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    12 days - Small Group tour of Iceland | Snæfellsnes Peninsula | Magical West Fjords

    The Grand Tour of Iceland takes you on an unforgettable journey around Iceland including the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the magical West Fjords. These western areas are left unexplored by most of our visitors. Experience the spectacular splendor and untamed beauty of Iceland´s nature, breathtaking scenery and unique Icelandic history and culture. You will discover some of the most remote parts of the country and visit many well-known highlights as well.

    The 'Grand Tour of Iceland' features all the best the country has to offer. Each day combines touring by bus, going for light walks, having soft adventures and experiencing Icelandic culture and history. You will stay in simple and charming guesthouses, farm- and tourist-class hotels, many of them set in the most stunning locations.

    Highlights include

    • Complete escorted tour around Iceland including Snæfellsnes Peninsula & West Fjords
    • Discover three National Parks
    • Explore an 8000-year-old natural wonder Lava Cave
    • Ferry trip to West Fjords
    • Dynjandi waterfall - The Crown Jewel of Westfjords
    • Relax at Vök Baths in the floating series of geothermal pools
    • Sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón (glacier lagoon)
    • Experience authentic culture, visit small local museums and take a selfie with Icelandic horses
    • See more sea-cliff birds than you can ever count (June-August)
    • Small groups, maximum 20 people
    Day 1
    Welcome to Iceland
    Day 2
    Golden Circle
    Day 3
    Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Ferry trip to West Fjords
    Day 4
    Iceland's Westernmost Point
    Day 5
    Beautiful West Fjords
    Day 6
    Heading North
    Day 7
    Northernmost Town
    Day 8
    Geological Wonders and Nature Baths
    Day 9
    Eastfjords and Geothermal Bathing
    Day 10
    Vatnajökull National Park, Glaciers & Glacier Lagoon
    Day 11
    Vatnajökull National Park & The South Coast
    Day 12
    Departure Day
    Start/End Place
    Keflavik
    Country Visited
    Iceland
    Duration
    12 Days
    Start Date
    Scheduled
    Group Size
    20
    Travel Style
    Escorted Tour
    Suitability
    Easy
    Code
    50DN0345

    Please note that all our itineraries, inclusions, dates and prices displayed on this website may change at any time. If you book an itinerary today and have this confirmed it will be the itinerary that is delivered to you. However, the online itinerary on our website may change in the meantime.

    As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.

    The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.

    Details

    Transportation

    Fully escorted bus tour around Iceland

    Included

    • 11 nights accommodation, in rooms with shower/WC
    • 10 days escorted tour with English-speaking guide/driver-guide
    • Arrival & departure airport transfer by Flybus shuttle (no guide)
    • 11x breakfast
    • 10x 3-course dinner
    • Discover three national parks
    • Lava cave in Snæfellsnes
    • Ferry trip to the West Fjords
    • Folk and transport museum at Hnjótur
    • Farm visit
    • Visit to a geothermal greenhouse and horse stables
    • Herring museum
    • Whale watching tour in Eyjafjörður fjord
    • Vök Baths, including towel
    • Petra’s stone collection
    • Boat trip on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
    • Exhibition and 4K movie at Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur

    Not Included
    • Any private expenses
    • Any additional services
    • Meals that are not listed under "included"
    • Single supplement (mandatory when in single room)

    Portage is not included - you will be responsible for carrying all your luggage.

    Nature Fees: There is a possibility that some of the nature attractions around Iceland might charge an entrance fee during the trip. These entrance fees are not included in the tour price and need to be paid by all tour members additionally on the spot when entering any of these nature sites. Locations, amount of entrance fee, form of payment and other details are not known at the present time and are subject to change.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Welcome to Iceland

    Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik where you spend the night.

    Accommodation
    Hotel Klettur or similar - a 5 minute cab ride or a 20 minute walk from the centre of town.
    Restaurants
    Fiskmarkaðurinn
    Matarkjallarinn Food Cellar and Cocktails
    Sægreifinn

    Day 2 - Golden Circle

    See the classic highlights today, the Golden Circle Route. Start with a visit to a geothermal greenhouse and watch how Icelanders grow tomatoes. Next door, take a selfie with an Icelandic horse and learn about its unique qualities and history. You will explore Gullfoss, the beautiful double “Golden Falls”, and walk through the active geothermal area of Geysir, where Strokkur “the churn” spouts up to 25 meters (70 feet) every five to seven minutes. The next stop is the ancient Viking Parliament area and UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir National Park. The Þingvellir plain is situated on a tectonic plate boundary where North America and Europe are slowly tearing away from each other. As a result, the plain is scarred by dramatic fissures, ponds, and rivers, including the great rift Almannagjá.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes or similar Breakfast & dinner included. (300km / 186mi)

    Day 3 - Snæfellsnes Peninsula & Ferry trip to West Fjords

    Today, you explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which juts out from Iceland’s West Coast. A rugged mountain chain runs its length, capped by the 1,446-meter Snæfellsjökull glacier, a mystical cone-shaped stratovolcano. Travel around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, through lava fields, and along the ocean with many excellent Icelandic photo opportunities. See the most popular sites at the Snæfellsnes National Park where volcanic craters, lava flows, an ice cap, glaciated peaks, fjords, sandy beaches, and high cliffs shape its landscapes.

    Follow the adventure of Jules Verne’s classic science-fiction novel about “The Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Do not miss your chance to go on a trip to the interior of the earth under the glacier Snæfellsjökull! This lava cave tour takes you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube called Vatnshellir. In the afternoon, catch the car ferry Baldur from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur in the West Fjords. On the 2,5-hour journey over Breiðafjörður Bay, pass the island of Flatey, which is inhabited only during the summertime. If the weather is beautiful, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the bay’s countless isles as well as the glacier Snæfellsjökull.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (290km / 180mi)

    Day 4 - Iceland's Westernmost Point

    Follow the coastline and stop at the folk and transport museum in Hnjótur. Continue through a very remote and sparsely populated region to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, the most abundant seabird cliff and the westernmost point of Iceland and Europe where you can see puffins from mid-May till mid-August. Take a walk in the wilderness to the top of the highest bird cliff in Iceland. Látrabjarg is known in the world for its density of Nordic birds. Puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants, kittiwakes, and other cliff birds flock either in hundreds, thousands and even in millions.

    Látrabjarg is a place where you can get very close to the seabirds, and even if you’re not into bird watching, you are entertained by the comic puffins and mesmerized by the sheer number of birds. If weather and road conditions allow, we travel to Rauðisandur beach with endless red sand. Well, not endless but 10 km is a lot. The magnificent hues of the sand differ with daylight, tides, and weather. This pure sand beach is home to countless seabirds and seals and is an oasis of unique tranquillity. Forget everything, except maybe getting the perfect shot of the ever-changing hues of yellow, orange and red.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Transportation
    Fosshotel Westfjords or similar
    Accommodation
    Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (150km / 93mi)

    Day 5 - Beautiful West Fjords

    Travel over mountains and along the shore of scenic fjords until we reach the majestic fjord Arnarfjörður, surrounded by high mountains. At the bottom of the fjord, you will come across the unique waterfall Dynjandi with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country’s most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland.

    Continue over a mountain pass and along the southern shores of the West Fjords which is a route less travelled and is characterized by sheer cliffs, deep cut bays and narrow stretches of coastal lowland. The landscape is dominated by mountains, lakes, valleys, sea and wide-open spaces. Visit a local dairy farm at Erpsstaðir, including ice cream taste directly from farm.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Hotel Laugarbakki, Hvammstangi or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (440km / 273mi)

    Day 6 - Heading North

    Today’s journey is a little bit 'off the beaten track', around the Vatnsnes peninsula. Pass the fishing village of Hvammstangi, also called the seal capital of Iceland. A gravel road takes you around the peninsula to Hvítserkur, a highlight on the east coast of the region; a mass of igneous rock, about 15 meters high, situated on the seashore. Fulmars and gulls live on Hvítserkur. An old story has it that Hvítserkur is a petrified troll that intended to stone a nearby cloister, but dawn arrived before he could succeed.

    We continue to Kolugljúfur canyon, where waterfalls cascade into the deep, rugged gorge. It is a breathtaking sight to walk on the viewing platform and watch the calm waters of the river suddenly leap and tumble onwards over so many impressive falls – a sight which will leave no one unmoved. Further north we stop at Víðimýri to visit one of the few preserved turf churches in Iceland. The church was built in 1834 and has turf walls, but timber gables both back and front. Continue along a high mountain road to Akureyri, also called the capital of North Iceland, where you stay for two nights.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Sæluhús Studio Apartments, Akureyri or similar

    Day 7 - Northernmost Town

    Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful surrounding of the botanical garden in Akureyri. Afterwards enjoy a whale watching tour for 2-3 hours in Eyjafjörður – Iceland’s longest fjord right below the Arctic Circle. For additional bonus and fun, try your luck at sea angling towards the end of the tour.

    In the afternoon see the spectacular fjord landscapes while travelling to Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. Siglufjörður is located on the mountainous Tröllaskagi Peninsula. On the way, we pass small fishing villages and stop at a deserted valley that even most Icelanders have not seen. Included is a visit to the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður, Iceland’s largest maritime museum and the only one in Iceland that won the European Museum Awards. We won’t miss the opportunity to taste the herring along with Brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Sæluhús Studio Apartments, Akureyri or similar

    Day 8 - Geological Wonders and Nature Baths

    Today, explore Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, and continue to Lake Mývatn, known for its abundant bird life and amazing volcanic lava landscapes. See pseudo craters, walk in the mysterious lava field Dimmuborgir, see the tephra cone Hverfjall, explore the hot springs, fumaroles and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð. You will travel to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. The round-trip walk takes about 40-60 minutes.

    Then continue east through the bare and sometimes deserted landscape with mountains all around and head through the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland. Explore the northernmost fjord on the East Fjord mountain range.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Guesthouse Álfheimar, Borgarfjörður Eystri or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (370km / 230mi)

    Day 9 - Eastfjords and Geothermal Bathing

    It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords. Our first stop will be at Vök baths, a floating geothermal pool in Lake Urriðavatn where guests can soak in hot water within and surrounded by the lake. Later we visit Petra’s fascinating rock collection. A naturalist and a collector are two terms that have been used to describe Petra since she was a little girl. Petra collected for nearly 80 years this unique treasure of rocks, crystals, zeolites, quartz and more, all from the nearby area in the East Fjords. Finally, in the afternoon, we see Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier visible all over Southeast Iceland.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Fosshotel Vatnajökull, Höfn in Hornafjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (340km / 211mi)

    Day 10 - Vatnajökull National Park, Glaciers & Glacier Lagoon

    Today we visit Vatnajökull National Park, which covers about 14% of Iceland, making it Europe’s 2nd largest national park in terms of area. We stop for a boat ride amongst the floating icebergs on the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, considered one of the highlights on tour around Iceland.

    Next, we walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond beach. Afterwards, we explore the region of Skaftafell, which is nestled below Iceland’s highest mountain and the second biggest stratovolcano in Europe, the 2.110-meter high Hvannadalshnúkur. We walk close to one of the many glacial tongues in the area – a true photo moment. Finally, we cross a sandy desert before reaching our overnight location, Vík, the southernmost village in Iceland.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Hotel Vík, Vík in Mýrdalur or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (280km / 174mi)

    Day 11 - Vatnajökull National Park & The South Coast

    Today you will travel along the South Coast of Iceland, between the sea, rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Explore the black lava beach, Reynisfjara, and bird cliffs before stopping at the Skógafoss waterfall, another must-see location in South Iceland. The crashing water creates a mist that results in frequent and magical rainbows, just adding some more memorable experiences to the sheer beauty of this stunning scenery and place. Afterwards, reach Seljalandsfoss waterfall where you can follow a slick and wet trail and walk right behind it. Come prepared and bring a raincoat and good boots as you will get wet. New inclusion at Skógar folk museum is also included today.

    Then visit the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Centre focused on geology and active volcanoes and watch a documentary film about volcanic eruptions in the past years in Iceland. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner
    Accommodation
    Hotel Klettur or similar

    Day 12 - Departure Day

    Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport. We suggest spending some time at the Blue Lagoon on your way out to the airport, ask us for advice.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    Dates & Prices

    Price per person twin share. You can also purchase an empty seat beside you. 20% discount for children 8-11 years of age if sharing room with parents. Triple rooms are actually double rooms with extra bed, ideal for 2 adults and 1 child. Available on request only. This tour is not recommended for children under 8. It is not possible to upgrade rooms.

    All departures are guaranteed.

    Dates
    Start Date
    End Date
    From Price
    Status
    Accommodation
    20 May 2024
    31 May 2024
    20 May 2024
    31 May 2024
    GBP 5,067
    Guaranteed
    Standard
    20 May 2024
    31 May 2024
    20 May 2024
    31 May 2024
    GBP 1,290
    Available
    Extra for Single
    3 Jun 2024
    14 Jun 2024
    3 Jun 2024
    14 Jun 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    3 Jun 2024
    14 Jun 2024
    3 Jun 2024
    14 Jun 2024
    GBP 1,373
    Limited availability
    Extra for Single
    17 Jun 2024
    28 Jun 2024
    17 Jun 2024
    28 Jun 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    17 Jun 2024
    28 Jun 2024
    17 Jun 2024
    28 Jun 2024
    GBP 1,373
    On request
    Extra for Single
    1 Jul 2024
    12 Jul 2024
    1 Jul 2024
    12 Jul 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    1 Jul 2024
    12 Jul 2024
    1 Jul 2024
    12 Jul 2024
    GBP 1,373
    Available
    Extra for Single
    15 Jul 2024
    26 Jul 2024
    15 Jul 2024
    26 Jul 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    15 Jul 2024
    26 Jul 2024
    15 Jul 2024
    26 Jul 2024
    GBP 1,373
    On request
    Extra for Single
    29 Jul 2024
    9 Aug 2024
    29 Jul 2024
    9 Aug 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    29 Jul 2024
    9 Aug 2024
    29 Jul 2024
    9 Aug 2024
    GBP 1,373
    Available
    Extra for Single
    12 Aug 2024
    23 Aug 2024
    12 Aug 2024
    23 Aug 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Guaranteed
    Standard
    12 Aug 2024
    23 Aug 2024
    12 Aug 2024
    23 Aug 2024
    GBP 1,373
    Available
    Extra for Single
    26 Aug 2024
    6 Sep 2024
    26 Aug 2024
    6 Sep 2024
    GBP 5,343
    Fully booked
    Standard
    26 Aug 2024
    6 Sep 2024
    26 Aug 2024
    6 Sep 2024
    GBP 1,373
    Fully booked
    Extra for Single

    Important Information

    It is not possible to upgrade rooms.

    Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded, but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

    NOTE: Accommodations are subject to change.

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