Itinerary
- Day 1
Keflavik to Borgarnes
Pick up your rental car at Keflavik International Airport and drive toward Borgarnes. If you're interested, the Blue Lagoon makes for a nice optional stop along the way, letting you soak in the warm, mineral-rich geothermal waters before heading to your accommodation for the night.
- Start point
- Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula Region 235, Iceland (Car Rental Booth at arrival hall)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Borgarnes or similar)
Optional Activities
- Blue Lagoon visit - relax in warm mineral-rich water, use complimentary silica mask, access sauna and steam room, enjoy complimentary beverage at in-water bar
Landmarks Blue Lagoon 
- Day 2
Troll Peninsula - Akureyri
After breakfast, you'll drive to the Troll Peninsula to see its dramatic mountains, green valleys, and coastal scenery. Stop at Hvitserkur, a striking 15-meter basalt island visible from the black-sand beach. Then continue on to Akureyri, Iceland's northern capital, where you can walk through the city and check out landmarks like the Christmas House and Akureyrarkirkja church. During summer months, the Botanical Gardens are in full bloom if you want to spend time there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Akureyri or similar)
Included Activities
- Hvitserkur viewing
- Troll Peninsula exploration
- Akureyri city tour including Christmas House and Akureyrarkirkja church
Optional Activities
- Beer Spa - bathe in warm beer and beer yeast while enjoying a cold beer
Landmarks Hvitserkur Troll Peninsula Akureyrarkirkja Botanical Gardens of Akureyri 
- Day 3
North Iceland
Head north to see Iceland's most powerful waterfall and geothermal areas. You'll visit Dettifoss, Europe's mightiest waterfall, and can hike the scenic 34km canyon trail to Asbyrgi. Stop at Lake Myvatn, the fourth-largest lake in Iceland, known for its birdlife and UNESCO World Heritage status. The geothermal hotspot Hverir with its boiling mud pools and steaming vents is worth seeing. Later, check out Godafoss waterfall, and during summer, you might detour to Stud lagil Canyon with its basalt columns.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Herad or similar)
Included Activities
- Dettifoss waterfall visit
- Lake Myvatn exploration
- Hverir geothermal hotspot visit
- Godafoss waterfall viewing
- Stud lagil Canyon visit (summer)
Optional Activities
- Myvatn Natural Baths - day admission to geothermal bath complex with steam baths built on geothermal area, water drawn from 2,500-meter borehole
Landmarks Dettifoss Lake Myvatn Hverir Godafoss Stud lagil Canyon 
- Day 4
The Eastfjords
Drive along Iceland's dramatic east fjords with great coastal scenery. You'll find Eggin í Gleðivík, an outdoor artwork with 34 egg sculptures reflecting the area's connection to nature, and you can watch for wild reindeer roaming freely here. Hike to the hidden waterfall Skútafoss. Explore Vestrahorn and Stokksnes peninsula with its majestic mountains and wide black sand beach that creates mirror effects in the ocean waves. This area is a photographer's paradise with dramatic light shifts under the midnight sun, Northern Lights, and changing weather.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Hofn or similar)
Included Activities
- Eggin í Gled ivík outdoor artwork viewing
- Skútafoss waterfall hike
- Vestrahorn and Stokksnes peninsula exploration
Landmarks Eggin í Gled ivík Skútafoss Vestrahorn Stokksnes 
- Day 5
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Head to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, a spectacular 200-meter-deep glacial lagoon fed by Breidamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Europe's largest ice cap. Enormous icebergs calve year-round and float through the lagoon. You can walk alongside the glacier or take an optional boat tour to get closer to the millennia-old ice. Cross the road to Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where icebergs wash ashore and sparkle. Also visit the moss-covered Fjdragljufur Canyon and the vast Eldhraun Lava Field.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Fosshotel Nupar or similar)
Included Activities
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon visit and walking exploration
- Diamond Beach visit
- Fjdragljufur Canyon visit
- Eldhraun Lava Field visit
Optional Activities
- Amphibian Boat Tour - 30-40 minute boat excursion among icebergs with English-speaking guide explaining geology, includes tasting 1,000-year-old ice, opportunity to see seals, other languages available upon request
- Zodiac Tour - boat tour covering larger areas of lagoon and getting closer to icebergs than amphibian boats, passengers provided with flotation suits and life jackets, not recommended for children under 10 years old
Landmarks Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Breidamerkurjökull Diamond Beach Fjdragljufur Canyon Eldhraun Lava Field 
- Day 6
South Coast
Explore Iceland's south coast starting with Reynisfjara, the black sand beach where Atlantic waves crash against basalt columns. Puffins and other seabirds nest on the cliffs from June through August. Visit Skógafoss waterfall plunging 60 meters down a cliff with stairs to the top for views. You can hike behind Seljalandsfoss in a raincoat for a unique experience. Optionally, add a glacier hike on Sólheimajökull or visit the DC3 plane wreck on Solheimasandur.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Eyjafjallajökull or similar)
Included Activities
- Reynisfjara black sand beach visit
- Skógafoss waterfall visit
- Seljalandsfoss waterfall visit and behind-the-falls hike
Optional Activities
- Glacier Hike in Sólheimajökull - part of Mýrdalsj ökull, one of Europe's largest glaciers, experience blue ice formation, explore glacier moulin (vertical shaft), featured in 2012 documentary 'Chasing Ice'
- DC3 Plane Wreck - US Navy plane wreck sitting on black sand at Solheimasandur since 1973
Landmarks Reynisfjara Dyrholaey Skógafoss Seljalandsfoss Sólheimajökull Solheimasandur DC3 Plane Wreck 
- Day 7
Golden Circle
Experience the famous Golden Circle route with Iceland's most well-known natural wonders. Visit the Geysir geothermal area with its colorful hot springs, including Strokkur geyser that erupts every 5 minutes up to 40 meters. See Bruarfoss Waterfall with its vivid blue waters and cascading streams. Check out Gullfoss, the 'Golden Falls' plunging into a canyon with views of Langj ökull glacier and rainbow effects on sunny days. Walk through Thingvellir National Park where two tectonic plates meet and Iceland's parliament was founded in 930 A.D. Optional stops include snowmobile tours, dog-sledding, or snorkeling between continents in Silfra.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Fosshotel Baron or similar)
Included Activities
- Geysir Geothermal Area visit
- Bruarfoss Waterfall visit
- Gullfoss Waterfall visit
- Thingvellir National Park visit
Optional Activities
- Snowmobile tour - tour of Iceland's second-largest ice cap with safety briefing, snowsuits, gloves, helmets, and shoe covers provided
- Dog-sledding tour - sled on snow or kart on dry land depending on conditions, with Musher guide sharing knowledge and passion for dog sledding
- Snorkeling in Silfra - snorkel between North American and European tectonic plates in world's clearest glacier water, includes free GoPro photos after tour
- Fridheimare Tomato Farm lunch stop - reservation must be made weeks or months in advance
Landmarks Geysir Geothermal Area Strokkur Bruarfoss Waterfall Gullfoss Langj ökull Thingvellir National Park Silfra 
- Day 8
Reykjavik
Spend the day exploring Reykjavik at your own pace. Head to Perlan glass dome for 360-degree views of the city, visit the historic Höfði building on the waterfront famous for the 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev summit, and see the striking Hallgrímskirkja church inspired by Icelandic basalt columns. Explore the city center near Parliament and Old Town. Optional experiences include museum exhibitions, Northern Lights cruises, and interactive aurora displays.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Fosshotel Baron or similar)
Optional Activities
- Wonders of Iceland & Árora Northern Lights Show at Perlan - see volcanoes, earthquakes, geothermal energy, planetarium visual journey through Iceland landscape, indoor ice cave about glaciers, 360-degree observation deck
- Northern Light Cruise (September-April) - winter cruise away from city lights for best chance to witness auroras shifting in color and movement
- Aurora Reykjavik - walk through history of Northern Lights via legends and myths, interactive displays, photo booth learning camera settings, 20-minute HD film on 7-meter screen with surround sound
- FlyOver Iceland - immersive flight experience using state-of-the-art technology, guests suspended feet-dangling before 20-meter spherical screen, special effects including wind, mist, and scents
Landmarks Perlan Höfði Hallgrímskirkja Parliament Building Austurvöllur - Day 9
Departure
Your final day is at leisure for shopping or anything else you'd like to do before heading home. Take time to explore Reykjavik again or relax before you head to the airport for your flight.
- End point
- Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula Region 235, Iceland (Car rental drop-off point)
