Product Description
Highlights
See all the sights that make Iceland’s famous Golden Circle so celebrated, from Gulfoss Waterfall to Strokkur Geysir and Thingvellir National Park, and take a detour to the erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano.. Come face to face with one of Europe’s largest ice caps during an adventurous walk over the Solheimajokull Glacier, allowing you to really appreciate its mighty size.. Visit a sustainably run working farm and enjoy a farm-to-table meal, and do your bit by planting a tree on the farm to contribute to your hosts’ carbon offsetting efforts.. There are few things more quintessentially Icelandic than soaking in a geothermal pool – experience it for yourself during a visit to the iconic Blue Lagoon hot springs.
Overview
Visit the highlights and hotspots of Iceland’s Golden Circle on a five-day loop from Reykjavik. And when we say hotspots, we really mean it. Whether you’re soaking in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon, marvelling at the bursts of the Strokkur Geysir or standing at the foot of the erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano, this adventure is sure to be off the scale. But it wouldn’t be the land of fire and ice without visits to the Solheimajokull Glacier and a series of chillingly beautiful waterfalls. To see another side of life in Iceland, you’ll stay on a sustainable working farm and travel with an expert local leader who’ll show you what makes their country one of the world’s most inviting.
Breakfast Included: 4 Lunches Included: 1 Dinner Included: 2
Reykjavik
Welcome to Iceland! Your adventure begins in Reykjavik, the world’s most northernmost capital and an eclectic place full of charm. A welcome meeting will take place at 6pm tonight at your hotel where you’ll meet your local leader and travel companions. If you arrive in Reykjavik with time to spare, why not hit the streets and explore the collection of quirky boutiques and interesting eateries. After your welcome meeting, you may like to head into town with the group and get to know each other over dinner.
Blue Lagoon / Reykjanes / Hvolsvollur Valley
Wake up and take a moment to breath in the fresh Icelandic air before heading out towards the Reykjanes Peninsula to take part in one of the country’s most beloved activities. Pay a visit to the famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by a black lava field. Its warm waters are rich in minerals and silica mud, said to cleanse and soften the skin. Sit back and enjoy a relaxing soak against a remarkable mountain backdrop, then it’s time for a special experience – a visit to the currently erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano. Here you’ll see basaltic lava bubbling from the central vent just a few metres away, making its way down the flank of the cone. After some time to appreciate the wonder of this spectacle, continue to your accommodation for the night, located in a quiet location in quintessential Icelandic countryside - a simple barn like building turned into hotel rooms with private bathrooms. Enjoy dinner onsite tonight.
Golden Circle / Hvolsvollur Valley
Today is all about exploring Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. Head to the Geysir geothermal area to check out Strokkur and watch as the geyser swells with blue water before erupting and shooting some 20-30 metres in the air. Marvel at the immense beauty and sheer power of the Gullfoss double waterfall on the Hvita River. Pay a visit to a geothermal bakery and discover how rye bread is cooked beneath the ground by hot black sand, then sample some of this special bread for yourself with a pat of Icelandic butter with lava salt, accompanied by a selection of other Icelandic delicacies of the region. Think hakarl (shark), lamb’s head, liver sausage and dried fish. Wash it all down with the local brennivin. Afterwards, head to a sustainable working farm that doubles as a hotel. This farm is the leader in responsible tourism and sustainability in Iceland. Since the arrival of the first settlers to Iceland, deforestation has taken place to make space for pastures, and overgrazing has then led to soil erosion. The owners started a tree planting project on their land to combat this, and this afternoon you’ll head out into the countryside to plant a tree to help support your host’s commitment to sustainability and carbon offsetting efforts. Stay on to enjoy a wonderful farm-to-table dinner made using ingredients grown on the farm.
South Coast / Reykjavik
Start the day by visiting the magical Seljalandsfoss waterfall and take a walk behind its cascade for a different perspective, followed by the powerful Skogafoss waterfall, one of Iceland's biggest at a width of 25 metres and a drop of 60 metres. From here embark on a short hike to another breathtaking waterfall, Kvernufoos, hidden in a nearby valley, and unbeknownst to most. The waterfall is framed by moss-coated cliffs of lava rock, adding to it's otherworldly appearance. After you’ve had your fill of gorgeous waterfalls, prepare to take a walk on one of Europe's biggest ice caps – Solheimajokull Glacier. No experience is necessary to partake in the hike as you’ll be briefed on all you need to know. It’s sobering to think that the glacier is retreating due to rising world temperatures, and in some years the glacier may be gone. If you’d prefer to sit this one out, you’ll have the chance to hike to the glacier's tongue instead.
Thingvellir National Park / Reykjavik
Say goodbye to your hosts this morning and begin the journey back to Reykjavik. Stop en route in Thingvellir National Park to see the Parliament Plains, the site of Iceland’s first parliament. Thingvellir also contains the Silfra fissure, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart, and the resulting gap is partly filled with fresh water and is clearly visible. Once you get back to Reykjavik, your leader will take you out on a walking tour to discover more of the history and culture of this fascinating city. Once this concludes, you will say your goodbyes and your adventure will come to an end.
