4 Day - Golden Circle, South Coast, Ice Cave, Active Volcano & Northern Lights | IS-AA-4CSI

The first day of our adventure will take us on the world-renowned Golden Circle Route – a trio of legendary attractions that are widely considered to be the best in Iceland.

We’ll begin at Thingvellir National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, due to its geological and historical importance. It’s the original location of Althingi – a dramatic glacial plain where a group of Viking nobles founded the first Icelandic Parliament in 930 AD. The modern parliament in Reykjavik retains its name – making it one of the oldest democratic institutions in the world. Thingvellir also hosts a seismic rift valley that marks the ever-expanding gap between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. A unique place that is the only land visible land border between two continents.

Our next stop will be the Geysir Geothermal area – famed for the bubbling geysers that have become synonymous with Iceland. We’ll see the, now dormant, Great Geysir – which was the first geyser to appear in the English language and gives them all their name. Alongside Strokkur – the most active geyser in the area – firing boiling torrents of water up to 30 meters into the air every few minutes or so. The powerful geothermal forces beneath Iceland’s surface have made it the country it is today, and the Geysir Geothermal area is the best way to see their incredible power in the flesh.   

The final stop on the Golden Circle Route is Gullfoss (the golden falls) – a stunningly beautiful two stage waterfall, that gets its name from the golden color its water takes as it cascades over the dark brown rock. Beneath it is an emerald valley and rainbows regularly form above it – making for an awe-inspiring scene.

We’ll spend the afternoon on Iceland’s South Coast – a place of volcanoes and glaciers that epitomizes the land of fire and ice. Our first stop will be the Seljalandsfoss waterfall – famed for its cylindrical cascade that thunders around 60 meters into a valley below. There is a secret cave hidden behind it and we’ll clamber into it – to view Seljalandsfoss from a totally different angle.

We’ll also stop at the equally impressive Skogafoss Waterfall – whose wider cascade tumbles down 60 meters into a pool below. We’ll climb up the meandering path next to the falls – for a spectacular vista over the entire area. Skogafoss also plays a prominent role in Icelandic myth and our guide will point out the two strange rock formations that are believed to be trolls who were petrified by the dawn. Some locals also believe that a Viking settler hid a treasure chest somewhere beneath the falls – offering fabulous wealth to the person who finds it.

By then everyone will be tired, and we will head to our countryside hotel in the charming town of Vik, to get some rest. If you visit during the winter, then it is a great place to see the flickering colors of the Northern Lights.

Our day begins with a hearty Icelandic breakfast before we head out on the road towards the dark volcanic sands of Reynisfjara Beach. There we’ll take in the stark contrast of the white-crested waves of the Atlantic Ocean as they wash against its jet-black sands. From the cliffside rises a cluster of basalt sea stacks, reminiscent of the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland. We’ll also see the Reynisdrangar basalt pillars, which rise like jagged peaks from the sea. Folktales say that they were once a trio of trolls who were turned to stone by the sun as they tried to drag a boat back to land.  

We’ll then make the scenic drive to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon – passing moss-carpeted lava fields, volcanically scarred deserts and some spectacular rock formations that stand as vivid reminders of volcanic eruptions over the years. By then, you'll be able to catch sight of the majestic Breidamerkurjokull Glacier, which unfurls like a tongue from Vatnajokull, the largest glacier in the whole of Europe.

The Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon lies in its shadow, famed for the glittering icebergs that float across its icy-blue surface. Many of them wash up on the nearby Diamond Beach, where they shine like beautiful diamonds against the black sands. Both places are breathtakingly beautiful and will leave you with memories you'll treasure forever.

Our final stop of the day will take us deep into the icy depths of Breidamerkurjokull Glacier to a mesmerizing ice cave that is as unique as it is beautiful. Iceland's ice caves usually form over the winter months. When the meltwaters from summer freeze, they creates huge pockets and beautiful patterns within the sapphire-blue ice. As this trip is highly weather dependent, your guide may decide to move it on the itinerary or to combine it with glacier hiking. 

We’ll spend the night in Skaftafell, and if it's winter, we may just see the Northern Lights. 

Day three kicks off with an adventure in a vast, icy wilderness. We’ll be hiking on the Falljokull Glacier, a living natural wonder that is constantly moving. The shifting ice carves out sinkholes, crevasses, moulins, ice ridges and other ice sculptures, molding a diverse and beautiful landscape that is unlike any other. We’ll pick our way through this awe-inspiring area as our friendly guide tells you more about how glaciers have helped to shape the land of fire and ice.

From there, we’ll begin the scenic journey back to Reykjavik – stopping at a number of different places along the way, depending on the weather. One of the best attractions is Fjadrargljufur Canyon, whose icy-blue streak of water is sandwiched between emerald slopes on both sides. This is a gorgeous and photogenic place that will inspire awe and wonder in equal measure.

We’ll drop you back in Reykjavik between 20-22:00 (8-10:00 p.m.), allowing you to chill in the city before our final day of adventures. 

On this final day you will Join us on once-in-a-lifetime experience to hike up to Geldingadalir to see an active volcanic eruption. This truly is an experience that you will never forget!

Eruptions are rare events, and they are very hostile in nature. This element of rarity, the sheer power, and the potentially destructive forces behind eruptions make them hypnotically fascinating. Not all eruptions are created the same, some spew ashes far up into the sky while others pump out molten magma. Think, liquid rocks!

For our final stop, we'll drive out to hunt magical Northern Lights. Our tour of the Northern Lights starts off with the thrill of the pursuit. Once your guide picks you up, be prepared for the hunt. You’ll drive out into the unparalleled beauty of a starry night. As the forecast changes daily, unfortunately, we can’t tell you in advance exactly where our quest for the aurora borealis will take us. But one thing is guaranteed–we will take you far away from the city lights! We could go to Hvalfjörður, Þingvellir, Reykjanes, or to some other rural area in South Iceland to escape light pollution. Traveling by minibus means we can get to offbeat locations that the big buses just can’t reach.

Return time: We will return to Reykjavík between 21:00 – 22:00 pm (9-10:00 p.m.)

Pick-up Information: Pick up is at 09:00 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.