Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Reykjavik
Upon arrival Flybus transfer to your hotel. You can for an extra fee make a stop at the Blue Lagoon before heading to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to begin your exploration of the charming Icelandic capital. Overnight Reykjavik. Hotel Natura or similar.

Day 2 Reykjavik-Golden Circle-Vik
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 Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss before continuing to the Dyrholaey* Nature Reserve. Continue to the village of Vik. Dinner and overnight in Vik area at the Hotel Kria or similar. *Please note that the Dyrholaey Nature Reserve is closed from mid May-end of June.

Day 3 Vik-Skaftafell-Glacial Lagoon-Hofn
Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be in a world of glaciers! You’ll be visiting the southern area of the Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial out-washes as you head east. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy the views of rich green landscapes and black sands dominated by several magnificent glaciers. You’ll also see Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful glacial “tongues” that are slowly creeping down from Vatnajokull. Visit the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon where you’ll enjoy the breath-taking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. Make sure your camera is charged and ready! Nearby is the dramatic beauty of Diamond Beach, named for the shrinking icebergs that settle on the black sands before drifting out to sea. Your overnight is in Hofn, a fishing port in the shadow of the Vatnajokull Glacier. Dinner is on your own. Hofn has a nice selection of restaurants and cafes. The local specialty is langoustines (Norway lobsters), and you might enjoy the opportunity to try some for yourself!

Day 4 Hofn-Eastern Fjords-Egilsstadir
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive from Hofn through the Almannaskard Pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. You will love the amazing views, so keep your camera ready. You will also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. One of these is the tiny village of Breiddalsvik. You will visit the Beljandi Microbrewery and sample some of their wonderful beer. The local community came together in 2017 to transform a rustic warehouse into a charmingly quirky brewery. You’ll meet one of the townsfolk and get a feel for life in a small town, as well as see how great beer is made. The road brings you to Egilsstadir, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area also has an excellent reputation for locally sourced cuisine, and you’ll enjoy some of it at dinner. Dinner and overnight stay in the Egilsstadir area.

Day 5 Egilsstadir-Lake Myvatn
Explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Modrudalsoraefi, heading to the Lake Myvatn area. On the way, stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Visit the Namaskard pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colors. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Myvatn area, including the the pseudo craters at Skutustadir and Laxa salmon river. One of Myvatn area’s claims to fame is that it is home to more species of ducks than any other place on Earth, with very diverse bird life in general. Dinner and overnight in Lake Myvatn at the Selhotel Myvatn or Hotel Laxa or Hotel Gogur or similar.

Day 6 Lake Myvatin-Akureyri-Siglufjordur
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 colorful 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. Dinner and overnight in Siglufjordur, a very enjoyable and friendly town. Overnight Hotel Siglo.

Day 7 Siglufjordur-Borgarfjordur-Borgarnes
Breakfast at your hotel. This morning visit Siglufjordur’s award-winning Herring-Era Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when Siglufjordur was transformed into a herring boom town, thanks to a large migration of herring. Afterwards, head along majestic mountains and narrow passes lead 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. Stop at Holar, one of Iceland’s most historical places. It was the cultural center of Iceland for over 700 years and has several fascinating ancient buildings on site. Today it is home to a world-famous agricultural university. Continue towards the village of Blonduos built on both sides of the river Blanda. Hrutey Island, a protected nature reserve, sits within the center of this popular Salmon River. Cross the Holtavorduheidi Plateau through Borgarfjordur to the beautiful town of Borgarnes. Dinner and overnight in the Borgarnes area at the Hotel Hamar or Hotel Borgarnes or similar.

Day 8 Borgarnes-Pingvellir National Park-Reykjavik
Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world. 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 in Reykjavik at the Hotel Natura or similar.

Day 9 Reykjavik-End of Tour
After breakfast Flybus transfer to the airport. You can fore an extra fee make a stop at the Blue Lagoon before heading to the airport. You may extend your stay in Reykjavik or continue to Greenland or the Faroe Islands.

Additional nights available in Reykjavik

Maximum group size is 36 passengers.

Optional Tours available: (purchased in Iceland only) Prices are per person and are approximate:

Amphibian boat tour on the glacial lagoon $55 per person-30 minutes
Evening super jeep tour to the glacier then a snowmobile tour on the glacier (2 passengers per snowmobile) on Vatnajokull Glacier $210 per person-3 hours
Myvatn Nature Baths $60 per person
Day 5-Horse riding in Safarihestar/Myvatni $70 Per person-1.5 hours
Non guided tour to the Blue Lagoon on arrival or departure- price varies

Little walking is required on this tour other than walking on mostly flat and paved or smooth paths. Day 5: Dettifoss- Good to know that the walking path between the parking lot and the waterfall is about 15- 20 minutes. It is an easy walk overall, heading downhill to the falls and uphill back to the parking lot.

We suggest bringing a mosquito/fly head net for use on Day 5, as there can be harmless midges around Lake Myvatn. It‘s not required, but some visitors have found it more comfortable.
Comfortable outdoor shoes are recommended,
Bring wind and waterproof outerwear The weather in Iceland can change rapidly. We recommend dressing in layers so you can take on or off clothes as needed