This 5 day tour takes you around Iceland on the popular route one. Explore all the best-known wonders and some of the hidden gems of the Land of Fire and Ice.
Day 1: Golden Circle
It's time to head on the road. Today we explore the Golden Circle. Our first stop is at Þingvellir, the place of the first Icelandic parliament. The first parliament was established there in 930 AD and it is, therefore, the oldest one in Europe. Besides all the history you can also see the Mid-Atlantic ridge. This is the split of the tectonic plates that divides Europe from North America. After that, we stop at Geysir. This "water puddle" gives its name to all the other Geysers in the world. It erupts every 5-8min and it is truly a big spectacle. After a short ride, we arrive at Gullfoss, the golden waterfall. In the summertime, up to 130.000 l/s are running down this powerful waterfall. In good weather conditions, we are also able to see Langjökull glacier as well. Last but not least is Kerið. Kerið is a volcanic crater that is located in the Grímsnes area. It is part of the Western Volcanic Zone, which includes the Reykjanes peninsula and the Langjökull Glacier. The caldera of the crater is well intact and about 55m deep and 270m wide. Another remarkable feature is the aquamarine blue water of the lake that can be found in the crater.
Day 2: Waterfalls, black sand beaches, and Viking Sagas
We have breakfast at the hotel and afterward, we go back on the road. Our first stop is Seljalandsfoss waterfall. If conditions allow we talk a walk behind the waterfall curtains. After a short ride, we arrive at Skogafoss waterfall. Skogafoss was featured in "Game of Thrones" and it is said that one of the first settlers has buried a treasure chest behind it. Now it is time for some action. The guide drives you to Sólheimajökull glacier. We put on our safety gear and step on the glacier. Our glacier is around 2,5h long with 1,5h spent on the glacier. Next up is Reynisfjara black sand beach. The beach was once rated as one of the 10 most beautiful places worldwide. In the summertime, hundreds of Puffins are nesting here and the rock stacks called Reynisdrangar are standing picturesque in the ocean next to the beach. Reynisfjara is also the perfect place to grab something to eat. On our way to our overnight accommodation, we pass the Skaftafell national park and Iceland's biggest glacier called Vatnajökull.
Day 3: Glacier Lagoon and East Fjords
After breakfast, we head to one of the most popular locations in Iceland, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Big icebergs are breaking apart the man glacier and they are then floating around in the lagoon that is situated in front of the glacier. After some time, the icebergs melted enough to float out to the ocean. Waves bring back the crystal clear ice to the black beach next to the lagoon, creating a special place called the Diamond Beach. We then head to Vestrahorn mountain, probably one of the best spots to take a great landscape photo. The drive continues on narrow roads along the fjords and our next stop will be Djúpivogur, a small fishing village with a long history. Next to the city is Búlandstindur mountain, and it is said that this mountain can make wishes come true during the summer solstice. During the summer months (April to October), we also pay a visit to Stuðlagil canyon. Basalt columns surround the canyon and turquoise water makes it a special place. We end the day in style as we pay a visit to the Vök geothermal pools to relax after a long day
Day 4: The power of the North
Today we had to a region that is known for its beauty. Thanks to its remote location, places are less crowded and we can enjoy the magic of mother nature. The first stop of the day will be Dettifoss waterfall (please note that Dettifoss is only accessible during summer - April to October). Dettifoss is Europe's most powerful waterfall and on average 193.000 l/s run down the waterfall. Now it is time for lake Myvatn and its surrounding area. The area was created during a volcanic eruption 2.300 years ago. Many beautiful places can be found here, such as Hverir, where we can see many smoking fumaroles and boiling pots, Grjótagjá, a small lava cave with a geothermal hot spring in its depths, and Dimmuborgir, a lava rock formation known as the "Black Fortress" and a place full of Icelandic folklore. Thanks to the geothermal activity in this area, a big power plant called Krafla can be found here. After learning all about green energy in Iceland, we head to our last stop Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods. It is fed by the fourth-biggest river called Skjálfandafljót and is definitely one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the country.
Day 5: Whales and wildlife
Starting in Akureyri, the capital of the North, we head to a small fishing village called Dalvik. The city is located on the Tröllaskagi Peninsula and with some luck we can spot some whales in the distance while walking along the harbor. The day continues with a stop at Hvítserkur, also known as the Troll of Northwest Iceland. The basalt rock is 15m high, standing beautiful in the Húnaflói Bay. We now drive in the direction of Reykjavik and the next stop will be Grábrók volcano. It is the largest of three craters and after a short walk to the top, you will have an amazing view over the surrounding lava fields. Our last stop of the day is Deildartunguhver. The hot spring is the most powerful in Europe and around 180 liters per second of hot and boiling water flow out of the ground.