8 days: Guided Iceland Circle

Private bus transfer with a guide from Keflavik international airport to the accommodation in Reykjavik.

Travel west, passing the town of Borgarnes and climbing the Grábrók volcano crater. In the afternoon, visit a natural history & seal museum in a small fishing village in Northwest Iceland and stroll around the local harbour. Further north, we stop at the turf church of Víðimýri, which has been extensively restored to its original form and is widely considered one of the purest and most beautiful examples of traditional Icelandic architecture. We continue along the scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland.

In the morning, we explore Akureyri, a charming town of 17000 inhabitants, visit the botanical garden and enjoy the panoramic view over Eyjafjörður fjord. In the afternoon, we travel to an important spot in Iceland’s history, Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. We continue to Lake Mývatn, known for its geological wonders and active bird life during summer. Next, we stop at the bizarre lava formations at Kálfaströnd, followed by a walk around the many pseudocraters and end an exciting day with a relaxing soak at Mývatn Nature Baths which contains a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms. The warm, soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike.

In the morning, we hike in a lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir, “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. After an optional lunch, we visit the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. Next, we head through the uninhabited highlands and moonlike surroundings to East Iceland. With some luck, we might spot an Arctic fox or see reindeer. The tour includes a detour to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park, from June to August.

It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords, and on the route, we visit an attractive stone and mineral collection. In the afternoon, we see Vatnajökull – Europe’s biggest glacier visible all over Southeast Iceland. Past the town of Höfn, we stop at Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, and we explore the extraordinary site and might see seals swimming in arctic waters. Next, you can walk on the black sandy beach where large icebergs get stranded. Depending on the season, optional boat trips are available. Finally, we travel along the southern part of the glacier Vatnajökull and spend time at Europe’s largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier.

A beautiful drive with many natural wonders awaits us today as we head across the Eldhraun lava field, cross the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. We stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara near Vík. In the small village of Skógar, there is Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. We continue to the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountain. An exciting trail goes behind the fall – if you are prepared to get wet! Further west, we stop at the LAVA centre in Hvollsvellir and learn about geology and volcanic power.

We explore classics today as we travel the route of the Golden Circle sights. We start the day at Friðheimar, where you learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Later on, we see steam from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive. There is a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur “the Churn”, which erupts at 5-7 minute intervals. Nearby, we continue to Gullfoss, “the golden falls”, a double waterfall that tumbles 32 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts travellers in summer and winter. Next, we travel inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Finally, as we return to Reykjavík, we will take you for a short city tour to show highlights of the world’s northernmost capital.

Private bus transfer without a guide from the accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik international airport.