Group tours, photography tours or customised itineraries.
High up north just outside the Arctic Circle, underneath a magnetic sky that weaves auroras violet, red and green, there is a land where glaciers and geysers, and fjords and volcanos intermingle to forge a land of ice and fire. Explore our Iceland Tour Packages including our Iceland photo tour and group tours.
Navigate through this mercurial land this winter to reach a state of landscape photography bliss. And in the land of the opposite forces, achieve unity with the magic that spins around the sun by the name of Earth.
Best time to Visit:
Throughout the year
Recommended min. duration:
7N/8 days
Attractions:
Landscapes
Culture
Northern Lights
Activities:
Photography
Whale Watching
Sightseeing
Nearest Airport:
Keflavik
There are three different ways to explore Iceland. Depending on the kind of traveler you are, we welcome you to choose your preferred Iceland tour packages.
Our team of ace photographers will guide you on a exciting Iceland Photography Tour to ensure you come back with not only great travel memories but also some stunning photographs.
Exploring the world with like-minded nature-lovers is surely an exciting human experience. Our fixed departure Iceland Group Tour Packages are a safe and fun way to travel for individuals or families alike.
For families and individuals who want a tailor-made holiday to suit their personal needs, we invite you to explore our vast array of packages.
A convergence of elements in all their untamed colours held together with lots of ice and a little fire.
Iceland defies categorisation. It’s neither bucolic nor Utopian; neither hostile nor placid; and neither entirely frozen nor oppressively warm.
Iceland is nothing if not alive. It’s a living, changing landscape that breathes through its volcanos and bubbles through its geysers. And when things go south, looks cheerfully at you with its lush pastures and gushing waterfalls.
It wasn’t always like this. Iceland is one of the planet’s youngest landmasses, with all this geological bustle having mushroomed as recently as yesterday plus 25 million years ago. And it’s still growing, at a positively pubescent 5 cm every year.
That rate of expansion for so long would make even an ant a giant, and surely enough, that’s what Iceland is: the second largest island in Europe (after Great Britain) and the 18th largest on the planet. And the giant wears many robes.
In the southwest, moss-covered steaming lava fields are the choice outfit for some contrasting Arctic sizzle, while in the northwest, soaring fjords are the pick from the wardrobe for that flowing look. The coveted centre is attired in barren highlands to offset all the razzmatazz, while the terrain generally is bedizened with impressive peaks, plateaux and lowlands.
But the most striking aspect of this accoutrement is the dark hemline, in the form of black-sand beaches on the tortuous 5000 km coastline, striking enough to evoke memories of The Swan Queen and peculiar enough to feel like a scene from medieval fantasy, Game of Thrones, large and impressive parts of which are fittingly filmed here.
And with a sparse population and over 80% of Iceland’s area reeling in joyous desertion, experience pristine seclusion as you set about witnessing a dazzle that’s uniquely Icelandic in its ‘Arcadian rhythms’, and the convergence of elements in all their untamed colours: red, green and violet in the sky, blue and brown underneath — held together with lots of ice and a little fire.
Surreal mountains, ridges, glaciers and lowlands are all there. That is, even without counting the Northern Lights!
With so much going on, it’s little wonder that the subject of this Tour is the land itself, in all its glorious forms.
Our voyage will begin with an unforgettable experience in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, famously known as a miniature model of Iceland, due to the way it encapsulates all the magnificent landscapes seen on the island.
Kirkjufell, known to be the most photographed mountain in Iceland, is on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We make some evocative images of this dauntingly-beautiful mountain and its breathtaking surroundings. Iceland also has amazing lava formations, gorges and waterfalls, lovely towns and harbours, and an assortment of fascinating attractions, all of which render themselves to stunning frames.
Lying next to Europe’s largest glacier is Iceland’s largest national park of the same name, Vatnajökull, also encompassing Skaftafell in the southwest, and Jökulsárgljúfur in the north, which is considered one of the country’s most romantic and magical places. In all, the park covers some 13% of Iceland’s area, and is among Europe’s largest national parks.
Here you will be treated to fantastically diverse landscape despite a large part of it being underneath the icecap of the Vatnajökull Glacier, due in part to the constant interplay of volcanic activity and glaciers. In George Martin’s universe, Vatnajökull is the mysterious land Beyond the Wall, home to mythical creatures and White Walkers. It’s as mythical in the real world as it’s real in the mythical world.
Here, spectacular photo opportunities are the byproduct of icebergs from Vatnajökull Glacier falling frequently into the lagoons and floating around until they melt or are small enough to be carried by the river to the sea.
The southern part of Vatnajökull, which envelops Iceland’s highest peak, the mouthful Hvannadalshnúkur, is punctuated by the majesty of mountain ridges, with outlet glaciers gracefully descending betwixt them onto the handsome lowlands.
As for wildlife, Arctic foxes are the only originally native mammals on the island, while Icelandic horses, although not wild, are an absolute joy to photograph, particularly against such exquisite backdrops, and birdlife is rich to the teeth, although winter’s not the best time to find them.
And amongst all this, whenever the weather conditions are conducive, we’ll be hunting for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) with enticing Icelandic nature in the foreground — just because we can, and because an outstanding thing can always be made even more surreal.
Especially if it’s on the marvellous island of Iceland.
It’s easy. Call us on 1800 1200 901 (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.) or simply fill this form, and we’ll get back to you like the whirring wind.
Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge-sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focused.
Of course! Please talk to our capable Camera Rent team or mention what gear you’d like to hire while registering for the tour. Guess what? We offer you a 10% off on camera rent while on the tour.
Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold’s eminent Skippers. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!
However, in order to make the most of the Tour photographically, we recommend that you be familiar with photography fundamentals. If you’re not, we suggest you join an Art and Science of Photography Workshop before the Tour.
Please note: We assemble for this Tour on 3 November 2023 at Reykjavik, Iceland, and depart from the same place on 10 Nov. Travel between your home and Reykjavik is not included in the Tour fee, but all requisite assistance with air travel will be provided.
Participants in Reykjavik arrive from various places, and once everyone has checked in to our hotel, we meet before dinner for a round of introduction and orientation, where Skipper will set the tone for the Tour and brief the group on what to expect over days to come. We dine and retire for the night in hot anticipation of the icy-cool time to come.
Our exploration of Iceland will start with the Snæfellsjökull Glacier and the charming villages and friendly people who nest around it. This day we enjoy the nature and the wildlife the area offers, and photograph the exceptional lava fields and formations, and fill our eyes and memory cards with its gorgeous gorges and waterfalls, lovely towns and harbours.
We will, on this day, traverse the spectacular route from the Peninsula to the South Coast, treating our eyes to and photographing such sublime sights as will amiably confront our senses along the way.
We’ll spend the next day on the South Coast of Iceland, from Reykjavík to the Vík, a charming village. We’ll discover the island’s volcanic activities while passing by some of the island’s active volcanoes, and behold their most recent eruptions. Along the way we enjoy the sight of the black-pebble beach of Reynisfjara and the basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. Dyrhólaey, Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Sólheimasandur and its notorious plane wreck are amongst our stops.
We will visit the magical Jökulsárlón and other picturesque destinations around it. We will spend these days soaking in the beauty of all these places and creating images at every destination. On the evening of the final day, we’re dropped off to the hotel.
After breakfast we check out and are transferred to the airport, whence, having enjoyed an enchanting time on the exotic island of Iceland, we fly back home.
All figures per person.
All figures per person.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees.
It’s easy. Call us on 1800 1200 901 (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.) or simply fill this form, and we’ll get back to you like the whirring wind.
Anybody interested in landscape photography or nature in general and is above the age of 18 (unless accompanied by an adult) can participate in this Tour. There are no eligibility criteria.
Most certainly! While photographers will probably derive maximum value from this Tour, non-photographers will enjoy the expedition equally.
Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold’s eminent Skippers. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up for an Art and Science of Photography Workshop.
The focus of this Tour is on landscape photography, so a good ultra-wide-angle lens and a wide-angle zoom are musts along with graduated neutral-density, neutral density or variable neutral density, and circular polarising filters, a fisheye lens being welcome, too. For the occasional portrait and to photograph the horses, a 50mm or equivalent normal lens would be desirable. A tripod is absolutely necessary, and so is an intervalometer if your camera doesn’t feature in-built interval shooting, or just a wireless or cabled remote release otherwise, for bulb photography.
Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge-sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focussed.
The weather is variable, but the average hovers around -5°C. There will be considerable strong, chilly winds, so please carry sufficient warm clothing.
Although this is not a very physically intensive Tour, some basic amount of physical fitness is required, chiefly to withstand the cold, undertake short and easy to moderate walks and treks. If you suffer from known illnesses, please consult your physician before signing up for the Tour.
We’ll be using vehicles to get to the places of attraction, but most or all of the photography will be done on foot.
Yes. You need a valid Schengen visa to enter Iceland, and while the Tour cost does not include visa expenses, all the assistance you require in procuring a visa will be duly provided.
Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tours and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our photography were unsatisfactory. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment and are visiting in the winter, we do not claim that the conditions will always be conducive to photography.
If you do not own adequate photography gear, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses for hire, so you can always hire what you need. Visit our Rental Store to see what we offer. What’s better, you enjoy a 10% discount on all equipment hired on our Photo Tours!
Please note: The Tour commences at Nairobi on Day 1 at around 06:30 a.m., and ends after breakfast on Day 7. On day 1 you may either take a flight that reaches Nairobi in time for the start the same morning, or fly in the previous day and stay overnight in Nairobi (in which case, the cost of accommodation will be additional). Please also note that flight costs are not included in the Tour fee
Checking out from our Nairobi hotel after an early breakfast, we pick up the participants arriving this morning (if any) and make our way to the heart of the Migration action, the legendary Masai Mara, which we reach by afternoon.
After lunch close to the entrance of the Mara, we start our first game drive en route to our first destination around the lodge area.
The transitory herds may be seen very close to the lodge and sometimes a little further away but there is no chance of missing them. Feeling our way around, we will understand the current state of the Migration.
After the drive, we check in to exclusive and cosy tents at the first camp of the Tour, the lodge. Once fresh, we exchange notes about our initial observations and experiences, and hear insights from the Skipper about his strategy for the rest of the Tour ahead before dining and retreating to our rooms to tuck in for the night.
The lodge is a lovely property located stunningly, right near the Talek River, which is one of the two rivers (the other being the Mara River itself) which the migratory herds cross. Ergo, this property has been deliberately and carefully chosen to give us quick and easy access to all the action.
We spend the whole day looking for crossings as well as predator and other action, while the Skipper takes a call on returning to the lodge for lunch based on the prevailing situation.
In the evening the Skipper will bring you a photography session to help brush up on your basics and make sure you’re equipped to do justice to the opportunities coming up, before you enjoy a scrumptious supper and retire for the night.
Having explored the Talek River side, it’s now time to proceed to the celebrated Mara Triangle area and look for action around the Mara River, so after a morning drive around the Talek, we cross over to the Triangle and check in to the delightful lodge.
After lunch we enjoy an introductory ride in the area before returning to the lodge for another interactive session, we call ChitraTantra, before supper and sleep.
We enjoy the next three days in the very heart of the Migration around Serena and the Mara River, leveraging the Skipper’s rich experience to get to the right places and make memorable, meaningful images to capture the scale and wonder of the dramas unfolding before us.
Every morning we start at 06:30 a.m. after an early breakfast and hope to catch action in the quintessentially spectacular savannah light and after the post-lunch afternoon safari, return after sunset to unwind.
In the evenings, the Skipper will continue to bring the fabulously entertaining and educative interactive sessions, including a third kind of session we call CharchaaLoka, where valuable photography advice including shooting techniques, camera settings and post-processing tips; fascinating natural history insights; image critique; post-processing tips, and some riveting and funny anecdotes will be imparted!
After having spent a hopefully eventful time photographing the Migration in the Mara, we check out after breakfast and return to Nairobi by lunch, whence we take the departing flights for our abodes, where a wealth of images will be processed and many captivating stories told to our families.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees.
It’s easy. Call us on 1800 1200 901 (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.) or simply fill this form, and we’ll get back to you like the whirring wind.
Yes; vaccination against polio and yellow fever is mandatory in many countries including India. Please talk to us for advice on how to get one.
Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge-sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focussed.
Since participants of this Tour travel from various destinations in India and abroad, the Tour commences at Nairobi at around 06:30 a.m. You may take a flight that reaches Nairobi before that time the same morning, or fly in the previous day and stay overnight in Nairobi . Please also note that flight costs are not included in the Tour fee.
May 2024 – Please arrive on 22 May 2024 any time. (Hotel Night is included)
Please note: This is not a photography tour and we would have 6 People in a LandCruiser. If you wish to join our Photography Tour with only 3 People in a LandCruiser guided by our ace photographers please consider the Photo Tour.
Our fleet of safari vehicles carrying our Skipper and the park guides will pick participants who have landed in the morning from the Nairobi Airport, and participants who have arrived a day earlier from their hotels, at around 06:30 a.m. Once everybody is on board, we undertake a four-hour drive to Amboseli National Park. A mutual introduction session and a brief by the skipper to set basic expectations for the tour will be followed by lunch.
After lunch will ensue our first safari of the tour – recipe for a memorable moment for any first-time Africa visitor and something that, even after all these visits, gets the skipper’s adrenaline pumping. Driving through the park will acquaint you with the African landscape and give you but a glimpse of the exciting time ahead.
An entire memorable day will be spent out in the picturesque expanses of Amboseli, where views of elephants with the magnificent Kilimanjaro in the backdrop have been specially designed by nature to enthrall. Apart from the pachyderms, we are likely to photograph ostriches, hyaenas, lions, cheetahs and a whole lot of attractive wildlife.
In the evening, the skipper will deliver a ChaayaaChitra session before a satiating supper and shuteye call a closure to the eventful day.
After breakfast, we depart for Nakuru. Arriving just before lunch, we embrace our home for the next two days overlooking the beautiful Lake Nakuru. Following a scrumptious lunch, we embark on the afternoon safari, seeking the chief spectacle of the flamingo congregation and over 400 other species of birds found here.
In the evening we enjoy a tribal dance and celebration before an appetizing supper, and retire for the day.
Setting off after breakfast, we spend as much time in the park as we can in order to sight the plentiful wildlife of Nakuru. The early morning drive will be followed by lunch and an evening safari.
This being an excellent location to see the elusive leopard, we take our chances to spot the spotted beauty of Nakuru. Efforts will also be made to photograph white rhinos and black rhinos.
Between the rides, we meet at the picturesque Baboon Hill overlooking the lake and its flamingo formations, and discuss various topics of nature photography and the natural history of Africa. Meanwhile, here, ultra wide-angle perspectives of baboons, a fixture atop the hill, are a distinct prospect.
For participants who want to relax and take the afternoon easy, the beautiful lodge with plenty of trees and a great restaurant is a fabulous place to rest.
A rivetting session of ChitraTantra by the skipper before dinner will be a fitting, erudite way of ending the enriching day.
After breakfast, a pleasant drive across the dramatic Great Rift Valley brings you through the Narok Township, a major Maasai administrative centre, to Kenya’s most precious wildlife sanctuary, Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Masai Mara is home to the colorful Maasai tribe, who may be seen around the borders of the park, with Morans (‘warriors’) loping across the plains, young boys herding goats, or elders grouped under a tree discussing the matters of the day.
Wildlife viewing is never dull in the Mara, and patience is often rewarded with unique sightings. By now hopefully the group will have been acquainted with the African bush, so we seek to make the most of the bounty on offer.
Staying inside the park will ensure a great experience and early access to photography hotspots, so we may catch a lion pride gearing up for a hunt or a solitary leopard retrieving its kill from the high branches of an Acacia tree merely a few hundred metres from the camp.
Every morning while at Masai Mara, we start our day with packed breakfast at 06:30 a.m. and venture into the bush. For participants who are agreeable to spending the entire day in the field, packed lunch boxes will be provided to keep us going the whole day, thereby maximizing wildlife viewing and photography opportunities.
An occasional afternoon shower may be encountered but this will in no way mean a dampener, for the animals continue to be seen and what’s more, it will open up the prospect of making evocative images of wildlife in the rain. And when the clouds have passed, the light that illuminates the scene can serve to illustrate the meaning of the word ‘ethereal’ better than any lexicon in the world.
Meeting at specific points in the savannah, we learn and discuss various topics on photography and natural history of Africa and the Mara in general. These two days are tipped to be the highlight of the Tour with plenty of wildlife on show.
In the evenings a session of CharchaaLoka or simply a question-answer interaction will afford a wealth of learning on a diverse array of photography and natural history topics.
Maasai Village Optional Tour
While at Masai Mara, based on the group’s inclination, the Skipper will plan a visit to a local Maasai Village for a few hours in the day to learn and understand the Maasai culture, their way of life and their interesting community living. This optional Tour costs an additional USD 30 per person.
Balloon Safari Optional Tour
A ride in a hot-air balloon over the endless expanses of the savannah is an ultimate safari experience. We leave the lodge before dawn, when the sky is clear, the air brisk and the conditions perfect. As the sun rises over the Mara plains, our balloon lifts off – a bright splash of colour rising gracefully into the infinite blue. A stunning panorama unfolds below us and the balloon basket becomes our lookout post for a bird’s-eye view of the Mara’s magnificence. We float silently just a few hundred feet above large herds of wild animals. Upon landing, we celebrate the flight with a glass of champagne, after which the retrieval safari cruisers take us back to our driver. This optional ride costs an additional USD 450 per person.
After a scrumptious breakfast, we drive out making sure we arrive by lunchtime at an Indian restaurant in Nairobi. After lunch, we are transferred to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our home-bound flights.
The Tour ends but your love affair with African wildlife has just begun.
Participants who feel the need to stretch their Tour are welcome to stay back on the following nights, to experience two more full days at the Mara at their own pace. The schedule for the two days will remain the same while we venture to deeper areas of the Mara on the full-day game drives, maximizing our chances of bringing back stunning photographs. This extension will be charged additionally. Please express your interest in the extension while booking the Tour to know more.
With the extension having come to an end, following an early breakfast, we drive out making sure we arrive by lunchtime at an Indian restaurant in Nairobi. After lunch, we are transferred to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for our home-bound flights.
All figures per person.
Payments may be made in equal monthly installments so long as the above schedule is adhered to. Please talk to us for more details.
All figures per person.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees.
It’s easy. Call us on 1800 1200 901 (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.) or simply fill this form, and we’ll get back to you like the whirring wind.
The Tour commences and ends at Kabini (Karapura). Travel from or via Bengaluru and back will be by sharing participants’ private cars or shared cabs at extra actual cost. Assistance in the way of coordination and arrangements will be provided but please talk to us for additional help or special needs.
Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees.
NO Refunds.
Due to the pandemic the travel industry is at an all time low-cashflow situation. So we wouldn’t be able to do refunds but only issue Credit Notes for any cancellation from your side or due to COVID related lockdowns and closures.
It’s easy. Call us on 1800 1200 901 (Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.) or simply fill this form, and we’ll get back to you like the whirring wind.
That’s quite easy. It depends on what your interest is. If you are a photography enthusiast and would like our skipper’s guidance and tutelage, then Photo Tour. Else hope on to a group tour where photography isn’t the focus of the trip. Finally, we can tailor-make a vacation for you if you need to travel on your own date and style.
Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven’t experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge-sharing. Besides, most or all of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps make your experience focused.
Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold’s eminent Skippers. In fact if you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!
However, in order to make the most of the Tour photographically, we recommend that you be familiar with photography fundamentals. If you’re not, we suggest you join an Art and Science of Photography Workshop before the Tour.
