8 Day - Iceland Ring Road Tour

Explore all that Reykjavík has to offer on your own. Walking Laugavegur and Skolavordustigur is a great way to capture the essence of Reykjavk, both are amazing shopping streets. Browse in shops, often the tiniest places sell the more unusual items, relax in a charming caf then wander some more. You will come across local crafts, the iconic tall white Hallgrmskirkja church, its design is inspired by Svartifoss waterfall at Skaftafell. For a grandstand view over the city go to the top of the tower, it is well worth it!There are a few fabulous museums, covering everything from history and the building of the Icelandic nation at the National Museum to photography at the Reyjavk Museum of Photography, or Icelandic culture at the Culture House. If you love art, there are quite a few galleries including the National Gallery of Iceland, Reykjavk Art Museum and Kjarvalstadir. Rekjavks thermal swimming pools are open early and into the evening. The largest open air pool, Laugardalslaug, has great hot tubs where you can relax with the locals and tourists. All year round outdoor bathing is very big in Iceland! There are a few other pools close to the city center, all have hot tubs.Your comfortable hotel or guest house will be within easy reach of the attractions in the city. All districts are served by a regular bus service to the city center. Local buses are operated by Straeto, timetables and information in English can be found here: https://www.straeto.is/More ideas for making the most a short time in Reykjavk, including money saving tips, can be found here: https://adventures.is/blog/top-things-to-do-in-reykjavik-in-2-days/, more information about things to do is available here: https://adventures.is/iceland/locations/reykjavik/

Your first day is mostly focused on visiting the fabulous and very famous Golden Circle attractions.We visit ingvellir National Park, an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site with huge geological, historical and cultural significance. The historic Icelandic Parliament was founded here in 930 CE/AD, called the Aling, this is the oldest still existing democratic parliament in the world. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continue to move apart, runs right through ingvellir. You will see the rugged plate-edge of the gorge, this must have been a really dramatic backdrop to the ancient parliamentary sessions! Your next stop is at the Geysir geothermally active area, home to Great Geysir, the famous spouting hot spring which gave us the English word geyser. You will witness Strokkur, the most active hot spring in recent times, blasting powerful torrents of superheated water every 5 to 10 minutes. Steaming fumaroles and hot springs can also be seen around the area. The final Golden Circle attraction before we head along the south coast is the thundering Gullfoss waterfall. Gullfoss means Golden Falls, you will see golden-toned mists rising around the waterfall as the mighty Hvt river crashes through two drops of 11 m and 21 m. Hvt means White River, this raging glacial torrent originates at Langjkull, the second biggest glacier in Iceland.On our way to your country hotel, situated near the village of Vk, we will stop to enjoy two legendary and very beautiful waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skgafoss. Both are around 60 m high, they are, otherwise, very different. Skgafoss waterfall cascades gracefully from the former sea cliffs. Seljalandsfoss is sometimes referred to as the unusual waterfall, a pathway leads behind the curtain of falling water, offering you a unique experience and views.You will be picked up in Reykjavk at 8:00. Picking everyone up takes up to 30 minutes, depending where your accommodation is located in Reykjavik you may have to wait a few minutes, your patience is much appreciated.

Our first stop today is at Reynisfjara black sand beach. A walk along the beach will bring you to the extremely impressive and unusual basalt column cave. You will also see the troll-like and atmospheric Reynisdrangar peaks rising just off-shore. Now to the glaciers!We travel through some extraordinary landscapes and other-worldly scenery on the way to Skaftafell in Vatnajkull National Park. You will see views of the stunning Mrdalsjkull glacier, home to one of the most feared volcanoes of all, the notorious Katla. You will also see another great fire maestro, Eyjafjalljkull. Our journey will take us over the Eldhraun lava field to Skaftafell, a lush green oasis in the midst of black volcanic sand areas. Skaftafell is quite sheltered with flourishing vegetation and birch forests. Our specialist glacier guide will lead you on a three-hour glacier hike, giving you the opportunity to explore a stunning glacier tongue of Vatnajkull, the biggest glacier in Europe. You will learn all about this sensational blue/white ice world.We continue with the theme of ice, onwards to Jkulsrln Glacier Lagoon, action scenes from James Bond and other movies have made this the most famous ice lagoon in the world. Feast your eyes on the jaw-droppingly beautiful iceberg filled lagoon and visit the fabulous Diamond Beach. This coal-black beach glitters with shimmering blue/white icebergs washed ashore by the tide, these opalescent forms are extraordinary shapes. You will feel as though you have stepped through a magic doorway into a mystical ice realm with magic landscapes. Your accommodation will be in the Hfn area, a charming town known as the lobster capital of Iceland.