Iceland: The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Volcanoes & Hiking Husafell

Allow your imagination to drift to cascading waterfalls, crisp mountain air and bubbling natural hot springs - there is nowhere on earth like the "Land of Ice and Fire." We welcome you to Reykjavik, and to Iceland, and invite you to experience duality where rugged volcanic rock shares the skyline with sparkling glaciers. Arrive in Reykjavik at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the evening welcome meeting to gather information about your upcoming adventure. Afterwards, head out on an orientation drive and walk on the way to a welcome dinner, before a visit the Sky Lagoon for an evening soak in the hot springs.

NOTE: If you are planning on doing the Snorkeling tour, you must book a pre night, to ensure you are at the hotel in the morning for the transfer to the national park. This activity has an early departure.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
• Reykjavik Orientation Drive and Walk: Get your bearings of Reykjavik on an orientation drive and walk. Visit the Harpa Concert Hall, the waterfront, Parliament, and Hallgrímskirkja, before a short walk in the historic district on the way to dinner.
• Sky Lagoon Entrance: Enjoy a uniquely Icelandic experience: a warm geo thermal bath overlooking the water near the city.

Optional Experiences

• Silfra Fissure Snorkelling in Thingvellir National Park (from Reykjavik): 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. Activity includes roundtrip transportation from Reykjavík (about 35 mins each way). Travellers with certain medical conditions cannot participate in this activity and it is non-refundable. Please read the following document to verify that 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 **Please note that availability cannot be guaranteed and we recommend booking in advance**

Explore Experiences

Made famous by Jules Verne's 'Journey to the center of the Earth', this peninsula is known for its spectacular landscapes. You'll visit small fishing towns and make various stops throughout the day. Experience some truly incredible scenery that serve as a precursor for what is to come on the rest of your adventure across Iceland. Enjoy breakfast before heading toward the peninsula in a private vehicle. Make stops in Kirkjufell, Ölafsvik, Djúpalónssandur, Arnarstapi, and Vatnshellir before travelling back to Reykjavik for a free evening.

Included Experiences

• Snafellsnes Peninsula Visit: Head out in the morning to explore the Snafellsnes Peninsula with your CEO. Enjoy the views of this scenic region which boasts glaciers, mountains, lava fields and coastal vistas, making several stops throughout the day.

Head away from the city today as you venture into the Icelandic countryside where you'll get out for the first of many explorations on foot. You'll visit majestic waterfalls and even get the opportunity to walk behind one of them, feeling the power of the thundering water cascade from the heights. Travel from Hella to the trailhead with a lunch stop along the way. See the beautiful Gljúfrabúi waterfall before continuing on foot to Seljalandsfoss, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland with a small cave you can visit behind the falls. Continue on to your OMG Stay for a welcome dinner in the evening.

Included Experiences

• Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrafoss Waterfalls Walk: Gljúfrabúi (or Canyon Dweller) is a beautiful waterfall. After a few metres of travelling through a narrow valley, a small space opens up, and here, Gljúfrabúi tumbles before a great boulder, which is easily climbable for some great photos. From there, walk to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall which is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland. One of the interesting things about this waterfall is that visitors can walk behind it into a small cave. Elevation gain: 120 meters

Volcanic landscapes and waterfalls abound as you hike in the hidden gem of the Gjáin Valley. Witness the meeting of two rivers at Hjálparfoss and soak in a geothermal pool with a spouting geyser. This is Iceland in all it's glory. Drive to the Gjáin Valley for a hike to the waterfall before continuing on to Hjálparfoss. After lunch in Flúðir, visit the Secret Lagoon geothermal hot springs for a swim before returning to the hotel for a free evening.

Included Experiences

• Gjáin Valley and Waterfalls: A lush oasis nestled between barren, volcanic rocks, Gjáin’s cascading waterfalls and vibrant foliage will take your breath away. As you meander around Rauðá river, fed by the majestic Gjárfoss Waterfall and its smaller companions, imagine the life of the Vikings who once thrived in these ancient lands before the Hekla volcano’s eruption in 1104.
• Hjálparfoss Visit: Hjálparfoss is an incredible display of nature, marking where the rivers Fossá and Þjórsá meet. Both of these are known as some of Iceland’s best and most accessible fishing rivers, while Þjórsá also takes the title of being the country’s longest. The two rivers fall from a lava field at about a 45 degree angle from each other, from about the same height, and their cascades merge as they tumble into a serene pool.
• Secret Lagoon Hot Spring: The Secret Lagoon natural hot springs are the Golden Circle's best kept secret. The pool's natural surroundings and steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling. Warm water stays at 38-40 celsius all year. There are several geothermal spots and a little Geysir which erupts every 5 minutes. Swimsuit and towel rentals are available.

Discover more of Iceland's stunning natural beauty as you hike to Skõgarfoss, arguably one of the most mesmerising waterfalls in the country. Featured in films from Thor to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, you may be familiar with this landmark already. Take in all of the spectacular scenery and learn about the volcanic origins of Iceland's powerful natural formation at the place where two continental plates meet. Transfer to Fimmvorduhals Trailhead where you'll begin the hike to Skõgarfoss Waterfall. After lunch, continue to the Lava Centre before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Included Experiences

• Skógafoss Waterfall Visit & Hike: Visit Skógafoss, one of the largest and most recognizable waterfalls in Iceland. The 60m (200 ft) high falls forms a constant mist that floats in the air. If viewed in the sunlight, the mist can create rainbows. The sound and view of the thundering water cutting through the green hills make the falls a must-see on any trip to Iceland. Set off on the moderately challenging hike to become acquainted with the magical landscape here.
• Lava Centre: Visit this stunning interactive exhibition to learn about all aspects of Iceland's unique geography, including volcanoes, earthquakes and geothermal activity.

Explore Experiences

Keep your camera handy today as you visit the highlights along the famed Golden Circle route where you'll see majestic waterfalls and a geyser that spouts water high up into the sky. You'll also taste bread that was baked underground with Iceland's ever-present geothermal energy. Stay active by hiking to another stunning waterfall from Thingvellir National Park. Transfer from Hella to the Golden Circle route, with stops at Gullfoss Falls, Geysir and a geothermal bakery on the way. Continue to Thingvellir where you'll begin a short hike to the Öxarárfoss Waterfall. Arrive at the hotel and enjoy a free evening to relax.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• Geothermal Bakery: Watch first hand as bakers dig out a pot of fresh bread from steaming black sand. Taste the bread, served hot from the ground, with some butter and take home the recipe for Iceland's famous rye bread.
• Öxarárfoss Waterfall Hike: Öxarárfoss Waterfall gushes out of the mighty cliffs of Almannagjo Gorge in southwest Iceland. Small in size but big in presence, the 13 m (44 ft) high waterfall is located inside Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Öxarárfoss Waterfall is famed for being a film location in the hit TV series Game of Thrones, but is also known for its special geology. The human-made waterfall sits on the edge of the boundary line between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Elevation gain: 230 meters

Explore Experiences

Pristine and untouched natural beauty is the theme today as you set off to explore Langjokull, the second-largest glacier in the whole of Iceland. Travel up the snowy white slopes before immersing yourself in man-made ice tunnels, surrounded by ice in the heart of the glacier. Hop into a modified glacier vehicle built specifically to explore this unique environment, and drive up to the ice cap. Your local guide will provide information about the glacier while leading you through man-made tunnels into the core. Enjoy an included lunch before a free afternoon. Opt to take part in a local hike or relax at the hotel.

Included Experiences

• Langjokull Glacier Expedition: Enter the raw beauty of Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjokull. Set off in modified glacier vehicles to the Klaki Basecamp and the glacier entrance where you'll go into man-made ice tunnels toward the heart of the glacier. Learn all about ice and geology along the way and gain a new perspective on these massive features that have shaped the planet.
• Free Time: Spend the afternoon free and try some of the optional activities in the area. Opt for a scenic hike or relax at the hotel.

Immerse yourself further into Iceland's stunning landscapes as you explore by foot, with the choice of either a more challenging or moderate hike. Traverse the canyon and view interesting rock formations and sculptures by the artist Páll Guõmundsson, a Húsafell native, or follow in the footsteps of past travellers who blazed the trail between different regions of Iceland along natural water springs. Choose between a moderate or a more challenging hike before spending the rest of the day at leisure to relax at the hotel and enjoy the facilities.

Included Experiences

• Choice of Hikes from Húsafell: Option 1: A more challenging walk will take you 5 km (3.1 mi) along both sides of the canyon up to a scenic view point with a trail register. Interesting formations can be seen at Bæjargil as well as sculptures at various points by the artist Páll Guðmundsson from Húsafell. Elevation gain: 300 metres Option 2: A beautiful woodland 5 km (3.1 mi) walk along the clear springs of Oddalindir and the banks of the river Hvítá. Gentle terrain, lush greenery, and refreshing waters make this an easy and peaceful hike. Elevation gain: 10 metres

Optional Experiences

• Húsafell Canyon Baths: Descend on foot from the hotel in the remote Icelandic wilderness to natural geothermal pools nestled in highland canyon. Enjoy private access to these pools fed by pure underground volcanic hot springs.

Leaving Húsafell behind, you'll head to Vidgelmir cave where you'll see first hand the impact of volcanic activity. Wander into the depths of this magical underworld, where the incredible colours and unique geologic formations once sealed away in darkness are now accessible for you to see and enjoy. Take a morning drive to Vidgelmir Cave where you'll explore with a local guide. From there, return to Reykjavik for some free time before gathering together again in the evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Experiences

• The Vidgelmir Cave: Take a tour into the depths of the ear at the Víðgelmir Cave. Don helmets and headlamps as you explore this subterranean wonderland that showcases the raw power of Iceland's geological forces. Stroll along the walkways and admire the features and colours of this underground natural wonder.
• Free Time: Enjoy free time in Reykjavik. Perhaps visit the Perlan Museum before your farewell dinner.

Today your adventure comes to an end and you can depart at any time.