Exploration Iceland
Exploration Iceland
When Celtic Monks arrived in Iceland, long before the first settler built his cabin in 871 in what is now Náttfaravík, they undoubtedly looked at the rugged mountains and swirling seas and couldn’t imagine anything different.
In a sense, they were right. Iceland remains one of the most visually stunning countries in the world. One of the best places to see the Northern Lights is the north, with lava fields, smooth hills carved out by rivers, and old whaling villages like Husavik. Southern Iceland shows the country’s diversity, with hot springs, superb waterfalls, and black sand beaches. Eastern Iceland is home to wild reindeer. In the west, you find a vast area of fjords, glaciers, and volcanoes with the highest waterfall in Iceland (and the home of medieval writer Snorri Sturluson).
The capital city of Reykjavik, so small and walkable it is considered a town by most standards, is filled with sparkling nightlife, cafes with fresh-roasted coffee, and restaurants featuring traditional fish and lamb dishes. Dairy fare is also popular; try skyr, a yogurt-like dish that’s been served in Iceland for more than a thousand years. An always-fascinating activity is a literary walking tour; Reykjavik has been named a UNESCO City of Literature.
Highlights
- Day Tour of South Shore
- Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls
- 1.5 hour sailing trip around Heimaey
- Explore 2/3 of the so-called Golden Circle Route
- Visit the Geysir geothermal area
- Experience Gullfoss, one of Iceland‘s most powerful waterfalls
- Take a dip in the Secret Lagoon
- Visit Friðheimar Tomato Farm
- Witness "Strokkur“ erupt approx every 10 minutes
- Pit-stop at a unique outdoor bakery
- Visit Þingvellir National Park
- Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls
- Hike Eldborg Crater
- Visit a charming fishing village of Arnarstapi
- Visit Djúpalónssandur beach
- Explore Snæfellsnes National Park with the Snæfellsjökull Glacier.
- Explore the Reykjanes area
- Private Geothermal Bakery Experience
- Visit to the Blue Lagoon
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Tour Description
This tour explores the best of Iceland and is fit for couples or families looking to reconnect with the nature and wonder of exploration. We have included selections from the North and South and the capital of Reykjavik.
Over the 11 days, you will see a landscape like none other, and while you’ll feel like you’re on another planet, the people and culture will surprise and delight, making you feel at home.
Join us on this exploration of Iceland.
Tour Includes:
- All Accommodations, minimum 4* level
- Breakfast each morning, plus select meals where noted
- All transportation, as described, inclusive of gratuity
- All tours, as described
- All entrance fees where noted (add’l fees may apply to options)
- Registration with US State Department
- 24 Hr. concierge service for the duration of the trip
NOT INCLUDED: Flights, Travel Insurance (Strongly Recommended), Personal Expenditures, Optional Upgrades, Anything not mentioned
Detailed Itinerary
- A private driver will pick you up from your home and take you to the airport
- Flight to Keflavik International Airport, Iceland (priced separately)
Included: Private Airport Transfers
- Upon arrival in Iceland, you will be greeted by your driver and transferred to your hotel
- On the way, take advantage of your morning arrival and have breakfast at MAX’s Nothern Lights Inn
- Check-in, relax, and refresh
- This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant
- Evening at leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Explore Package:
- Visit the Sky Lagoon – immerse yourself in the warmth at the oceanside geothermal Sky Lagoon. The package includes admission, a seven-step ritual, private changing facilities, and amenities
Included: Private Airport Transfers, Breakfast, Dinner, Room & Taxes
- Enjoy breakfast
- You have the whole day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. Possible activities include:
- Shopping – There is a good selection of shops on the main shopping street Laugavegur and at the two malls; Kringlan and Smáralind
- Hike Úlfarsfjall or Esja mountain or visit a geothermal swimming pool
- Visit the National Museum and the Reykjavik Art Museum
- Go for a stroll at the seashore of Ægissíða and get ice cream from the local favorite Valdís ice cream parlor
- Overnight at hotel
Optional add-ons:
- Explore Package:
- Reykjavik on foot with a Private Guide – Visit Hallgrimskirkja Church, Harpa Conference Hall, City Hall, and the Parliament. You will also stroll the old Harbour area and take the city’s many historic trails
- Savor Package:
- Culinary Tour – Explore Reykjavik with a local foodie. learn about food in Iceland, experience delicious local cuisine at its best, see the highlights of Reykjavik and visit the most excellent restaurants, local shops, and food trucks in Iceland
- Taste the grass-fed, free-roaming Icelandic lamb that every Icelander grows up loving
- Visit Brauð & Co or Sandholt, two charming bakeries popular among the locals and taste some delicious Icelandic pastries
- Try the most popular hot dog in Iceland at Bæjarins Bestu (e. The towns best hot dogs) for a hot dog with everything
- Excite Package:
- Whale Watching – The friendly guides, along with the captain and crew, will point out where to spot the whales and give interesting information about the different kinds of whales and seabirds you can expect to see
- Geothermal Tour by Helicopter – Enjoy a 50-60 minute tour by helicopter. You’ll witness untouched Icelandic nature and land near the Hengill Geothermal Area to see the region’s steaming hot springs, colorful basalt mountains, and an aerial view of Reykjavik.
Included: Breakfast, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, explore the beautiful South Shore, one of the country’s most scenic regions
- The first stop will be at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a unique waterfall 60 meters high with a footpath behind it at the bottom of the cliff
- Continue towards the dramatic Reynisfjara Beach, a gorgeous black pebble beach with impressive other-worldly basalt columns
- On the way back, you will visit the majestic Skógafoss waterfall, one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 meters (82 feet) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft)
- Transfer to your new hotel
- Check-in, relax, and enjoy the evening at your leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Explore Package:
- The Lava Centre – Examine the various volcanos, eruptions and lava flows, volcanic and rift systems, faults, and glacial floods that make Iceland a showcase of volcanism
- Excite Package:
- Horseback Riding – Take a trek on the hardy, sure-footed Icelandic horse. Whether you are a beginner or expert, these friendly horses are a pleasure to ride
- ATV Action Tour – Explore the forestry on the way to Klittur, driving quads in the rivers and along quiet paths in the natural beauty west of the mountain Þríhyrningur. You can enjoy a hot chocolate in a cave and see a nearly-secret waterfall over a near 3-hour tour. All necessary equipment provided
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, South Shore Excursion, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, start a 1.5-hour sailing trip around Heimaey
- Learn the history of the Islands, settlement/Viking sagas, geological history, and the volcanic eruption on the island in 1973, as well as be informed about Surtsey; the youngest island in the world, which is a part of the archipelago
- During the sail, you will visit two sea caves, “Fjósið” which is inside the cape Höfði, which is known to be the windiest place in Europe, and Klettshellir, which is known for its marvelous acoustics
- Transfer back to your hotel
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Explore Package:
- Visit Eldheimar Museum – Explore the exhibition focusing on the 1973 volcanic eruption in Vestmannaeyjar, one of Iceland’s most significant natural disasters
- Savor Package:
- Dinner at Hótel Rangá – Dine at the acclaimed gourmet restaurant overlooking one of Iceland’s finest salmon rivers. The restaurant’s concept is of a “Farmer’s Market,” featuring predominantly local, high-quality ingredients inspired by Nordic cuisine
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, Sailing Tour, Room & Taxes
- Today you will explore 2/3 of the so-called Golden Circle Route, the Geysir geothermal area, and the Gullfoss Waterfall
- Begin the tour with a dip in the Secret Lagoon and visit Friðheimar tomato farm
- Next, witness “Strokkur “erupt approx every 10 minutes or so. Watch out for the big splash of hot boiling water that can go up to 30 m high!
- Experience Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls
- When ready, head towards the Secret Lagoon made up of natural hot springs located in the small village of Fludir
- Finish the day with a visit to Friðheimar, where they welcome visitors to see their greenhouses and to enjoy a taste of the crop
- Transfer to your new hotel
- Check-in, relax, and enjoy the evening at your leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Excite Package:
- Snowmobiling on a Glacier – Langjökull glacier, the second biggest glacier in Iceland, is yours to explore for an exciting adventure
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, Golden Circle Route Tour, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, you will head towards Þingvellir National Park
- Along the way, you will visit a unique outdoor bakery
- After a lovely visit to Þingvellir National Park, continue over Kaldidalur highland track, which is the second-highest, but shortest of the highland tracks traversing the Highlands of Iceland
- The route begins a bit to the north of Þingvellir and to the west of the volcano Skjaldbreiður, which means broad shield
- The track continues between the glaciers Þórisjökull and Ok and leads up to the north
- During the tour, stop for a Private Geothermal Bakery Experience – See a pot of fresh bread being dug out from the hot, black sand. Taste the bread with some butter and smoked trout. You will not be disappointed
- Transfer to your new hotel
- Check-in, relax, and enjoy the evening at your leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Excite Package:
- Snorkeling in Silfra – You won’t need to be a certified diver to experience water at its clearest. Swimming between continental plates, you’ll witness the color of the rocks and the clarity of the water as you float. Some areas offer over 450′ of visibility, creating the illusion of flying over boulders and glacial silt
- Explore Package:
- Into the Glacier at Langjökull – Explore the man-made ice cave located high on Europe’s second-largest glacier. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, National Park Tour, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, you will start your day visiting Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls
- Then, head towards the beautiful Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home of friendly towns and villages, spectacular mountains, a multitude of bird species nesting on treacherous cliffs, beaches of sand and pebbles
- You will have the option to hike Eldborg Crater, a 25km track through the shrub-covered lava field, where at the end, you will reach a beautifully-formed crater rising 60m above the surrounding lava
- Continue further into the peninsular, where you will visit a charming fishing village of Arnarstapi
- Transfer to your new hotel
- Check-in, relax, and enjoy the evening at your leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Explore Package:
- Caving in Vatnshellir – Explore an 8000-year-old lava tube created by a volcanic eruption from a nearby crater. Vatnshellir is the most accessible cave in Iceland, but we recommend that you are reasonably fit to participate
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, Day Tour with Guide, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, you will drive the Vatnaleið route towards the town of Stykkishólmur
- Continue along the northern coast of Snæfellsnes peninsula, passing through quaint little villages such as Grundarfjörður and Ólafsvík
- Visit Djúpalónssandur, a beautiful black sandy beach with gorgeous black smooth pebbles and enjoy the beautiful Snæfellsnes National Park with the Snæfellsjökull Glacier.
- At the end of the tour, you will be transferred back to your hotel
- Evening at your leisure
- Overnight at hotel
Optional enhancements:
- Savor Package:
- Dinner at Restaurant SKER – Visit this brand new and beautifully decorated restaurant with a view of the harbor in the picturesque town of Ólafsvík.
- Dinner at Narfeyrarstofa – Located near the harbor in the oldest part of Stykkishólmur, the restaurant has developed a reputation since 2000 for locally caught fresh fish, lamb, and blue mussels of the highest caliber. A first-class experience
- Excite Package:
- Bird & Nature Watching Boat Tour – Try the delicious fresh scallops and sea urchin roe straight from the ocean. Experience countless birds like puffins, cormorants, or the white-tailed eagle and explore the strongest currents in Iceland or the fantastic basalt rock formations.
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, Tour with Guide, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head towards the Reykjanes area
- After exploring the Reykjanes area, it’s time to say goodbye to your guide before heading to your new hotel
- Enjoy some relaxation at your hotel while preparing for your departure tomorrow
- Explore the tastes of Iceland during your farewell dinner, included in your package
- Overnight at hotel
Included: Breakfast, Transportation, Dinner, Room & Taxes
- After breakfast, you will be privately transferred to Keflavik International Airport in time for your flight
- After your arrival, a private transfer to your home
Included: Breakfast, Private Transfers
