Iceland Weekend Tour

   
 
 

Spectacular Iceland Tour

Soft Adventure, Easy Hiking & Wilderness - New Tour for

8 Days / 11 locations in Iceland

Enjoy the spectacular sceneries of West- and South Iceland and of the interior highlands. Explore incredible sights and natural wonders. Iceland is all about the outdoors and connecting with nature. Several days are spent in the interior highlands, Europe's last true wilderness, a landscape of stark, desolate and raw beauty. The interior of Iceland is uninhabited, offering cinematic vistas of seemingly infinite gravel plains, glacial rivers and lava fields punctuated by ice caps, volcanoes and jagged mountains. One night is spent on the Westman Islands, one of the best-kept secrets in Iceland. The tour includes a boat trip on Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, a monster truck expedition on Langjökull glacier and a visit deep inside one of the world's largest man-made ice caverns. The tour is suitable for everyone that enjoys the outdoors, flora, fauna, nature photography, short hikes in the wild and experiencing spectacular scenery, combines with activities, soft adventure, sightseeing and relaxation.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Reykjavik
Accommodation: Reykjavik Fosshotel

WELCOME TO ICELAND (50 km/31 mls)

The Flybus shuttle brings you from Keflavík International airport to Reykjavík where you spend the first night in Iceland. We provide you with ideas how to explore Iceland's capital on your own.

 
Day 2     Reykjavik - Blue Lagoon - Grindavik - Westman Islands
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

BLUE LAGOON & WESTMAN ISLANDS (235 km/146 mls)

At 09:00 meet your tour guide and fellow group members. We head out to the Reykjanes Peninsula with its hot springs, mountains, bird cliffs, lunar landscapes and fishing villages. Our first stop is the famous Blue Lagoon, where we get to soak for about 2 hours in the warm mineral rich waters. After the lunch break, we explore Krýsuvík, an area with solfataras, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs. The soil is coloured bright yellow, red and green. On we go to Gænavatn, a lake in an explosion crater, and travel towards the south through large lava fields, along with mountains and the Atlantic ocean. Around 5 pm we take a short ferry ride to the Westman Islands and stay for one night at Hotel Vestmannæjar. Welcome dinner is included.

 
Day 3     Westman Islands - Vatnajokull Glacier
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

WESTMAN ISLANDS & VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK (230 km/143 mls)

Today we explore the town of Heimaey and this extraordinary island by foot and by bus. The volcanic eruption in 1973 is considered the largest natural disaster in Iceland in recent history. The eruption began on January 23rd on the island of Heimaey, the only populated island in the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. After the evacuation of the inhabitants, and during the 5 months while the eruption lasted, there was much uncertainty as to whether or not the island could ever be repopulated. During our tour to the Westman Islands, we explore bird cliffs, walk up the volcano crater and visit "Pompeii of the North", a volcanic excavation project. You have the afternoon free to wander around the town of Heimaey, with its birds and signs of recent volcanic eruptions. Depending on weather conditions an optional 1,5-hour boat trip is offered around the Westman Islands to experience lively bird cliffs, an interesting lava coastline and colourful ocean caves. Sometimes puffins and occasionally whales can be spotted. We travel with the 4 pm ferry back to the mainland and a long bus journey takes us to Hotel Skaftafell at the Vatnajökull National Park, where we stay for 2 nights. Tonight a 3-course dinner is included.

 
Day 4     Vatnajokull Glacier - Jokulsarlon
Meals: Breakfast

VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK (120 km/75 mls)

We start the day with a visit to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, one of the most beautiful and dramatic spots in the whole of Iceland, and enjoy an amphibian boat ride among floating icebergs. Huge pieces of ice calve from the glacier and end up floating in the lagoon and out to sea. Many of you might recognise the glacier and ice lagoon from such films as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and James Bond: Die Another Day! We also take a walk alongside the lagoon and on the black sandy shores, called Diamond Beach, and look for seals and stranded icebergs. In the afternoon we visit the tiny turf church at Hof and spend time at Europe’s largest national park, which has Iceland’s highest mountains, an alpine environment, and Europe's largest glacier. We hike up to the waterfall Svartifoss, which is surrounded by black basalt columns. From there to Sjónsker view cliff, where we have a magnificent view of Mount Hvannadalshnjúkur, Iceland's highest mountain, and the area that was flooded during an eruption under the ice cap in the year 1996. The area has a lot to offer for nature lovers. Overnight at Hotel Skaftafell and dinner on your own.

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Day 5     Vik
Meals: Breakfast

SOUTH COAST (310 km/192 mls)

Fjadrarglufur Canyon is an amazing and spectacular gorge and has the WOW factor. There is an easy walk on a good path to the right of the gorge, taking you up high to the top end of the canyon. There are spectacular views at several places on the way. The scenery is breathtaking. The next stop is the Vik in Myrdalur, which is the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland. The area has a rich birdlife, including puffins, fulmars and guillemots. The world-famous Reynisfjara shore, near the village Vik, is widely regarded as the most impressive black sand and pebble beach in Iceland and features an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns resembling a rocky step pyramid. Out in the sea are the spectacularly shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. According to folklore, two trolls attempted to drag a ship to land but were turned to stone as daylight broke, turning them into the Reynisdrangar stacks, clearly visible from the beach. Further west we reach the 60-meter high Skógafoss waterfall. We travel along the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier and volcano and visit the narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall with a trail that leads behind the fall – but you must be prepared to get wet! We end the day at the new and interesting Lava Centre, an interactive, high-tech educational exhibition depicting volcanic activity, earthquakes and the creation of Iceland over millions of years. For the next two nights, we stay at Hotel Örk in Hveragerði, known for its l outdoor geothermal swimming pool and hot tubs. Dinner on your own.

 
Day 6     Vik - Fludir - Gullfoss Waterfall - Hveragerdi
Meals: Breakfast

SECRET LAGOON, GULLFOSS, GEYSIR & KERLINGAFJÖLL (300 km/186 mls)

We start the day at the “Secret Lagoon”, a natural hot spring in a small village called Flúðir, where you can get a true Icelandic bathing experience. The surroundings of the geothermal pools and its steam rising into the air give a magical feeling to the place. Next, we explore Gullfoss, the beautiful double “Golden Falls” that tumbles 34 meters into the Hvítá river and attracts tourists and travellers all year. Our spectacular Iceland exploration takes us into the Icelandic Highlands, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. The Kerlingarfjöll mountain massif is colourful and rich in contrasts with its peaks and valleys, glaciers and snowfields and all that lively geothermal activity, tempting both hikers and photographers alike. We hike about 2 hours and discover fuming steam vents, boiling mud pots and hot streams close to snow and ice. In the evening we visit the active geothermal area of Geysir, where we can see Strokkur “the churn” spout up to 25 meters (70 feet) every five to seven minutes. Overnight in Hveragerdi and dinner on your own.

 
Day 7     Hveragerdi - Husafell - Langjokull - Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

ÞINGVELLIR, KALDIDALUR, GLACIER CAVE & WEST ICELAND (300 km/186 mls)

In the morning we travel to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an area of exceptional geological and historical interest. The gravel mountain road Kaldidalur takes us to Husafell in West Iceland for a once-in-a-lifetime tour to visit the man-made ice tunnel and caves located on one of Europe's largest glaciers, Langjökull. The caverns are composed of an extensive system of tunnels and chambers that stretch close to 300 metres into the solid ice cap towards a breathtaking natural ice cave at the heart of the glacier. Making your way inside the glacier you are able to explore various nooks and chambers and see a huge ice crevasse. As you walk further along the tunnel, the ice gets older and its colour gradually changes from white to deep blue. The trip includes an 8-wheel drive monster truck expedition on the glacier. In the afternoon we visit the magnificent Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. The water seems to magically appear from underneath the lava cascading over a long and moss covered lava wall, falling into a bright turquoise-colored river. Our final stop for today is at Deildartungahver, Europe's most powerful hot spring in terms of volume of water produced. The water that flows here is boiling and sizzling, quite unique. We travel along Hvalfjörður Fjord and reach Reykjavík in the evening. Overnight in Iceland's capital and farewell dinner in a downtown restaurant.

 
Day 8     Reykjavik
Meals: Breakfast

The Flybus airport shuttle picks you up at your hotel and takes you to Keflavik airport.

 

Notes

Highlights And Experiences
Overnight On The Westman Islands

Monster truck tour, ice cave visit, boat trip on glacial lagoon among floating icebergs

Geothermal bathing at the Blue Lagoon & Secret Lagoon

Exploring coastline and interior highlands, glaciers and volcanoes

Several easy hikes in Iceland's finest nature locations

Entrance to Pompeii of the North and the new Lava Centre in South Iceland

Specially selected hotel at amazing locations

Small group program with maximum 20 persons

Total mileage in 6 days is about 1.495 km (928 miles) which is an average of 250 km (155 miles) per day. You spend about 3,5 hours per day on the bus, depending on road conditions, traffic and daily distances. On some days, especially in the interior highlands, the driving might be longer than on some other days.

Price Includes
Daily Breakfast
Monster Truck Tour on LangjöKull Glacier and Ice Cave Visit
Arrival and Departure Transfer by Flybus Airport Shuttle (no Guide)
Escorted Coach Tour With an English Speaking Guide or Driver-Guide
7 Nights Accommodation in Rooms With Private Facilities
3X 3-Course Dinner (Day 2, 3 and 5)
Visit to Two National Parks
Entrance With Towel to Blue Lagoon
Ferry To/from Westman Islands
Entrance to Pompeii of the North Exhibition
Boat Trip on Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon
Entrance to Lava & Volcano Exhibition in HvolsvöLlur
Entrance & Towel to Secret Lagoon
Price Does Not Include
 Air
 Optional Excursions
GJT-1269
1.28.15.WP26