Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our hosted group travel to Iceland.
Renowned for its stunning landscapes and unique geological features, Iceland offers an unparalleled travel experience. From majestic waterfalls and volcanic craters to geothermal hot springs and expansive glaciers, this trip is designed to immerse you in the natural beauty and vibrant culture of this Nordic island. Join a group of like-minded travelers and explore the wonders of Iceland with the expertise and guidance of experienced hosts, ensuring a seamless and enriching journey.
7 Nights - Departs October 12-19 2024
Flight from Raleigh/Durham to Reykjavik 8:30 PM (6 hr) +1
Sand Hotel (2 Nights)
The Sand Hotel is conveniently located on Laugavegur, the main street and commercial center of Reykjavík, placing it in close proximity to the city’s vibrant art galleries, boutiques, and diverse culinary options.
The rooms at Sand Hotel are a peaceful retreat from the activity of the main street. Featuring upscale furniture and contemporary artwork for a comfortable and modern atmosphere.
Tour of the Dormant Thrihnukagigur Volcano
Meet your driver-guide, departure towards the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano – unique natural phenomenon. Descend into a vast and vibrant magma chamber, the heart of the most captivating volcano in Iceland, which has remained inactive for over 4,000 years. Iceland is the only place in the world where such an adventure exists, so don’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Simply put, the country is one of the most volcanically active destinations, mostly due to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the center of the ridge stands this immoveable volcano with a name anyone other than a local might struggle to pronounce (Thríhnúkagígur), roughly translating to Three Peaks Crater. As you lower into the volcano entrance, the magma chamber and its beauty become instantly apparent, displaying vast colorations and bizarre textures. Expect to see rough walls and intricate formations splattered in yellows, blues, violets, and oranges; so vibrant it’s almost surreal. As you reach the bottom, exposed to a space equivalent to three full-sized basketball courts, you’ll be able to admire the sheer power of Icelandic volcanoes, as well as their magnificent inner workings.
ATV Experience
Purring along on a quadbike is one of the most fun ways of seeing Iceland’s superlative natural charms. Feel the wind rush against your face as you head off on an exhilarating adventure. These sturdy four-wheel vehicles have the power to surge across the roughest of terrain, making them perfect for Iceland’s rugged landscapes. Iconic images of Icelandic nature are brought right to your feet as you make your way across the countryside. Zoom atop an expansive black sand beach, winding up hilly trails and along concrete roads. This incredible ATV journey allows you to experience a serene Icelandic setting in an adrenaline-filled way! One of the most incredible experiences of a lifetime guaranteed!
Afterwards continue back to Reykjavik.
Golden Circle Route
Breakfast at hotel & check out. Meet your driver guide in the reception.
Today you’ll be travelling through Golden Circle route. First, the drive goes into the countryside to Thingvellir – the site of the original Althing, the actual founding place of the oldest democratic parliament in the world. This area is noted for its spectacular lava formations and being the only place in the world where you can see the tectonic plates drift apart. Today Thingvellir is an outstanding national park, the jewel in the crown of Iceland’s historical sights, by many considered the most important one where the protected area will always be the property of the Icelandic nation.
Lunch stop (payable locally)
After lunch, Haukadalur valley to see the famous Geysir, the “geyser” which gave its name to all other erupting hot springs. While Geysir hasn’t been particularly active recently, one of the most active, and reliable, geysers in the area is just 50 meters away from Geysir. Strokkur is capable of shooting water 90 feet high and erupts every five minutes on average.
There are also about 30 smaller geysers and hot pools in the area, including one named Litli Geysir (‘Little Geysir’), making this area a thrilling hub of geothermal activity.
Next you will head to see one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe, Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall).
Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water thunder majestically down in a double-fall into a deep gorge from the glacier Langjökull. The scale of Gullfoss and the thundering roar of the water has to be seen to be believed. You will have the unique opportunity to get up close to the very brink of the waterfall and feel glacial water spray on you as you admire its sheer power.
Snowmobile Tour
A super-jeep will come and pick you up for your snowmobile tour on Langjökull! Get your adrenaline pumping with a snowmobiling adventure across frozen Icelandic landscapes. With an abundance of glaciers, icy valleys, and snowy hills, there are plenty of opportunities to rush through glistening scenery on the back of these sturdy vehicles. This journey will have you cruising over Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull, where you can experience the vast, slick surface of this famous landmark. Snowmobiling in Iceland is a once-in-a-lifetime experience every outdoor enthusiast should indulge in!
Hotel Umi (1 Night)
Umi hotel is located by one of the most beautiful mountain range in the country. The hotel is only about 150 km away from Reykjavik and 2 km of the Ring road (Road NR. 1). The location offers a strong connection to nature that allows guests to experience the peace and quiet of the Icelandic countryside.
The hotel offers a first class restaurant with a unique view of the Westman Islands and the southern coastline, as well as a lounge bar with a view of the famous subglacial volcano Eyjafjallajökull and the beautiful mountain terrain surrounding it. Next to the hotel the river Svaðbælisá peacefully flows by. The starlit skies and northern lights certainly won’t let anyone down over the winter months.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
On the way to Glacier Lagoon you will stop at Fjaðrárgljúfur, which is a magnificent and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The canyon has sheer walls, and is somewhat serpentine and narrow. The bedrock in Fjaðrárgljúfur is mostly palagonite from cold periods of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old.
Private Zodiak Tour of Glacier Lagoon
Continue to Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon) – a large glacial lake on the edge of Vatnajokull National Park and developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown because of melting of the glaciers and has increased fourfold since in the 1970s. It recently became the deepest lake in Iceland, over 248 metres.
You will go on a private Zodiac boat that will take you around the lagoon. The icebergs calve from the glacier edge and then move and fluctuates towards the river mouth along with the tide and the wind and get entrenched at the bottom. Its very beautiful and calming listening to the cracking sound of the icebergs when they move and float around. Especially its beautiful during sunrise and or sunset. That is such a spectacular sight and once in a lifetime experience. The icebergs are seen in two shades as milky white and bright blue, which depends on the air trapped within the ice and is an interplay of light and ice crystals. Beautiful seals and birds can also be seen swimming around in the lagoon. Doesn’t this sound like a fairy-tale place? On the other side of the road there is also a beautiful black sand beach where you can see ice-cubes and crystals that are washed up from the sea, which is actually very beautiful especially at dawn, sunrise or sunset because then light illuminates the icebergs. Sometimes this beach is called the diamond beach which is totally understandable.
Northern lights hunt in the evening if conditions allow. If the conditions are not good the guide will advise another night. This can be moved to another night if the forecast is more favorable then.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon – Hnappavellir, Iceland (1 Night)
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is a four-star superior hotel perfectly situated between two of Iceland’s most spectacular natural attractions, Skaftafell National Park and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Surrounded by rolling mountains and remote countryside, the location is perfect for nature lovers who want to experience an oasis of breathtaking scenery, cascading waterfalls, floating icebergs, and fantastic hiking trails.
South Shore with Ice Walk
Today, you’ll experience the most scenic region in Iceland: the south coast. This magnificent strip of land stretches from the greater Reykjavik area in the west to the iconic Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in the east. The south coast of Iceland boasts some of the youngest geological landscapes in the country, many of which formed during the last Ice Age! A full-day journey will introduce you to the most awe-inspiring features of Icelandic nature. Travel as far as Vík, a charming village noted for its proximity to the black sands of Reynisfjara, as well as the Reynisdrangur formations; famous basalt structures concealing tales of ancient trolls. Along the way, you’ll get to stop by the popular Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, each one cascading with singular beauty. Surround yourself with volcanoes, glaciers, mountains, and hot springs that will transport you to an inspiring, fairytale world! Lunch in one of the restaurants (payable locally)
After lunch enjoy private glacier walking experience. Embark on an adventure atop the picturesque glacier outlet of Sólheimajökull, located on the south coast of Iceland. Glacier hiking is a unique and exhilarating adventure only accessible within a few parts of the world. Because Iceland has some of Europe’s largest glaciers, there’s no shortage of icebound experiences here! You’ll have plenty of time to take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains as you make your way to rugged and majestic ice falls. Walking on the glacier not only provides you with plenty of photo opportunities but with the chance to gain a thorough understanding of its immensity, as well! Witness how primal elements shape and affect its form, creating mesmerizing labyrinths of ice ridges and deep v-shaped crevasses. Large sinkholes, called moulins, can sometimes form to the black sands below, draining the ice in little, crystal-clear waterfalls. Explore dramatic terrain within the crisp, blue colors of this frozen wonderland: an unforgettable journey through Iceland’s glacial wild.
Skálakot Manor Hotel (1 Night)
Skálakot is located in the very heart of southern Iceland, surrounded by stunning nature in the tranquillity of the countryside, just under the wide expanses of the Icelandic highlands and in the vicinity of glaciers and volcanoes overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean.
Silica Hotel at the Blue Lagoon – Grindavik, Iceland (1 Night)
Classic resort in the heart of Grindavik with mountain views; offers access to the Blue Lagoon cuddled in a volcanic landscape.
Buggy Tour
Start the day with going on a buggy tour, zip through the vast and mountainous Icelandic landscape in a two-seater buggy, one of the most exciting ways to explore the country! Whether you’re touring on a solo adventure or sitting shoulder to shoulder with your partner, the thrill of speeding through a variety of scenery is impossible to beat. The buggies can take on a range of terrains, like grassy hills, dirt tracks, and riverbeds, so be prepared to get a bit dusty. This exhilarating experience will allow you to put your driving skills to the test while you revel in the adrenaline!
Blue Lagoon
There is a private lagoon at Silica and then you also have one admission to The Blue Lagoon while staying at Silica Hotel. The Blue Lagoon is fed by geothermal energy from deep within Icelandic lava fields, the seawater from the Blue Lagoon has been enriched with silica, algae, and other nourishing minerals. It holds up to six million liters of water, 70% ocean water and 30% freshwater, and is by far the largest lagoon in Iceland: equivalent to three Olympic-sized pools. Among its soothing, milky-blue waters, you can relax and recharge while immersing yourself in distinct Icelandic beauty.
Steam gently wafts upwards from this geothermal hotspot surrounded by rugged lava rocks and sweeping mountains. The Blue Lagoon is unlike any other attraction in Iceland: a spa filled with pampering and therapeutic options to enhance your journey to rejuvenation. Smooth on a white algae mask to leave your skin as soft as velvet or massage away your worries as you drift blissfully atop the water. You can also wander over to the swim-up bar to sip on cocktails, wine, beer, or fresh smoothies, or book a special dinner at either of the fine dining restaurants at the Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon isn’t just any typical spa, it’s the finest of Icelandic geothermal luxury.
Flight from Reykjavik to Raleigh/Durham 4:45 PM (6 hr, 45 min)
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