Itinerary
- Day 1
Reykjavik
You'll land at Keflavik International Airport and catch the Flybus shuttle into Reykjavik to reach your accommodation. The afternoon and evening are open, so you can either rest up from travel or wander around the city and get your bearings.
- Day 2
Reykjavik to Akureyri
Meet your guide this morning and head west out of Reykjavik through Borgarnes. You'll climb up Grabrook volcano crater for views of the surrounding area, then stop at Glaumbaer to see the traditional turf house farms and folk museums. From there, the drive takes you north through fjord valleys and mountain terrain as you make your way toward Akureyri in North Iceland (roughly 5 hours of driving total).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Grabrok volcano crater
- Visit to Glaumbaer turf house farms and folk museums
Landmarks/POIs Grábrók volcano crater Glaumbaer - Day 3
Akureyri to Lake Myvatn
Start by walking through Akureyri and taking in the views across Eyjafjordur fjord from higher up in town. In the afternoon, head to Godafoss waterfall and then explore Lake Myvatn's geothermal features including the twisted lava formations at Kalafstrondi. You'll finish the day soaking in the warm mineral pools at Myvatn Nature Baths to relax those travel muscles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Akureyri town
- Visit Godafoss waterfall
- Visit Lake Mývatn
- Walk around Kálafströnd pseudo craters
- Entrance with towel to Myvatn Nature Baths
Optional Activities
- Whale watching tours (April-October, 09:00-12:00)
Landmarks/POIs Akureyri Godafoss Lake Mývatn Kálafströnd Mývatn Nature Baths - Day 4
Lake Myvatn to Egilsstadir
This morning you'll hike through Dimmuborgir, the lava field where Icelandic folklore says trolls live, with all its strange rock formations and caves. Next comes Namafjall with its bubbling mud pools and steaming geothermal vents. Later, you'll drive through the remote highlands toward East Iceland where you might spot Arctic foxes or reindeer herds. If you're traveling June through August, there's a stop at Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall (about 44,000 cubic meters per second).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike in lava labyrinth at Dimmuborgir
- Visit hot spring area of Námaskard with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras
Optional Activities
- Detour to Dettifoss (June-August)
Landmarks/POIs Dimmuborgir Námaskard Dettifoss - Day 5
Egilsstadir to Skaftafell
You'll drive through the East Fjords with their narrow roads and small fishing villages scattered along the coast. There's a quick stop at a stone and mineral collection, then you'll see Vatnajokull, Europe's largest glacier. At Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon, you can walk the shores filled with floating icebergs, and from May through September there's an optional boat tour between the ice. Later, head to Diamond Beach where icebergs wash ashore and create a glittering black sand shoreline.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit East Fjords with dramatic fjord landscape
- Visit stone and mineral collection
- Visit Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon
- Walk on Diamond Beach
Optional Activities
- Boat tour between floating icebergs (May-September, included May-September)
Landmarks/POIs Vatnajökull Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon Diamond Beach - Day 6
Skaftafell to Hella
Travel along the south side of Vatnajokull glacier through Europe's largest national park. You'll cross the Eldhraun lava field and sandy desert landscape with glaciers and waterfalls towering above. At Reynisfjara, walk the black lava beach, then visit Skogafoss waterfall and tour the Skogar folk museum with its turf houses. The day ends at Seljalandsfoss, a narrow waterfall you can actually walk behind.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Vatnajökull National Park
- Stroll along Reynisfjara black lava beach
- Visit Skógafoss waterfall
- Visit Skógar folk museum with turf houses
- Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall
Landmarks/POIs Vatnajökull National Park Eldhraun lava field Reynisfjara Skógafoss Skógar folk museum Seljalandsfoss - Day 7
Hella to Reykjavik
This is the famous Golden Circle route. Start at Fridheimar where you'll learn about Icelandic horses and tour a geothermal greenhouse. Move on to the Geysir geothermal fields and watch Strokkur geyser erupt hot water and steam into the air. Then see Gullfoss, a two-stage waterfall dropping 34 meters into the Hvita River. The route ends at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO site where you can see the continental rift, and you'll get a short tour of Reykjavik before heading back to your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Fridheimar Horse Stables and Geothermal Greenhouse with entrance and demonstration
- Visit Geysir geothermal fields
- Visit Strokkur geyser
- Visit Gullfoss waterfall
- Visit Thingvellir National Park
- City tour of Reykjavik highlights
Landmarks/POIs Fridheimar Geysir Strokkur Gullfoss Thingvellir National Park - Day 8
Reykjavik
Time to head home. You'll be picked up by Flybus and transferred to Keflavik International Airport for your departure flight.
