9 Day Classic Iceland

DAY 1, Tuesday - Depart for Iceland Depart for Iceland DAY 2, Wednesday - Arrive in Reykjavik Arrive in Iceland, "Land of the Midnight Sun" and transfer to your hotel. Most flights arrive in the early morning and your room may not be ready for you. In this case, leave your luggage with the concierge. Spend the Balance of the day is at leisure to explore Reykjavik, the world's most northerly capital, surrounded by incredible landscapes and countless natural wonders. In the evening, enjoy a welcome reception with your tour guide Overnight: Reykjavik DAY 3, Thursday - Morning City Sightseeing, Blue Lagoon Tour After breakfast, drive into the capital for a morning city sightseeing tour of Reykjavik. First stop is at Bessastaðir, where you can see the residence of the Icelandic President. The tour traverses the old town center to the Parliament, the Cathedral, the harbor, the National Museum and the Höfdi House, site of the 1986 Iceland Summit where Reagan and Gorbachev met. The tour also includes a stop at Perlan, located on the Öskjuhlid hill, which offers a spectacular view over the capital area. Pass by the outdoor swimming pool heated by geothermal waters and a museum dedicated to the renowned sculptor Asmundur Sveinsson. In the afternoon, visit the famous Blue Lagoon, a unique natural pool of mineral rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field. Enjoy a refreshing bath or swim in the pleasantly warm mineral-rich water reputed for its healing properties Overnight: Reykjavik Meals: Breakfast DAY 4, Friday - South Shore Depart from Reykjavik to Hellisheidi for a tour of the Hellisheidi Geothermal power plant, where geothermal energy has been extensively harnessed for the region's vibrant greenhouse industry. Journey through the rich farmlands and onward to majestic mountains, where the impressive volcano Hekla can be seen on a clear day. Travel to Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, two of the numerous awe-inspiring waterfalls set along the coast, and visit the Skogar Folk Museum to see how Icelanders creatively adapted to their challenging environment. Pass near the Solheimajökull glacier and learn about the impact that global warming has had on Icelandic glaciers. Continue to Dyrholaey Nature Reserve or Reynisfjara beach dependent on season, where you get a beautiful view of the coastline. Then head back westward to overnight near the small town of Vik Overnight: Vik Meals: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 5, Saturday - Skaftafell National Park, Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon Today drive from Vík over the Skeidararsandur outwash plains to Skaftafell National Park, one of Iceland's most amazing examples of sheer natural splendor, dominated by Vatnajökull Glacier, Europe's largest ice cap. Enjoy a short hike to see the stunning contrast between the lush vegetation and barren slopes, culminating with exciting views of the peaks in Skaftafell. Continue to the Jökulsarlon glacial lagoon with its immense floating icebergs. Season dependant, take a boat excursion that brings you face to face with these breathtaking natural wonders* Overnight: Vik Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 6, Sunday - Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir, Borgarfjordur Today, your first stop will be made at Friðheimar Tomato Farm. Visitors gain an insight into the processes of greenhouse horticulture in Iceland, with a short and informative talk on the subject. Continue to the renowned Geysir geothermal area to see the famous great Geysir and the hot spring Strokkur, which spouts every few minutes. Then drive to Gullfoss, one of Iceland's most impressive waterfalls. The mighty Hvita River appears to simply vanish into the earth, but a closer approach reveals gorgeous staggered falls plunging into a crevice over 100 feet deep. The next stop is Thingvellir National Park, a place of tremendous interest as a primary site of Iceland's geological and historical inheritance. Drive from Thingvellir to Hraunfossar Falls and Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring before continuing to your hotel Overnight: Borgarfjordur Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner DAY 7, Monday - Borgarfjordur Valley, Settlement Center, Snaefellsnes This morning visit the Settlement Center in Borgarnes. The Settlement Center offers an opportunity to learn about the mystical Viking era, how they sailed across the Atlantic ocean in the year 800 AD, and how they discovered Iceland. The visit provides perspective on the people and the culture of Iceland in a concise and interesting way. Next, enjoy a full day excursion to Snaefellsnes peninsula, a Green Globe benchmarked region, making it a model for sustainable tourism. Drive through the Myrar district amidst moors and lava fields and past the extinct volcanic crater of Eldborg. On a clear day you will enjoy a view of the serene Snaefellsjökull Glacier. Snaefellsnes is a unique area with a variety of fascinating geological features such as lava fields, volcanoes, glaciers, mineral springs, beautifully formed rocks, yellow and black sand beaches as well as caves and captivating bird colonies. The best known attraction is unquestionably Snaefellsjökull Glacier, a beautifully shaped stratovolcano at the very end of the peninsula. The glacier and the unspoiled natural wonders surrounding it is the scene of Jules Verne's classic novel Journey to the Center of the Earth and is rumored to be one of the seven most magical sites on Earth. Enjoy dinner this evening at the hotel and celebrate a farewell to this stark yet sublime land Overnight: Snaefellsnes Peninsula Meals: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 8, Tuesday - Snaefellsnes, Stykkisholmur, Reykjavik The day begins with a drive to Bjarnarhöfn Farm which is the region's leading producer of a traditional Icelandic dish known as "hakarl" (cured shark meat). The farm offers a unique history of the locality and you can learn about the Greenland shark, its habits, biology, and much more. This afternoon, upon reaching the village of Stykkisholmur, join the optional boat trip on Breidafjördur Fjord, famous for its countless islands and abundant bird life. You might enjoy simply walking around the village, immersing yourself in the local beauty. Finally, drive back to Reykjavik in the afternoon with the evening at leisure to catch up on last minute shopping or to explore the city independently Optional: Breidafjördur Fjord Boat Tour (PM)** Overnight: Reykjavik Meals: Breakfast DAY 9, Wednesday - Depart Iceland Transfer to Keflavik Airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast *Please note that the boat excursion will not be operating during the visit to the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon for the May 2 & May 9 departures. **The optional Breidafjördur Fjord Boat Tour will not be available on the May 2 departure.