There is really nothing like Iceland. The forces of nature have shaped this island from the very beginning and this is ever-present in the landscape as well as in the culture of its people. On this new round trip, you get the opportunity to go round the island and visit some of the country’s most renowned places, experiencing immense variety in landscape and scenery.

From the hot springs of the Geysir geothermal area, past the black beaches and cliffs of the south coast with their waterfalls and bird life, to the magnificent glacier of Vatnajökull, where we will take you on a glacier walk, the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the diverse fjords of the east - every day is a new adventure!

Lake Mývatn area is a real treasure surrounded by geological features; extraordinary lava formations and geothermal wonders as well as being an oasis for migrating birds. The north is also the home of the impressive Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall and the Ásbyrgi canyon that we will visit before heading back south. We traverse the northern farmlands, driving to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, with its beautiful cliffs and beaches capped by the Snæfellsjökull glacier the fabled entrance to the centre of the Earth!

On this tour the evenings are spent at quaint countryside hotels making this tour a unique and comfortable experience.

Countries visited

• Iceland

Places visited

• Reykjavik
• Mýrdalsjökull glacier
• Eyjafjallajökull glacier

Transportation

Private group transport,

Included In Price

Guide for 16 days, vehicle transportation for 16 days, full board for 16 days, accommodation in comfortable hotels, entrance to Skógasafn folk museum, 2-3 hour walk on Svínafellsjökull glacier (all glacier and safety gear provided), boat ride to Papey island.

Meals Included

This tour includes 42 meals; 15 breakfasts 14 lunches 13 dinners

Not Included In Price

Optional whale watching tour in Húsavík, Airport Transfers, Optional boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Day 1: Arrival day Reykjavík

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Arrive and Transfer to the Reykjavík Hotel. The afternoon and evening is yours to explore this compact city. Be sure to check out the new Harp Opera house on the harbour.

Accommodation

Comfortable tourist class hotel in Reykjavik B&B

Meals Included

none

Day 2: Þingvellir-Gullfoss/Geysir-Eyjafjöll

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Our first stop on this tour is at the World Heritage Site Þingvellir National Park - the ancient Viking parliament. This is a place of both great historic and geological importance as it is a part of the rift valley where the continents meet. Next we head up to the great Geysir geothermal area to see the world’s most renowned hot spring that gives his name to all the other spouting geysers and Gullfoss (“the Golden waterfall”) that plunges in two giant steps into the Hvítá river gorge.

From there the route takes us through the farmlands of the south to the Eyjafjallajökull massive. There we find the spectacular Seljalandsfoss waterfall where the brave ones can venture behind the streaming water as it comes falling off the cliff. Driving: 5 hours, Walking: 2-3 hours total (numerous shorter hikes)

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Eyafjallajökull area

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 3: Skógar-Vík-Kirkjubæjarklaustur

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The hamlet of Skógar lies right under the Eyjafjallajökull massif. It is known for its 60m high waterfall, and for being a starting point for the hiking trail up to the Fimmvörðuháls pass. After having had a good look at the waterfall and tried to catch a glimpse of the gold said to be hidden in it, we will visit the Skógarsafn folk museum and learn about the life in Iceland throughout the ages.

From Skógar we head to the headland of Dyrhólaey with its sea birds and impressive views. We then head down to the black beaches of Vík before continuing our route east to Kirkjubæjarklaustur where we will stop by the waterfall of Systrafoss and see the particular basaltic rock formations named “Kirkjugólfið” or “the Church floor”. Driving: 3hrs Walking: 2-3 hours total (numerous shorter hikes)

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.(2 nights)

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 4: Visit to the famous craters of the Laki

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Today we visit to the famous craters of the Laki, formed in a massive eruption in the 18th century. The 135 craters were formed on a 25km fissure that opened in the summer of 1783. Lasting for a year end a half the eruption was catastrophic for the county’s population and the livestock in the surrounding area. Today however the contrasting black sands and the moss-covered craters create one of the most scenic landscapes in Iceland. On our way to Laki we visit the impressive gorge of Fjarðarárgljúfur and the waterfall of Fagrifoss (the Beautiful Waterfall). Driving: 5 - 6 hrs Walking: 2-3 hours total (numerous shorter hikes)

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 5: Skaftafell-Jökulsárlón-Höfn

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Our route continues east and our next stop is at the Vatnajökull National Park, Skaftafell. The green Skaftafell heath is covered with arctic birch and is a oasis between the black sands and the glacier. Here it is possible to take numerous short walks, i.e. to the Svartifoss waterfall with its unique basalt column or to the Snjóarnípa view point.

We then continue east to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with its numerous icebergs floating that have broken of the glacier above. Sometimes you will also be able to see seals playing on the icebergs or in the ocean. Always heading eastwards we come to the village of Höfn where we find our hotel. Driving: 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Höfn area.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 6: Lónsöræfi- Smiðjunes- Djúpivogur

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Leaving Höfn we head down to the nearby peninsula of Stokknes where we most likely will see seal swimming round in the ocean. The Lónsöræfi region, known for its gullies and gorges and rhyolite rock is one the most remote areas on the ring road, and we head up to Smiðjunes for a look at this rugged wilderness.

Heading on to Djúpivogur village we have left the plains of the south coast and come to the eastern fjords, sourced by glaciers of the ice age into the mountain ridges. The village of Djúpivogur (pop.359) lies right under the towering mountain of Búlandstindur, believed by many to be the source or cosmic powers, Before arriving at the village we go for a coastal walk in Hamarsfjörður. In Djúpivogur we find our hotel for the next two nights. Driving: 2 - 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Djúpivogur area. (2 nights)

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 7: Boat trip to Papey- Hamarsfjörður- Djúpivogur

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The island of Papey lies off the coast just off Hamarsfjörður, south east of Djúpivogur. The island, a puffin colony about 2km squared, and was inhabited since the settlement until the late 1950’s, and the remains of a farm and a small church can be found there. However today the only inhabitants are the numerous sea birds nesting in its cliffs. The island’s name comes from stories about Irish monks believed to have resided there before the settlement of Iceland. Many place names on the island refer to those monks but archeological research has found little evidence about their stay, even if settlement started there early.

After the boat tour we go for an afternoon walk in the fjord of Berufjörður(for example into the valley of Búlandsdalur before returning to our hotel in Djúpivogur. Driving/Sailing: 2 - 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Djúpivogur area.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 8: East fjords- Egilstaðir

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Heading north up the coast, we visit the fjords of the east enjoying views of the long narrow fjords, and steep mountains. The many fjords are have their own characteristics and each one a little fishing village, with its own history, i.e. Fáskrúðsfjörður that used to be the base of French fishermen in Iceland in the 19th century, and remnants of their stay are still to be found there. We come to Egilsstaðir in the afternoon. Driving: 2 - 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Comfortable Gistihús country hotel at Egilstaðir. (2 nights)

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 9: Dyrfjöll mountains

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We drive north to the magnificent Dyrfjöll mountains and get ready for a hike to one of the more spectacular sites – Stórurð, truly an amazing place. After our hike we continue to the small village of Bakkagerði, before returning to the comfortable Gistihús country hotel at Egilstaðir. Driving: 2 hrs Walking: 5 hours total

Accommodation

Comfortable Gistihús country hotel at Egilstaðir.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 10: Nature paradise at Lake Mývatn and farm visit at Möðrudalur.

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Leaving Egilsstaðir we drive into the highlands visiting the farm at Möðrudalur, by many rated as the farm with the best views. The farm is located at the edge of the highlands and offers breathtaking scenery of the highland vistas. From Möðrudalur we continue east, arriving at the Krafla volcano in the early afternoon.

Short walk on the brand new lava field of Krafla, visit of the explosion crater Víti and to the boiling mud pools of the colorful Námaskarð. Late afternoon arrival to the nature paradise at Lake Mývatn, where we will settle down for the next couple of nights. Driving: 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Lake Mývatn area.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 11: Walk through the labyrinthine Dimmuborgir lava forest

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We have a whole day to explore this magical place – a haven for both volcanological enthusiast as well as for ornithologists. Included in the day´s activities is a walk through the labyrinthine Dimmuborgir lava forest, and a walk to Leirhnúkur hill surrounding by the recent Krafla lava field. The solfataras and mud pools of Námaskarð is also on the list as well as the Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters and the shores of Lake Mývatn. Return to accommodations. Optional visit to the Jarðböðin SPA – the Blue Lagoon of the north. Driving: 3 hrs Walking: 3 - 4 hours total

Accommodation

Quaint countryside hotel in the Lake Mývatn area.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 12: Waterfalls, Canyons, Whales and Glaciers

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From Mývatn we drive to waterfall Dettifoss and follow the wonders of the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon as it continues north from the waterfall, visiting the hidden treasures of the canyon. These include the Hljóðaklettar at Vesturdalur, a strangely eroded crater row dating back some thousands of years as well as the Ásbyrgi oasis. The canyon forms the northern part of Vatnajökull NP and even though you may not be thinking of a glacier in the lush Ásbyrgi – the glacier was very much a part of its creation. From Ásbyrgi the tour continues west via Húsavík town – the whale watching centre of the North, to Akureyri – the Capital of the north – for the night. Optional: Whale watching from Húsavík in the evening. Driving: 4 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel in Akureyri

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 13: Snæfellsnes Peninsula

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Today will take us through the northern farmlands, with the green valleys and the low passes. The North Atlantic is ever present as the road crosses fjords of different shapes and size and soon we find ourselves on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Here the landscape is quite different a chain of peaks leads to the Snæfellsjökull glacier located at the tip of the peninsula. The comforts of Hotel Búðir with great views to the glacier and the surrounding peaks add yet another dimension to your experience. Driving: 5 hrs Walking: 1 hours total

Accommodation

Hotel Búðir

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 14: Walking the Glaciers and wonders of the Snæfellsjökull NP.

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We set out to explore the foothills of the Snæfellsjökull glacier and the many wonders of the Snæfellsjökull NP. The coast between the hamlets Arnarstapi and Hellnar allow for a nice stroll in an old lava field right on the Ocean. A visit to Djúpalónssandur and Dritvík, tiny inlets on the western tip of the peninsula top the day. Return to Hotel Búðir for the night. Driving: 3 hrs Walking: 3 hours total

Accommodation

Hotel Búðir

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches
1 x Dinners

Day 15: Hotsprings and waterfalls before returning to Reykjavík.

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From the serenity of Hotel Búðir, we set out for the last day of this great tour and head for Reykjavík. We visit the picture perfect crater Eldborg and explore the uplands of the Borgarfjörður valley where Hraunfossar waterfalls and the nearby Barnafoss waterfall leave a lasting impression. On the way to Reykjavík we stop at the geothermal area of Deildartunguhver, one of the country´s most powerful hot spring providing heating to the surrounding farms and towns. The tour ends at you accommodation in Reykjavík. Driving: 4 hrs Walking: 2-3 hours total

Accommodation

Comfortable tourist class hotel in Reykjavik B&B

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts
1 x Lunches

Day 16: Departure day

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Departure day from Reykjavík, bus to airport.

Meals Included

1 x Breakfasts