Classic Iceland Circle

Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer to the hotel.

Optional activity: Stop at the Blue Lagoon for 2 hours - $84 per person
The stop includes entrance to the Blue Lagoon, silica mud mask, use of towel and 1 drink of your choice

 Please note guaranteed early check-in is not included in the price.  Most hotels begin check-in around 14:00 (2:00pm). 

Overnight at Reykjavik Natura Hotel

We start our day with breakfast at the hotel and a short city tour of Reykjavik.

After 40 minute drive from Reyjavik, we stop for 2 hours:

Optional activity: Eldhestar Horse Riding (1 hour) - $80
This tour in the Icelandic countryside takes 1 hour. It takes us through meadows, lava fields and a small river. On our way we enjoy the nice scenery of volcanic mountains and farmland, passing several farms which give us an idea of how agriculture has developed in the last decades. Nice riding trails give a good opportunity to experience the special gait of the Icelandic horse, the “tölt”. At the end of the tour you are invited for coffee and home-baked cake. Participants will get a small taste of the Icelandic horse’s qualities and experience the Icelandic countryside on horseback. 

Our next destination is famous Golden Circle of Icelandic Natural Wonders. We will explore the "Golden Waterfall" Gullfoss and the nearby hot spring area with famous Geysir and Strokkur hot springs, and many other boiling mud pools and smaller hot springs. Continue our drive along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss.

50-minute drive then stop for 30 minutes:

Geysir
Geysir is a famous hot spring in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley, found in south-west Iceland.
Strokkur
Iceland’s most visited active geyser. One of the three major attractions on the world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route.

10 minute drive, then stop for 30 minutes:

Gullfloss
Gullfoss (translated to ‘Golden Falls’) is one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in Southwest Iceland. The water in Hvítá river travels from the glacier Langjökull, before cascading 32 meters (105 feet) down Gullfoss’ two stages in a dramatic display of nature’s raw power. 

2 hour and 15 minutes drive, then stop for 30 minutes:

Reynisfjara
Also known as "The Black Sand Beach". The powerful waves of the Atlantic keep on grinding and breaking the rock down, making smaller pebbles and finally creating the black sand that everybody admires, famous basalt columns at Hálsanef. 

Drive to hotel for 10 minutes to Vik. Overnight in hotel Katla (B, D)

Breakfast at your hotel. Today you will be in a world of glaciers! You’ll be visiting the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe. Drive through vast sand plains created by glacial outwashes as you head east. Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell area, a site of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy the views of rich green landscapes and black sands dominated by several magnificent glaciers. You’ll also see Svinafellsjokull, one of the most beautiful glacial “tongues” that are slowly creeping down from Vatnajokull.

From hotel 1 hour and 50 minute drive, then stop for 45 minutes:

Skaftafell
A nature reserve located in Vatnajökull National Park in the South East of Iceland. It is an oasis of this nation’s diverse landscapes and features, so beautiful it was once a national park in its own right.

Drive for 20 minutes, then stop for 30 minutes:

Hofskirkja Turf Church
Hofskirkja is a beautiful turf church in South-East Iceland. Turf roofs helped to shield the residents from the harsh Icelandic climate. These roofs were placed on houses of both the poor and the wealthy, and on all types of buildings - homes, stables, and churches. There are only six traditional turf churches left in Iceland, and Hofskirkja is probably the most beautiful one

Drive for 30 minutes, then stop for 2 hours and 30 minutes:

Jokulsarlon
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, 'The Crown Jewel of Iceland,' is famed for glittering icebergs, playful seal colonies and stunning views of the adjacent glacier. Spend time at the lagoon providing an unforgettable sightseeing of breath-taking icebergs floating in the fantastic 180m (591 ft.) deep glacial lagoon. Make sure that camera is charged and ready! 

Optional activity: Amphibian Boat Tour (30 minutes)- $50
During the excursion you sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. On the boat you get to taste the 1000 year old ice and if you are lucky you might even see some seals. The excursion takes 30–40 minutes and includes an English speaking guide who explains to you the geology and facts of the lagoon.

Diamond Beach
Nearby is the dramatic beauty of the Diamond Beach, named for the shrinking icebergs that settle on the black sands before drifting out to sea. A strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.

Drive for 1 hour untill you reach Hofn, a fishing port in the shadow of Vatnajokull glacier.  Overnight in Edda Hofn hotel (B, D)

Breakfast at your hotel.

Optional Activity: 3-hour Superjeep Tour with Glacier Snowmobile on Vatnajokull - $180 per person
A thrilling snowmobile adventure on the ice of Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. This tour is for anyone who wants to pack their holiday with active days and do more than just sightseeing.You will meet your guide on location, before hopping into a super jeep capable of handling this volcanic island's challenging terrain. Together, you will make your way through the countryside, then begin to ascend the mighty Vatnajökull glacier. After receiving some instructions from your guides, and all the necessary safety equipment, you’ll set off. Don’t worry if you are a beginner to snowmobiling; your tour guides have more than 20 years of experience and can help you with any queries. All you need to operate a snowmobile is a valid driver's license and a sense of adventure, but non-drivers can join as passengers. Vatnajökull is centrally located near many of the most beautiful sites of the south coast. The highest peak in Iceland, Hvannadalshnjukur, is located within sight of your route. Under the ice cap are valleys, mountains and plateaus as well as active volcanoes. On the glacier, you can explore the vast, white emptiness of the ice with only the muffled sounds of your snowmobile to accompany you. There are few things more thrilling than racing over the pillowy mounds of snow, or whooshing over the icy ridges. If you are less of an adrenaline-junkie, you can simply slowly cruise along to admire the view and take many photos. You will also have the opportunity to stand on the ancient ice with an active volcano beneath your feet, with unbelievable views of Iceland's interior and south all around you. 

Drive to next overnight for 3 hours and 15 minutes with several stops along the way:

Drive from Hofn through Almannaskard pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. We’re sure you’ll love the amazing views, so keep your camera ready. You will also pass villages, each with its own special history and charm. The road brings you to Egilsstadir town, located near Iceland’s largest forest and a lake said to be home to a legendary (friendly) monster. The area also has an excellent reputation for locally sourced cuisine, and you’ll enjoy some of it at dinner.

Overnight at hotel Valaskjalf (B, D)

2-hour drive from hotel, then stop fo 30 minutes:

Detifoss
Dettifoss is a waterfall found in North Iceland, said to be the most powerful in Europe. Dettifoss is fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. The thunderous fall has an average water flow of 193 meters cubed per second (6,186 cubic feet). It is 100 meters (330 feet) wide and plummets 45 meters (150 feet) down into Jökulsárgljúfur canyon.

1 hour and 10 minutes drive, then stop for 30 minutes:

Krafla
Krafla is a caldera, part of a greater volcanic system of the same name, located north of Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. It is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled. The crater of Krafla’s caldera is about ten kilometres (seven miles) wide, although its fissure zone extends for 90 kilometres (56 miles). 

20 minute drive, then stop for 30 minutes:

Hverfell
Hverfell is a dramatic explosion crater in North Iceland. With a diametre of a kilometre and a depth of 140 metres, it is a dramatic site to behold; it is, in fact, one of the largest explosion craters in the world. 

10 minute drive then stop for 30 minutes:

Dimmuborgir
Dimmuborgir, or the Black Fortress, is a dramatic expanse of lava in the Lake Mývatn area. Steeped with folklore, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to north Iceland. In Icelandic culture, lava caves are allegedly the homes of the nation’s brutal and vile trolls. 

15 minute drive, then stop for 2 hours:

Lake Myvatn Nature Baths
The Mývatn Nature Baths are a set of geothermally heated pools and steam baths found in the Lake Mývatn area. They are about two kilometres east of the village of Reykjahlíð, and a fantastic example of Iceland’s hot spring culture. Entrance fees and towel included.

Myvatn Nature Baths & Light Dinner - $80
Drawing on a centuries-old tradition, the tastefully designed complex offers bathers a completely natural experience that begins with a relaxing dip amidst clouds of steam rising up from a fissure deep in the Earth´s surface, and ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2.500 meters. Light dinner after the bath: soup of the day, salad, sandwich with smoked char.

1 hour drive to Akureyri. Overnight at the Kea hotel in Akureyri (B)

Drive for 30 minutes, then stop for 30 minutes:

Godafoss
Goðafoss waterfall, or ‘Waterfall of the Gods’ is around 12 meters tall but it has a width of around 30 meters, making it one of the largest and most imposing waterfalls in Iceland.

Drive for 1 hour, then stop for 1 hour:

Optional Activity: Whale Watching in Hauganes - $75
You’ll receive warm overalls and there are blankets on board. To ensure that the animals are not disturbed by our presence, we sail at a constant speed towards the whales’ habitat. As a result, a variety of species, from humpback whales to tiny porpoises, often surface within a few feet of the boat. When we reach the whales we’ll make sure not to disturb them with loud noises or sharp movements.

Drive for 45 minutes, then stop for 2 hour:

Siglafjordur
A small fishing town in a narrow fjord with the same name on the northern coast of Iceland. The population in 2011 was 1,206; the town has been shrinking in size since the 1950s when the town reached its peak of 3,000 inhabitants.

The Herring Era Museum
This huge museum commemorates the herring fishing boom in the first part of the 20th century. Great attention to detail, everything related to the fishing industry during those very exciting days, you can even explore the lodging house where the female workers lived, everything just as it would have been, giving a great atmosphere.

Drive for 45 minutes, then stop for 1 hour:

Kaldi Brewery and Beer Tasting
All beers are unpasteurized, without preservatives and added sugar. Brewed by German quality law, only use basic raw materials used in beer: water, malted barley, hops and yeast. Barley comes from Czech Republic and the hops are also from Czech Republic, United States, Australia and New-Zealand.

Drive for 30 minutes and return to AKureyri. Overnight at the Kea hotel in Akureyri (B)

Breakfast at your hotel. From Akureyri driveve along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. 

Drive for 1 hour, then stop for 2 hours

Víðimýri Church is one of the few preserved turf churches in Iceland and dates to 1834. The church´s fate was uncertain at the beginning of the 20th century, but since then, it has been recognized as an indispensable part of the Icelandic cultural heritage.

Another stop nearby:

At the exhibition, 'Life on a Turf Farm', at the old farm of Glaumbær, you experience what life was like in the past. The exhibition replicates pictures that were taken of exemplary homes in the 19th century. The buildings Gilsstofa and Áshús, located at Glaumbær, are also from the 19th century. Áshús contains exhibits about households from the first half of the 20th century, as well as hosting the café, Áskaffi. Gilsstofa currently functions as a staff office. The old farm of Glaumbær is part of the collections of the National Museum of Iceland.

From here continue drive for 3.5 hours with stops until you reach Grabrock.

Overnight near Grabrok in Fosshotel Reykholt (B, D)

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit some of the beautiful natural wonders of Borgarfjordur. Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. Stop to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, where brightly blue water rushes through black lava formations. Nearby is Barnafoss, a waterfall with even more brilliantly blue colors. There is an interesting and poignant legend associated with this waterfall.

Drive through the scenic and mountain lined Hvalfjordur fjord to Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake and Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is where the world‘s oldest continuing parliamentary government was founded in the 10th century. It is also the place where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. You will have the unusual experience of walking between two continents! Afterwards, head to Reykjavik for a last night in the colorful capital city, where your guide bids you farewell.

From hotel drive for 10 minutes, then stop for 30 minute:

Hraunfossar
Hraunfossar ('Lava Falls' in English) in Borgarfjörður district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It is located in West Iceland near another waterfall called Barnafoss.

Barnafoss 
Barnafoss is a rapid waterfall in West Iceland, just a short walk away from the serene Hraunfossar falls. It is best known for its dark history in folklore, and for how much it contrasts with its neighbour.

Drive for 20 minutes, then stop for 30 minutes:

Deildartunguhver
Deildartunguhver is a hot spring located in Reykholtsdalur, a district of West Iceland. Deildartunguhver is the highest flowing hot spring in Europe and is widely known for its rapid flow rate of 180 litres (380 pints) per second.

Drive for 1 hour and 20 minutes, then stop for 45 minutes

Þingvellir
Þingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage site on the Icelandic mainland . Two of the greatest attractions in the park are the exposed North American and Eurasian tectonic plates; it is one of the only regions in the world where you can see geology such as this on land. It is here that the world’s first democratically elected parliament that remains functioning, Alþingi, was formed in 930 AD.

Continue to Reykjavik for 50 minutes. Overnight in Reykjavik (B)

Our tour of Iceland ends today. You will have a few hours to explore Reykjavik on your own. Transfer to the airport around 1:00 pm. (B)