Deal

Set out on a journey full of dramatic contrasts. Come to know Iceland, a place where steaming lava fields reflect a volcanic nature and massive glaciers sculpt mountains and valleys, leaving behind thundering waterfalls and plunging fjords. Arrive in the capital city of Reykjavík.

Join a local expert for a walking tour of the city’s old section featuring Hallgrimskirkja church, city hall, the harbour and Reykjavík’s oldest building, home of the Kraum Icelandic design centre. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers during a grand Icelandic dinner at a popular local restaurant.

Travel the stunning Golden Circle, a route encompassing many of Iceland’s most renowned natural wonders: waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, lava fields and volcanoes. Your adventure begins with a stop at a local dairy farm. You’ll be welcomed into the family’s home to experience what a “day-in-the-life” is like for them and enjoy various cheeses that are made right there on the farm. Continue to Thingvellir National Park, where Icelanders gathered in A.D. 930 and established one of the world’s first parliaments. Find yourself standing upon one of the globe’s most geologically significant landscapes, Thingvellir’s rugged rift valley. This UNESCO site marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the meeting point of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Next, marvel at the beauty of the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) waterfall, a stunning 100-foot double cascade. Stop at the famous thermal area of Geysir to admire the hot spring Strokkur’s explosive vertical spout that reaches a height of up to 90 feet. Your day concludes with a visit to Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation centre, where you’ll learn how the locals grow delicious, pesticide-free tomatoes and cucumbers with the aid of Iceland’s geothermal energy. You’ll also learn about their family tradition of breeding Icelandic show horses.

Experience the otherworldliness of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Take in the dramatic landscapes of black and white sand beaches and rocky coastlines, soaring waterfalls and volcanic craters, intimate fishing villages, and the remarkable Snæfellsjökull glacier. It’s your choice! Select a guided Vatnshellir Cave tour* and descend 100 feet below ground to an 8,000-year-old lava tube where you’ll experience total darkness and see amazing rock pigments, lava formations, stalagmites and stalactites -OR- choose to walk the lava field and put your camera to work snapping photos of the varying textures and colours of this dramatic landscape that is truly nature’s artwork. Next, embark on a true Icelandic cultural adventure as you spend time with a family that keeps alive a 400-year-old tradition of catching and preserving the Greenland shark. See the fishing boat that their grandfather used and the tiny farmer’s church before exploring the museum, where you’ll learn more about Iceland’s deep relationship with this trade. Before you go, taste the Icelandic delicacy “hákarl” – cured shark meat. Your day concludes with a private nature cruise of Breidafjördur Bay with Seatours. Experience countless birds like puffins**, cormorants, kittiwakes and the majestic white-tailed eagle soaring amongst basalt rock columns. Whilst cruising, sample fresh scallops and sea urchin roe straight from the ocean waters. Seafood simply doesn´t come fresher than this!

Continue the adventure Travelling along Iceland’s south coast. Learn about geothermal renewable energy on a visit to Hellisheiðavirkjun, the largest power station in Iceland and the second largest geothermal power station in the world. Visit the Lava Exhibition Centre where you’ll learn about Iceland’s historical eruptions and current lava flows that make the island a showcase of volcanism. Later arrive in Vík, Iceland’s southernmost village and one of the most visited spots in Iceland.

Drive along the scenic south shore to the Skógar Museum with its turf-built houses and an outstanding collection of farm and domestic artefacts that reflect the various aspects of Icelandic life. Nearby is the impressive Skógafoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland. Next, view Reynisfjara, a black volcanic sand beach scattered with caves and surrounded by basalt columns and cliffs. The beach is also rich with bird life, such as the fulmar, black guillemot, razorbill, gannet, and various types of seagulls. Later, see the unique natural rock formations at Dyrhólaey.

Set sail among the huge icebergs of the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Keep your eyes peeled for possible seal sightings and get to taste the 1,000-year-old ice that surrounds you. Later, stop at Skaftafell, a gateway to Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in Europe. Marvel at the vistas of Iceland’s highest mountains, as well as the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest.

Before departing the south shore, make a picture stop at Seljalandsfoss, one of few waterfalls providing you with a walkway for views from the inside out. Next, it’s your choice! Perhaps you’ll embark on a drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its rugged landscape, lava fields, and numerous hot springs, including the Blue Lagoon, where you can take a dip in the pleasantly warm, mineral-rich waters of the geothermal pool located in the middle of a dramatic lava field -OR- you might prefer to further explore the wonders of Iceland’s waters during an exciting whale watching adventure in the bay of Faxaflói; have your camera ready for minke and humpback whale sightings, along with white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises in their natural habitat. Later, gather with your fellow travellers for a local dining experience and share stories of your days in Iceland.