Itinerary + Map

DAY 1 Reykjavik
Your tour commences with a shared arrival transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Stay at: Hotel Klettur, Reykjavik (3 star)

DAY 2 Reykjavik – Thingvellir – Borgarnes
Explore Iceland’s classic highlights on a journey around the famous Golden Circle. Start with a visit to a geothermal greenhouse to see how Icelanders grow tomatoes before meeting some Icelandic horses and learning about their unique qualities. Marvel at the iconic “Golden Falls” of Gulfoss and walk through the active geothermal area of Geysir where you will see Strokkur, a geyser which erupts at regular intervals with its white column of boiling water reaching as high as 25m. Continue to Thingvellir National Park where the ancient Viking Parliament sat and where the North American and European tectonic plates meet. Then travel along the scenic Hvalfjörður fjord to Borgarnes where you will overnight.

Stay at: Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 3 Borgarnes – Patreksfjordur
Discover the Snæfellsnes Peninsula which juts out from Iceland’s West Coast. Here you will see the rugged mountain range, lava fields, volcanic craters, sandy beaches and high cliffs. Follow the adventure of Jules Verne’s classic science-fiction novel about “The Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Do not miss your chance to go on a trip to the interior of the earth under the glacier Snæfellsjokull! This lava cave tour takes you 35 metres underground and about 200 metres into the lava tube called Vatnshellir. Afterwards board a ferry to Brjánslækur. Enjoy the magnificent views and scenery on the 2.5hr journey across Breiðafjörður Bay, with an opportunity if the weather is good to view the glacier Snaefellsjokull.

Stay at: Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjördur (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 4 Patreksfjordur / Remote Westfjords region
Start the day with a visit to the folk and transport museum. Spend the day in the remote and sparsely populated regions of the West Fjords. Visit Latrabjarg the western most point of Iceland and Europe where you may see puffins during summer as well as other Nordic birds such as razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants and kittiwakes. Also, if weather permits, you will drive to the endless red sand beach of Raudisandur, the magnificent hues of the sand differ with daylight, tides and weather.

Stay at: Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjordur (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 5 Patreksfjordur - Vatnsnes Peninsula
Travel over mountains and along scenic fjords to reach the beautiful Dynjandi waterfall, with its seven levels of plunging water. Continue over the mountain pass along roads less travelled to reach tonight’s accommodation located in the remote Vatnsnes Peninsula. The last stop is Erpsstadir, a family run dairy farm best known for their ice cream! Learn about their milk production and enjoy a tasting of their unique ice cream with local seasonal flavours.

Stay at: Hotel Laugarbakki, Hvammstangi (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 6 Vatnsnes Peninsula – Akureyri
This morning travel off-the-beaten-path around the Vatnsnes Peninsula, passing the fishing village of Hvammstangi, known as the seal capital of Iceland. See Hvitserkur Rock, thought to be a petrified troll, and Kolugljufur Canyon where waterfalls cascade into the deep, rugged gorge. Further north, stop at Vídimyri to visit one of Iceland’s few preserved turf churches. The church was built in 1834 and has turf walls but timber gables both back and front. Continue along a high mountain road to Akureyri.

Stay at: Sæluhus Studio Apartments, Akureyri (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 7 Akureyri / Siglufjordur
The north is known for its populations of whales and this morning you will get to enjoy a whale watching tour in Eyjafjordur, Iceland’s longest fjord right below the Arctic Circle. In the afternoon see the spectacular fjord landscapes while travelling to Siglufjordur, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. Siglufjordur is located on the mountainous Trollaskagi Peninsula. On the way, we pass small fishing villages and stop at a deserted valley that even most Icelanders have not seen. Included is a visit to the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjordur, where you will have the opportunity to taste the herring along with Brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.

Stay at: Sæluhus Studio Apartments, Akureyri (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 8 Akureyri – East Iceland
Start your day with a visit to the magnificent Godafoss Waterfall, beofre continuing to Lake Myvatn where you will be able to take a walk in the mysterious lava field Dimmuborgir and explore the hot springs, fumaroles and bubbling mud pools of Namaskard. Then travel to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajokull National Park. You will then travel to the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland to explore the northernmost fjord and visit the isolated village of Bakkagerdi at Borgarfjörður-Eystri. This charming place is built snugly next to the steep mountainside and still functions as a traditional Icelandic fishing village - getting there is a dramatic and rewarding drive.

Stay at: Country Guesthouse Alfheimar or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 9 East Iceland - Hofn
First stop today is the Vok Baths for a relaxing soak with scenic views in the geothermal floating pools of Lake Urriðavatn. Later, visit Petra's fascinating rock collection - a unique treasure trove of crystals, rocks, quartz, zeolites and so much more. Afterwards drive towards Hofn admiring the dramatic fjord landscape and the tiny fishing villages of the East Fjords as Vatnajökull, Europe's biggest glacier, becomes visible.

Stay at: Fosshotel Vatnajokull, Hofn (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 10 Hofn – Vatnajokull National Park - Vik
Today explore Vatnajökull National Park which covers 14% of Iceland. Take a boat ride amongst the floating icebergs on the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, considered one of the highlights on a tour around Iceland. Next, walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond Beach followed by a visit to the region of Skaftafell that is nestled below Iceland's highest mountain and the second biggest stratovolcano in Europe, the 2km high Hvannadalshnukur. Walk close to one of the many glacial tongues in the area - a true photo moment! Continue to the southernmost village in Iceland, Vik.

Stay at: Hotel Vik, Vik (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 11 Vik – Reykjavik
Travel along the South Coast of Iceland, between the sea, rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. Explore the black lava beach of Reynisfjara before stopping at Skógafoss waterfall, another must-see location in South Iceland. The crashing water creates a mist that results in frequent and magical rainbows, just adding some more memorable experiences to the sheer beauty of Iceland's stunning scenery. Also visit Skogar Folk Museum with its turf houses and assemblage of relics on display. Afterwards, reach Seljalandsfoss waterfall where you can follow the trail right behind the falls. Stop for a visit at the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Centre to learn about the eruptions in Iceland in past years. Arrive in Reykjavik for check in at your hotel followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Stay at: Hotel Klettur, Reykjavik (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 12 Reykjavik
Your tour concludes with a shared departure transfer for your onward journey.

Meals included: Breakfast

A small group tour with a maximum of 20 guests

• Escorted by a professional English-speaking Tour Manager*
• 3 and 4 star hotel, charming guesthouses and farm accommodation
• West fjords ferry: Stykkisholmur – Brjanslækur
• Transportation by air-conditioned coach
• Arrival and departure Flybus shuttle transfers

 

  • 11 breakfasts
  • 10 three course dinners
  • Golden Circle
  • Geothermal greenhouse and horse stables
  • Lava Cave in Snaefellsnes
  • Folk and Transport Museum (Hnjotur)
  • Erpsstadir Dairy Farm and ice cream tasting
  • Whale tour at Eyjafjordurfjord
  • Siglufjordur and Herring Museum
  • Area of Lake Myvatn, Namaskard, and Vatnajokull National Park
  • Vok Baths including towel
  • Petra’s Stone collection
  • Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon boat trip
  • Skogar Folk Museum
  • Lava Centre Museum

Pricing

 
 
20 May 2024
03 Jun 2024
17 Jun 2024
01 Jul 2024
15 Jul 2024
29 Jul 2024
12 Aug 2024
26 Aug 2024
Grand Tour of Iceland 12 day Escorted Tour
Twin/DoubleSingle
Prices per adult in Australian Dollars (AUD)
$9,650$12,100
$10,160$12,865
$10,160$12,865
Sold OutSold Out
$10,160$12,865
$10,160$12,865
$10,160$12,865
Sold OutSold Out

Note that most double rooms in Iceland are actually twin bedded rooms.
Triple rooms are double rooms with extra bed for two adults and one child (8-11years).
* Once a tour reaches 15+ passengers, there will be a separate Tour Manager and driver.