Icelandic Adventure

You’re on your way to Iceland, a land forged by fire and ice, where adventurous landscapes give way to a rich cultural heritage. Discover the dramatic contrasts: from ethereal lava fields and thundering waterfalls to charming coastal villages.
Hotel Name: Centerhotel Grandi

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, gather with your fellow travelers and experience the freshness of Icelandic food at a local restaurant.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Reykjavík
Located in southwestern Iceland, the capital and largest city of Iceland is said to be the location of the first permanent settlement. It is believed that the city was established around AD 870. Until the 18th century, there was no urban development, but the city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the next decades. Soon Reykjavík became the national center of commerce, population, and governmental activities. The city is rated among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.

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. Return to Reykjavik for an evening on your own.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Fosshotel

Visit Area: Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is the most popular tourist route from Reykjavík in South Iceland. Two main stops on the route are the national park Thingvellir and the waterfall Gullfoss (Golden Falls). The route covers about 300 kilometers looping from Reykjavík into central Iceland and back.

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. End your day in Husavik, one of the first settlements on the island.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Thingvellir National Park
Around 930, the Althing general assembly was established in Thingvellir. A law passed in 1928 protecting the area, which shall remain the property of the Icelandic nation under the preservation of the Althing. Thingvellir National Park was officially founded in 1930, marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Althing. In 2004, the park became a World Heritage Site. Throughout the park, visitors can travel among the many hiking trails.

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. After free time for lunch, travel to Grenjaðarstaður where you will visit and learn about the traditional Icelandic turf settlement homes. Return to Husavik in the late afternoon, where the remainder of the day is yours.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Laugarbakki Hotel

Visit Area: Gullfoss
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland is Gullfoss, an incredible waterfall located in the canyon of Hvita river in southwest Iceland. As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river magically vanishes into the earth. The falls offer a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of the untouched nature in Iceland. On a sunny day, a rainbow can be seen over the falls. In 1907, Gullfoss was owned by a local farmer, who was approached by an Englishman who wanted to buy it to produce electricity. Although the farmer declined the Englishman’s generous offer, he leased it to him. After the farmer’s passing, his daughter went to great lengths to save Gullfoss to stop construction that would damage it. She is often called Iceland’s first environmentalist. In 1979, Gullfoss was designated as a nature preserve and permanently protected for the public to enjoy.

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 and their care takers. Later this afternoon, travel to the village of Laugarbakki for an overnight stay.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Hamar

Visit Area: Lake Mývatn
Lake Mývatn is the place to be to see an exceptionally large number of waterbirds. Thirteen species of duck nest here as well as many rare birds, but that’s not all there is to see! Lake Myvatn is a microcosm of all the natural wonders of Iceland like sulphur springs, Krafla Caldera, Nature baths, and incredible rock formations.

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.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Choice on Tour
You can choose to 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.

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.***

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Centerhotel Grandi

Visit Area: Húsavík
Húsavík is considered to be the “whale capital of Iceland” and is located along the coast of Skjálfandi Bay. According to legend, this was the first place in Iceland to be settled by the Norse. Take in the city’s vibrant houses and quaint harbor.

Visit the Settlement Museum and dive into the origins of Icelandic heritage, including the works of the famous Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson. Arrive back to Reykjavik and take a dip in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the serene Sky Lagoon overlooking the ocean. Come together this evening for a farewell dinner at a restaurant featuring Icelandic cuisine.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Whale Watching
Húsavík is considered one of the best places to see many different kinds of whales. Pilot whales, Bottlenose, Sperm, Minke, Humpbacks, Sei, Fin and Blue whales can all be seen on an exciting whale watching boat excursion. There’s nothing quite like seeing these gentle giants just a short distance away.

Head home having uncovered Iceland’s adventurous side.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Goðafoss Waterfall