12-Day Iceland Discovery Tour

Pick-up starts at 8 am in Reykjavik at your hotel or one of our authorized pick-up locations.

Your first day in Iceland is all about admiring its beautiful nature and enjoying its pleasant vibes.

Your day starts with a visit to a 5,200-year-old underground Raufarhólshellir lava tube, where you’ll learn how the volcanoes created Iceland.

Next, take an easy walk around the Kerid crater and enjoy the spectacular view of the 3,000-year-old Kerid crater lake on the Golden Circle route in South Iceland. The lake is relatively shallow, between 7 and 14 meters (23-46 feet), depending on rainfall and other factors. The water is a unique and strikingly vivid aquamarine shade of blue, even when frozen in winter.

After lunch, we continue by visiting the Golden Circle attractions, including the historic Þingvellir National Park, home to one of the world’s first democratic parliaments. This geological wonder is where two great tectonic plates have slowly drifted apart, creating a rift valley, a sight that shouldn’t be missed. You'll see the greatness of the Gullfoss waterfall and feel its strong torrent of glacial water, sourced by Langjökull glacier, come down on you as a gentle and refreshing drizzle. Next, you’ll visit the site of the now inactive but still significant hot spring Geysir. Don’t worry, you’ll still get to witness the eruption of Strokkur, which bursts every few minutes.

You’ll spend the night at the accommodation on the South Coast.

Next on the agenda are the two best-known waterfalls on the South Coast, the extremely different but equally beautiful Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a very unusual waterfall because you can walk behind its cascade, facing a unique viewing point. Skógafoss is mysterious, vigorous and graceful, the cascade dropping into the calm river below. Mountain glaciers and famous volcanoes tower above this part of the coastline. On a clear day, the views are wonderful.

Today we’ll get a chance to see how diverse Icelandic nature is. First, we’ll visit the volcanic black sand beach of Reynisfara with its forceful waves and stunning Reynisdrangar basalt columns. These crazily shaped forms tower above the ocean waves, making it easy to see how a famous troll legend came to be linked to them.

Your journey will then take you across the Eldhraun lava field. Eldhraun means ‘fire lava’, the flow of fire-red glowing magma which formed this lava field was mighty. The last highlight of the day will be Fjadrargljufur, a stunning canyon close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur in the South East of Iceland.

You’ll spend the night at the accommodation on the South Coast.

In the morning, we explore Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a true oasis with green birch forests and lush vegetation, a verdant jewel amid rough black sand deserts.

It is also home to the Svartifoss waterfall, one of the most popular attractions in the area. We’ll take a gentle hike to see its extremely black basalt columns, an intense background for the white glaciers that dominate the area.

Your adventure continues at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. This place really is like nothing else you have ever seen, a true must-visit place. Often very large icebergs calve off the receding Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, a tongue of Vatnajökull. These surreal natural ice statues float across the continually growing and large lagoon. The icebergs head to Diamond Beach and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. When you see them shimmering on the coal-black sands, you’ll truly understand why this beach is named so. The memories you take away from today will be unforgettable.

You’ll spend the night at accommodation in the Höfn area.

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 Lón and Álftafjarðar.

From Höfn, we’ll drive a scenic route to Djúpivogur, a charming little fishing village in the wild and unspoiled East Fjords. See the famous sculpture work, Eggin of Gleðivík by Sigurður Guðmundsson. The name translates beautifully into English as ‘The Eggs of Merry Bay.’ This granite artwork represents the eggs of the 34 bird species which nest in the Djúpivogur area. You’ll get some time to look around and appreciate a great picture of traditional Iceland before traveling onwards, following the stunning Beruförður Fjord, then up across the country to the Egilsstaðir area.

It’s in the East that we are most likely to spot reindeer. When this happens, we always stop at the nearest safe place and enjoy a little reindeer gazing and photography. On this tour, we’ll always make the most of the opportunities which come up as we go on our way.

You'll spend the night at accommodation in the Egilstaðir area.

Today we are on our way to the north of the country. From Egilsstaðir, we drive over the wilderness around Möðrudalur, the highest farm in Iceland for generations and now the highest inhabited place and restaurant, at 469 m. We will stop at Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall.

Next up, we’ll take an easy walk to reach the 'echo rocks' or Hljóðaklettar, a collection of uniquely shaped basalt columns and arched caves.

Ásbyrgi is a 3,5 km (2,1 mi) long horseshoe-shaped glacial canyon in the Northeastern part of Iceland. It’s surrounded by extremely high cliffs reaching up to 90 meters (295 ft) and has a huge crag in the center at the open end called Eyjan or “the Island.”

We start the day in an exciting way with a whale-watching boat tour from Husavík, a small fishing town near Akureyri. The next adventure on our list is the geothermal paradise of Námaskarð. Get ready for boiling hot springs, steaming fumaroles, and technicolor-bubbling mud pots.

The wonders continue when we visit Dimmuborgir, a wonderland of stunning lava formations which will leave you feeling mesmerized even before you go to the enchanting and mystical Goðafoss waterfall. These graceful crescent-shaped falls on the Skjál-fandafljót river rate very highly on lists of favorite waterfalls in Iceland. This is the place where, after Iceland’s conversion to Christianity, the last Pagan Chieftain, known as the Goði, is said to have thrown his Pagan statues into the waterfall. Goðafoss means ‘the Waterfall of the Gods.’

Free morning in Akureyri, the Capital of the North and the biggest town you will see outside of Reykjavík during your trip around the Ring Road. It is well-known for its stunning fjord and mountain landscapes, wonderful downtown area, and great restaurants.

One of the stops is the 'Troll of Northwest Iceland' Hvítserkur, a 50-foot-high basalt rock stack. Its natural shape, created by elements, resembles a rhino standing in the sea.

The characterful small villages on this scenic peninsula will give you a good insight into how life was/is lived in the remote Icelandic villages. The evening drive will take you through some thriving agricultural areas on our way to the village of Laugarbakki.

The day begins in the picturesque village of Holmavik, which hosts the fascinating museum of witchcraft and sorcery.

The next stop is Hvítanes, one of Iceland’s largest easily accessible seal colonies, where many playful Harbour seals can be viewed from the shore nearby.

In the afternoon, we will see an observation platform at the top of the Bolafjall mountain with staggering views over the surrounding fjords.

Isafjordur is the largest town in the Westfjords. Isafjordur is known as the Capital of the Westfjords and is a trade, fishing, and tourism center. According to historical documents, the first settler arrived at Ísafjörður in the 9th century. The location was once a church site and a trading post for foreign merchants from the 16th century. The town didn’t start to form as it stands today until the 19th century.

Flateyri, with a population of around 200, sits in the 2km (6,561 feet)-deep fjord, Önundarfjörður. It is home to eccentric museums, tabletop mountains, and stunning, serene views.

Holt is a sweeping golden-sand beach and dune system that curls into the fjord. Látrabjarg bird cliff is Iceland’s largest and one of Europe's biggest seabird cliffs. It is also the westernmost point of Iceland and Europe.

We’ll walk on the Rauðisandu, a 10-kilometer (6-mile) red sand beach found in the south of Iceland's Westfjords, before hopping on a boat that’ll take us from the Westfjord Brjánslækur Ferry Station to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula’s Stykkishólmur Village. The ferry runs two times a day in summer and once a day in winter.

Today, we’ll see the very best of West Iceland in a single day.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland. It’s magical and spellbinding, with moss-cloaked lava fields, picturesque mountains, gorgeous black sand beaches, roaring ocean waves, charming little villages, and sea cliffs.

Our first highlight will be the epic "arrowhead" mountain Kirkjufell, on the northern side of Snæfellsnes peninsula. Rising 463 meters (1519 feet) out of the sea, this idyllic landmark stands tall above the fishing village. 

After soaking in the view of this unique natural treasure and its beautiful waterfalls, we'll continue along the coast of Snæfellsness.

Our next stop will be the dramatic black pebble beach of Djúpalónssandur, which offers astonishing sea views. Your guide will tell you fascinating stories of shipwrecks that lie on the beach.

Next, we’ll visit another, even smaller fishing village, Arnarstapi. There are few places as charming as this location, and here we’ll take a walk on the scenic coastline. While in town, you'll have the opportunity to visit Miðgjá stone bridge, a natural rock arch off the coast.

Just east of Arnastapi, we'll stop to admire Búðakirkja, the 19th-century church, and then head to see some cute seals at Ytri-Tunga.

On our final day, we’ll find ourselves in West Iceland. Borgarfjörður has many splendid sights, and we’ll focus on these today.

Stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring, the historical waterfall, Barnafoss, translated as 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.

Into the Glacier is the largest man-made ice tunnel in the world. Located inside Iceland's second largest glacier, Langjökull, it's been one of Iceland's top attractions since its inception in 2012.

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

Expect to arrive back in Reykjavik around 7 pm. We’ll drop you off at your hotel for a good night’s rest.

Please note

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.

Luggage allowance 

One small backpack and one piece of luggage up to 20kg (44 lbs) maximum. 

Each bag must have combined dimensions of less than 158cm (62in). 

Extra luggage must be stored at the BSI Bus terminal or other storage in Reykjavik (charges may apply). You can not bring it with you.

Pick-up 

Pick-up is at 8:00 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’ pick-up list.

Cancellation policy: Cancellations must be made at least 14 days prior to arrival to receive a 90% refund. Modifying or shortening your stay is permitted but may result in penalty charges. 

Please keep in mind that Arctic Adventures reserve the right to alter the itinerary and/or take different routes due to weather and/or road conditions. Also, due to the limited availability of hotels in Iceland, we may need to rearrange the itinerary. Nevertheless, our experienced tour operators always aim to make sure you get the best possible experience despite this.

Send us an email if you have further questions: info@adventures.is