7 Days Around Iceland & Into the Glacier Adventure

Our journey starts in the beautiful capital - Reykjavik. After an early pick-up, we’ll head straight to the famous Golden Circle. This travel route consists of three main attractions. The first on the list is Thingvellir National Park. There, you’ll walk in the Rift Valley between the North American and Eurasian continents and uncover the site of the first Icelandic parliament. 

Next, we’ll drive to the geothermal area at Haukadalur Valley. It is known to be home to numerous hot springs and geysers, among which the best-known are Geysir and Strokkur. Once the most powerful water-spouting phenomenon in the world, the Great Geysir is now dormant, but his neighbor will not let you go without a show. Strokkur shoots high fountains of water every 4-10 minutes and holds the title of being the most active geyser in the whole country. You will see it live, bursting right in front of your eyes!

We will wrap up our Golden Circle explorations with a visit to the Gullfoss Waterfall - a 105-foot (32 m) two-tiered giant, and continue our journey to the South Coast. There, we’ll stop by two other picturesque falls. You will walk behind the massive Seljalandsfoss and admire the rainbows forming over the mighty Skógafoss. 

The final stop of the day will be at Reynisfjara black sand beach. This otherworldly-looking place is infused with myths and tales, which your guide will reveal as you explore. While wandering around the beach, majestic basalt formations rise dramatically from the earth.

The accommodation for the night will be at a country hotel in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur. From September to April, you might be lucky to spot the Northern Lights at night.

On the second day, after the hearty breakfast, we’ll continue our journey along the diverse South Coast toward Skaftafell and Vatnajökull National Park. This vast 13,600 km² protected wilderness is home to numerous natural wonders. 

We will stop at Skaftafell Glacier to complete the glacier hike (Adventure Package), led by our certified glacier guide. You will receive all the necessary equipment, from crampons to helmets. As you set your foot on the glacier, you’ll be greeted with incredible icy vistas everywhere you look.

From October to April, the glacier hike is replaced with an exhilarating visit to the naturally forming Vatnajökull's crystal ice cave.

Next, we’ll head to the enchanting Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where you’ll witness a truly unique scene - hundreds of icebergs floating around the blue waters of the lake. These various-sized chunks of ice break from the edge of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Some of them float in the water, and some are washed to the shore, creating the stunning Diamond Beach. You will not see anything like that anywhere else!

We’ll spend the second night at a comfortable accommodation in the Southeast area. In winter, we’ll try to find the Northern Lights at night.

After breakfast on the third day, we will board our minibus and drive through the scenic roads of the East Fjords to Egilsstaðir. The town’s lake, Lagarfljót, is surrounded by the legends of the snake-like monster living in its waters.

On our way, we’ll stop at Djúpivogur fishing village, home to just over 1100 people and way more birds. The area is known to be one of the main bird’s nesting locations in summer. You can see various species of geese, waders, ducks, and the well-loved puffins here. 

Next, we’ll reach the Wilderness Center—an interactive historical center that offers many exciting activities like hiking or horse riding. It is also equipped with a cozy, authentic Spa open year-round. You can explore the wilderness exhibition, which showcases the life of Icelandic families from previous centuries. We will stay there for the night so you can enjoy a traditional dinner and relax in the Spa. In winter, it's a great location to watch the Northern Lights.

After departing from the Wilderness Center, we’ll head to Stuðlagil Canyon*, which features incredible basalt rock formations. They rise from the ground in the form of symmetrical columns that look like they’ve been hand-carved. 

After admiring this phenomenon, we’ll go to the Námaskarð geothermal area, where you will walk through the steam vents and sulfuric mud springs. The ground is colored in various shades of pink, bright yellow, gray-blue, and green.

As we pass through the Lake Mývatn region, you'll see volcanic landscapes, including the 37-square-kilometer lake with over 50 islands. This area features unique pseudo craters formed by steam explosions and is named after the many midges found along its shores. It's also a prime birdwatching spot, home to over 115 species. 

As an optional extra, you can relax at the popular Mývatn Nature Baths to soak in warm geothermal waters sourced from depths of up to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters). You can enjoy a drink from the swim-up bar and visit geothermal steam rooms.

After a relaxing visit to nature baths, we will continue to the Dimmuborgir lava formations. Translated as the “dark castles,” these volcanic columns formed over 2,300 years ago during a massive volcanic eruption. The most famous formation is Kirkjan—the Church. We will walk to it, and you will learn how it got its name. 

On our way to Akureyri, we will stop at Goðafoss, one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls. This stunning waterfall drops 39 feet (12 meters) over a curved cliff and has paths leading to several viewpoints, giving you great angles to take pictures. The name "Goðafoss" means "Waterfall of the Gods," and it’s linked to a story about Iceland's conversion to Christianity in the year 1000.

The last stop for the day will be the fishing town of Akureyri, nicknamed the "Capital of North Iceland." We will stay there for the night, and if the sky is clear in winter, your guide can help you look for the aurora.

*Winter road conditions may block access to Stuðlagil, but we’ll offer equally exciting alternatives. Your safety comes first—thanks for understanding!

Prepare yourself because on the fifth day, we will go to Dalvik for the amazing whale-watching experience (Adventure Package). We will board the boat and look for the magnificent Humpback whales, porpoises, and dolphins. There is a chance you’ll see one of the whales breaching from the water!

After returning to the shore, we will continue to the charming coastal village of Siglufjörður. Once the “herring capital,” today the town is known for its historic importance and lovely multi-colored houses. 

We will continue our explorations around the Tröllaskagi Peninsula (the Troll Peninsula). Your guide will tell stories and the history of each attraction. Then, we will reach our place of rest and accommodation for the night, Laugarbakki. If it’s winter, we will help you with the Northern Lights hunt.

The sixth day will be dedicated to Borgarfjörður area in West Iceland. In 2016, Lonely Planet nominated it as one of the best travel destinations. Our first stop will be the volcanic crater Grábrók. The short hike to the top will open a stunning panorama over lava fields that stretch far away into the distance.

Next, we will visit Europe’s most powerful hot spring, Deildartunguhver. Its flow reaches 47 gallons (180 liters) per second, and most of it is used for hot water supply and heating the homes of surrounding cities. Here, you will also visit the historical place Reykholt. You will stand by the hot spring pool of Snorri Sturluson, an early-13th-century historian and saga writer.

In contrast to the warm hot springs, we will visit some ice-cold waterfalls. Hraunfossar Falls are numerous small cascades flowing down the lava rocks. The nearby Barnafoss is known for its dark history in folklore and the exceptionally beautiful contrast of the blue waters against the lava rocks.

Afterward, we’ll drive to Sturlureykir farm for a chance to get to know the lovely Icelandic horses and interact with them up close.

Finally, after the wonder-filled day, we will take you to your hotel in Borgarnes for a good night's rest. And if you are not tired yet, we will show you how to look for the Northern Lights.

On the last day of our grand adventure, we will explore Iceland’s second-largest glacier from the Inside!

After leaving beautiful Borganes behind, we will head for a scenic drive to meet the second-largest glacier in the country - Langjökull. Once we get closer to the ice cap, we will switch to the large modified glacial vehicles that will take us to the tunnel entrance. Your guide will tell you about the glacier and its history of formation. Finally, we reach the entrance of the world’s largest ice tunnel. Together with the guide, you will then step into the world of ice and explore its walls. 

After this breathtaking experience, we will return to our minibus and have a picturesque drive back, full of emotions from previous adventures. We will reach Reykjavik in the early evening and drop you off at the original pick-up location.

Pick-up starts at 08:00 from your hotel or a nearby authorized meeting point in Reykjavik. It can take up to 30 minutes for everyone to be picked up. Your patience is appreciated.

Available pick-up points: Arctic Adventures’s pick-up list.

• Solo travelers have to choose the single room supplement if they want a private room. Otherwise, they might be accommodated with another solo traveler of the same gender.
  
  
• Sometimes, due to weather conditions, we may need to change the glaciers or glacier outlets on this tour. Glacier outlets might include Svínafellsjökull, Falljökull, and Sólheimajökull, all equally as beautiful. 
  
  
• We replace the glacier hike from October to April with a journey through the Crystal Ice Cave.
  
  
• Hotels can change during your trip.
  
  
• Myvatn Nature Baths are not included in any package and must be paid for separately as an optional extra.
  
  
• During the booking process, you can rent sturdy hiking boots, a waterproof jacket, and pants. Please note that these items must be ordered in advance, as they are not available for rent on-site.

We cannot guarantee that the actual view during your visit will match the photographs since ice caves are a natural phenomenon that undergoes constant change. How they look may vary depending on the season, time of day, lighting, and other factors.