This summer, we were delighted to welcome photographers to our 2025 Arctic fox Photo Tour. It is impossible to predict how a trip will unfold, as nature is so unpredictable. However, we have decided to provide a report on each photography tour we organize. The aim is to tell you about the conditions in which the tour took place, the successes and failures, and to give you a more accurate idea of our wildlife photography trips.
The purpose of these reports is also to share participants’ feedback, whether positive or negative. We want to be transparent about our trips and allow future photographers who join us to have realistic expectations. At the end of each workshop, we ask participants to give us their feedback so that we can include it in our report.
Overview of the 2025 Arctic Fox Photography tour
The boat trip
The boat is the only way to reach the nature reserve where our photo tour is taking place. The journey takes between two and three hours, depending on the ocean conditions. And on this day, 26 June 2025, the ocean decided to give us a rough ride during the four hours it took to cross! Several of us got seasick and had an unpleasant time. Usually, this crossing allows us to observe humpback whales, minke whales and sometimes orcas. Unfortunately, the conditions were not ideal for observing marine mammals. In the end, we were happy to arrive at our destination and set foot on land, watched by a seal from its rock.
On the other hand, the trip back was simply splendid! We were able to enjoy calm seas and beautiful light, allowing us to photograph puffins, guillemots, fulmars and other black-legged kittiwakes in flight or on the water. This crossing reconciled us with the North Atlantic.
The weather in Iceland last summer
Although Iceland experienced heat waves in July and August (with an incredible record high of 29.5°C in the Est fjords), the weather was more unpredictable at the beginning of summer during our Photo tour. We had three cold and rainy days before luck (and the wind) changed. As is often the case in Iceland, we had to be patient and take shelter in the refuge. It was an opportunity to discuss arctic foxes, answer questions and listen to each other’s travel stories between trips out in the rain.
Iceland is located at the edge of the North Atlantic, at the crossroads between polar winds and the warm currents brought by the Gulf Stream. This geographical location makes the island’s weather particularly unpredictable. And even though June is on average the least rainy month of the year, we knew Iceland and knew what to expect.
After three days, we were blessed with good weather and were able to fully enjoy the long summer days.
The base camp
For this Arctic fox photo tour, we set up camp in the area with the highest density of Arctic foxes. The camp consisted of a tent equipped with a 16cm thick mattress for each participant, and a teepee that served as our headquarters and kitchen. In the teepee, we set up a table, camping chairs and cooking equipment.
This basic setup, while much more comfortable than a simple bivouac, allowed us to be at the heart of the action and live alongside the foxes.
We also set up camp near dry toilets and a few metres from a river. It is important to note that in Iceland, river water is drinkable at any time of year.
Arctic fox season: The joys and disappointments of participants
During the second half of June, the season is in full swing. This is when Arctic foxes are most active.
The eight days we spent following the rhythm of the Arctic foxes were intense! The first joy is obviously living in a nature reserve on the edge of Iceland, where Arctic foxes roam the tundra in complete tranquillity. We were lucky enough to make several observations each day. These observations, made in good conditions, allowed our photographers to take pictures every day, each time in a different setting. We were able to observe foxes of both morphs (brown and white) in rocky environments, on beaches, in the tundra, etc. One of them was so curious that it came to our camp to sniff around our tents, to see if it could find something to nibble on.
We also witnessed some incredible scenes of territorial disputes! Not that we were specifically looking to see foxes fighting, but the fact is that when nature is free and wild, it pays little attention to our presence.
On the disappointing side, we unfortunately had a disastrous summer for fox cubs. The cubs did not come out during the photo tour. Subsequently, given that we work in the Westfjords from June to October, we observed a very high mortality rate. We literally saw more dead fox cubs than alive ones. We do not yet know the reason for this mass death. But we are staying in contact with the reserve’s staff for any information on the subject.
A trip to see puffins and razorbill
Before the Arctic fox photo tour, we headed to the cliffs of Latrabjarg with part of the team for a short bird watching session, focusing on puffins and razorbills. We spent an afternoon and a morning at this exceptional site, where hundreds of thousands of seabirds share the steep cliffs that plunge into the ocean. The puffins and razorbills were there waiting for us!
Some photos from the 2025 Arctic fox season
During our photo tour, our mission is essentially to provide participants with the best possible conditions. We therefore spent a lot of time supporting and advising our photographers, but also scouting for the best opportunities. However, our cameras were never far away, and we were able to take a few pictures that we are sharing here.
During this photography workshop, we tried to vary the landscapes and areas we explored. The aim was both to limit disturbance in each area and to allow photographers to take pictures in different environments. It is impressive to see how well the Arctic fox, like its cousin the red fox, adapts to all situations. We observed foxes scouring the beach or rocks in search of dead fish, but also foxes climbing steep cliffs to hunt seabirds. We even saw a polar fox crossing a river!
Some photos of the participants
We also asked our photographers if they would like to share some of their photographs of Arctic foxes and other Icelandic animals with you. Here is a summary of what thet experienced during this 2025 photography tour.
Of course, we wouldn’t be able to experience all these moments without the adventurous spirit of the participants who have placed their trust in us. We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to turn our passion for wildlife into our profession. We are very grateful and give our all during our photography tour. So, a big thank you to the Arctic Fox 2025 team, and see you in the summer of 2026!
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