik.  We will do a short urban photo walk in the afternoon.  Welcome Dinner at a restaurant downtown Reykjavík.

Day three will start by heading to Thingvellir, National Park.  Thingvellir is geologically remarkable and the tectonic plate boundaries form great landscape opportunities.  We will walk into Almannagjá’s rift with its towering walls. From Thingvellir we will continue to Geysir geothermal area, known for its spouting spring Geysir and Strokkur.  We will visit the two tier waterfall, Gullfoss, before heading back south to our hotel.  Dinner at hotel and overnight in Selfoss.

The forth day of our photo trek we will continue along the coast beside the black basalt sand beaches making numerous stops for photo shoots.  We will travel along the south - coast of Iceland and make numerous stops for photography.  The highlights of today will be our visit to Seljalands waterfall where you can take a walk behind the waterfall.  We continue our journey underneath the steep mountains where the world famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier is located which erupted in 2010. Our next stop will be at the community of Skógar to photograph the Skógarfoss waterfall. We continue to Sólheimajökull glacier outlet from Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The glacier is covered with volcanic ash where you can watch the ice drip at the edge of the glacier tounge. We will drive up to Dyrhólaey birdcliff, where the puffin nests and go down to Kirkjufjara black beach. Also Reynishverfi black beach for the peaks of Reynisdrangar. Dinner at hotel and overnight in Vík.

The fifth day our first stop will be at the 80m basalt floor known as the church floor in Kirkjubæjarklaustur village.  We will drive through the great natural barrier, Skeiðársandur, a vast track of black sandy plain onwards to Skaftafell National Park where we will hike to the waterfall, Svartifoss and its beautiful basalt columns. From the National Park we head to the glacier outlet of Svínafellsjökull to get into closer contact with the glacier Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier, and Iceland’s highest peak. Then east towards the glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón, on the Breiðamerkur sand plain where we will take a boat onto the lagoon among huge chunks of glacial.Dinner at hotel, overnight in Höfn.

Day six is dedicated to the east fjords and Egilsstaðir Area. From Höfn we travel through the tunnel at Almannaskarð pass. If the visibility is good we will do a photo shoot at the top of the pass.  From there you can see the glacier outlets from Vatnajökull glacier that have migrated from the main ice cap down to the lowlands. We travel onwards along the steep fjords through several small communities. We will also stop and spend time photographingHengifoss  a 120 meter high waterfall. The basaltic strata surrounding the waterfall is very beautiful because of the thin, red layers between the basaltic lavas, stretching horizontally across the underlying cliff.  The trail is approx, 2,5 km long, each way, but really worth it. On the way up there are several waterfalls deep in the gorge adjacent to the trail, such as Litlanesfoss which is framed with long and regular basaltic pillars.Tonight we will be staying in Hallormsstadir woods close by Egilsstadir Area. Dinner at hotel and we will take a short walk in the woods after or before dinner.

On day seven we will travel further north towards Lake Mývatn Area, on the way we will hold a photo shoot at Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in all of Europe. We will also do a photoshoot at Selfoss waterfall. From there the journey proceeds to Lake Mývant, often called Europes largest bird sanctuary. Mývatn is dominated by volcanic landforms including explosive craters and unique lava formations.  We will finish our day of shooting at Godafoss waterfall.  Overnight and dinner in Akureyri.

On day eight we start with some urban photography in Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland.   This region was first established as a trading centre in 1602, the culture and colour of the city will offer up many photo opportunities.   We will then travel thorough the mountain region and waterfalls as we head into the green regions where distinctive Icelandic horses are bred.   We will travel further south, making a stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring and Hraunfossar waterfalls before heading back to Reykjavík, Late afternoon arrival in Reykjavík –  Overnight at a Radison 1919 hotel in Reykjavík and our farewell dinner at a restaurant downtown Reykjavík.

This morning you will have plenty of time to continue exploring, photographing and even a little shopping here in Reykjavik.  Having an evening flight allows almost another day of activity.  We will check out of our hotel and depart for the airport around 2:30 p.m.  Our direct Iceland Air flight back to Toronto departs at 5:00 p.m.  We will arrive at Pearson International Airport in Toronto at 6:55 p.m. and connecting Ottawa guests will arrive home at 10:30 p.m.  The time difference will be in our favour returning home.  

"Iceland is a very friendly country to visit, the water is safe to drink (the cleanest you will ever find), there is very little crime and other than changing to Icelandic currency, our credit cards will work fine and are accepted almost everywhere.  Iceland's native language is one of the most difficult to learn, but the majority of people speak english.  I look forward to sharing this adventure with you".    James,

Your tour includes:

• Departures from Ottawa (or)
• Departures from London and Woodstock,
• Round trip Airfare via Iceland Air, from Toronto (or)
• Round trip Airfare via Air Canadan and Iceland Air for Ottawa guest connections,
• Accommodations while in Iceland,
• Visit to Blue Lagoon, and opportunity to swim in the mineral rich waters,
• Portage for one piece of luggage per guest in/out of each hotel,
• 5 three course dinners table d'hotel or buffet meals, plus tea or coffee,
• Breakfast each day,
• Welcome and Farewell dinners,
• All airport and hotel transfers,
• Luxury air conditioned / heated motor coach and local guide while in Iceland,
• Local admissions,
• Fuel surcharge, Park entrance fees and taxes included,
• Photo Workshops,
• Tour hosted and escorted by photographers Vanessa Dewson (Ottawa) & James Cowie (London)

** Schedule may vary according to weather and travel conditions.

** Guests must have a valid passport, your passport must be valid for a min of 3 months from our return travel date.

Tour Exclusions: Any item not listed on the itinerary, gratuities to Iceland guide or driver, personal insurance coverage, alcoholic beverages, and laundry.

A non refundable deposit of $675 CAD is required at time of booking, then balance payment due May 5th, 2013.  After deposit payment you may also select the payment option of Half April 15th, 2013 and half May 5th, 2013.   We recommend the purchase of travel and health insurance. This tour takes us out of the country so health insurance is recommended.

If you have any other questions or require booking assistance please contact:

             

Contacts         Terms & Conditions         Privacy Policy