Icelandic Circuit: Energy, Innovation and Volcanic Landscapes

Depart US

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and immigration, you will be met by your guide and driver. Head to a local restaurant for breakfast and a program orientation, and then continue to the Blue Lagoon. Situated amid the dramatic lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Blue Lagoon offers a relaxing wellness experience in mineral-rich waters. Enjoy a drink and a mud mask at the in-water bar. Afterward, take a city sightseeing tour of Reykjavík before arriving at your hotel for check-in. You’ll have time to freshen up before meeting in the hotel conference room for a lecture by a local conservation expert. Dinner is on own tonight to experience local Icelandic cuisine.

After breakfast at your hotel, depart for Þingvellir National Park to explore the grounds of Alþingi, the ancient parliament site on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. Þingvellir also showcases the dramatic continental drift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This is also the site where Game of Thrones filmed the narrow paths at the entrance to the Eyrie. Next, visit Iceland’s famous Gullfoss, or "Golden Falls," and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see numerous spouting hot springs and boiling mud pools. Lunch will be at Friðheimar Greenhouses for an out-of-the-ordinary "stem-to-table" experience in the Icelandic countryside. After an introduction to the greenhouse, enjoy a special lunch served among the plants. Sample classic tomato dishes like Friðheimar’s famous tomato soup, as well as new creations made with a twist, like green tomato and apple pie or refreshing, homemade tomato ice cream. Afterward, watch a horse show and learn about the history of the Icelandic horse. Continue along the South Shore region, making a stop at the Lava center then at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls before arriving at Dyrhólaey nature reserve. Here you have a good chance of spotting puffin colonies and other types of seabirds. (Puffins are usually in Iceland from mid-May to early August. Please note that Dyrhólaey is closed from mid-May to June 25 for nesting season.) Conclude your journey in the charming village of Vík, where you can take a walk on the beautiful black sand beach with powerful waves thundering in the distance.

This morning, traverse Eldhraun, a lava field that was created by an eruption in 1783-1784 AD. The resulting lava flow was among the largest in recorded history. Make a stop for lunch in the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, where the greenery contrasts beautifully with the surrounding lava fields and black sand deserts. Your tour continues over Skeiðarársandur volcanic sands to Skaftafell, a beautiful glacial area, part of the vast Vatnajökull National Park system. Hike around the mighty Vatnajökull, the biggest glacier in Europe.

After breakfast at your hotel, meet with a local scientist who has been monitoring melting glaciers over time. Hike at Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon while listening to a lecture on climate change, putting your experience in perspective. Continue to the stunning Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon. Enjoy a boat tour, sailing among the lagoon’s many floating icebergs, and possibly glimpse sunbathing seals on the ice. (Boat tour only operates from May to Mid-October, subject to change due to weather conditions).

Today, drive from Höf through Almannaskarð Pass, stopping to admire the majestic coastline. Continue for magnificent views of the East Fjords: towering mountains plunging vertically into the sea. Along the way, visit Petra’s Stone and Mineral Collection. What started as the private collection of local resident Ljósbjörg Petra María in her home and garden is now a museum that tells the story of the East Fjords, one of Iceland’s most geologically ancient areas.

Depart for the Lake Mývatn area, stopping en route at Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall. One you arrive in Mývatn, stop to explore the empty vastness of the highland desert plateau Möðrudalsöræfi and to visit Námaskarð Pass, with its boiling mud pools and vibrant colors. Explore the natural beauty of the Lake Mývatn area, including the peculiar lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the pseudo craters at Skútustaðir, and the swiftly flowing Laxá Salmon River. The Mývatn area is also known for its bird life, including more than a dozen species of duck, which nest in the thousands during the summer months. For Game of Thrones buffs, a few of the sites filmed North of the Wall were in this area such as Grjótagjá- a small cave, and Dimmuborgir.

Today starts with a visit and to Húsavík, a charming fishing town close to the Arctic Circle, for a whale watching tour. Húsavík is the best spot to see the enormous humpback whale, with its giant flippers and incredible acrobatics. The boat tour offers a chance to observe fantastic bird life and natural scenery. There are two islands in the bay, Lundey (Puffin Island) and Flatey (Flat Island), where many birds nest; puffins, terns, guillemots, gannets, and more are frequently seen during the tours.

Travel toward the bustling northern port and town of Akureyri, the unofficial "capital" of North Iceland, making a stop at the magnificent Goðafoss waterfall en route. Akureyri is home to some of the finest timber buildings in the country, beautifully restored to their original glory. Set in a scenic fjord, the town boasts a vibrant art and culture scene. This morning, attend two lectures at the University of Akureyri and learn about the Icelandic fishing quota system, considered one of the most sustainable professional fisheries of the world. Next, learn about rural development in Iceland and how the introduction of the quota system in the 1980s has impacted rural development. Then transfer to the airport for your flight to Reykjavík. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the afternoon at leisure. Join your group this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Check out of your hotel in Reykjavík transfer to Keflavik airport for you flight back to the US.