Hunt’s Photo Adventure: Puffins, Highlands & South Coast Landscapes in Iceland

Join us for an extraordinary photography adventure in Iceland where we’ll focus on capturing its iconic puffins and diverse birdlife, as well as the dramatic landscapes of the Highlands and South Coast. This immersive workshop is designed for photographers who want to refine their skills while exploring Iceland’s untamed beauty.

We’ll begin along Iceland’s dramatic South Coast, photographing towering waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, black sand beaches, dramatic sea stacks and rugged coastal formations. We’ll also have the opportunity to photograph puffins, putting us right in the middle of Iceland’s wild coastal environment from the very beginning of the adventure.

From the South Coast, we’ll head into the Icelandic Highlands, where the landscape becomes increasingly remote and otherworldly. Here, we’ll explore colorful mountains, vast lava fields, volcanic craters, braided rivers and dramatic waterfalls. This portion of the journey will give us plenty of opportunities to work on landscape composition, light and the challenge of photographing Iceland’s constantly changing conditions.

Our journey then continues north toward the Westfjords, where the focus shifts back to Iceland’s remarkable birdlife. We’ll visit a private island by boat for dedicated puffin photography, with opportunities to photograph Atlantic puffins, cormorants, Arctic terns and other seabirds. With dedicated time in the field, we’ll work on flight photography, animal behavior and capturing those fleeting moments that make wildlife photography so rewarding.

Throughout the adventure, expert instruction in a small-group setting will give you hands-on experience in wildlife, landscape and action photography. The itinerary is designed to build as we go—from the dramatic South Coast, through the remote Highlands and finally to an immersive puffin experience in the north—giving you a diverse portfolio and an unforgettable photographic journey through Iceland.

Itinerary

Day 1 – July 17– Arrival in Iceland, transfer to Reykjavík. Evening welcome dinner and orientation. Overnight: Fosshótel Reykjavík.

Day 2 – July 18- Travel along the south coast to Vik i Myrdal, Black beach at Vik, Reynisfjara, Reynisdrangar. Lessar known waterfalls along the way: Hótel Vik í Mýrdal

Day 3 – July 19- Travel to the highlands from southern Iceland. Waterfall Þjófafoss, Mt. Hekla, Seljalandsfoss, Dyrholaey. (Puffins): Hótel Vik í Mýrdal

Day 4 – July 20- Full day in highlands, Landmannalaugar, fishing lakes, craters, braided rivers, lava fields

Day 5 – July 21- Highlands, large waterfalls such as Háifoss, Gjáin, Sigöldugljúfur. Travel to Reykholt: Fosshótel Reykholt

Day 6 – July 22- Waterfall Hraunfossar and Barnafossar. Travel west, Icelandic horses and farms. Grimsey evenign Puffin tour: Malarhorn Guesthouse

Day 7 – July 23- Full day in Drangsnes area, another bout tour to visit Grimsey, Puffins, Cormorants and other sea birds: Malarhorn Guesthouse

Day 8 – July 24- Travel back to Reykjavik, some lesser known waterfalls, fjords and stops along the way: Fosshótel Reykjavík

Day 9 – July 25- Airport transfer to KEF and departure.

Itinerary Flexibility Notice
While this itinerary provides the overall structure of the adventure, daily plans may evolve based on weather, light, road conditions, crowds, and real-time photographic opportunities. This flexibility helps us create the strongest experience possible for the group.

About Our Host: Arctic Exposure

Hunt’s Photo & Video have always used Arctic Exposure as their host while leading workshops in Iceland and have formed a lasting bond and friendship with them during those years.

Skarphéðinn Þráinsson, or Skarpi, is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Arctic Exposure. He’s a native born & raised Icelander from Egilsstadir in the East Fjords of Iceland.  He is also  a professional photographer and a licensed tour operator with a passion for outdoors travelling, fishing and exploring the nature of Iceland. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and currently lives in Reykjavik with his wife and 4 kids.

Skarpi has many custom-built super-trucks & super-vans for our workshops.
– Mercedes-Benz 15-passenger and 13-passenger Super Sprinter vans
– Ford Excursion XXL 9-passenger Super Truck
All are 4×4’s equipped with 46″ wheels, differential locks, GPS,  Wi-fi, USB    chargers for all seats and on-board 220V service for all devices.
– Mercedes-Benz 16-passenger Sprinter
4×4, 35” wheels, GPS, Wi-Fi, USB chargers at each seat, 220V power

What’s included in the workshop:

• Breakfasts
• Ground transportation
• Airport transfers (on dates of workshop start and end)
• Lodging during the workshop
• In-field instruction
• Optional Image review

What’s not included in the workshop:

• Airfare
• Meals (lunches and dinners), alcohol
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Personal expenses

Recommended gear

• Camera(s), memory cards, batteries
• Wide angle, standard, telephoto, and super-telephoto lenses
  (If you are looking for a lens to rent, you can rent it from us at rentals.huntsphoto.com!)
• Tripod or Monopod
• Cable release
• Polarizers and Neutral Density filters if you have them
• Laptop is optional
• Rain Coats and Pants
• Rain cover for cameras
• Sturdy weatherproof boots

Skill Sets: Intermediate knowledge of your camera, exposure, autofocus, and composition
Physical Activity: Low. Minimal hiking, but photographing for long periods of time outside in the cool to cold weather on uneven ground. We will also have some short boat rides to destinations. Please see note below about weather.

In this workshop we will cover:

• Tracking Focus
• Exposure
• Composition
• Metering
• Use of Lenses
• Subject Development
• Creative Thinking
• Shooting in Low Light

Travel information to Iceland (KEF)

Flights: Keflavík International Airport (KEF).
Participants MUST arrive on 7/17/2027 during the day. Early arrival is also an option, as many participants like to come in a day or two early to acclimate and explore on their own.
Participants may fly home on 7/25/2026 but must have a flight no earlier than the evening.

Airport transfers included on arrival/departure days. Participants are welcome to arrive early or extend their stay after the workshop. Additional hotel nights, day tours, and travel arrangements can be made in advance through our Icelandic partner, Arctic Exposure.

Hotel information

Hunt’s Photo will notify ALL hotels of attendees.  You do not need to call them. If you require additional nights, we can help facilitate that through Arctic Exposure

Pricing ($9295) is single occupancy. If you plan to share a room, double occupancy pricing is $7995 per attendee. Please let us know during registration. Your deposit pricing will remain the same, but we will issue you a code to use to discount your final payment.

A Note About Weather (and weather gear)

In this workshop, we will be working in cool to cold weather and possibly windy conditions. We will have to be ready for any weather conditions as Iceland can be unpredictable, even in the Summer. We will also have to be prepared for wet conditions due to rain and over-spray from waterfalls. July is the warmest month in Iceland, with average temperatures between 50–55°F (10–13°C). It’s also the driest and least windy month of the year. 

Participants should use one (1) soft-sided rolling suitcase for luggage and one (1) camera bag.  Pack conservatively.

Payments

A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the total cost of the trip is required upon sign-up to secure a spot. The remaining balance is due 90 days prior to the workshop and can be made on this page. Please note that the reservation fee and payments on this workshop is non-refundable. Please make sure to purchase insurance in case you need to cancel your trip. (You can purchase trip insurance from numerous insurance companies– Allianz, AAA, and more.)