After arriving at Keflavik airport, transfer to Reykjavik. At around 5pm*, the group will meet at our hotel for introductions and a tour briefing. There will also be an opportunity for night-time photography at classic city sights, such as the Hallgrimskirkja cathedral and Sun Voyager Viking ship sculpture. Dinner will be at a pre-booked city restaurant (own expense).

Overnight: Hotel Leifur Eiriksson (1 night in a single room, breakfast included)

*Exact timing to be confirmed **Note: hotel check-in is from 2pm

Hotel Leifur Eiriksson offers a warm, welcoming base in the heart of Reykjavík. Its cosy rooms, friendly staff and unbeatable location beside Hallgrímskirkja make exploring the city effortless. Named after Iceland’s famous explorer, the hotel reflects local history and charm.

After breakfast, we’ll set out in our comfortable 9-seater VW Caravelle (or similar) and head east to explore some of the lesser-known spots on the Golden Circle, such as Faxi and Bruarfoss, as well as iconic sites like Gullfoss. It’s the perfect introduction to photography in Iceland, allowing you to hone techniques for shooting waterfalls and volcanic landscapes. Lunch will be at one of the cafés in the area (own expense).

We’ll reach the striking Landhotel after sunset. Once we’ve settled in, there will be a talk on northern lights photography from Will before dinner, so that we’re well prepared for photographing the aurora borealis if and when it appears during the week ahead. If conditions are good, we will aim to shoot the northern lights at every opportunity.

Overnight: Landhotel (1 night in a double/twin room, breakfast included)

Surrounded by wide-open landscapes and towering mountains, Landhotel sits in a breathtaking rural setting, perfect for witnessing the northern lights with minimal light pollution. Its stunning, spacious rooms showcase contemporary Icelandic design.

Leaving Landhotel after breakfast, we'll make our way south towards the coast, stopping to photograph the famous horsetail waterfall of Seljalandsfoss and its less well-known neighbour Gljufrabui (hidden behind a rock face). Conditions permitting, we will also venture a little way into the Thorsmork to explore one of the slot canyons in this remarkable 'hidden valley'.

Continuing east along the coast, we’ll enjoy a photoshoot at Skogafoss, exploring the traditional viewpoint, as well as from the observation deck above the falls. We will also walk the easy 1.6km trail from Skogar Museum to Kvernufoss, a far less visited waterfall hidden in a ravine nearby.

We will aim to reach the coastal town of Vik in good time before sunset to set up for a seascape session, focussing on the spectacular black-sand beaches and sea stacks nearby.

Overnight: Vik Inn (1 night in a double/twin room, breakfast included)

Vik Inn provides a welcoming stay with comfortable, simple rooms and a generous breakfast. Located right in the center of Vik, the property is just moments from the town's black-sand beaches and dramatic sea cliffs.

After our night in Vik, we’re in prime position on the morning of Day 4 for a sunrise shoot at the famous black-sand beach of Reynisfjara, where sea stacks form a striking focal point.

We'll then enjoy a two-hour drive east along the stunning South Coast with stops to photograph the vast, moss-covered Eldhraun lava field and the extraordinary Fjadrargljufur canyon. We’ll aim to reach Svinafellsjokull (one of the outlet glaciers flowing from the Vatnajokull icecap) by late afternoon – perfect for photographing the deep blues of the ice.

Our base for the next two nights, Gerdi Guesthouse, is a further hour's drive east. We’ll have a Lightroom session before dinner and a chance to review images taken on the trip so far.

We'll want an early wake-up on the morning of Day 5 before driving the 15 minutes to Jokulsarlon for a sunrise shoot at Breidamerkursandur, the famed Diamond Beach where fragments of ice that have drifted out to sea from the glacial lagoon are washed onto a black-sand beach – often polished and sculpted into abstract shapes that catch the dawn sunlight beautifully. We’ll capture this natural spectacle with our cameras, using long exposures to accentuate movement in the waves.

After brunch at the Glacier Lagoon Café (own expense), we have the rest of the day to photograph the surreal landscapes at Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon (just across the road from Diamond Beach), plus details of icebergs and, if we’re lucky, seals and seabirds.

Other options for photography nearby include the lesser known Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon. Conditions and weather permitting, we may decide to embark on a 3-4hr round-trip hike to the breathtaking and little-visited Mulagljufur Canyon.

Overnight: Gerdi Guesthouse (2 nights in a private bungalow, breakfast included)

Gerdi Guesthouse offers a warm, rural atmosphere with wide-open views of mountains, fields and distant glaciers. Its bungalows are simple and cozy, creating a homely Icelandic feel. Close to Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach, it blends tranquility with unbeatable natural access.

Early on the morning of Day 6, we will be picked up from Gerdi Guesthouse in a 4WD superjeep for a 4-5hr private tour (exclusive to our group) exploring an ice cave on the Vatnajokull Glacier. Ice cave conditions vary year to year, but our expert local guide will pick a location that's best for photography. We will be provided with helmets and crampons and given a full safety briefing before venturing inside the cave to photograph the spectacular formations of blue ice.

After being dropped off back at Gerdi Guesthouse, we'll drive for just over an hour east to Hrafnavellir Guest House for our next two-night stay. It's a superb base for exploring Vestrahorn (just 20 minutes to the south). We'll be there in good time to scope out viewpoints and compositions, exploring the rich textures of black sand dunes crowned with golden grasses, and the wonderful reflections cast by the mountains on wet sand. With luck, sunset will reward us with ideal light.

We’ll have a snack at the wonderful Viking Café at Vestrahorn (own expense) before venturing back outside at dark to try our luck with photographing the northern lights over the iconic dragon-back peaks. It could be a late drive back to Hrafnavellir Guest House – but well worth it if the aurora has put on a good display!

On Day 7, we have a full day to explore the Vestrahorn area, include nearby waterfalls, mountains and seascapes.

Overnight: Hrafnavellir Guest House (2 nights in a twin room with sea views, breakfast included)

At Hrafnavellir Guest House, stylish cabins offer privacy and warmth, with large windows that frame views of distant mountains. A generous breakfast, friendly hosts, superb northern lights potential and an ideal location for exploring Vestrahorn.

Leaving Hrafnavellir Guest House, we pass Vestrahorn at the start of our return journey west along the South Coast – so if conditions are irresistible we can stop for another photography session.

Our 3.5hr drive to Vik today will be broken up with several stops at sites missed on the eastbound leg of the tour due to time or weather – such as Heinabergsjokull to photograph another glacial lake and search for wild reindeer, Hofskirkja turf church and waterfalls near Kirkjubæjarklaustur. There will also be another opportunity to photograph a coastal sunset at Vik. If the northern lights forecast looks promising, we could also plan a night hike out to the Sólheimasandur DC-3 wreck, a hauntingly beautiful US Navy plane that crashed in 1973 on the black sand beach.

Our final night is a farmstay where we'll have a farewell dinner and a chance to share and review our favourite images from the trip.

Overnight: Hótel Búrfell (1 night in a double room with mountain views, breakfast included)

Hótel Búrfell is set on a working farm in the heart of Iceland’s South Coast. Rooms are bright and spacious, and many have views over the surrounding fields and mountains. The farm’s location provides easy access to nearby waterfalls and black-sand beaches.

After a memorable week photographing Iceland’s dramatic south coast, the tour concludes with a drive to Keflavik airport in time for afternoon flights. Depending on timings, there should be a chance to visit one or two interesting spots on the Reykjanes Peninsula en route.