Totally Iceland

Reykjavik - Golden Circle - Kirkjubaerklaustur. The day begins with a pick-up at 8:00am (see the tour Trip Notes and your booking documentation for information about the pick up point).

Our first stops are the three renowned attractions of the Golden Circle. UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park holds a special place in the heart of every Icelander. Established in 930 CE, the Icelandic parliament is the oldest continually operating parliament in the world. Here, you will see Ingvallavatn, which houses the Silfra fissure that dives between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The cliff of the Rift Valley runs directly through the National Park.

Next, our tour takes you to the geothermally active hot spring area of Geysir in the Golden Circle. Although the Great Geysir, which lent its name to all geysers, is now inactive, Strokkur, a nearby hot spring, erupts stunningly every 5 to 10 minutes. The final Golden Circle stop is Gullfoss waterfall, where you can witness the powerful falls thundering through a rugged canyon, dropping 32 metres in two stages.

Following the Golden Circle, we embark on a scenic drive along the beautiful south coast, making a stop at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Here, you have the unique opportunity to walk behind the elegantly cascading falls and truly feel the power of nature. Next, we visit the picturesque Skogafoss waterfall, where the water crashes over ancient sea cliffs that mark the coastline from long ago. The spray from the falls often creates beautiful single or double rainbows, adding to the site’s allure.

The day’s final stop is at Reynisfjara black sand beach, home to the legendary Reynisdrangar peaks. Legend has it that these rock formations are trolls turned to stone by the morning sun. You will also see the breathtaking basalt column cave as you stroll along the beach. After a full day of sightseeing, we head to a country hotel near the charming village of Kirkjubaerklaustur on the South Coast. From September to April, your guide will offer special tips on spotting the Northern Lights in the area.

Please note: This tour is modular, meaning it is made up of separate excursions and activities. You will have different guides and will be joined by different groups for each section of the itinerary. All of the tour inclusions remain the same.

Kirkjubaerklaustur - Skaftafell and Vatnajokull National Park - Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon - Hof. We start our day with breakfast and check out, continuing our journey along the southern coast towards Skaftafell and Vatnajokull National Park.

Our first stop is Skaftafell, where we'll embark on a glacier hike (May - September) guided by a certified glacier guide or an ice cave tour (October - April). For the glacier hike you will be equipped with crampons and all necessary glacier gear, and we will explore one of Vatnajokull's outlet glaciers. These glaciers feature crevasses, moulins that can reach the glacier's base, and a range of breathtaking vistas. If partaking in the ice cave tour, we head inside the glacier interior - new caves form here each year.

After the glacier hike or ice cave tour, our cozy minibus will transport us to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. As we approach, you'll see majestic icebergs floating serenely, having broken off from the retreating Breidarmerkurjokull glacier. Sometimes, seals can be spotted playing among these ice sculptures. The lagoon has served as a filming location for several movies, including James Bond films.

Next, we visit Diamond Beach, a black sand beach near the Glacier Lagoon where icebergs are washed ashore. These icebergs, resembling translucent diamonds or giant quartz crystals, rest on the coal-black sand, earning it the nickname "Crystal Beach." In the evening, we'll relax at comfortable accommodation in Hof.

Hof - Djupivogur - Egilsstadir. Today, we will explore the East Fjords of Iceland. Our journey continues along the coastline, navigating narrow roads around Hvalnes - a magnificent and remote peninsula. Our first stop will be Djupivogur, a traditional small fishing village known for its outdoor sculpture, Eggin i Gledivik (The Eggs of Merry Bay) and a rich variety of birdlife.

Next, we head to the Wilderness Centre. Located just 40 minutes from Egilsstadir, this unique accommodation offers a cozy overnight stay. While there, immerse yourself in local history at their wilderness museum and relax in the complimentary hot pots. In winter, the area transforms into a Northern Lights wonderland, offering a stunning view of the Aurora Borealis.

Egilsstadir - Studlagil Canyon - Dimmuborgir - Akureyri. Today promises to be filled with breathtaking highlights in North Iceland. Our journey begins with a visit to Studlagil Canyon, renowned for its dramatic basalt columns framing a stunning turquoise glacial river. Next, we'll take in the Dimmuborgir lava formations, where lava towers rise up above us.

Following this, we'll skirt around the edge of Lake Myvatn, with a stop at the "Waterfall of the Gods", Godafoss. There's an optional Myvatn Nature Baths add-on which you can book with us. Here, you can enjoy a therapeutic dip in the hot spring pools. The geothermally heated water in the baths is rich in minerals, alkaline, and soothing for the skin, with no additional chemicals like chlorine required.

Feeling refreshed, we continue to Akureyri, Iceland's second city. If visiting in winter, the clear skies around the city are a great place to hopefully see the Northern Lights.

Please note: Road conditions in winter sometimes prevent us from reaching Studlagil Canyon. If it is not possible to visit, your tour guide will replace this excursion with another at their expert discretion!

Akureyri - Dalvik - Trollaskagi Peninsula - Siglufjordur - Laugarbakki. We begin our day with a drive through Akureyri, heading towards the picturesque fishing town of Dalvik. Here we enjoy an included 3-hour whale-watching boat tour across Eyjafjordur Fjord, where you'll have the opportunity to spot whales, dolphins, and other remarkable marine life. Common sightings include humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with occasional glimpses of seals and blue whales.

Our journey continues along a scenic road flanked by some of Iceland's best mountains and the magnificent fjord, as we circle around the Trollaskagi Peninsula. En route, we pass charming villages and hamlets before arriving at Siglufjordur. Known in the early 20th century as the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic, Siglufjordur thrived during a herring boom that gave the town a gold-rush-like atmosphere. Although the herring shoals have since vanished, the rich history and character of that era are well-preserved.

We then travel through farmlands, dotted with fields of Icelandic horses, to Laugarbakki, where we spend the night. There are further Northern Lights viewing opportunities for travellers in winter.

Laugarbakki - Borgarfjordur - Reykholt - Borgarnes. Today we travel to Borgarfjorur in West Iceland, a region that was recognized by Lonely Planet as one of the top destinations in 2016. Borgarfjordur boasts numerous natural and historical attractions. Our first stop is Grabrok, a volcano crater. We take a short hike to the top, where you can enjoy views for miles around on a clear day. Our next stop is the Deildartunguhver hot spring, alongside two stunning waterfalls: Barnafoss (often referred to as the Children's Waterfall) and Hraunfossar, which flows in delicate cascades directly from a lava field. Additionally, we will visit Reykholt, an important historical site that was once the residence of Snorri Sturluson, a renowned Icelandic historian, lawyer, politician, author of some of the Icelandic Sagas, and poet. Our day will end with a drive through the Borgarfjordur area to Borgarnes. The Northern Lights await once more on winter departures.

Borgarnes - Snaefellsnes Peninsula - Reykjavik. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before our expert guide for the Snaefellsnes Peninsula picks us up at 8:00. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula is a truly magical place, offering a diverse range of scenery that includes sharp coves with rugged cliffs, black pebble and sand beaches, and a shimmering glacier.

Our first stop is the coastal village of Arnarstapi, where we can see the natural rock arch of Midgja and the 19th century church. There's a lunch stop in Hellnar (lunch not included) before we head into Snaefellsnes National Park. Here we can stroll around the moss-covered lava landscapes and admire views of the Snæfellsjokull glacier, famously chosen by Jules Verne as the entry point to the underworld in his novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth."

Next, we journey to the magnificent black pebble beach at Djupalonssandur, framed by uniquely shaped cliffs. You will have time to explore the beach and even try lifting the stones that fishermen once used to test their strength. The beauty of this coastline is contrasted by its treacherous nature, evidenced by the remains of the British trawler Epine, which was shipwrecked here.

On our return journey to Reykjavik, we drive through legendary scenery, with a stop at Kirkjufell, often cited as the most photographed mountain in Iceland. After a week of sensational sights and thrilling adventures, we will drop you off in Reykjavik at around 20:00.