Polar Regions

Iceland | Birding the Southern Coast and Snaefellsnes Peninsula

Activity Level:
MODERATE
Duration:
7 Days
Price:
From $7,795
Interests:
Birding
Organize This Trip Print Itinerary
Reykjanes Peninsula
Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins
The black sand beach at Reynisfjara
The town of Vík on Iceland's southern coast
Black-tailed Godwit
Red-necked Phalarope
Seabirds on the rocks of Arnarstapi on Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Gullfoss
Red-throated Loon
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Organize This Trip

About this trip

Iceland’s volcanic beaches, rocky coastal cliffs, ponds, and streams draw breeding seabirds, waders, and waterfowl numbering in the thousands each summer. With a combination of great birding and gorgeous scenery, this 7-day itinerary focuses on the island’s southern coast and the colorful landscapes of Snaefellsnes Peninsula in the west. Begin your exploration in the capital of Reykjavík and the Reykjanes Peninsula before making your way through heath and farmland to the panoramic views and bird cliffs of Iceland’s South Shore. Enjoy the sights of the famed “Golden Circle,” then cap off your journey with more birding amid the lava fields, volcanoes, waterfalls, and beaches of Snaefellsnes, sometimes called an “Iceland in miniature” for its varied geography and multitude of geological features.

Highlights

  • Ferry to the Westman Islands, a series of rocky, steep-sided volcanic formations that are home to the world’s most populous Atlantic Puffin breeding ground.
  • Explore the low cliffs, sandy beaches, and geothermal areas of Reykjanes Peninsula, where possible sightings include the European Golden-Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, and Red-throated Loon.
  • Hike the scenic trails along a coastline known for its bizarre rock formations and a huge bird population on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
  • Look for Black Guillemots, Great Skuas, Parasitic Jaegers, and Razorbills on the steep bird cliffs that tower above the black, sandy beach of Reynisfjara near Iceland’s southernmost point.
  • Experience classic Icelandic highlights with visits to the Blue Lagoon, Þingvellir National Park, the waterfalls of Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss, and Strokkur geyser.
9 Travelers

$7,795

Land Cost

Group size

Book 8 travelers and 1 group
leader travels for free

What makes us different

Carbon offsetting

As part of our commitment to sustainable travel, we partner with ClimateSafe to offset the carbon emissions from each journey

Service anytime

Enjoy worry-free travel — our emergency line is monitored 24/7/365 so we can assist you if any problems arise while you’re traveling with us

Top birding guides

Our in-country birding guides are experts in bird identification and behavior, providing rewarding experiences for everyone from novice birders to ornithologists

Custom-tailored trips

We can customize your itinerary so that it’s the ideal match for your interests, travel dates, and budget

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Flight arrangements

We’re a full service travel provider and are happy to assist with arranging the flights for your group if desired

AND MORE!

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What makes us different

Daily Itinerary

Print Itinerary
Depart US
Day 1
Depart US for overnight flight.
Reykjavík
Day 2
Upon arrival at Keflavík airport, we will meet our guide and depart for the Viking World Museum for a breakfast then explore the Reykjanes Peninsula, an area of volcanic rock and lava, with numerous clefts and gorges. The peninsula lies on the margin of the Eurasian and north American plates, and is directly connected to the mid-Atlantic ridge. Along the shore, low cliffs alternate with sandy beaches, where ocean waves sweep unhindered onto the coast. We will drive towards the cliffs of Reykjanestá via Hafnir. Here there is a beautiful setting for photographing, both the cliffs, Eldey Island as well as the beautiful lighthouse located in a hill close by. Stop at the geothermal area of Gunnuhver before continuing towards Grindavík. Possible bird species in the area: Kittiwakes, Arctic terns, various gulls, fulmars, gannets, cormorants, guillemots, razorbills, Black-tailed godwits, golden plovers, diverse waders, eiders, Red-throated divers. Red-necked phalaropes (also during migration times: knots, sanderlings, turnstones, brent, and geese). Visit the Blue Lagoon where we will have a wonderful start to our stay in Iceland. Continue to Reykjavik and check in to the hotel. Dinner will be at a local restaurant. Best time for birding in Iceland is June through August. ***Please schedule flight to arrive no later than 7:00 am. Flights arriving after this time will result in missed activities. If you are unable to arrive by 7:00 am, we can assist in booking a hotel night prior to your program start date.
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Centerhotel Laugavegur
Hvolsvöllur
Day 3
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we will leave the capital and drive via Hellisheidi heath, past Hveragerid and via Selfoss through small villages and farmlands, heading towards the beautifully-situated village of Vík. A clear day on the South Shore allows for unique panoramic views of icecaps and volcanoes, including the snow-shrouded Mt. Hekla, Iceland’s most notorious and active volcano, as well as the ice-capped strato-volcano of Eyjafjallajökull. We will make a stop at the Lava Volcano and Earthquake Center in Hvolsvöllur, where we will enjoy this excellent interactive exhibit about Iceland’s active volcanoes and earthquakes. You’ll discover how these natural forces have sculpted Iceland over thousands of years. Stop at the spectacular waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss and drive past Dyrhólaey, Iceland’s southernmost point. Dyrhólaey is a magnificent rocky headland with sheer cliffs and a huge wave-cut gap in its ocean facing tip. Visit the seashore where steep bird cliffs tower above the black, wave-pounded sandy beach of Reynisfjara. Keep an eye out for guillemots, who breed in this area just offshore on the rocks of Reynisdrangar. Possible bird species in the area: Puffins, guillemots, fulmars, gannets, Great skuas, Arctic skuas, various gulls, waders, diverse and waterfowl. Please note: The headland of Dyrhólaey is closed to all visitors during the breeding season, i.e. about six weeks each summer. (generally mid-May to June 25th). Check in to the hotel and have dinner.
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Hotel Hvolsvöllur
Hvolsvöllur
Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive from Hvolsvölur to Landeyjarhöfn pier and from there by ferry (40 min appr.) to the Westman islands. These are rocky, steep-sided islands which were mostly formed by undersea volcanic eruptions. There are around fifteen islands; in addition there are about thirty rock pillars and skerries in the sea around the islands. The youngest island in this archipelago is Surtsey, which was formed in the 1960s. About ten years later, volcanic activity broke out on Heimaey, the largest of the Westman Islands. It is also the only island inhabited by people and one of Iceland’s most important fishing ports. The Westman Islands are the most populous puffin breeding ground in the world, as well as the only breeding place of many Icelandic shearwaters. Until recently, the same applied to Leach’s petrels and storm petrels. When your group arrives at the island of Heimaey, you will take a sightseeing trip around the island. Amongst the sites visited will be the newest volcanic crater, Eldfell, as well as the puffin colony at Stórhöfði. Take the ferry back in the late afternoon and return to your hotel for your dinner and overnight. Possible bird species in area: Puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, gannets, Great skuas, and Arctic skuas, various gulls, and sea-birds.
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Hotel Hvolsvöllur
Snæfellsnes
Day 5
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water thunder majestically down over double falls into a deep canyon. Only a few minutes’ drive from Gullfoss is the famous Great Geysir, whose name has become an international term for an eruptive hot spring. One of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, makes frequent spouts of up to 25 meters (82 feet). Drive along the Sog River onwards to Þingvellir National Park, a remarkable geological site and the principal historic site in Iceland. Lake Þingvallavatn is the largest lake in Iceland and one of the deepest. The lake is located in a large, elongated rift valley that has been created through tectonic plate-divide movements. From the southern end of Lake Þingvallavatn flows the Sog River, Iceland’s most voluminous spring-fed river. Stop for lunch at Friðheimar. Visit their Greenhouses - an out of the ordinary "from the stem to the table" experience in the Icelandic countryside. On this tour, you will gain insight into the processes of Icelandic greenhouse horticulture. With a short and informative talk on the subject, you'll learn about how this farm grows vegetables in cold climates by creating warm geothermal Mediterranean conditions all year round. Next, tour the stable, where you will get a presentation about the horse breed and a one-horse show of the gaits. The Icelandic horse is known for its gaits, diversity of coat colors, strength, health and good spirits. Drive to Hvalfjörður Bay and then across the well vegetated region of Mýrar. En route you will pass the Eldborg lava ring, a famous landmark. The area is primarily meadow and moorland vegetation, along with marshland. Low-growing shrubs can be seen in some places and several rivers, streams and small ponds, many of them close to the road. Dinner at hotel. Possible bird species in the area: Harlequin ducks, Great northern divers (common loons), ptarmigans, whimbrels, Golden plovers, various waders, gulls and other seabirds (also during migration times: knots, sanderlings, turnstones, brent, geese, White-fronted geese).
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Langaholt Guesthouse
Reykjavik
Day 6
Breakfast at the hotel. Spend the day exploring Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a unique area with a great variety of geological formations and diverse and colorful landscapes. These include lava fields, volcanoes, a multitude of streams, ponds and waterfalls, yellow and black sandy beaches and colorful lava fields and caves. The main attraction is without doubt the Snæfellsjökull glacier, a beautifully shaped strato-volcano at the very tip of the peninsula. Snæfellsjökull has become world-famous through Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Centre of the . The lava and the coast around the old trading-post of Búðir is an impressive area where you can enjoy Earth great opportunities for walks. Old trails lead through a moss-covered lava field and along brightly-colored sandy beaches in contrast with the black lava. By the villages of Arnarstapi and Hellnar, there are some unique and quite scenic hiking trails along a coastline known for bizarre rock formations and a huge bird population. Continue on to Þúfubjarg cliff and Djúpalónssandur beach, heading through traditional fishing towns as you circumnavigate the peninsula. Possible bird species in area: Cormorants, shags, guillemots, Brunnich’s guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, Kittiwakes, eiders, Harlequin ducks, Great northern divers (common loons), Red-throated divers, Slavonian (horned) grebes, ptarmigans, whimbrels, Golden plovers, Red-necked phalaropes, and various waders, glaucous, gulls and other sea-birds (also during migration times: knots, sanderlings, turnstones, brent, geese). Arrive late afternoon/early evening back in Reykjavik. Check-in at your hotel. Farewell group dinner close to your hotel.
Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner included
Centerhotel Laugavegur
Day 7
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for flight back to US.
Breakfast- included
9 Travelers

$7,795

Land Cost

Group size

Book 8 travelers and 1 group
leader travels for free

What's Included
What's Not Included
Pricing Details
Rates are based on double occupancy for participants.

Prices are valid for travel from Aug 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2025. Holiday surcharges may apply.

Travel Info

Print Travel Info

Entry & Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens must have a passport valid at least three months beyond your planned date of departure from Iceland. As this requirement is subject to change without notice, we recommend at least six months' validity. Passport should have at least two blank pages.

A visa is not required for visits up to 90 days.

If you are not traveling with a U.S. passport, please check with the Icelandic Embassy for the requirements based on your nationality.

Health Information

IMMUNIZATIONS

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all travelers be up to date on routine vaccinations such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine, varicella (chicken pox) vaccine, and your yearly flu shot before every trip.

There are no vaccinations required for entry into Iceland.

The CDC recommends vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B for most unvaccinated travelers visiting Iceland.

Please consult your physician for additional information and recommendations based on your individual circumstances.

FROSTBITE

Frostbite is damage to the skin from freezing and is due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Symptoms include patches of reddened skin that become white, hard, and swollen; or skin that burns, tingles, or is numb or painful. Severe cases can result in blisters or ulcers forming and may involve deeper tissues. The most common sites for frostbite are the fingers, hands, toes, feet, ears, nose, and cheeks.

To avoid frostbite, dress warmly and in layers but avoid tight clothing as it may reduce circulation. Keep the face and extremities covered. Avoid overheating and excessive perspiration. Change wet clothing, especially socks and gloves.

HYPOTHERMIA

Hypothermia is life-threatening. It is caused by cold, wet, or windy weather that causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce heat. Hypothermia can occur in rugged mountain terrain where the weather can change extremely fast, or after being soaked in cold rivers or lakes.

Symptoms include feeling cold, uncontrollable shivering, clumsiness due to loss of muscle coordination, slurred speech, inability to think clearly, and eventual unconsciousness and cessation of reflexes including heart and lung functions. Many victims in the later stages of hypothermia feel warm and try to shed clothing.

To treat hypothermia, first warm the core of the body before the extremities. Remove any wet clothing. Re-warm the victim slowly; do not warm fast by immersing in warm/hot water. Provide shelter out of the weather. Warm drinks are not necessary, but may help in the psychological recovery. Do NOT give alcohol. Try to keep victim awake as this helps keep the body temperature up.

SUN EXPOSURE

Despite cold temperatures, the effects of the sun can be damaging to the eyes and skin. Spending time outdoors exposes you to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, even on cloudy days. To protect yourself from the sun, use a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15, protect skin with clothing, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and drink plenty of fluids.

Resources

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Packing Recommendations

Everyone has personal preferences when it comes to packing; for this reason, the information below is offered as a general guide and not a definitive list. You know yourself best: Use your discretion and pack what you think will serve you, based on your personal preferences and specific itinerary.

You may find many of the items below in our Gear Store.

CLOTHING

Bring enough clothing suitable for the length of your program. During summer, the weather in Iceland will feel more like early spring or late fall. There may be warm days, but also expect cold, rain, mist, and fog. Pack clothing that can be worn in layers to adapt to weather changes throughout the day.

  • A combination of short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts
  • Long pants, jeans, or trousers
  • Undergarments
  • Sleepwear
  • Jacket or sweaters/sweatshirts
  • 1-2 bathing suit(s) for swimming in hot springs
  • Socks – Bring extra pairs.
  • Shoes – Consider your specific itinerary when choosing footwear. For most programs, you’ll likely want at least one pair of comfortable, closed-toe walking or hiking shoes with good ankle protection. In addition, many participants opt for a pair of sturdy sport-strap sandals (e.g. Keens, Tevas, or similar) and/or casual flip-flops or sandals (for around the hot springs or your accommodations).
  • Lightweight rain jacket, hooded poncho, and/or windbreaker
  • Wool hat or beanie
  • Gloves
  • Bandana, scarf, or Buff-style headwear

Personal Toiletries

Pack toiletries based on your personal preferences and habits. Below are just a few recommendations to keep in mind.

  • Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant/antiperspirant , etc.
  • Soap and washcloth or a small, quick-drying microfiber towel
  • Hairbrush, comb, hair ties, shower cap. Most—but not all—hotel rooms provide a hair dryer, but you may wish to bring one from home.
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Razor
  • Ear plugs, especially if you are a light sleeper
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Insect repellent with DEET or picaridin
  • Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
  • Aloe vera gel

In addition to your personal toiletries, it is useful to pack a small medical kit, which you can easily prepare. Helpful items might include: bandages, antihistamine, a pain reliever, motion sickness and/or altitude sickness medication (if you are prone to either), anti-diarrhea medicine, individually wrapped pre-moistened towelettes and/or hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, anti-fungal cream, a travel pack of tissues, moleskin for blisters, eye drops, tweezers, a mini sewing kit, and an extra pair of disposable contact lenses or eyeglasses if you wear them.

Miscellaneous

Remember to pack valuables such as your passport, cash/credit cards, and medications in your carry-on luggage.

  • Passport and photocopies of all travel documentation
  • Personal insurance card and travel insurance information
  • Money – ATM/credit card, traveler's checks, and/or cash; small bills in good condition are recommended
  • Prescription medicines (if applicable), with a copy of the prescription
  • Sunglasses with strap
  • Small day pack for hikes and excursions
  • Flashlight and/or head lamp
  • Travel alarm clock or inexpensive waterproof wristwatch with alarm
  • A pocket calculator or phone to assist with conversions and currency exchange
  • Binoculars with lens cleaner
  • Camera and related equipment, such as charger, lenses, and extra memory cards
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Non-perishable snacks
  • Pocket-knife or multipurpose tool - Pack in your checked luggage
  • Zip-top style bags – useful for packing toiletries, sorting clothing, storing damp or muddy shoes, or as a dry bag for protecting electronics)
  • Notepad or travel journal and pen
  • Music or reading material for down time, long bus drives, or on the airplane, and a portable bright light to read by
  • Collapsible walking stick with rubber tip
  • Money belt
  • Chargers for electronics
  • Plug converter and voltage adapter
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