7 Day - Complete Iceland

The day starts with pick up from your accommodation, or a nearby pick up point in Reykjavik. The three attractions of the famous Golden Circle are first up on the agenda. Thingvellir National Park is a very important place in the heart of every Icelander. In the year 930 CE/AD the Icelandic people established their parliament here, this is the oldest continually operating parliament in the world. There is more to Thingvellir than great history, this place is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, for its historical, geological and cultural importance. You will see ingvallavatn, home to Silfra fissure, which delves down between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The cliff of the rift valley runs right through the National Park. The geothermally active hot spring area at Geysir is another Golden Circle attraction. Great Geysir, which gave us the English word geyser to describe this sort of hot spring, is no longer active. Strokkur, a nearby hot spring, spouts spectacular torrents of superheated water every 5 to 10 minutes. A visit to Gullfoss waterfall will complete our Golden Circle, feel the force as the falls thunder through the high rugged canyon dropping 32 m in two stages.Next, we take a scenic drive along the beautiful south coast, stopping at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. Here you have a unique opportunity to experience the power and wonder of nature. Don't just view these falls from a distance walk the pathway which takes you right behind the elegantly falling cascade. We head onwards to the scenic Skogafoss waterfall, here the water crashes down over the former sea cliffs, those cliffs extend for many kilometers marking the coastline of long ago. Watch out for rainbows the incredible spray makes Skogafoss an ideal spot to catch single or double rainbows! The final stop of the day is at Reynisfjara black sand beach, home of the legendary Reynisdrangar peaks, said to be the figures of two trolls who were turned into stone when they faced the morning sun! You will also see the incredible basalt column cave as you wander along the beach. After a full day of sightseeing we make our way to a country hotel in the area around Vik, a charming south coast village.

We enjoy breakfast and check out. Today, we continue our journey along the south coast in the direction of Skaftafell and Vatnajokull National Park. Vatnajokull glacier, Hvannadalshnukur, the highest peak in Iceland, Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and many other natural treasures can be found within this 13,600 km2 protected wilderness area. Iceland has three national parks: Thingvellir, Vatnajokull and Snaefellsjokull on this tour you will see them all. We will stop at Skaftafell for a glacier hike led by one of our certified glacier guides. Equipped with crampons and all the necessary glacier equipment you are led onto a Vatnajokull outlet glacier. These glacier tongues/outlet glaciers are amazing places, with crevasses, moulins which can drill down to the base of the glacier and a plethora of amazing vistas for you to explore. Our guides love to be asked questions, so don't be too shy to ask! After your bracing glacier hike, our cozy minibus will whisk you away to experience yet more glacial magic at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. As we approach from the main highway you will glimpse a procession of mystically floating icebergs, these often towering and amazingly shaped chunks of ice broke free from the edge of the retreating Breidarmerkurjokull glacier. Occasionally, you will see seals frolicking in the enormous lake in between these stunning ice sculptures. So, you feel as if you are in a film scene? Well, actually you are! Footage of a couple of James Bond movies and other films has been shot here. Those icebergs, some with glittering blue ice, make their way to the sea at the Diamond Beach, a black sand beach just a few minutes walk from the Glacier Lagoon. The icebergs which been brought ashore by the tide come to rest here. Usually you will see quite a few sitting like translucent diamond jewels or giant shining clear quartz crystals on the coal-black sand. Some people call this the Crystal Beach! In the evening we will lay down our heads at comfortable accommodation near Hofn.

We leave the Vatnajökull National Park area behind, but the sensational scenery continues! We follow the twisting and turning roads, flanked by the coast on one side and majestic mountain peaks on the other, through the East Fjords to Egilsstaðir. This picturesque town on the banks of the Lagarfljót River is home to the legend of Largarfljótasormurinn, the Largarfljót worm. Tales of the giant Largarfljót worm, which is said to reside in the lake and show itself from time to time, are firmly established within Icelandic folklore tales. We stop off at Djúpivogur, a small and remote fishing village. The North Atlantic waves wash over the black sandy beach, and a rich birdlife thrives. Most Icelandic birds live and nest around the area during the summer months. Locals lie to joke that there are probably more birds here than people. Djúpivogur is home to just over 1100 people. As a community, they have a reputation for being welcoming and strongly committed to eco issues. We will finish the day by soaking in geothermal Vök Baths surrounded by the amazing scenery of Lake Urriðavatn, they are distinguished by their modern design and the only floating infinity pools in Iceland. Enjoying hot baths there is an optional extra, which you can do at your own cost, please make sure to book it as an extra during the booking process. Our accommodation for the night is located in the picturesque area of Egilsstaðir. Scout out the Northern Lights in winter.