Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour

Overview

Iceland is world-famous for its unique incomparable with any other part of the world nature. Various national parks and the world-famous Valley of Geysers, numerous volcanoes and glaciers, impressive waterfalls and fjords, the tiny but cozy capital of Reykjavik attract thousands of adventurous travelers every year.  This and even more is waiting for you in our 8-day "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour". It is perfect for those who are visiting this beautiful country for the first time & wanna see and experience as much as possible in a relatively short period of time.

Highlights

• Visit Reykjavik - the northernmost capital of the world.
• Touch & walk to the biggest glacier in Europe.
• Bath in several geothermal pools & springs.
• See some of the most imposing waterfalls in the world.
• Watch the whales in the town that is known to be the "whales capital of Iceland"

Itinerary

Day 1: Crater Lake Kerid - Haukadalur Geothermal Field - Gullfoss Waterfall

Welcome to Reykjavik - Iceland's capital and largest city. Arrive at any time and start our "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour" by meeting your group & Tour Leader in the afternoon at 2 pm. After a brief welcome meeting, go to explore the  "Golden Circle of Ireland" starting from Kerid - a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland.

Afterward, continue to Haukadalur Geothermal Field. There we will see the very first of the known to the world geysers. The Geysir was discovered in 1294 and gave the name to all the boiling and gushing sources of the world. Unfortunately, the legendary Geysir stopped being active as a result of the 2000 earthquake. But don't worry, Geysir's brother Strokkur that erupts every 5-10 minutes throwing a stream of hot water to a height of up to 20 meters is still there. Due to his restlessness, it is considered one of the most active geysers in the world. Then head to Gullfoss - one of the most beautiful and largest waterfalls in Iceland. Translated from Icelandic as a "Golden Waterfall",  it is considered one of the most powerful in Europe. Arrival at our campsite in the evening: accommodation in cabins & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: cabins in a camping (shared rooms for 4 people with facilities in a separate building)
• Meals: dinner
• Activities: welcome meeting; visits to Crater Lake Kerid, Haukadalur Geothermal Field & Gullfoss Waterfall

Day 2: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall - Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool - Eyyaf'yadlayokyudl Volcano - Skogafoss Waterfall - Dyrhólaey Viewpoint - Reynisfjara Beach

After breakfast, start a new day of "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour" going to "photo sessions" with several beautiful waterfalls.  First, we will visit Seljalandsfoss - one of the most famous Icelandic waterfalls. It is incredibly picturesque, so its photographs often adorn calendars, travel magazines, and other publications. The peculiarity of this waterfall is that it can be walked around and photographed from inside of the stream of water falling off a cliff.  On the way to the next location, we will drop by to relax in the thermal waters of Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool located on the banks of a river in the mountains, not far from Eyjafjallajokull volcano. This is the same volcano that in 2010 stopped air traffic throughout Europe.

Then...

we will go to Skogafoss - another famous Icelandic waterfall. Being 25 meters wide and 60 meters tall, it is always surrounded by a halo of spray and water dust, so beautiful rainbows form near it on sunny days. After a walk to the waterfall, we will head to the southernmost point of Iceland seeing Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve on our way. Dyrhólaey is a small peninsula on the southern coast of Iceland that is famous for its outstanding natural rock arch. From there you can enjoy beautiful views of the black sand beaches around the village of Vik and impressive black basalt columns. Dyrhólaey Peninsula is also a bird sanctuary, where you can see a national symbol of Iceland - Atlantic puffin - in its natural habitat.

Shortly we will go to nearby Reynisfjara Beach. There are not many places in the world where you can see black beaches, and Iceland is one of them. More than once, travel experts recognized Vik as one of the most unusual and beautiful places on the planet. Let the cold and ever-restless sea not allow you to swim, but such beauty will forever remain in your memory. The view from the beach is fantastic. No wonder the black beach of Vik has become one of the locations for filming "Game of Thrones". Arrival at our campsite in the evening: accommodation in tents & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: tents in a camping
• Meals: breakfast & dinner
• Activities: visits to Seljalandsfoss & Skogafoss Waterfalls, Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool,  Eyyaf'yadlayokyudl Volcano, Dyrhólaey Viewpoint & Reynisfjara Beach

Day 3: Fiadrarglufur Canyon - Svartifoss Waterfall - Vatnajokull Glacier -  Jökülsaurloun Glacial Lagoon - Diamond Beach

After breakfast, we will continue our "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour" going to the glaciers. On the way, we will stop to lie down and take pictures in the fields covered with soft Icelandic moss and stop by local farmers to buy fresh salmon. Our next stop is Fjadrargljufur, one of the most beautiful canyons of Iceland, included in the top 20 canyons of the world. This impressive gorge about 100 m deep and 2 km long will not leave you indifferent. After walking along the canyon, we will go to a small but beautiful Svartifoss Waterfall with its amazing hexagonal basaltic columns. The same columns inspired an Icelandic architect Gudjon Samuelsson to create beautiful designs for the National Theater and the Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik.

Then...

we’ll drive up and take a walk to Vatnajökull - the largest glacier in Europe. Generally, glaciers are something incredible: touching them means touching history. After all, most of them are thousands of years old. Thereafter, head to Jökülsaurloun that is rightfully considered one of the main attractions of Iceland. It is the largest glacial lagoon in the country and one of the few places in Iceland where you can see floating icebergs nearby.  This lagoon has been repeatedly featured in many movies. It was here that the episodes of the James Bond films “A View to a Kill” and “No Time to Die”, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” & “Batman Begins” were shot. We will also explore a nearby Diamond Beach that got its name due to its numerous blocks of ice that resemble diamonds sparkling in the sun. Arrival at our campsite in the evening: accommodation in tents & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: tents in a camping
• Meals: breakfast & dinner
• Activities: visits to Fiadrarglufur Canyon, Svartifoss Waterfall, Vatnajokull Glacier, Jökülsaurloun Glacial Lagoon & Diamond Beach

Day 4: Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls - Myvatn Nature Bath

After breakfast, continue our "Iceland: All-Around Adventure Tour" driving along the beautiful Icelandic serpentine. If there is enough snow we stop to play snowballs and build the snowman. Then, we will drive into the canyon, which can truly be considered one of the most beautiful and secret places in Iceland. Involuntarily you will catch yourself thinking that you are in some fantasy movie. Further, our path lies to the most powerful waterfall in Iceland - Dettifoss. Known as the “bubbling waterfall”, it is the most powerful one in all Europe! The waterfall is 100 meters wide and 45 meters high, and by the impression, it is comparable to the famous Niagara Falls. Under good weather conditions, we will walk upstream to an equally beautiful Selfoss Waterfall.

Finally, the rest of the day (about 3 hours) we will spend in a unique Myvatn Nature Bath geothermal basin (entrance not included) - a twin brother of the famous Blue Lagoon, but less crowded and more affordable. Arrival at our campsite in the evening: accommodation in tents & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: tents in a camping
• Meals: breakfast & dinner
• Activities: visits to Dettifoss & Selfoss Waterfalls, Myvatn Nature Bath (entrance not included)

Day 5: Husavik - Viti Crater - Naumafyadl Geothermal Area - Greyotagya Cave - Hverfjadl Volcano - Dimmuborgir Lava Fields - Godafoss Waterfall - Akureyri

After breakfast, continue our "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour" going to see whales (boat tour not included) in the small Icelandic town of Husavik on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Next, we will go to see the geothermal site on the Krabla Caldera, where we will see Viti Crater with a beautiful lake inside of it Then, we will visit the geothermal region of Námafjall with famous mud volcanoes and fumaroles of Hverir. The colors of geothermal fields are amazing as it seems that you are somewhere on Mars. Afterward, we will head to Grjótagjá Cave, where a love scene from "Game of Thrones" was shot.

Then we will see the crater of the Hverfjall Volcano: if you wish, you can climb it and enjoy a gorgeous view from a height of more than 300 m. Next, our path will pass around Lake Mivatn towards the northern capital of Iceland - Akureyri. On the way, we will stop at solidified lava fields of Dimmuborgir and " Gods Waterfall" - Godafoss. The latter's size is not very large and is only 12 meters high and 30 meters wide, but the rock formations in and around the waterfall make it one of the greatest natural wonders in Iceland. Finally, we will arrive in a beautiful town Akureyri which we will explore on foot. Arrival at a nearby campsite in the evening: accommodation in tents & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: tents in a camping
• Meals: breakfast & dinner
• Activities: orientation walks in Husavik & Akureyri; visits to Viti Crater, Naumafyadl Geothermal Area, Greyotagya Cave, Hverfjadl Volcano, Dimmuborgir Lava Fields & Godafoss Waterfall

Day 6: Akureyri - Dalvik - thermal pool - Glaumbaer Turf House Village - Hvitserkur Rock 

After breakfast, we will go to the small coastal city port of Dalvik located in the north of Iceland. It stands on the shores of the Eyya Fjord on the Trodlaskagi Peninsula and is often called the “northern pearl” of the country. Afterward, we will go to relax in one of the most beautiful thermal pools in the country with amazing views of the ocean. Thereafter, our path follows towards Reykjavik. On our way, we will visit UNESCO-listed Glaumbaer Turf House Village and Hvitserkur - the rock that is widely known for its bizarre shape. To some people, it resembles a dinosaur drinking water from the sea, although to some it seems to be an “elephant” or even a “mammoth”. The cliffs of the rock are normally home to herds of friendly seals. Arrival at our campsite in the evening: accommodation in tents & dinner.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: tents in a camping
• Meals: camping-style breakfast & dinner
• Activities: orientation walk in Dalvik; visits to Glaumbaer Turf House Village, Hvitserkur Rock & thermal pool

Day 7: Hrujnfossar Waterfall - Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring - Reykjavik

After breakfast, we will head towards Reykjavik seeing Hraunfossar Waterfall on our way. In fact, this is not a single waterfall, but a 900 meters long series of waterfalls formed by numerous streams flowing from a lava field. Next, we will visit Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring which is the most powerful in terms of water flow in Europe. Finally, after having traveled in a tunnel under the ocean at a depth of more than 100 m, we will arrive in Reykjavik: check-in at our accommodation, an orientation walk, dinner & free time and get to know the northernmost capital of the world.

• Transportation: private vehicle with WIFI
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hostel/homestay in Reykjavik (shared rooms)
• Meals: breakfast & dinner
• Activities: visits to Hrujnfossar Waterfall & Deildartunguhver Thermal Spring; orientation walk of Reykjavik

Day 8: Reykjavik

Last day out our "Iceland: All Around Adventure Tour": free time.

• Meals: breakfast

Why go with us

• Small groups of up to 13 travelers: closer communication, easier coordination, more adventures & fun!
• Off-the-beaten-track tours with maximum immersion in local nature, culture, and traditions.
• The easy-going atmosphere of our tours is perfect for informal travel & making new friends among co-travelers and locals.

Logistics

• DEPARTURE: Leaving Reykjavik on Day 1 around 2 pm.
• ARRIVAL: Arriving back to Reykjavik on Day 7 around 2 pm.
• ACCOMMODATIONS: An exact list of accommodations is sent together with trip notes 2 weeks before the departure date: 5x nights in tents in campings, 1x night in cabins in camping, 1x night in conveniently located, locally-owned hostel/homestay in Reykjavik. All accommodations (including campings) have shared facilities (hot showers, WC, kitchens). You should bring your own tent & sleeping bag, otherwise, you need to rent (please let us know in advance). We can arrange pre- & post-tour accommodations but not earlier than 2 weeks before the departure when we send you final trip notes.
• MEALS: The tour includes simple but filling & balanced daily camping-style (cooked by Tour Leaders in our accommodations) breakfasts & dinners: e.g. pasta, buckwheat, potatoes with stew, dry sausage, salmon, bread, granola, tea, coffee, etc. Every day we will stop by the store, so you will be able to buy personal snacks & food for lunch. We will also taste some national dishes of Icelanders: haukarl - the meat of the Greenland polar shark;  svid - a lamb's head; whale steak; hardfiskur - dried fish.
• TRANSPORT: The type of vehicle depends on the size of the group and may include car, 7-seater, minivan (with WIFI onboard).

Notes

• PHYSICAL CONDITION: This tour involves a decent amount of hiking & walking. Therefore, travelers should have moderate physical fitness condition.
• ACTIVITIES: Participation in all activities is optional - just be sure to be in time for departures.
• WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU: Comfortable clothes & (preferably hiking) shoes; swimming suit & slippers; a smaller backpack for daily tours; hat/cap, sunglasses & sunscreen; travel insurance; good mood & curiosity.
• OTHER NOTES: * The price of the tour/person depends on the number of travelers in your booking.