Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the immense and beautiful Skogarfoss waterfall. The dramatic landscape is amazing. Just watching the amount of water pouring over the edge was so incredible. Hearing the noise and standing in the spray from the water was awesome.We were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on two nights. Worth going just to see the thousands of stars as well. So pretty.A trip to the blue lagoon was a relaxing end to the holiday.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Petur was well organised and was able to tell us a lot about the geography, geology and cultural history of Iceland.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure you take enough warm clothing as night viewing was extremely cold. We wore ski gear and thermals at night.Practice your night photography before the journey as trying to familiarise yourself with manual settings is not ideal in the dark whilst trying to watch the Northern Lights.

Most Inspirational Moment

Undoubtably seeing the Northern Lights.  We were so fortunate, as they appeared only a few hours after we arrived, before we'd even had chance to check-in to our hotel.     

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good.  With a pretty good command of English, and a decent sense of humour.  Knowledgable and good company when relaxing over dinner in the evening.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm clothing - lots of it as you may well end up spending a long time standing about in the middle of the night waiting and wanting to see the Lights.  Knowing that as soon as you decide to give up because you are too cold they will probably appear.  Thermal socks, thermal gloves, a thermal hat and thermal underwear (despite being about as sexy as a cold shower) are essential.  And a good pair of boots.  Also, learn how to use your camera in the pitch darkness whilst wearing gloves to enable you to take night-time photos.  Tip - wear an inner pair of light woolen gloves inside your thermal gloves, so that when you take your outergloves off to fiddle with your camera your fingers don't freeze.  Alternatively, ask one of your travelling companions - the one with the expensive camera, tripod and all the kit - to emal his/her photos to you when you get back home.  A couple of beers / glasses of wine will probably be sufficient to complete the deal.  Then just enjoy. 

Suggestions

Be the envy of your friends - catch the Lights while you can.  

Most Inspirational Moment

Walking on the glacier definitely, closely followed by the lava cave and seeing the Northern Lights.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kristjian was great, very knowledgeable and passionate about his country.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip is well worth doing, even if you are not lucky enough to see the Northern Lights.  Be prepared for any weather.  Gerdi guesthouse was comfortable and catered well for vegetarians, but if you are eating out, Iceland is not particularly veggie-friendly.

Suggestions

Fab-u-lous daaarling!

Most Inspirational Moment

Viewing photos of stars taken in the pitch black - we had never taken time delay shots at night before so seeing amazing images of the glacial lagoons and the milky way was nothing short of astonishing, (with a hint of the Northern Lights thrown in that was tricky to see with the naked eye, fab results!). We found our fellow exodus-explorers all really helpful with hints & tips on night-time and low light photography, all much appreciated!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic. Kristjan is a man than can do everything. Tour leader, crampon wielding, bus driving, (& what driving conditions! Ice, ice ice, snow storms ...!), biscuit supplying, magic lunch producer, hot drinks maker, lava caving instructor, information souce, photography improvised genius. Is there nothing this man can not do? Friendly, knowledgeable and never seems to need sleep. Kristjan deserves a gold medal for energy and improvisation!Kristjan is just the nicest and enthusiastically most sincere and generous person you could ever hope to meet.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't over pack evening gear. This trip is all about getting out there and cramming in as much as you can. You do cover big distances so have long periods of time travelling on the bus but the scenery changes every few K's so you just dont tire of the incredible scenery. Take a tripod if you're into photography and a small low level light torch so you can see where your gear/shutter release is!

Suggestions

If in any doubt about this trip DO IT! We felt as though we were away for significantly more than 5 days, we came back exhausted but brimming with excitement over some of the memories and great shots which are incredibly difficult to edit down to a sensible number. Kind of says it all.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the sun rise on the glacial logoonWatching the northern lights in freezing temperatures dance above our headsTaking photos of the sea breaking over ice-bergs on the beeach and getting thoroughly soaked by seawater because Paul showed us how to capture the waves at their optimum!     

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul and Christian worked hard to ensure we found the best locations to see the northern lights. We are indebted to them.Paul was a 'no nonsense' leader and a highly capable photographer - just the man to lead this trip 

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of spare, warm clothing!

Suggestions

Make it at least a day longer 

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching Paul get wet?  Walking on ice behind a waterfall (using crampons)?  Seeing the Northern Lights? Admiring the colours of the icebergs? Too many to mention!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul and the local guide Kristian worked hard studying weather and light acivity reports to make sure that whatever the weather conditions were we were doing the best activity. Paul was tireless in ensuring that all were getting what they wanted from the trip, whether that was good pictures, walking, sighseeing or just plain fun. he managed it.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take warm waterproof clothes and shoes, a good camera and don't forget your tripod!  Also be prepared to wait for the Lights - they are not like Oxford Street and come on with a switch but they are so much better!

Suggestions

No, think I've said it all above!

Most Inspirational Moment

This was the first evening in the initial hour or so with the view of the Northern Lights over the Jokusarlon Lagoon to the glacier 2 kms away. Initially, we thought it was low lying mist but when the camera took an extended time exposure, the lights came out in glorious colour with amazing reflections on the lagoon. The second night was even better with 3 hours of viewing over a famous and beautiful waterfall. This was the night to remember with the lights in many configurations over the night sky. The camera captured it all in glorious colour. Brilliant!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Paul Goldstein has a brilliant personality, is very enthusiatic and a professional leader. The trip was arranged purely for the photographer to capture amazing images that make Iceland a beautifal country to visit. He had several followers in the group who had previously travelled with him to Africa and Antarica. We are photographically challenged but we learnt a volume of information from Paul and the rest of the group who helped us with camera settings to move away from our usual 'auto' settings.  Also should be mentioned is Kristian, who is the local Icelandic organiser. His photographic input and organisation of transport, accommodation and amazing meals was invaluable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip was all about the Northern Lights and capturing professional images that Iceland presented to us. Travel light with a good to reasonable camera and accessories and you will not be dissapointed with your results. I only had a Canon G12 and a tripod and captured great images, the more 'professional' girls and guys in the group took brilliant shots..... 

Suggestions

You might need some warm clothes and 'toasty' feet warmers and gloves.....