Winter Highlights of South Iceland

DAY 1 Reykjavik
Your tour commences with an optional arrival transfer from the airport. This evening is at your leisure to enjoy the Iceland’s capital city.

Stay at Hotel Skuggi or Fosshotel Reykjavík (4 star) or similar

DAY 2 Reykjavik – Golden Circle – South Shore
After breakfast, drive to the world-famous Golden Circle to start your adventure. First stop will be a visit to a visually stunning volcano crater lake, Kerid. The combination of distinctive red volcanic rock and the vibrant blue lake make Kerid one of Iceland’s most recognizable craters. Continue to the geothermal fields of Geysir with bubbling mud pools and the high spouting Strokkur hot spring. After some time to walk around this quirky geothermal area, you’ll head to the area of Gullfoss waterfall where you will board a highland bus for a drive on a mountain track deep into the highland wilderness (Expect some bumpy roads, which are a part of the adventure). The destination is the magnificent Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier, after Vatnajokull. On your arrival, go aboard Sleipnir, an enormous red glacier truck named after Odinn’s eight-legged stallion. The trusty monster truck takes you up Langjokull to experience the glacier’s beauty up close. During the trip, your glacier guides will share interesting glacier facts and tales of the highlands. After returning to “civilisation”, you’ll have time to admire the dramatic two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular sight in winter when frozen mid-cascade.

Relax after the day’s adventure with a peaceful drive to your accommodation in South Iceland. If weather conditions are right, your guide will take you on a northern lights hunt on foot in the area outside your hotel tonight (or evening of Day 3 if weather conditions permit).

Stay at Stracta Hotel or Aurora Lodge (3 star) or similar
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

DAY 3 South Shore – Vatnajokull National Park – Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Travel along the South Shore, an area of Iceland that is especially beautiful to view in winter. If the skies are clear, you might see the area’s two most famous volcanoes in the distance: Mount Hekla (last eruption 2000) and Eyjafjallajokull (last eruption 2010). Stop at the spectacular Skogafoss, a beautifully shaped waterfall that makes a perfect backdrop for a selfie and a “must-see” for photographers. The road leads to the southern area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The total park area covers almost 14% of Iceland, making it the largest national park in Western Europe! Visit the national park’s famous Skaftafell oasis, a site of outstanding natural beauty dominated by several magnificent glaciers. Next would be a visit to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon where you can enjoy the breathtaking sight of icebergs floating in the fantastic glacial lagoon. Nearby is the magical Diamond Beach, where pieces of ice glisten like diamonds on the black sand before they drift out to sea.

Stay at Hunkubakkar Guesthouse or Fosshotel Nupar (3 star) or similar
Meals: Breakfast & dinner

DAY 4 Kirkjubaejarklaustur – Thingvellir National Park – Reykjavik
Head back along the beautiful South Coast, enjoying a different view of the winter landscapes. Stop in Vik, Iceland’s charming southernmost village. Close by is Reynisfjara beach, where you can take a walk on the black sand, admiring the extraordinary rock formations and thundering waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Go on with your journey then stop at the graceful ribbon-like Seljalandsfoss falls to admire its beautiful cascade. Now, it is time to drink in some of Iceland’s local culture, literally. Visit the geothermal greenhouse town of Hveragerdi, home to a microbrewery that is a local favourite hangout. No trip to Iceland is complete without a visit to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where the world’s oldest parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. Today’s last stop is a relaxing farewell to your adventure. Enjoy the authentic Icelandic tradition of bathing in hot spring pools at Hvammsvík nature resort. Hvammsvik sits right near the Atlantic Ocean, with water levels and temperatures of the natural pools fluctuating with the tides. You’ll surely enjoy the unique experience of relaxing in a choice of eight natural hot springs surrounded by majestic mountains and black beaches.

Stay at Hotel Skuggi or Fosshotel Reykjavík (4 star) or similar
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5 Reykjavik
Your tour concludes with an optional departures transfer for your onward journey.

Meals: Breakfast