Natural Wonders & Majestic Highlands

Arrival at Keflavík airport. Transfers to Reykjavík are not included in the tour. We would be happy to arrange shared or private transfers for you, so let us know at booking time.

If you are arriving earlier in the day, you might consider adding a day tour or a visit to the Blue Lagoon. We’d be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. It is so refreshing to relax in the warm water, breathing in the fresh Icelandic air. It’s also nice to take a stroll in the old city centre, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cosy café.

Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavík offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffeehouses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.

Please note that hotels in Iceland start check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm), and early check-in is not guaranteed. Most hotels will be happy to store your luggage if you are not able to check in early.

Travel each day will generally be no more than 45 minutes to one-hour driving between each tour stop. Arrival at your overnight accommodation is generally late afternoon. 

Approximate Distance: 205 km /127miles

Lava Landscapes – Geothermal Field – Famous National Park

Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide at the hotel and start your adventure! Your first day begins with a quick orientation tour of Reykjavík before heading to the moon-like landscapes of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Thanks to its geothermal and volcanic features, Reykjanes is a designated UNESCO GeoPark. You’ll see unusual and stunning features around the peninsula, including craters, lava cliffs, and fissures. One of these is the mysterious Kleifarvatn, famous for its mention in Arnaldur Indríðason’s suspense novel, The Draining Lake.

Visit the Krýsuvík geothermal area with its multicoloured bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents. Drive along the seacoast with amazing views of powerful waves, stopping to visit historical Strandarkirkja. Over the years, Icelanders have prayed in this lovely church for the safety and

fortune of loved ones working on the sea.It’s very special to spend some moments outside the church and take in the views of the mighty ocean and rocky coastline.

Head to Þingvellir 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 Þingvellir.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Golden Circle area.

Approximate Distance: 375 km / 233 miles

Lively Geysers – Golden Waterfall – Desert Wilderness Views

Today some of the roads will be bumpy since you’re on highland wilderness tracks, but it’s all part of the adventure! The views will be amazing!

Breakfast at your hotel. Start your day’s adventure with the popular Geysir geothermal area. The most active geyser, Strokkur, shoots water high into the air every few minutes. You’ll also see several other boiling pools and hot springs.

Head onwards to Iceland’s most popular waterfall, the impressive two-stage Gullfoss (“Golden Falls”). A series of easy footpaths lead around the waterfall and give you excellent views from different angles. Now it’s time to enter the wilderness on the historical highland track Kjölur. As you follow this mountain road leading between two glaciers, you’ll be seeing the same landscapes that Vikings saw in the old days as they rode across Iceland’s interior to Þingvellir for the annual Parliament. Enjoy the vast views and the serene peace in one of Europe’s last wilderness areas. Midway on the route, stop to visit Hveravellir, an active geothermal field. Easy hiking paths lead through multicoloured landscapes and steam vents. In the old days, Hveravellir was a hideout for outlaws.

The Kjölur trail leads northwards, emerging into the valley of Skagafjörður fjord with its flat-topped mountains and glacial rivers. Drive through dramatic mountainous valleys to Akureyri, the “capital of the north,” for an overnight in this beautiful and culturally rich town. Dinner is on your own. Akureyri has a wonderful variety of restaurants to suit all kinds of palates.

Overnight in the Akureyri area.

Approximate Distance: 320 km /199 miles

Waterfall “Of the Gods” – Volcanic Wonderland – Forest Lagoon

Breakfast at your hotel. Today’s adventure takes you to the intriguing Lake Mývatn nature reserve. On the way, you’ll stop at scenic Goðafoss waterfall, famous for its Viking history. The Mývatn nature reserve is fascinating for its diverse bird life and its geological wonders. Some of the volcanic features include the pseudo craters at Skútustaðir, the Dark Lava Citadels of Dimmuborgir, the Krafla Volcano area, and the multi-coloured steaming slopes of Námaskarð.

At the end of the day, your group will return to Akureyri and visit the Skógarböð (Forest Lagoon) near town. Enjoy lounging in peaceful earthwarmed pools in a beautiful setting of woodlands and the Eyjafjörður Fjord.

Overnight in the Akureyri area. Dinner is on your own.

Approximate Distance: 250 km / 155 miles

Whale Watching Village – Glacial Gorge – Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be visiting the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park, the largest of its kind in Western Europe. The vast park covers 14% of Iceland’s surface. This section of the park is characterised by vast glacier river canyons, curious lava formations, and glacial waterfalls. From Akureyri, drive to the charming fishing village of Húsavík. Known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland, Húsavík offers whale-watching in traditional oak fishing boats. Take part in one of these excursions, where you’ll sail in beautiful Skjálfandi Bay in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds. Travel around the ancient, fossil rich Tjörnes peninsula on the edge of the Arctic Circle to the northern gateway of Vatnajökull National Park. Visit the impressive horseshoe shaped Ásbyrgi canyon, which has a variety of beautiful walking trails that suit different hiking levels.

Continue on to visit the echoing rocks and troll-like formations of Hljóðaklettar. The crowning highlight is mighty Dettifoss, the largest waterfall in Europe. Dinner and overnight in the Lake Mývatn area.

Approximate Distance: 215 km / 134 miles

Highland desert plateau – Narrow Fjords – Picturesque Coastline

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be visiting East Iceland and the gorgeous Eastfjords. Explore the vast wilderness of the desert plateau Möðrudalsöræfi, desolate and yet hauntingly beautiful, as you head towards the Eastfjords region. Visit fantastical Stuðlagil, an impressive canyon made of basalt columns that seem to

resemble organ pipes. A viewing platform near the canyon lets you enjoy the canyon’s unique features. You can see how basalt columns like these influenced the design of Reykjavík’s Hallgrímskirkja church.

Continue to the village of Egilsstaðir, the “capital” of East Iceland. Egilsstaðir is known for its scenic forested area of Hallormsstaðir and for legends of a friendly lake monster.

Dinner and overnight in the Eastfjords area.

Approximate Distance: 320 km / 199 miles

Europe’s largest glacier – Iceberg lagoon – Glacierringed green oasis

Breakfast at your hotel. Continue travelling through the scenic Eastfjords, taking time to enjoy the breathtaking views. The harbour village of Djúpivogur marks the southernmost edge of the Eastfjords.

As you drive into Southeastern Iceland you’ll start seeing Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. You will soon be in the vicinity of southern Vatnajökull National Park. This part of the park is characterised by ice, glacier tongues and lava landscapes. The popular Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon rewards you with a beautiful view of the glacier, and the floating icebergs will certainly impress you. You’ll get a chance to see the icebergs close up on a boat that sails through the Glacial Lagoon.

Near Jökulsárlón is the Diamond Beach, an area that has become a favourite spot to snap an Iceland photo.

Head onwards to the park’s Skaftafell area, a green oasis surrounded by dramatic glaciers and volcanic mountains. Make sure your camera is ready to capture the view!

Dinner and overnight in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

Approximate Distance: 305 km / 190 miles

Multi-coloured highland mountains – Hot spring bathing – Hekla volcano

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will see a different side of the highlands, the colourful southern wilderness.

Travel along the Fjallabaksleið highland interior track, passing wild mountains and deeply carved green valleys. Cross several unbridged rivers to Landmannalaugar, a magnificent area surrounded by brilliantly coloured rhyolite mountains. Great trails take you through a mysterious landscape of steam vents and bright coloured slopes. There is also the option of bathing in a natural warm pool, so don’t forget to bring a swimsuit and towel. You will also catch different views of towering Hekla, Iceland’s most frequently erupting volcano through the day.

During the day you will enjoy a picnic lunch in the beautiful highlands.

Dinner and overnight stay in the Hella area.

Approximate Distance: 285 km / 177 miles

Lava Fields – Black Beaches – Thundering Waterfalls

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive along the spectacular South Coast, a sweeping landscape of sandy deserts, rocky shores and rolling farmlands sandwiched between snow-capped glaciers, mountains, and the ocean.

Visit the beautiful waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most photographed waterfalls and has stairs that take you to the top for an amazing view. The ribbonshaped Seljalandsfoss has trails that take you behind the waterfall.

Stop to admire the black sand beaches and cliffs at Reynisfjara near Vík village. You’ll surely feel the power of nature as you watch the enormous waves thunder towards the shore. Far out to sea are several basalt sea stacks that may (or may not) have once been trolls.

Drive to Reykjavík in the late afternoon, where your guide bids you farewell at the hotel. The rest of your day and evening is open to enjoy Iceland’s charming capital city.

Overnight in Reykjavík. Dinner is on your own.

Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this may be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning flight. Transfer on your own to the international airport for your departure flight. The airport transfer is not included, but we are happy to help you arrange shared or private transfers. We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight.