6 Days Around Iceland Adventure

• The Ring Road, full circle in Iceland
• Exploring Golden Circle , South Coast , Crystal Ice Cave, Myvatn
• Relaxing in the Nature Baths at Mývatn (Optional)
• English-speaking tour guide
• Small group – max. 19 per guide!
• Five-night accommodations with private bathroom

This around Iceland tour will give you the best possible experience. ”Life is meant for good friends and great adventures.”

Day 1: Golden Circle and South Coast

Please be ready at your pick-up location in Reykjavík at 08:00 am. The pick up process takes up to 30 minutes, so depending on where you are located in Reykjavik you may have to wait a few minutes. The first day of this round trip is mostly focused on exploring the attractions of the famous Golden Circle.

We visit Þingvellir National Park which is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its geological and historical significance. It was here that the Icelanders founded their historic Parliament in 930 CE, Alþingið, one of the first democratic governments in the world. The Law Speaker had one of the most dramatic ‘platforms’ in the world from which to proclaim the law, the cliff of the mighty rift valley stood at his back. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs right through Þingvellir, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continue to edge apart, slowly widening the rift valley. The Geysir hot spring area will be our next destination.

Geysir is the spouting hot spring which gave its name to this phenomenon when the English word ‘geyser’ was adopted. Watch the Strokkur hot spring erupt great jets of hot water and steam every few minutes and see the bubbling fumaroles. The mighty Gullfoss waterfall is the final Golden Circle attracted. See the dreamy golden-hued mist rising from the spray as the Hvítá (the White River) pours down from Langjökull (the Long Glacier) roaring through the rugged canyon. Gullfoss drops 32 m in two stages.

On the way to our accommodation at a country hotel near the village of Vík, we will visit both Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a very unusual waterfall because it is possible to walk behind the cascade, giving a unique vantage point.

Day 2: Vík – Skaftafell – Glacier Lagoon – Höfn
We explore the atmospheric Reynisfjara black sand beach with the glorious Reynisdrangar peaks and visit the basalt column cave. Then it is over to the glaciers!

We pass the great Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which houses one of the most famous and feared volcanoes beneath its ice, the capricious Katla. In good visibility you will get a glimpse of the great fire maestro!  Witness the results of previous volcanic eruptions as we drive across the Eldhraun lava field to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. Skaftafell is a true oasis, with green birch forests and lush vegetation, a verdant jewel in the midst of the rough black sand desert.

We will take a three-hour glacier hike, guided by our specialist glacier guide, on an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe. Next on the agenda is the famous Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Gaze in wonder at the magical iceberg filled lagoon and see the famous Diamond Beach, its coal black sands peppered with the glittering crystal, blue/white icebergs which have been washed ashore. You will feel you are in a film scene, and in a way you will be – footage of James Bond and other movies has been shot here. Our accommodation for the night will be at a guesthouse in the Höfn area, known as the lobster capital of Iceland.

Day 3: East Fjords – Djúpivogur – Egilsstaðir

Today we will explore the East Fjords of Iceland. We continue threading our way along the coastline, driving some narrow roads around Hvalnes, a very beautiful and remote peninsula, and the stretch around the Þvottárskriður landslides between Lóns and Álftafjarðar.

We will stop at Djúpivogur, a traditional small fishing village which is also home to a fine outdoor sculpture, Eggin í Gleðivík (meaning The Eggs of Merry Bay). There is then an invigorating hike to Hengifoss, Iceland’s second highest waterfall (128 m), we will also see the towering Litlanesfoss waterfall, the cascade is framed by giant hexagonal basalt columns. The hike takes about three hours in total. You will see a beautiful gorge where the layers from volcanic eruptions in ancient times can be seen in the colorful rock face. Following our hike we travel to Egilsstaðir, the night will be spent in a country hotel in the area.

*SEASONAL EXTRA: There might be a visit to an ice cave instead of a glacier hike in winter. The arrangement will depend on the weather and the final decision will go to the guide. 

Day 4: Dettifoss – Mývatn – Goðafoss – Akureyri

Today we are on our way to the north of the country. From Egilsstaðir, we drive over the wilderness around Möðrudalur, the highest farm in Iceland for generations and now the highest inhabited place and restaurant, at 469 m. We will stop at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, the voluminous flow is truly awesome! We then explore the mystical landscapes around the lake at Mývatn – from here it just gets more surreal – we head to the steaming lunar landscapes of the Námaskarð geothermal area. See boiling hot springs, steaming fumaroles and technicolor bubbling mud pots. The wonders continue when we visit the Hverfjall crater and the amazing Dimmuborgir formations, known as the Dark Castles!

The next stop is at Mývatn Nature Baths, in Icelandic these are called Jarðbóðin because the hot water comes straight up out of the earth. Mývatn Nature Baths, giving you the opportunity to bathe in the hot spring pools. Bathing is an optional extra activity but we highly recommend you book it beforehand to reserve your spot! Here you can bathe in the mineral-rich alkaline water (36 – 40 C), the entrance fee can be added when booking or paid on site. For those do not wish to bathe, there is the option to stroll around and enjoy the exceptional views or relax in the cafeteria, there is a sun terrace for fine days! The wide and dreamy crescent-shaped waterfall, Goðafoss, is the last stop of the day before we journey to Eyjafjörður, an outstandingly beautiful fjord with high mountains.
Our accommodation for the night will be at a country hotel near Akureyri.

Day 5: Whale watching in Dalvík – Siglufjörður -Tröllaskagi – Bifröst

Occasionally there is time to make a short stop at Akureyri, the Capital of the North. We always drive through this charming town, passing through the really mesmeric scenery along Eyjafjörður (the Island Fjord) on the way to the little fishing town of Dalvík. Your whale watching boat trip departs from the traditional working harbor. During the 3-hour boat trip you can expect to spot humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, and sometimes even a majestic blue whale. Whales are spotted on 98% of tours. You will also get the chance to try your luck at sea angling, and a taste of the freshest fish imaginable.

When we step ashore, we drive to Siglufjörður, a charming fishing village with a rich history, in the early 20th century there was a gold rush atmosphere when the remote community became the herring fishing capital of the Atlantic. Your journey around Tröllaskagi (the Troll Peninsula) will show you some of the best ocean scenery and skiing areas in Iceland. The characterful small villages on this peninsula will really give you a good insight into how life was/is lived in the remote Icelandic villages. Our drive will take us through some thriving agricultural areas on our way to Bifröst, a small university centered community. Your accommodation for the night will be at a small hotel in Bifröst.

Day 6: Borgarfjörður – Reykholt – Hraunfossar – Hvalfjörður – Reykjavík

On this, our final day, we will find ourselves in West Iceland – an area which Lonely Planet voted as one of the best destinations in 2016. Your day will begin with a short hike up to Grábrók, a volcano crater. On a clear day there are fabulous views over the lava field and the whole area. Borgarfjörður has many splendid sights and we will focus on these today. We stop at Deildartunguhver hot spring, the legendary waterfall, Barnafoss, (the Children´s Waterfall), and the Hraunfossar cascade, the atmospheric very low and wide falls where the water emerges, literally straight out of the lava field.

Next on the agenda is the historic and picturesque site of Reykholt, home to Snorri Sturluson, the Icelandic historian, lawyer, politician, poet and the author of some Icelandic Sagas. See Snorralaug, Snorri´s pool, dabble your fingers and feel the temperature of the water in the place where Snorri is likely to have bathed! We will drive around scenic fjord, Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord), on our way to back Reykjavík. We expect to arrive in the city around 5 – 6 pm.

• Pick up: 8:00am
• Drop off: between 5pm to 6pm on the sixth day

New regulations have been implemented regarding the shuttle traffic in the downtown Reykjavik. We have therefore offered 12 pick up points instead of directly picking up guests from accommodations . Please click here for further information.

• 6 days

• Free pickup and drop off in Rekjavik
• Hotel room with private bathroom, and breakfast. *Single room supplement is required for solo travellers.
• Guided tour in minibus
• Glacier hike on Vatnajökull Glacier
• Hike at Egilsstaðir
• Whale watching in Dalvík

• Lunch and dinner

Crampons are metal spikes that we attach to the soles of your hiking shoes, these enable you to walk on the glacier ice without slipping. Crampons will be used during glacier hiking, please make sure you have good hiking shoes. We recommend hiking shoes that are thick, sturdy and waterproof.
Please refer to below photos as reference:

On this tour you are permitted to take your day backpack and one piece of luggage weighing 20 kg. If you have more or heavier luggage with you, you will need to book storage for the surplus luggage before you arrive, there
is a small fee for using this facility. Luggage storage in Reykjavík can be added to your booking using the link in
the extras and upgrade section.

• Minimum age: 10 years
• All extra rental equipment should be rented 3 days prior before departure. Please contact us by email : hello@icelandeasy.com if you would like to book.
• Sometimes we may need to change glaciers or glacier outlets on this tour due to various reasons, including weather conditions. Glacier outlets used on this tour include Svínafellsjökull, Falljökull and Sólheimajökull, all amazing and unique glaciers, equally as beautiful.
• Blue Lagoon Extension (optional): After the 6-day tour around Iceland, you will be dropped off at your chosen drop-off location, at around 17:00 pm. You will have time to have dinner, and then you are picked up at the same location for the Blue Lagoon transfer at 19:30 pm. After relaxing in the Blue Lagoon, you will be dropped off at the same location.
• Glacier hiking is refundable in portion if the weather condition isn’t possible for visiting. In return, we will have other itinerary for substitution. Please note that the refund varies with the operator’s decision, IcelandEasy solely acts on behalf of the operator in refunding.