Small group tour perfect for first time visitors to Iceland that want to see the highlights in all areas of Iceland. Travel along the famous Ring Road and also take in the incredible sights of Snæfellsnes peninsula. This tour will take you to steep fjords, ragged-toothed mountains that feel as if they reach the sky. See black sand beaches, lava fields and charming fishing villages, soaking up the Icelandic culture with your expert local guide.

Highlights

• Travel along the famous ring road, road number 1
• Small group experience
• Visit some of the most known sights in Iceland along the way
• Activity packed itinerary including glacier hike on Vatnajökull Glacier (Or Vatnajökull Crystal Cave Oct-Apr), hike in Egilsstaðir, whale watching in Dalvík with options of bathing in Mývatn Nature Baths and Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival

Welcome to Iceland! You will be transported from Keflavík International Airport to your hotel in Reykjavík. Enjoy an evening at leisure.

Overnight stay at 3 star hotel in Reykjavík, including breakfast.

Day 2 - The Golden Circle and South Coast

The day starts with pick up from your accommodation, or a nearby pick up point in Reykjavík. The three attractions of the famous Golden Circle are first up on the agenda. Þingvellir National Park is a very important place in the heart of every Icelander. In the year 930 CE/AD the Icelandic people established their parliament here, this is the oldest continually operating parliament in the world. There is more to Þingvellir than great history, this place is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, for its historical, geological and cultural importance. You will see Þingvallavatn, home to Silfra fissure, which delves down between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The cliff of the rift valley runs right through the National Park.

The geothermally active hot spring area at Geysir is another Golden Circle attraction. Great Geysir, which gave us the English word geyser to describe this sort of hot spring, is no longer active. Strokkur, a nearby hot spring, spouts spectacular torrents of superheated water every 5 to 10 minutes. A visit to Gullfoss waterfall will complete our Golden Circle, feel the force as the falls thunder through the high rugged canyon dropping 32 m in two stages.

Next, we take a scenic drive along the beautiful south coast, stopping at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Here you have a unique opportunity to experience the power and wonder of nature. Don´t just view these falls from a distance – walk the pathway which takes you right behind the elegantly falling cascade. We head onwards to the scenic Skógafoss waterfall, here the water crashes down over the former sea cliffs, those cliffs extend for many kilometers marking the coastline of long ago. Watch out for rainbows – the incredible spray makes Skógafoss an ideal spot to catch single or double rainbows! The final stop of the day is at Reynisfjara black sand beach, home of the legendary Reynisdrangar peaks, said to be the figures of two trolls who were turned into stone when they faced the morning sun! You will also see the incredible basalt column cave as you wander along the beach. After a full day of sightseeing we make our way to a country hotel in the area around Vík, a charming south coast village.

Overnight stay at Hotel Dyrhólaey or similar, including breakfast.

Day 3 - Glaciers Hike, Black Sand Beaches and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

We enjoy breakfast and check out. Today, we continue our journey along the south coast in the direction of Skaftafell and Vatnajökull National Park. Vatnajökull glacier, Hvannadalsnúkur, the highest peak in Iceland, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and many other natural treasures can be found within this 13,600 km2 protected wilderness area. Iceland has three national parks: Þingvellir, Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull – on this tour you will see them all.

We will stop at Skaftafell for a glacier hike led by one of our certified glacier guides. Equipped with crampons and all the necessary glacier equipment you are led onto a Vatnajökull outlet glacier. These glacier tongues/outlet glaciers are amazing places, with crevasses, moulins which can drill down to the base of the glacier and a plethora of amazing vistas for you to explore. Our guides love to be asked questions, so don’t be too shy to ask!

From October to April, we replace the glacier hike with an exhilarating journey through Vatnajökull's crystal ice cave. Each winter, the glacier meltwater freezes into new ice caves that wind their way through the glacier's heart. See Iceland's mighty ice caps from the inside!

After your bracing glacier hike, our cozy minibus will whisk you away to experience yet more glacial magic at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. As we approach from the main highway you will glimpse a procession of mystically floating icebergs, these often towering and amazingly shaped chunks of ice broke free from the edge of the retreating Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Occasionally, you will see seals frolicking in the enormous lake in between these stunning ice sculptures. So, you feel as if you are in a film scene? Well, actually you are! Footage of a couple of James Bond movies and other films has been shot here.

Those icebergs, some with glittering blue ice, make their way to the sea at the Diamond Beach, a black sand beach just a few minutes walk from the Glacier Lagoon. The icebergs which been brought ashore by the tide come to rest here. Usually, you will see quite a few sitting like translucent diamond jewels or giant shining clear quartz crystals on the coal-black sand. Some people call this the Crystal Beach!

In the evening we will lay down our heads at a comfortable accommodation near Höfn, a very pleasant seaside town and the lobster capital of Iceland.

Overnight stay at Hofn-Inn or similar, including breakfast.

Day 4 - The Eastfjords

We leave the Vatnajökull National Park area behind but the sensational scenery certainly continues! We follow the twisting and turning roads, flanked by the coast on one side and majestic mountain peaks on the other, through the East Fjords to Egilsstaðir. This picturesque town on the banks of the Lagarfljót River is home to the legend of Largarfljótasormurinn, the Largarfljót worm. Tales of the giant Largarfljót worm, which is said to reside in the lake and show itself from time to time, are firmly established within Icelandic folklore tales.

Along the way we stop off at Djúpivogur, a small and really remote fishing village. The North Atlantic waves wash over the black sandy beach and a rich birdlife thrives, most Icelandic birds can be spotted around the area. There are more birds than people, Djúpivogur is home to just over 1100 people, as a community they have a reputation for being welcoming and strongly committed to eco issues.

We also do a 3 hour easy hike to Hengifoss, one of the highest waterfalls in Iceland, the falls drop into a really striking gorge. Look out for the layers of red strata threading their way through the cliff walls around the waterfall. This cliff was forged in the fire of many mighty volcanic eruptions, those layers of volcanic ash and basaltic lava developed over thousands of years. On our hike today we have not one, but two scintillating waterfalls for you to enjoy! The towering cascade of the Litlanesfoss waterfall is framed by giant hexagonal basalt columns, a truly impressive and photogenic sight.

After our hike we make our way to our accommodation for the night in the picturesque area around Egilsstaðir.

Overnight stay at Hotel Valaskjalf or similar, including breakfast.

Day 5 - Northern Exploration: Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss Waterfall

Today is filled with stunning North Iceland highlights. The drive up from Egilssaðir will take us through wild and remote landscapes, we will start from Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the world’s most enchanting basalt rock formations. then we will show you Möðrudalur, at 469 m the highest farm in Iceland, on our way to visit the magnificent Dettifoss waterfall. This is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, with an awesome flow rate of 193 m3/s (6,816 cu ft/s). The thundering Jökulsá á Fjöllum River drops 44 m (144 ft) through the rugged canyon. There is a vastness and a rawness to the nature around Dettifoss, where this great river and the glacial floods of the past have carved out imposing ravines.

Next, we head to the surreal Námaskarð geothermal area, filled with colorful mud pools and fumaroles wafting clouds of steam and hot gases. Staying on the theme of geothermal heat we will make a stop at Mývatn Nature Baths, giving you the opportunity to bathe in the hot spring pools. Bathing is an optional extra activity but we highly recommend you book it beforehand to reserve your spot! The entrance fee to the baths can be added when you book your tour or it can be paid on site. Those who don´t want to bathe can enjoy a stroll around this extraordinary lunar-like landscape or relax in the cafeteria. The geothermally heated water in the baths wells up through the earth, it is very rich in minerals, alkaline, and skin-soothing. No chlorine or other chemicals are added, they are just not needed.

Refreshed from the baths we continue to Hverfjall, a volcano crater, caused by an eruption 2500 years ago. We will also visit the Dimmuborgir lava formations, known as the ‘dark cities’, some of these lava forms will tower above us like fairytale giants. Dimmuborgir was formed when the roof of a giant lava tube collapsed. Although entirely natural, some formations may remind you of certain things. Can guess which one is known as The Church (Kirkjan)? We continue our drive around picturesque Lake Mývatn on the way to Akureyri, making a stop at the stunningly beautiful Goðafoss Waterfall. We will stay at a country hotel in the area around Akureyri, the second largest city in Iceland.

Overnight stay at country hotel, including breakfast.

Day 6 - Whale Watching and Akureyri

We start the day with a drive through Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, on a few departures there is time to make a short stop. On your way to the picturesque fishing town of Dalvík you will, in good visibility, get fabulous views of Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland. Your whale watching boat tour from Dalvík will take you across Eyjafjörður Fjord, chasing after whales, dolphins and other wonderful ocean life. Humpback whales, dolphins and porpoises are usually seen, occasionally we see seals and blue whales. You get the chance to try a little sea angling if you want. When we get back to beautiful Dalvík we barbecue the catch right on the harborside, giving you a taste of fish straight out of the ocean.

We continue to drive the scenic road sandwiched between the towering mountains of Iceland´s best ski resorts and the glorious fjord, taking us around the Tröllaskagi peninsula. We pass through charming villages and hamlets before stopping at Siglufjörður, in the early part of the twentieth century this village was known as the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic. People rushed to cash-in on the boom, and the town acquired a klondike-style gold-rush atmosphere. Today, the great shoals of herring are long gone, but the rich history and character of those times in Siglufjörður are very well-preserved. The villages around this peninsula will give you a wonderful feel for the kind of life lived in Icelandic places which seem to be falling off the edge of the world.

We travel onwards through farmlands with many fields of Icelandic horses, to Bifröst, a small university community. Your accommodation for the night will be at a country hotel in this area.

Overnight stay at Hotel Laugarbakki or similar, including breakfast.

Day 7 - West Iceland

Today we focus our attention on the area around Borgarfjörður in West Iceland. This area was voted one of the best travel destinations by Lonely Planet in 2016. Our first stop is at a volcano crater where we take a short hike to the top, in good visibility there are stupendous views over the lava fields, and the landscapes stretching way into the distance.

Your next interesting stop is very different! We make a visit to Deildartunguhver hot spring, this Borgarfjörður jewel is the most powerful hot spring in Europe, supplying most of the hot water utilised in the area. We will also take you to see Hraunfossar waterfall where the ice-cold water pours out of the lava in many thousands of rivulets, forming the very wide and picturesque falls. Onwards to a very different nearby waterfall, Barnafoss. The name of this very attractive waterfall means ‘Children´s Falls’, your guide will tell you all about the legend.

Your final stop of the day is at Reykholt, an important place in the history of Iceland, particularly in medieval times. We will show you Snorralaug, the hot spring pool which bears the name of Snorri Sturluson, the 12th/early 13th century scholar, lawyer, historian and saga writer. Stand by the pool where Snorri is reputed to have bathed and contemplate the threads of Icelandic history which were woven together here.

After a day of wonders you are driven through the very pleasant Borgarfjörður countryside, you are dropped off at your hotel in the Borgarnes area.

Day 8 - Snæfellsnes

Today, our expert Snæfellsnes guide will pick you up around 8 a.m. You'll spend a whole day exploring the magical Snæfellsnes Peninsula, its craggy cliffs, black pebble beaches, seabirds, and glacier mountains. We will drive you through the spectacular countryside with breathtaking mountains and coastal views. Stop at the charming seaside village of Arnarstapi, where you'll have the chance to visit the natural Miðgjá rock arch, then the 19th-century Búðakirkja church. For lunch, we'll stop at the village of Hellnar (food and drink not included).

Next, we head into Snæfellsnes National Park, where we will have the chance to stroll around the moss-covered lava landscapes and admire views of Snæfellsjökull Glacier. This glacier was featured in the work of the famous novelist Jules Verne. He chose this glacier for the entry point into the underworld when he wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth.

Onwards to the magnificent black pebble beach at Djúpalónssandur, framed by crazily shaped cliffs. You get time to explore the beach and even try your hand at the 'lifting stones' the fisherman used to lift these boulders to proclaim their strength. This coastline is magnificent, but it can also be treacherous. The remains of the British Trawler, Epine, which was shipwrecked here, are evidence of that.

On the way back to Reykjavík, you will be driven through legendary scenery. Your next stop will be at Kirkjufell. Many people say this is the most photographed Icelandic mountain, and you can also be a judge of that. In the evening, after a week of sensational sights and exciting adventures, we will drop you off in Reykjavík. We return to the city at around 8:00 p.m. We will drop you off at your original pick-up location.

Overnight stay at 3 star hotel, in Reykjavík including breakfast.

Day 9 - Departure for Home

You will be picked up to go to the airport about 3 hours before your flight. Depending on your flight time, you may have some time to explore Reykjavík or take a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

Optional Excursion: Visit to the Blue Lagoon
Enjoy the Blue Lagoon for 2-3 hours. You can book a treatment if you like, have a lunch at the Blue Lagoon or just relax in this wonderful spa. If you have a morning flight, you can do the Blue Lagoon on arrival (if flight times allow) as the lagoon is ideally located between Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík, a perfect way to start or end your holiday!

PLEASE NOTE: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible. Accommodations are subject to change.

Tour details

Departures: Daily, all year round
Group Size: Small group tour, 19 people max

The price is from £2,450* per person depending on the month of travel, based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
*Price is subject to availability

This tour includes:

• Return flights from the UK including 23kg luggage allowance, taxes and fees
• Bus transfer to and from Keflavik airport
• Fully escorted 7-day tour with English speaking guide
• 2 nights accommodation in Reykjavík, 3 star hotel with private facilities (option to upgrade to 4 star hotel in the City)
• 6 nights accommodation in the countryside as per itinerary, room with private facilities
• Daily breakfast
• Glacier Hike on Vatnajökull Glacier (or Vatnajökull's Crystal Ice Cave October-March)
• Hike at Egilsstaðir
• Whale Watching in Dalvík
• Financial Protection (ATOL)

Not included:

• Optional Excursions (eg. Vök baths and Blue Lagoon)
• Hotel upgrade in Reykjavík
• Extra nights in Reykjavík (pre and/or post tour)
• Travel Insurance
• Anything else not specifically listed under "this includes"