ICELAND – 7 Days Golden Circle and South Coast Highlights

Description:
Snæfellsnes has a tremendous diversity of scenery. Anything from jagged yet tranquil bays and rugged cliffs to lustrous glacier tongues can be found here. We’ll go caving in an ancient lava tube cave, traverse a black pebble beach with the most stunning cliff formations, and visit that favorite mountain of photographers, Kirkjufell. During wintertime, there’s another special activity that awaits. At night, we’ll embark upon a hunt for the Northern Lights if the weather conditions allow us.

Day Highlights:

Borgarnes village
Gerðuberg basalt columns
Ytri Tunga beach
Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
Búðir
Arnarstapi fishing village
Vatnshellir cave (optional extra)
Djúpalónssandur beach
Northern Lights (during winter and if weather conditions allow it)

Meals:
Breakfast

Description:
You’ll start your day with the breathtaking view of Mount Kirkjufell and continue with your adventure that’ll take you to Hraunfossar waterfall, which promises you lunch with a view. What’s a trip without some interesting history? The village of Reykholt is where you get to know all about the famous Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson. After this, you can either soak in Krauma geothermal baths or continue with activities at Sturlureykir horse farm. Nearby is where you’ll see the most powerful hot spring in Europe – Deildartunguhver.

Day Highlights:

Mount Kirkjufell
Grundarfjörður
Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls
Historic site of Reykholt
Krauma geothermal baths (optional extra)
Sturlureykir horse farm (alternative to Krauma)
Deildartunguhver hot spring

Meals:
Breakfast

Description:
On the third day of our tour, we’ll hit the Golden Circle route. There, you’ll find the enchanting Thingvellir – one of the most geologically wonderful places in the world. You’ll have a chance to stand right where two tectonic plates meet, explore the geothermal energy plant and dip a foot into Iceland’s biggest lake, Thingvallavatn.

We’ll also visit Gullfoss, a truly majestic waterfall, located in the Hvita River canyon. This magnificent torrent falls down 105 feet (32 meters), in surges of raw, untamed power. Neighboring hot spring Strokkur spouts magnificent jets of steam upwards every few minutes in a spectacle that will leave you slightly damp yet stoked, so make sure you bring waterproof clothing.

Afterward, as we travel deeper into the South of the country, we’ll witness Seljalandsfoss waterfall: an adjacent waterfall that hides treasures in its depths. The day will be capped off with the famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara. As we wave goodbye to the trolls turned into stone in the water, the Sun sets, hinting that tonight might be a good time to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Day Highlights:

Þingvellir National Park
Geysir Hot Springs
Gullfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Hekla – Volcano Views (weather permitting)

Meals:
Breakfast

Description:

On the fourth day, once well-rested, we’ll continue our tour to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where you’ll be left awestruck by the icebergs of various shapes and colors, floating in the lagoon. Afterward, we’ll look for scintillating ice monoliths on the glistering-in-the-dark Diamond Beach.

Next, we’ll explore a natural ice cave in Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Our guide will provide you with all the necessary equipment and instruct you on the safety guidelines before we head off. As he’s leading us through the cave, he’ll also share some fascinating information about the age and formation of the glacier. During the summer months (until Sep 30), we’ll visit Katla Ice Cave instead.

Day Highlights:

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The Diamond Beach
Natural Ice Cave
Glacier Hike (winter only)
Skaftafell Nature Reserve
Svartifoss Waterfall

Meals:
Breakfast

Description:
On the final day of your tour, as we travel deeper into the South of the country, we’ll witness the magnificent Skógafoss waterfall. The day will be capped off with the famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara. As we wave goodbye to the trolls turned into stone in the water, the Sun sets, hinting that tonight might be a good time to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

On our way back to Reykjavik, you’ll have a chance to soak in more of the incredible landscapes of South Iceland. The bus will pass by remarkable moss-covered lava fields and snow-capped mountains.

Day Highlights:

Eldhraun Lava Field
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (weather permitting)
Skógafoss Waterfall
Reynisfjara Black Beach
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano/Glacier Views (weather permitting)

Meals:
Breakfast

Description:
Crush the bitterness of cold with a warm soak in the geothermal spa at the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport. Spend a couple of hours soaking yourself in the hot spring, later by noon drive to the airport to catch your return flight back home. It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers. Hoping that you have captured the best moments on camera and packed in a host of travel memories to carry back home with you.

Meals:
Breakfast