Iceland | Journey Through the Icelandic Countryside

Depart today from your home city for your overnight flight(s) to Reykjavík.

This morning, upon arrival at the Keflavík International Airport outside of Reykjavík, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (Please inquire should you wish to pre-book the night before so you have immediate access to your room.) It will be too early for check-in (check in time is 3pm), but you can leave your luggage with the concierge as you explore Reykjavík on your own. Your guide will provide ideas of where to go and what to see based on your interests.

After a Reykjavík city tour, head north from Iceland's capital to West Iceland, where you'll be introduced to the Icelandic Sagas in the settlement center in Borgarnes. The afternoon is filled with impressive natural spots: Deildartunguhver, one of the most voluminous hot springs in Europe, and Hraunfossar, the unique waterfall that drains from under vast lava fields into the river Hvítá. End the day learning about Icelandic history at the cultural site at Reykholt.

Today, drive over mountain passes, lava fields, green pastures, fertile farmlands, and along fjord landscape to North Iceland. This afternoon, you'll go whale watching and sea angling for 2-3 hours in Eyjafjörður - Iceland's longest fjord, right below the Arctic Circle. Look for humpback and minke whales, harbor porpoises, and dolphins. Finish the afternoon at Akureyri, Iceland's second-largest city.

Start the day with a stop at Goðafoss, a beautiful waterfall but also a prominent spot in Iceland's history. Tour the Lake Mývatn area with its abundant bird life and amazing volcanic landscapes. The lake's unique features are shaped by nature, including strange lava formations, volcanic craters, and attractive bays filled with thousands of ducks and other birds. Stroll through the mysterious lava labyrinth of Dimmuborgir, look at pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir, and see the tephra cone of Hverfjall. Your last stop is the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths. The alkaline, mineral-rich waters are well-suited for a relaxing and rejuvenating soak.

In the morning, explore more volcanic and geothermal landscapes. Visit the hot springs, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð. At Krafla, see the impacts of volcanic activity and smell the sulfur. Víti is a circular explosion crater filled with blue water, surrounded by colorful mountains and hissing steam vents. Continue the journey to the 144-foot-high Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall, then on through the uninhabited highlands, stopping at Möðrudalur to visit the church on the farm. Enjoy the view of the mountain Herðubreið. In the afternoon, arrive in the fertile region of Fljótsdalshérað in East Iceland.

It's a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords. Vatnajökull, Europe's biggest glacier, is visible all over Southeast Iceland. Past the town of Höfn, stop for a boat ride among the floating icebergs on the glacial lagoon at Jökulsárlón. Walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond Beach. The night is spent near Skaftafell on the southern part of Vatnajökull National Park.

In the morning, continue exploring Vatnajökull National Park. See the stratovolcano and highest peak in Iceland: Hvannadalshnjúkur. Walk close to a glacial tongue, cross a sandy desert, and embrace the beautiful lava field of Eldhraun covered with blue-green moss. Stop at the black lava beach of Reynisfjara. In the little village of Skógar, learn about Iceland's history at the open-air Skógar folk museum with its turf houses. Admire the waterfall Skógafoss. Travel along the famous Eyjafjallajökull glacier and volcano and stop at Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

Today you'll see the classics. Start with a horse show that introduces the unique qualities of Iceland's special breed at Fridheimar Farm. Golden Circle sights include Gullfoss, the beautiful double "Golden Falls," and the active geothermal area of Geysir, where you can see Strokkur "the churn" spout up to 70 feet every five to seven minutes. A visit to the ancient Viking Parliament area of Þingvellir National Park tops it off before your return to Reykjavík. Farewell dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to Keflavik airport.