Join us on an epic adventure around Iceland in 6 days small group only: discover the land of Ice&fire, take part in unique activities like glacier hiking, Katla ice cave, boat ride among the icebergs in The Glacier Lagoon, whale watching, and much more.
Tour Operator: Troll.is
Book this 6-day guided trip to discover Iceland’s natural wonders in between the capital Reykjavík and the ‘Capital in the North’: Akureyri. Each place you retire to at night is of the best available accommodation. This will make sure you have enough rest and relaxation to get the most out of your adventure. During the booking process, you can add a selection of extra activities to enhance your adventure further.
Day 1 - You will be picked up from Reykjavík, between 8am and 8.30. After pick up is completed, off we go for our adventure!
After pick up, you will head right away to Iceland’s most famous route: The Golden Circle.
Your tour begins with your expert tour guide guiding you to the Golden Circle Route. This is the most popular tourist circuit in Iceland, and it features three main attractions: Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, and Geysir geothermal area.
Þingvellir National Park: It is also a historically rich area as it was also the sight where the first Icelandic parliament met in 930 AD, an institution which is still in operation today. You will have time to gently stroll through the park before returning to your tour bus.
Your next two stops are no less impressive.
Thingvellir National Park: visit the place where the two tectonic plates, the North American and the Eurasian plate, are moving away from each other. Few places in the world offer a better and clearer view of this massive geographic activity. Not only is this vast park beautiful to look at, but it is also remarkable geographically, as the ridge that runs through it is comprised of two exposed tectonic plates: the Eurasian and North American plates pull apart here, giving you the unique opportunity to walk between continents. The largest natural lake in Iceland is also located at Thingvellir National Park and hosts a great variety of fish and bird life. Thingvellir is also an important place for Icelandic national history. At Thingvellir Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 a.d. where the chieftains had their annual meeting every summer. The name “Thingvellir” translates to “Parliament Plains”.
The Geysir geothermal area: it hosts hundreds of colorful hot springs and two geysers hot springs: one is dormant and it's called “Geysir”, that named all the geysers in the world after its name; the other one is called “Strokkur”, which erupts every 5 minutes up to 40 meters.
Gullfoss Waterfall: the melting water from Iceland´s second biggest glacier, Langjökull, falls into a deep canyon forming the majestic “Golden Falls”. On a sunny day, you can see the glacier Langjökull in the distance and enjoy a rainbow in the mist of the waterfall, an Instagram blockbuster waiting to happen!
Day 2 - South Coast & Katla Ice Cave
Today, you will travel along the picturesque South Coast. Your first stops will be at two of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls.
The first, Seljalandsfoss, cascades from the great heights of the interior; its unique feature is the small cavern behind it, allowing you to walk completely around it.
The next waterfall is called Skógarfoss, which falls in a broad curtain from the steep highlands and is rumored to have an ancient treasure hidden behind it. On sunny days, more than one rainbow can often be spotted depending on how close you get to its thunderous spray.
You will visit to the amazing Katla ice cave, which is a great way to learn more about glaciers and volcanic eruptions in the history of Iceland.
The final attraction for the day is the beautiful black sand beach Reynisfjara, defined not only for its color but its impressive basalt columns and famous sea stacks.
You will then head to your accommodation close to the idyllic coastal town of Vík.
Day 3 - Jökulsarlon & Diamond Beach Your next destination will be the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón with a few stops along the way. Jökulsárlon is formed by the receding glacial tongue Breiðamerkurjökull where huge chunks of ice break away and float lazily out to sea. No iceberg is the same, and each is characterized by different blue and white shades scarred with volcanic ash from historical eruptions. During your visit to the Glacier Lagoon, you'll hop on a boat and sail between the giant icebergs floating around
Before reaching the Glacier Lagoon, we will take you to Skaftafell for a 3-hour glacier hike on the largest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajokull, to enjoy the view from the great heights as well as to feel the icy giant underneath your crampons. It can be cold on the glaciers even in summer, so remember to pack accordingly.
As the ancient icy giants make it to sea, some wash up on the adjacent beach, which has been nicknamed Diamond Beach for the glittering chunks of ice that arrive with the surf. Walk beside chunks of ancient glacial ice and marvel at the magical sight at your feet.
You will spend the evening close to the Höfn area.
Day 4 - The Eastfjords Today, you will be exploring the beautiful and remote Eastfjords. Traveling through mountainous passes with the ocean to your left, your guide will make a number of stops along these meandering passages. As well as being known for its dramatic fjords, this area is characterized by its breathtaking beaches, littered with multi-colored pebbles and rocks.
The entire region is sparsely populated, but the small communities that exist there live in quaint fishing communities, each with their own idiosyncrasies. Your guide will introduce you to small-town life out in the countryside before heading to the central ‘hub’ of the East, Egilsstaðir. As well as being the largest town in the Eastfjords, it is also close to the largest forest in Iceland, Hallormsstaðaskógar, and Lake Lagafljót, where a legendary water monster is said to reside.
An optional horseback riding tour at a local horse breeding farm can be added during the booking process or during the tour.
Another optional extra is going to the VÖK Baths
You will spend the night in Egilsstaðir.
Day 5 - Sightseeing to the North East: You will be making your way to the North of Iceland today, right across the large and beautiful expanse of Vatnajökull National Park. Your first stop of the day will be the magnificent Dettifoss waterfall, the most powerful in Europe. The spray of this gigantic natural feature can be seen far before you reach the falls itself. Its awe-inspiring character has inspired many movie makers to select this area as a backdrop, including the blockbuster Prometheus.
Your next destination is the varied and dynamic Mývatn area, named after the lake (‘Midge Lake’). This area is known for its energetic geothermal activity, and you will get to see this first hand at the Námskarð area, where these forces rise to the surface through steaming mud puddles and fumaroles, and you will have the time to admire the geothermal power of the surrounding area, and enjoy magnificent views.
You will then head to the ‘Capital of the North,’ Akureyri. Before you cross the mountain pass to get there, however, you will make a quick stop at the waterfall, Goðafoss. This is a historically famous site in which the old idols of the pagan religion were cast into the water as an act of fealty towards the Christian faith.
You will spend the night in Akureyri.
Day 6 - North Iceland Today, you will head back to where your journey began.
You will drive to the beautiful Hauganes village famous for whales and fresh fish! From here you will join a whale watching tour. You will hop aboard a boat in the local harbor and head out to spot these gentle giants.
You will then head back to the capital of Reykjavik at around 19,30 . You will have plenty of time on the way to take in the beautiful sights of Iceland and reflect on your incredible journey.
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Iceland and book this summer guided tour today, so you can see much of what Iceland has to offer as well as experience the warm glow of the Midnight Sun. Check availability by choosing a date.
Customers travelling on their own will receive a single room. Reservations for 2 people will be allocated a double room. For bookings of 3 or more, triple rooms will automatically be allocated. For example, a group of 8 will receive 2 triple rooms and 1 double. If these arrangements do not meet your requirements, please contact the provider.
It can happen, in the case of extreme weather, that an activity is cancelled. If your chosen activity is cancelled, we will assist you with rearranging or booking other activities when possible, and any potential price difference will be refunded to you.
Please note that only pick up and drop-off from designated pick up locations in the greater capital area is available, not from Keflavík International Airport. Therefore, we do not recommend attempting to start this tour on your arrival day in Iceland. Arrival time back to Reykjavík at the end of your tour can vary depending on weather and traffic.
It is highly recommended that you do not book your flight home the same night as bad weather or delays could affect your journey. Please be sure to arrange accommodation for this evening and an airport transfer the next day to take you to Keflavík International Airport for your departure.
The first day of your 8 day tour around Iceland will be spent in the Golden Circle.
First stop is Thingvellir National Park where both the amazing nature and Icelandic history meet. It's located where the two tectonic plates, the North American and Eurasian plate are drifting away from each other. The biggest natural lake of Iceland is located in the National Park with it's variety of fish and bird life. It's also the location where Icelanders founded their first parliament in 930.
Next up is the geothermal area of Geysir, where you can see mud pools and hot springs all around. The hot spring Strokkur gushes our boiling water every 5-7 minutes.
Then you will head out to Gullfoss Waterfall (The Golden Falls) one of Iceland's most iconic waterfall dropping 32 meters on two rocky tiers.
At the end of the day you will visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, originating from the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Glacier. Here you can hike 360° around the waterfall.
Your night will be spent in a hotel on the south coast.
If you are traveling in late August or September you will have the chance of seeing the Northern Lights as the accommodation around Iceland is chosen with Northern Lights sightseeing in mind.
Your second day includes the beautiful South Coast of Iceland. This day you will pass farmlands, rivers and picturesque waterfalls.
Along the day you will have the waves of the Atlantic ocean on your right side. There will be plenty stops for taking photographs and explore the amazing scenery.
You will start at the powerful Skógarfoss Waterfall, if you have the energy to hike up all 527 steps by the waterfall you will have a great view of the Icelandic coastline.
The next stop of the day will be Reynisfjara beach where you can breath the ocean air while exploring the extraordinary basalt stacks along the black sand beach.
Last stop of your day will be the amazing Katla Ice Cave. The ice cave is located in Kötlujökull Glacier which is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. Underneath awaits the mighty volcano Katla, that names both the glacier and the ice cave. Once you arrive to the glacier, your guide will hand you all the necessary ice cave equipment and go over a safety briefing and facts about glaciers and ice caves. You’ll take a fun walk on the glacier with your experienced glacier guide before you enter the famous Katla Ice Cave
The accommodation of day 2 will be in or close to the town of Vík.
This day will very likely be one of the highlights of your trip. You will travel further east along the South Coast, through the desert of Skeiðarársandur, passing another national park, Skaftafell. You will start your day at the glacier, going on a 3 hour adventure on the glacier in Skaftafell. You will meet your expert glacier guide who will equip you with all the glacier gear needed for a safe journey on the glaicer. There you will witness the amazing view on the glacier, the mulans and crevasses.
Further east you will stop at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, one of the most iconic locations in Iceland. In Jökulsárlón you will see big and small icebergs breaking off from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier floating in the lagoon. If you look really well you might spots some seals that live in the lagoon.
You will then take a boat ride on the Glacier Lagoon where you can get up close to the icebergs floating on the lagoon.
This night is spent in the area of Vatnajökull glacier.
Today, you will continue further east towards the East Fjords of Iceland. The East Fjords are one of the most spectacular and untouched regions in Iceland. In this area you will feel the peace and tranquillity from the nature around you. While driving around this area you might spot some wild reindeers.
There are loads of interesting stops on this day as you head further east such as Djúpivogur, Lagarfljót lake, the charming fjords of the East and the small fishing villages.
On this day you will have the option on adding a horseback riding tour from Galdrahestar farm.
At the end of the day you will also have the option of relaxing in the VÖK Baths close to Egilsstaðir.
The night will be spent in the Eastfjords area.
After breakfast on day 5 you will head north towards Lake Mývatn and the nearby geothermal area. First you will visit the Stuðlagil Canyon, one of the new phenomenon of Iceland. Where the blue water meets with the basalt columns.
Then you will head out to Dettifoss the second most powerful waterfall in Europe. You will visit Dimmuborgir (Dark Castles) an area that is known for its strange rock formations, some look like a dark fort but others may look like a church.
Next stop is Námaskarð, a geothermal area with bubbling mud pools. Icelanders often place dough of bread and bury it in the ground allowing it to bake overnight.
The last stop of the day before heading to the overnight accommodation in Akureyri is Goðafoss waterfall. Goðafoss is very rich with beauty and history. When driving to Akureyri you will pass Víkurskarð mountain pass you can take in the beautiful surroundings of Eyjafjörður fjord.
At the end of the day you can walk around the Akureyri the capital of the north.
Today you will make your way to the west part of Iceland with a detour around the northern area of Hauganes. Hauganes is the home of only about 140 people, it's really charming and peaceful village. You can spend some time strolling around the black sand beach or walk on the harbour. You will start your day with a whale watching tour where you have the opportunity of seeing Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoise and White Beaked Dolphins. These species are the most commonly spotted in this area.
After exploring the Icelandic Ring rOAD this 6-day tour has come to an end. You will end the tour in Reykjavík in early evening. We do not recommend flying from Iceland in the evening of the last day in case of any delays due to weather. We rather recommend exploring Reykjavík, the northernmost capital in the world.