Iceland

Today you'll have time to explore Reykjavík. You’ll see colorful little houses that create a beautiful contrast with the natural landscape, as well as little shops where you can pick up souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones. You can stroll through the streets of Reykjavík and take in the city’s sights. There aren’t many, but Hallgrimur Church is definitely worth a visit—its design is inspired by Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes. You can take a leisurely stroll around Lake Tjörnin, located right in the heart of the capital and surrounded by City Hall and colorful houses. Alternatively, we recommend visiting some of the city’s most interesting museums, such as Perlan or the National Museum of Iceland. You can also take part in the optional whale-watching activity. THE PLAN: We’ll head to the Old Harbor in downtown Reykjavík, where your tour will begin. There are four main types of whales you may spot on the tour of Faxaflói Bay. We’d like to note here that we follow Ice Whale’s code of conduct for responsible whale watching, as there is great respect for the wildlife in the bay. They allow the whales to approach us but maintain a certain distance so as not to disturb their daily lives.

Today’s itinerary is, optionally, dedicated to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a region that brings together many of Iceland’s most iconic landscapes along a single route. Starting from Reykjavík, our first stop is Arnarstapi, and from there we head to the Lóndrangar lava formations located right by the ocean. Also on the itinerary is Kirkjufell Mountain, known for its distinctive shape and one of the country’s most recognizable landmarks. This is a full day that can last up to 11 hours, as the distances and stops take time. If you don’t join the tour, you’ll have time to explore Reykjavík. You’ll see colorful little houses that create a beautiful contrast with the natural landscape, as well as little shops where you can pick up souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones. You can stroll through the streets of Reykjavík and take in the city’s sights. There aren’t many, but Hallgrimur Church is definitely worth a visit; its design is inspired by Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes.

Obviously, you can’t come to Iceland and not do what we’re going to do today: the Golden Circle tour. Our first stop will be the point where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates diverge, creating a stunning gorge that we’ll walk through—and it’ll convince you that this island is the most extraordinary place you’ve ever seen! For fans of the big screen, this very spot was used as a filming location for *Game of Thrones*. Iceland has waterfalls… lots of waterfalls. We’ve also been to waterfalls in Iceland… lots of waterfalls. On this trip, however, we chose to visit the best ones. One of them is Gullfoss, which no one misses when visiting the country. Next is a stop at the geysers, where water shoots up from the ground in a jet—hot and powerful—creating beautiful scenes. We continue on to Rjupnavellir, where we’ll spend the night. Staying at the shelter promises an experience unlike any you’ve ever had. Fairly well-organized, with a self-catering kitchen, heating, and a shared bathroom, it has stood there for many years, with its door never locked, so that in the event of a snowstorm, anyone can go inside to seek shelter. After we arrive and settle in, we’ll fire up the charcoal for a traditional BBQ, and everyone will pitch in to help prepare the food. Don’t forget, we’re in the middle of nowhere! There’s no room service here—we’ll have to work together as a team. Tonight, who knows… If we’re lucky, we might even see the Northern Lights.

We wake up in the morning on the (usually) snow-covered plain and have breakfast there. Our first stop is one of the country’s most famous waterfalls, Skogafoss. This 25-meter-wide waterfall plunges from a height of 60 meters and showcases the power of nature to visitors in the most majestic way. If you get close enough—and if it’s not frozen—be prepared to get wet. We’ll continue with one of our favorite optional activities in Iceland: glacier hiking. Our local guide will first explain how to put on your crampons, as well as the safety rules for the tour. During the hike, you’ll see deep crevasses on the glacier’s surface, as well as what are known as “moulins,” vertical channels in the ice formed by meltwater finding its way through crevasses and cracks. The landscape is so otherworldly that it will captivate you. Finally, we’ll head to Iceland’s most famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara, to gaze at the waves of the icy Atlantic and take a walk along the beach. There you’ll see unique natural basalt columns, where you’ll be able to take wonderful photos. National Geographic voted Reynisfjara one of the top 10 non-tropical beaches on the planet. If you haven’t seen the Northern Lights yet, don’t be disappointed. Since we’ll be outside Reykjavík, the chances of seeing them are high!