Dates:

Saturday, April 15 - Sunday, April 23, 2023

Cost: 

$6,895 - Double occupancy lodging (Single room available for $800)

Size:

Limited to 12 attendees

Included in the cost of the trip:

• Double occupancy lodging (Single room available for $800)
• Arrival and farewell dinners
  
• Daily breakfast
• Ground transportation in modified 4x4 motor coach
  
• In the field photography instruction
  
• 1-on-1 Adobe Lightroom and critique sessions
• Loaner Leica equipment (*limited availability)
  
  

Signing Up

To sign up for the photo adventure, just pay the deposit, and single room supplement if you so choose, here on our website, email us (workshops@leicastoremiami.com) or call 305-921-4433. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. 

We look forward to seeing you in Iceland!

ITINERARY

Saturday, April 15th: Arrival

After arriving at Iceland's Keflavik International Airport (KEF), you can take the Flybus or a taxi to our hotel in the center of Reykjavík. At 6:00pm, we'll have a meet and greet in the hotel lobby and then enjoy a welcome dinner. We’ll spend the evening getting to know each other, and we'll take a closer look at the itinerary and adventure to come. We will spend the night in Reykjavik and rest well for our morning departure.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Reykjavík

April 16-17: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Our bus will pick us up from the hotel in the early morning, and we will start our journey to the beautiful Snæfellsnes peninsula where we will spend the next two nights. On our way to Snæfellsnes, we will travel pass majestic mountains and the farmlands of West Iceland. Once at the peninsula, the towering Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano will greet you. We’ll spend our day shooting some of the stunning scenery found in this region including charming fishing villages, beautiful coastlines, and iconic mountains. At night, we will seek out the Northern Lights.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Stykkishólmur



Today, we’ll have the chance to explore the Snæfellsnes peninsula in depth. We’ll photograph the cone-shaped mountain Kirkjufell and the nearby waterfall. Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones might recognize this iconic feature as it was used as a backdrop in the show. We will also see some of the area’s dramatic coastlines and photograph the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean as it hits the peninsula’s cliffs. If the conditions are favorable in the evening, we will hunt and photograph the Northern Lights as they dance across the evening sky.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Stykkishólmur

April 18th: Heading North


We’ll get up early today to capture the sunrise at Kirkjufell mountain. This fantastic site provides you with endless opportunities to capture the diverse Icelandic conditions with an amazing subject. From there, we will head towards the northwest, where you’ll stop at the strange rock formation, Hvítserkur. Some say this majestic monolith looks like a prehistoric creature, others say it resembles an elephant drinking out of the surrounding water. According to folklore, however, it is a troll which has been turned into stone by the sunlight. Afterwards, you‘ll head further north and spend the night in the Vatnsnes Peninsula.

After your sunrise shots and breakfast you will head up North where there are plenty of epic sights to photograph. One of those is Goðafoss waterfall which is likely to be clad in ice around this time of year, making for a truly impressive sight. This is one of Iceland‘s most famous and beautiful falls, and according to the Icelandic sagas it was there that law speaker Þorgeir Þorkelsson, who settled the religious strife in Iceland at the time, threw the old idols of the Nordic gods, symbolising the end of paganism as an officially accepted religious custom. It is said that the fall takes it‘s name, “The Fall of the Gods“, from this act, but one can just as well agree with the name simply by witnessing the fall‘s sheer beauty. You will visit the famous lake Mývatn which is set with many small islands and pseudo craters. Close by is the dramatic, indeed chaotic lava field Dimmuborgir, from which a Norwegian symphonic metal band takes its name. Another testimony to how inspiring the scenery is, is the fact that the producers of the TV series Game of Thrones shot many of the scenes beyond the wall at the Mývatn area. Overnight at Mývatn. You will spend the evening in the Mývatn area.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Myvatn

April 20th: Waterfalls in North Iceland


On day 6, two more of Iceland‘s most beautiful waterfalls await you. On this day you‘ll travel by a super jeep towards the central highlands, where the highlights will be the waterfalls Aldeyjarfoss and Hrafnabjargafoss, both located in the mighty Skjálfandafljót river. Of note is the contrast between the huge black bent basalt columns at the 20 meter high Aldeyjarfoss and the whiteness of the fall. Hrafnabjargafoss similarly offers an impressive sight, immersed with snow and set with icy columns. These falls are a challenge to reach in winter but being clad in ice and snow, coupled with the contrast of the aforementioned colours at Aldeyjarfoss and a clear blue pool at its feet, they make for a photographing opportunity which is certainly worth the effort. 

Accommodation: Fosshotel Myvatn

April 21st: Geothermal Areas


We'll spend this day exploring more of the majestic Mývatn region including the colorful geothermal area by Námaskarð mountain, also known as Hverarönd or Hverir. There we can photograph the many solfataras and boiling mud pots, which are themselves surrounded by sulphur crystals. As the area gives off a lot of hot steam, caution is advised. Afterwards if you wish you will get to climb Hverfjall, one of the world‘s largest explosion craters, and have a great view of the wild snow-clad landscape. Altogether, this is a perfect day to explore and photograph stunning evidence of earth‘s inner powers.

Accommodation: Fosshotel Myvatn

April 22nd: Return to Reykjavík


Today, we'll head out to photograph Goðafoss waterfall at sunrise before returning to Reykjavík. If time permits we'll make some photography stops along the way. After checking in at our hotel, we'll meet for a farewell dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Sunday, April 23rd: Departure

On our final day in Iceland, we will wake in Reykjavik, have breakfast and say our goodbyes. You can take the FlyBus or a taxi to Keflavik International Airport, full of memories and photographs from an unforgettable adventure. 

Payment

A $1995 deposit, along with the single supplement room fee if you choose it, is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due on January 15, 2023.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Enrollment is limited to 12 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:

If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:

At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refund

Course Cancellation and Other Terms

Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.
In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.
In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.

Covid-19 Protocols

Our main priority during our workshops is customer safety. To that end, we will follow all CDC and NIH guidelines for Covid-19 safety during our trips. We will continue to monitor these guidelines as conditions may change over time. 

Please be aware that some destinations may require proof of a vaccine and/or negative Covid-19 test upon arrival. 

If a participant exhibits Covid-19 symptoms during the trip, we will isolate them from the group and get them medical attention. In this event, we reserve the right to cancel the rest of the workshop.

In the event that the CDC or other government agencies have restricted travel at the time of this workshop, we will allow participants to transfer their workshop fee to another workshop or to store credit, or receive a full refund.

Medical Insurance (required)

Emergency medical insurance through a provider like Allianz or similar is required to participate in any of Leica Store Miami's international workshop.

Travel Insurance (optional but recommended)

Leica Store Miami is not responsible for cancellations due to medical  or personal emergencies so we highly recommend purchasing travel Insurance. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Just make sure that they have an A+ rating from the BBB. Travel insurance generally costs 5-7% of your total trip cost. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation.

Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.

Transfers

If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit or workshop fee, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.

There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.