DAY 1: WELCOME TO ICELAND

Arrive in Iceland

The Flybus shuttle brings you from Keflavík International Airport to the accommodation in Reykjavík where you spend the night. Spend the day exploring Iceland’s capital. Food lovers will be pleased and perhaps even impressed by the number of diverse restaurants in Reykjavík. Many award-winning chefs create delicious Icelandic cuisine that is characterized by imaginative use of local ingredients such as fresh seafood, organic lamb, and wild game; but be sure to try the fabulous Icelandic hot dog and pizza too!

Depending on your arrival time to Keflavik, accommodation in Iceland may be required pre-tour, which we can add on to your program. Want more time in Iceland? We can arrange that for you, too!

DAY 2: EXPLORE THE GOLDEN CIRCLE

Golden Circle Tour

This morning visit Reykjavik Volcano House to learn about Icelandic geology. See a film documenting the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðulháls in 2010, which caused millions of people to be stranded worldwide as thousands of flights were cancelled.

Daily Summary
Tour: Golden Circle Tour

At the Volcano House you can experience a hands-on geological exhibition where you can examine various pieces of pumice, ash and lava from Icelandic volcanoes. After some time in Reykjavik, make your way to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and where the Althingi, the oldest legislative assembly in the world was founded. This is one of Iceland’s most fascinating places, both geologically and for the role it plays in the country’s history and sense of national identity. Thingvellir is also remarkable for reasons of natural science, as the site is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, and is situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth’s crust. Exploring the hot springs at Geysir is like watching a geography lesson in real life: natural springs bubbling away in the ground until the pressure becomes too much – and they explode in spectacular style. Geysir and Strokkur are the two biggest of the geysers there. While Geysir is no longer active, Strokkur still spouts every 5 to 15 minutes to the delight of visitors. Travel onwards to Gullfoss, “the golden falls”, which is a double waterfall that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river. Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. The explosion crater called Kerið is filled with water and resembles an ancient amphitheatre. Check into your countryside hotel near Selfoss, and In the evening head out in the garden waiting for the Northern Lights to hopefully make an appearance.

DAY 3: GLACIERS, ICE AND ICEBERGS

Full Day Tour of Vatnajökull National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and Diamond Beach

A long drive takes you to a world of glaciers, ice and icebergs. Travel to Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, filled with floating icebergs. Explore this extraordinary site and perhaps see some seals swimming in the arctic waters. You can walk on the black sandy beach where large icebergs get stranded.

Daily Summary
Tour: Full Day Tour of Vatnajökull National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and Diamond Beach

The Vatnajökull National Park is about 12,000 square kilometers and it is the largest National Park in Europe. In this area we find Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment and Europe’s largest glacier. Tonight you can enjoy a movie presentation about Northern Lights as a part of the Northern Lights educational program. Be careful not to go to bed too soon in this remote and quiet location, or you may just miss out one more chance of seeing the Northern Lights shimmering and dancing across the night sky.

DAY 4: MAGICAL WATERFALLS AND INFAMOUS VOLCANOS

Explore Iceland’s Southern Coast

Today head across the Eldhraun lava field to the charming village of Vík. Take a stroll on the black lava beach and see the bird cliffs at Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland. Pass the glacier Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull and continue to Skógafoss Waterfall, which is 62 meters high and belongs to the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Further west you will reach the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is 65 meters high and plunges over the mountain. Explore the trail behind the falls, but prepare to get wet! Return to Reykjavik that evening.

Daily Summary
Tour: Explore Iceland’s Southern Coast

DAY 5: SAY GOODBYE TO ICELAND

Spend more time exploring Reykjavík, or head onwards to your next destination.