Guided Iceland Circle Tour 7 nights

Day 1: Welcome to our beautiful Iceland

WELCOME to ICELAND

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik Airport to Icelandair Hotel Natura in Reykjavík or similar where you spend the night. We provide ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own. Dinner suggestions as well!

Driving distance: 50 km/31 mls

Day 2: Volcano Crater, Seals, Fjords and Mountains.

VOLCANO CRATER, SEALS, FJORDS & MOUNTAINS

A 09:00am meet with the tour guide, departing from Icelandair Hotel Natura. The group will head west, through the town of Borgarnes and then stopping to hike the Grábrók volcano crater. Continuing in the afternoon there is a visit  Hvammstangi, a small fishing village in Northwest Iceland. Further north the tour stops 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 driving along scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. The tour stops overnight in Akureyri, where you have a chance to explore the town from the hotel's central location.

Driving distance: 425 km/264 mls

Day 3: Akureyri. The capital of North Iceland

THE CAPITAL OF NORTH ICELAND, LAKE MÝVATN & GEOTHERMAL BATHS

In the morning we explore Akureyri, a charming town of 17000 inhabitants, visiting the botanical garden and enjoying the panoramic view over Eyjafjörður fjord. In the afternoon we travel to an impressive and prominent spot in Iceland's history, Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. We continue to Lake Mývatn which is known for its geological wonders and active bird life during summer. We stop at the bizarre lava formations at Kálfaströnd followed by a walk around the many pseudo-craters and end an exciting day with a relaxing soak at Mývatn Nature Baths that contains a unique blend of minerals, silicates, and geothermal micro-organisms. The warm, soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike. The overnight location is either at Sel-Hotel Mývatn or similar. It may be possible to see the Northern lights during wintertime, although this depends on weather.

Driving distance: 120 km/75 mls

Day 4: Lava, hotsprings and the East.

LAVA LABYRINTH, HOT SPRINGS & TRAVEL EAST

Spend the morning in a lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir, or "the dark castles", hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who, according to Icelandic folk stories, are said to live there. After lunch, we visit the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. We head through the uninhabited highlands, and surroundings that eerily resemble the Moon's surface, to East Iceland. With some luck, we might spot the native Arctic fox or see reindeer. From June to August the tour includes a detour to Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. The overnight location is either at Icelandair Hotel Hérað or Álfheimar Guesthouse in Borgarfjorður-Eystri.

Driving distance: 250 km/155 mls

Day 5: East Fjords

FJORDS, GLACIER, AND ICE

The day is dedicated to the dramatic fjord landscape of East Iceland, with tiny fishing villages and winding roads. We visit Petra's stone and mineral collection, an impressive exhibition of a lifetime of collecting. The afternoon is spent admiring Vatnajökull, Europe's biggest glacier (covering up to 14% of the country!), which spans a vast area of Southeast Iceland. We spend the night in Höfn, the aptly named town which translates to "Harbour".

Driving distance: 260 km/161 mls

Day 6: Vatnajokull National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach and South Coast.

SOUTH COAST

Glacier Lagoon is the first stop of the busy day. A beautiful scene of floating icebergs and blue waters lies before you, and there is the exciting possibility of spotting seals! Optional boat trips are available at this location, to fully experience the magic of the lagoon. This is included in the itinerary for May - September 2021. Also nearby is the famous Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash up onto the black sand, and glitter like diamonds, hence the name. The group then continues on to explore the southern part of the Vatnajökull glacier, and the highest mountains in Iceland in the Vatnajokull National Park, Europe's second largest national park.

The afternoon tour consists of views of the South coast of Iceland, starting with the Eldhraun lava field, and the cliffs, glaciers, and waterfalls dominating this sandy desert landscape. The black sand beach of Reynisfjara near the town Vík is a truly remarkable place, although the water is to be appreciated from a distance, as the currents can be extremely dangerous. The next village, Skogar, is home to Skogafoss, is one of the most striking waterfalls in Iceland at 60m or 197ft tall. Seljalandsfoss, the next stop, is an equally unique waterfall, as you can walk the stony path behind its cascading force, as long as you don't mind getting wet!  In winter it may be possible to see the northern lights, depending on conditions.

Driving distance: 380 km/235 mls

Day 7: Icelandic Horses and Golden Circle

ICELANDIC HORSES & GOLDEN CIRCLE

The Golden Circle, the classic sights of Iceland, is the agenda for the day, as the day begins at Fridheimar with a live presentation of the Icelandic horse, its history, and its exceptional qualities. Fridheimar is also a geothermal greenhouse, growing produce that is sold around the country. A short drive later and we arrive at Geysir, the site of the original geyser that gives this phenomenon its name. Although the original one is now dormant, its 'younger brother', Strokkur, is very active, erupting every 5-10 minutes. The Golden Falls, or Gullfoss, which spills over 34m, or 111ft, into the powerful river of Hvítá, is a popular sight in both summer and winter. If you're lucky and you have some sunshine, it may be possible to see a rainbow or two through the spray produced by this mighty waterfall, making these falls the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! The day continues inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the site of the first parliament in Iceland. The day ends with a city tour of Reykjavik, the northernmost capital in the world. In winter, in good conditions, it might be possible to book evening tours at the hotels to see the Northern Lights.

Driving distance: 160 km/99 mls

Day 8: Departure - Reykjavik International Airport

DEPARTURE HOME

Individual transfer by Flybus airport shuttle to Keflavík Airport.

DAILY DRIVING: Total mileage without airport transfer is 1,665 km (1,032 miles), which is an average of 278 km (172 miles) per day. You spend about 4 hours per day on the bus, depending on road conditions, traffic, and daily distances. On some days the driving might be longer than on some other days.

NOTE: During the off-season, from September to May, in rare cases, a change of itinerary might be necessary especially for winter programs in Iceland, should snow, road and weather conditions not allow to follow the scheduled itinerary, and certain outdoor activities/day trips might be canceled. In this case, no refund will be given, but we will try to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

Driving distance: 50 km/31 mls