9-17 JAN 2017 CAPTURE ICELAND WINTER TOUR SHARING PRICE PP - 4 295.00 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - 695.00 INFO@CAPTUREARTH.COM +27 76 279 2202 WWW.CAPTUREARTH.COM
Our glacier guide admires soft sunlight falling in through the roof of a glacier cave
During our visit the nights are 16 hours long, ensuring a high probability of photographing the Northern Lights. The Destination On a remote island in the frigid North Atlantic, lies the world s most popular landscape photography destination; Iceland. This relatively small island offers some of the world s most amazing landscapes, thanks to it s extreme latitude and unique geography. Excellent tourism infrastructure ensures amazingly easy access to most locations, which is a key part of it s title as the world s most popular landscape photo destination. Expect to find frozen waterfalls, lagoons and beaches strewn with icebergs, glaciers, glacier caves and so much more, all within easy walking distance of a parking lot. As if all of that isn t good enough, things are made even better by winter light - during January, the sun rises around 11:00am and sets again around 4:00pm. Colourful skies at the start and end of each day seem eternal and in between the sun never rises very high, providing soft warm light during the middle of the day. The cherry on the cake is the oppurtunity to witness and photograph the Northern lights and visiting one of Vatnajokull s glacier caves. Long winter nights and an extreme Northern latitude ensure optimal opportunities for witnessing the Aurora Borealis. *Price - Please note that our tours are costed in a specific currency and only the price in that currency is fixed. Any prices displayed in other currencies are merely for your convenience and may be inaccurate due to the fluctuation of exchange rates. The price for this tour is EUR 4 295.00 per person sharing, with a single supplement of EUR 695.
Main Features Ultimate convenience - All you have to do is pack your bags and book your plane tickets. We take care of the rest. Inclusive- all breakfasts, dinners, accommodation, transport, entry fees and extra activities included. Nine days (eight nights) of photography at Iceland s best landscapes. Travel in comfort - Transport in a large bus with 2 seats per person, so you can have your camera gear next to you. Tutoring by a highly experienced guide who was spent more than 60 days at the locations. Glacier Caves of Vatnajokull - We go on a private full day tour to the best cave with the best operator. Exclusivity - our groups are limited to 6 people for creative freedom and intimate tutoring. Visiting mid winter - Short days with good light, long nights for optimal Aurora opportunities, good chance of getting frozen waterfalls and snow-covered landscapes.
The Itinerary DATE SCHEDULE ACCOMMODATION 9 January Arrive KEF INTL Airport, 3-hour drive to Vik Icelandair Hotel Vik 10 January Photograph Vik Area Icelandair Hotel Vik 11 January Photograph Vik Area Icelandair Hotel Vik 12 January Sunrise Vik Area, 4-hour drive to Hali Hali Country Hotel 13 January Photograph Jokulsarlon Area Hali Country Hotel 14 January Photograph Jokulsarlon Area Hali Country Hotel 15 January Photograph Jokulsarlon Area Hali Country Hotel 16 January Sunrise Jokulsarlon, 6-hour drive to KEF Airport Hotel Smari 17 January Depart KEF INTL Airport End of Tour A blizzard clears over a snowy Jokulsarlon on an icy winter morning
Route Map Iceland Day 8: Keflavik Day 4-7: Hali Day 1-3: Vik North Atlantic Ocean
Day 1 Keflavik to Vik: Meet and Greet All participants will meet at Keflavik International Airport, after which we ll hop aboard our spacious bus and hit the road on a 2-hour drive to the small town of Vik. All afternoon flights to Reykjavik land between 15:00 and 16:30, so everyone should arrive at roughly the same time. Should you wish to spend a night or two in Reykjavik to do some sightseeing or visit the Blue Lagoon, we will be happy to assist you with the organisation via our Iceland partners. Two mandatory items that everyone needs are thermal boots and microspikes. The boots allow one to keep your feet dry and warm when standing in shallow water, which we will do at several locations. The micro-spikes give grip on icy terrain, which is critical to basic safety in the Icelandic environment. Your guide will arrive a day early to buy the required sizes for everyone, saving them the cost of having to go into Reykjavik. If you wish to go shopping by yourself, we highly advise that you arrive a day early. Above: Clouds swirl over the Vik Trolls on a dramatic winter morning Below: Another brief winter s day in Iceland arrives in a dramatic display of colours over Reynisfjara beach
Day 2, 3 Vik Area: Black Beaches, Waterfalls, Dyrhoaley The Vik area has an immense amount of photographic potential in a very small area, which is why we spend three days there. We will be residing in the very comfortable and luxurious Icelandair hotel, which has large rooms, fast wifi, good coffee and excellent food. There are two stunning waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. We will be focusing mostly on Skogafoss, a massive 80m veil which falls into a narrow gulley surrounded by unbelievable ice formations. When we re not shooting waterfalls, our focus will be on either Dyrhoaley or Reynisfjara and Reynisdrangar. Dyrhoaley is a gigantic rock arch in a small headland protruding from the coast. Reynisfjara is an endless black beach, flanked by cliffs and massive rock stacks, the Reynisdrangar (trolls) on either end. Another element that makes Vik so great is that it offers opportunities in all directions, so we can move around according to what the weather/light is doing. Travelling with an experienced guide who can read the weather and light ensures that when the good light happens, your camera is pointed in the right direction, with a great composition, to capture it. Dyrhoaley - A stormy sunrise paints a dramatic scene over Dyrhoaley
Skogafoss Fire and Ice - Last light of day bathes Skogafoss in a warm glow
The cliffs of Reynisfjara - There are countless dramatic viewpoints along the coastline that offer opportunities in all directions. This gives us great flexibility to optimally capture any weather conditions thrown at us. Skogafoss Winter Flow - Waterproof thermal boots allows one to stand in sub-zero water for a prolonged period of time in order to get shots like the one below.
Day 4 - Sunrise at Vik, drive to Hali: Iceland s most photogenic road After a final sunrise in the Vik area, we continue 150km East to the true land of ice. This section of road wasn t built until 1973 as it crosses countless volcanic floodplains, which are subject to massive floods when volcanoes erupt. For this reason, South- East Iceland was pretty much sealed off from the world until only a couple of decades ago. Along the road you can expect to see volcanic floodplains, wide rivers, towering mountains, glaciers and so much more. Whenever we pass something worth shooting, we will stop and get out for some photography. We ll have lunch in the tiny village of Skaftafell and then do a quick afternoon shoot at Svinafellsjokull, where we can get up close to a glacier for the first time. We ll aim to shoot the last hour of day at Jokulsarlon or the ice beach and afterwards we ll check into Hali Country Hotel and sit down for a warm Icelandic dinner. Hvannadalshnukur 2110m - Iceland s highest peak rises above the road to Skaftafell on a sunny winter morning
Svinafellsjokull - On our drive between Vik and Hali we will make a brief stop at this glacier for some snapshots and a close-up look at one of nature s most amazing phenomena.
Days 5, 6, 7 - Jokulsarlon: Ice, ice, ice During our stay here, we will be based at Hali Country Hotel, the best in the area and closest to the glacier lagoon and ice-beach. This hotel offers large rooms, fast wifi and delicious dining. In this particular area of Iceland, there is only a narrow stretch of land seperating the coast from the Vatnajokull ice cap and all it s outlet glaciers. Expect to see ice everywhere; in the lakes, on the beaches, in the rivers and crawling down dramatic mountain valleys. From our base we will be within easy driving distance of Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, the famous ice-beach, Fjallsarlon glacial lagoon, Skaftafell National Park, Vesturhorn mountain and the ice-caves. This is our longest stay during the trip as it offers the best opportunities. Many different shooting locations allow us to move around as the weather dictates and we can find a worthwhile shot in any direction. Should the Northern Lights decide to make an appearance, we will be out and about to capture it. A spectacular sunrise over the famous ice-beach, Breidamerkursandur.
A wave washes across a beach on the Stoksness peninsula, below the famous Vesturhorn mountain. While in the South, we are just a 45 minute drive away from this brilliant location and we ll definitely visit it at least once. Peculiar purple-gray skies accentuate the blue tones of the ice on the ice beach.
Snowy conditions create opportunities ripe for long exposure photography on the ice beach. A calm morning at Jokulsarlon offers excellent opportunities for ethereal winter scenery.
If you re sick of the weather in Iceland, just wait ten minutes...the forecast is never accurate more than one day in advance and things can change in a heartbeat. We always keep an open mind and make sure that we re prepared for everything from golden sunset skies to snow and wind. It is a place so photogenic that it offers fantastic opportunities in all conditions, as these two juxtaposed photos show.
Ice Caves While at Hali, we will be visiting one of the ice caves of Breidamerkurjokull with a super-jeep/monster truck. Unlike many tour companies that do a quick cheap tour, we go for a full day private tour with the very best operator. The guide/owner is immensely passionate about glaciers and photography and he always goes out of his way to find us the most untouched and photogenic cave, as well as educating his clients about glaciers and all their astounding properties. All glacier cave visits are done with the best operator in the industry, ensuring optimal safety and photographic opportunities. Right Looking skywards through a moulin in the roof of a glacier cave Below Our guide marvels at the striations in the roof of an interesting glacier cave
One of the most important things when photographing ice-caves is giving scale, as it often goes totally lost in the perplexing shapes and forms of the caverns. Having an ice-cave guide who is happy to pose for that purpose makes a great difference to the results everyone achieves.
Day 8: Sunrise at Jokulsarlon, drive to Keflavik After a final sunrise at Jokulsarlon, we will hit the road back to Keflavik international airport at an easy pace. It is a drive of roughly 4 hours, but we can take it easy and stop for photos as there will be nothing rushing us. We will be staying at the airport hotel, so that everyone can simply walk over to the terminal in time for their flight. Iceland s famous Blue Lagoon spa/baths is near the airport, so anyone who wants go there for an evening visit is welcome to. We will happily make all the arrangements for you. A abandoned house along the road, deep in rural farming areas
Brilliant blue glacial water cascades over Godafoss on a snowy day in Northern Iceland. Want to visit the north? A long way to drive for Godafoss Our 2016 tours both spent 4 days in the North of Iceland and it was certainly enjoyable. The problem with the North is that it is very far from the South and there is only really one excellent subject - Godafoss. The drive from Keflavik to Vik is a mere 180km and from Vik to Hali is another 220km. In comparison, Hali to Godafoss is 480km and Godafoss back to Keflavik is another 560km. This means we have to spend two days on the road and pay for a bus to cover 1000km, pretty much just to shoot one waterfall. All things considered, we decided to drop this from the itinerary as 3 nights at Godafoss increases the tour price by almost 2 000.00. However, should there be enough interest in visiting the North, we will investigate an annex for those interested. If you are interested, please let us know. Trekking almost a kilometer through 50cm of fresh snow is well worth seeing Godafoss in a wintery blanket of white powder.
Aurora Borealis Due to it s extreme Northern location, Iceland is one of the best places in the world for photographing the Northern Lights. Long nights ensure that we will have many hours to capture it, if present. Despite our best efforts, seeing the Northern Lights simply comes down to luck. The probability of seeing Auroras on a two week trip in Iceland is high, but not gauranteed. See this website for more information.
If you haven t seen photos of this ice-cave before, there s a good reason for it - most operators just do quick crowded tours to the same cave, where as ours goes out of their way to take us to unique caves that few people know about. It does involve an occasional hike, but it s always worth the effort.
Essential Travel Information Affordability Iceland is one of the most expensive destinations in the world and we have done our best to make this tour as affordable as possible, despite it. A hotel dinner costs an average 50, additional activities about 200pp and a bus and driver well over 1000/ day. We gladly encourage anyone interested in this workshop to compare the per day price of this tour to any other offerings out there as we know that this product is priced very competitively. We have done our best to keep the price down, without compromising on comfort, safety or photographic opportunity. Arrival We need everyone ready to leave the Keflavik International Airport by 17:00 on Monday 09 January. Icelandair operates daily flights from most European and US northeast capitals, making it very easy to get a flight from many places with many airlines. If you want to add a few extra days at the start or end of the trip for whatever reason, we ll gladly assist you in arranging your hotel, rental car or transport. Simply inform us of your flight schedule and requirements and we ll organise everything via our Icelandic partners. Departure We will be staying at the Keflavik airport hotel on the last night, Tuesday 16 January, so you can book your departure flight from Iceland at any time on the 17th. The hotel is less than a 5 minute stroll from the main terminal, so anyone can easily get there when necessary. If the weather is really bad or you have very heavy luggage, the hotel will call a taxi for you. Transport in Iceland Safety and comfort are key issues on photographic trips, which is why we work with an excellent operator in the industry to facilitate all our transport for us. We will be travelling in a 14-seater bus, which provides enough seating for everyone to have their camera bags next to them and a few seats to spare. The bus will be equipped with winter tyres and driven by a professional bus-driver to ensure maximum safety. For comfort, the bus has comfortable seats, air-conditioning and plenty of luggage space. Visas Only EU member countries and a few other 1st world countries are exempt of Visas for a tourism visit to Iceland. All of Iceland s consular issues are handled by Denmark, which is where you need to go for a visa to visit Iceland. To find out if you require a visa to enter Iceland, visit this website. If you have any questions about a Visa for iceland, please feel free to get in touch with us. Luggage Restrictions If you keep to standard airline luggage restrictions, there are no restrictions imposed for the ground transport. You can have one big suitcase, a large camera bag and a handbag/laptop case.
Photography And Tutoring Identifying Personal Requirements As we kick off the workshop, Hougaard will spend one-on-one time with each participant to identify what level they are at and what areas they would most like to focus on. He will then explore the different components of photography with them as we get different light and travel to various destinations. There is no better learning opportunity than photographing so many world-class landscapes day after day, in the ideal season, under professional guidance. The constant presence of a guide guarantees that your questions are answered immediately and this ensures a fast learning curve. Shooting day after day also ensures that all these lessons are fresh in the mind and are applied until programmed into your subconscious. Subjects to be Covered We will look at the basic technicalities like shutter speed, aperture and focus and how these should be creatively manipulated in certain situations. E.g.to get the right amount of blur in a waterfall. Composition is always the most important subject and it is best taught in the landscape, where the learning can be applied instantly. Hougaard will always be looking over your shoulder to point out how you can improve your composition and give you the technical breakdown behind his chosen advice. As we are presented with different weather and light conditions he will teach you to study the skies and how to make a pre-emptive decision on where to shoot when the light peaks. Presentations and Editing Whenever there is time available, we can sit down for an informal presentation on editing or any other subject. The digital darkroom has become a crucial part of photography and the guide will present various techniques using images taken by the participants of the workshop. Hougaard has extensive experience with Photoshop, Lightroom, Bridge and Nik Color Efex, but he will always also do his best to help with any other program of your choice. One-on-One Attention and Creative Freedom The fact that there will only be six participants in the group means that over the course of 8 days, each client will get plenty of assistance, guidance and tutoring from Hougaard. This means that there will never be too many tripods in the landscape, ensuring more creative freedom to get the shot you want to. This gives you a better chance to explore your creativity and to shoot the landscape from all angles. Our Goal On every workshop we always discuss everything from the most fundamental principles, through to the philosophical and abstract. Whatever it is you would like to learn, were happy to help out. Our goal is to send you home with great images, new knowledge, fond memories and feeling inspired.
The Guides Hougaard Malan After finishing school and naively thinking engineering or architecture are good directions to go in, Hougaard learnt his calling when he picked up a DSLR camera. Ten years on it is his profession and passion and his name is synonymous with landscape photography in Southern Africa. His work has been published in every imaginable form of media by companies like National Geographic and Samsung, both locally and internationally. Hougaard has spent a total of two months in Iceland and knows the locations for the tour like the back of his hand. CapturEarth never hosts a tour to a location that one of the guides doesn t know intimately. He spent enough time to familiarize himself with all the locations we ll be visiting, selecting the ideal hotel and the most reputable day tour operators.
The Guides Isak Pretorius Isak is a specialist wildlife photographic guide from South Africa. His discovery of nature s special moments at a young age shaped his aspirations of today: to showcase the beauty of his continent s natural wonders in a creative way. His bird and wildlife images have won multiple awards and been celebrated nationally and internationally in many publications. His preferred genre of fine art bird photography is easily recognisable by their authentic style, simplistic design and technical skill. Isak s passion for nature is fuelled by the reminiscence of a classic Africa and his aim is to create conservation awareness for his continent s natural wonders. He is not only focussing his attention on photographic assignments throughout the African continent, but also on offering private photographic safaris with avid amateur and professional photographers. Having hosted many groups of photographers in Africa, Isak has taken on a keen interest in educating the photographers about their surroundings as well as teaching them the art of photography.
Frequently Asked Questions 1. How cold will it be? By most standards, Iceland is extremely cold. Don t expect the temperature to go above freezing point too often. It can go down to -15, but it will most likely be between 0 and -5 on most days. For the sake of photography, the cold is good. When it goes above freezing point, everything starts melting and it sort of defies the point of visiting Iceland in winter. You need have the right clothes and be mentally prepared to deal with the cold and wind. 2. Do you need a VISA to enter Iceland? Residents of most countries need a VISA to enter Iceland, which is obtainable from the Danish Consulate. To find out if you need a visa, visit this page. US, AUS, UK and EU member citizens do NOT require a visa to enter Iceland. South Africans DO require a visa to enter Iceland. 3. Will I have cellphone reception? Iceland has a very good telecomms network. There is good cellphone reception at almost all of our shooting locations and all the hotels have fast, free wifi. 4. What about medicines, diseases and vaccinations? There is nothing out of the ordinary in Iceland that you have to worry about. We do however recommend that you take the basic medical supplies like painkillers, antihistamine, insect repellant, immodium, valoid, disinfectant cream and plasters. 5. Will there be fresh water available? The tap water is drinkable at all destinations, but it is safer to drink bottled water as this might avoid a disagreement between your stomach and the local water supply. There will be bottled water available everywhere. 6. Will I be able to purchase snacks? We will stop at grocers and cafes on a regular basis so everyone can stock up on drinks and snacks. Most cafes and fuel stations sell delicious sandwhiches. 7. What food can I expect? Iceland s cuisine is quite a mix of international influences. Most hotels serve a buffet breakfast including a variety of starch, meats, dairy and some fruit. Lunches will usually be from an a la carte lunch menu offering sandwiches, salads, burgers etc. Dinners will mostly be three courses, consisting of a salad or soup starter, a meat main course served with a starch and vegetables, followed by a sweet dessert. 8. What about allergies or dietary preferences? Most of the hotels are prepared to handle basic allergies and dietary preferences like vegetarian meals. If you have a very rare allergy, please inform us so that we can make the necessary preparations. 9. Are there any luggage restrictions? Our transport doesn t have any luggage restrictions, but please be aware of the luggage restrictions of the airline you will be travelling with. 10. Do I need to bring spending money along? 99.9% of Icelandic vendors of any type have card facilities. I have never required cash one single time that I was there. You will be fine with a credit card. 11. Do I need a laptop? A laptop isn t an absolute must. If you want to learn editing from the guides, you ll need one. If you are happy just to look while the others practice and to store all your images on memory cards, then you can leave the laptop at home.
Clothing - Dressing for Minus Ten The following list of clothing is highly recommended. If you are not thoroughly prepared for the cold weather then you are placing your safety and health at risk and could become a potential liability for the group. If you have a weakness for cold, you can add a layer of clothing on top of the advice given below. You need to be fully aware that the cold-gear you get in a typical outdoor store in warmer countries is very inferior to products designed, manufactured and tested in countries that actually face those conditions for months every year. It is not a bad idea to arrive a day early to go shopping in Iceland, or to transfer via UK/ EUR capital that offers a better selection of products for the cold. If you have any questions or doubts about your clothing, please get in touch with us for the right advice.
Jackets One needs to distinguish between an insulating jacket and a rainjacket. The prior keeps you warm, the latter keeps you dry. Staying Warm An insulating jacket will be your most important piece of clothing in Iceland and this is where I advise you to invest your money. There are two main types of insulating jackets; synthetic and down. Down is better, but much more expensive. If you don t like cold and you re willing to spend to avoid it, I would recommend PHD, the prime manufacturer of down clothing in the U.K. Expect to pay $500 for a top quality down jacket. Anyone going on this trip is welcome to contact us for more specific advice on what to purchase. *Adding a fleece top beneath also helps. Staying Dry A rain jacket is a must, but if it starts raining seriously we ll head for shelter. If you have a decent rain jacket, bring it along. If not, don t spend too much. A rain jacket will do a good job of keeping you warm by insulating you from windchill. Trousers Keeping your legs warm is something that a lot of people, especially men, tend to neglect. The synthetic hiking trousers found in warmer countries aren t good at wind insulation and thus we recommend getting waterproof/ski trousers. Please don t consider denim/jeans an adequate solution in this situation. We will be standing in the waves at the ice-beach and Vik and there might be situations where you have to step into the water at a glacial lagoon to get the right composition. With the right trousers and shoes you can go knee-deep without even knowing you re in water. Don t think that you can go barefoot if needs be; just putting your hand in the water for 10 seconds is excruciating. Thermal Underwear A layer of thermal underwear plays a critical role in keeping you warm.. Bring 2/3 sets along as laundry service is very expensive in Iceland. Thermal underwear should fit tightly, but make sure that you can still move around easily. Every layer you put on makes you less flexible. The Rest Shoes As mentioned previously in the itinerary, the guide will arrive a day early to purchase thermal boots for everyone who needs it. A pair of thermal, waterproof boots is critical and the best product on the market is Viking Ice Fighter boots. It s totally waterproof, very comfortable and you won t know if you re standing in freezing water. Paired with waterproof trousers, you can go knee deep and stay dry. The price for these boots was about 120.00 in 2015. Socks You don t need any special socks, you just need a lot of them. Normal long socks combined with thick wool socks should do the trick. Microspikes Ice is more slippery than a lubricated tile floor and we will be walking on ice for much of our trip. This simple item can be worn on any surface and provides excellent grip. It is attached with an elastic web that fits over the shoe. Gloves The only secret to keeping your hands warm is to get two pairs of gloves. A thin pair that takes the edge off, but still allows you to operate the camera and a thick puffy pair for when you re not shooting or you only need to press the shutter button. Headgear Keeping your head warm is extremely important and a jacket hoody really doesn t do the job in a -10 wind. A beanie helps, but one of those furry hats that cover your ears as well work a lot better. A buff works well to keep your face warm, but if you really hate cold, don t hesitate packing a balaclava.
Photographic Equipment The following list of equipment is the ideal, but it is not an absolute necessity. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your equipment. Cameras Full Frame DSLR Body Full frames produce much better image quality than crop-sensor cameras. The newer your camera is, the better. This means you can use a higher ISO at night and having live view makes instructions about composition easier as both the client and the guide can see through the lens. We recommend a Nikon D610, D800/D800e/D810, D4, D4s or Canon 5D3, 5Ds, 1Dx or 6D. Two bodies are always better than one, so bring two bodies if you can. Filters A full filter system (preferably Lee Filters) is an absolute must for Iceland. At virtually all of our locations we will have water in our images and being able to control the shutterspeed through use of ND filters is of absolute paramount importance. We discuss this at length will all Iceland tour attendees to make sure they have the right gear with them. Cleaning You will get a lot of spray, rain and even snow on your lens. Bring enough cleaning liquid and cloths. The kits that the optometrists sell work just as well and cost 10% of what you ll pay in a camera shop. A small towel will also be useful. Tripod It is obvious that you need a tripod for a landscape photography workshop, but this is an area that a lot of people neglect. Magical moments can come and go when you re still struggling to set up a shoddy tripod. Legs I recommend Gitzo carbon fiber legs. Either the GT2542T traveler or GT3542LS systematic. Head When it comes to tripod heads, there are way too many products on the market. The brand I know and trust are Kirk, I ve used the Kirk BH3 for years and it works quickly and simply. L-Bracket An L-bracket allows you to mount your camera to the head in portrait mode. Any landscape photographer will confirm that this is an invaluable piece of equipment. L-brackets are made specific to each camera model, so make sure you purchase the right one. Lenses Wide Angle f/2.8 lens A wide-angle lens is a must when it comes to landscapes. The extra stop of light that f/2.8 will give you makes a big difference at night. We recommend the Nikon 14-24mm or Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 mk II. There are a lot of primes and third party lenses that are also great. Mid-Range Zoom Lens The Icelandic landscape really shines at wide angles, but also offers many opportunities across the whole range. I highly recommend Nikon or Canon s 24-70mm lens. I m not a big fan of Canon s 24-105mm lens as it is very soft at the wide and long ends. Telephoto Zoom Lens There aren t that many opportunities in Iceland for a lens longer than 70mm, but it is still useful to have in your camera bag.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION The following pages contain important information on Costs and Terms of Payment, What is/is not included, Cancellation Policy & Fees, Compulsory Insurance, Health Considerations, Liability, Pricing & Currency Fluctuations, Travelling with Camera Gear, etc. Please take the time to read it carefully
Payment and Cancellation Terms Payment This tour is costed in EURO and that is thus the only constant price. All prices shown in other currencies are merely for your convenience and are subject to the fluctuation thereof. We do our best to update foreign currency prices regularly, but we advise that you do a calculation at the current exchange rate for an accurate price in your preferred currency. 1. In order to secure your spot on this tour, a deposit of 30%/ 1 400.00 is required. This deposit can be paid via wire transfer, paypal or credit card and it is non-refundable. Please note that your spot on the workshop is NOT confirmed until we have received the deposit payment. 2. Full Payment must be made 60 days prior to the start of the tour. We will send out a final invoice for the full amount to remind you of the due date in safe time. If we have not received your full payment 60 days prior to the start of the tour and you did not inform us of a valid reason for a late payment, CapturEarth reserves the right to consider your booking as cancelled. 3. Please note that there are only 2 single occupation spaces available, for which an additional nonrefundable single supplement of 695.00 is required when booking. If sharing, we do our absolute best to pair people of the same gender, nationality, age etc. 4. You will need to complete and sign a standard liability disclaimer in order to participate in this tour. 5. When booking within 60 days of the start of the tour, immediate full payment will be required to secure your spot. 6. If you have a valid reason for a late payment like being out of telecommunication or waiting for investments to be cashed out, please inform us. Travel Insurance 1. You will have to take out comprehensive travel insurance and provide us with proof thereof. We require the name of the insurer, the policy nr and the emergency contact nr. This is so that we are prepared when something goes wrong. 2. Volcano Risk - The probability of a volcano erupting during our stay is almost non-existent, but is exponentially higher than 99% of other places in the world. We very strongly advise that you clear up with your insurance what will happen if a volcano erupts and we have to leave the country. You should have in writing whether they will pay for the required airfare and accommodation. 3. Cancellation insurance - Obviously no one would book a trip like this and then just cancel for a random reason, but life throws us curve-balls when we least expect it. You would be surprised how many cancellations we get every year due to medical, business or family crises. We strongly advise that you get cancellation insurance to refund your money if bad luck crosses your path. Cancellation 1. The deposit is not refundable under any circumstance. When you book a spot on the tour, we make all the necessary bookings with all the third parties and pay their required deposit. Most of the deposits we pay are not refundable and thus we can not refund your deposit. Whatever we still hold is used to defray the administrative work of changing all the bookings made on your behalf. The only exception will be if you can find a substitute to attend the workshop in your place. 2. If you need to cancel your participation once you have made full payment, a 75% refund (excluding deposit) will be given up to 30 days prior to the start of the tour. 3. CapturEarth reserves the right to cancel the tour if it is necessary or advisable due to events such as outbreak of conflict, government intervention, expiry of concessions or access right or insufficient booking numbers being available. The operation of the tour is at the sole discretion of CapturEarth, having in mind the welfare of all participants and the safe and prudent operation of the itinerary and program. In such a case all monies paid by participants for the tour, in holding by CapturEarth, will be refunded to the participants. This excludes deposits or full payments made to 3rd parties involved in the tour like lodges, charter companies or travel agents.
Terms and Conditions 1. The client who signifies his acceptance of a booking does so on behalf of himself and persons under his authority, which means that all are bound by the terms and conditions of CapturEarth as if they had made the application themselves. 2. CapturEarth HM Landscape Photography (PTY) LTD trading as CapturEarth is a company registered in South Africa with sole director Hougaard Malan. CapturEarth in conjunction with Iceland Travel will assist guide participants on the tour advertised in this document. 3. Payment Terms This tour will start on the 9th of January 2016 and the all-inclusive cost is 4 295.00 per person sharing. This tour is costed in EURO and that is thus the only fixed price. All prices shown in other currencies are subject to the fluctuation thereof. We do our best to update foreign currency prices regularly, but we advise that you do a calculation at the current exchange rate for an accurate price in your preferred currency. As stipulated in the payment and cancellation terms, a non-refundable deposit of 1400.00 is payable when booking. A final payment of 2 895.00 will be payable 60 days prior to the start of the tour, 9 November 2016. There are only 2 single occupation spots available and this requires a single supplement of 695.00, payable when booking. 4. Included in the Tour Two persons per room (i.e. shared double occupancy), unless single supplement option is exercised and secured at the time of payment of deposit. Ground Transport for the entire duration of the tour. One full-day outing to the glacier caves of Breidamerkurjokull with localguide.is All tourism taxes and park entry fees. All dinners and breakfasts commencing with dinner on 9 January 2017 and finishing with breakfast on 17 January 2017. All accommodation costs. Continuous assistance with your photography and image processing by the guide. The services of a highly experienced local driver. A highly experienced tour leader with great knowledge and experience of landscape photography. 5. Not Included in the Tour Lunches Airfare to and from Reykjavik Travel Insurance Non-meal-time snacks and drinks Optional activities not indicated as included above. Alcoholic beverages Travel visas and associated costs, if applicable Expenses of a personal nature, not specifically included above. Credit card surcharges Guarantee of any specific weather conditions or Northen Lights/Auroras. We always do our absolute best to make sure we visit a destination in the ideal season and this tour is planned in hope of snowy days, long sunsets and sunrises and an opportunity to photograph the Northern lights. It is however self-explanatory that we can t control or gaurantee any specific weather.
6. Travel Insurance Is Compulsory Due to the remote destinations visited for this photo tour, participants are required to purchase emergency evacuation insurance coverage at their expense. To emphasize, emergency evacuation insurance is MANDATORY for this photo tour. If you are unsure about where to purchase this cover, most general insurers, banks and travel agencies sell travel insurance. A lot of banks offer it complimentary when using your credit card to purchase plane tickets. Simply contact your insurance broker or bank to find out more. If you pay for this photo tour or your airfare using your credit card and you opt to use the general travel insurance associated with major credit cards, we urge you to check that this cover provides fully for emergency evacuation. Also, please ensure that all pre-existing medical conditions, if any, are made known to the insurance underwriter at the time of application for your insurance for this photo safari. These precautions will avoid any delays in the event that an emergency evacuation or other medical services are called upon, under your policy. We recommend you disclose your participation in this photo tour to your insurer. 7. Health Considerations This photo tour is designed to be within the capabilities of average people in good health. Some of the time participants may be required to walk over uneven terrain or trails, stepping into and out of high super jeep type vehicles and occasionally hiking. All with a load of sometimes heavy camera equipment. If you have concerns about your own capabilities and/or fitness as it relates to this photo tour, please contact us to clarify any uncertainties. By paying the initial non-refundable deposit, you warrant that, to the best of your knowledge you do not have any physical or other disability that would create a risk for you or other participants. CapturEarth assumes no responsibility for medical care. We will advise the lodges/hotels of any dietary requirements or restrictions for individual participants, if sufficient notice is provided, but we do not assume responsibility for the delivery of such special dietary requirements. If you sustain an injury or become ill on the photo tour, CapturEarth reserves the right to continue the photo tour for the benefit of other participants. CapturEarth will make every effort to assist you while at the same time trying to minimize interruption to the photo tour. CapturEarth reserves the absolute discretion, in the event of behaviour detrimental to other participants, to decline any person s participation at any time during the photo tour and cancel that person s participation in the photo tour, in which case any refund will be on a recoverable cost basis only.
8. Responsibility CapturEarth and/or its agents act only as agents for the participants in this photo tour, in regard to travel arrangements including, but not limited to, day tours, photography, sightseeing, meals, lodging and transportation, whether by railroad, vehicle, motor coach, boat, ship or aircraft. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CapturEarth and/or its agents, disclaim liability for injury, damage, loss, or delay which may be occasioned by reason of a defect in any vehicle or for any other reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the participant or in carrying out the arrangements of the photo tour. CapturEarth and/or its agents accepts no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or other changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses are borne by the participant, as the photo tour costs provide for arrangements only for the times and locations stated. Baggage, including photographic equipment is at the participant s risk entirely, and as an insurable risk. Reasonable care has been taken to compile the information in this and the other documents pertaining to this photo tour, but circumstances change. For example, airline schedule changes, airline fuel charges, taxes and operational costs are subject to change. CapturEarth and/or its agents are not responsible for changes that occur and reserve the right to change the price of the photo tour up to the date of commencement. The right is reserved by CapturEarth to (i) substitute hotels/lodges/tents/camps of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary or transport where deemed necessary or caused by changes in schedules or equipment substitution; (ii) cancel the photo tour prior to departure, in which case a refund as explained on page 31 (cancellation point 3) will be given. However, in such event CapturEarthand/or its agents will not be responsible for any other trip preparation expenses such as penalized or non-refundable air tickets, visa fees and medical related expenses); (iii) substitute photo tour leader(s) for the leader(s) originally specified, in which case the substitution is not a basis for participant cancellation or refund, and (iv) accept or refuse any person as a participant in the photo tour. 9. Liability CapturEarth does not accept any liability of whatever nature, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, for the acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise, of third party providers. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CapturEarth disclaims liability in contract, tort or otherwise for any injury, damage, loss (including consequential loss), delay, additional expense or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or any other event which is not preventable by reasonable diligence on the part of CapturEarth. 10. Travelling With Camera Gear It is always crucial to take your camera gear as carry-on luggage so that it may not fall victim to stolen or lost baggage. Although all airlines have a limitation on the weight of your carry-on luggage, most of them don t allow valuable items to go into the hold. This creates a gray area as camera equipment is heavy, but also very valuable. I have never had problems taking a 25kg camera bag as carry-on luggage, but I can t guarantee that you ll be allowed to. Do your homework to enquire with the airline.
CapturEarth HOUGAARD MALAN Local: 076 279 2202 International: +27 76 279 2202 Email: Info@hougaardmalan.com