Halló and welcome to Reykjavík, the northernmost capital of any sovereign nation on earth! Despite being one of the smallest ‘big’ cities in the world, Iceland’s capital sure does pack quite the punch. Its name derives from an Old Norse dialect translating to ‘smoky bay’, inspired by the steam that rises from its hot springs. Situated on the country’s southwest coast on the Seltjarnar Peninsula and bordered by spectacularly imposing mountain ranges, Reykjavík is a city of alluring contrasts, perfectly blending aspects of the surrounding nature with a sophisticated cosmopolitan, yet small-town vibe.

We’ll meet our fellow travellers and tour director at 3:00pm, in the hotel reception to begin our Icelandic adventure.

Our first taste of the Nordic island is by an incredible FlyOver Iceland simulation. This unique experience uses state-of-the-art technology to give you the feeling of flight as you explore the country from above, without leaving the ground! It’s a great way to gain a bird’s eye view of the stunning natural landscape we’re about to explore — from angles you wouldn’t normally see.

Tonight, enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Reykjavík’s gorgeous old harbour area. Historically a hub for fisheries and trade, nowadays the area is more popularly known as a departure point for whale watching and Northern Lights tours. Soak up the seaside atmosphere as we tuck into a hearty Icelandic dish.

Boasting a rich history rooted in Viking heritage, Reykjavík is a totally unique city. Established as a trading post by Norse settlers in around 870 AD, the settlement evolved gradually until it became an official trading town in 1786. Reykjavík’s true transformation into a modern city happened in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whereby the city has seen constant development to this day. Despite this, it still retains much of its ancient roots and charm.

We begin our day with a tour of the city, including a visit to the iconic Perlan Wonders of Iceland Museum. A collection celebrating nature like no other, we’ll explore several exhibits such as the Northern Lights Show in the Planetarium, the Volcano Show, the Ice Cave and a visit to the Observation Deck.

In the early afternoon, we will make our way to the beautiful Sky Lagoon, a geothermal spa perched on the coast of the Kopavogur Peninsula. Take your time here to relax in the lagoon and breathe in the refreshing ocean air. Embrace the natural warmth of the water and immerse yourself in the calming energy while you soak in the stunning views. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure or spend a little more time soaking up the relaxing treatments of the lagoon.

Today involves approximately 3-4 hours of walking.

Farewelling the beauty of Reykjavík this morning, we’ll make our way to Reykholt, a tiny village that was once considered the intellectual centre of Iceland as it was home to one of the most important schools in the country. We’ll also travel through Barnafoss and the nearby Hraunfossar, two beautiful waterfalls that pour into the river Hvítá. Steeped in the legends of old folklore, Barnafoss’ bright blue waters gush over the landscape, while Hraunfossar is made up of a series of trickling streams that flow out of a lava-forged field.

We continue on to Ytri Tunga Beach, standing out as one of the only beaches in Iceland to have golden sand instead of black sand. Here, we’ll hopefully get the chance to watch the resident Harbour and Grey Seals frolic and bask on rocks along the shoreline.

A photo stop at the iconic Black Church of Budir is our next stop, before making our way to the fascinating Ólafsvíkurkirkja Church, the first ‘modern’ Church in Iceland. Constructed entirely of triangular pieces, admire the quirky geometric architecture before arriving at Arnarstapi Beach and taking in the beautiful coastal views from the cliff viewpoint.

We’ll then travel to the small fishing village of Arnarstapi, located at the foot of Mt. Stapafell, where we’ll settle into our accommodation and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Your travel time today will be approximately 5-6 hours.

After breakfast, we’ll depart Arnarstapi and head towards Kirkjufell Mountain. At an elevation of 1519 feet above sea level, this towering landmark features a beautiful and distinct-shaped peak that spirals into the clouds above it. Considered by the locals as one of the most beautiful mountains on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, this striking natural spectacle even featured in the popular fantasy TV series, Game of Thrones.

We then enjoy an interesting visit to the family-owned Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum. Here, we’ll take a deep dive into the unique culture of the Icelanders and their national delicacy — fermented shark. Enjoy a guided tour taking us through the history and biology of the Greenland Shark and, if you’re feeling adventurous, a taste of this iconic dish!

Continuing on, we journey towards Skagi Peninsula, stopping for a stretch at the Glaumbær Farm and Museum. During our photo stop, we’ll be able to marvel at the traditional ‘turf houses’ built by Icelanders for hundreds of years into the 20th century.

In the evening, we will arrive and check in to our hotel for the night.

Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.

Horses are intrinsic to the culture of Iceland. Here, they are known for their smaller but stocky build, fluffy coats and their ability to navigate rough terrain. Nestled in the rolling countryside, taste some regional treats and take photos with these beautiful creatures as we experience life on a working family horse farm.

Following our morning marvelling at the beautiful horses and learning from some friendly Icelandic locals, we’ll continue on to Akureyri via the stunning Siglufjörður. Considered to be the capital of the north with a population of just under 20,000 residents, Akureyri is situated at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord and boasts quaint streets, cosy cafes and brightly painted houses. Renowned for its vibrant culture and thriving arts scene, in the centre of the city you’ll find the Akureyri Church with beautiful stained-glass windows portraying scenes from Icelandic Christian history — totally worth the visit!

We’ll enjoy some free time in this beautiful city to explore, before continuing on to our next stop, the mythical Goðafoss Waterfall. This spectacular waterfall cascades over a curved edge spanning over 30 metres and tumbles 12 metres deep into a bright blue pool at its base.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

An early start to the day and a short walk will see us reaching the beautiful Dettifoss Waterfall found in Vatnajökull National Park. Said to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe after the Rhine Falls in Switzerland, Dettifoss Waterfall is 100 metres wide and 45 metres tall! It’s also referred to by some as the ‘The Beast’ in comparison to ‘The Beauty’ that is Goðafoss, due to its power rather than appearance. We’ll then stop to stretch our legs at the Ásbyrgi Canyon and enjoy the view from the lookout points, before setting off on an exciting whale watching cruise.

Húsavík has built a reputation as the whale watching capital of Iceland, a total marine lover’s paradise. Here we’ll get the chance to spot minke whales, breaching humpbacks and playful dolphins — and if you’re really lucky, you might even spot a killer whale or fin whale.

This world-class geothermal bath is heated from the ground and packed with minerals that gently revitalise the skin. The geothermal seawater promotes muscle relaxation and stimulates circulation within the body, leaving you feeling totally rejuvenated. One dip here and you’ll never want to leave!

Today involves approximately 2 hours of walking on uneven and rocky terrain.

Our first stop today is at Lake Mývatn, a beautiful series of connected lakes with many small islands littered throughout the water. Here we’ll also see the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters, before continuing on to Dimmuborgir for a walk through the fascinating Lava Field, and Námaskarð to witness the mythical geothermal landscape.

We later visit the Krafla Power Station, where we can observe the structures that harness the region’s geothermal energy, before some free time for lunch in the highest situated farm in Iceland.

In the early afternoon, we’ll reach renowned Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the world’s most enchanting basalt rock formations. Located in the Jökuldalur Valley, Stuðlagil Canyon was completely submerged under the river Jökla, until the water levels dropped several years ago, revealing the incredible canyon. From our viewpoint, we’ll also be able to see Stuðlafoss, a cascading waterfall that flows from the moss-covered basalt columns. The views here are simply otherworldly.

We continue on to Egilsstaðir for a short comfort stop. Home to reindeer and a scenic combination of mountains, lakes and forests, the town serves as the gateway to the East Fjords, where we will later arrive and settle into our accommodation for the night.

Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.

We begin our morning with a visit to Djúpivogur, a lovely little town that is home to around 600 residents. The seaside village is surrounded by stunning mountains and holds a rich cultural history as a critical trading post for the eastern region of Iceland. We’ll then make our way to Höfn, a charming fishing town where we’ll have some free time for lunch.

Enjoy a photo stop at Diamond Beach, where we can admire the shimmering icebergs that break off from the glacier and drift onto the famous black sands of the shore. It’s then onto Jökulsárlón, to embark on a fascinating Amphibian boat trip on Glacier Lagoon. As we explore, we’ll get the chance to marvel at stunning 1,000-year-old icebergs and, if we’re lucky, some playful marine life!

Late this afternoon, we’ll check in to our hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Following breakfast, we’ll stop at Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a short walk on the lava field before setting off for Fjaðrárgljúfur, roughly translating to Feather River Canyon. Here, a river runs through the canyon centre and is surrounded by high grassy hills, creating a beautiful contrast. The walk to the canyon is roughly an hour, but the views that will greet us are well worth it.

We continue on to the quaint village of Vík, a seaside town situated just south of the Katla Volcano. Here, we’ll enjoy lunch at a popular family-owned eatery which originally began in a repurposed military container. After lunch, we stop at the renowned Icelandic Lava Show. The only live lava show in the world, this unique experience recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 1100°C. We’ll get the exclusive opportunity to get close to real molten lava, see it flowing, hear it sizzle and bask in the incredible heat it produces.

Perhaps the most exciting part of our day, we’ll explore the Reynisfjara Black beach, and the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls. Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest (and most beautiful) waterfalls. With a drop of around 60 metres, its powerful torrent of water cascades over a lush cliff creating a constant spray that engulfs the surroundings. Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is arguably one of Iceland’s most impressive with its elegant stream of water plunging deep into a round dish at the entrance of a cave that has formed over centuries. It’s one of the few waterfalls in Iceland that you can actually walk behind!

Today involves approximately 1-2 hours of walking on uneven and rocky terrain.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

Today we discover some of Iceland’s famous Golden Circle, a 300-kilometre loop that covers central Iceland.

First up is Thingvellir National Park, Iceland’s most important cultural landmark and where the world’s first parliament, The Althingi, was formed in 930 AD. The parliament continued to meet here for more than 850 years, with assemblies lasting for two weeks a year in two areas of the park, the Lögberg (Law Rock), and the Lögrétta (Law Council). Today you can still see evidence of nearly 50 booths which were made from turf and stone. The park is also home to Iceland’s largest natural lake and marks the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, resulting in some mesmerising faults and canyons, as well as rifts filled with crystal-clear water.

Discover a local greenhouse tomato farm and learn how they successfully grow tomatoes in this cold climate. While we are here, we will enjoy delicious tomato soup with freshly baked bread, made from the farm grown tomatoes.

We’ll also discover Strokkur, a geyser that erupts every 10 minutes with a spout of boiling water that can reach as high as 30 metres.

Our last stop of the day is the incredible Gullfoss Waterfalls or ‘Golden Falls’. Recognised as Iceland’s most famous waterfall, Gullfoss is a double-tiered waterfall that plunges around 31 metres into the Hvítá River below. If the sun is shining, you might see a rainbow in the mist clouds, making for a beautiful photo.

Today involves approximately 1-2 hours of walking.

Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.

This morning, we say goodbye to Hveragerði and make our way to Raufarhólshellir to tour the fascinating Lava Tunnel. This spectacular cave formed as a lava tube during the Leitahraun eruption that occurred around 5,200 years ago. The tunnel has an impressive total length of 1360 metres, with the main tunnel being 900 metres long. It can reach up to 30 metres wide and 10 metres high, making it one of the most expansive lava tunnels in Iceland.

We then make our way to the otherworldly Krýsuvík Geothermal Area, where a winding boardwalk takes us through steam vents in mud pools, hot springs and sulphur deposits.

In the early afternoon, our adventure takes us to the incredible Blue Lagoon, situated a little way out of town. This is perhaps one of Iceland’s most famous geothermal spas and is often a bucket-list item for travellers visiting the country. Named after the incredibly vibrant water colour, this geothermal spa is volcanically heated and contains minerals that encourages relaxation, nourishment and rejuvenation.

Before we reach our accommodation for the night, we’ll make a photo stop at the Bridge Between Continents and the Reykjanes Lighthouse.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delicious farewell dinner, reminiscing on all of the fun experiences we’ve shared and sights we’ve seen on tour.

Today involves approximately 1-2 hours of walking on uneven and rocky terrain.

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to our new friends and to the spectacular scenery of Iceland.