Iceland Summer Tour

Categories Summer Tours Iceland on Sale! Adventure & Eco Travel Escorted Tours

Scenic Southern Iceland is a wonderland of nature's beauty.

A tour of the beautiful South coast, where we will explore some of Iceland's most interesting and beautiful locations. This is a guided coach tour.

Of a population numbering just over a quarter of a million, half live in the capital, Reykjavik, and its neighboring towns in the southwest. Keflavik International Airport is located about 50km from the capital. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most of the population is situated along the coast.

In spite of its mid-Atlantic location, Iceland is on Greenwich Mean Time all year round. There is a five-hour time difference between New York and Iceland. Iceland is served only by Icelandair from the USA with departures from New York, Boston, Seattle and Minneapolis. Flight time is about 5-6 hours from the USA and 4-5 hours from Europe. Stop-overs in Iceland are allowed on flights between USA and Europe usually at no additional airfare.

A good introduction to the nature of this country along with its culture and society.

Special winter, spring and autumn departures as well as summer. See Glaciers, Geysers & Waterfalls - Winter Tour.

May & September departures 15% discount.

Itinerary

Arrive in Reykjavik and transfer to hotel on your own.

Overnight at Natura Hotel Reykjavik.

The tour departs from Reykjavík where you will travel south through the greenhouse town of Hveragerði. Fertile farmland and glacial rivers abound as we continue on through the south of Iceland on the way to Skógar and Skógafoss waterfall. We visit with the farmers of Þorvaldseyri Farm located at the foot of the world famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano that last erupted in the spring of 2010. A visitors center/family run exhibit was opened in spring 2011, here guests can view a 20 minute film about the spectacular natural event. Next a stop will be made at she Skogar Folk Musem before continuing on to Sólheimajökull Glacier where an optional glacial walking tour is offered.

Dinner and overnight in Vík area.

We travel through the Catholic convent at Kirkjubæjarklaustur towards Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland’s most outstanding areas of natural beauty. The area is dominated by magnificent views of the mighty Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. We continue to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon where huge icebergs float and grind together in the still, deep waters of the lagoon.

Back to Vík area for dinner and overnight.

We travel along the south coast to Landeyjarhöfn harbor. After arriving at the pier at Bakkafjara we take a 30 minute ferry to the Westman Islands. Once there the group will explore Heimaey Island, the largest of the Westman Islands. Other adventures of the day include: a visit to the puffins in Storhofdi, a walk up to the crater of a volcano that erupted only a few years ago and exploring flora of the new lava field. After lunch the group will have some extra time to explore the Islands on their own.

Dinner and overnight in Laugarvatn or Hveragerdi area depending on season.

Note: If the route to the Westman Islands is closed due to weather conditions (spring or early summer) the tour will then continue through lava fields and outwash sands formed by floods from the volcano Katla and onwards to Laugarvatn.

We depart for the Geysir hot spring area to see the famous great Geysir and Strokkur, a hot spring that spouts every few minutes. Onwards we travel to Gullfoss one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. Your next stop is Þingvellir National Park, where the ancient parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake, before heading back to Reykjavik.

Overnight stay in Reykjavík.

Arrangements end after breakfast.

Notes