Encounter a world of untamed beauty as you discover Iceland’s adventurous landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Travel the stunning Golden Circle and visit Thingvellir National Park, Geysir thermal field, and the awe-inspiring Gullfoss waterfall. Interact with friendly Icelandic horses. Go whale watching in Skjálfandi Bay with specialized RIB zodiac boats. Savour Icelandic delicacies during a visit to a local goat farm. Ascend the Langjökull glacier in a super truck surrounded by uninterrupted mountain scenery. Take a dip in the famous Blue Lagoon. From ethereal lava fields to thundering waterfalls and coastal villages, this tour reveals the island’s dramatic contrasts.
TRAVEL DATE | PRICE | TYPE |
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September 7, 2023 | from $5,199 CAD | Per Person |
DAY | DATE | PLACE |
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1 | Thu Sep 7 | Reykjavík, Iceland |
2 | Fri Sep 8 | Reykjavík - Golden Circle |
3 | Sat Sep 9 | Reykjavík - Lake Mývatn |
4 | Sun Sep 10 | Lake Mývatn - Húsavík - Whale Watching |
5 | Mon Sep 11 | Lake Mývatn - Goðafoss - Akureyri - Laugarbakki |
6 | Tue Sep 12 | Laugarbakki - Snæfellsnes Peninsula - Borgarnes |
7 | Wed Sep 13 | Borgarnes - Húsafell - Langjökull Glacier Experience - Borgarnes |
8 | Thu Sep 14 | Borgarnes - Blue Lagoon - Reykjavík |
9 | Fri Sep 15 | Reykjavík - Tour Ends |
Day 1: Reykjavík, Iceland – Tour Begins
Discover culture and history in Reykjavík – Iceland’s capital. Explore the old section on a walking tour featuring the Parliament, harbor, city hall, and the city’s oldest building. Gaze up at the famous glass façade of the Harpa Concert Hall, a true marvel of modern architecture. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Icelandic dinner at a distinctive local restaurant.
Day 2: Reykjavík – Golden Circle – Reykjavík
Travel the Golden Circle to see Iceland’s most iconic natural wonders, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Thingvellir National Park where you can walk between two continents. Learn how locals use Iceland’s geothermal energy to cook food and taste “lava bread,” which is submerged into the earth and cooked for 24 hours. Continue along the Golden Circle and take in the beauty of the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) double-cascade waterfall before visiting the explosive Strokkur fountain geyser.
Day 3: Reykjavík – Lake Mývatn
This morning, fly* to Akureyri and take in the unique volcanic landscape that surrounds Lake Mývatn. You will have a chance to explore the Hverir geothermal area, where bubbling mud pools resemble a Martian terrain. Next, it’s your choice! Dip into the warm water and steam of the Lake Mývatn Nature Baths, frequented by Icelanders and visitors alike -OR- hike through Dimmuborgir and pass by irregular lava formations and mystical caves that inspire your imagination.
Day 4: Lake Mývatn – Húsavík – Whale Watching – Lake Mývatn
Venture into the town of Húsavík, where legend claims the Norse first settled in Iceland. Gear up in thermal wear to join expert whale watchers on a cruise on Skjálfandi Bay. Aboard specialized Zodiacs, you’ll get as close as you can to whales in northern Iceland. You may see humpback, minke, fin or harbor porpoise, and possibly the orca or giant blue whales that frequent these waters. End your day with a visit to Grenjaðarstaður and peruse Icelandic turf settlement homes.
Day 5: Lake Mývatn – Goðafoss – Akureyri – Laugarbakki
En route to Akureyri, stop at one of Iceland’s most historic waterfalls, Goðafoss, where Iceland was converted to Christianity in A.D. 1000. Enjoy time at leisure in Akureyri to explore Iceland’s second largest city. Perhaps you’ll peruse its botanical garden, a public park positioned just 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle and dedicated to finding and testing foreign plants to grow in Iceland. Next, head to the scenic Norðurland Vestra region, famous for its horse breeding. On a family-owned farm, grab your camera for a photo tour of the stables and interact with these friendly animals. Later this afternoon, travel to the village of Laugarbakki.
Day 6: Laugarbakki – Snæfellsnes Peninsula – Borgarnes
This morning, journey to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, with its camera-ready black sand beaches, mountain peaks, volcanic craters, rocky coastlines, and tiny fishing villages. Connect with the local culture during a visit to a maritime museum illustrating fishing techniques, such as the century-old tradition of catching and preserving the Greenland shark; you’ll also taste hákarl – cured shark meat. End the day in Borgarnes, your home for the next 2 nights.
Day 7: Borgarnes – Húsafell – Langjökull Glacier Experience – Borgarnes
This morning, journey inland to Húsafell and look out at the misty waterfalls cascading over lava rocks. Then, experience an Impact Moment with a visit to Jóhanna’s goat farm. Here, she has helped to bring this unique breed, dating back to the time of Iceland’s settlement, back from the brink of extinction. After visiting with the friendly goats, enjoy a simple meal of homemade specialties from the farm. Then, bundle up and ascend Langjökull glacier** via mountain truck and go “Into the Glacier” to experience the purest blue ice color in this man-made tunnel, the world’s largest.***
Day 8: Borgarnes – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavík
Visit the Settlement Museum and dive into the origins of Icelandic heritage, including the works of the famous Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson. Drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula, home to the famous Blue Lagoon. Take a dip in the warm, mineral-rich waters of this iconic geothermal pool, located in the heart of a dramatic lava field. Come together this evening for a farewell dinner at a restaurant featuring Icelandic cuisine.
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