THE ICELAND NO ONE SEES
An exclusive in-person photographic retreat co-hosted by Alex Strohl and Benjamin Hardman.
Learn how to build a meaningful and successful career
Five Days In Iceland
A first-ever winter photography expedition throughIceland's remote highlands. This unprecedented collaboration brings together two of adventure photography's most respected names for an off-road journey into territories rarely accessed during winter months.
In-Person Training
During this week-long Masterclass, Alex and Ben will host multiple coaching sessions, drawing from their 20+ years of combined experience in the creative field to help you grow as an artist.
Close Connections
With the small group size you will not only have plenty of face to face time with Alex and Ben, but will also be learning alongside other like-minded photographers. The connections and friendships created will last a lifetime.
Retreat Dates
April 9-13 2026
Group Size
Max 8 people
Investment
From $8495
SIGN UP FOR ICELAND NO ONE SEES RETREAT
We’re only doing this once, and interest has been high. To keep the experience intimate we’re doing an invite-only signup. We’ll reach out if you’re selected.
What is the Iceland retreat?
The Iceland Retreat is a 5-day/4-night unforgettable winter journey through the highlights of Iceland with two close friends and renowned photographers Alex Strohl and Benjamin Hardman.
After more than a decade of exploring the Icelandic landscape to find the best photography opportunities, Benjamin Hardman is the foremost expert to lead adventures through the unique highlands of Iceland. With Alex’s deep love of Iceland’s winter landscapes and endless blue hour the two teamed up to offer an unprecedented collaboration for an off-road journey into territories rarely accessed during winter months.
Designed for photographers and creatives seeking both inspiration and refinement, this experience blends hands-on mentorship, exclusive photo opportunities, and thoughtful storytelling in one of the most dramatic environments on Earth.
What will I learn?
This retreat is all about creating strong portfolio work that sets you apart. Thanks to our intimate knowledge of the area, we are able to go to best locations at the right time, and organizing talent to photograph that you would never be able to source on your own.
The retreat is designed to leave you feeling inspired and hungry about all the photography possibilities near your home. You will learn how to:
Direct non-professional talent for a successful outcome
Organize a full feature shoot from scratch: location, character, time
Increase your editing skills via lead group editing sessions
Compose images that are striking and different, helping you stand out
Our Basecamp
Two nights in a luxury hotel, two nights in a one-of-a-kind private mountain hut
All Inclusive Experience
Once the adventure begins in Reykjavík, the entire itinerary has been custom tailored to give you the best possible experience. All lodging, meals, and of course world class education from Alex and Ben is included. With all of the details taken care of you get to sit back and enjoy, taking time in a peaceful environment to digest all of the learnings from the retreat.
Icelandic Cuisine…
Icelandic cuisine is rooted in Nordic tradition and shaped by the island’s dramatic landscape - think fresh Arctic seafood, free-grazing lamb, hearty root vegetables, and dense rye bread baked with geothermal heat. Meals are simple, seasonal, and deeply connected to place, often shared slowly in cozy spaces that feel especially welcoming against the winter cold.
Specialty Coffee
As with any of our retreats, you can expect the highest level of coffee experience - although we can’t bring a La Marzocco into the mountains, we’ll be equipped with plenty of Aeropresses and handgrinders.
What’s on the itinerary?
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Begin the day with an 8:30 meet up, including a hotel pickup to transfer you to Ben’s HQ. Here, the team engages in an expedition briefing, discussing weather, conditions, and group expectations.
We’ll begin by heading to a lodge near the highlands where we will be based for the first two nights.
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Using the 4x4’s we will set out to uncover neighbourhood gems in the mountains, exploring the surrounding landscape and potentially venturing to the Hveravellir geothermal area. Enjoy outdoor activities, lunch in nature, jeep activities, and photo opportunities. Return to the hut for lunch, a short walk, editing, and northern lights scouting in the evening.
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After two nights, we’ll embark on a significant day as the group attempts the traverse of the highlands, crossing from mountain road Kjölur to Sprengisandur over the river Þjósrá. This route is only feasible in winter when the highlands are completely frozen.
Arriving at a mountain hut, we will begin with a night free of obligations. Cook together, engage in creative discussions, and relish the vast beauty and silence of the central highlands.
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We will spend the following day exploring the area around the hut, a vast polar desert with a feeling similar to the Antarctic mainland. The evenings at the hut will be focused on looking for the Northern Lights outside the hut, a place that we’ve had great luck with the Aurora over the years.
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Take a slow morning to enjoy cabin vibes and embark on a morning photography mission. In the afternoon, pack up and depart for Reykjavik, anticipating a long journey with potential arrival into the night. Return to your hotel of choice, potentially for a later dinner if our day goes longer than planned due to the amount of fun times!
**Please note the retreat comes to a close when we arrive in Reykjavik - guests are responsible for their hotel plans on this evening**
Additional details
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Investment starts at $8,450
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We can split the payments of the retreat in several installments upon request.
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The workshop is limited to 8 individuals. Please submit your email on this webpage and from there you will be contacted by Alex and his team and will then be given instructions to make your deposit to secure your spot in the workshop.
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We want to ensure that everyone at the workshop has the best experience possible. By asking a few simple questions we ensure all attendees have similar objectives, experience levels in their photography, and are ready to take the retreat seriously.
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You will experience Iceland with Alex and Ben as your guides, exploring many of the lesser know locations they has explored over the years.
Alex will personally be mentoring and instructing your throughout the experience, and help you step up your photography.
You will learn exclusive information and industry secrets that Alex has spent years gathering and putting in to action.
You will share the week with awesome individuals who have the same passions and motivations as you. This one-of-a-kind opportunity that will create both long-lasting professional connections and personal friendships.
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To maximize your time with this workshop, please bring the following:
DSLR/Mirrorless Camera body with at least one lens
Laptop computer for editing and for note taking if desired (or a pen and notebook)
A selection of your five favorite images for review and critique
Appropriate clothing and gear for hiking long stretches over varied terrain, and spending time outside in varying weather during the field shoots. This includes good hiking shoes or boots, a waterproof jacket, a hat and gloves, and warm layers
A more detailed packing list will be provided to you before the retreat
Good vibes and a willingness to learn
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Airfare or transportation to/from Reykjavík
Breakfast on arrival day and your hotel on the tail end of the workshop
Alcoholic beverages, or snacks/drinks outside of meal times
Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
Any personal activities or adventures you choose to partake in outside of the itinerary
Special Considerations: If you have any dietary restrictions please let us know in advance and we will accomoadate to the best of our ability.
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To reserve your spot we do require a $500 deposit. That deposit is only refundable for 48 hours after booking, less the fees incurred.
Once you pay for the rest of your trip you can receive the following refunds on the rest of the trip (deposits and fees not included):
More than 60 days before the trip = 100% refund.
Between 60 and 30 days before the trip = 50% refund.
Less than 30 days before trip departure = 0% refund.
We highly recommend trip insurance.
We may cancel a trip prior to the start date for reasons including (but not limited to) insufficient participation, weather conditions, or other instances that may impede trip operations. In this case, you will receive a refund for funds paid towards the trip cost. You will not receive any payment for any hotels, flights, or transportation booked before or after the trip.
A legal language version of our trip cancellation is this...
We reserve the right to cancel any trip, at any time, prior to the scheduled departure date for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, insufficient participation, local weather conditions or logistical problems that, in our sole judgment, may impede trip operations. In the event we cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever other than a force majeure event, your sole and exclusive remedy shall be the refund of all payments we received from you as of the date of cancellation. Alex Strohl Studio payment of the refund shall release us from any and all other or further liability in any way related to such cancellation. We may make payments to our suppliers (permits, transportation companies, etc.) far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. Accordingly, if a trip is cancelled due to a force majeure event (e.g. acts of God, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding or any other cause beyond our control), we will undertake commercially reasonable efforts to promptly refund the portion of any amounts paid by you that have, in turn, not already been advanced to suppliers. In addition, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to recover and refund to you the balance of your payment amounts that were advanced to suppliers, less our expenses, if any, of such recovery, as promptly as possible. However, we do not guarantee you recovery of any portion of advance payments made to our suppliers. We are not responsible for, and you hereby release and forever discharge us from, any expense or cost incurred by you in preparing for or arising or resulting from a cancelled trip. If you cancel your trip, we will refund your payment as follows: (a) cancellation 60 days or more prior to trip departure – 100% of your payment will be refunded, with the exception of the deposit amount and any transaction fees; (b) cancellation between 60 - 30 days prior to trip departure - 50% of your payment will be refunded, with the exception of the deposit amount and any transaction fees; or (c) cancellation less than 30 days prior to departure, or during trip – no refund will be made.
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We're here with answers. Reach out anytime to atarin@alexstrohl.com
What do past students have to say?
We highly recommend you read testimonials of past workshop students below. While the instruction and mentorship from Alex will help you immensely on your photographic journey, being surrounded by such an incredible group of like minded individuals so eager to learn and advance is a huge plus. The environment that kind of group energy creates is unmatched.
SIGN UP FOR ICELAND NO ONE SEES RETREAT
We’re only doing this once, and interest has been high. To keep the experience intimate we’re doing an invite-only signup. We’ll reach out if you’re selected.
SIGN UP FOR ICELAND NO ONE SEES RETREAT
We’re only doing this once, and interest has been high. To keep the experience intimate we’re doing an invite-only signup. We’ll reach out if you’re selected.
Getting there
Easy! We will begin our adventure in Reykjavík on the morning of the 9th. We recommend flying to Reykjavík a day or two early, fighting off the jetlag, and enjoying the area before we begin. We’ll take it from there with all planning and transport.