8-Day Small Group Journey Around Iceland

The first day out is an early one, with pickup arranged from your Reykjavík hotel between 07:30 and 08:00 am. The day is spent exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, often called “Iceland in Miniature” for the way it brings together many of the country’s defining landscapes in one region. After a full day on the road, you’ll return to your hotel in Reykjavík for the night.

The drive takes you north through the town of Borgarnes before continuing to Ytri Tunga, a quiet stretch of golden sand known for its seal colony. From there, you’ll visit Arnarstapi, where the coastline is shaped by cliffs, sea arches, and birdlife.

The route continues to Djúpalónssandur, a black pebble beach once used by fishing crews, and onward to Hólahólar, a lesser-known group of volcanic craters tucked just off the main road.

The day ends with a stop in the fishing village of Ólafsvík, followed by a visit to Kirkjufell Mountain and nearby Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall — one of the most recognizable views in the region.

Your guide meets the group at the hotel in Reykjavík at 08:45.

From there, the journey heads north through the Hvalfjörður tunnel toward the village of Borgarnes, and then continues toward Skagafjörður, a fjord known for its deep roots in horse breeding. This is the only region in Iceland where horses outnumber people, and it's long been considered the home of the Icelandic horse.

Along the way, you’ll stop at Glaumbær, a preserved turf farm offering a quiet look into Icelandic rural life from centuries past. After the visit, the drive continues over the Öxnadalsheiði plateau and into Akureyri, often called the capital of the north. You'll check in to your hotel and settle in for the night.

Guests who have booked the optional visit to the Forest Lagoon will be driven directly from the hotel to the bathing area upon arrival in Akureyri. After the visit, a return transfer back to the hotel is included.

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

Day Highlights

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

Included

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

After breakfast at the hotel the day begins with a drive out of Akureyri and toward the volcanic landscapes around Lake Mývatn. The drive takes about an hour and a half, with a stop at Goðafoss along the way — a wide, powerful waterfall tied to Iceland’s conversion to Christianity and often called the Waterfall of the Gods.

The Mývatn area is shaped by ongoing geothermal activity and features a mix of craters, lava fields, and unusually rich birdlife. You’ll visit Dimmuborgir, where volcanic formations rise like ruined towers, and walk the edge of the Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters, formed by steam explosions centuries ago. A short stop is made at Grjótagjá, a small lava cave with a geothermal spring, and at the Námaskarð geothermal area, where the earth hisses and bubbles through fumaroles and hot mud pools.

In the afternoon, the journey continues east with a visit to Dettifoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. From there, the route crosses the highland plateau of Möðrudalsöræfi, through Jökuldalur, and into Egilsstaðir, where you’ll stay overnight.

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

The day begins with a drive from Egilsstaðir through the Eastfjords, one of the quieter regions of the country. The road follows narrow fjords bordered by steep cliffs, with small fishing villages tucked into the shoreline. Though often overlooked, this part of Iceland offers wide views, quiet roads, and glimpses of daily life in some of the most remote communities in the country.

Weather in the East can be among the sunniest in summer, though winter sometimes draws a fog that settles low over the sea. This is also the only region in Iceland where wild reindeer still roam. Originally brought here for farming, the reindeer were never domesticated and have lived freely ever since.

In the afternoon, guests who have booked the optional Glacier Jeep Adventure will be picked up from the hotel in Höfn and driven to the meeting point at Vagnsstaðir, about 40 minutes away. The tour takes you onto Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, in a specially equipped super jeep. Over the course of 3 to 4 hours, you’ll travel across snow-covered terrain and take in the quiet scale of the highlands. After the tour, a shuttle will return you to the hotel. (The Glacier Jeep Adventure requires a minimum of four participants to operate.)

We stay overnight in Höfn, known as the Lobster Town of Iceland.

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

Day Highlights

• The East Fjords of Iceland
• Höfn
• Glacier Jeep Adventure (optional)

Included

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

The day begins with a drive from Höfn along the southeast coast. The first stop is at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where you’ll take an amphibian boat tour among icebergs that have broken off from the glacier tongue Breiðamerkurjökull. The lagoon began forming about 60 years ago and is still shaped daily by the slow movement and calving of the glacier. On nearby Breiðamerkursandur, pieces of ice wash ashore and scatter across the black sand — giving the beach its name, Diamond Beach.

From there, the route continues through Vatnajökull National Park, with views of Öræfajökull glacier, where Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland’s highest peak at 2,119 meters, stands above the landscape. The drive takes you across the moss-covered lava fields of Eldhraun and the wide, black glacial plains of Mýrdalssandur.

You’ll pass through the village of Vík before stopping at Reynisfjara, a black sand beach known for its basalt columns, nesting seabirds, and powerful waves. The surf here can be unpredictable, so caution is needed when approaching the shoreline. From the beach, you’ll also see Dyrhólaey, a natural rock arch shaped by the sea.

The final stops of the day are at two of Iceland’s best-known waterfalls — Skógafoss, a wide curtain of water at the base of Eyjafjöll, and Seljalandsfoss, where it’s possible to walk behind the falls. Waterproof layers are recommended for both visits.

Overnight in the Selfoss area.

Day Highlights

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

Included

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

The day is spent exploring the Golden Circle, a region that brings together some of Iceland’s most visited natural and historical sites.

The first stop is Gullfoss, a two-tiered waterfall known for its scale and force. From there, the route continues to the Geysir geothermal area, where steam rises from the earth and hot springs bubble beneath the surface. The original Geysir is now quiet, but nearby Strokkur erupts every few minutes.

The final stop of the day is Þingvellir National Park, a place of both geological and cultural significance. This is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates pull slowly apart, forming a visible rift in the land. It’s also where Iceland’s first parliament, Alþingi, was established in the year 930 — a site that still holds meaning for many Icelanders today.

From Þingvellir, the road leads back to Reykjavík, where you'll return to your hotel for the night.

Guests who have booked the optional visit to the Blue Lagoon will be taken directly to the bathing area upon arrival in the city. The package includes entrance, a silica mud mask, use of a towel, one drink of your choice, and return transfers. After the visit, a shuttle will bring you 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
• Blue Lagoon (optional)

Included

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

Your journey through Iceland comes to a close. After breakfast and checkout you can explore Reykjavík on your own or start heading to the airport for your flight. 

To make your departure as easy as possible we offer an optional private transfer during booking that takes you straight to Keflavík 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

Iceland’s weather is famously unpredictable, so packing smart is key to making the most of your trip, whatever the conditions.

Here are a few essentials to bring along:

• Remember to bring a bathing suit for the Forest Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. Even if you did not book it ahead of time there's room to change your mind.
• Warm layers – It’s often colder inland than in Reykjavík.
• Waterproof clothing – Sudden rain showers are common
• Snacks and Drinks – Your guide will also stop at places where you can buy refreshments.
• Fully charged phone and camera – Even at the Blue Lagoon you can bring your phone into the lagoon.
• Waterproof case for phone and/or camera.
• Hiking boots – Sturdy footwear is a must for rugged terrain.