Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Reykjavik
Arrival at Keflavik airport. Transfer on your own. (optional transfer add-on available)
Day at Leisure — Add a Blue Lagoon Visit package on your to hotel or visit one of the neighborhood geothermal pools in the city center. Take a stroll in the old city center, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cozy café. Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants.

Overnight in Reykjavik

Day 2: The Westman Islands  (approx. distance: 170km / 106miles)
Amazing Waterfall – Lava Fields – Volcanic Aftermath – Magnificent Lava Fields

Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and walk out to the area where your tour coach is waiting. Drive along the South Shore, one of Iceland’s most volcanic regions. Pass alongside farmlands built in the shadow of towering volcanic mountains. You’ll see many signs of how the volcanoes of the area have powerfully altered the landscape. If the skies are clear, you may even catch views of two of Iceland’s most famous volcanoes: Hekla (last eruption 2000) and Eyjafjallajokull (last eruption 2010).
In Hvollsvollur town, visit the LAVA center, an interactive, high-tech exhibition about volcanoes and earthquakes and how they have shaped Iceland. It’s a perfect introduction to the geological wonders you’ll see during your tour. Next visit the impressive Seljalandsfoss waterfall. If you’re up for an adventure and cool experiences you can take the trail that leads behind the waterfall.
Travel along the farmlands of the south coast to Landeyjahofn harbor. Hop onboard a local ferry for a 30-minute trip to the Westman Islands. Enjoy the ride and the view of volcanic islands and seabirds. Your destination is Heimaey Island, the largest of the Westman Island archipelago. Life here is quite a bit different from the “mainland” Iceland, and you’ll discover some of the unique culture and history on a drive around the area.
Visit windy Storhofdi Point with its fantastic views over the area. (During mid-May through the beginning of August you might also see puffins here.) Take a walk up to the crater of a volcano that erupted only three decades ago. The view from up here and over the sea and islands is simply stunning! (Make sure your camera is charged up and ready!)
Next, take a trip back in time and visit Eldheimar Museum. You’ll learn about the catastrophic 1973 eruption that poured lava over many houses on Heimaey and changed the residents’ lives forever. You’ll see where lava-covered houses and where grass and moss now grows among the lava. The volcanic flows also created an amazing time capsule; wandering through Eldheimar gives you a peek into Icelandic daily life in the early 1970s.
The rest of the afternoon is open for you to explore the island on your own. Walk along the harbor and check out the 17th-century fortress built to protect the islands from pirate raids. Catch some interesting and timeless photos of a Viking-style stave church built in the year 2000. Take a swim in the public swimming pool, which uses geothermally warmed seawater. Soak in the vibes of the charming and lively fishing town, home to a micro-brewery, and several restaurants known for great seafood.

Overnight in the Westman Islands. Dinner on your own.

Day 3: South Shore – Skogar – Vik  (approx. distance: 120km / 75miles)
Amazing Waterfall – Unforgettable Glacier Experience – Black Sand Beaches

Breakfast at your hotel. Yesterday’s focus was on volcanoes. Today the focus is on glaciers! Take the morning ferry back from the Westman Islands and continue your exploration of the south coast. Start with a visit to the photogenic Skogafoss waterfall, where legends say an ancient treasure is hidden. The waterfall also makes the perfect backdrop for a selfie.
Soon you will be in the area of Myrdalsjokull Glacier. Visit Solheimajokull, a glacier outlet flowing from Mydralsjokull glacier. Solheimajokull gives you a fantastic opportunity to discover glaciers up close. You can choose one of two unforgettable glacier experiences (Both activities are great for beginners; no previous experience is needed).
Glacier Hike- Strap on crampons, pick up an ice axe, and follow an expert glacier guide onto Solheimajokull glacier. You’ll explore the glacier’s surface, discovering amazing ice formations, and learn interesting facts about how glaciers form. | Duration: 2 – 2,5 hours, 1 – 1,5 hours on the ice) | Included: Guided hike and all necessary safety equipment (crampons, ice axe, and safety harness) | Notes: Minimum age for the tour is 8 years old and a minimum shoe size of European 34 (U.S. 25) • Hiking boots are essential for this tour
Glacier View Kayaking - Enjoy Solheimajokull from a different angle on an easy kayak tour. Paddle a special sit-on-top kayak in a natural lagoon that flows out from Solheimajokull glacier. Enjoy views of the glacier you can only see from the water. |Included: Guided kayak trio and all necessary safety equipment | Duration: 2,5 hours, 1 – 1,5 hours in a kayak) | Note: minimum age for kayaking is 12 years old

Afterward, you’ll head to the magical black sands of Reynisfjara beach. You’ll witness powerful waves and amazing basalt column structures carved by the power of the sea. Walking along the beach and hearing the thundering waves is a reminder of nature’s power.
Head to the village of Vik for your overnight. Vik has become a base for a variety of activity tours. This evening you might like to try a Zip Line adventure or a horseback ride along the black sand beach. We’re happy to book these tours for you; simply let us know at booking time.

Overnight stay in Vik. Dinner is on your own.

Day 4: Vik – Skaftafell – Jokulsarlon (approx. distance: 400km / 249miles)
Volcano and Glacier Oasis – Europe’s Largest Glacier – Glacial Lagoon with Icebergs

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. Vatnajokull National Park covers 14% of Iceland’s surface, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Throughout the day you’ll also have views of the massive Vatnajokull glacier.
Start the day by crossing Eldhraun, the largest single flow of lava ever to flow on the face of the Earth. The cataclysmic eruption happened in 1783-1784 AD and affected the climate across mainland Europe. Your tour vehicle then crosses a landscape of black sand plains and braided rivers created when glacier-capped volcanoes erupted. Visit Skaftafell, a beautiful glacier-ringed valley in Vatnajokull National Park. The contrast of black volcanoes, silvery glaciers, and small green forests is strikingly beautiful. Continue to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon to see floating icebergs and maybe a curious seal or two. Spend a few moments here taking in this unforgettable site. Nearby is the Diamond Beach, a black sand area, where broken bits of icebergs come to rest before they eventually drift to the sea. Now it’s time to enjoy the beauty of ice and water even more with a boat trip! Head to the Iceberg Lagoon, another (and more tranquil) glacier lagoon in the area. Take a Zodiac boat tour amid the floating icebergs, viewing the different shapes and shades of blue. You’ll also surely enjoy the guide’s interesting insights about the glacier and the area’s history and nature.

Return to Vik for your overnight. Dinner and overnight stay in Vik.

Day 5: Gullfoss – Geysir – Thingvellir – Reykjavik (approx. distance: 295km / 183miles)
Lively Geysers – Golden Falls – National Park with Geological Wonders

Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the Golden Circle region, perhaps Iceland’s most famous natural wonders. Start off by heading for the Geysir geothermal field. The very earth steams with volcanic heat. Underground hot springs shoot from the earth as geysers. The most famous spouting hot spring is Strokkur, which shoots high in the air every few minutes. But there are many other smaller yet very interesting geysers and bubbling mud pools (one of our personal favorites is the hard-working, tiny “Geysir Litli.”
Travel onwards to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. Gullfoss is created by a glacial river, Hvita, that thunders over two ledges into a deep canyon. Several footpaths lead around the falls, each giving you a different view.
The final stop of this amazing day is Thingvellir National Park, where the Viking-age parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. Thingvellir is where Iceland became a nation, and many important decisions and historical events happened here. Thingvellir is also a fascinating place geologically; the North American and European tectonic plates meet, allowing you to walk between continents.
After some time to explore the wonders of Thingvellir, head back to Reykjavik, where your guide bids you farewell.

Overnight stay in Reykjavik. Dinner is on your own.

Day 6: Farewell to the Land of Fire and Ice

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer on your own to the international airport for your departure flight.  (optional transfer add-on available) 
We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight. 

EXTENSION OPTION - Day 6: Snaefellsnes (approx. distance: 445km / 277miles)
Seacoasts – Fishing Villages – Legendary Mountains

Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your guide and tour vehicle at your hotel or the nearest City Tour Bus Stop (just a short walk from your hotel). Depart Reykjavik, traveling northwest via an undersea tunnel through Hvalfjordur (Whale Bay) on your way to the rugged coastline Snaefellsnes Peninsula.  The road leads to Borgarfjordur, a scenic and historical area of West Iceland.
The Eldborg volcanic crater is the gateway to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” Snaefellsnes will show you an astonishing variety of natural landscapes that can be seen in Iceland, but in one area. This is part of the remote and tranquil Snaefellsjokull National Park, named after the peninsula’s magnificent glacier-crowned volcano (last eruption: 250 AD). The mountain is said to be protected by a benevolent spirit, and you’ll surely feel recharged as you drive through this beautiful park.
Make a stop at the magnificent columnar basalt rock formations at Arnarstapi, as well as the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. Visit a beach with round lava pebbles and learn about the fisherman’s challenge that took place here in the old days.
You’ll visit secluded and charming fishing villages such as Hellisandur and Grundarfjordur as you head along the northern peninsula.  View Iceland’s most photographed mountain, Kirkjufell, and its surrounding fjord teeming with herring and orca whales. 

After an amazing day return to Reykjavik for your overnight. Dinner is on your own.

EXTENSION OPTION Day 7: Departure

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer on your own to the international airport for your departure flight.  (optional transfer add-on available) 
We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight. 

Notes:
–Each morning, your tour coach will depart from the hotel after breakfast, and your tour vehicle will generally arrive at your next night’s accommodation in the late afternoon.
–Each day there generally will be no more than 45 minutes to one-hour driving between each tour stop.
–Tour Operator reserves the right to alter routes without prior notice, due to road conditions