With so much to discover and explore, this comprehensive tour highlights natural wonders, majestic landscapes and unique character. The classic, circle route provides an ideal mix of culture and nature, with the opportunity to see the best that Iceland has to offer. In the countryside, you are are far away from any light pollution, which increases your chances of seeing the fabled Northern Lights. For another Escorted, circle tour of Iceland see our Iceland Exploration tour.
Itinerary
Day 1 Reykjavík Arrival
Coach transfer from Keflavík Airport to your hotel or nearest bus stop in Reykjavík. Remainder of the day at leisure to explore this fascinating, far Northern city. The city centre is only small and is characterised by eclectic, colourful houses, good shopping and dining. Having established itself as a haven for food lovers, numerous restaurants take advantage of an abundance of local seafood, meat and game. There are also many wonderful museums including the National Museum, Reykjavík 871+2 Settlement Museum and National Gallery. Evening welcome meeting with your tour escort and fellow travellers. Overnight in Reykjavik at Berjaya Iceland Reykjavik Natura Hotel or similar.
Optionals that can be pre-booked (depending on flight arrival time/additional nights in Reykjavík): Blue Lagoon Comfort package; Northern Lights & Stargazing Hunt 3hrs.
Day 2 Reykjavík - Vík: Golden Circle and South Shore
Start your adventure by visiting the fascinating Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Centre. You’ll get a great introduction to northern lights, how they are formed and the folklore surrounding them. You’ll also get tips about how to capture northern lights on film. Continue to two of the Golden Circle's natural wonders. Explore Gullfoss, the beautiful Golden Falls and nearby Geysir hot spring area to watch the famous Strokkur, as well as numerous other hot springs and boiling mud pools. Continue along the south shore and stop to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before continuing to Dyrhólaey and the black sand beaches of Iceland’s South Shore. Continue to the village of Vík. Overnight in the Vík area at Katla Hotel KEA or similar. If weather conditions are right, your guide will take you on a northern lights hunt on foot in the area outside your hotel tonight, or on one of the other evenings that you are staying in the countryside.
Day 3 Vík - Skaftafell - Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon - Höfn
Today we continue our journey east to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area within huge Vatnajökull National Park, to stunning Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, the birth place of icebergs. Throughout the day you will enjoy magnificent views of mighty Vatnajökull Glacier, which dominates south eastern Iceland. Nearby is Diamond Beach, named for the shrinking icebergs that settle on the black sands before drifting out to sea. Overnight in the Höfn area at Hotel Höfn or similar.
Day 4 Höfn - East Fjords - Egilsstaðir
Drive from Höfn through Almannaskarð pass with a stop to admire Iceland's majestic coastline. Continue alongside towering mountains which plunge vertically into the sea and form the magnificent East Fjords. Also pass through coastal fjord villages en route to Egilsstaðir area. Visit the Beljandi Microbrewery and sample some of the beer. Overnight in the Eastfjords area at Valaskjalf Hotel or similar.
Day 5 Lake Mývatn Area
Explore the empty vastness of Möðrudalsöræfi highland desert plateau, then head towards Lake Mývatn area. After a stop at Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, we continue onwards to Námaskarð pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colours. We explore the natural beauty of Lake Mývatn area, with it's very diverse birdlife, pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir and Laxá salmon river. Overnight in the Mývatn area at Laxa Hotel or Fosshotel Mývatn or similar.
Optionals that can be pre-booked: Mývatn Nature Baths entry 2hrs.
Day 6 Lake Mývatn Area - Akureyri - Siglufjörður
Start the day by exploring the peculiar lava forms at Dimmuborgir, then visit magnificent Goðafoss Waterfall and the old turf farm, Laufás. Onwards to Akureyri, Capital of the North, with it's beautiful views along Eyjafjörður. After some time here, we continue along coastal roads to Troll Peninsula, a stunning place of black sand coastline with steep mountains and amazing views over the Arctic Sea. We reach Siglufjörður, set in a lovely fjord of the same name - the town has some of Iceland's best timber buildings, beautifully restored to their original glory, and is the perfect place for a stroll. Visit Siglufjörður's award winning Herring-Era Museum which recreates the atmosphere of the early 20th century, when the town was transformed thanks to a large migration of herring. Continue to Skagafjörður, considered one of the finest places in Iceland for historical preservation and horse breeding. Overnight in Northwest Iceland at Hofsstadir Country Hotel or similar.
Day 7 Skagafjörður - Borgarnes
Visit a local horse farm to learn about the unique Icelandic horse. Continue to Blönduós village built on both sides of the salmon river, Blanda, with Hrutey Island protected nature reserve, located in the middle. Cross Holtavörðuheiði plateau through Borgarfjordur to beautiful Borgarnes. Overnight in the Borgarnes area at Hotel Hamar or similar.
Day 8 Borgarfjordur – Þingvellir – Reykjavík
Drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world, to stop and admire beautiful Hraunfossar Waterfall, before continuing via Hvalfjordur to Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake. At Þingvellir NP, the ancient site of the world's first outdoor parliament, see where the North American and European tectonic plates meet in a stunning setting. Your journey leads back to Reykjavík. Farewell your guide and fellow travellers at your hotel. Overnight stay in Reykjavík at Berjaya Iceland Reykjavik Natura Hotel or similar.
Day 9 Reykjavík Departure
Coach transfer from your hotel or nearest bus stop to Keflavík Airport where your tour arrangements end.
2024 departures:
09, 23 October
06 November
2025 departures:
12 February
12 March
16 April
Notes:
Maximum Group Size: 24 persons
Level of accommodation:
Quality: standard rooms with private facilites in hotels, guesthouses & farmhouse accommodation. 4 star hotel in Reykjavik.
Pre and post nights can be added in Reykjavík - please enquire
