One of the characteristics about Austurland (East Iceland) is its diversity, the deep narrow fjords, high mountains, small villages, rivers, canyons, waterfalls, sea stacks and puffins. The nature is always close by and the scenery is breathtaking wherever you go.
Austurland has the largest forest in Iceland, Hallormsstaðaskógur, and with some luck we might spot a Reindeer in the mountains. Austurland is a paradise for the geology enthusiasts where you often can spot ancient volcanoes, eroded by the ice-age glaciers, bright red intermediary layers of ancient soil, most beautifully visible at Hengifoss and the myriad of dikes and other intrusions cutting like veins through the lavas and strata. The mass-tourism has not really reached this part of the country which makes it more desireable for photographers to explore and enjoy.
This workshop starts at the Reykjavik airport as we board an Air Iceland Connect flight to Egilsstaðir. At the Egilsstaðir airport there will be a 4x4 rental SUV or a van waiting for us and we start exploring this part of Iceland for 6 days. From Melrakkaslétta and Langanes in the north to Berufjörður in the south, to Borgarfjörður eystri in the east up to the deep valleys cutting into the highlands. East Iceland is the land of waterfalls in alls sizes and shapes and deep river gorges with basalt columns. Some of the locations we will be exploring in these 6 days are well known and others are remote and not that widely known or visited.
Hengifoss waterfall is the third highest waterfall in Iceland. To reach it requires a 40-60 minute hike up hill from the car park, revealing another beautiful waterfall half way up, called Litlanesfoss which is surrounded with basalt columns. Hengifoss drops 128 meters down from the plateau into a magnificent gorge with layers of red and black rock from the time when Iceland was formed.
Stuðlagil canyon is a newly discovered gem in East Iceland, a deep canyon with high basalt columns on both sides surrounding the river Jökulsá á Dal. To reach this location is a 5 km hike on the east side of the river, leading down into the canyon. The River Jökulsá á Dal has clear, blue water most of the year, but when the Hálslón dam is full late in the summer it goes to overflow and that water, brown and murky, flows into the river and changes the access to the riverbed.
Klifbrekkufossar waterfall is a beautiful waterfall in Mjóifjörður, a deep and narrow fjord with high mountains on both sides. The road to Mjóifjörður is also a spectacular gravel road over a mountain pass. Öxi mountain pass leads into Berufjörður in the south part of the east fjords, many beautiful volcanic formations and waterfalls cascading down into the fjord. Breiðdalur valley is next to Berufjörður and there we find one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area, Flögufoss waterfall which has a magnifficent backdrop of a jagged mountain. In a small fjord called Borgarfjörður eystri is a famous sightseeing spot for Puffins. The puffins arrive in April and disappear overnight around August 15th, so the workshop takes place a month before they leave to make sure everyone gets a photo of the Puffins.
Photography assistance and guidance, transport in a Mini-van or a 4x4 SUV. Clothing according to season and weather, good hiking boots, your camera, tripod and drone if you have one.
This workshop is co-hosted by Arjan Wilmsen from
Dedication Photography, an adventurous landscape and outdoors photographer with an insane passion for Scandinavia and the Nordic countries based in the south east of The Netherlands.
Date 2020: July 16-21.
Date 2021: July 11-16.
Group: Max 6, min 3.
Price: $3150 USD pr. person.
Included: Accommodation and breakfast on the tour, transportation and photo guidance. Domestic flight Reykjavik - Egilsstaðir - Reykjavik.
Not included: International flights, beverages and food.
