7-Day Journey Around Iceland in Quality Hotels

Our guide meets the group at the hotel in Reykjavik at 8:45 am.

We drive northwards via the tunnel of Hvalfjördur to the small village of Borgarnes and then onwards to Skagafjördur fjord, known for being one of the main homes of the Icelandic horse and the only county in Iceland where horses outnumber people. We will visit Glaumbær, a traditional turf farm that offers insight into Icelandic history and rural life. Continue over the highland plateau of Öxnadalsheidi to Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland. We head to the hotel for an overnight stay in Akureyri. 

Guests who have chosen the optional bathing at Forest Lagoon will be driven directly from the hotel to the bathing area on arrival in Akureyri. Afterward, a shuttle awaits, ready to drive visitors back to the hotel.

*prices of optional activities are shown in the next step of the booking process.

Day Highlights

• Borgarnes
• Glaumbær
• Akureyri
• Forest Lagoon (optional)

Included

• Hotel breakfast
• Morning pick up
• Guided tour in a small group
• Entry to Glaumbær Museum
• One-night accommodation

On this day, we concentrate on the beautiful area around Lake Mývatn. Lake Mývatn is a shallow lake in an area of active volcanism and boasts a high amount of biological activity. Starting from Akureyri, the drive to Mývatn takes about an hour and a half. Along the way, we stop at Goðafoss, the "Waterfall of the Gods," a stunning cascade with historical significance.

We explore the unique volcanic formations at Dimmuborgir, known as the "Dark Castles," and take a stroll around the pseudocraters at Skútustaðagígar. Another fascinating site is Grjótagjá, a small lava cave with a thermal spring inside. We also stop by the geothermal area at Námaskarð, where bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles create an otherworldly landscape.

On our way to Egilsstaðir in the east part of Iceland, we stop by Dettifoss Waterfall, reputed to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe after the Rhine Falls. We then cross Möðrudalsöræfi highland desert through Jökuldalur and to Egilsstaðir.

Overnight stay in the town of Egilsstaðir.

Day Highlights

• Lake Mývatn
• Goðafoss
• Dimmuborgir
• Skútustaðagígar
• Grjótagjá
• Námaskarð
• Dettifoss Waterfall
• Egilsstaðir

Included

• Hotel breakfast
• Guided tour in a small group
• Visit to the highlights of the North
• One-night accommodation

From Egilsstaðir, we drive through the Eastfjords to Höfn í Hornafirði. This part of the country has many narrow fjords surrounded by steep cliffs. In most of the fjords, we find small and attractive fishing villages. Visitors often overlook this part of the country despite its fantastic scenery, remote fishing villages, sparkling lakes, and traditional farms.

The region boasts the sunniest weather in the county in summer, but in winter, it is often mystically hidden by a dense fog. The area is known for its wildlife, especially for being the only part of the country where herds of wild reindeer live. Initially, locals brought them to Iceland for farming, but the industry was never profitable, and the experiment was abandoned. The reindeer are still there and have roamed free since.

Overnight at a hotel in Höfn.

Day Highlights

• The East Fjords of Iceland
• Höfn

Included

• Hotel breakfast
• Guided tour in a small group
• One-night accommodation

We leave Höfn to drive along the southeast coast of Iceland. The first stop is at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where we will take an amphibian boat tour. The Lagoon developed around 60 years ago with a continuous process of calving and falling icebergs from the glacier tongue Breiðamerkurjökull. These icebergs come in two shades: milky white and bright blue, an interplay of light and ice crystals. Below the Lagoon, the sparkling shards and orbs of ice wash up on the shore of Breiðamerkursandur, causing it to be called Diamond Beach in English.

Our tour continues further along the Vatnajökull National Park. We stop at Skaftafell, a beautiful green oasis at the root of the glacier Öræfajökull, where Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak, is located (2119 m). After a quick stop there, we drive over the lava fields of Eldhraun and observe the black glacial deposits at Mýrdalssandur outwash plain.

We pass by the village of Vík and visit the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, known for its colony of puffins, unusual geological formations and smashing tidal waves. Be careful not to step too close as the waves can be dangerous. From Reynisfjara, you can view the impressive promontory Dyrhólaey where the sea has carved an enormous hole through the rock.

Next, we stop at the two waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. At Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind the waterfall but dress well, as the water mist behind the waterfall can make you wet.

Overnight in Selfoss area.

Day Highlights

• Jökulsárlón
• Diamond Beach
• Skaftafell
• Reynisfjara beach
• Dyrhólaey
• Skógafoss
• Seljalandsfoss

Included

• Hotel breakfast
• Boat ride at Jökulsárlón
• Guided tour in a small group
• One-night accommodation

On this day, we tour the renowned Golden Circle. We start with a visit to the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall, the largest two-stepped waterfall in Iceland. Then we head to the Geysir hot spring area, home to the famous Geysir hot spring from which all other geysers take their name. Geysir is no longer active, but another hot spring, Strokkur, erupts every few minutes.

Next, we visit the National Park at Þingvellir, where the North American and European tectonic plates drift apart and create a rift valley. The ancient Icelandic parliament, Alþingi, was established at Þingvellir in 930. Now residing in Reykjavík, it is one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. Þingvellir is, consequently, a sacred place for Icelanders.

From Þingvellir, we drive on to our hotel in Reykjavik.

Guests who have chosen the optional Whale Watching will be driven directly from the hotel to the Reykjavík harbor, departure area, on arrival in Reykjavík. Afterward, a shuttle awaits, ready to drive visitors back to the hotel.

*prices of optional activities are shown in the next step of the booking process.

Day Highlights

• Gullfoss waterfall
• Geysir area
• Þingvellir
• Whale watching (optional)

Included

• Hotel breakfast
• Visit to Golden Circle highlights
• Guided tour in a small group
• One-night accommodation
• Hotel drop off in Reykjavík

Individual transfer from your hotel in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport.

*prices of optional services, including convenient airport transfer, are shown in the next step of the booking process.

Day Highlights

• Reykjavík, explore on your own

Included

• Hotel breakfast