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 Small group
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Walk among the glaciers, mountains and volcanoes of Iceland.

Explore the beautifully rugged landscapes of Iceland’s western peninsulas with soaring coastal cliffs, centuries-old volcanic glaciers and idyllic waterfalls on a nine-day Premium adventure. Enjoy a boat cruise between icebergs at Glacier Lagoon, trek around vast waterside craters, visit local artisans in Grundarfjordur and charming fishing villages, and dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean. See the highlights of Iceland with expert local knowledge and time to explore – you’ll get a true taste of this Northern European outpost.

Why you’ll love this trip

  • Witness the diversity of Iceland’s natural phenomena – rootless craters, glacial lakes and geothermal lagoons. Visit Gulfoss, Iceland’s largest waterfall, the famous Blue Lagoon, and drive through fields of lava.
  • Get to know Iceland’s gentle giants on board an eco-friendly carbon neutral sailing boat. This Exclusive Experience allows you to respectfully and silently spot whales with the help of an expert guide.
  • Step into Iceland’s history during your Feature Stay at the country’s oldest hotel. Enjoy personal and friendly service and old-fashioned touches, from antique furniture to original architecture.
  • Gain an insight into how the eruption of Eyafjallajokull volcano in 2010 has affected the lives of the residents in the Hvolsvollur Valley, then take part in their tree planting project during this Exclusive Experience.
  • From a soak in the Deildartunguhver Hot Spring to a visit to a local artist’s stone carving workshops and a tasting session of Icelandic specialties, your Exclusive Experiences will deepen your understanding of Icelandic culture.

Itinerary

Map of Premium Iceland including Iceland

Day 1: Reykjavik

Welcome to Iceland! Your adventure begins in Reykjavik, Iceland’s quirky capital. You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel in a shared airport shuttle, where you will meet your group and tour leader for a 6pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, take a stroll and acquaint yourself with the world’s northernmost capital. Perhaps visit the National Museum to see the permanent exhibition on the history of Iceland. After your welcome meeting, head out with your leader and small group to get to know Reykjavik’s flourishing food scene. Enjoy dinner at one of the city’s fantastic local restaurants and learn about Icelandic produce and cuisine.

Day 2: Thingvellir National Park / Borgarfjordur / Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Today you’ll board a private vehicle and drive to Thingvellir National Park (Parliament Plains) – your leader will explain how this stunning spot is both the original location of Iceland’s first parliament from AD930 and a geological phenomenon. From here enter the Borgarfjordur area and visit the spectacular waterfalls of Hraunfossar (Lava waterfalls) and Barnafossar (Children’s waterfalls). Continue to Deildartunguhver – Europe’s hottest water spring. In the afternoon head to your overnight stay in the southern part of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Once settled in, meet up with your group for an included dinner.

Day 3: Snaefellsnes Peninsula / Skagafjordur

Today you will continue around the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and its magnificent glacier Snaefellsjokull, an icecap covering a dormant volcano underneath. Places you’ll visit today include basaltic pebble beaches framed by strange lava formations, and Arnarstapi, where a short stroll along the coastal cliffs gives you access to the rich birdlife and other wonders of nature. Continue to the pretty town of Grundarfjordur, where you’ll stop and meet a local artist by the name of Liston, who will show you his workshop. This is a great opportunity to admire his stone carving pieces and to find out about the life of a local artisan. Afterwards, drive to Saudarkrokur in Iceland’s north, located on beautiful Skagafjordur Fjord. Here you will find the family-run Hotel Tindastoll, Iceland’s oldest hotel and your Feature Stay accommodation for the evening. You’ll experience a part of Iceland’s history as soon as you step through the door, and nods to the hotel’s past are everywhere; from antique furniture to original architecture. Enjoy personal and friendly service, a delightful courtyard with a thermal hot tub and absolutely incredible surroundings.

Day 4: Trollaskagi Peninsula / Akureyri

Drive around the picturesque Trollaskagi Peninsula and visit the small fishing town of Siglufjordur. Explore the compact town centre, dwarfed by towering mountains on three sides, and opening up to the fjord on its northern side. Further along the stunning coast you’ll have the special opportunity to dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean and enjoy an Icelandic schnapps tasting, accompanied with some local delicacies. You group leader will offer you some specialties of the region – think shark, lamb’s head, liver sausage and dried fish. They’re not called delicacies for nothing! Continue to the town of Akureyri, Iceland’s second town, where you will have the afternoon to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps visit the church – the unique building is an iconic symbol of the town.

Day 5: Husavik / Lake Myvatn / Egilsstadir

Head to the town of Husavik and spend the morning getting to know the gentle giants of Iceland’s waters on board an eco-friendly and carbon neutral electric boat. Minke and humpback whales are commonly spotted in these parts, and the silent boat keeps a respectful distance from the whales, allowing you to observe them in their natural environment without disturbing or distressing them. You’ll be joined on board by an expert whale watching guide who will help to spot these beautiful creatures while providing insight on their lives and habitats in Arctic waters. After an exciting morning of whale watching, drive to the mighty waterfall of Godafoss, also known as The Waterfall of the Gods. Continue to Lake Myvatn, one of the most interesting geological areas of the northern hemisphere. Visit a number of geological anomalies lining the lake’s shoreline, including the lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir and the pseudo-crater group at Skutustadir, and the boiling mud pots and sulphuric vents of Namaskard. Your leader will be on hand to explain how these natural wonders came to be. Drive via the highlands to your overnight stop at Egilsstadir.

Day 6: East Fjords / Jokulsarlon

This morning after breakfast, continue along the beautiful coastal region of Iceland’s East Fjords, taking in spectacular views of the varied landscape as soaring mountains give way to deep fjords. If you are lucky you may even spot a seal or two. Drive to the famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon for an unforgettable boat tour on the milky blue waters. Get up close and personal with huge floating icebergs, originating from Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest ice cap. Carry on to some of the country’s most impressive, uninterrupted scenery to Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon, your hotel for this evening. This modern and contemporary hotel carefully considers its surroundings as spacious rooms with huge windows show off views of the mountains and sea, while stylish interiors reflect the colours of the world outside. This evening you’ll enjoy an included dinner at the excellent on-site restaurant serving up a creative list of dishes made with local Icelandic produce.

Day 7: Skaftafell National Park / South Coast / Fludir

Visit Skaftafell National Park and walk to the tongue of the glacier of the same name. Drive over the black sands and lava formations caused by the Laki eruption of 1782-1783, an event that has shaped Iceland’s history and culture. Pass by the village of Vik, then continue to the beautiful scenery of Iceland’s South Shore, with sights including the Solheimajokull glacier and the towering black rocks of Reynisdrangar. If the sky is clear you will be able to see the Eyafjallajokull volcano. In the afternoon, visit the waterfalls of Seljarlandsfoss and Skogafoss, then stop off at an eco-farm in the Hvolsvollur Valley – the leader in responsible tourism and sustainability in Iceland. Since the arrival of the first settlers to Iceland, deforestation has taken place in order to make space for pastures. The owners implemented a planting project on their land to contribute to lowering CO2 and counteract soil erosion. Join the effort and head out into the hills surrounding the property to plant trees yourself. Later in the day, continue to your base for the evening near Fludir. You may like to pay a visit to the Secret Lagoon, a natural geothermal pool warmed by the nearby hot springs.

Day 8: Golden Circle / Reykjavik

From Fludir, drive to the geyser geothermal area for the spouting hot springs of Geysir (after which all other geysers were named) and Strokkur, the most reliable of the geysers, erupting every ten minutes, on average. Don’t stand downwind if you don’t want a hot shower! Then it’s on to Gullfoss (the Golden Waterfall) where, on a sunny day, you can see rainbows shimmer in the spray above the waterfall. Next up take part in one of Iceland’s most celebrated activities during a visit to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by a black lava field. Its warm waters are rich in minerals and silica mud, said to cleanse and soften the skin. Sit back and enjoy a relaxing soak against a remarkable mountain backdrop. Drive back to Reykjavik for a short tour with your leader to get to know the main sights of this eclectic city. The evening is free for you to explore the streets of Iceland’s capital – you may like to join your group for a final dinner together to round off your adventure.

Day 9: Reykjavik

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. As there is not much time spent in Reykjavik on this trip, you may want to consider booking some additional days in the capital. If you wish to spend more time here, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Inclusions 

Meals

8 breakfasts, 4 dinners

Transport

Private minibus with free Wi-Fi

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (7 nights), Feature stay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Reykjavik – Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Borgarfjordur – Deildartunguhver Hot Spring
  • Golden Circle – Thingvellir National Park (Parliament Plains)
  • Borgarfjordur – Hraunfossar & Barnafoss Waterfalls
  • Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Snaefellsjokull, Arnarstapi & Stykkisholmur
  • Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Liston’s Stone Carving Workshop
  • Trollaskagi Peninsula – Siglufjordur
  • Trollaskagi Peninsula – Icelandic Specialties Tasting
  • Myvatn – Godafoss Waterfall
  • Myvatn – Lake Myvatn
  • Myvatn – Namaskard Boiling Mud Pools, Dimmuborgir & Skutustadir Crater Group
  • Husavik – Whale Watching Excursion
  • Jokulsarlon – Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride
  • East Fjords – Scenic Drive
  • South Coast – Reynisdrangar & Solheimajokull Glacier
  • South Coast – Laki Lava Fields
  • South Coast – Seljalandsfoss & Skogafoss Waterfalls
  • Hvolsvollur Valley – Responsible Travel Tree Planting Activity
  • Reykjavik – Walking Tour
  • Golden Circle – Strokkur Geyser & Gullfoss Waterfalll
  • Reykjanes Peninsula – Blue Lagoon

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

 

 

INT – P – BIPK

Images courtesy of Intrepid Group 

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