OVERVIEW

Experience the thrill of visiting Reykjavik’s “Big Three” scenic wonders – Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Geothermal Area and Thingvellir National Park – all on one excursion. Arrayed along a route known as the Golden Circle, this trio pretty much singlehandedly fills the bucket list of Icelandic natural phenomena. Rolling along via comfortable panoramic coach, you’ll encounter vast lava fields, a greenhouse community warmed by hot springs and fertile South Iceland farmland – and that’s just en route to your first stop of the day. Two-tiered Gullfoss Waterfall is one of Iceland’s most beautiful and iconic sights, its vast water volume plummeting down over 100 feet into a river gorge. It’s a tough act to follow, but the hyperactive star geyser at aptly named Geysir Geothermal Area spouting off 65-foot jets of boiling hot water every few minutes might just do the trick. You’ll see other geysers here too, though the granddaddy of them all, Geysir itself, has been resting of late. Appetite sated after a two-course lunch with the soup of the day and salmon at a local restaurant, you’ll make your way to UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, a dramatic rift valley where the Earth’s North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet – and where the Icelandic parliament first met over a 1,000 years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel the Golden Circle and visit three of Iceland’s most revered natural wonders in a single day.
• See and hear the roar of magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall as it plunges over 100 feet into its river gorge.
• Watch Strokkur geyser erupt in a 7-story steaming jet like clockwork at Geysir Geothermal Area.
• Visit Thingvellir National Park, where two continents collide and the world’s longest running parliament convened for over 800 years.
• Enjoy a nourishing break from all these landmarks over buffet lunch at an Icelandic restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Join us on an orientation spin through Reykjavik, highlighting must-see landmarks like the Pearl, the president’s home and the University of Iceland. You’ll discover Iceland’s capital is both a cosmopolitan city and a small town, a place of vibrancy and quietude, of innovative architecture and untamed nature. In the Laugardalur valley you’ll see where the city plays, and out in rural Bessastadir, the estate where the country’s president lives. You’ll survey Reykjavik’s colorful old quarter and pass by Hofdi House, where Reagan and Gorbachev held their historic 1986 confab that ended the Cold War. You will also catch a glimpse of the Árbær Open Air Museum with its traditional farm and village buildings relocated from all over Iceland, and at Tjornin, admire the lake that brings tranquility and ducks to the center of town. You’ll crane your neck at majestic Hallgrimskirkja Church, its iconic tower soaring high above the city. But perhaps the most impressive Reykjavik sight of all with be the views you enjoy from the Pearl, a glittering hilltop dome. The town looks spectacular from up here.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a time-efficient, comprehensive introduction to Reykjavik and its most essential sights.
• Travel the city in relaxed comfort via panoramic coach, stopping for a closer look at key landmarks.
• See the town lake, the city’s sporting grounds, the country’s university and its president’s house.
• Capture breathtaking vistas from the Pearl, and historic selfies at the house where the Cold War ended.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear warm, weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.

OVERVIEW

Follow a guide along a winding, immensely picturesque trail that leads to the top of Úlfarsfell, a smallish mountain that lies due east of Reykjavik. Although several trails crisscross the slopes, you will hike one of medium difficulty that covers just over two miles. Along the way, you will make stops to rest, gaze out over the gorgeous scenery and listen to the guide’s enlightening commentary. The higher you ascend, the more spectacular the views. You will see a sister mountain to the north, Faxaflói Bay to the west and the Reykanes peninsula stretching out to the south. If it is a clear day, you can spot glacier capped Snæfellsjokull volcano in the distance. Being so close to Reykjavik, Mount Úlarsfell is a popular hike and you will likely encounter quite a few other people on the trail. If you see purple-tufted wildflowers along the trail, they are probably arctic lupines.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike to the top of Mount Úlfarsfell, a small mountain on the outskirts of Reykjavik.
• Enjoy sweeping views of Reykjavik and the surrounding natural beauty.
• Hear commentary that describes the sights below during stops to rest.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Reykjavik, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie tutor will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Selfie sticks are available complemented by a convenient photo frame, enabling you to capture, share, and post the best pictures in the future.

As you walk and ride through Reykjavik, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:
• Höfdi House
• Sun Voyager sculpture
• Harpa Concert Hall
• Tjörnin Lake
• Rainbow Street
• Hallgrimskirkja Church

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Reykjavik.
• Follow tips from your selfie tutor to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.
• Pose at Höfdi House, where a summit was held that helped end the Cold War.
• Stand before the gleaming steel Sun Voyager sculpture at the harbor.
• Walk along Rainbow Street, a vibrantly colored pedestrianized road lined with shops.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Hike through the hardened Búrfellsgjá lava channel that formed in the wake of a volcanic eruption 8,000 years ago and behold the geothermal activity that continues today. The eruption left fissures in the earth and a gaping volcanic crater, which you will reach by following a moderately challenging trail to the summit. From there, you will gaze out over the ancient lava field, which the guide will describe in fascinating detail. In time, you will drive on to view Kleifarvatn, the peninsula’s largest and deepest lake, even though the water level fluctuates as much as 13 feet. Locals claim to have spotted a Loch Ness monster-like serpent there. Another photo stop will be made at the active geothermal springs at Krysuvik and Seltún, a cauldron of boiling mud pools and hissing steam vents. It will be quite the sight as mineral deposits have colored the surrounding terrain shades of red, green and yellow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk across an ancient lava channel left behind after a volcanic eruption millennia ago.
• Hike to the summit of the volcano’s crater for a panoramic view of the lava field.
• See an isolated deep lake where a serpent-like monster is said to live.
• View boiling mud pools and steam rising from vents in the earth’s surface.
• Learn about the area’s volcanic and geothermal activities and how they are connected.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear comfortable sturdy shoes for hiking.

Follow the rugged Thousand Water Trail in an off-road Super Truck and stop along the way for photos of the most stunning natural attractions. You will travel caravan-style in a convoy of 4x4 vehicles that can easily handle the harsh, rugged terrain as you will discover firsthand by driving across rivers and through mud banks. After passing the active Hengill volcano, which supplies geothermal energy to much of South Iceland, you will pause near the Nesjavellir Power Plant and take in the sweeping views of Lake Þingvallavatn. Ahead lies Hvammsvik, where you can ease into the outdoor hot springs. Few experiences are quite so relaxing and picturesque as the 1,200-acre resort is nestled along the shore of Hvalfjördur, a lengthy fjord named for a folkloric red-headed whale. Later, you will stop to snap photos of thundering Þórufoss waterfall and Úlfarsfell, a smallish mountain that offers surprisingly long views of Reykjavik and Faxafloi Bay.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Drive along the Thousand Water Trail in a convoy of 4x4 Super Trucks.
• Take in the spectacular views near a volcano that supplies geothermal energy to Reykjavik.
• Soak in outdoor hot springs that are directly on a fjord with a folkloric legend.
• Behold a gorgeous waterfall and admire the views of Reykjavik from a scenic lookout.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover how the forces of nature have shaped Iceland at an interactive museum and see some of the architectural treasures that define Reykjavik. While browsing the cutting-edge Perlan Museum, you will learn about glaciers in the world’s first indoor ice cave, observe life at the largest seabird cliff in Europe through augmented reality and experience the full spectrum of the Northern Lights in the museum’s planetarium. Other exhibits describe the wonders of plate tectonics, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal power in fascinating detail. From the observation deck that encircles the museum’s futuristic-looking dome, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Reykjavik. As you drive through the engaging capital city, you will see many of those landmarks up close, including the majestic Hallgrimskirkja Church. Before heading for the airport, you also pass Hofdi, a stately house visited by heads of state such as Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, who held a summit there in 1986.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Browse enlightening exhibits on Iceland’s natural history in the Perlan Museum.
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Reykjavik from the museum’s 360º observation deck.
• Settle in for a panoramic drive through Reykjavik and stop for photos along the way.
• Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Wish you were here when Reykjavik was just a small fishing village clustered around the harbor at the edge of the North Atlantic. Discover how it has evolved since the beginning of the 20th century to become the dynamic capital of Iceland. While walking through Old Town – nicknamed 101 for its postal code – you will likely see a number of 18th-century houses and perhaps the Parliament building on Austurvöllur Square, which lies across the street from the cathedral, and the Harpa Concert Hall whose striking honeycomb design is unmistakable. The hilltop church Hallgrímskirkja is more iconic than the cathedral as it is the tallest building in Reykjavik and dominates the skyline. The church is named in honor of one of Iceland’s greatest poets and out front you will see a statue of Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer who is thought to have sailed to North America around the year 1,000. For a look at modern Reykjavik, you will enjoy an exterior visit of the Perlan, which features an observation deck that encircles the museum’s futuristic-looking dome and offers a different perspective on the city. By the end, it feels like quiet time travel for the soul—from the Reykjavik you wish you could have seen as a fishing village to the youthful capital stretching out around you today.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the Reykjavik you wish you could have seen, moving from a former fishing village in Old Town 101 to the modern skyline that defines the capital today.
• Walk through Old Town, noticing 18th-century houses, Austurvöllur Square, the Parliament building and the nearby cathedral.
• Browse Hallgrímskirkja church, the city’s tallest and most recognizable building.
• Enjoy an external view of the late 20th-century Perlan Museum and learn how its dome and observation deck reshaped the city’s silhouette.
• Admire the cutting-edge design of the 21st-century Harpa concert hall and come away with a clear understanding of how Reykjavik’s urban landscape has evolved.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Soak in the geothermally heated, mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon, an experience that will leave you completely relaxed and may even impart therapeutic benefits. The manmade lagoon lies in the middle of a centuries-old black lava field. A nearby power plant is the source of the lagoon’s heated water, which is completely chemical free and renews itself every 48 hours. Minerals in the water contribute to its silky blue color. Soaking in the water is extraordinarily relaxing as the temperature remains between 99° and 102° Fahrenheit. The minerals in the waters may provide therapeutic benefits as they are hailed for reducing pain and stiffness from arthritis. The silica in the water helps to cleanse and strengthen the skin, giving it a healthy radiant glow. The water is also said to naturally heal skin conditions. After soaking, you might take advantage of the other amenities, including the spa and restaurants.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ease into the geothermally heated waters of the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing soak.
• Reap the rewards of water’s therapeutic benefits that may relieve pain and cleanse the skin.
• Opt for a spa treatment and a snack on your own after soaking if you wish.
• Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fly high over the Reykjanes Peninsula in a helicopter for a bird’s-eye view of the crater-dotted volcanically formed landscape below. As you soar over the peninsula, you will get a good sense of the topography that continuous geothermal activity has shaped. It won’t be long before you are looking down on the Seltún hot springs, whose boiling mud pools and steam vents have stained the soil bright yellow, red and green. The crater lake Grænavatn – which is Icelandic for “green water” – is an even brighter shade. Then, there is the Blue Lagoon, whose geothermally heated seawater is rich in minerals that contribute to its silky blue color. One of the highlights will be touching down at Eldvörp so you can explore the long row of craters and spatter cones where steam continues to rise from fissures in the ground. A series of 13th-century volcanic eruptions known as the Reykjanes Fires formed this otherworldly landscape.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Take an exhilarating helicopter ride over the volcanically sculpted Reykjanes Peninsula.
• Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of volcanic craters and highly active geothermal areas.
• See how hissing steam vents have turned the soil bright colors.
• Pass over a volcanically formed green lake and the geothermally heated Blue Lagoon.
• Touch down at Eldvörp, a bizarre landscape that 13th-century volcanic eruptions formed.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover how renewable energies are harnessed along the Golden Circle, one of the most extraordinarily scenic roads in Iceland. At the massive Hellisheiði power plant, you will see how volcanic geothermal energy is used to supply all but a fraction of Reykjavik’s power. You will also gain an understanding of how waste CO2 from the steam is stored underground to prevent it from escaping back into the atmosphere. Next you will visit the Friðheimar tomato farm where you will enjoy a fresh tomoato soup and newly baked bread. You will then continue for a photostop at the Ljósafossvirkjun hydroelectric power plant. A hydroelectric plant was proposed at the glorious Gullfoss waterfall, as well, until an environmentalist stepped in. You will be awed by its pristine natural beauty and that of the Pingvellir National Park. Still, Iceland is committed to alternative power sources, especially using geothermal energy to heat greenhouses. You will see the force of that power at Geysir, where columns of boiling water spew high into the air.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive along the Golden Circle, one of the most picturesque roads in all of Iceland.
• View two power plants—one of them geothermal, the other hydroelectric.
• Learn how waste CO2 can be safely stored underground for millions of years.
• Watch columns of geothermally heated water spew into the air at Geysir.
• Visit two pristine natural attractions—Gullfoss waterfall and Pingvellir National Park.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

View many of the geothermal wonders in the surrounding countryside and delve into Iceland’s distant past at a museum that celebrates the Vikings. On the outskirts of Reykjavik, you will pass through Hafnarfjörður – a town situated on an ancient lava flow. Leaving the Viking Museum, we will make our way to the Bridge between Continents, a symbolic footbridge where you can walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The continuous drift of the two plates is the force which is the main cause for Iceland’s high volcanic activity. There we will stretch our legs, walk across the bridge, and snap a few photographs. Making our way towards the tip of the peninsula we will reach the Reykjanes Lighthouse. This important navigational symbol rests on a hill where you in the striking landscape that has been shaped by volcanic eruptions and violent movements of the earth. Only a few minutes away is our final stop of the tour, the bubbling hot spring, Gunnuhver. The nearby Viking World Museum will be just as eye-opening. The highlight is an exact replica of a famed Viking ship. The ship is seaworthy as it was sailed 4,200 nautical miles from Iceland to New York to commemorate Leif Erikson’s journey to the New World more than a thousand years ago.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Behold a striking landscape of geothermal activity in the surrounding countryside.
• View a seaworthy replica of an ancient ship in the Viking World Museum.
• Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.