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Home Tours The Complete Iceland Experience

The Complete Iceland Experience

Guaranteed departures. This comprehensive Iceland circle tour includes the natural wonders, the majestic landscapes and the unique character of this amazing Arctic Island. You will experience spewing geysers, beautiful waterfalls, glaciers and pure landscapes and get to know the Icelandic Horse.

 

 

Duration

9 days

Transportation

Coach

Season

Spring

Tour Type

Guided

Itinerary - Day by day

day 1
  • Arrival in Reykjavik according to your own itinerary. Airport transfer is not included but you can be booked as an additional service.
  • Recommended attractions:
    • Take a swim in the biggest swimming pool in Reykjavik and relax in the hot tubs with the locals
    • Hallgrimskirkja church in the city center and view the city from the church's tower
  • Dinner on your own
  • Accommodation in Reykjavik at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura (or similar).

Arrival in Reykjavik according to your own itinerary. Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is located 45 minutes from the airport. Please note that airport transfer is not included, but can be booked separately. Perhaps you would even like to add a stop at the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing bath on the way from the airport? 

If you arrive early we recommend to use the day to take a swim with the locals in Laugardalslaug swimming pool. We can also recommend to visit the city center and get a great view of the city from the top of the Hallgrimskirkja Church. Accommodation at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura (or similar). The hotel is located close to the city center in a quiet, wooden area near the sea. The city center is approximately 20 minutes away by foot but the hotel offers free city bus tickets for their guests. A bus stops close to the hotel every 30 minutes. Dinner is not included in the program this evening, but there is an excellent restaurant at the hotel and Reykjavik offers many quality restaurants to choose from.

Add extra nights in Reykjavik - From EUR 109 per person per night

day 2
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Reykjavik to Vik including stops at:
    • Gullfoss Waterfall and Geysir hot spring area
    • Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls on the South shore of Iceland
    • Dyrholaey nature reserve with its puffin colony (closed from mid May til June 25 during nesting season)
  • Dinner and accommodation in Vik at Icelandair Hotel Vik or Hotel Kria (or a similar hotel in the area)

Breakfast at the hotel. Your English speaking tour escort will meet you at 08:45 hrs in the hotel lobby. The tour starts with a short drive around Reykjavik city center and your guide will tell you interesting facts about the city. From Reykjavík you drive through the village of Hveragerði and head to Gullfoss, the ‘Golden Waterfall’, and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see the famous Geysir and Strokkur geysers. Strokkur is a hot spring that spouts every few minutes up to a 40 meter height. The coach continues along the south shore and stops for you to admire the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before continuing to Dyrhólaey nature reserve (closed during nesting season from mid May to June 25). Dyrhólaey is a 120-metre high promontory and got its name from the massive arch that the sea has eroded from the headland. From there you can enjoy the amazing views to Myrdalsjokull glacier in one direction and black lava columns in the other. The area around Dyrholaey is also very rich in birdlife including the puffins. After the stop you continue to Iceland’s most southerly village named Vík, with only 300 inhabitants. Dinner and accommodation at Icelandair Hotel Vik (or a similar hotel in the area).

day 3
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Vik to Höfn including stops at:
    • Skaftafell national park – Europe’s largest national park
    • Vatnjökull – Europe’s largest glacier
    • Jökulsarlon glacial lagoon with icebergs
  • Optional activities (booking and payment on spot):
    • Boat tour among the icebergs on the glacial lagoon
    • Super jeep tour on Vatnajökull glacier
  • Dinner on your own
  • Accommodation in Höfn at Hotel Höfn (or a similar hotel in the area)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you continue across Eldhraun, the largest mass of lava ever to flow on the face of the earth, before reaching the small town Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent. The tour continues over Skeiðarársandur sands to Vatnajökull National Park which is Europe’s largest national park. The area is an amazing place to view the great contrasts between active volcanoes, mighty glaciers, powerful glacial rivers and endless flat sandy plains. The tour continues to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon to see the birthplace of icebergs. Here you can also add the optional activity of sailing amongst the icebergs (needs to be booked through the guide at the beginning of your tour). After the stop at the glacial lagoon you will go to the village Höfn for some time at leisure. Possibility to join an optional super jeep tour on Vatnajökull glacier (needs to be booked the guide at the beginning of the tour). Dinner is on your own this evening. Hofn has several good restaurants and is known for its langoustine seafood. Accommodation at Hotel Höfn (or a similar hotel in the area), located in the middle of Höfn town with great views of the surrounding nature.

day 4
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Höfn to Egilsstadir including stops at:
    • Almannaskarð pass
    • Picturesque coastline
  • Dinner and accommodation in Egilsstaðir at Icelandair Hotel Herad (or a similar in the area)

Breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Höfn through Almannaskarð pass. On the top of Almannaskarð pass you will make a stop to admire the wonderful view of the coastline, with black sands and Vatnajökull glacier. The tour continues to the towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea that form the magnificent East Fjords. On the way to Egilsstaðir you will pass through coastal fjord villages. Dinner and accommodation at Icelandair Hotel Herað (or a similar hotel in the area), centrally located in the town Egilsstaðir.

day 5
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Egilsstadir to Lake Myvatn area including stops at:
    • Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall
    • Dimmuborgir with its peculiar lava formations
    • Lake Myvatn area, known for natural beauty and rich birdlife
  • Optional activities (booking and payment on spot):
    • Bathing in Mývatn Nature Baths (evening tour)
    • Horse riding in Myvatn / Safarihestar
  • Dinner and accommodation in the Myvatn area at Sel Hotel Myvatn (or a similar hotel)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will drive through the uninhabited area and empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Möðrudalsöræfi. The drive through this area takes 2-3 hours but there will be at least one stop on the way. Before you reach “civilization” again you will also stop by the most powerful waterfall in Europe; Dettifoss. From there you head to the Lake Mývatn area where much natural beauty is to be found. Around the Myvatn area you will visit Námaskarð pass with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colors, the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir and other interesting places. Mývatn area has very diverse birdlife and some say it is home to more species of ducks than any other place on Earth. In the afternoon you have the option to try a truly unique experience in the natural bathing site at Lake Myvatn. The warm water in the lagoon is high in minerals and nature takes care of keeping the water clean. A hot tub and a natural sauna are also on site. Transfers are arranged to and from the bathing area. And in the evening you can try horse riding in Myvatn (1-2 hours). The guide will help you to pre-book these optional activities at the beginning of your tour. Dinner and accommodation at Sel Hotel Myvatn (or a similar hotel), located in the southern shore of Lake Myvatn.

day 6
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Lake Myvatn to Siglufjörður including stops at:
    • Goðafoss waterfall
    • Laufas folk museum (entrance included)
    • Akureyri, Iceland’s second biggest city
  • Optional activities (booking and payment on spot):
    • Whale watching tour with sea angling
  • Accommodation and dinner in Siglufjörður at Siglo Hotel (or a similar hotel).

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel towards the bustling northern port of Akureyri, making a stop at the magnificent Goðafoss waterfall (Waterfall “of the gods”) and at the folk museum Laufás. There you can for example see an old turf farm. The entrance to Laufás folk museum is included. After the museum you will head to Akureyri, Iceland’s second largest city with charming buildings and the view of the Eyjafjörður Fjord. In Akureyri, depending on season, you can go on an optional 3 hour long boat trip. During the boat trip there is the possibility to see whales and to try sea angling. The optional excursion can be booked through your guide at the beginning of the tour. After spending some time in Akureyri you will continue along the coastal roads of Eyjafjörður and the Troll Peninsula, a beautiful drive along steep mountains with amazing views over the Arctic Sea and black sand coastline. You will reach Siglufjörður, located in a beautiful fjord, town of the finest timber buildings in the country, restored to their original glory. Accommodation and dinner at Siglo Hotel (or similar hotel). 

day 7
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Herring Museum (entrance included)
  • Drive from Siglufjörður to Borgarnes including stops for:
    • Icelandic horse show (entrance included)
    • Walking tour around Hrutey island located in the middle of the Blanda river
  • Dinner and accommodation in Borgarnes at Icelandair Hotel Hamar (or a similar hotel)

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will visit Siglufjörður's award-winning Herring-Era Museum. The museum recreates the atmosphere of the early XX century, when Siglufjörður was transformed into a herring town, thanks to a large migration of herring. The entrance to Herring Museum is included. Afterwards you will head along majestic mountains and narrow passes leading to Skagafjörður fjord. Here you will visit a local horse farm where you will see an Icelandic horse show and receive an introduction to the unique Icelandic horse that has a special fifth gait - the tölt. The horse show at Varmilaekur horse farm is included. From there the tour heads towards the village of Blönduós built on both sides of the salmon river Blanda. In this river is an island named Hrutey, now a nature reserved area. The guide will take you for a walk across a bridge to the island. Afterwards you will cross the Holtavörðuheiði plateau through Borgarfjörður fjord to the beautiful town of Borgarnes. Dinner and accommodation in Borgarnes at Icelandair Hotel Hamar (or a similar hotel) which is built on an 18-hole golf course. The hotel offers geothermal-heated outdoor hot tubs and this is available to all guests.

day 8
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Drive from Borgarfjorður to Reykjavik including stops at:
    • Hraunfossar waterfall
    • Þingvellir National Park (listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List)
    • Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest lake
    • Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world
  • Dinner on your own
  • Accommodation in Reykjavik at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura (or a similar hotel)

Breakfast at the hotel. From Borgarnes you will drive to Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in the world. A stop will be made to admire the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfalls, before continuing via Hvalfjörður fjord to Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake. From there you will continue to Þingvellir National Park, the ancient site of the world's first parliament held outdoors. Þingvellir has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. In the afternoon you will head back to Reykjavik, where you will enjoy a short city sightseeing before being dropped off at your hotel. Accommodation at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura (or a similar hotel). Dinner is not included in the program this evening. You can get restaurant recommendations at the hotel or ask the guide for assistance earlier that day.

 

day 9
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Departure from Reykjavik according to your own itinerary. Airport transfer is not included but can be booked as an additional service.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure from Reykjavik according to your own itinerary. Airport transfer is not included but can be booked as an additional service.

Tour category

Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura

Silver

Accommodation at good tourist class hotels equal to 3 to 3+ stars according to Scandinavian standard.

Inside cabin included during overnight cruises.

See Silver accommodation

About the tour categories

Services included: 

  • 8 nights hotel accommodation including daily 3-course or buffet dinner (except evenings 1 and 8 in Reykjavik and evening 3 in Hofn) and buffet breakfast, all rooms with private facilities.
  • English speaking tour escort and transportation by modern deluxe coach from day 2 to day 8
  • Entrance to Laufás folk museum incl. refreshments
  • Entrance to Herring Museum
  • Horse Show in Skagafjörður
  • Electronic travel documentation, including a detailed travel itinerary and travel vouchers.


Please note: Triple rooms are unfortunately not available for 3 adults. Children at the age of 6-11 years sharing a room with two adults receive a 25% discount of the above listed price. Children 12 years and older pay full price. It is not recommended that children 0-5 years old travel on escorted coach tours.