Iceland Tours & Trips 2020
149 trips to Iceland tours from 134 tour companies. 2,628 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating.
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Style
Style
Small Group Tour Small groups are usually defined as between 10 and 24 travelers, often less. If you're the kind of person who enjoys more intimate experiences and personal service this is a good choice. All else being equal you will pay a premium for this style vs a larger group tour.
Private Guided Private tours give you the undivided attention of a guide, and often involve special access to sites and unique experiences not available to larger groups. This is a great option for families, couples, and small friend groups. Expect to pay a bit more for the extra service.
Self Guided Tour A travel company plans your itinerary and arranges all the logistics including lodging, local activities, and transportantion. You have the flexibility of a solo trip while still getting the convience and time savings of expert planning. Get 90% of the benefits of a tour, without a guide.
Group Tour Groups are between 25-60 people, typically ~30-40. Usually there will be many opportunities to split off and enjoy meals and excursions in smaller groups. This is the most economical way to travel, saving up to 40% versus booking the same itinerary yourself.
River Cruise These vessels are smaller than most ocean cruisers, limiting which amenties are available. Passenger counts can vary. One of the biggest advantages of a river cruise is the ability to dock at smaller ports and local villages.
Small Ship Cruise Small ship cruises usually have a max passenger count of 500. The primary purpose of these trips is to spend time off the vessel in local ports (e.g. Mediterranean) or experiencing nature (e.g Galapagos or Antarctica). Cabins can vary from budget to luxury.
Large Ship Cruise This is the "floating city" experience, with multiple ways to enjoy your vacation aboard the ship as much as on land. Ships are multiple floors, provide several activities, culinary, and shopping options. They often make fewer stops and have less time available for shore excursions.
Retreats Similar to a self guided tour but staying in one location only with activities and day outings included as a part of the stay.
Price
Duration Dropdown
Travelers Age
Lodging Level
Lodging Level
Camping Typically involves most nights sleeping in tents (sometimes permanent tented sites) or in rustic cabins and lodges.
Basic - 2 star You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.
Value - 3 star Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Premium - 4 star 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Luxury - 5 star The highest level of comfort and service. All accomodations are in four or five star hotels, boutique lodges or high-end homestays.
Physical Level
Physical Level
Very Easy Minimal walking - motor vehicles available for all major parts of trip.
Easy Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments.
Moderate Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment.
Strenuous All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Extreme Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment.
Theme
Attractions & Cities Visited
Activities & Interests
Travel Style
Travel Style
Flexible schedule A lot of free time, with very few inclusions. Ideal for independent and/or low-key travelers and cruisers.
Full schedule For those looking to maximize their sight seeing time. You thrive on a packed day’s schedule from 8 am to 6pm, with some (but limited) free time. Most activities and meals included.
Balanced schedule You will have solid amounts of both free time and structured time with some activities and meals included.
Flight & Transport Inclusions
Solo Friendly
Solo Friendly
Good for Singles Trips that specifically cater to travelers looking to meet other singles.
No Single Supplement Trips where single supplement is usually not required for solo travelers.
Supplier (Company)
Countries Visited
Continents Visited
Rivers & Seas Visitied
Stride Gives Back Stride Gives Back This trip visits a destination impacted by climate change. When you opt in to the Travelstride Gives Back program, we will donate 10% of our net revenue to organizations that help mitigate climate change in these destinations and across the globe. Learn more
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South Iceland Adventure - Winter (first Class)
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Comfort (4*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 01: Friday - Arrival
- Arrival at Bari airport and transfer to your hotel. Welcome briefing and overnight in Alberobello. Day 02: Saturday - Alberobello, Locorotondo & Cisternino (B)
Iceland
South Coast, Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes and Nort ...
7 days
$ 327 / day
$ 2,290
From :
$ 2,817
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Comfort (4*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in Iceland
- Highlights: Reykjavik, National Museum, Hallgrimskirkja.Upon arrival in Keflavik International Airport, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. Transfers from airport to hotel. Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the afternoon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape. Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital. Tonight will be an information meeting (around 18:00-6:00pm) for people in the group to meet each other and to learn more about the tour. Overnight stay in Reykjavik at Icelandair Hotel Natura. Day 2 : Reykjavik, Snaefellsnes peninsula, Borgarfjordur
- Highlights: Snaefellsjokull National Park, Arnarstapi, Hellnar, Kirkjufell, Borgarnes, Glacier-crowned Volcano, Volcanic Formations, Fishing Villages, Icelandic tales, Lava Cave.Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your local guide in the hotel lobby. Depart Reykjavik with your guide and driver traveling northwest via an undersea tunnel through Hvalfjordur (Whale Bay) on your way to the rugged coastline Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” this area will show you an astonishing variety of natural landscapes that can be seen in Iceland, but in one area. This is part of the remote and tranquil Snaefellsjokull National Park, named after the peninsula’s magnificent glacier-crowned volcano (last eruption: 250 AD). The mountain is said to be protected by a benevolent spirit, and you’ll surely feel recharged as you drive through this beautiful park. You’ll visit secluded and charming fishing villages as you head along the northern peninsula. View Iceland’s most photographed mountain, Kirkjufell, and its surrounding fjord teeming with herring and orca whales. In nearby Grundarfjordur village, you’ll meet a local storyteller in his home for some funny insights, facts and fables about the Icelanders. Continue along the coastline, making some amazing stops to admire columnar basalt formations and the crashing waves of the North Atlantic. The afternoon’s highlight a visit to the spectacular Vatnshellir, an 8000 year-old lava cave located at the foot of the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier. An expert cave guide will show you the amazing and beautiful features of Vatnshellir. The road then leads to the Borgarfjordur, a scenic and historical area of West Iceland Dinner and overnight in West Iceland at B59 Hotel. If weather conditions are favorable tonight, you may head out on foot with your guide to search for the elusive Aurora Borealis in the area of your hotel. Otherwise, the northern lights hunt would be on another night of your tour. (BD) Day 3: Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, Geysir
- Highlights: Thingvellir National Park Gullfoss Geysir. Ancient parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Golden Waterfall, Lively Geysers.Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. This parliament has now become the world’s oldest ongoing. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Nearby is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes. As a local and cultural treat today, you’ll stop at tiny Laugarvatn village for a taste of traditional “hot spring bread“ that has been cooked in the warm ground by geothermal hot springs. Overnight and Dinner in the South at Icelandair Hotel Fludir or Hotel Gullfoss. (BD) Day 4: LAVA Center, Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Eldhraun, Southeastern Iceland
- Highlights: Hekla, Seljalandsfoss, Eyjafjallajokull, Skogafoss, Vik, Eldhraun Lava Field, Scenic Waterfalls, Lava Center, Volcanic Views, Lava Flow, Magnificent Glaciers.Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore , an area of Iceland that is beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently-erupting volcano. South Iceland is home to the LAVA Center, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Enjoy both the exhibit and viewing an interesting film about Icelandic volcanoes at the Center‘s cinema. As you travel onwards, you might get a glimpse of Eyjafjallajokull, the famous ice-capped volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure. Head onwards, passing over Eldhraun, the surreal and vast lava landscapes that were created in one single flow – the largest known in history. You will start seeing views of glaciers as you head into the southeast Iceland, and the region of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. Dinner and overnight stay in Southeast Iceland at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. (BD) Day 5: Glacier Lagoon, Vatnajokull Park, Vik
- Highlights: Vatnajokull, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, Reynisdrangar Cliffs, Vík, Western Europe’s Largest National Park, Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs, Europe’s Largest Glacier.Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll be in the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The entire park covers almost 14% of Iceland’s landmass, and it’s considered the largest national park in Western Europe. Start with a visit to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where you can enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the deep glacial waters. With luck, you might also see seals relaxing in the area. Nearby, is the stunning Diamond Beach where crystal clear remains of icebergs linger on the black sand before disappearing into the ocean. Then visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a beautiful “fire and ice” region created by volcanic activity and ringed by many glaciers. This is the home to Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful of the glacial outlets emerging from Vatnajokull. Head west, passing through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. The road leads to Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Dinner and overnight in Vik at KEA Hotel Katla. (BD)
- Day 6: Reykjanes, Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik
- Highlights: Kleifarvatn Krysuvik Grindavík The Blue Lagoon Reykjavik, Reykjanes Seacoast, Moon-like landscapes, Colorful Geothermal Area, Relaxing Spa.Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2915 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore. Visit Strandarkirkja, a pretty wooden church typical of those in rural Iceland. There is a long-standing tradition that prayers in the church have helped provide luck and success to fishermen working on the dangerous seas in the area. The small church is built right into the coast with amazing views of the turbulent ocean waves meeting volcanic rocks and black sands. Look for a quaint set of painted elf houses nestled in the church grounds. Drive to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, stark, moon-like surroundings. Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulphurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly-colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. After a lunch stop in Grindavik (lunch is on your own), head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure. Overnight in Reykjavik at Icelandair Hotel Natura. Dinner is on your own. (B) Day 7: Departure
- Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight. (B)
Iceland
Hidden Powers And Northern Lights (First Class)
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in Iceland and Evening MeetingUpon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavik stands today. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers. If you are arriving earlier in the day, you might consider visiting the Grandi area of the city’s Old Harbour. Grandi is a growing culinary center. A new food hall focusing on “upscale street food” was recently opened there. Another Food Hall is located in the Hlemmur of Reykjavik, just at the end of the main shopping street, Laugarvegur. adding a day tour. We’d be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. Some of our culinary-related suggestions include the Reykjavik Food Walk, Meet the Locals experience with lunch, and the unique Cook and Dine cooking workshop. Just remember to leave this evening open.
- This evening, around 18:00 (6:00pm) there will be an information meeting at the hotel. Meet your guide and fellow travelers. You’ll go over the trip itinerary together and enjoy a “Welcome Drink.”
- Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital.
- Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavík before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “Hidden Powers and Northern Lights: Foodie Focus” itinerary.
- Important: If you have added extra nights in Akureyri before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard "Arctic Powers" itinerary. Day 2: Thingvellir - Geysir – Gullfoss- South Iceland Approximate distance: CA200km / 124miles
- Northern Lights Centre - National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO) - Exploding Geysers - The Famous Golden Falls
- After a hearty Icelandic breakfast, start the day by visiting the fascinating Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Centre. You’ll get a great introduction to northern lights, how they are formed and the folklore surrounding them. If you have a camera, the staff at the center will also show you how to capture northern lights on film and help you with adjusting the settings for this.
- Then head onwards to Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage site) where the world’s oldest parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake.
- Continue through farmland areas to the geothermal fields of Geysir with bubbling mud pools and the high-spouting Strokkur hot spring. Last but not least, visit the dramatic two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular sight in winter when frozen mid-cascade. Stop at Skalholt, Iceland’s capital during the Middle Ages and now a culture center with a beautiful church.
- Visit Efstidalur, a family-owned dairy farm. The farm welcomes visitors and has developed a wonderful “Farm to Table” presentation for guests. You’ll meet members of the farm family and learn about dairy farming in Iceland. Enjoy lunch and sample some of the farm’s excellent feta cheese, ice cream and skyr (an Icelandic dairy product similar to Greek yogurt). The restaurant has windows that look down on the milking parlor, where you can see “the girls,” the farm’s cows. The dairy cows are an heirloom breed of Icelandic cattle that goes back to Viking times.
- You will also visit the town of Laugarvatn. The town is built around three hot springs, and the residents have cleverly harnessed the hot springs for heating, greenhouses and even cooking. You’ll visit a unique outdoor geothermal bakery at the Laugarvatn Fontana spa where Icelandic rye bread is baked in the hot sands. Try some of the freshly baked bread, hot from the ground. It’s especially delicious slathered in Icelandic butter.
- If weather conditions are right, your guide will take you on a northern lights hunt on foot in the area outside your hotel tonight, or on the evening of Day 3 or 4.
- Dinner and overnight in the south coast area.Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore – Eyjafjallajokull Volcano- Southeast IcelandApproximate distance: CA257km / 160miles
- Waterfalls – Lava Centre - Glacial Views - Black Sand Beaches
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the South Shore, an area of Iceland that is especially beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. This part of Iceland is home to the wonderful LAVA Centre, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Enjoy both the exhibit and viewing an interesting film about Icelandic volcanoes at the Centre‘s cinema. Continue onwards. If the skies are clear you might see the area’s two most famous volcanoes in the distance: Mount Hekla (last eruption 2000) and Eyjafjallajokull (last eruption 2010). You might also possibly catch a glimpse of Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland.
- Lunch today is a real treat. Visit Hotel Anna, located on Moldnupar farm. The hotel is named after Sigridur Anna Jonsdottir, an early 20th century dairy maid who grew up on the farm. She was a self-educated journalist who may have also been Iceland’s first travel writer. Hotel Anna’s restaurant specializes in Icelandic “soul food.” Enjoy tasting cured salmon and plokkfiskur, a hearty fish stew.
- Stop at the spectacular waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Both of them are a “must-see” for photographs. If trail conditions are right, you might be able to walk behind Seljalandsfoss falls.
- Head onwards, passing Myrdalsjokull Glacier, to visit Reynisfjara beach. Take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Cross a vast lava field created from a destructive 18th century eruption as you head into Southeast Iceland.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Southeast Iceland.
- Day 4: Skaftafell National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon Approximate distance: CA210km / 130miles
- Western Europe's Largest National Park - Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs - Europe's Largest Glacier
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today enter the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. This national park is also the largest one in Western Europe, and the total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east en route to the Vatnajokull area. Visit Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where you can enjoy a breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, where shrinking icebergs settle on the black sands before they drift out to sea.
- Then view Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful of the glacial outlets emerging from Vatnajokull. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty dominated by several magnificent glaciers. While here, visit the park’s Hotel Skaftafell, where you´ll enjoy a surprise taste treat from the Vatnajokull region (shhh…. it’s a surprise!). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Day 5: Hveragerdi - Blue Lagoon – ReykjavikApproximate distance: CA408km / 254miles
- Greenhouse Village – Thundering Waves - Geothermal Lagoon
- Breakfast at your hotel. Head back along the beautiful South Coast, enjoying a different view of the winter landscapes. Visit the village of Hveragerdi, which is one of the few sites in the world located directly in the middle of a geothermal area. Hveragerdi is often called ""The Flower Village"" because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs.
- Turn onto a southern coastal road and follow alongside the shoreline with its breath-taking sea waves. Several pretty fishing villages are in the area, including Stokkseyri. This town is known for its charming Fjorubordid (Seaside) restaurant that does magical things with langoustines (Norway lobsters). Enjoy a scrumptious lunch featuring langoustine tails sautéed in garlic and butter.
- Continue onwards, passing through a deserted community that once was a flourishing coastal town. The trip then takes you through the surreal landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, where you can enjoy a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon, a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure. Dinner is on your own."
- Day 6: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the international airport by bus for your departure flight. We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight.
- Important: Please advise us at booking time if you have food allergies or dietary preferences. Vegetarian and gluten-free diet alternatives are usually possible. We will do our best to accommodate all requests but cannot guarantee alternatives will be available. Northern lights are dependent on weather conditions and sightings are not guaranteed
- Note: We reserve the right to alter routes without prior notice, due to road conditions.
Iceland
South Coast Golden Circle And Snaefellsnes
7 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.
Basic (2*)
Highlights
Visits:
- ay 1: Arrival in Iceland
- Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavik before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “South Coast, Golden Circle and Snaefellsnes” itinerary.
- Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the after-noon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape.
- Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
- Tonight will be an information meeting (around 18:00/6:00pm)) for people in the group to meet each other and to learn more about the tour.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
- Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm). Day 2: Reykjavik – Snaefellsnes peninsula- Borgarfjordur
- Glacier-crowned Volcano – Volcanic Formations – Fishing Villages – Icelandic tales – Lava Cave
- Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your local guide in the hotel lobby. Depart Reykjavik with your guide and driver on the tour, traveling northwest via an undersea tunnel through Hvalfjordur (Whale Bay) on your way to the rugged coastline Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
- Known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” this area will show you an astonishing variety of natural landscapes that can be seen in Iceland, but in one area. This is part of the remote and tranquil Snaefellsjokull National Park, named after the peninsula’s magnificent glacier-crowned volcano (last eruption: 250 AD). The mountain is said to be protected by a benevolent spirit, and you’ll surely feel recharged as you drive through this beautiful park.
- You’ll visit secluded and charming fishing villages as you head along the northern peninsula. View Iceland’s most photographed mountain, Kirkjufell, and its surrounding fjord teeming with herring and orca whales. In nearby Grundarfjordur village, you’ll meet a local storyteller in his home for some funny insights, facts and fables about the Icelanders.
- Continue along the coastline, making some amazing stops to admire columnar basalt formations and the crashing waves of the North Atlantic. The afternoon’s highlight a visit to the spectacular Vatnshellir, an 8000 year-old lava cave located at the foot of the mystical Snaefellsjokull glacier. An expert cave guide will show you the amazing and beautiful features of Vatnshellir. The road then leads to the Borgarfjordur, a scenic and historical area of West Iceland
- Dinner and overnight in West Iceland.
- If weather conditions are favourable tonight, you may head out on foot with your guide to search for the elusive Aurora Borealis in the area of your hotel. Otherwise, the northern lights hunt would be on another night of your tour (subject to weather conditions) Day 3: Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir
- Ancient parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge – Golden Waterfall – Lively Geysers
- Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. This parliament has now become the world’s oldest ongoing. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge.
- Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Nearby is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes.
- As a local and cultural treat today, you’ll stop at tiny Laugarvatn village for a taste of traditional “hot spring bread“ that has been cooked in the warm ground by geothermal hot springs.
- Overnight and Dinner in the South Coast area. Day 4: LAVA Centre- Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Eldhraun – Southeastern Iceland
- Scenic Waterfalls – Lava Centre – Volcanic Views – Lava Flow – Magnificent Glaciers
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore, an area of Iceland that is beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. epending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently-erupting volcano. South Iceland is home to the LAVA Centre, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Enjoy both the exhibit and viewing an interesting film about Icelandic volcanoes at the Centre‘s cinema. As you travel onwards, you might get a glimpse of Eyjafjallajokull, the famous ice-capped volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide.
- Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure.
- Head onwards, passing over Eldhraun, the surreal and vast lava landscapes that were created in one single flow – the largest known in history.
- You´ll start seeing views of glaciers as you head into the southeast Iceland, and the region of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Southeast Iceland. Day 5: Glacier Lagoon – Vatnajokull Park – Vik
- Western Europe’s Largest National Park – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll be in the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The entire park covers almost 14% of Iceland’s landmass, and it’s considered the largest national park in Western Europe.
- Start with a visit to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where you can enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the deep glacial waters. With luck, you might also see seals relaxing in the area. Nearby, is the stunning Diamond Beach where crystal clear remains of icebergs linger on the black sand before disappearing into the ocean. Then visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a beautiful “fire and ice” region created by volcanic activity and ringed by many glaciers. This is the home to Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful of the glacial outlets emerging from Vatnajokull.
- Head west, passing through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. The road leads to Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Dinner and overnight in Vik.
- Day 6: Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavik
- Reykjanes Seacoast – Moon-like landscapes – Colourful Geothermal Area – Relaxing Spa
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2915 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore.
- Visit Strandarkirkja, a pretty wooden church typical of those in rural Iceland. There is a long-standing tradition that prayers in the church have helped provide luck and success to fishermen working on the dangerous seas in the area. The small church is built right into the coast with amazing views of the turbulent ocean waves meeting volcanic rocks and black sands. Look for a quaint set of painted elf houses nestled in the church grounds.
- Drive to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, stark, moon-like surroundings. Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulphurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly-coloured mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. After a lunch stop in Grindavik (lunch is on your own), head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature.
- Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field.
- Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure.
- Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own. Day 7: Departure
- Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer by bus to the international airport for your departure flight. We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight.
Iceland
South Iceland Adventure - Winter
5 days
$ 458 / day
$ 2,290
From :
$ 2,817
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Comfort (4*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival
- Highlights: Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja National Museum, The Blue Lagoon.Upon arrival in Keflavik International Airport, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. Airport transfer is included.Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the afternoon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape. Overnight stay in Reykjavik at Radisson Blu Saga Hotel or Fosshotel Raudara (according to advised accommodation list). Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital. Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price. Most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00 pm and 4:00 pm). Day 2 : Reykjavik, South Coast
- Highlights: Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss, Myrdalsjokull, Reynisdrangar Cliffs, Vik, 4×4 Adventure, Back Roads, Beautiful Views, Lava Cave, Black Sand Coast, Waterfalls.Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your driver-guide, who will brief you on the day’s excursion. Today you will be an explorer as well as a traveller! It’s important to know that your guide may adjust the itinerary to snow and weather conditions, to make sure each day is an adventure that shows you the best of the area at the time you are visiting. All the activities planned are fun, but you are not required to take part. So don‘t worry if you don‘t feel up to it. The days will be really great with lots to see, so you‘ll still have a great time. Once you leave the city limits, it won’t take long to reach remote areas. You’ll start the day with an easy caving expedition for those who are interested, into an ancient lava tube. These are created by volcanic eruptions and give a rare glimpse of how a volcano looks from the inside. After emerging from underground, drive along the South Shore using back roads and trails, enjoying the views of rugged coast and isolated farms. Along the way you will stop to view some of the beautiful waterfalls that decorate the South Shore such as the mighty Skogafoss waterfall. If conditions are just right, you might also visit a hidden waterfall, a local gem accessible only to small groups. Then climb aboard the 4×4 vehicle again to explore a part of the region‘s famous black sand beaches. At the end of the day you will visit a secret natural wonder on the black sandy beach. Spend the evening at the Hrifunes guesthouse, located on a cozy farm just on the edge of the highland wilderness. Hrifunes is far away from any light pollution, so if the weather conditions are right, there is a chance you could see northern lights. The hosts of Hrifunes, Haukur and Hadda, will make sure you have a comfortable stay. They serve home-made family-style dinners. Your guide, Ingimundur, will also join you for the meal. Dinner is an especially fun part of the day, with lots of chatting and laughter about the day spent together. Our past visitors have really enjoyed this experience and the opportunity to enjoy good food and get to know the other people on the trip better. (BLD) Day 3: Vatnajokull National Park
- Highlights: Eldhraun Lava Field, Skaftafell National Park, Vatnajokull, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, Extensive Lava fields, Europe‘s largest glacier, Glacier Hike, Lagoon with Icebergs, Ice Cave Exploration.After a hearty Icelandic breakfast, start the day by driving along the mountain road that crosses Eldhraun, a huge lava field created an eruption in the 18th century. Some historians believe this was a cause of the French Revolution (you’ll hear more about that during the tour)! Pass the huge cliffs at Lomagnupur with their incredible basalt columns, and enjoy some of the hidden gems the area has to offer. Continue to the Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park. The entire national park covers about 14% of Iceland, making it one of the largest parks in Europe. Here you’ll don crampons and, with ice pick in hand, hike on the wonderous Svinafellsjokull glacier. During the hike you‘ll see amazing shapes in the ice and learn how glaciers are formed. Afterwards, enjoy the famous Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon with its colorful icebergs and lazy seals, and the picturesque Diamond Beach close by. Plenty of photo opportunities here! If the period is right and weather and conditions on the ice are safe, you‘ll visit a natural ice cave on the South side of Vatnajokull glaciers. These ice caves appear and disappear according to the movements of the glacier. Some are very stable to visit, others are more difficult to reach and are more unstable. Some are quite unique while others look ordinary at first but become extraordinary in the right light and conditions. Expert glacier guides in the area will assess the conditions and see if there is any suitable ice cave to visit while you’re in the region. After an exciting day of ice, icebergs and volcanic lava, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Hrifunes, your home away from home. (BLD) Day 4: Hekla Volcano, Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir
- Highlights: Eyjafjallajokull, Hekla, Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir National Park, Reykjavik, Volcanic Views, Golden Waterfall, Erupting Hot Springs, Bathing in a Secret Lagoon.Enjoy another delicious Hrifunes breakfast. Then you‘re off again for another day‘s adventure in your trusty 4×4 SuperJeep. Make your way towards the Golden Circle, passing through regions with views of volcanic mountains such as the famous Eyjafjallajokull (2010 eruption) and Mt. Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently erupting volcano. On the agenda today is a swim in the Secret Lagoon, a peaceful hot-spring fed lake. Created by local residents using the natural landscape and materials in 1891, it is Iceland’s oldest geothermal swimming pool. The water has natural minerals that soothe your skin. Surrounding the pool are tiny bubbling mud pots and a little geyser that erupts regularly. Watching these as you soak in the Secret Lagoon is a special experience. End the day visiting the three natural pearls that create the famous Golden Circle: the big waterfall Gullfoss, the spouting hot spring area of Geysir and the beautiful Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is the ancient location of Iceland’s first parliament, as well as the meeting point of two tectonic plates that divide Europe from North America. Your guide will bid you adieu with a taste of Iceland’s famous schnapps, brennivin, and a bit of fermented shark meat to go with it. It‘s a true Viking test and tastier than it sounds! Return to Reykjavik where the evening is at your leisure. Overnight at hotel in Reykjavik at Radisson Blu Saga Hotel or Fosshotel Raudara (according to advised accommodation list). Dinner is on your own. (BL) Day 5: Departure
- Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. We recommend departing your hotel approximately 3 hours before departure time of the flight from Keflavik. Shared airport transfer is included. (B)
Iceland
Reykjavik And Iceland Highlights (First Class Adv ...
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in IcelandHighlights: Austurvollur Square Parliament House Perlan
- Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the after-noon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape.
- Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
- This evening at 18:00 (6:00pm) there will be an information meeting at the hotel. Your locally-based guide will go through the week’s itinerary and suggestions of things you can do in Reykjavik during your free time. Enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to get to know your travel companions.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
- Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm).Day 2: Get to know Iceland’s CapitalHighlights: Hallgrimskirkja Reykjavik City Hall Harpa Concert Hall Tjornin
- Walking tour – Free time in Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel. Since Reykjavik will be your home for the next few days, today is a great day to get to know the city! Meet your local guide for a fun and informative walking tour of the down town area. Your guide will point out some of the city’s best-known places and also fill you in on the history and daily life of the city. You’ll also get tips and recommendations from your guide on local favorite hangouts for food and fun.
- Some of the many places you’ll see on the tour include Hallgrimskirkja Church, the City Hall, Reykjavik Ponds, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Old Harbor. During the tour, your group will stop at a downtown bakery for a taste of a typical Icelandic treat.
- The tour ends in the downtown area, where the guide will leave you to enjoy Reykjavik as you please for the rest of the day. Reykjavik has some great museums that highlight the city’s history and its lively art scene. One of our personal favorites is the interactive Reykjavik Settlement Museum, where you can view an excavated Viking longhouse—the oldest known building in Reykjavik—and discover how life was in the early Middle Ages. Take a walk along the main shopping street and browse art galleries and Icelandic handicrafts/design shops. Stroll along one of the seacoast footpaths and enjoy the ocean views. Go swimming in one of the city’s famous geothermal pools. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a cozy coffee house. There are many ways to have a great afternoon in the world’s northernmost capital. Return to the hotel at your own leisure (transfer is on your own). Evening and dinner are on your own.Day 3: Reykjavik- Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir- ReykjavikHighlights: Thingvellir National Park Gullfoss Geysir
- Approximate Driving Distance: 235 km (146 miles)
- Ancient parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge – Golden Waterfall – Lively Geysers
- Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. This parliament has now become the world’s oldest ongoing. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Your guide will tell you about some of the important things that happened in Iceland’s history. It is interesting to imagine what Thingvellir must have been like hundreds of years ago when farmers, chieftains and merchants journeyed from all corners of Iceland to meet here to make laws, settle disputes, arrange alliances and meet old friends.
- Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Several walking paths take you to different views of the double-ledged waterfall. During winter the falls sometimes freeze, creating magical ice shapes. Nearby is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes, but there are many quirky and intriguing little geysers bubbling away.
- After a beautiful day in the Golden Circle area, return to Reykjavik for the evening.
- Overnight in Reykjavik.
- Day 4: Reykjavik- Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Vik - Reykjavik Highlights: Seljalandsfoss Skogafoss Vík Reynisdrangar Cliffs
- Approximate Driving Distance: 390 km (242miles)
- Scenic Waterfalls – Volcanic and Glacial Views – Charming Village – Black Sand Beach
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore , an area of Iceland that is beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently-erupting volcano, and glacier-crowned Eyjafjallajokull, the famous volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. You’ll certainly see signs of their impacts on Iceland. You might even get a glimpse of the Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland.
- Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure.
- As you drive along the coast, you’ll also get a view of Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest glacier.
- The road leads to charming Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic waves here are very powerful, and the rumbling sound of them crashing against the dark shore is something you will always remember. Far out to sea you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. According to old legends, they were once trolls.
- Return to Reykjavik for another night in the lively capital city. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 5: Reykjavik - Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon - ReykjavikHighlights: Kleifarvatn Krysuvik Grindavík The Blue Lagoon
- Approximate Driving Distance: 300 km (186 miles)
- Reykjanes Seacoast – Moon-like landscapes – Colorful Geothermal Area – Relaxing Spa
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore.
- Drive past the Presidential residence of Bessastadir and to the town of Hafnarfjordur. Take a coastal road to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, moon-like surroundings. If you enjoy crime novels, Kleifarvatn is the setting of a famous Icelandic suspense novel, The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indridason.
- Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulphurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly-colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. Then head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure.
- Transfer information: This evening you should speak with your hotel’s front desk about your FlyBus transfer for tomorrow. The hotel staff should have the latest information on transfer times and can set up the transfer hotel pick up for you and let you know what time the bus will come to the hotel.
- Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 6: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight.
Iceland
Best of Reykjavík & South Iceland (First Class)
6 days
$ 258 / day
$ 1,550
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Comfort (4*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in Iceland
- Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavik before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 1 according to the standard “Best of Iceland & South Iceland” itinerary. Your tour guide will meet you on Day 1 for your information meeting at your hotel. Your tour guide will meet you on Day 1 for your information meeting at your hotel. The meeting will be at CenterHotel Midgardur at 18:00 (6:00pm) and at CenterHotel Klopp at 19:15 (7:15pm). You can choose to attend the meeting at either hotel. Please note that transfers between hotels are not provided; it is about 10 minutes’ walk between each hotel. If you cannot make the information meeting on Day 1 you will meet your guide on Day 2 in the lobby of your hotel at 08:45 am. Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The bright orange Airport Direct transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavik. Important: The Airport Direct is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver. You will be taken to Airport Direct’s terminal where you will then be taken to your hotel by Airport Direct’s SmartBus. Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the afternoon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape. Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital. This evening there will be an information meeting at your hotel. Your locally based guide will go through the week’s itinerary and suggestions of things you can do in Reykjavik during your free time Your guide will let you know about exciting activities and events taking place in the city while you are in Iceland. You’ll get a great insider’s view on how to enjoy the city’s cultural scene. You’ll also find out more about the tour itinerary. You’ll meet your travel companions and enjoy a Welcome Drink at the hotel’s bar. Enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to get to know your travel companions. Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm). Day 2: Reykjavik- Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir- Reykjavik
- Legendary National Park – Golden Waterfall – Erupting Glaciers – Geothermal Farm and Horses. Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. Known as Althingi, this has now become the world’s oldest ongoing parliament. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Your guide will tell you about some of the important things that happened in Iceland’s history. It is interesting to imagine what Thingvellir must have been like hundreds of years ago when farmers, chieftains and merchants journeyed from all corners of Iceland to meet here to make laws, settle disputes, arrange alliances and meet old friends. Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Several walking paths take you to different views of the double-ledged waterfall. Nearby is the Geysir hot spring area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes, but there are many quirky and intriguing little geysers bubbling away. During the day you’ll stop at Fridheimar, an innovative family-run greenhouse farm and horse ranch. You’ll visit the green house and learn how the family uses pollution free geothermal energy and bumble bee pollination to grow their excellent organic tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. The farm also produces delicious products from their vegetables. You’ll also enjoy a demonstration about the Icelandic horse breed and its unique five gaits, along with a chance to meet some of these friendly animals. After a beautiful day in the Golden Circle area, return to Reykjavik for the evening. Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own. (B) Day 3: Reykjavik – Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Vik – Reykjavik
- Volcanic and Glacier Views –Scenic Waterfalls Duo – Black Sand Beaches and Thundering Waves. Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently erupting volcano, and glacier crowned Eyjafjallajokull, the famous volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. You’ll certainly see signs of their impacts on Iceland. You might even get a glimpse of the Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland. Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure. As you drive along the coast, you’ll also get a view of Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest glacier. The road leads to charming Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic waves here are very powerful, and the rumbling sound of them crashing against the dark shore is something you will always remember. Far out to sea you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. According to old legends, they were once trolls. During the day, your tour will stop at lovely family-owned countryside café, The Old Cowshed, for a taste of some traditional Icelandic skyr or homemade ice-cream. Return to Reykjavik for another night in the lively capital city. Dinner is on your own. This evening please talk to your hotel front desk staff about tomorrow’s airport transfer. They can advise what time Airport Direct’s SmartBus service will pick you up and where to meet the bus. They also can schedule the SmartBus pick-up time with Airport Direct for you. (B) Day 4: Reykjavik – Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavik
- Volcanic Peninsula – Moon-like Lake – Colorful Geothermal Field – Relaxing Lagoon. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore. Drive past the Presidential residence of Bessastadir and to the town of Hafnarfjordur. Take a coastal road to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, moon-like surroundings. If you enjoy crime novels, Kleifarvatn is the setting of a famous Icelandic suspense novel, The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indridason. Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulfurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. Then head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure. (B) Day 5: Old Town Reykjavik Walking tour – Free time in Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today is dedicated to enjoying Iceland’s capital city! Meet your local guide for a fun and informative walking tour of the downtown area. Your guide will point out some of the city’s best-known – and local secret – places and fill you in on the history and daily life of the city. You’ll get a real insider’s view! A few of the many places you’ll see on the tour include Hallgrimskirkja Church, the City Hall, Reykjavik Ponds, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Old Harbor. During the tour, your group will stop at a historical downtown bakery for a taste of a typical Icelandic treat. The tour ends in the downtown area, where your guide will say farewell and leave you to enjoy Reykjavik as you please for the rest of the day. Reykjavik has some great museums that highlight the city’s history and its lively art scene. One of our personal favorites is the interactive Reykjavik Settlement Museum, where you can view an excavated Viking longhouse—the oldest known building in Reykjavik—and discover how life was in the early Middle Ages. Or discover Iceland’s hidden wilderness in an unusual way at the new interactive FlyOver Iceland experience. Take a walk along the main shopping street and browse art galleries and Icelandic handicrafts/design shops. Stroll along one of the seacoast footpaths and enjoy the ocean views. Go swimming in one of the city’s famous geothermal pools. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a cozy coffee house. There are many ways to have a great afternoon in the world’s northernmost capital. Return to the hotel at your own leisure (transfer is on your own). Enjoy the last evening on your own in Reykjavik. This afternoon or evening please talk to your hotel front desk staff about tomorrow’s airport transfer. They can advise what time Airport Direct’s SmartBus service will pick you up and where to meet the bus. They also can schedule the SmartBus pick-up time with Airport Direct for you. Day 6: Departure
- Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. You will be picked up from the hotel by the SmartBus hotel transfer service. Please make sure you are waiting at you’re the pick-up point. You will then be taken to Airport Direct’s terminal where the Airport Direct bus is waiting. Transfer to Keflavik Airport for your flight. (B)
Iceland
Across The Wilderness (16 Participants)
9 days
$ 543 / day
$ 4,885
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Thingvellir – Gullfoss – Geysir
- UNESCO World Heritage site with Geological Wonders – The beautiful Golden Falls – Exploding Geysers – Iceland Travel’s Conservation Project. Transfer from a pre-arranged bus stop in Reykjavík to the tour’s meeting point. Please check your confirmation for your pre-arranged bus stop in Reykjavík. Please be at the pre-arranged bus stop no later than 15 minutes before the pick-up time. Make sure that your phone number and e-mail are listed with Iceland Travel so we can contact you if needed. The first day begins with a visit to Thingvellir National Park, the ancient site of the world’s first parliament. Here you can see the dramatic continental drift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Your guide will share interesting facts about some of the interesting historical events that have happened at Thingvellir. An hour’s drive away, visit the popular Geysir geothermal area. The most active geyser, Strokkur, shoots water high into the air every few minutes, but you’ll also witness several other boiling pools and hot springs. Next your group will take part in Iceland Travel’s reforestation program, located in Haukadalur valley. You can help your group plant a total of five trees, which not only allows you to leave your mark in Iceland but also for your tour group to reduce your carbon footprint!. Then you’ll head onwards to Iceland’s most popular waterfall, the impressive two-stage Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”). A series of easy footpaths leads around the waterfall, giving you the chance to get excellent views from different angles. Dinner and overnight stay in Hvolsvollur area. (D) Day 2: Hvollsvollur – Vik – Dyrholaey – Kirkjubaejarklaustur
- Thundering Waterfalls – Seabird Colony – Black Sand Beaches of the South Shore – Lava Fields. Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day by driving along the highway, making a stop at two impressive waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Head to the black sand beaches to enjoy the far-reaching views from Dyrholaey headland, where thousands of puffins and other seabirds nest (puffins generally seen between May and mid-August. Enjoy a stop in the quaint village of Vik before crossing the Myrdalssandur volcanic ash outwash plains created by flowing water from nearby glaciers. The day ends after passing through the vast Eldhraun lava field, the worlds largest recorded single lava flow in the last 10.000 years. Dinner and overnight stay in Kirkjubaejarklaustur area for the next two nights. (B & D) Day 3: Jokulsarlon – Skaftafell
- “Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Scenic Glacial Park – Europe’s Largest Glacier. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be in the area of Vatnajokull National Park, the largest national park in Western Europe. The day starts with a drive through beautiful scenery towards Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in Europe. You will also get a view of Hvannadalshnjukur, the country’s highest peak. The highlight of the day will surely be the Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon lagoons, where huge icebergs dance around in icy seawater. Experience up close this stunning sight on a zodiac tour among the icebergs. You will also view the much-photographed Diamond Beach area, where glittering shards of ice rest on a black sand beach. Continue on your way, passing by several outlet glaciers from Vatnajokull. Along the route you also will get magnificent views of Skaftafell, a glacier-crowned wonderland within Vatnajokull National Park. Dinner and overnight stay in Kirkjubaejarklaustur area. (B&D)” Day 4: Landmannalaugar
- Multi-coloured Wilderness Mountains – Lava Fields – Hot Spring Bathing. Breakfast at your hotel. Today some of the roads will be bumpy since you’re on highland wilderness tracks, but its all part of the adventure and the views will be amazing! It’s now time to leave the asphalt behind and meander along the scenic and rugged Fjallabaksleid interior track to Landmannalaugar, an astonishing area surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains. The surreal beauty of the uninhabited interior reveals deep valleys and sculptured mountains, many formed by volcanic eruptions that happened beneath glaciers during the Ice Age. After a nice walk in the nature reserve (optional), enjoy a relaxing bath in a warm brook created by the convergence of hot and cold springs. It’s an authentic Iceland experience! Dinner and overnight stay in the Thjorsardalur area. (B&D) Day 5: Sprengisandur Trail
- Wild Heart of Iceland and Black Sand Desert. Breakfast at your hotel. Today wilderness adventure awaits! It’s time to head north through the very heart of Iceland. Discover hidden treasures of Iceland’s uninhabited interior along the Sprengisandur highland route, a vast, barren, black desert connecting Iceland’s north and south. With only rough tracks and un-bridged glacial rivers, your group will rely on your experienced driver to navigate the rugged passage between the glaciers. This is a true taste of Iceland‘s wild side: rough gravel roads and fording rivers are a part of the amazing experience! (Note: If Sprengisandur is closed due to road conditions, your group will take the Kjolur highland route instead.) Dinner and overnight stay in the Lake Myvatn area for the next 2 nights. (B&D) Day 6: Tjornes – Asbyrgi – Dettifoss – Lake Myvatn
- Magnificent Canyon – Europe’s Mightiest Waterfall – Volcanic Wonderland. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will the northern part of Vatnajokull National Park, as well as Lake Myvatn. Drive through the town of Husavik and around the Tjornes peninsula, the northernmost point of your journey. Discover the impressive 100 meter (328 feet) high walls of the horseshoe-shaped canyon of Asbyrgi. According to Norse mythology, the canyon is the hoof-print left by Sleipnir, the magical eight-legged horse of the pagan god Odinn. The journey continues to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, located in the awe-inspiring Jokulsargljufur canyon. Next, travel to the unforgettable Lake Myvatn area, a geological wonderland and paradise for bird watchers. Some of the most visually bizarre attractions in the region include the colorful boiling mud pits of Hverarond and the still-warm lava fields of Krafla volcano, teeming with lava flows, fissures and explosion craters. Dinner and overnight stay in the Lake Myvatn area. (B&D) Day 7: Lake Myvatn – Dettifoss – Asbyrgi – Tjornes
- Magnificent Canyon – Europe’s Mightiest Waterfall – Volcanic Wonderland. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will the northern part of Vatnajokull National Park, as well as Lake Myvatn. Travel to the unforgettable Lake Myvatn area, a geological wonderland and paradise for bird watchers. Some of the most visually bizarre attractions in the region include the colorful boiling mud pits of Hverarond and the still-warm lava fields of Krafla volcano, teeming with lava flows, fissures and explosion craters. The journey continues to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, located in the awe-inspiring Jokulsargljufur canyon. Discover the impressive 100 meter (328 feet) high walls of the horseshoe-shaped canyon of Asbyrgi. According to Norse mythology, the canyon is the hoof-print left by Sleipnir, the magical eight-legged horse of the pagan god Odinn. Drive around the Tjornes peninsula, the northernmost point of your journey. In the afternoon drive to the town of Husavik where you have the option to experience the hot spring bath named GeoSea. Dinner and overnight stay in the Lake Myvatn area. (B&D)
- Day 8: Hvammstangi – Eirik the Red Museum – Vatnsnes Peninsula
- Historical Farmlands – Mysterious Scenic Peninsula – Birthplace of Leif Eiriksson. Breakfast at your hotel. Your journey continues around Vatnsnes Peninsula, which contains the extraordinary rock formation of Hvitserkur, a 15 meter (49 feet) tall cliff jutting out straight from the sea. This off-the-beaten path peninsula is part of the newly designated Arctic Coast Way, which focuses on the enchanting and wild wonders that border the Arctic Circle. This is an area where the sea and the sky seem to meet together, and there are inspiring views far into the distance. You might also see seals resting close to the beach. In the afternoon, drive through rolling farmlands and across Laxardalsheidi heath to the Viking Age house at the Eric the Red Museum. This was the original homestead of Eric the Red, as well as the birthplace of his son, Leifur Eiriksson. These men are two of the most legendary Vikings in the world. In a replica of a grass-roofed house, meet modern day Vikings who will show you the lifestyle from 1.000 years ago, sharing some of the crafts and knowledge. Dinner and overnight stay in the Fellsstrond or Snaefellsnes area. (B&D) Day 9: Snaefellsjokull National Park
- Snaefellsjokull Glacier – Pebble Beaches – Sea Cliffs with Birdlife – Quaint Fishing Villages. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will explore the amazing variety of natural landscapes in Snaefellsjokull National Park. The park‘s crown jewel is Snaefellsjokull glacier itself, which covers a dormant volcano that last erupted in 250 AD. In addition, you’ll also see Kirkjufell, one of the most photographed mountains in Iceland. Walk along the uniquely pebbled seascape of Djupalonssandur beach. At the picturesque harbor village of Arnarstapi, you can observe magnificent basalt rocks in stacked formations and perhaps take a walk along the unique hiking trail linking the historical settlements of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. At the end of the afternoon, the journey leads back to Reykjavik. The tour ends in Reykjavik. You will be transferred from the tour’s endpoint to a pre-arranged tour bus stop in Reykjavik. (B)
Iceland
Glaciers & Volcanoes (Maximum Group Size: 36 ...
6 days
$ 337 / day
$ 2,020
From :
$ 2,727
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival
- Arrival in Iceland. Shared transfer to Reykjavik. A great way to get to know Icelandic culture is a visit to a neighborhood swimming pool. This is not only a refreshing way to shake off jetlag, it’s also the typical way Icelanders meet friends and neighbors and chat about the goings on. Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital. Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price. Most hotels begin check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm). Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Day 2: The Westman Islands
- Amazing Waterfall – Lava Fields – Volcanic Aftermath – Magnificent lava fieldsBreakfast at your hotel. Drive along the south shore, one of Iceland’s most volcanic regions. Pass alongside farmlands built in the shadow of towering volcanic mountains. You’ll see many signs of how the volcanoes of the area have powerfully altered the landscape. If the skies are clear, you may even catch views of two of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes: Hekla (last eruption 2000) and Eyjafjallajokull (last eruption 2010). In Hvollsvollur town, visit the LAVA Centre, an interactive, high-tech exhibition about volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. It’s a perfect introduction to how natural volcanic and earthquake forces created Iceland – and continue to shape the island.Next visit the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where the intrepid adventurer can take the trail that leads behind the waterfall.Travel along the farmlands of the south coast to Landeyjahofn harbor. Take a 30-minute ferry ride to the Westman Islands, enjoying the view of volcanic islands and seabirds. Your destination is Heimaey Island, the largest of the Westman Island archipelago. It is the only inhabited island. Life here is quite a bit different from the “mainland” Iceland, and you’ll discover some of the unique culture and history on a drive around the area.Visit windy Storhofdi Point with its fantastic views over the area.(During mid-May through the beginning of August you might also see puffins here.) Take a walk up to the crater of a volcano that erupted only three decades ago.You can still see the steam rising from the ground and the brilliantly red and black lava deposits that form bizarre shapes. The view from up here and over the sea and islands is simply stunning! Next, take a trip back in time and visit Eldheimar Museum. You’ll learn about the catastrophic 1973 eruption that covered many homes on Heimaey in lava and changed the residents’ lives forever. You’ll see where lava flowed over houses and where grass and moss now grown in among the lava. The volcanic flows also created an amazing time capsule; wandering through Eldheimar gives you a peek into Icelandic daily life in the early 1970s.The rest of the afternoon is open for you to explore the island on your own. Walk along the harbor and check out the 17th-century earth fort built to protect the islands from pirate raids. Catch some interesting and timeless photos of the replica of a Viking age stave church built in the year 2000. Take a swim in the public swimming pool, which uses geothermally warmed sea water. Soak in the vibes of the charming and lively fishing town, home to the family-owned Brothers micro-brewery and several restaurants known for great seafood and a charming local feeling. Or simply sit by the sea and enjoy the sounds of the waves and the calls of the sea birds and the peaceful atmosphere of the islands. Overnight in the Westman Islands. Dinner on your own.(B)
- Day 4: Vik– Skaftafell – Jokulsarlon
- Skaftafell and Glacial beauty – Europe’s largest Glacier – Glacial Lagoon with IcebergsBreakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. Vatnajokull National Park covers 14% of Iceland’s surface, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Throughout the day you’ll also have views of massive Vatnajokull glacier. Start the day by crossing Eldhraun, the largest single flow of lava ever to flow on the face of the Earth. The cataclysmic eruption happened in 1783-1784 AD and affected the climate across mainland Europe. The vast lava moss-covered lava formations are surreal. Head across a landscape of black sand plains and braided rivers created when glacier capped volcanoes erupted. It’s hard to believe that this black sand desert was actually created by ice! Visit Skaftafell, a beautiful glacier-ringed valley in Vatnajokull National Park. The contrast of black volcanoes, silvery glaciers and small green forests is strikingly beautiful. Continue to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon to see floating icebergs and maybe a curious seal or two. Spend a few moments here taking in this unforgettable site. Nearby is the Diamond Beach, a black sand area where broken bits of ice bergs come to rest before they eventually drift to sea. Now it’s time to enjoy the beauty of ice and water even more with a boat trip! Head to the Iceberg Lagoon, another (and quieter) glacier lagoon in the area. Take a Zodiac boat tour amid the floating ice bergs, viewing the different shapes and shades of blue. Enjoy the guide’s interesting insights about the glacier and the area’s history and nature. Return to Vik for your overnight. Dinner and overnight in Vik. (BD) Day 5: Gullfoss – Geysir – Thingvellir – Reykjavik
- Lively Geysers and Golden Falls – National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO World Heritage Site)Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will visit the Golden Circle region, perhaps one of Iceland’s most famous areas. It’s also a fascinating place to discover more about Iceland’s volcanic and glacial powers, with a bit of Viking history on the side. Start off byheading for the Geysir geothermal field. The very earth steams with volcanic heat. Underground hot springs erupt as geysers. The most famous geyser is Strokkur, a hot spring that spouts high in the air every few minutes. But there are many other smaller yet very interesting geysers and bubbling mud pools. Travel onwards to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. Gullfoss is created by a glacial river, Hvita, that thunders over two ledges into a deep canyon. Several footpaths lead around the falls, each giving you a different view. The next stop is Thingvellir National Park, where the Viking-age parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. Thingvellir is where Iceland became a nation, and many important decisions and historical events happened here. Thingvellir is also a fascinating place geologically; the North American and European tectonic plates meet, allowing you to walk between continents. After some time to explore the wonders of Thingvellir, head back to Reykjavik. Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own. (B) Day 6: Departure
- Breakfast at your hotel. Please note if you have an earlier flight this could be a light breakfast. Transfer to the airport not included, but we would be happy to book it for you. We recommend departing your hotel no later than 3 hours before your international flight. (B)
- You can also book our Snæfellsnes Extension, stay tonight in Reykjavik, and explore one of Iceland’s most beautiful and mystical places.Note: Available for May, June, July, August & September
Iceland
Hidden Powers And Northern Lights (Standard Class)
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in Iceland and Evening MeetingUpon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavik stands today. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers. If you are arriving earlier in the day, you might consider visiting the Grandi area of the city’s Old Harbour. Grandi is a growing culinary center. A new food hall focusing on “upscale street food” was recently opened there. Another Food Hall is located in the Hlemmur of Reykjavik, just at the end of the main shopping street, Laugarvegur. adding a day tour. We’d be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. Some of our culinary-related suggestions include the Reykjavik Food Walk, Meet the Locals experience with lunch, and the unique Cook and Dine cooking workshop. Just remember to leave this evening open.
- This evening, around 18:00 (6:00pm) there will be an information meeting at the hotel. Meet your guide and fellow travelers. You’ll go over the trip itinerary together and enjoy a “Welcome Drink.”
- Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital.
- Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavík before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “Hidden Powers and Northern Lights: Foodie Focus” itinerary.
- Important: If you have added extra nights in Akureyri before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard "Arctic Powers" itinerary. Day 2: Thingvellir - Geysir – Gullfoss- South Iceland Approximate distance: CA200km / 124miles
- Northern Lights Centre - National Park with Geological Wonders (UNESCO) - Exploding Geysers - The Famous Golden Falls
- After a hearty Icelandic breakfast, start the day by visiting the fascinating Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Centre. You’ll get a great introduction to northern lights, how they are formed and the folklore surrounding them. If you have a camera, the staff at the center will also show you how to capture northern lights on film and help you with adjusting the settings for this.
- Then head onwards to Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO World Heritage site) where the world’s oldest parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake.
- Continue through farmland areas to the geothermal fields of Geysir with bubbling mud pools and the high-spouting Strokkur hot spring. Last but not least, visit the dramatic two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular sight in winter when frozen mid-cascade. Stop at Skalholt, Iceland’s capital during the Middle Ages and now a culture center with a beautiful church.
- Visit Efstidalur, a family-owned dairy farm. The farm welcomes visitors and has developed a wonderful “Farm to Table” presentation for guests. You’ll meet members of the farm family and learn about dairy farming in Iceland. Enjoy lunch and sample some of the farm’s excellent feta cheese, ice cream and skyr (an Icelandic dairy product similar to Greek yogurt). The restaurant has windows that look down on the milking parlor, where you can see “the girls,” the farm’s cows. The dairy cows are an heirloom breed of Icelandic cattle that goes back to Viking times.
- You will also visit the town of Laugarvatn. The town is built around three hot springs, and the residents have cleverly harnessed the hot springs for heating, greenhouses and even cooking. You’ll visit a unique outdoor geothermal bakery at the Laugarvatn Fontana spa where Icelandic rye bread is baked in the hot sands. Try some of the freshly baked bread, hot from the ground. It’s especially delicious slathered in Icelandic butter.
- If weather conditions are right, your guide will take you on a northern lights hunt on foot in the area outside your hotel tonight, or on the evening of Day 3 or 4.
- Dinner and overnight in the south coast area.Day 3: Iceland’s South Shore – Eyjafjallajokull Volcano- Southeast IcelandApproximate distance: CA257km / 160miles
- Waterfalls – Lava Centre - Glacial Views - Black Sand Beaches
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the South Shore, an area of Iceland that is especially beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. This part of Iceland is home to the wonderful LAVA Centre, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. Enjoy both the exhibit and viewing an interesting film about Icelandic volcanoes at the Centre‘s cinema. Continue onwards. If the skies are clear you might see the area’s two most famous volcanoes in the distance: Mount Hekla (last eruption 2000) and Eyjafjallajokull (last eruption 2010). You might also possibly catch a glimpse of Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland.
- Lunch today is a real treat. Visit Hotel Anna, located on Moldnupar farm. The hotel is named after Sigridur Anna Jonsdottir, an early 20th century dairy maid who grew up on the farm. She was a self-educated journalist who may have also been Iceland’s first travel writer. Hotel Anna’s restaurant specializes in Icelandic “soul food.” Enjoy tasting cured salmon and plokkfiskur, a hearty fish stew.
- Stop at the spectacular waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Both of them are a “must-see” for photographs. If trail conditions are right, you might be able to walk behind Seljalandsfoss falls.
- Head onwards, passing Myrdalsjokull Glacier, to visit Reynisfjara beach. Take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Cross a vast lava field created from a destructive 18th century eruption as you head into Southeast Iceland.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Southeast Iceland.
- Day 4: Skaftafell National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon Approximate distance: CA210km / 130miles
- Western Europe's Largest National Park - Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs - Europe's Largest Glacier
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today enter the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. This national park is also the largest one in Western Europe, and the total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east en route to the Vatnajokull area. Visit Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where you can enjoy a breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, where shrinking icebergs settle on the black sands before they drift out to sea.
- Then view Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful of the glacial outlets emerging from Vatnajokull. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty dominated by several magnificent glaciers. While here, visit the park’s Hotel Skaftafell, where you´ll enjoy a surprise taste treat from the Vatnajokull region (shhh…. it’s a surprise!). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Day 5: Hveragerdi - Blue Lagoon – ReykjavikApproximate distance: CA408km / 254miles
- Greenhouse Village – Thundering Waves - Geothermal Lagoon
- Breakfast at your hotel. Head back along the beautiful South Coast, enjoying a different view of the winter landscapes. Visit the village of Hveragerdi, which is one of the few sites in the world located directly in the middle of a geothermal area. Hveragerdi is often called ""The Flower Village"" because of its many greenhouses heated by hot water from nearby springs.
- Turn onto a southern coastal road and follow alongside the shoreline with its breath-taking sea waves. Several pretty fishing villages are in the area, including Stokkseyri. This town is known for its charming Fjorubordid (Seaside) restaurant that does magical things with langoustines (Norway lobsters). Enjoy a scrumptious lunch featuring langoustine tails sautéed in garlic and butter.
- Continue onwards, passing through a deserted community that once was a flourishing coastal town. The trip then takes you through the surreal landscapes of the Reykjanes peninsula, where you can enjoy a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon, a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure. Dinner is on your own."
- Day 6: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the international airport by bus for your departure flight. We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight.
- Important: Please advise us at booking time if you have food allergies or dietary preferences. Vegetarian and gluten-free diet alternatives are usually possible. We will do our best to accommodate all requests but cannot guarantee alternatives will be available. Northern lights are dependent on weather conditions and sightings are not guaranteed
- Note: We reserve the right to alter routes without prior notice, due to road conditions.
Iceland
Reykjavik And Iceland Highlights (First Class)
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in IcelandHighlights: Austurvollur Square Parliament House Perlan
- Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the after-noon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape.
- Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
- This evening at 18:00 (6:00pm) there will be an information meeting at the hotel. Your locally-based guide will go through the week’s itinerary and suggestions of things you can do in Reykjavik during your free time. Enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to get to know your travel companions.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
- Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm).Day 2: Get to know Iceland’s CapitalHighlights: Hallgrimskirkja Reykjavik City Hall Harpa Concert Hall Tjornin
- Walking tour – Free time in Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel. Since Reykjavik will be your home for the next few days, today is a great day to get to know the city! Meet your local guide for a fun and informative walking tour of the down town area. Your guide will point out some of the city’s best-known places and also fill you in on the history and daily life of the city. You’ll also get tips and recommendations from your guide on local favorite hangouts for food and fun.
- Some of the many places you’ll see on the tour include Hallgrimskirkja Church, the City Hall, Reykjavik Ponds, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Old Harbor. During the tour, your group will stop at a downtown bakery for a taste of a typical Icelandic treat.
- The tour ends in the downtown area, where the guide will leave you to enjoy Reykjavik as you please for the rest of the day. Reykjavik has some great museums that highlight the city’s history and its lively art scene. One of our personal favorites is the interactive Reykjavik Settlement Museum, where you can view an excavated Viking longhouse—the oldest known building in Reykjavik—and discover how life was in the early Middle Ages. Take a walk along the main shopping street and browse art galleries and Icelandic handicrafts/design shops. Stroll along one of the seacoast footpaths and enjoy the ocean views. Go swimming in one of the city’s famous geothermal pools. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a cozy coffee house. There are many ways to have a great afternoon in the world’s northernmost capital. Return to the hotel at your own leisure (transfer is on your own). Evening and dinner are on your own.Day 3: Reykjavik- Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir- ReykjavikHighlights: Thingvellir National Park Gullfoss Geysir
- Approximate Driving Distance: 235 km (146 miles)
- Ancient parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge – Golden Waterfall – Lively Geysers
- Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. This parliament has now become the world’s oldest ongoing. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Your guide will tell you about some of the important things that happened in Iceland’s history. It is interesting to imagine what Thingvellir must have been like hundreds of years ago when farmers, chieftains and merchants journeyed from all corners of Iceland to meet here to make laws, settle disputes, arrange alliances and meet old friends.
- Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Several walking paths take you to different views of the double-ledged waterfall. During winter the falls sometimes freeze, creating magical ice shapes. Nearby is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes, but there are many quirky and intriguing little geysers bubbling away.
- After a beautiful day in the Golden Circle area, return to Reykjavik for the evening.
- Overnight in Reykjavik.
- Day 4: Reykjavik- Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Vik - Reykjavik Highlights: Seljalandsfoss Skogafoss Vík Reynisdrangar Cliffs
- Approximate Driving Distance: 390 km (242miles)
- Scenic Waterfalls – Volcanic and Glacial Views – Charming Village – Black Sand Beach
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore , an area of Iceland that is beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently-erupting volcano, and glacier-crowned Eyjafjallajokull, the famous volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. You’ll certainly see signs of their impacts on Iceland. You might even get a glimpse of the Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland.
- Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure.
- As you drive along the coast, you’ll also get a view of Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest glacier.
- The road leads to charming Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic waves here are very powerful, and the rumbling sound of them crashing against the dark shore is something you will always remember. Far out to sea you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. According to old legends, they were once trolls.
- Return to Reykjavik for another night in the lively capital city. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 5: Reykjavik - Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon - ReykjavikHighlights: Kleifarvatn Krysuvik Grindavík The Blue Lagoon
- Approximate Driving Distance: 300 km (186 miles)
- Reykjanes Seacoast – Moon-like landscapes – Colorful Geothermal Area – Relaxing Spa
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore.
- Drive past the Presidential residence of Bessastadir and to the town of Hafnarfjordur. Take a coastal road to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, moon-like surroundings. If you enjoy crime novels, Kleifarvatn is the setting of a famous Icelandic suspense novel, The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indridason.
- Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulphurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly-colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. Then head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure.
- Transfer information: This evening you should speak with your hotel’s front desk about your FlyBus transfer for tomorrow. The hotel staff should have the latest information on transfer times and can set up the transfer hotel pick up for you and let you know what time the bus will come to the hotel.
- Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 6: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight.
Iceland
Journey around Iceland (First Class)
9 days
$ 822 / day
$ 7,400
From :
$ 9,102
The strike-through price reflects either the high season trip price or the average price a traveler pays for a similar itinerary when the components are booked separately.
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Comfort (4*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Welcome to Iceland
- Individual transfer from Keflavik airport to Hotel Klettur in Reykjavik. Day 2: Borgarfjorour
- Through Borgarfjorour and Skagafjorour to Akureyri including a visit to Glaumbær folk museum. Accommodation at Hotel Kea (B) Day 3: Lake Myvatn
- Lake Myvatn area. Optional: Whale watching tour from Akureyri and Nature baths at Myvatn. Accommodation at Hotel Kea. (B) Day 4: East Fjords
- Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. From here we head towards the sparsely populated and very beautiful East fjords. Accommodation at Hotel Blafell. (B) Day 5: Southeast Iceland
- Skaftafell and Vatnajokull National Park. Optional Boat tour on Glacier lagoon. Accommodation at Hotel Klaustur. (B) Day 6: South Shore
- Iceland’s South Shore – including the black beaches, Seljalandsfoss, and Skogafoss waterfalls as well as a visit to Lava Centre. Accommodation at Hotel Selfoss. (B) Day 7: Golden Circle
- Golden Circle, including Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir hot spring area, and Thingvellir national park. Accommodation at Hotel Klettur. (B) Day 8: Good-bye Iceland
- Individual transfer from Hotel in Reykjavík to Keflavik Airport. (B)
Iceland
Reykjavik And Iceland Highlights (Superior Class)
6 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in IcelandHighlights: Austurvollur Square Parliament House Perlan
- Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the after-noon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape.
- Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
- This evening at 18:00 (6:00pm) there will be an information meeting at the hotel. Your locally-based guide will go through the week’s itinerary and suggestions of things you can do in Reykjavik during your free time. Enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to get to know your travel companions.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
- Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm).Day 2: Get to know Iceland’s CapitalHighlights: Hallgrimskirkja Reykjavik City Hall Harpa Concert Hall Tjornin
- Walking tour – Free time in Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel. Since Reykjavik will be your home for the next few days, today is a great day to get to know the city! Meet your local guide for a fun and informative walking tour of the down town area. Your guide will point out some of the city’s best-known places and also fill you in on the history and daily life of the city. You’ll also get tips and recommendations from your guide on local favorite hangouts for food and fun.
- Some of the many places you’ll see on the tour include Hallgrimskirkja Church, the City Hall, Reykjavik Ponds, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Old Harbor. During the tour, your group will stop at a downtown bakery for a taste of a typical Icelandic treat.
- The tour ends in the downtown area, where the guide will leave you to enjoy Reykjavik as you please for the rest of the day. Reykjavik has some great museums that highlight the city’s history and its lively art scene. One of our personal favorites is the interactive Reykjavik Settlement Museum, where you can view an excavated Viking longhouse—the oldest known building in Reykjavik—and discover how life was in the early Middle Ages. Take a walk along the main shopping street and browse art galleries and Icelandic handicrafts/design shops. Stroll along one of the seacoast footpaths and enjoy the ocean views. Go swimming in one of the city’s famous geothermal pools. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a cozy coffee house. There are many ways to have a great afternoon in the world’s northernmost capital. Return to the hotel at your own leisure (transfer is on your own). Evening and dinner are on your own.Day 3: Reykjavik- Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir- ReykjavikHighlights: Thingvellir National Park Gullfoss Geysir
- Approximate Driving Distance: 235 km (146 miles)
- Ancient parliament and Mid-Atlantic Ridge – Golden Waterfall – Lively Geysers
- Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. This parliament has now become the world’s oldest ongoing. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Your guide will tell you about some of the important things that happened in Iceland’s history. It is interesting to imagine what Thingvellir must have been like hundreds of years ago when farmers, chieftains and merchants journeyed from all corners of Iceland to meet here to make laws, settle disputes, arrange alliances and meet old friends.
- Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Several walking paths take you to different views of the double-ledged waterfall. During winter the falls sometimes freeze, creating magical ice shapes. Nearby is the Geysir Hot Spring Area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes, but there are many quirky and intriguing little geysers bubbling away.
- After a beautiful day in the Golden Circle area, return to Reykjavik for the evening.
- Overnight in Reykjavik.
- Day 4: Reykjavik- Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Vik - Reykjavik Highlights: Seljalandsfoss Skogafoss Vík Reynisdrangar Cliffs
- Approximate Driving Distance: 390 km (242miles)
- Scenic Waterfalls – Volcanic and Glacial Views – Charming Village – Black Sand Beach
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore , an area of Iceland that is beautiful to view in the winter. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently-erupting volcano, and glacier-crowned Eyjafjallajokull, the famous volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. You’ll certainly see signs of their impacts on Iceland. You might even get a glimpse of the Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland.
- Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure.
- As you drive along the coast, you’ll also get a view of Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest glacier.
- The road leads to charming Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic waves here are very powerful, and the rumbling sound of them crashing against the dark shore is something you will always remember. Far out to sea you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. According to old legends, they were once trolls.
- Return to Reykjavik for another night in the lively capital city. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 5: Reykjavik - Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon - ReykjavikHighlights: Kleifarvatn Krysuvik Grindavík The Blue Lagoon
- Approximate Driving Distance: 300 km (186 miles)
- Reykjanes Seacoast – Moon-like landscapes – Colorful Geothermal Area – Relaxing Spa
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore.
- Drive past the Presidential residence of Bessastadir and to the town of Hafnarfjordur. Take a coastal road to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, moon-like surroundings. If you enjoy crime novels, Kleifarvatn is the setting of a famous Icelandic suspense novel, The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indridason.
- Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulphurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly-colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. Then head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure.
- Transfer information: This evening you should speak with your hotel’s front desk about your FlyBus transfer for tomorrow. The hotel staff should have the latest information on transfer times and can set up the transfer hotel pick up for you and let you know what time the bus will come to the hotel.
- Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 6: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight.
Iceland
Best of Reykjavík & South Iceland (Standard Class)
6 days
$ 234 / day
$ 1,405
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.
Basic (2*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival in Iceland
- Please note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavik before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 1 according to the standard “Best of Iceland & South Iceland” itinerary. Your tour guide will meet you on Day 1 for your information meeting at your hotel. Your tour guide will meet you on Day 1 for your information meeting at your hotel. The meeting will be at CenterHotel Midgardur at 18:00 (6:00pm) and at CenterHotel Klopp at 19:15 (7:15pm). You can choose to attend the meeting at either hotel. Please note that transfers between hotels are not provided; it is about 10 minutes’ walk between each hotel. If you cannot make the information meeting on Day 1 you will meet your guide on Day 2 in the lobby of your hotel at 08:45 am. Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The bright orange Airport Direct transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavik. Important: The Airport Direct is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver. You will be taken to Airport Direct’s terminal where you will then be taken to your hotel by Airport Direct’s SmartBus. Once in Reykjavik, check into your hotel. If you arrive early in the day, you might want to explore Reykjavik’s old town area, location of many museums and galleries. You might also enjoy visiting one of the city’s outdoor geothermal swimming pools where you can shake off your jetlag. In the afternoon you could take one of our day tours, such as whale watching or horseback riding, both bringing you close to Iceland’s nature and landscape. Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital. This evening there will be an information meeting at your hotel. Your locally based guide will go through the week’s itinerary and suggestions of things you can do in Reykjavik during your free time Your guide will let you know about exciting activities and events taking place in the city while you are in Iceland. You’ll get a great insider’s view on how to enjoy the city’s cultural scene. You’ll also find out more about the tour itinerary. You’ll meet your travel companions and enjoy a Welcome Drink at the hotel’s bar. Enjoy a welcome drink and the opportunity to get to know your travel companions. Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Please note that most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm). Day 2: Reykjavik- Thingvellir National Park – Gullfoss – Geysir- Reykjavik
- Legendary National Park – Golden Waterfall – Erupting Glaciers – Geothermal Farm and Horses. Breakfast at your hotel before heading on to the famous Golden Circle route. Iceland’s Golden Circle showcases a trio of celebrated natural attractions. Start with a visit to Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where Viking settlers established an annual assembly in AD 930. Known as Althingi, this has now become the world’s oldest ongoing parliament. Thingvellir is also a geological masterpiece, as it marks the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian continental plates meet. You can walk along a path taking you between the canyon marking the location of the ridge. Your guide will tell you about some of the important things that happened in Iceland’s history. It is interesting to imagine what Thingvellir must have been like hundreds of years ago when farmers, chieftains and merchants journeyed from all corners of Iceland to meet here to make laws, settle disputes, arrange alliances and meet old friends. Head through scenic farmlands to the celebrated Gullfoss waterfall, believed by many to be Iceland’s most beautiful falls. Several walking paths take you to different views of the double-ledged waterfall. Nearby is the Geysir hot spring area, alive with boiling mud pits, steam vents, and exploding geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, a high-spouting geyser that erupts every ten minutes, but there are many quirky and intriguing little geysers bubbling away. During the day you’ll stop at Fridheimar, an innovative family-run greenhouse farm and horse ranch. You’ll visit the green house and learn how the family uses pollution free geothermal energy and bumble bee pollination to grow their excellent organic tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. The farm also produces delicious products from their vegetables. You’ll also enjoy a demonstration about the Icelandic horse breed and its unique five gaits, along with a chance to meet some of these friendly animals. After a beautiful day in the Golden Circle area, return to Reykjavik for the evening. Overnight in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own. (B) Day 3: Reykjavik – Seljalandsfoss- Skogafoss – Vik – Reykjavik
- Volcanic and Glacier Views –Scenic Waterfalls Duo – Black Sand Beaches and Thundering Waves. Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the iconic South Shore. This is one of the main farm regions of the country, and the road will pass by typical Icelandic farms, often with Icelandic horses in the fields. Depending on the weather, you might also get a glimpse of beautiful Mount Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently erupting volcano, and glacier crowned Eyjafjallajokull, the famous volcano whose 2010 eruption halted air traffic worldwide. You’ll certainly see signs of their impacts on Iceland. You might even get a glimpse of the Westman Islands archipelago off the coast of Iceland. Stop at two spectacular waterfalls, each with its own charm and character. Depending on the trail conditions you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall. Skogafoss is one of the country’s most photographed waterfalls and is said to be the hiding place for ancient treasure. As you drive along the coast, you’ll also get a view of Myrdalsjokull, Iceland’s fourth largest glacier. The road leads to charming Vik, Iceland’s southernmost village. Visit Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sands, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The North Atlantic waves here are very powerful, and the rumbling sound of them crashing against the dark shore is something you will always remember. Far out to sea you can see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. According to old legends, they were once trolls. During the day, your tour will stop at lovely family-owned countryside café, The Old Cowshed, for a taste of some traditional Icelandic skyr or homemade ice-cream. Return to Reykjavik for another night in the lively capital city. Dinner is on your own. This evening please talk to your hotel front desk staff about tomorrow’s airport transfer. They can advise what time Airport Direct’s SmartBus service will pick you up and where to meet the bus. They also can schedule the SmartBus pick-up time with Airport Direct for you. (B) Day 4: Reykjavik – Reykjanes – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavik
- Volcanic Peninsula – Moon-like Lake – Colorful Geothermal Field – Relaxing Lagoon. Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll take a beautiful coastal road that leads onto the breath-taking Reykjanes peninsula. Reykjanes was designated a UNESCO Geopark in 2015 because of its many interesting geothermal and volcanic features, and it’s a fantastic place to explore. Drive past the Presidential residence of Bessastadir and to the town of Hafnarfjordur. Take a coastal road to Lake Kleifarvatn, set in fascinating, moon-like surroundings. If you enjoy crime novels, Kleifarvatn is the setting of a famous Icelandic suspense novel, The Draining Lake, by Arnaldur Indridason. Near the lake’s southern end lies Krysuvik, where powerful jets of steam escape from deep below the earth’s crust and sulfurous steam rises from numerous geothermal vents. You can see numerous small hot springs, brightly colored mud pots, boiling pools and other types of geothermal activity. Continue under low mountains along the shoreline to stop by craggy cliffs rising sheer from the sea. This is home to Grindavik, a town with a sizeable fishing fleet. Then head for the world-renowned Blue Lagoon. Set in a black lava field, this geothermal spa is a lagoon filled with warm mineral-rich seawater that provides the ultimate interaction and relaxation with Iceland’s raw nature. Here you can enjoy a lovely soak in the healing waters of the lagoon a unique wonder of nature with pleasantly warm, mineral-rich water in the middle of a black lava field. Return to Reykjavik, where the evening is at your own leisure. (B) Day 5: Old Town Reykjavik Walking tour – Free time in Reykjavik
- Breakfast at your hotel. Today is dedicated to enjoying Iceland’s capital city! Meet your local guide for a fun and informative walking tour of the downtown area. Your guide will point out some of the city’s best-known – and local secret – places and fill you in on the history and daily life of the city. You’ll get a real insider’s view! A few of the many places you’ll see on the tour include Hallgrimskirkja Church, the City Hall, Reykjavik Ponds, Harpa Concert Hall, and the Old Harbor. During the tour, your group will stop at a historical downtown bakery for a taste of a typical Icelandic treat. The tour ends in the downtown area, where your guide will say farewell and leave you to enjoy Reykjavik as you please for the rest of the day. Reykjavik has some great museums that highlight the city’s history and its lively art scene. One of our personal favorites is the interactive Reykjavik Settlement Museum, where you can view an excavated Viking longhouse—the oldest known building in Reykjavik—and discover how life was in the early Middle Ages. Or discover Iceland’s hidden wilderness in an unusual way at the new interactive FlyOver Iceland experience. Take a walk along the main shopping street and browse art galleries and Icelandic handicrafts/design shops. Stroll along one of the seacoast footpaths and enjoy the ocean views. Go swimming in one of the city’s famous geothermal pools. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a cozy coffee house. There are many ways to have a great afternoon in the world’s northernmost capital. Return to the hotel at your own leisure (transfer is on your own). Enjoy the last evening on your own in Reykjavik. This afternoon or evening please talk to your hotel front desk staff about tomorrow’s airport transfer. They can advise what time Airport Direct’s SmartBus service will pick you up and where to meet the bus. They also can schedule the SmartBus pick-up time with Airport Direct for you. Day 6: Departure
- Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. You will be picked up from the hotel by the SmartBus hotel transfer service. Please make sure you are waiting at you’re the pick-up point. You will then be taken to Airport Direct’s terminal where the Airport Direct bus is waiting. Transfer to Keflavik Airport for your flight. (B)
Iceland
Iceland Complete Winter Aurora Edition
9 days
Check price
Travel Style :
Array
Mixed
Physical Level :
All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Moderate
Lodging Level :
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Value (3*)
Highlights
Visits:
- Day 1: Arrival and Optional Northern Lights TourPlease note: If you have added extra nights in Reykjavík before your tour, the guide will meet your group for the start of the tour on Day 2 according to the standard “Winter Iceland Complete” itinerary.
- Upon arrival, head through passport control, collect your bags and go through customs to the Arrival Hall. The FlyBus transfer shuttle is waiting outside the arrival hall. Please show your confirmation information to the attendant on board and let him or her know the hotel you are using in Reykjavík. Important: The FlyBus is a shared bus transfer. You will not be met directly in the airport by a driver.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik.
- Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavík stands today. The town got its name “Smoky Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers.
- Dinner is on your own. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital.
- Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price. Most hotels begin check-in between 14:00 and 16:00 (2:00pm and 4:00pm)Day 2: Geysir - Gullfoss - Skogar - Dyrholaey - VikExploding Geysers – Waterfalls – Black Sand Beaches of the South Shore
- Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day with a short city sightseeing of Reykjavik. From Reykjavik head through the greenhouse village of Hveragerdi. Head on to the Golden Circle natural wonders. Explore Gullfoss, the ""Golden Waterfall"", and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. Continue along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfossand Skogafossbefore continuing to Dyrholaey and the black sand beaches of Iceland’s South Shore. Continue to the village of Vik.
- Dinner and overnight in the south coast area.
- Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this eveningDay 3: Vatnajokull National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon - HofnLava Fields – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs – Europe’s Largest Glacier
- Breakfast at your hotel. Continue your journey on the Ring Road. Cross Eldhraun, the largest lava flow recorded on the planet in historical times. Visit Kirkjubaejarklaustur town, the former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent. The tour continues over Skeidararsandur sands to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area within Vatnajokull National Park. Continue to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon to see the birthplace of icebergs. Throughout the day you will also enjoy magnificent views of the mighty Vatnajokull Glacier.
- Dinner and overnight stay in the Hofn area.
- Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening
- Day 4: Hofn - East Fjords - Egilsstadir Narrow Fjords – Steep Mountains – Picturesque Coastline – Legendary Lake Monster
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. Enjoy the amazing views: keep an eye out for wild reindeer, which can sometimes be seen in the area during the winter months. You’ll also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area is also getting a name for itself for its excellent locally-sourced cuisine.
- Dinner and overnight stay in the Egilsstadir area.
- Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this eveningDay 5: Lake Myvatn Area Highland Desert – Bizarre Lava Formations – Geothermal & Volcanic Winter Wonderland
- Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefias you head towards the Lake Myvatn area. On the way, stop at Dettifoss, Europe's largest and most powerful waterfall.Continue onwards to Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and the Laxa Salmon River. Dinner and overnight stay in the Myvatn area.
- Northern lights Wake-up call option available this evening"
- Day 6: Lake Myvatn Area - Akureyri - Siglufjordur ""Waterfall of the Gods"" – Turf-roofed Folk Museum – The Beautiful Troll Peninsula
- Breakfast at your hotel. Start the day by exploring the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir. Visit the magnificent Godafoss waterfall and the old turf farm Laufas. Afterwards, visit Akureyri, the colourful northern “capital „of Iceland. The town has charming buildings and beautiful view of the Eyjafjordur Fjord. After spending some time in Akureyri, continue along the coastal roads of Eyjafjordur and the Troll Peninsula. This is a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and black sand coastline. The destination is Siglufjordur, set in a beautiful fjord of the same name. This town has some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Siglufjordur is a very picturesque and easily walkable town for an evening stroll.
- Dinner and overnight in Siglufjorður.
- Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening
- Day 7: Skagafjordur - Borgarnes Historical Museum – Fertile Farmlands – Glacial Rivers – Unique Viking Horse Demonstration
- Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit Siglufjordur’s award-winning Herring-Era Maritime Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Siglufjordur was transformed into a frontier boom town, thanks to a large migration of herring. Afterwards, head along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait - the tolt. Continue towards the village of Blonduos, built on both sides of the river Blanda. Hrutey Island, a protected nature reserve, sits within the centre of this popular salmon river. Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau through Borgarfjordur to the beautiful town of Borgarnes.
- Dinner and overnight stay in Borgarnes area.
- Northern Lights Wake-Up Call Option available this evening
- Day 8: Borgarfjordur - Thingvellir - ReykjavikEurope's Largest Hot Spring – Picturesque Waterfalls – National Park with Geological Wonders
- Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls before continuing via Hvalfjordur fjord to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world‘s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet.
- Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.
- Day 9: DepartureBreakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning departure flight. Transfer to the airport not included. We advise departing your hotel no later than three hours before your international flight.
- Transfer to the international airport by bus for your departure flight.
Iceland
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Top Iceland Attractions & Experiences
Top Iceland Experiences
Hiking among incredible natural landscapes and feeling like your on another planet
Observing the incredible Northern Lights over a beautiful snowscape
Relaxing in the Blue Lagoon - Tip! This is a highly recommended activity before or after flights, ease that muscle and airport tension!
Taking a day to explore downtown Reykjavik, with its many bars, restaurants, and art galleries
Visiting filming locations for Game of Thrones
Snorkeling at Þingvellir (pronounced thing-vel-lir) National Park, where you can touch the North American and European continents at the same time
Standing next to the Gullfoss Waterfall. This unique “staircase” waterfall may get you a little wet, but it’s well worth it!
2,628 Iceland Tour Reviews - Summary 95% Recommend
All Iceland tours, expedition cruises, and adventure trips. Find the best guided trips and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Average rating of 4.7 for all Iceland trips.
149 trips from 134 tour companies with 2,628 reviews
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