6 breakfasts

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

Weather can change dramatically, even in the summer months. It is best to layer clothing to ensure you are prepared for any extremes.

1. Please note that this is a very busy tour and there are some long drive days.

2. The landscape of Iceland is unique and unlike most things you’ve seen. So is the weather. It is unpredictable and changeable, so be prepared to experience a variety of conditions during your time in Iceland. It’s not uncommon to experience rain, sun wind and snow all in the same visit, so please pack accordingly. An Icelandic summer is also not what most people consider as summer temperature and in the highlands it can get quite cold.

3. If you wish to visit the Blue Lagoon, please know that this activity must be done before or after your tour. As this activity is very popular, we recommend booking it in advance.

4. Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

5. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

Please also note, if the start or finish accommodation for your trip is Hotel Cabin (Reykjavík); Standard rooms will be booked for Single occupancy only (including My Own Room) and Superior rooms will be booked for Twin/Double occupancy. This information also relates to any Pre/Post night bookings at Hotel Cabin.

6. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES NOTE:

During high season in Europe (May-October) we highly recommend booking reservations for any popular optional activities/museum tickets etc. in advance to avoid encountering sold-out activities on the ground while on tour.

SNORKELLING IN THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK: Travellers with certain medical conditions cannot participate in this activity and it is non-refundable. Please read the following document to verify you are able to meet the activity requirements, as no refund can be issued if you are declined participation due to one of these conditions: https://adventures.is/media/230104/arctic-adventures-snorkeling-silfra-guide.pdf

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, known as a CEO (Chief Experience Officer). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.

In Iceland we use small hotels, guest houses and inns. They are comfortable and clean but do not have many amenities. On occasion in remote areas or in order to stay somewhere unique and character-filled, we will have multi-share accommodations and/or shared facilities.

Please be aware that single room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms.

If you have not purchased My Own Room, please note that you may need to change rooms if you have booked pre/post nights for this tour.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. You must be prepared to carry your luggage up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels (max 15-20 mins.)

Dressing in layers is recommended as weather can change dramatically, without notice.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Walk the shores of Jokulsárlón Glacier Lagoon as luminous blue icebergs drift seaward from Breiðamerkurjokull. Watch for curious seals and study the sculpted forms—ridges, arches, and glassy facets—that shift with light and tide.

Cross to Diamond Beach, where wave-polished ice shards sparkle against volcanic black sand. The stark contrast, the crackle of ice in surf, and close views of blue icebergs make this one of Iceland’s most photogenic and otherworldly scenes.

Stand before Dettifoss, often called Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume, and feel the ground tremble as grey glacial torrents plunge 45 meters into a basalt canyon. Viewpoints reveal the cataract’s immense width and the ceaseless spray that feeds mossy ledges.

Fed by the Jokulsá á Fjollum River, Dettifoss showcases the raw force of meltwater grinding through ancient lava. The roaring cataract dramatizes Iceland’s elemental contrasts—ice, rock, and water in perpetual motion—offering indelible photos and a bracing sense of scale.

Trace the sinuous roads of the Eastfjords, where steep mountains drop to mirror-calm bays and tiny fishing villages dot the shoreline. This route rewards with cliffside lookouts, seabird activity, and glimpses of reindeer on high plateaus in season.

As the coast opens southward, distant tongues of Vatnajokull appear—Europe’s largest ice cap spanning volcanoes and valleys. These evolving panoramas of glacial outlets and misty mountain passes turn the drive itself into a highlight for photographers and scenery seekers alike.

Stretch your legs on well-marked paths in Skaftafell, a beloved corner of Vatnajokull National Park. Gentle hikes lead to viewpoints over the crevassed Skaftafellsjokull outlet glacier and across moraines shaped by centuries of ice retreat.

Seek out the viewpoint of Svartifoss, famed for its dark hexagonal basalt “organ pipes” that frame a fine cascade. Interpretive signs reveal how fire and ice combine to form this dramatic landscape of glacial tongues, birch scrub, and volcanic stone.

Visit Reynisfjara Beach, a cinematic sweep of black sand backed by geometric basalt cliffs and the sea cave at Hálsanefshellir. Offshore, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise like sentinels from the North Atlantic.

Feel the wind, hear the boom of surf, and photograph the striking basalt columns. Guides emphasize safety around the powerful Atlantic surf and sneaker waves—part of what makes this coastline both dramatic and humbling.

Experience Iceland’s classic circuit, the Golden Circle. Feel spray at Gullfoss, a glacial river plunging in tiers into a rugged gorge, and watch Geysir Hot Springs and Strokkur send scalding water skyward every few minutes.

Walk trails in Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO site where the Althing (parliament) was founded in 930 and the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart at the Almannagjá rift. History, geology, and scenery converge in one compact, fascinating loop.

Join a whale-watching cruise on sheltered Eyjafjorður, scanning for humpbacks, minke whales, and playful white-beaked dolphins against a backdrop of snowy ridgelines. Onboard guides share marine ecology while you listen for blows and watch flukes rise.

This excursion is weather-dependent and offered at additional cost, bookable on tour. Thermal overalls are typically provided by local operators. Scan the horizon with binoculars and keep your camera ready for tail slaps and feeding lunges.

Glide among ice giants on a guided boat tour on Jokulsárlón, weaving past freshly calved bergs and blue seracs. Guides explain iceberg formation, glacial movement, and the lagoon’s unique ecosystem as seals surface nearby.

Choose a steady amphibian craft or a nimble Zodiac for closer angles—both offered at additional cost and bookable on tour. The proximity to blue icebergs and the glacier-carved lagoon creates hauntingly beautiful photo opportunities.

Tie into a harness and follow a glacier guide on a guided glacier hike over a Vatnajokull outlet glacier. Don provided crampons and ice axe to tread safely among blue crevasses, ash-streaked ice, and wind-carved ridges.

This adventure is weather-dependent and offered at additional cost, bookable on tour. Brief training and all technical gear are included. Learn how glaciers shape valleys and leave behind moraines that map centuries of advance and retreat.

Slip into a drysuit and snorkel the Silfra fissure, a spring-fed rift with up to 100m visibility between the North American and Eurasian plates. Drift through cathedral-clear corridors framed by lava walls and neon-green algae.

Offered at additional cost and bookable on tour or in advance, this half-day requires good health and comfort in cold water. Operators provide gear and guidance in the crystal-clear water; medical restrictions and weather conditions may apply.

Explore Akureyri’s compact historic core, where colorful wooden houses and the hilltop Akureyrarkirkja church overlook shimmering Eyjafjorður. Wander past cafés and boutiques, spotting the town’s famous heart-shaped traffic lights and murals that reflect a lively northern spirit.

Soak up the fjord views and local pace as you pause for photos and reflection. This stroll introduces the culture of Iceland’s “Capital of the North,” from fishing heritage to contemporary design, all framed by snow-dusted mountains and a working harbor.

Visit the sweeping horseshoe of Goðafoss, the “Waterfall of the Gods,” where glacial waters plunge into a basalt-lined gorge. Walk easy paths on both banks to find different angles and pause for photos and reflection amid the constant mist and roar.

Legend links this site to Iceland’s conversion to Christianity around the year 1000, when idols were cast into the falls. The blend of saga lore and the thunder of water makes Goðafoss a powerful cultural and scenic stop between Akureyri and Mývatn.

Explore the volcanic basin of Lake Mývatn, formed by eruptions some 2,300 years ago. Wander among lava pillars at Dimmuborgir and walk the steamy boardwalks at the Námaskarð geothermal area, where bubbling mud pots and sulfur vents animate the ochre earth.

Learn how nutrient-rich waters attract prolific birdlife and how pressure, steam, and time sculpted these otherworldly forms. This region’s steam-swirled lava fields and honeycombed craters reveal Iceland’s restless geology at close range, with photo stops that reward every turn.

Meet your fellow travellers and meet your CEO and group at a relaxed welcome gathering in Reykjavík. Get a clear overview of the journey ahead, tips for maximizing free time, and insights on staying comfortable amid Iceland’s quick-changing weather.

Share first impressions of the land of fire and ice, ask questions, and set the tone for a friendly, small-group adventure. Many guests choose to enjoy a free evening together afterward, swapping stories over Icelandic comfort dishes in a neighborhood bistro.