Iceland Tour

From steaming hot springs and dormant volcanoes to ancient glaciers and grassy pastures
Iceland is a land of pristine natural beauty that still echoes with the chants of the Vikings. It is a unique place unlike anywhere else on earth, bringing together an eclectic collection of spectacular attractions on an island of just 103,000 square kilometers. Where else on Earth can you scuba dive in crystal-clear glacial waters between two continental plates or dive into the heart of a volcano?

The rugged landscapes have been shaped by the forces of the Earth - lava, fire and ice - resulting in dramatic moonscapes, towering waterfalls, geothermal lakes and magical ice caves that have captured the imagination of many a Hollywood producer.

In fact, enchantment is woven into the fabric of Iceland, which is rich in folklore tales of elves, fairies and trolls. Two-thirds of the small population of 328,000 are scattered across windswept villages and towns, while one-third live in the bustling cultural hub of Reykjavik, the country’s capital.

Iceland is Europe’s best place for whale watching: humpback whales, minke whales, northern bottlenose dolphins and the largest of them all, blue whales, are a common sight in the icy waters. Riding across fields and black beaches on Icelandic horses, a unique and sturdy breed, offers a deep connection with the landscape. Animal lovers can also spot waterfowl, harlequin ducks, puffins and even Slavonian golden-crested grebes.

More than 30 active volcanoes support countless bubbling hot springs and geothermal lakes. This geothermal energy has been used to create green energy for homes, and also offers opportunities for relaxation in pools and saunas, under the northern lights or the pink hues of the midnight sun.

Meet your driver in the arrivals hall of Reykjavik airport

Transfer to your hotel in Reykjavik Konsulat (3 nights)

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your driver and guide in the hotel lobby.

Reykjavik is affectionately known as the largest city in the world. You will get to know the main attractions of the city, learn interesting facts and stories related to the history and culture of Iceland. The tour covers the greater Reykjavik region, including nearby municipalities, giving you a great opportunity to discover the various things to see and do in Reykjavik during your stay.

You will enjoy breathtaking views from the platforms at Perlan, built on the city's hot water tanks. You will see the Reykjavik waterfront and the old Hofdi House, where the landmark summit between former US President Ronald Reagan and former Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev took place in 1986. Then you will visit Hallgrimskirkja Church, the design of which was inspired by the basalt lava columns, a volcanic rock formation common in Iceland. You will explore the old city center with the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, and the City Hall.

Lunch in the city

Return to the hotel. Rest. Dinner at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will travel to the western part of the island - the Snaefellsnes Peninsula (about 150 km).

Glittering fjords, dramatic volcanic peaks, sheer sea cliffs, wide golden beaches and crunchy lava flows make up the varied and stunning landscape of the 100km-long Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The area is crowned by the glittering ice cap of Snæfellsjökull, immortalised in Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Stop at Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland. It is a magnificent landmark of Grundarfjörður. Its isolated position jutting out into the sea makes it an attractive destination for both hikers and sailors. Lunch at one of the restaurants along the way (guide's recommendation).

Next you head to the twin fishing towns of Arnarstapi and Hellnar, which are connected by a very beautiful cliff path past interesting rock formations and through a small lava field. Take a 2-hour walk along the cliffs with views of the arches below.

Return to the hotel.

Dinner in town or at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel.

Meet your driver-guide in the lobby. Today is the iconic Golden Circle route.

Start the day with a drive into the countryside to Thingvellir, the site of the original Althing, the actual founding place of the oldest democratic parliament in the world. The area is known for its spectacular lava formations and is the only place in the world where you can see the tectonic plates moving apart. Today, Thingvellir is an outstanding national park, the jewel in the crown of Iceland's historic attractions, considered by many to be the most important park whose protected area will always be the property of the Icelandic people.

Lunch at Fridheimar Farm, a welcoming, friendly Icelandic family business.

First and foremost, it is a working farm, but also a restaurant, organic tomato producer, stables and grocery store all rolled into one. It may seem strange, but in 1995, husband and wife team Knutur Rafn Ármann and Helena Hermundardóttir decided to combine their passions for gardening and horse breeding in one place. All five of their children help out in the family business. Every year, visitors flock to the greenhouses, where tomatoes are grown year-round in specially-built greenhouses (no easy feat in Iceland’s harsh climate). Their technical expertise combines greenhouses with geothermal heating from Iceland’s natural underground springs. The result is beautiful fresh tomatoes at any time of year, and a variety of products including tomato soups and even tomato schnapps. Juicy fresh tomatoes are, of course, the focus of the restaurant, with dishes served amid fragrant tomato plants.

After lunch, head to Haukadalur Valley to see the famous Geysir, the “geyser” that gives all other hot springs their name. Although Geysir itself has not been particularly active recently, some of the most active geysers in the area are just 50 meters away from Geysir. Strokkur is capable of shooting water 90 feet into the air and erupts on average every five minutes. There are also around 30 smaller geysers and hot pools in the area, including one called Litli Geysir (Little Geyser), making the area a fascinating hub of geothermal activity.

You will then head to one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe, Gullfoss (Golden Falls). Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water majestically tumble into a deep gorge from the Langjökull glacier in a double plunge into a deep gorge. The scale of Gullfoss and the thunderous roar of the water have to be seen to be believed. You will have the unique opportunity to get close to the very edge of the falls and feel the spray of glacial water on yourself, marveling at its sheer power.

In the afternoon, arrival at Hotel Umi / (3 nights)
Dinner at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel.

You will travel along the south coast to Reynisfjara and Iceland’s southernmost point, Vik. Waterfalls, one of which you can walk behind, black sand beaches, mountains and strange lava formations along the way.

Stop at Reynisfjara – this magnificent black beach has been voted the most impressive of its kind in Iceland and one of the 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. Pitch-black grains of sand merge with smooth jet-black pebbles that are perfect for floating on the waves. This is complemented by impressive rock formations. Like the images of a Cubist artist brought to life in nature, the incredible basalt steps are a breathtaking sight that must be seen to be believed. A turf-covered pyramid of rectangular rocks of varying heights rises upwards like skyscrapers in a futuristic metropolis. However, there is nothing man-made about these geometric wonders; they are entirely natural. The gaping entrance to the cave beckons you to enter and marvel at the angular shapes woven into its roof. It is just a stone's throw from Reynisdrangar, which, according to folklore, was created when sea trolls turned into rocks at dawn.

Lunch at one of the restaurants

After lunch, go on an ice walk on Solheimajokull, the southernmost glacier in Iceland, where the ice is about 200 meters thick and the combined size with the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap is about 600 square kilometers. Below the main ice cap is the caldera of Katla, one of Iceland's largest volcanoes. You will discover a magical frozen kingdom of glittering ice caves, cracks, tunnels, ridges and sinkholes. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that takes you deep into the bowels of a glacier formed thousands of years ago. The shimmering palette of blues and whites creates an atmosphere of mystery and excitement. The polished surfaces of the ice sparkle and shimmer where the light hits them. Diffused daylight filters softly through the ice, making it bright enough to see the incredible natural structures without the aid of a flashlight. You will learn how these ice caves were formed and marvel at the beautiful shapes and colours created by glacial movements powerful enough to move rock.

On the way back to the hotel, stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, thundering over a plateau, one of the most breathtaking sights in southern Iceland. It is here that you can marvel at the most amazing forces of Mother Nature. The seemingly endless grassy plateau suddenly drops 65 metres to the plain, causing a glacial river fed by meltwater from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier to rush spectacularly over the edge. Power and grace combine as the waterfall spills over the drop and thunders into a deep green pool. Rainbows form in the mist when the sun hits Seljalandsfoss, but whatever the weather, the place always has an air of enchantment. What’s unique is that you can walk along a narrow path that winds through a recess behind this waterfall to see it from a completely different angle. It’s as if you’re entering a secret kingdom hidden behind a curtain of shimmering water.

Return to the hotel
Dinner at the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Start your day with a 1-hour horse ride.
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse native to Iceland. Although the horses are small, sometimes pony-sized, most Icelandic registries refer to them as horses. Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy. They have few health problems in their native country; Icelandic law prohibits the import of horses into the country, and animals that are exported are not allowed to return. Icelanders exhibit two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and gallop commonly seen in other breeds. The only horse breed native to Iceland, they are also popular worldwide, with significant populations existing in Europe and North America. The breed is still used for traditional herding work in its native land, as well as for recreation, shows, and racing.

Superjeep/4x4 Safari in Thorsmork. This is one of the brightest gems in the country's string of beautiful places, surrounded by rugged and beautiful mountains, glaciers and glacial rivers, decorated with small birch groves and bordered by babbling brooks.

Lunch stop (BBQ lunch)

Thórsmørk is often difficult to reach except by mountain vehicles. There are many small ravines and valleys covered with low birch trees, which create endless opportunities for the nature lover. You will find more than 170 species of plants, mosses and lichens in this lush area, which was a fjord some 12,000 years ago. The outlet glaciers fall and descend into ravines, some of which end in picturesque glacial lagoons.

Return to the hotel.
Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from the hotel. Departure.

Visit to the Glacier Lagoon (Jökulsárlón) - a large glacial lake on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park that became a lake after the glacier began to retreat from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake grew due to melting glaciers and has quadrupled in size since the 1970s. It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland, at over 248 meters. Icebergs break off from the edge of the glacier and then move down to the mouth of the river and sway with the tide and wind, becoming anchored on the bottom. It is beautiful and soothing to listen to the cracking sounds of the icebergs as they move and float. Especially beautiful during sunrise or sunset. It is such a breathtaking once-in-a-lifetime sight! The icebergs come in two shades, milky white and bright blue, which is due to the air trapped in the ice and is a play of light and ice crystals. You can also see beautiful seals and birds in the lagoon. Isn't it a fairytale place?

1-hour Zodiac boat cruise on the lagoon (depending on the weather)

Lunch on the way

On the other side of the road there is also a beautiful black sand beach where you can see ice cubes and crystals washed out of the sea, which is actually very beautiful, especially at dawn because then the light illuminates the icebergs. Sometimes this beach is called the diamond beach, which is understandable.

Transfer to Hofn airport (1h)

18:45 flight to Reykjavik
19:45 arrival in Reykjavik and transfer (45 minutes) to the hotel The Retreat (3 nights).
Dinner at Moss Restaurant

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the dormant volcano Thrihnukagigur - a unique natural phenomenon.

This tour opens the door to a new world. And it really is not that difficult to experience. All you need is the willingness to take a moderate 45-50 minute hike (to reach the crater) and the courage to descend 120 meters / 400 feet to the bottom of the crater on an open cable car. The excursion lasts about 4-5 hours.

Return to the famous Blue Lagoon / The Retreat Spa. Walk through lava canyons and hidden corridors. Become one with the mineral-rich warmth and volcanic earth.

Dinner at Moss Fine Dining Restaurant or Lava Restaurant

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport