6 Days Around Iceland Adventure

Please be ready at your pick-up location in Reykjavík at 08:00 am. The pick-up process takes up to 30 minutes, so you may have to wait a few minutes, depending on where you are in Reykjavik. The first day of this round trip is mainly focused on exploring the attractions of the famous Golden Circle.  

We visit Þingvellir National Park, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its geological and historical significance. Here, the Icelanders founded their historic Parliament in 930 CE, Alþingið, one of the first democratic governments in the world. The Law Speaker had one of the most dramatic ‘platforms’ in the world to proclaim the law. The cliff of the mighty rift valley stood at his back. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs right through Þingvellir. The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continue to edge apart, slowly widening the rift valley. The Geysir hot spring area will be our next destination.

Geysir is the spouting hot spring that gave its name to this phenomenon when the English word ‘geyser’ was adopted. Watch the Strokkur hot spring erupt with incredible jets of hot water and steam every few minutes and see the bubbling fumaroles. The mighty Gullfoss waterfall is the final Golden Circle attraction. See the dreamy golden-hued mist rising from the spray as the Hvítá (the White River) pours down from Langjökull (the Long Glacier) roaring through the rugged canyon. Gullfoss drops 32 m in two stages.

On the way to our accommodation at a country hotel near Kirkjubæjarklaustur, we will visit both Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a very unusual waterfall because it is possible to walk behind the cascade, giving a unique vantage point.

We explore the atmospheric Reynisfjara black sand beach with the glorious Reynisdrangar peaks and visit the basalt column cave.

Your hotel for the night will be close to the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a fantastic base to catch the mesmerizing Northern Lights during September and April months if conditions are right.

We pass the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which houses one of the most famous and feared volcanoes beneath its ice, the capricious Katla. You will get a glimpse of the great fire maestro in good visibility! Witness the results of previous volcanic eruptions as we drive across the Eldhraun lava field to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a true oasis with green birch forests and lush vegetation, a verdant jewel amid the rough black sand desert.

We will take a three-hour glacier hike, guided by our specialist glacier guide, on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. We replace the glacier hike with a magical journey through the Crystal Ice Cave from October to April.  

Next on the agenda is the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Gaze in wonder at the magical iceberg-filled lagoon and see the famous Diamond Beach, its coal-black sands peppered with the glittering crystal, blue/white icebergs which have been washed ashore. You will feel you are in a film scene, and in a way, you will be - footage of James Bond and other movies has been shot here.  

In the evening we will lay down our heads at comfortable accommodation in the South East area. Your guesthouse is a great spot to watch the Northern Lights from September through April.

Today, we will explore the East Fjords of Iceland. We continue threading our way along the coastline, driving some narrow roads around Hvalnes, a magnificent and remote peninsula, and the stretch around the Þvottárskriður landslides between Lóns and Álftafjarðar.

We will stop at Djúpivogur, a traditional small fishing village that is also home to a fine outdoor sculpture, Eggin í Gleðivík (meaning The Eggs of Merry Bay).

Afterward, we will spend the rest of the day in a live history center that offers hiking, biking, horse riding activities, accommodation, exhibitions, restaurant & spa. Located halfway between Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull, and Lake Lagarfljót, the Wilderness Center is an authentic Icelandic experience. Its exhibitions cover a 3-kilometer trail showcasing life in and near the wild highlands.

*You will be able to access the museum’s exhibitions free of charge during your stay.  

When you arrive, you'll walk over an old wooden bridge, stepping into a journey through time. Your accommodation will be in historic buildings, and you will enjoy meals made from fresh local ingredients in an open kitchen.

After exploring, get ready for soaking in the hot spring spa! It's like stepping back in time to when the Vikings used to take baths. The bathhouse is built in an authentic style, with a traditional hot spring made from stones, just like the ones our ancestors used.

Today, we are on our way to the north of the country. From Egilsstaðir, we drive to Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the world’s most enchanting basalt rock formations, and head over the wilderness.*

We then explore the mystical landscapes around Lake Mývatn, a designated nature reserve with lava fields and volcanic craters. In the area, we will visit the Myvatn Nature Baths, a famous geothermal spa in the Northeast (optional extra). You will have the opportunity to relax in the warm geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2.500 meters, heated by underground volcanic activity. Soak away your cares and let the mineral-rich waters work their magic on your body and soul.

From here, it just gets more surreal – we head to the steaming lunar landscapes of the Námaskarð geothermal area. See boiling hot springs, steaming fumaroles, and technicolor bubbling mud pots. The wonders continue when we visit the fantastic Dimmuborgir formations, known as the Dark Castles!

The vast and dreamy crescent-shaped waterfall - Goðafoss, is the last stop of the day before we journey to Eyjafjörður, an outstandingly beautiful fjord with high mountains.

Our accommodation for the night will be at a country hotel in Akureyri. You will also have a chance to explore the fishing town in the north. From September to April, you can head out from your cozy guesthouse at night to see the Northern Lights.

*Please be aware that during winter, road conditions may prevent access to Stuðlagil. However, we'll make sure to offer other exciting activities for you to enjoy. Your safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. Thank you for your understanding.

Occasionally, there is time to make a short stop at Akureyri, the Capital of the North. We always drive through this charming town, passing through the mesmeric scenery along Eyjafjörður (the Island Fjord) on the way to the little fishing town of Dalvík.  

Your whale-watching boat trip departs from the traditional working harbor. During the 3-hour boat trip, you can expect to spot humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, and sometimes even a majestic blue whale showing up in the bay. If you are lucky, you might see one!

When we step ashore, we drive to Siglufjörður, a charming fishing village with a rich history. In the early 20th century, there was a gold rush atmosphere when the remote community became the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic.

Your journey around Tröllaskagi (the Troll Peninsula) will show you some of Iceland's best ocean scenery and skiing areas. The characterful small villages on this peninsula will give you a good insight into how life was/is lived in the remote Icelandic villages. Our drive will take us through some thriving agricultural areas on our way to Laugarbakki.  

Your accommodation for the night will be at a small hotel in Laugarbakki (or similar). 

In the winter evenings, you can slip away from the hotel to chase the spectacular Northern Lights, a breathtaking light show, painting the sky with green, purple, and blue hues (September-April).

On this, our final day, we will find ourselves in West Iceland – an area that Lonely Planet voted as one of the best destinations. Your day will begin with a short hike up to Grábrók, a volcano crater. There are fabulous views over the lava field and the whole area on a clear day. Borgarfjörður has many splendid sights, and we will focus on these today. We stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring, the legendary waterfall, Barnafoss (the Children´s Waterfall), and the Hraunfossar cascade, the atmospheric very low and wide falls where the water emerges, literally straight out of the lava field.

Next on the agenda is the historic and picturesque site of Reykholt, home to Snorri Sturluson, the Icelandic historian, lawyer, politician, poet, and author of some Icelandic Sagas. See Snorralaug, Snorri´s pool, dabble your fingers, and feel the water temperature in the place where Snorri is likely to have bathed!

We will drive around the scenic fjord, Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord), on our way back to Reykjavík. We expect to arrive in the capital city around 5 – 6 pm.

• Solo travelers are required to choose the single room supplement when booking if they want a guaranteed private room. If the single room fee is not paid, they might be roomed with another solo traveler of the same gender.
  
  
• Sometimes, we may need to change glaciers or glacier outlets on this tour due to various reasons, including weather conditions. Glacier outlets used on this tour include Svínafellsjökull, Falljökull and Sólheimajökull, all amazing and unique glaciers, equally as beautiful. From October to April, we replace the glacier hike with a journey through the Crystal Ice Cave.
  
  
• Hotels can change during your trip.

Pick-up is at 08:00 am from your hotel or a nearby meeting point in Reykjavík. Picking everyone up can take up to 30 minutes, your patience is much appreciated. Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.