All you need to know about our Wildlife photo tour in Iceland

Hornstrandir is a nature reserve located in the Westfjords, Iceland. We are lucky enough to be able to offer a wildlife photo tour in this remote region where only a privileged few set foot. Each year, we put together a small group and take them to the edge of the Arctic to photograph and document wildlife.

Many of you have asked us questions about our wildlife photo tour in Iceland, so we’ve compiled the main questions to give you a realistic picture of the adventure we offer wildlife photographers.

What is the main focus of our wildlife photo tour in Iceland?

Our wildlife photography tour takes place in Hornstrandir, Iceland. This wild peninsula is only accessible by boat. It has the highest density of Arctic Fox in the world! This is the main subject of our photo tour in Iceland.

We’re offering wildlife photographers the chance to come with us and discover the life of the Icelandic Arctic Fox and enjoy a unique experience in the world’s largest Arctic Fox refuge. This species, which arrived on the island via the pack ice during the last Ice Age, is Iceland’s only endemic mammal. Arctic Foxes everywhere are under threat from global warming, particularly from the northward advance of their cousin the Red Fox. But in Iceland, their situation is special because, apart from humans, they have no predators.

Who should attend our wildlife photography workshop in Iceland?

Our photo tour in Iceland is aimed at both amateur and professional photographers. The workshops are led by two wildlife and landscape photographers, Samy Berkani and Urip Dunker. Both photographers know every corner of Hornstrandir reserve.

Our photo workshop is essentially aimed at nature lovers, and that’s our only criterion. We’ll make sure you have the right equipment, including a telephoto lens for wildlife photography and a wide-angle lens for landscape photography.

What animals can be seen in the region?

Hornstrandir reserve is rich in endemic fauna and flora. Although the region is famous for its Arctic Fox, there are many other species to be seen.

Firstly, there are the marine mammals, which can be observed from the boat, during the journey, or from the coast. The most common marine mammals are the humpback whale, the minke whale, the killer whale and the harbour seal.

Next, you should know that Hornstrandir is a bird-watching paradise in Iceland. The cliffs are rich in seabird species such as northern fulmars, common guillemots, black guillemots and black-legged kittiwakes. On the coast, we see common eiders, harlequin ducks and other duck species on a daily basis. There are also waders in the reserve, the most common being the purple sandpiper.

Finally, we sometimes see other, more discreet birds during our wildlife photo tour in Iceland. The most emblematic are the white-tailed eagle and the gyrfalcon.

What is the programme of our wildlife photo tour in Iceland?

On the one hand, we prefer to limit the number of participants in our wildlife photo tour in Iceland (between 4 and 10 people). On the other hand, we have between 2 and 3 guides per workshop. This is why we can adapt our workshop to the participants. In other words, before our photo tours, we set up small working groups based on the participants wishes and objectives, and propose an adapted programme.

This method allows us to ensure that participants leave Iceland having achieved their objectives, and also to avoid putting pressure on the animals, by forming small groups of 2 or 3 people.
For example, we never take more than 2 people at a time near Arctic Fox dens.

How do I get to Ísafjörður, our starting point?

To take part in our workshops, participants must travel to the small town of Ísafjörður, in the north-west of Iceland. Despite its remoteness, the town is easily accessible in summer. You have two options:

• Take a 45-minute Icelandair flight from the capital Reykjavik (around €300 return). This is the most comfortable option, but not the cheapest.
• Hire a car at Keflavik airport on arrival, and return it in Ísafjörður. This option is cheaper if several participants decide to carpool (around €250 to share).

In any case, we assist our participants to ensure that they arrive at the meeting point on time. We also advise those who want to extend their stay after our wildlife photo tour in Iceland, to enjoy other parts of the country.

How does Hornstrandir nature reserve look like?

Hornstrandir nature reserve in Iceland is a succession of fjords and bays, valleys and mountains, black sand beaches and cliffs, rivers and waterfalls. It’s in these breathtaking landscapes that we’ll be exploring for 8 days!

In the past, men and women lived in Hornstrandir, braving the extreme climate to farm, hunt and fish. But the last humans left the ancient village of Hesteyri in the early 1950s. Since then, a few old houses have been transformed into holiday houses, occupied for one or two weeks a year.

Hornstrandir nature reserve is therefore untouched by humans for most of the year. Nature is wild and hunting is prohibited. As a result, the animals enjoy a peaceful life far from the negative impact of human activity.

What’s more, as the Arctic Circle is only a few kilometres from the reserve, we can take advantage of the midnight sun and the polar day during our wildlife photo workshops. These are magical lights, perfect for photography.

Finally, we chose this location for our wildlife photo tour in Iceland to offer a unique experience: photographing animals that are not afraid of humans!

How easy is it to observe Arctic Foxes during our photo tour ?

During our photo tour in Hornstrandir, we observe and photograph Arctic Foxes on a daily basis. We know the foxes territories and dens inside out, so we can offer you a photo tour full of encounters.

In order to offer a complete experience, we will take you to meet the Icelandic Arctic Fox in three different situations: firstly to observe the first steps of the Arctic Fox cubs, then to observe the hunting scenes on the cliffs and finally the interactions between the foxes.

What kind of weather should you be prepared for?

Hornstrandir faces north, north-east and north-west. In good weather, you can even see the Greenland coast, 300 km from the reserve. Given this geographical location, the reserve’s climate is extreme from September to the end of May!

During our wildlife photography tour in Iceland, the climate is milder, but just as unpredictable. Temperatures vary from 5° to 15°, but winds often exceed 30km/h. As for rainfall, it’s impossible to predict. We can take photographs for a good part of the trip, but sometimes we have to take shelter.

Finally, we make sure that every participant in our photography tour in Iceland has the right equipment to be comfortable throughout the stay.

Who are the guides on our photo tour in Iceland?

Depending on the number of participants, three of us accompany our students on these trips.

The first is Urip Dunker, landscape photographer and Iceland guide. With a wealth of experience in Latin America, Europe and Iceland, Urip is the ideal person to advise you and help you take beautiful photographs of the reserve’s incredible landscapes. Urip is also no stranger to Arctic Fox. As a guide in the reserve, he knows this species inside out and photographs it every year.

Secondly, Samy Berkani is a wildlife photographer specialising in the Icelandic Arctic Fox. For the last ten years or so, he has travelled to the most remote parts of Iceland to meet its wildlife. He’ll guarantee you a trip packed with animal encounters and information.

Finally, Lily Jean-Talon, our Marketing and Logistics Manager, sometimes takes part in our photo workshops, particularly when the number of participants exceeds 6. Her organisational skills, her concern for the well-being of participants and her creativity are an additional asset.

What is the minimum level of photography required to take part in the workshop?

We do not set a minimum level for our wildlife photo tour in Iceland. Whatever your level, you’re welcome. Our approach is to adapt to the participants so that they can achieve their goals, whatever they may be.

Hornstrandir is the ideal place to open up to nature and progress in wildlife photography. The beautiful light, the remoteness and the richness of the wildlife are a dream playground for anyone who loves nature!

How physically demanding is our photo tour?

In Iceland in general, and Hornstrandir in particular, the terrain is quite rugged and difficult. However, we chose to set up our camp as close as possible to Arctic Fox territory. In fact, we observe adult foxes every day, without having to move.

What’s more, the nearest burrows are within a 2km walk with no change in altitude, and the furthest are 2.5km and 3km respectively, with a difference in altitude of around 300m.

In conclusion, if you can walk 2 km, you will be able to observe adult foxes and fox cubs during our wildlife photo tour in Iceland. If you can walk for longer, with a bit of an incline, then you’ll be able to make observations in several different dens and follow several different fox families.

If you have any further questions about our Arctic Fox photo tour, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the form.