Iceland’s Dramatic Wonders

After your transfer by bus from Keflavík International Airport, you’ll arrive in Reykjavik, the colourful gateway to Iceland’s incredible landscapes. Depending on your arrival time, you might choose to unwind at the famous Blue Lagoon, soaking in its warm, mineral-rich waters, or explore the city at your own pace. Stroll past Reykjavik’s modern landmarks, from the glass-and-steel Harpa Concert Hall to the beautiful Hallgrímskirkja Church, and feel the buzz of Iceland’s capital city. In the night, you’ll settle into Hótel Klettur (or similar), with the option to upgrade your room for a touch of extra comfort.

After breakfast, we’ll begin the day with a welcome briefing at 8:30 am, where you’ll meet your tour guide and get a sneak peek of the adventures ahead. From Reykjavik, we’ll drive about 45 minutes inland to Thingvellir National Park, a place of both history and geology. Here, on the site of the world’s first democratic parliament, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart, creating deep fissures, cascading waterfalls, and Iceland’s largest lake. It’s a remarkable opportunity to see the Earth itself in motion.

Next, we’ll head to the Geysir geothermal area, where bubbling hot springs and erupting geysers showcase Iceland’s volcanic energy. Take your time to enjoy lunch here and keep your eyes on Strokkur, which reliably shoots water up to 98ft (30m) into the air every 5–10 minutes – a truly spectacular sight.

From Geysir, a short drive brings us to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, plunging into a 70m (230ft) deep canyon carved by the Hvita River. Finally, we’ll continue for 1 hour 40 minutes to Gluggafoss, another stunning waterfall tucked into the landscape, before arriving at Hótel Fljótshlið or Hótel Drangshlíð (or similar).

After you're done with breakfast, we'll drive east to Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that shook Iceland in 2010. Here, the glacier feeds stunning waterfalls, and we’ll explore Kvernufoss and Skógafoss, both plunging nearly 200ft in a display of power and beauty.

Next, you cross the black sands of Sólheimasandur and the green valley of Mýrdalur to reach Dyrhólaey, a dramatic promontory teeming with puffins and Arctic terns. From there, it’s a short drive to Vík, where the jagged Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise from the ocean, framed by the black sand beaches.

Your journey continues across volcanic flood plains to Vatnajökull National Park and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Walk along the lagoon, marvel at drifting icebergs, and, if the tide allows, see ice sculpted onto the black-sand shore – a magical Icelandic spectacle. The day ends at Guesthouse Gerði (or similar), surrounded by glaciers and rugged coastlines.

You will set off on a scenic drive through Iceland’s Eastern Fjords, a region shaped by glaciers and volcanoes. The road winds past fjords dotted with farms and hayfields, offering spectacular views at every turn. You will be able to see the rich birdlife in late summer, thousands of moulting whooper swans feed in the sheltered lagoon of Alftafjörður (Swan Fjord). Your journey ends in Egilsstaðir, a charming town surrounded by mountains and rivers, where you will stay at Hótel Valaskjálf or Hótel Hallormsstaður (or similar). A perfect spot to relax and take in the serene beauty of eastern Iceland.

After breakfast, you’ll drive through the striking northeast highlands to Studlagil Canyon, where turquoise waters wind between dramatic basalt cliffs. A 45-minute walk brings you up close to this natural masterpiece.

Next, you will visit Möðrudalur, Iceland’s highest inhabited farm, and take in the sweeping, rugged views. Then it’s on to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, where a short walk leads to a thundering wall of water set against stark volcanic terrain. You will be able to explore the geothermal area of Námafjall and the pseudocraters at Mývatn, before arriving at Lake Mývatn, your base for the night at Sel Hótel or Hótel Laxá (or similar)

Once you complete your breakfast, spend the morning around Lake Mývatn with a 45-minute walk through Dimmuborgir, a surreal area of lava towers and natural arches. Nearby is Mount Hverfjall, a huge crater 460ft (140m) deep and 3,280ft (1,000m) wide, which erupted 2,500 years ago and shaped the surrounding landscape. Just a little further north is the hot-spring cave Grjótagjá, made famous by Game of Thrones.

From here, you will drive 50 minutes to Goðafoss, the “waterfall of the gods,” before continuing 40 minutes to Akureyri, the largest town in northern Iceland. Your afternoon is free to explore at leisure – stroll through the town’s charming streets, visit the northernmost botanical garden, check out the Lutheran church, or relax in a thermal bath. If you like, you can also book a whale-watching tour (March–October) through your tour leader.

After eating in the morning, you’ll leave Akureyri and drive around the scenic Troll Peninsula, passing traditional fishing villages and rugged coastline. About 2 hours in, we stop at the geothermal swimming pool in Hofsos, where you have 1 hour and 30 minutes to take a quick dip if you wish. The views over Skagafjörður Bay are unforgettable, even if you just relax on the terrace.

From there, it’s 35 minutes to Sauðárkrókur for lunch, before continuing for 1 hour and 30 minutes to the Víðidalur valley. Here, we enjoy a 45-minute stop at Kolugljúfur Canyon, a series of beautiful waterfalls named after a legendary giantess. After taking in the scenery, we drive 25 minutes to our hotel at Hótel Laugarbakki (or similar), with the option to upgrade to a superior room for extra comfort.

Today is so full of beauty it's ridiculous. We visit Snæfellsjökull National Park in the Westfjords. Here we hike to Dritvík cove, visit the basalt cliffs of Lóndranger, and walk across a lava field to visit the coastal villages of Hellnar and Arnarstapi. There's the option of going on a tour in Vatnshellir Lava Cave, which we highly recommend. We spend the night in Reykjavík.

You will explore the dramatic coastline of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, recently designated a national park. Our first stop is the charming old church at Búðir, set against a backdrop of black sand and rugged lava fields. A short drive brings us to the sea cliffs at Arnarstapi, alive with seabirds, before heading to Djúpalónssandur, where black basalt sands and the remains of old shipwrecks tell tales of Iceland’s fishing past.

Your tour leader will share stories of traditional cod-fishing, all under the watchful gaze of Snæfellsjökull volcano. You must keep your eyes on the sea because on calm days, whales can often be spotted from shore. After lunch in Ólafsvík, we drive 2 hours and 45 minutes to Reykjavik, where you’ll stay at Hótel Klettur (or similar). Optional room upgrades are available for a little extra comfort.

After breakfast, your Iceland adventure comes to an end. You can take a Flybus transfer to the airport for your flight home, or, if you’d like a little more time in the capital, speak to your tour representative about extending your stay to explore Reykjavik further.