Compare Volcanoes and Glaciers of Iceland by Great Value Vacations vs Iceland: See & Experience it ALL in 9 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours by Charlie The Traveler

Day 1 Welcome to Reykjavik!

Upon arrival at Keflavik Airport, make your way outside of the arrival hall and look for the coaches marked “Flybus." You have a Flybus Plus ticket, so upon presenting your voucher, you will be redirected to a smaller shuttle that will take you to your hotel.

The remainder of your day is at leisure to enjoy Reykjavik!

Day 2 Reykjavik - Westman Islands

After breakfast, you will depart Reykjavik and drive through the volcanic regions of the south shore. In Hvollsvullur town, you'll visit the LAVA Centre to learn all about the volcanos and earthquakes that created the land around you. 

Next, you'll visit Seljalandsfoss Waterfall - you can walk behind this waterfall for an unforgettable view. See Landeyjahofn Harbor, take a ferry ride to Westman Islands, and explore Hejmaey! You'll get to walk to the crater of a three-decade old volcano. 

In the afternoon, explore at your leisure! 

Day 3 Westman Islands - South Shore - Skógar – Vík

Today, you'll take the ferry from Westman Islands to South Shore. You'll see UNESCO site Katla Geopark, visit Skogafoss waterfall, and gaze at Myrdalsjokull Glacier.

Next, you'll go for a glacier hike to discover amazing ice formations. Or, you can see Solheimajokull as you paddle through a stunning lagoon! You'll get to see the black sands of Reynisfara Beach along the way. Spend the evening as you choose.

Day 4 Vik - Skaftafell - Jökulsárlón - Vik

Today, you'll be in Vatnajokull National Park, which was named after Europe's largest glacier. You'll cross Eldhraun, the largest mass of lava ever to flow on the face of the Earth, before reaching the small town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur, a former site of a 12th-century Catholic convent.

You'll then head onwards to Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland's most outstanding areas of natural beauty. Continue on to the stunning Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon to see floating icebergs and possibly even a curious seal or two! Throughout the day you'll enjoy magnificent views of the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier.

After another adventurous day in the ice, warm up with a 3-course dinner! 

Day 5 Vík - Gullfoss - Geysir - Thingvellir - Reykjavík

Today, you'll visit the Golden Circle, one of the most famous and beautiful regions of Iceland. Head to the Geysir hot spring area to see the famous great Geysir, as well as Strokkur, a hot spring that spouts every few minutes.

From there you will travel to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. The next stop is the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Thingvellir National Park, where the Viking-age parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. This is also where you can see the meeting point of the European and North American tectonic plates! From there you'll head back to Reykjavik.

Day 6 Depart Iceland

Day 1: Whale Watching & Colorful Skies

From mid-May to mid-October, our tour starts in Iceland's second most visited city, Akureyri. Get ready to go on a whale watching tour. From late October to early May, whale watching is done instead in the capital that is Reykjavík. From September to early March, also included is a night tour to an area where we see the northern lights.

Day 2: A Lake Created by Lava & Geothermal Eruptions

As a land daytrip from Akureyri (mid-May to mid-October) or a flight daytrip from Reykjavík (late October to early May), we are taken on a tour to Goðafoss Waterfall, Lake Mývatn, a geothermal area called Hverir and Dettifoss Waterfall. Goðafoss waterfall has a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. Lake Mývatn was created by a large basaltic lava which erupted 2,300 years ago. The surrounding landscape is dominated by volcanic landforms, including lava pillars. Dettifoss is reputed to be the second most powerful waterfall in Europe.

Day 3: Approaching a Caldera & Bathing in a Crater or Iceland’s Best Bar Lagoon Accompanied with a City Tour

Today’s destinations and activities depend on the season. From mid-May to mid-October, as a daytrip from Akureyri, we first hike Askja Caldera and then visit a crater called Viti, the latter of which offers a pond where we go bathing. From late October to early May, we go bathing at a ‘fashionable’ geothermal spa called Sky Lagoon, located near to the capital. We are also provided with a tour of the capital.

Day 4: Why They Call This Area the ‘Golden Circle’

From mid-May to mid-October, we relocate from Akureyri to Reykjavík. From late October to early May, we are not based in Akureyri. Instead, we are still based in Reykjavík. Either way, today we are doing the so-called ‘Golden Circle’ as a daytrip from Reykjavík. Destinations include Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir/Strokkur geyser and Þingvellir National Park (a.k.a. Thingvellir National Park). Gullfoss is 32 meters tall and features not 1 but 2 drops. Geysir’s eruptions can hurl boiling water up to 70 meters in the air. Þingvellir is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley.

Day 5: One of the Ten Most Beautiful Beaches on Earth & Thundering Waterfalls

We leave Reykjavík and start the journey along the southeast coast. Highlights for today include Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Skógafoss Waterfall and the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. We end up lodging in the Skaftafell area. The Seljalandsfoss Waterfall drops 60 meters. Visitors can walk behind the falls into a fascinating cave. Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country, with a width of 25 meters and a drop of 60 meters. Reynisfjara was ranked by National Geographic as one of the ten most beautiful non-tropical beaches on Earth.

Day 6: Huge Icebergs, Exploring an Ice Cave & a Surreal Shoreline

Although today we head to Thorsmork Valley, many destinations are visited en route. They include Skaftafell Nature Reserve, Jökulsárlón Glacial Lake, the natural ice cave at Vatnajökull National Park and Diamond Beach. Skaftafell’s landscape is similar to some of the Alps. The difference is Skaftafell has been formed over thousands of years by different influences of fire and water. Jökulsárlón Lake provides outstanding views of icebergs which rise to a height of 910 meters. Jökulsárlón has been a setting for four Hollywood movies: (1) A View to a Kill, (2) Die Another Day, (3) Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and (4) Batman Begins. Vatnajökull’s ice cave contains canals for water which run through or at the bottom of the glacier. Diamond Beach features icebergs which float onto the shore from Jökulsárlón.

*Note that the surreal looking Svartifoss Waterfall is sometimes-but not always-included on today’s tour. It depends on many factors, including the weather. Also, note that the ice cave is not open June through September. It is open only during the winter season.

Day 7: A Hiker's Paradise

Before returning to Reykjavík, we hike around Thorsmork Valley. The highlights are Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Stakkholtsgjá Canyon, Nauthúsagil Canyon and Gígjökull Glacier. This is arguably the best area in the country from where to go hiking.

Day 8: Mud Pools, Hot Springs & Blue Waters

From Reykjavík, we make a daytrip to the Reykjanes Peninsula: Lake Kleifarvatn, a geothermal area called Krýsuvík, Gunnuhver’s mud pools and hot springs and the Blue Lagoon. Krýsuvík consists of several geothermal fields. Here solfataras, fumaroles, mud pots and hot springs have formed. The soil is colored bright yellow, red and green. Nearby are several craters which were created by the explosions of overheated groundwater. The Blue Lagoon, one of the most visited attractions in Iceland, is a geothermal spa. There we enjoy bathing inside the warm water.

Day 9: Our Tour Ends Today

Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Reykjavík.