• 3 Dinner (D)
• 4 Breakfast (B)

• London: Your Trip Manager will advise you on who you’ll share your room with. On this trip, you’ll stay in a multi-share room with other travellers of the same sex.
• Reykjavik: The climate in this region is unpredictable due to its geographical location. In shoulder season (May, September, and October) you can expect temperatures to vary between single digits and warm sunny days, while from June until September temperatures can reach up to 25 C (77 F) during the day with July being the warmest month. During summer, Iceland also regularly experiences 24 hours of daylight, so you can truly make the most of your sightseeing!
• Reykjavik: It is always a good idea to bring a warm windproof jacket. No matter which time of year you decide to travel, it can get quite cool at night especially outside of the cities, so we recommend that you bring a warm jacket or fleece. It is also recommended to bring along comfortable walking shoes, waterproof jacket & pants, sunscreen and a hat.
• Reykjavik: Your trip offers an optional glacier hike and with the varied weather conditions of Iceland its essential you dress for the occasion. Please pack the following:  Hiking boots (if you do not have these, you are able to hire them from the Mountain Guides)  Waterproof jacket  Warm socks   Hat and gloves Warm trousers/pants (pack a waterproof outer layer if you have it) 
• Reykjavik: The Northern Lights are more common during the winter months, when it gets darker earlier and the sky is clear and free of light pollution. The Northern Lights (AKA the Aurora Borealis) are a natural display of coloured lights in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. They’re a natural phenomenon, so it can never be guaranteed. But you’ll have a higher chance of seeing them the further up north you go. (Fingers crossed…) 
• Reykjavik: The currency of Iceland is the Icelandic Krona (ISK). ATMs are readily available, and most places accept credit/debit cards. 

• Reykjavik: Dine on a delicious dinner with your new found friends and toast the beginning of a wonderful adventure – the possibilities are endless!!
• Midgard: Stay at this wonderful camp, decked out with a sauna. Plus, if you’re lucky, you might even catch the northern lights from while you’re warming up in the hot tub here!  There’s also a cosy communal area with board games.  
• Geysir: Get your camera ready for this jumping geothermal wonder as we explore the heart of Iceland, Thingvellir National Park. And if you miss the photo op don’t worry. It’ll happen again in five minutes. Luckily! 
• Midgard: Step into the world of Icelandic farm life with a visit to Efstidalur – a farm run by four siblings whose ancestors have worked the land since 1750! You’ll get the chance to try their locally made ice cream.
• Fridheimar: Learn all about geothermal heating and greenhouse horticulture – AKA, how do you grow such delicious veggies in such a chilly climate?
• Skaftafell: Look out for the folklore-famous pony-sized horses with teal blue eyes. Fun fact: they have their very own social security numbers (yep, that’s how beloved they are!).  
• Skaftafell: Get your camera reel a-ready for some of the weirdest and most wonderful waterfalls you’ll have ever seen in your life!
• Skaftafell: Walk the black sands on the world-famous Reynisfjara Beach and look out for the basalt pillars and unique rock formations on the coast.
• Skaftafell: Marvel at canyons, volcanoes & glaciers on a drive through Kirkjubaejarklaustur, a beautiful rural town of just 500 people.
• Jokulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: We ain’t joking when we tell you that this lagoon will absolutely blow your mind. You have some time to take in the glacial scenery & check out the world-famous Diamond Beach.

Visit Jokulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to watch icebergs drift across still water beneath the surrounding glacial landscape. Spend time taking in their shifting shapes and colours before seeing nearby Diamond Beach.

At the beach, pieces of ice washed ashore from the lagoon lie scattered across black volcanic sand. The contrast between translucent ice and the dark Atlantic shore makes this a particularly distinctive place to observe and photograph Iceland’s changing coast.

Meet Icelandic farm life at Efstidalur, a family-run dairy farm whose ancestors have worked the land since 1750. See the Icelandic cattle and taste ice cream made from local milk during this Make Travel Matter experience.

The visit puts a human story behind the country’s rural landscapes. Learning about the farm’s long family history while sampling its produce offers a direct connection to Icelandic agriculture and the people who sustain it.

Contiki

Share a welcome dinner in Reykjavik and meet your fellow travellers over a meal in Iceland’s compact capital. It is a hosted chance to make introductions and settle into the group.

Reykjavik’s colourful streets and creative character give this first gathering a distinctive setting. Expect conversation and a relaxed introduction to the people who will share the journey.

Watch Strokkur erupt in Iceland’s Geysir geothermal area, where steam rises from hot ground and a column of water bursts into the air at frequent intervals. Spend time observing the restless terrain and photographing its changing plumes.

Nearby Geysir gave the English word “geyser” its name. This active landscape makes the geothermal forces beneath Iceland visible, with steam vents and erupting water offering a close-up view of the island’s volcanic character.

Visit Gullfoss and see the Hvítá River plunge in two stages into a deep canyon. Take in the scale of the falls from the viewing area, where spray and the sound of rushing water bring the Golden Circle’s rugged scenery close.

Its name means “Golden Falls”. The river’s force and the canyon’s dark walls create a striking contrast, especially in winter when ice gathers around the cascading water while the falls continue to flow.

Visit Friðheimar’s geothermal greenhouse to discover how tomatoes grow in Iceland despite the cold climate. Learn how geothermal heat supports year-round horticulture and encounter a greenhouse devoted to one of the country’s most inventive food stories.

The contrast between the warm, tomato-filled interior and the Icelandic landscape outside makes the visit memorable. It is a practical look at how local growers use natural resources to produce fresh food in a challenging environment.

Visit Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, two of Iceland’s most recognisable south-coast waterfalls. Take in Seljalandsfoss as it drops over a former sea cliff, and stand near Skógafoss to appreciate the breadth and power of its descending water.

Both falls are fed by rivers flowing from the highlands. Their thundering water and drifting spray offer contrasting views of the forces that shape Iceland’s coastline and make these stops rewarding for photography.

Walk the black sands of Reynisfjara near Vík and examine the basalt columns and unusual rock formations along this volcanic coast. The dark shore, pale surf and offshore sea stacks create one of southern Iceland’s most distinctive views.

The columnar basalt formed as lava cooled and fractured into geometric shapes. Admire the scenery from a safe distance from the water: Reynisfjara is known for powerful, unpredictable waves.

Take the opportunity to bathe in the Blue Lagoon on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where warm, mineral-rich water and rising steam contrast with the surrounding volcanic terrain. It is a chance to pause and experience Iceland’s geothermal landscape through its waters.

The lagoon’s milky-blue water is a distinctive sight in the lava field. Bathing is presented as a choice rather than an included admission: this experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability.

Explore Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where broad valleys and rocky fissures reveal Iceland’s shifting geology. See a landscape shaped by the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

The park is also central to Icelandic history: the Althing, one of the world’s oldest parliamentary assemblies, was established here in 930. Its combination of open scenery and enduring civic heritage makes it a defining Golden Circle stop.

Warm up in Midgard Base Camp’s rooftop sauna and hot tub, a distinctive place to unwind amid the scenery of southern Iceland. The camp also has a cosy communal area for spending time with fellow travellers.

Steam and warm water provide a welcome contrast to the crisp air. On a clear winter night, you might glimpse the Northern Lights above the camp, though this natural phenomenon depends on weather and solar activity and cannot be guaranteed.

Explore the scenery of Vatnajokull National Park and view Svínafellsjokull, an outlet glacier descending from the Vatnajokull ice cap. Look across the ridged ice and surrounding mountains for a close sense of the scale of Iceland’s glacial landscapes.

Vatnajokull is Europe’s largest ice cap by volume, feeding numerous outlets across southeastern Iceland. This included sightseeing stop focuses on viewing the glacier; setting foot on the ice is a separate optional activity.

Join an optional glacier hike in the Vatnajokull area for the chance to experience the ice on foot rather than from a viewpoint. This adventure offers a closer look at the glacier’s textured surface and the landscape around it.

Conditions on the ice can be cold and changeable, so suitable warm layers, waterproof clothing and hiking boots are important. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability and arrangements should be confirmed with your Trip Manager.