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Picture perfect holidays in Iceland

6th January 2010 Print

Wild Photography Holidays, the innovative travel company specialising in small-group photography holidays in wild and inaccessible places, has announced its programme of departures to Iceland for summer 2010.

Well known for its breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled scenery, Iceland abounds in natural wonders at their most extreme - and with four brand new, differently themed itineraries taking in some of the country's most extraordinary locations, Wild Photography Holidays offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience and capture this dramatic landscape at its very best.

A guidebook to Iceland reads like a Who's Who of Mother Nature's most spectacular creations. Thanks to the combined influences of fire and ice, there are mountains, waterfalls, fjords, glaciers and volcanoes in abundance - and, with a total population no larger than that of a medium-sized English city, the landscape in general appears empty and pristine. Photographers are drawn by the sheer outrageousness of these landscapes and the opportunity to explore, walk and take pictures in one of Europe's last remaining wildernesses.

Wild Photography Holidays are tailored to the needs of both amateur and experienced photographers. Each small-sized group benefits from the services of a dedicated photography tutor and experienced mountain guide, allowing for full immersion in the landscape and maximum time behind the lens.

The fully researched itineraries and 24-hour summer daylight allow ample time to explore little-known and often hard-to-reach locations that are of particular interest for photographers. Unlike conventional touring holidays, Wild Photography's holidays ensure that each group has the time, support and expertise to capture the images they really want to get, with viewing and feedback sessions in the evening.

The four new Icelandic itineraries take in distinctly different landscapes, ranging from snow-covered mountains and desolate deserts to impossibly blue glacial lagoons and volcanic, black-sand beaches. The first departure of the season (departing 22 May, 2010) is the Southern Contrasts - Glaciers, Volcanoes & Waterfalls itinerary, which visits a range of geothermal and glacial landscapes.

Particular highlights include a walk on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, plus visits to the warm, mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon (Iceland's famous outdoor spa); the stunning rift valley of Þingvellir National Park; the powerful waterfall at Gullfoss; and the regular-as-clockwork eruptions of the Strokkur geyser. The cost of this nine-day holiday is £1,885 per person, which includes all accommodation, most meals, all transfers, the services of a guide and photographic tutor and admission to the Blue Lagoon. Flights are not included.

A very different array of natural wonders can be experienced on the Flowers and Landscapes of the East tour, which takes in the untamed splendour of Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area. As the winter snows recede, the landscape bursts into life - providing an exceptional opportunity to photograph the flowers against a backdrop of snowy mountains, magnificent waterfalls and sleepy fishing villages in 24 hours of daylight.

This is a particularly remote and peaceful region known for its prolific birdlife (including a unique mix of European and North American duck species) which adds a different and challenging subject to the photographic spectrum. Other highlights include visits to the Eastern Fjords and four of Iceland's most breath-taking waterfalls. This 11-day holiday departs on 26 June and costs £1,885 per person, to include all accommodation, most meals, transfers, the services of a guide and photographic tutor and admission to Mývatn Nature Bath. Again, international flights are not included.

The 14-day Trails of the Deserted Fjords tour, departing 8 July, also takes in the Lake Mývatn area and the remote east coast. Of particular interest to photographers on this tour will be the magnificent geothermal and coastal scenery. Highlights include a chance to photograph a colourful lake located in the crater of an extinct volcano, plus an opportunity to enjoy some superb coastal walks. In addition, two nights spent in a mountain hut ensure that the group has ample access to the stunning scenery for which this region is renowned. This holiday costs £2,515 per person, to include all accommodation, most meals, transfers, the services of a guide and photographic tutor and admission to Mývatn Nature Bath. International flights are not included.

The final holiday in the Iceland programme, the 14-day Highland Exposure tour, departing on 1 August, ventures deep into Iceland's vast and uninhabited mountain interior. The scenery here is like nowhere else on Earth, affording unique opportunities to photograph vast lava flows, empty deserts, powerful waterfalls, volcanic landforms and Europe's largest ice cap - the massive Vatnajökull glacier.

This adventurous expedition into a rarely-visited region is the perfect choice for serious landscape photographers who are prepared to put in that ‘extra mile’ to capture their dream shots. The holiday costs £2,400 per person, which covers all accommodation, most meals, transfers, the services of a guide and photographic tutor and admission to Mývatn Nature Bath. International flights are not included.

Commenting on the new programme, Wild Photography Holidays' co-owner, Geraldine Westrupp, said, "Iceland's young, raw, dramatic landscapes and superb ambient light combine to produce an incredible array of photographic opportunities that are quite simply without equal. By venturing beyond the beaten track, each of our distinctly different and well-paced holidays makes the most of Iceland's wide open spaces and stunning natural scenery, allowing guests to capture unique images of places that few other visitors have seen".

To book, visit wildphotographyholidays.com.