Iceland was born through volcanic action. The resulting land of peaks, geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, and astonishing scenery is breathtaking. Here nature is unspoiled by pollution or development. Iceland is so magnetic that it lures visitors back again and again. This definitive tour circles the island to see all the best sights at the season of maximum daylight.

 

Included meals are denoted: Breakfast: B, Lunch: L, Dinner: D

 

DAY 1                         

We depart from Albuquerque on our flights, taking us overnight and into Reykjavik, Iceland.  

 

DAY 2              D             

We arrive in Reykjavik, board our deluxe motorcoach, and transfer to our hotel.

 

DAY 3            B, D

We begin our tour with a drive on a narrow strip of farmland along rugged cliffs. We stop to see the gushing hot springs at Geysir. We visit Pingvellir, where the first democratic parliament in the world met in 930 A.D. The canyon here is the meeting line of two of the earth’s tectonic plates. We stop in Frioheimar for one night.

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DAY 4              B,D

We continue to Reynisfjara, a spectacular beach with black sand and huge basalt columns.  The Icelandic Lava Show recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava and pouring it into a showroom full of people.  It is the only live lava show in the world, a highly engaging experience that has received multiple awards on entertainment and innovation. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Katla.

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DAY 5              B,D

We drive along the coast to Jokulsarlon, a glacial lagoon. Huge icebergs calve into the lagoon providing a surreal backdrop. We continue through the alpine setting of Skaftafell National Park, the Eldhraun lava flow and the vast tract of black sandy desert called Skeidararsandur.

 

DAY 6              B

At the top of Skogafoss waterfall you’ll be rewarded with an awe-inspiring view out over south Iceland’s coastline. This is also the start of the Fimmvorduhals pass, a popular hiking route. Standing at 60 meters (197 ft) tall, the heavy veil of water is impressive and walking close enough envelops visitors in a cloud of spray, sound and refracted light. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.  Later we will walk atop the Solheimajokull Glacier.  We arrive in Reyjavik where we will lodge for 5 nights.

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DAY 7           B

We start the day with a guided city tour of Reykjavik. We learn the history of Reykjavik as we see its historic and modern sights. We stop to stroll through a botanical garden and see a sculpture display. From Oskjuhlied Hill we see the Pearl, a fantastic dome-shaped glass building, and have a fantastic view of the city. Our afternoon is free to explore Reyjavik on our own.

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DAY 8            B

Today our deluxe coach takes us to Snæfellsnes, a large peninsula extending from West Iceland, often nicknamed ‘Iceland in Miniature’ due to the wealth and diversity of natural features found there. Home to the Snæfellsjökull National Park, at the center of which is a subglacial volcano that towers over the scenery, this peninsula is home to waterfalls, rock formations, beautiful beaches, historic villages, and intricate folklore.

DAY 9             B
We drive across the vast lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula to the lighthouse at its tip. Then on to the Blue Lagoon , a pool of mineral-rich geothermal water with an amazing blue color located in a lava field. We can soak or just enjoy the view.

 

DAY 10              B

We enjoy another day of exploration, with a visit to The Settlement Center, devoted to recreating Iceland’s earliest days and introducing visitors to one of the best known heroes of the Icelandic Sagas, Egil Skalla-Grimsson.  We will also stop at Hraunfossa,  a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 metres out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava field which flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into Hvítá, from ledges of less porous rock in the lava. 

 

DAY 11        B    

This morning we head to the airport to catch our flight home.

 

Itinerary subject to change