9 Day Premium Iceland

Welcome to Iceland! Your adventure begins in Reykjavik, Iceland's quirky capital. You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel in a shared airport shuttle, where you will meet your group and tour leader for a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, take a stroll and acquaint yourself with the world's northernmost capital. Perhaps visit the National Museum to see the permanent exhibition on the history of Iceland. After your welcome meeting, head out with your leader and small group to get to know Reykjavik’s flourishing food scene. Enjoy dinner at one of the city’s fantastic local restaurants and learn about Icelandic produce and cuisine.

Included Activities:

• Reykjavik - Welcome Dinner
• Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer

Special Information:

• It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
• The shared airport shuttle is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Today you’ll board a private vehicle and drive to Thingvellir National Park (Parliament Plains) – your leader will explain how this stunning spot is both the original location of Iceland’s first parliament from AD930 and a geological phenomenon. From here enter the Borgarfjordur area and visit the spectacular waterfalls of Hraunfossar (Lava waterfalls) and Barnafossar (Children’s waterfalls). Continue to Deildartunguhver – Europe’s hottest water spring. In the afternoon head to your overnight stay in the southern part of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Once settled in, meet up with your group for an included dinner.

Included Activities:

• Borgarfjordur - Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
• Golden Circle - Thingvellir National Park (Parliament Plains)
• Borgarfjordur - Hraunfossar & Barnafoss Waterfalls

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Today you will continue around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and its magnificent glacier Snaefellsjokull, an icecap covering a dormant volcano underneath. Places you’ll visit today include basaltic pebble beaches framed by strange lava formations, and Arnarstapi, where a short stroll along the coastal cliffs gives you access to the rich birdlife and other wonders of nature.

Continue to the pretty town of Grundarfjordur, where you’ll stop and meet a local artist by the name of Liston, who will show you his workshop. This is a great opportunity to admire his stone carving pieces and to find out about the life of a local artisan.

Afterwards, drive to Saudarkrokur in Iceland's north, located on beautiful Skagafjordur Fjord. Here you will find the family-run Hotel Tindastoll, Iceland’s oldest hotel and your feature stay accommodation for the evening. You’ll experience a part of Iceland’s history as soon as you step through the door, and nods to the hotel’s past are everywhere; from antique furniture to original architecture. Enjoy personal and friendly service, a delightful courtyard with a thermal hot tub and absolutely incredible surroundings.

Included Activities:

• Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Snaefellsjokull, Arnarstapi & Stykkisholmur
• Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Liston's Stone Carving Workshop

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Drive around the picturesque Trollaskagi Peninsula and visit the small fishing town of Siglufjordur. Explore the compact town centre, dwarfed by towering mountains on three sides, and opening up to the fjord on its northern side. Further along the stunning coast you’ll have the special opportunity to dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean and enjoy an Icelandic schnapps tasting, accompanied with some local delicacies. You group leader will offer you some specialties of the region – think shark, lamb’s head, liver sausage and dried fish. They’re not called delicacies for nothing! Continue to the town of Akureyri, Iceland's second town, where you will have the afternoon to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps visit the church – the unique building is an iconic symbol of the town.

Included Activities:

• Trollaskagi Peninsula - Siglufjordur
• Trollaskagi Peninsula - Icelandic Specialties Tasting

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Head to the town of Husavik and spend the morning getting to know the gentle giants of Iceland’s waters on board an eco-friendly and carbon neutral electric boat. Minke and humpback whales are commonly spotted in these parts, and the silent boat keeps a respectful distance from the whales, allowing you to observe them in their natural environment without disturbing or distressing them. You’ll be joined on board by an expert whale watching guide who will help to spot these beautiful creatures while providing insight on their lives and habitats in Arctic waters. After an exciting morning of whale watching, drive to the mighty waterfall of Godafoss, also known as The Waterfall of the Gods.

Continue to Lake Myvatn, one of the most interesting geological areas of the northern hemisphere. Visit a number of geological anomalies lining the lake’s shoreline, including the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir and the pseudo-crater group at Skutustadir, and the boiling mud pots and sulphuric vents of Namaskard. Your leader will be on hand to explain how these natural wonders came to be. Drive via the highlands to your overnight stop at Egilsstadir.

Included Activities:

• Myvatn - Godafoss Waterfall
• Myvatn - Lake Myvatn
• Myvatn - Namaskard Boiling Mud Pools, Dimmuborgir &
• Skutustadir Crater Group
• Husavik - Whale Watching Excursion

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

This morning after breakfast, continue along the beautiful coastal region of Iceland's East Fjords, taking in spectacular views of the varied landscape as soaring mountains give way to deep fjords. If you are lucky you may even spot a seal or two. Drive to the famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon for an unforgettable boat tour on the milky blue waters. Get up close and personal with huge floating icebergs, originating from Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest ice cap.

Carry on to some of the country’s most impressive, uninterrupted scenery to Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, your hotel for this evening. This modern and contemporary hotel carefully considers its surroundings as spacious rooms with huge windows show off views of the mountains and sea, while stylish interiors reflect the colours of the world outside. This evening you’ll enjoy an included dinner at the excellent on-site restaurant serving up a creative list of dishes made with local Icelandic produce.

Included Activities:

• Jokulsarlon - Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride
• East Fjords - Scenic Drive

Special Information:

• Driving time approximately 4.5 hours; 350 km. Today is a long day of travel, however the scenery and beauty of the coast makes up for this.

Visit Skaftafell National Park and walk to the tongue of the glacier of the same name. Drive over the black sands and lava formations caused by the Laki eruption of 1782-1783, an event that has shaped Iceland's history and culture. Pass by the village of Vik, then continue to the beautiful scenery of Iceland's South Shore, with sights including the Solheimajokull glacier and the towering black rocks of Reynisdrangar. If the sky is clear you will be able to see the Eyafjallajokull volcano.

In the afternoon, visit the waterfalls of Seljarlandsfoss and Skogafoss, then stop off at an eco-farm in the Hvolsvollur Valley – the leader in responsible tourism and sustainability in Iceland. Here our local friends will give you an insight into how the eruption of the Eyafjallajokull volcano in 2010 has affected the lives of the residents in this area of Iceland. Since the arrival of the first settlers to Iceland, deforestation has taken place in order to make space for pastures. The owners implemented a planting project on their land to contribute to lowering CO2 and counteract soil erosion. Join the effort and head out into the hills surrounding the property to plant trees yourself.

Later in the day, continue to your base for the evening near Fludir. You may like to pay a visit to the Secret Lagoon, a natural geothermal pool warmed by the nearby hot springs.

Included Activities:

• South Coast - Reynisdrangar & Solheimajokull Glacier
• South Coast - Laki Lava Fields
• South Coast - Seljalandsfoss & Skogafoss Waterfalls
• Hvolsvollur Valley - Responsible Travel Tree Planting Activity

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours. Please note that the tree planting activity is only possible during the summer months from mid-May to mid-September and depends on weather conditions.

From Fludir, drive to the geyser geothermal area for the spouting hot springs of Geysir (after which all other geysers were named) and Strokkur, the most reliable of the geysers, erupting every ten minutes, on average. Don’t stand downwind if you don’t want a hot shower! Then it’s on to Gullfoss (the Golden Waterfall) where, on a sunny day, you can see rainbows shimmer in the spray above the waterfall.

Next up is a very special visit to the currently erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano. See basaltic lava bubbling from the central vent just a few metres away, making its way down the flank of the cone. Once you have managed to tear yourself away from the fiery spectacle you will take part in one of Iceland’s most celebrated activities during a visit to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by a black lava field. Its warm waters are rich in minerals and silica mud, said to cleanse and soften the skin. Sit back and enjoy a relaxing soak against a remarkable mountain backdrop. Drive back to Reykjavik for a short tour with your leader to get to know the main sights of this eclectic city.

The evening is free for you to explore the streets of Iceland’s capital – you may like to join your group for a final dinner together to round off your adventure.

Included Activities:

• Reykjavik - Walking Tour
• Golden Circle - Strokkur Geyser & Gullfoss Waterfalll
• Reykjanes Peninsula - Blue Lagoon

Special Information:

• Today's total driving time today is approximately 3 hours. Please note that the visit to the active volcano is dependent on a variety of factors, as authorities sporadically restrict access due to gas emissions or bad weather. To get to the volcano involves a walk of 2 hours or more across uneven surface with loose rocks and gravel, and some steep sections. Please also keep in mind that volcanic activity is impossible to predict, and lava flows may have subsided by the time of your visit to Iceland. Arrival back into Reykjavik this afternoon will be at around 4pm.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. As there is not much time spent in Reykjavik on this trip, you may want to consider booking some additional days in the capital. If you wish to spend more time here, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).