Iceland 360: the summer tour

Touch down in Reykjavik, the capital and largest city in Iceland. Self-transfer* to the hotel** and get settled in before enjoying the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure.

If time allows, get out and explore the cosmopolitan atmosphere and unique Icelandic cuisine of the capital or visit Reykjavik's fantastic museums on Viking heritage. Overnight stay in Reykjavik.

*Optional private or shuttle bus transfers can be added as a supplement in the next step of the booking process.

**Important note: Most flights to Iceland from Canada arrive very early in the morning. As a result, early check-in is not widely available and may be subject to availability. If this is important to you, please contact us in advance to see what can be arranged.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meet your guide in the morning to begin your journey northwards. Drive via the tunnel of Hvalfjördur to Borgarnes and then on to Skagafjördur fjord, known for being home to the Icelandic horse and the only county in Iceland where horses outnumber people. Continue over the highland plateau of Öxnadalsheidi to Akureyri, the capital of north Iceland, and check-in to your hotel. Overnight in Akureyri.

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your first stop of the day at Goðafoss waterfall, then make your way to Lake Mývatn. This shallow eutrophic lake lies within a dramatic landscape dominated by volcanic landforms, such as the pseudocraters at Skútustadir and the lava pillars of Dimmuborgir. The area around the lake has high geothermal activity, awakening the senses as we visit Námaskarð’s bubbling sulfur pits and steaming vents. Next, drive to Dettifoss, one of Europe’s biggest waterfalls. After a stop at this powerful force of nature, travel across the highlands of Mödrudalsöræfi to the final stop of the day at the village of Egilsstaðir. Overnight in Egilsstaðir.

Breakfast at the hotel. From Egilsstaðir, head towards the fairly isolated and very beautiful East fjords. Apart from the highlands this is the most sparsely populated area of Iceland with only about 3% of the total population living on the farms and small fishing villages of the area. Here, make your way between the rugged mountains and the endless ocean, watching the breathtaking scenery of cascading waterfalls coming down steep cliffsides, with small rivers flowing into the narrow fjords that open towards the North Atlantic. Overnight stay in the fishing village of Höfn.

Breakfast at the hotel. Not far from Höfn, you’ll find the glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón. Large icebergs break off the main glacier and into the lagoon, taking on abstract shapes of white and blue before floating out to sea, with some scattering along the nearby Diamond Beach, so-named for the phenomenon. The bus trip continues on to Skaftafell National Park. It is a beautiful, green oasis at the root of the massive glacier Vatnajökull, crowned by Hvannadalshnjúkur, the highest peak in Iceland. Continue past the lava fields of Eldhraun and observe the black glacial deposits at Mýrdalssandur. Head to the area of Vík with its black sand beaches and landscape shaped by the massive volcanoes of Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. End your visit with the two breathtaking waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Overnight stay in Selfoss.

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your first visit of the day at the majestic Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls. Next, stop at the geothermal area around Geysir. Experience the active geyser Strokkur, which erupts a column of boiling hot water every five minutes. It truly is a fascinating natural phenomenon! Continue to the National Park and Rift Valley of Þingvellir, where you can see the tectonic plates as well as the site where the oldest functioning parliament was founded by Viking settlers in 930 AD. From Þingvellir, return to Reykjavik. You can also reserve a special whale watching experience* to spend more time observing nature. Overnight in Reykjavik.

*Optional Whale Watching: The wildlife is a must-see while in Iceland, and this island makes a great spot for whale watching.

Breakfast at the hotel.* It's time to bid farewell to the captivating landscapes of Iceland. At the indicated time, self-transfer** to the airport for your flight back to Canada. Arrive in Canada and end your trip.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

**Optional private transfer can be added at an additional cost in the next step of the booking process.