Classic Iceland Circle - Jay Cohen

Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer to the hotel.

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

Overnight in Reykjavík. 

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

Eldhestar Horseback Riding 
This tour 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.

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.

Overnight in Vik Area (breakfast, dinner)

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 and the nearby Diamond Beach, providing an unforgettable sightseeing experience.

Diamond Beach
A strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.

Amphibian Boat Tour - 30 minutes
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.

Overnight in Hofn Area (breakfast, dinner)

40 minute drive from hotel:

3.5 Hour Super Jeep and Glacier Snowmobiling on Vatnajokull
Come along on a thrilling snowmobile adventure on the ice of Vatnajökull glacier, the largest glacier in Europe. Glacier jeep tour departing from Vagnsstaðir to Vatnajökull and one hour tour on the great glacier, where you have breathtaking views of high mountains and deep valleys.

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

Drive 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 in the Egilsstaðir area (breakfast, dinner)

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.

10 minute drive to the hotel:

Overnight in Lake Myvatn Area (breakfast, dinner)

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:

Whale Watching Hauganes
This is a fully guided tour with coffee and homemade pastries. Humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins and porpoises are commonly spotted during these popular tours.

Drive for 45 minutes, then stop for 1 hour:

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 45 minutes:

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.

Overnight in Siglafjordur area (breakfast, dinner)

From hotel drive for 1 hour 15 minutes, then stop for 1 hour:

Horse Show at Skagafjordur
Head along majestic mountains and narrow passes to Skagafjordur, considered to be one of the finest places in Iceland for horse breeding. Enjoy an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse breed with its special fifth gait - the tolt.

Drive for 35 minutes, then stop for 20 minutes: 

Continue towards the village of Blonduos, built on both sides of the river Blanda. This is a part of Iceland known mentioned in the ancient Viking tale, Vatnsdaela Saga. Cross the Holtavorduheidi plateau taking you into West Iceland. Drive through Borgarfjordur, a region that has been getting international recognition for its diverse types of scenery and its Viking history.

Drive for 1 hour and 30 minutes, stop in Grabrok for 30 minutes, then 15 minutes to the hotel.

Overnight in Varmaland (breakfast, dinner)

From hotel drive for 30 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.

Drive back to Reykjavik for 50 minutes:

Overnight in Reykjavik (breakfast)

Depending on your flight you can visist the Blue or the Sky Lagoon (non included). Transfer to the airport is 3 hours before flight departure (B)