Best of Iceland: Golden Circle & Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Arrive at any time. There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.

Included Experiences

• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Set off from Reykjavik after breakfast and enjoy the scenic journey to the Capital of the North, Akureyri. Explore Akureyri's old town. Enjoy optional lunch in one of the eateries in Akureyri and opt to go on a whale-watching tour. Eyjafjörður is a scenic spot to enjoy the local wildlife and small villages in the area. Opt to go on a whale-watching excursion.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Take some time to roam around this quaint town.

Optional Experiences

• Whale Watching from Akureyri: Head out to sea to spot whales off the coast. Some of the species spotted near Akureyri in Eyjafjörður include Bottlenose Whales, Mink, and Humpback Whales. **Please note that availability cannot be guaranteed and we recommend booking in advance**

Stop at Goðafoss waterfall en route to Mývatn lake. Explore lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the geothermal area of Námaskarð. Visit Dettifoss waterfall before arriving in Bakagerdi (Borgarfjörður) for a night in a local guesthouse. Head to Mývatn lake, stopping en route at Goðafoss waterfall. In Mývatn, explore lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the geothermal area of Námaskarð. Visit Dettifoss waterfall, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. Reach Bakagerdi (Borgarfjörður) in the East Fjords region for a night in a local guesthouse.

Included Experiences

• Godafoss Waterfall Visit: Take an excursion to one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, the Goðafoss waterfall. Measuring 12m high and 30m wide, the waterfall is a must-see and a short drive from Akureyri. While Iceland is famous for its many spectacular waterfalls, Goðafoss is a favourite for visitors because it's easily accessible by car. There are also walking paths all around the falls making it easy to take fantastic photographs from different angles.
• Myvatn Geothermal Lake Visit: Explore the beautiful scenery around Lake Mývatn. Formed during a volcanic eruption 2,300 yrs ago, the geothermal area is a haven for a massive number of birds. The nutrient rich water also attracts over ten species of migrating ducks to the area. Atlantic salmon and brown trout thrive in the river, feeding on the healthy midge fly population that swarm over the waters in the summer.
• Dimmuborgir Lava Fields Visit: Walk the marked pathways to spot arches and pillars or check out lava caves. Meaning 'dark forts' in Icelandic, Dimmuborgir is an area of lava fields with black lava formations on display in dramatic fashion.
• Námaskarð Visit: Stop at Námaskarð to see the bubbling mud pools and steaming fumaroles. There are some wooden pathways around the area but most visitors prefer to get up close to look at the pools, but be careful, the mud in this area is thick and sticky and the residue from the steam can stain clothing.
• Dettifoss Waterfall Visit: Stop at the Detiifoss Waterfall in northeast Iceland, rumored to be the most powerful in Europe, with an average water flow of 193 m3/s. Take in the view of 45m high and 100m wide falls and take some photos to show off back home.

Depart from the charming village of Bakkagerði and journey along the picturesque coastline through the majestic eastern fjords. As you travel toward Hofn, take in the stunning scenery and keep an eye out for breathtaking views of the Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest ice cap. You will be making breathtaking stops along the way that will insure a memorable experience.

Visit the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and nearby Diamond Beach, with a chance to see seals sunbathing on the bright blue ice. Opt to check out the lagoon by boat. Continue on to Skaftafell National Park with time to explore the hiking trails or choose an optional glacier hike with glacier equipment before continuing on in the evening to the small town of Vík. Marvel at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with a chance to see seals sunbathing on the bright blue ice. The massive icebergs floating towards shore tower over visitors. Opt to check out the lagoon by boat. Stop by Diamond Beach, which gets its name from chunks of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier that float to shore. As these blocks of glacier ice melt, they develop a crystal clear sheen, set against the black sand of the beach. Continue on to Skaftafell National Park with time to explore before continuing on in the evening to the small town of Vík.

Included Experiences

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Visit: Visit the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon with views of the ice cap. The lake is the lowest point in the country and filled with icebergs drifting towards the sea, often with seals lounging on top. The blocks of ice coming off the glacier are typically 30m high, in dramatic shades of white and bright blue. Stop by Diamond Beach, which gets its name from chunks of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier that float down to the coast's black sand shores. Total distance: 3km.

Optional Experiences

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride: Opt to take a boat ride around the lagoon to get closer to the floating icebergs with their seal passengers. The lagoon can be appreciated from the shore, but joining an amphibian boat tour allows you to get up close to the beautiful and unusually coloured icebergs floating in the water. This activity is offered from 1 May to 30 October, and is subject to availability. (5700-9800 ISK per person)
• Skaftafell National Park Glacier Hike: Glacier Wonders is a superb glacier hiking tour from Skaftafell into the magnificent ice world of Falljökull glacier, a tongue of the mighty Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Your certified glacier guide will show you astonishing crevasses which wind through the ice and incredible glistening ice formations. During this tour, you will learn how a living glacier moves and why this magical ice kingdom is constantly changing. Total distance: 6km. WHAT TO BRING -Warm outdoor clothing -Waterproof jacket & pants -Headwear -Gloves -Good hiking boots are essential (rental boots available ISK 1000 extra) **Please note that availability cannot be guaranteed and we recommend booking in advance**

Visit Reynisfjara beach. Continue along the Golden Circle to Drumbo. Stop at the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss. Explore the Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir Hot Springs and Þingvellir National Park. Arrive to Reykjavík in the early evening.

Included Experiences

• Reynisfjara Beach: Visit Reynisfjara Beach, just outside of Vík. Its black sand and ominous rock formations offshore make for stunning photos. Take some time to watch the foaming white waves crash over the black sand (but don’t get too close, the waves here can be extremely powerful), explore the shallow cave if weather and time permits, and get a photo of the basalt sea stacks.
• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall Visit: Seljalandsfoss is a 60m (196 ft) tall waterfall located along the popular ring road. Behind the flow of water is a path, allowing visitors to peek behind the curtain of water cascading over the rocks above.
• Gullfoss Waterfall Visit: Discover one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss, and complete the circuit known as the Golden Circle. This massive waterfall cascades over three “steps” before spilling into a large crevice. Fed by a glacier lake, the water passing through the falls can be a dark grey depending on how much sediment gets pushed through the river.
• Geysir Visit: See a variety of geothermal pools and the erupting hot spring Strokkur. Geysir is one of the oldest geysers recorded in the world, but is most often dormant. Strokkur erupts a spray of boiling hot water straight into the air about every ten minutes.
• Thingvellir National Park Visit: Stop at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, to see the tectonic faults created by North American and Eurasian tectonic plates shifting apart. The Oxara river cuts through the largest rift in the valley, Almannagja, and leads to the Oxarafoss waterfall. Iceland’s parliament was also established in the area in 930. The park was later created to protect the remains of the open-air assembly grounds.

This morning join an optional snorkeling to the Thingvellir Silfra (where the tectonic plates meet). Later in the day join Your CEO for a short walking tour of Reyjavik center and some time at the beautiful Sky Lagoon for a warm soak.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy free time to further explore Reykjavik on your own. Maybe opt to float between the tectonic plates.
• Reykjavik City Tour: Take a tour of the city, learning more about its history, architecture, people and culture.
• Sky Lagoon Geothermal Hot Springs: Enjoy a uniquely Icelandic experience, a warm geo thermal bath overlooking the water near the city.

Optional Experiences

• Snorkelling in Thingvellir National Park: Float between the American and Eurasian continental plates and explore the incredible rock formations. Located in the heart of Þingvellir National Park, with clear, narrow blue water channels, Silfra Fissure is one of Iceland’s most incredible spots for snorkelling and regularly rated as one of world's top ten dive sites. Travellers with certain medical conditions cannot participate in this activity and it is non-refundable. Please read the following document to verify you are able to meet the activity requirements, as no refund can be issued if you are declined participation due to one of these conditions: https://adventures.is/media/230104/arctic-adventures-snorkeling-silfra-guide.pdf

Today explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Made famous by Jules Verne's Journey to the center of the Earth, the region is known to features many of Iceland's unique landscapes on one peninsula. Stop in small fishing towns and discover beautiful vistas along the way. Today you get Iceland in a nutshell. Winter or summer, the Snæfellsnes peninsula is one of the most scenic destinations in Iceland. This place is magical and spellbinding with moss-covered lava fields, picturesque mountains, gorgeous black sand beaches, roaring ocean waves, charming little villages, and great vistas from sea cliffs. It's a long day, but well worth it.

Included Experiences

• Explore Snæfellsnes Peninsula: Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, visiting places such as Kirkjufell, or 'Church Mountain', on the north shore, Ólafsvík and Arnarstapi villages, and Djúpalónssandur pebble beach.

Depart at any time.