Upon arrival to Keflavik International Airport, your group will travel by private coach to one of Iceland’s most beautiful (and relaxing) sightseeing attractions, the Blue Lagoon, whose striking, blue color results from the area’s high levels of silica and minerals. After a long flight, spend some time in the lagoon, soaking in its warm, mineral-rich geothermal waters. (Please note that facilities include modern changing rooms, showers, an indoor geothermal pool, a winter garden and dining facilities).

After some well-deserved relaxation and free time to eat, your group will travel by private coach along the beautiful Faxafloi Bay to remarkably pristine city of Reykjavik.

After checking in, enjoy some free time before tonight’s group dinner.

After breakfast and check out, your group will set out on a Nordic adventure (by private coach) into the spectacular countryside of South Iceland’s scenic coast. From Reykjavik you will travel east over the Hellisheioi lava plateau through the greenhouse town of Hverageroi (Hveragerdi) to the South Shore, an area characterized by black sands, hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and classic Icelandic sagas. En route you will pass fertile farmlands, mountains, quaint villages and glacial rivers, and if your group is up for it; it can decide to stop and kayak in Stokkseyri (equipment, guiding and instruction is provided) before visiting the impressive Skogar Folk Museum and Skogafoss waterfall.

Afterwards continue traveling east to the scenic Dyrholaey promontory, which is home to a notable Atlantic Puffin colony (please note that the reserve is closed during nesting season). Your group will pass through the lovely village of Vik en-route to tonight’s destination: Kirkjubaejarklaustur, a village best known for being the site of a 12th-century Catholic convent.

A group dinner will take place tonight in Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

Day 3:

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will set out in search of some incredible scenery. Icebergs, Europe’s largest glacier, and its largest national park are on today’s menu! You’ll begin by traveling east to Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland’s most beautiful natural areas and home to the impressive Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier. While there you and your fellow travelers will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime “glacier walk” on the Svinafellsjokull glacier, a beautiful outlet glacier of Vatnajokull.

Experience the out-of-this-world scenery for yourself as you hike and climb through a winter wonderland of glacial crevasses, sculptures and dramatic ridges. (Note: an experienced guide will be on hand to teach your group how to use basic glacier equipment, and the glacier walk is suitable for all experience levels). Another beautiful spot featured on today’s tour is the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, where you will enjoy a magical setting of massive, floating icebergs.

A group dinner will take place tonight in Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

After breakfast in the hotel, board your coach. On today’s sightseeing tour your group will explore South Iceland’s gorgeous interiors; complete with multicolored mountains, waterfalls, lava fields and hot springs. Start by visiting the incredibly picturesque Fjaorargljufur gorge, a place which seems so otherworldly that you will almost feel like you’re on a movie set! Then continue through the Fjallabaksleio highlands to Landmannalaugar, a truly spectacular, geothermal area characterized by its yellow, green and red rhyolite mountains.

If interested, your group could decide to include an invigorating hike on today’s itinerary, followed by a relaxing dip in the hot springs; so don’t forget to bring your bathing suit. Please kindly note that should the road to Landmannalaugar happen to be closed (possible in spring or early summer) we have plenty of wonderful alternatives to suggest. The tour will finish up in the village of Fluoir. After checking in to the hotel and taking some time to relax, your group will dine in Fluoir this evening.

After breakfast and check-out, prepare yourself for another day of incredible Icelandic landscapes! Today’s sightseeing will begin with one of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions: the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall. Afterwards your group will travel to the nearby Haukadalur Valley, a geothermal area that is home to boiling mud pools and erupting hot springs including the Great Geysir and the Strokkur geyser (which spouts 98 feet every 10 minutes).

Also featured on today’s tour is Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site fascinates visitors to Iceland for several reasons. It is home to the beautiful Pingvellir Lake, the largest natural lake in the country. It is also the site of the incredible Almannagja fault, and visitors can actually walk along the Mid-Atlantic ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. Lastly Pingvellir National Park is home to the Althing (the Icelandic Parliament), which having been founded in 930 AD is one of the oldest national legislative assemblies in the world.

Before arriving to the hotel in Hverageroi, your group will have the opportunity to experience Iceland from an entirely different perspective: on horseback. The Icelandic Horse breed that you will see today evolved from horses that the original Viking settlers brought to Iceland from Scandinavia over a thousand years ago. Today these beautiful creatures have become symbolic of Iceland. Depending on your group’s preferences, you can opt to simply observe Iceland’s “Viking Horses” up close, or we can arrange for your group to have a relaxing horseback riding tour. Afterwards continue to the town of Hverageroi, and after checking in, enjoy an evening at leisure.

After breakfast and check-out, your group will travel by private coach to Reykjavik Domestic Airport to board its short flight to North Iceland. It’s time to get a little nearer to that mysterious Arctic Circle! Upon arriving to Akureyri, immediately travel east by private coach to the beautiful area of Lake Myvatn. While the lake’s surrounding area is generally volcanic or geothermal, this extremely shallow lake is actually teeming with life! It is considered one of the best places in Iceland for bird watching.

Today’s sightseeing will take place in the nature reserve that encompasses the lake and will feature some of the extraordinary geology that can be found in North Iceland including the pseudocraters at Skutustadir, the Dimmuborgir lava formations (dark castles), the Hverfjall crater, and the hot-springs-filled Grjotagja cave. Your group will also visit the Krafla volcanic area and walk amongst the sulphurous mud springs and steam springs of the volcanic mountain Namaskaro. And after all that sightseeing, you can head to another geothermal treasure of the area: the Myvatn Nature Bath. Unwind, relax and enjoy soaking in the bath’s soothing, mineral-rich waters. After checking in to the hotel near Lake Myvatn, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

After breakfast and check-out, your group will drive a short distance to see the astonishing Gooafoss, which literally translates to “waterfall of the gods.” After time to marvel at this natural phenomenon, continue traveling west to the lively port city of Akureyri. Home to great restaurants, museums and festivals, as the largest northern city in Iceland, Akureyri has a pretty great cultural scene. And despite its proximity to the Arctic Circle (roughly 60 miles), Akureyri is surprisingly warmer than many other cities of Iceland.

Your guided sightseeing tour of Akureyri will tell you about its past and present. You will see the Lutheran Akureyrarkirkja Church, the numerous art studios on Listagil Street and the beautiful and remarkably-diverse Botanical Gardens. And a visit to Akureyri would be incomplete without a little whale watching! The conditions in Eyjafjorour (Iceland’s longest fjord) are ideal for white-beaked dolphins, minke whales and humpback whales. Your tour will conclude at the Akureyri Airport where your group will catch a short flight back to Reykjavik.

After checking in to the hotel in Reykjavik, a group dinner will take place in the hotel’s restaurant. Enjoy your last evening in Iceland. (Note: groups with particularly early flights may want to consider using a hotel near Keflavik International Airport).

Day 8:

After breakfast and check-out, your group will travel by private coach to Keflavik International Airport for its return flight to the US or Canada.