- Fully booked. Contact to join our waitlist or book the next tours
- 2022 March 26 (Sat) – April 3 (Sun)
- 9-day/8-night program
- $3850 +$950 single occupancy
- Reservation ($450 deposit) | Participants Reviews
- Free cancellation until 2021 Sep 30
Chase and photograph aurora borealis at one of the best times at one of the world’s prime destinations for the northern lights. Aurora activity on Earth increases near both equinoxes (vernal equinox is on March 20-21).
The photo workshop is led by National Geographic night sky photographer Babak Tafreshi who takes you to some of his favorite locations, fills you with practical information on when to expect aurora activity, what to see in the night sky, and guides you in both aurora and general nightscape imaging, while also sharing tips on day-time photography during the day tours. The Iceland partner company which locally coordinates the trip also contributes with a tour leader who is both an aurora expert and a knowledgeable person about nature and history of the country.
Iceland has much more to offer than aurora. It’s a country like no other. Based on successful experiences of the previous programs (each March & September) we offer an improved plan each time. This tour takes you along the many landmarks of the southern coast all the way to the most amazing sites in the southeast. We will do aurora chasing and outdoor workshop sessions throughout the trip on every clear night.
Iceland’s attractions are on our way includes unearthly landscapes, massive waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, wildlife and coastal beauties, and cultural landmarks. We begin from the capital in the southwest and end in Keflavik near the airport. Iceland weather is very challenging but we depend on our mobility and excellent access to local weather information.
How to Join
All inclusive
Itinerary
Day 1 Sat March 26: arrivals. We will meet at noon in our hotel in Reykjavik center and walk to the city’s landmarks. After our first group dinner, we begin the practical part of the workshop with aurora chasing near Grotta lighthouse (weather depending).
Day 2 Sun March 27: On this busy touring day we will visit the most touristic icons of Iceland, Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and Geysir geothermal area. Then continue To the southern coast, visiting iconic Skogafoss waterfall on the way, and night imaging at Vik, with plenty of attraction including one of the world’s most beautiful volcanic beaches.
Day 3 Mon March 28: Daytime visit to Vik. Continue along the south coast to the iconic Glacier Lagoon and its Diamond Beach where shiny ice crystals and little icebergs rest on a black volcanic beach. We will spend the night in the spectacular Skaftafell area, in Vatnajökull National Park.
Day 4-6 Tue-Thu March 29-31: For three days we will explore the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, the Northern Europe’s biggest wilderness. Not far from here is the rugged Vestrahorn mountain of Stokksnes stands at the oceanfront, providing a dramatic imagery, one of our potential night locations depending on the weather.
Day 7 Fri April 1: We will take long drive in our bus back to Keflavik and Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest with a few site seeing stops.
Day 8 Sat April 2: Exploring a beautiful lighthouse, geothermal area and other wonders of Reykjanes Peninsula and night imaging at the coast. Accommodation is 10-15 minutes drive to the airport for the next day’s departures.
Day 9 Sun April 3: Babak will do a class between 10:00 to 13:00 on photo-editing tips for those with late departures. You also have the option to arrange your own visit to the nearby Blue Lagoon (for bathing) or consider staying an extra day for this popular tourist activity or to explore other oceanfront beauties of Reykjanes. Our hotel provides free airport shuttle from the morning to noon, otherwise it’s 5 to 10 minutes taxi drive.
Note that the itinerary may slightly change with the aurora and weather condition.
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Terms & Cancellation Policy
Full refund cancellation deadline is 2021 Sep 30. Each participant must secure their spot by submitting a deposit via credit card or PayPal. We rely on your attendance to make important arrangements and logistical preparations for our workshop. Space is limited and most of the workshops are fully booked several months prior to the trip. Participants receive notification and statement of account indicating the final balance due date, which marks the cancellation deadline. Should final payment fail to reach us by the date specified without any communication from you, we reserve the right to retain your deposit.
If you need to withdraw from a workshop, or wish to transfer to a different Iceland Aurora workshop, please notify me in writing before the cancellation deadline (2021 Sep 30). I will do my best to accommodate your refund or transfer request.
Should we cancel the workshop (extremely unlikely), all fees and deposits are refunded in full (or may be transferred to another Iceland Aurora workshop within a year). We are not responsible for reimbursement of airline tickets or early arrival hotel bookings in the event of a workshop cancellation. I strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation/travel insurance after booking your spot.
If you cancel before the deadline your payment will be fully refunded. We will retain all fees paid if you cancel your enrollment after 2021 Sep 30, unless you are able to find someone who will take your spot and reimburse you. There are no refunds if you don’t show up for the workshop, or interrupt or cancel your trip once the workshop commences.
We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other emergencies. Your trip cancellation/travel insurance plan should cover you in these cases. However, If an unforeseen medical issue arises that forces you to cancel after the deadline, but minimum 30 days before the trip, we will consider a partial refund on a case-by-case basis. The refund may be up to 50% of your payment in the form of a credit towards participation in another available Iceland Aurora PhotoTour.
