Your itinerary
Day 1
Adventure starts in Reykjavik
Our adventure starts in Reykjavik, gateway to the wider wonders of Iceland. Depending on when you land, you may have time to visit the Blue Lagoon. Alternatively, explore the city, including the striking modern architecture of the Harpa concert hall and Hallgrímskirkja church. Our welcome briefing takes place tomorrow morning, when we meet our tour leader for the first time.
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Day 2
Explore the erupting geysers and thundering falls of the Golden Circle
After our welcome briefing at 8.30am, in which we meet the tour leader and discuss the adventures ahead, we drive (45 minutes) inland to Thingvellir, where the one of the world’s first democratic parliaments took place.
Sitting on a major fault line, it is also the best place in Iceland to see the continental drift – the movement of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Here, they are pulling the earth apart as they inch away from each other, causing the land between to subside.
Unsurprisingly, the area abounds with waterfalls, immense fissures and the largest lake in the country, which we see on our 45-minute exploration.
We then drive (50 minutes) to the world-renowned geysers. Here, we spend 45 minutes (plus an hour for lunch) exploring. The most reliable eruption comes every five to 10 minutes from the 98ft (30m) Strokkur geyser.
We then transfer (15 minutes) to Gullfoss, a huge waterfall in a 230ft (70m) deep canyon forged by the Hvita River (White River). Finally, we drive (1hr 40min) to another beautiful waterfall, Gluggafoss, before finishing the day at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Follow the volcanic south coast to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Drive one hour east to the foot of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Ice Cap. This area was heavily affected by ashfall during the 2010 eruption and a great deal of ice was melted by the lava. The glacier feeds many beautiful waterfalls, and we visit two of them on a 1hr 30min exploration: Kvernufoss and Skógafoss. Both have rushing water dropping 197ft (60m), and, in the case of Skógafoss, a wall of water rushing down in an 82ft (25m) wide sheet.
Continuing east, we cross the black flood plain of Solheimasandur before reaching the green valley of Myrdalur and continuing to the Dyrhólaey promontory – a 30-minute journey. It is rich in birdlife and a nesting site for puffins and Arctic terns in spring. On calm days, we might see whales and seals from the promontory. We continue (25 minutes) further east to Vik, the southernmost town in Iceland and a great place to see the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. If time and conditions allow, we see them at closer range from Reynisfjara black beach.
Then travel further across the Mýrdalssandur and Skeiðarársandur flood plains. Both were formed by countless floods created by volcanic eruptions. We head for Vatnajökull National Park, home to the largest ice cap in Europe (also called Vatnajökull), and then to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (a three-hour drive from Vik), where thousands of icebergs are separating from the largest glacier in the country and floating in the pale green sea-level lagoon.
Take a one-hour walk beside the waters for excellent views. If conditions allow, head to the black-sand beach where ice chunks are washed onto the shore by the sea, creating wonderful shapes and formations. You may wish to take an optional boat ride on the lagoon (this may take place tomorrow morning, depending on availability).
We then continue (20 minutes) further east, with the steep mountains of Vatnajökull on one side and the exposed south coast on the other, to our accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Wind through the glacier-carved Eastern Fjords
Today is a day of scenic driving (5hr 20min in total) with several stops as we travel through fjord country. This stunning mountain region has been sculpted as much by glaciers as volcanic activity.
The road winds from one fjord to another, passing a few farms in each fjord where there is enough flat land for hayfields. We also pass the small town of Fáskrúðsfjörður, which began as a settlement by French fishermen and turned into a well-known trading post, serving as their base for cod fishing until 1935. Skrudur Island, which sits just off Fáskrúðsfjörður, is rich in birdlife and is a puffin breeding hot spot between mid-April and mid-August. Finally, we continue to the town of Egilsstadir.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Enter Iceland’s volcanic north • Walk through Stuðlagil Canyon and witness Dettifoss
Heading inland and west, we drive (1hr 10min) through the starkly contrasting desert scenery of the northeast highlands and follow the track that takes us to Jokuldalur valley and to Studlagil Canyon, one of the most beautiful canyons of columnar basalt in Iceland, which we explore for 45 minutes.
Then, we transfer (1hr 10min) to Möðrudalur farmstead, the highest inhabited farm in Iceland at 469m (1,539ft) above sea level. We have an hour to enjoy the special views from Möðrudalur, which stretch far and wide across the rugged landscape.
From Möðrudalur, we drive (1hr 10min) to the enormous Dettifoss waterfall and walk 0.6mi (1km) to a great vantage point. This is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, bizarrely set in an arid area of sand and rock formations.
After, we drive (45 minutes) to the Námafjall geothermal area before driving 30 minutes to Myvatn and the pseudocraters at Skútustaðir. Finally, we head (30 minutes) to our hotel at Lake Myvatn.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6
Walk among the lava formations of Lake Mývatn • Visit Goðafoss and Akureyri
Spend the morning around Lake Myvatn and enjoy a 45-minute walk in Dimmuborgir, a vast area of lava towers and natural arches.
Only a short distance from Dimmuborgir is Mount Hverfjall, a huge circular crater that’s 460ft (140m) deep and 3,280ft (1,000m) wide. It is one of the most beautiful craters in Iceland, one which erupted some 2,500 years ago and covered the Myvatn area in tephra (fragments of volcanic rock). It is also thought to be one of the largest on the planet.
A little further north is the hot-spring cave known as Grjótagjá, made famous by Game of Thrones. After Myvatn, we head (50 minutes) to the Godafoss waterfall, before travelling (40 minutes) to Akureyri, where the afternoon is free to spend at leisure.
Akureyri is the cultural, commercial and educational centre for northern Iceland and 37mi (60km) south of the Arctic Circle. Akureyri is remarkably green and has the northernmost botanical garden in the world. The Lutheran church here is an interesting visit, featuring a stained-glass window thought to have come from a church in London, UK.
As with most towns in Iceland there are also thermal baths, enjoyed as much by the locals as by visitors. And if you just fancy a wander, there are plenty of interesting shops, coffee shops and even ice cream parlours. If you would like to book a whale-watching tour or a visit to the Forest Lagoon hot springs for this afternoon (both optional), please speak to your tour leader at the welcome briefing.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Step inside a Viking longhouse • Meet Icelandic horses at Lýsuhóll
Leave Akureyri and drive to the beautiful waterfalls in Kolugljúfur Canyon, named after a giantess said to have once lived in the area.
Departing, we drive to Eiríksstaðir, a reconstructed Viking longhouse built using the same methods, tools and materials that were available during the time of the Vikings. The land on which it sits was also once home to Erik the Red and his son Leif Erikson – two of the best-known figures from the Viking Age.
From Eiríksstaðir, we transfer to the picturesque fishing village of Stykkishólmur, on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Enjoy time to explore before we transfer to our home for the night: Lýsuhóll, a family-run guesthouse and horse farm. Take the opportunity to chat with the owners, who will happily show you the horses and talk about how they work to sustain the Icelandic horse through careful breeding and traditional farming methods.
This evening, we have our last dinner with our tour leader – a chance to relive some of our adventures together.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 8
Trace the wild shores of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
The exposed coast of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is the goal for today. We first drive (15 minutes) to the old church at Budir, one of the most picturesque in the country. Then, we transfer (20 minutes) to the sea cliffs at Arnarstapi, which teem with birds, before heading (20 minutes) to the rocks of Djúpalónssandur and old shipwrecks in black basaltic sand.
Our tour leader will tell us about the old cod-fishing methods, while towering above us is the Snæfellsjökull volcano. Some of the best fisheries are on the peninsula and whales can often be seen from shore on calm days.
After driving (35 minutes) to Ólafsvík for lunch, we transfer (2hr 45min) to our hotel in Reykjavik, when we say a fond farewell to our tour leader.
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Meals: Breakfast
Day 9
Adventure ends in Reykjavik
Our trip ends in Reykjavik after breakfast. You can catch a Flybus transfer to the airport for your return flight. Alternatively, if you’d like a bit longer to explore this invigorating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Food
Breakfasts are mainly continental-style; lunches are taken in cafes or restaurants, or even service station cafes depending on our location. The main meal of the day is usually local fish or lamb specialities, plus European standards such as pasta and chicken. Vegetarians and those with special dietary requirements can be catered for but may have less variety in the meals provided. It is still common practice for restaurants receiving big groups to offer a restricted menu. Our tour leader will do their best to ensure as much choice as possible.
Please advise us of any special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Golden Circle: Thingvellir, Geysir & Gullfoss
Discover the essentials of Iceland on the Golden Circle. Walk between drifting tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park, birthplace of the Alþingi, and gaze across the mirror-still expanse of Lake Þingvallavatn framed by lava fields and birch scrub.
At Haukadalur’s geyser field, witness the clockwork eruptions of the Strokkur geyser, then stand before the thundering tiers of the Gullfoss Waterfall as the glacial Hvítá carves a canyon of spray and rainbow mist. On some departures, a quiet stop at Gluggafoss adds a fern-lined coda.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Walk
Walk the shore of the Jokulsárlón glacier lagoon, where luminous bergs calve from Vatnajokull and drift past curious seals. Hear the soft crackle of ancient ice as wind ruffles jade-blue water beneath saw-toothed ridgelines.
Cross to the Atlantic shore to see Diamond Beach, where glassy fragments scatter across black sand like a jeweller’s bench in the surf. This slow, scenic stroll balances ethereal glacial light with the Atlantic’s breath, perfect for unhurried photography.
Eastern Fjords Scenic Drive & Fáskrúðsfjörður Heritage
Trace the mirror-calm inlets of the Eastern Fjords, where steep-sided mountains plunge to narrow farms and weathered piers. Photo stops reveal shifting light, sea birds on skerries and fishing boats stitched against iron-blue water.
In Fáskrúðsfjorður, uncover echoes of a French fishing heritage that shaped this remote community until the 1930s. Offshore, the bird cliffs of Skrúður host teeming Skrúður puffins in season, underscoring how rich seas have long sustained life on these dramatic coasts.
South Coast Waterfalls: Kvernufoss & Skógafoss
Visit two iconic cascades along the volcanic south coast. Follow a grassy gorge to Kvernufoss, where a sheltered path (when conditions allow) reveals the waterfall’s glassy veil from behind. Feel cool spray and hear water drum the plunge pool amid columnar basalt.
Continue to the broad curtain of Skógafoss, a 25m-wide torrent dropping 60m in a roar that breeds rainbows on sunny days. The surrounding landscapes bear the imprint of Eyjafjallajokull, whose 2010 eruption reshaped farms and ash-dusted glacier tongues nearby.
Dyrhólaey Cliffs & Reynisfjara Black-Sand Beach
Explore the bird-thronged headland of the Dyrhólaey promontory, where sea arches, sheer cliffs and a lighthouse command immense ocean views. In season, watch puffins pirouette to grassy burrows and kittiwakes wheel over breaking surf.
Admire the inky sweep of the Reynisfjara black-sand beach and the shark-tooth silhouettes of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Basalt columns line the shore like an organ pipe facade. Powerful sneaker waves are common here, so the experience is best enjoyed from a safe, photo-friendly distance.
Stuðlagil Canyon Basalt Columns Walk
Walk along the Jokuldalur to Stuðlagil Canyon, a narrow chasm where the columnar basalt rises like organ pipes above blue-green water. Viewpoints reveal sculpted hexagons and rhythmic strata formed as cooling lava cracked into geometric perfection.
Learn how changes to the Jokla River flow helped unveil the canyon’s striking features, turning a once-hidden gorge into a geologic gallery. The interplay of teal water and umber stone is a photographer’s dream in any weather.
Dettifoss Waterfall Viewpoint
Approach the rumbling brink of Dettifoss, where silt-laden glacial waters plunge into a basalt amphitheatre. The ground vibrates with power as spray rises in veils from Europe’s most powerful waterfall, etching rainbows into the canyon air.
Set within the stark expanses of Jokulsárgljúfur, the scene contrasts moon-like plains with a churning torrent fed by Vatnajokull’s icefields. Safe, well-placed viewpoints make this a visceral encounter with Iceland’s raw hydrologic force.
Námafjall Geothermal Area & Skútustaðir Pseudocraters
Explore the Námafjall geothermal area at Námaskarð, where steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots paint the earth in sulphur yellows and iron reds. The air is mineral-rich, the ground warm underfoot, and the landscape otherworldly.
At the Skútustaðagígar, examine Skútustaðir pseudocraters—crater-like rings formed by steam explosions as lava met wetlands around Lake Mývatn. Boardwalks and low knolls offer sweeping views across mirrored water and bird-filled shallows.
Dimmuborgir Lava Fields, Hverfjall Crater & Grjótagjá Cave
Walk amid the jagged towers and arches of Dimmuborgir, a labyrinth of lava formations shaped by collapsing molten roofs. Trails weave through twisted rock that local folklore casts as a realm of trolls and hidden people.
Survey the perfect tephra rim of the Hverfjall crater and peer into the blue pool of Grjótagjá cave, a hot-spring fissure made famous by Game of Thrones. The trio reveals Mývatn’s volcanic story in contrasting textures and tones.
Goðafoss Waterfall
Visit crescent-shaped Goðafoss, where the Skjálfandafljót fans into a turquoise cascade over lava ledges. Viewpoints on both banks frame silky curtains and sculpted rock, ideal for wide-angle photos and close-up detail.
According to the sagas of Iceland, chieftain Þorgeir cast idols into the falls around AD 1000 to mark the island’s conversion to Christianity. The setting’s serene curves belie the current’s power and the moment’s historical weight.
Kolugljúfur Canyon Waterfalls
Walk cliff-edge paths above Kolugljúfur Canyon, where the Víðidalsá River carves a narrow chasm into banded basalt. A chain of lively drops tumbles through the gorge, sending spray into fern-lined niches.
Local lore ties the ravine to the legend of the giantess Kola, whose presence is felt in the canyon’s brooding walls and echoing pools. It’s a photogenic pause that blends myth, geology and the music of fast water.
Eiríksstaðir Viking Longhouse Living History
Step inside the turf-and-timber Eiríksstaðir Viking longhouse for an intimate encounter with Iceland’s settlement era. Costumed hosts share everyday tools, travel routes and survival skills beneath a smoky roof glow.
Hear tales of Erik the Red and Leif Erikson in the valley they once called home, and handle replicas that bring living history to life. Building methods, social customs and sagas illuminate Norse resilience on the Atlantic’s edge.
Lýsuhóll Icelandic Horse Farm Visit
Meet the compact, sure-footed stars of Iceland at the Lýsuhóll horse farm. Learn how the purebred Icelandic horse thrives in harsh climates and why the island’s strict no-reimport rules protect its health and lineage.
Chat with the family owners about careful breeding, winter care and the breed’s smooth tolt gait. Quiet time in the stables reveals soft whickers, shaggy manes and the deep bond between farmers and their most trusted companions.
Snæfellsnes Highlights: Búðir, Arnarstapi & Djúpalónssandur
Explore the Búðir black church, a striking silhouette on a lava plain, before tracing seabird paths along the basalt arches of the Arnarstapi sea cliffs. Atlantic swells and wheeling kittiwakes soundtrack every viewpoint.
Walk the shingle and black sand of Djúpalónssandur, where lifting stones test old fishermen’s mettle and wreck fragments rust into the tide. Views stretch to the ice-capped Snæfellsjokull volcano, famed in literature and a constant presence over coast and lava.
Optional: Jökulsárlón Amphibian or Zodiac Boat Ride
Cruise among creaking blue giants on a boat ride on Jokulsárlón. Glide past floating icebergs and watch for seals lounging on crystalline floes while guides explain glacial dynamics and safety on the water.
Zodiac craft edge closer to fresh calvings; amphibians offer a smooth panorama. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather and availability permitting, with Vatnajokull’s outlet glaciers towering beyond the lagoon.
Optional: Akureyri Whale-Watching Cruise (Eyjafjörður)
Set sail on a whale-watching cruise from Akureyri into broad Eyjafjorður, Iceland’s longest fjord. Scan calm waters for tail slaps and blows from humpback whales, with white-beaked dolphins and porpoises frequent visitors.
Guides share marine ecology while warm suits and hot drinks keep the chill at bay. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; departures and wildlife sightings depend on sea conditions and season.
Optional: Forest Lagoon Geothermal Spa (Akureyri)
Soak in Forest Lagoon, a modern thermal retreat nestled in Vaðlaskógur forest with fjord views toward Akureyri. Slip into steaming geothermal pools, linger by a swim-up bar, and admire pine-and-mountain horizons.
Facilities include a sauna and cool plunge for contrast bathing, pairing wellness rituals with forest-framed views. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; session times vary by day and season.
Optional: Blue Lagoon Geothermal Bath (Reykjanes)
Unwind in the milky, silica-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon, set amid mossy lava fields on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Float beneath steam and sky as mineral mud masks and gentle currents soften travel-tired muscles.
Modern facilities include saunas, relaxation areas and in-water bars; timed entries help preserve the tranquil atmosphere. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability and flight times.
