9D Country Life

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle bus from Keflavik airport to your accommodation in Reykjavík where you spend the night.

Start your trip with a short Reykjavík city tour before heading north-west. Visit the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes and learn about the Viking Age and the Icelandic Sagas. In the afternoon, join a short hike up the Grábrók volcano crater from where you will have a perfect view over the region and its vast lava fields. Stop at the most powerful hot spring in Europe, Deildartunguhver where you will learn about geothermal energy. We continue to Hraunfossar, a unique waterfall that drains from under vast lava fields into a glacier river. Nearby is Barnafoss waterfall. Later this day enjoy Medieval Icelandic history at the cultural site in Reykholt, which was the home of the 13th-century writer, scholar and chieftain Snorri Sturluson, who wrote many sagas. Visit Snorri’s pool, one of Iceland’s most important cultural and archaeological sites.

Drive over mountain passes, lava fields, green pastures, fertile farmlands and along fjord landscape to North Iceland. Early afternoon go whale watching and sea angling for 2-3 hours in Eyjafjörður – Iceland’s longest fjord right below Arctic Circle. You will see humpback and minke whales, harbour porpoises and dolphins – The success rate to spot whales is 99%! Finish the afternoon at Akureyri – Iceland’s second-largest city – before reaching the picturesque village of Húsavík.

Start the day with a stop at Goðafoss, “the waterfall of the Gods”. Tour the Lake Mývatn area with its abundant birdlife and amazing volcanic landscapes: pseudo-craters of Skútustaðir, lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, volcano cone of Hverfjall before bathing the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths.

In the morning, explore more volcanic and geothermal areas by visiting the hot springs, fumaroles and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð, the volcano of Krafla and the explosion crater of Víti. Continue to see Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Head through the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland. Stop at Möðrudalur to visit the church at the farm. Enjoy the view of the mountain Herðubreið. In the afternoon arrive in the fertile region of Fljótsdalshérað in East Iceland.

Today admire the green valleys, high mountains, dramatic fjord landscape and tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords. Stop at the charming village of Djúpivogur. Observe the magnificent Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Embark on a boat ride among the floating icebergs on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. Walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond beach. Spend your evening in Vatnajökull National Park.

In the morning continue exploring Vatnajökull National Park. See the stratovolcano and highest peak in Iceland: Hvannadalshnjúkur. Walk close to a glacial tongue, cross a sandy desert and embrace the beautiful lava field of Eldhraun covered with blue-green moss. Stop at the black lava beach of Reynisfjara. In the little village of Skógar learn about Iceland’s early Modern history at the Skógar folk museum with its turf houses. Admire the waterfall Skógafoss. Travel along the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier and volcano and stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

Start the day by visiting the farm of Friðheimar where you will learn about Icelandic horses and greenhouse agriculture. Spend the rest of the day travelling along the Golden Circle: the waterfall of Gullfoss, the active geothermal area of Geysir and the National Park of Þingvellir National Park, the birthplace of the first Parliament and now a UNESCO world heritage site.

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport.