Discover Iceland and Greenland
Tour Itinerary
Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavik. You may explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.
- Reykjavík Natura Berjaya
- 50km / 31mi
At 09:00, meet our tour guide and depart from Reykjavík Natura Berjaya Iceland Hotels. Travel west along the scenic Hvalfjörður fjord and the town of Borgarnes. Easy hike on Grábrók volcano crater in the middle of a greenish lava field. Further north visit Glaumbær, one of Iceland’s most beautiful turf house farms and folk museums. Continue along scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. The overnight location at allows you to walk around the beautiful town of Akureyri.
- Breakfast
- Akureyri Berjaya
- 415km / 258mi
In the morning, explore the town of Akureyri, also called the capital of North Iceland, and admire the panoramic view over the Eyjafjörður fjord.
Optional whale watching tours are available at 09:00.
In the afternoon, travel to Goðafoss, the waterfalls of the Gods. Then explore Lake Mývatn, known as a geological wonderland and for its abundant birdlife. See the strange lava formations at Kálfaströnd, the pseudo craters at Skútustaðir and the tephra cone Hverfjall. Finally, end the afternoon relaxing in the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths with a fantastic view over the whole area.
- Breakfast
- Mývatn Berjaya
- 120km / 75mi
In the morning, walk in the lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir, “the dark castles”, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. In the afternoon, visit the hot spring area of Námaskarð with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. Head through the uninhabited highlands and moon-like surroundings to East Iceland. From June to August, the tour includes a detour to the powerful waterfall Dettifoss.
- Breakfast
- Hérað Berjaya
- 250km / 155mi
It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords and, on the route, visit an attractive stone and mineral collection. Then, in the afternoon, see Vatnajökull – Europe’s biggest glacier visible all over Southeast Iceland. We end the day with a stop at Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, exploring the extraordinary site and might see seals swimming in the arctic waters. A boat tour between floating icebergs is included in the program from May through September. You can walk on the black sandy beach (The Diamond Beach) where large icebergs get stranded.
Please note that the itinerary on this specific day can change due to seasonal factors, such as weather.
- Breakfast
- Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
- 260km / 161mi
Travel along the southern part of the glacier Vatnajökull and get a glimpse at Europe’s second-largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe’s largest glacier.
In the afternoon, a beautiful drive with many natural wonders awaits us as we head across the Eldhraun lava field, cross the sandy desert of the south coast, overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. Experience the unique Icelandic Lava Show where you get to witness and feel the heat from molten lava! Stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara near Vík. In the small village of Skógar, there is Skógafoss waterfall which is 60 meters high and is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Continue to the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountain. An exciting trail goes behind the fall – if you are prepared to get wet!
Please note that the itinerary on this specific day can change due to seasonal factors, such as weather.
- Breakfast
- Stracta Hotel Hella
- 380km / 235mi
Explore classics today as we travel the route of the Golden Circle sights. Start the day at Friðheimar, where you learn about the Icelandic horse, its unique qualities and history and visit a geothermal greenhouse. Later on, see steam from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive. There is a variety of hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur, “the Churn”, which erupts at 5-7 minute intervals. Continue to Gullfoss, “the golden falls “, a double waterfall that tumbles 32 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts travellers in summer and winter. Travel inland to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we return to Reykjavík, we will take you for a short city tour to show highlights of the world’s northernmost capital.
- Breakfast
- Reykjavík Natura Berjaya
- 160km / 99mi
Free day in Reykjavik.
In the evening, fly directly from Keflavík International Airport to Ilulissat. You are picked up at the airport, and transfered to the hotel.
- Breakfast
- Best Western Ilulissat
Hike to the Abandoned Sermermiut Settlement
Beautiful icebergs provide the setting for the old settlement of Sermermiut, 1.5 kilometers south of Ilulissat. For 4,000 years, different Inuit cultures lived in the settlement and, today, you can still see the remains, which indicate their former presence.
Hear the story about the life of the Inuit people and their traditions before the Europeans came to Greenland. See the ruins and touch the permafrost with your own hands. Visitors often ask if they can walk these treks themselves? The answer is yes. But it is our experience that most people prefer having a guide with them the first time they hike in Greenlandic nature.
Furthermore, historic places will be pointed out on the way, and these can be difficult to find on your own. You will have a coffee or tea break at “Kællingekløften” with a beautiful view of the Ice Fjord before you head back
Icefjord Cruise
Sailing Among the Icebergs
Almost every visitor in Ilulissat chooses to try this boat trip among the icebergs at least once. Every day, more than 40 million tonnes of ice flow out into the fjord. The floating icebergs are gigantic, sometimes wider than 100 meters and with a height up to 100 meters above the water surface as well.
These giants pile up at the end of the fjord, providing you with a great opportunity to sail among them. You should not miss out on this exceptional experience when visiting Ilulissat. The icebergs are a wonderful sight in every kind of weather; in the sunshine, the contrasts are very clear, whereas the blue shades are strikingly beautiful when it is cloudy, and the midnight sun casts a unique glow on the icebergs during the night.
Taking the boat trip on a bright night is an extraordinary experience. Remember to bring warm clothes – otherwise, sealskin clothing is available for rent.
- Breakfast
- Best Western Ilulissat
Only a few places in Greenland are as beautiful as the Eqi Glacier, which runs into the fjord 80 kilometers north of Ilulissat. It is possible to get very close to the glacier by boat and experience huge pieces of ice breaking off. The sounds are thunderous, and the sight of chunks of ice crashing into the water is astonishing.
We sail in modern, comfortable boats during the excursion to Eqi Glacier. The route takes us north along the coast, passing Bredebugt, the settlement of Oqaatsut and the big fjord system called Pakitsoq, where whales and seals are often spotted.
Lunchtime and Watch the Ice Calve
Further along the route, we pass through the Ataa Strait, which is surrounded by steep mountains with bird life and waterfalls. Our boats, which are reinforced for sailing in icy waters, will remain in front of the glacier for approximately 2 hours and wait for the ice to calve. Meanwhile, a delicious lunch will be served. This is an all-day excursion where you will have a good opportunity to immerse yourself in the experience and fully enjoy the boat trip through the ice-filled waters.
Remember to bring warm clothes – otherwise, sealskin clothing is available for rent.
- Breakfast / Lunch
- Best Western Ilulissat
Whale Safari
It is an incredible experience to get up close to such majestic creatures like whales. During the summer, you will typically encounter the humpback whale, minke whale, and fin whale. Among these giants, the humpback whale stands out as an acrobat despite its massive size of up to 18 meters and 30 tons. It showcases remarkable agility, leaping out of the water and skillfully maneuvering its tail and flippers. Identifiable by its humped fin and distinctive white back when it dives, the humpback whale frequents the Disko Bay in pursuit of fish, squid, and krill, offering excellent viewing opportunities.
The whales swim the waters of Disko Bay throughout the summer, sometimes near Ilulissat, occasionally in the Icefjord, Ilimanaq, or further north at Arveprinsens Ejland. Through radio contact with Ilulissat's fishermen and tourist operators, we're almost always able to locate these magnificent creatures.
You may do kayaking instead or participate in both activities for an additional charge.
- Breakfast
- Best Western Ilulissat
Departure from Ilulissat at 10:05 AM and arrival at Keflavík International Airport 3:25 PM.
Customer reviews
Frank Holloway
I would like to thank Nordic Saga for arranging such an amazing tour for us. It exceeded all our expectations. The scenery with icebergs, fjords, and glaciers was beyond our imagination. In Narsarsuaq we stayed at a nice basic hotel. It was really basic but our room was big, warm and clean. The hotel staff was nice and friendly and spoke some English. The buffet at breakfast was excellent with good selection of cereals, breads, meat and a pastry. There was internet in the hotel but we had to pay for it. Not a big deal, though.
We spent a very enjoyable time walking and enjoying the great views. Traveling by boat through the ice-filled Erik's Fjord was fantastic as many other unforgettable experiences. We all were stunned by the majesty of the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
It was the best trip in my life so far. We will certainly return to this wonderful part of the world to explore it more thoroughly.
Karina and Martin Bjoren
I did a few tours in Iceland but this one was exceptional. My impressions are only positive. The guides were friendly and informative. All other service was efficient. Before this trip Nordic Saga Tours agents were extremely helpful both via email and over the phone and I was very confident in every detail.
During the tour each and every activity was well-organized, interesting, and tremendously enjoyable. Greenland's wildlife was stunning as well as all Arctic life. It was very interesting to learn something about Inuit culture. Great photo opportunities, if you want to bring home a piece of these remarkable countries. I still see gigantic icebergs in my dreams. They made a stunning imprint in my memory as well as the Eqip glacier.
Best regards,
P. Holmer, USA
All the best,
Francesko
Jake
I'm back from my awesome tour of Iceland. I had a great time traveling around the country and loved seeing Greenland, too. Both are such unique places to visit and it's exciting being able to check them off my bucket list! The geysers and waterfalls in Iceland were breathtaking. I was able to get some really neat photos and videos! The tour guides were remarkable and I really learned a lot. Feeding sled dogs in Greenland was great - such a nice touch to the trip! I'll never forget that. The glaciers and colors in Greenland were so beautiful. The people and culture in Iceland was remarkable, too.
I already can't wait to visit Iceland in the future and bring a few friends along with me. Thanks for making it so memorable.
Best,
Donna Telvin
Steven here. Just writing to thank you for the amazing trip to Iceland and Greenland you helped me plan back in June. I had been wanting to go to Iceland for quite some time, so finally finishing up the last touches to make it complete was so exciting! Icelandair is such a unique airline and just being on board got me pumped for the trip! I took hundreds of photos while I was there and had a great time showing them to my family. I really needed this trip, so thanks again for making it happen. The beauty of Iceland and Greenland are unlike anything I've ever seen before. I already want to bring a group of friends back with me next time, so I'll be in touch. I think everyone should visit Iceland (and Greenland!) at some point in their life to appreciate the beautiful scenery and history in such cool, remote places. Again, thank you.
Steven Frills
My wife and I have returned from our Iceland vacation and we wanted to thank you for all of your hard work in putting the trip together. Iceland is a truly beautiful country and I'm happy with how we spent our time there. Seeing Gullfoss waterfall in Iceland, Eqi glacier in Greenland, and listening to old stories about the people of Iceland and Greenland were memorable moments for us. Everyone was friendly, our hotels were great, and we can't stop telling people about how much fun we had! Thanks again. If we plan another trip to Iceland or beyond in the future, I'll be sure to give your company a call.
Mark and Julie Hess