South Iceland Gems and Reykjavik

Day 1 Reykjavík Arrival

Coach transfer from Keflavík Airport to your hotel or nearest bus stop in Reykjavik. Time to explore Iceland's capital on your own. The city centre is a small area characterised by eclectic and colourful houses, good shopping, dining and drinking. Reykjavík has recently established itself as a haven for food lovers, with numerous restaurants taking advantage of the abundance of local seafood, meat and game. Reykjavík has many wonderful museums including the National Museum displaying artefacts from the first settlement to the modern age, giving an excellent overview of Iceland's history and culture, the Reykjavík 871+2 Settlement Museum, an archaeological museum based around a 10th century Viking longhouse unearthed in 2001, the Reykjavík Art Museum and the National Gallery. Overnight in Reykjavík.

Day 2 Reykjavík City Tour, Whale Watching and Sky Lagoon

At 09:00, meet your tour guide, who will show the group the highlights of Iceland’s exciting capital. Learn about life in the city from the very beginning of settlement in Iceland to the present day. We stop by the church of Hallgrímskirkja and drive through the university district, past the Nordic house and the National Museum. In the city centre, we stop by the City Hall, which juts into the small lake of Tjörnin. Nearby are the Lutheran Cathedral and the House of Parliament. We also drive by the harbour to observe fishing vessels of different sizes, whale hunters and whale watchers. In Reykjavík are many public works of art, mainly sculptures. The latest addition to Reykjavík is the concert/conference hall of Harpa (the Harp), built on the town centre’s northern waterfront, whose dramatic design captures and reflects the city’s light, ocean and sky with a thrilling effect. In the afternoon, enjoy the spirit of whale watching, getting as close as possible without disturbing the animals. You might see dolphins, humpback, orca, blue, and minke whales during this 3-hour cruise. Travel across Faxaflói Bay, where a blend of warm and cold ocean currents creates spectacular whale-watching opportunities. Afterwards, visit the Whales of Iceland exhibition with life-sized whale models and a virtual reality experience. The Sky Lagoon is Iceland’s latest geothermal lagoon spa experience, where the ocean meets the sky. Immerse yourself in the warm and rejuvenating waters of an oasis near the city centre of Reykjavík. Enjoy this authentic and remarkable place through an unforgettable spa experience. 2nd overnight in Reykjavík.

Day 3 Westman Islands - South Iceland

Ahoy! We take a short ferry ride to the Westman Islands. There is a bus and walking tour of the village of Heimaey and this extraordinary island. The volcanic eruption in 1973 is, without doubt, considered the largest natural disaster in Iceland in recent history. The eruption began on January 23rd on the island of Heimaey, the only populated island of the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. After the evacuation of the inhabitants and during the 5 months while the eruption lasted, there was much uncertainty as to whether or not the island could ever be repopulated. We explore bird cliffs during our tour to the Westman Islands, walk up the volcano crater, and visit "Pompei of the North“, a volcanic excavation project. You have the afternoon free to wander around the town of Heimaey, with its birds and sign of recent volcanic eruptions. Finally, we return to the mainland and stay for 2 nights in Hella, South Iceland.

Day 4 South Coast and Lava Show

Our first stop of the day will be at the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountains and where you can follow a slick and wet trail right behind the falls. Next, we visit the thundering Skógafoss waterfall, which is 60 meters high and belongs to the most impressive waterfalls in the country. Visit the nearby Skógar folk museum with its turf houses. Pass the glacier Mýrdalsjökull and the infamous volcano Eyjafjallajökull. In the village of Vík, attend the stunning Iceland lava show, the only exhibition in the world where you can experience actual flowing lava! By melting lava and pouring it on ice in a room full of people, you will be able to see the lava flowing, hear it sizzling, and feel the heat that radiates from it. Walk along the black lava beach and bird cliffs at Reynisfjara and see exciting basalt columns and rock formations. In the afternoon, stop at the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, where you can join an optional glacier hike. It‘s an informative and easy glacier walk through a frozen wonderland of different shades of glacier ice.

Day 5  Landmannalaugar - Reykjavík

Today we drive the rough unpaved road to Landmannalaugar, an oasis in the barren highlands surrounded by vivid rhyolite mountains. The highlight is a 90-minute round-trip hike up toward Brenninsteinsalda, the rainbow mountain of Iceland, which is still “hot” and where you can see sizzling sulfur springs and vapor at its sides. It could very well be the most colourful and spectacular volcanic mountain of Iceland, and so its picture is often found in books and calendars. After a picnic lunch, you have free time to enjoy a relaxing bath in the natural geothermal stream. Next, a short stop at the beautiful waterfall Hjálparfoss, surrounded by unusual basalt rock formations. Finally, before we reaching our last overnight location in Reykjavík.

Day 6 Reykjavík Departure

Coach transfer from your hotel or nearest bus stop to Keflavík Airport where your tour arrangements end.

2024 departures:
13, 27 June
11, 25 July
08, 22 August

Notes:

Maximum Group Size: 25 persons

Choose from two different levels of accommodation in Reykjavík - 3* or 4*.

Accommodation is in the following hotels (or similar) Reykjavik: Fosshotel Baron 3* or Fosshotel Reykjavik 4*; South Iceland: Stracta Hotel Hella.

Pre and post nights can be added in Reykjavík - please enquire