Iceland
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Day One: Arrive in Iceland
Arrive in Iceland by lunchtime, ready for your first exciting experience – puffin watching on the islands outside Reykjavik. Puffins, Auks, Gannets and an incredible variety of other seabirds dominate the skies and cliffs just a few minutes by sea from the city and the RIB powerboat we use is designed specially to get you as close as possible to the islands. Next, get ready to explore colourful, quirky Reykjavik with your private guide, an English-speaking Icelandic local. If there’s anything you specifically want to see, your guide will be happy to adapt the tour to your interests. You’ll have the evening free to explore and have dinner at one of Reykjavik’s outstanding restaurants.
Overnight in Reykjavik
Classic - Fosshotel Buron
Premium - Hotel Borg
Meals included: None
Day Two: Floating Icebergs
After breakfast, your guide will pick you up in your Arctic Truck for a full day of adventuring through Iceland’s most famous sights. You’ll get behind the wheel of your powerful truck on this privately-guided tour (but if you don’t fancy driving or want to take a look at the scenery, your guide will be happy to drive for you). Heading east out of the city, you’ll make for Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where shimmering icebergs float on the water like jagged diamonds. On route, you’ll stop for lunch and experience the off-roading abilities of the Arctic Truck as you make for an isolated glacier lagoon. You’ll arrive at Jökulsárlón in the early afternoon, with plenty of time to explore before you head to your hotel for the night.
Overnight in South East Iceland
Classic - Hali Country Hotel
Premium - Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Three: Golden Circle, Gullfoss and Geysers
This morning you’ll head back westwards with your guide, visiting all the highlights of the South Coast on the way – the black volcanic beach at Reynisfjara, uniquely shaped Dyrhólaey Peninsula and the dazzling 60-metre Skógafoss waterfall. Your afternoon will continue with the journey to Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can walk behind the cascading waters to really experience the crashing falls. After this, watch the Strokkur Geyser magnificently spout boiling water to a height of 35 metres and head up to the majestic Gullfoss waterfall with its multi-step cascade.
Overnight in South Iceland
Classic - Hotel Borealis
Premium - Hotel Grimsborgir
Meals included: Breakfast
Day Four: On top of the Glacier
After breakfast you’ll head out to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was home of the Icelandic Viking Government from 930 AD to 1798. Following a mountain road, you’ll arrive at Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjökull, for a one-of-a-kind experience. Driving directly on top of the glacier, your guide will deflate the truck tyres so you can feel yourself floating – this otherworldly experience is possible due to the special modifications of the Arctic Truck, allowing it to drive in extremely challenging conditions. Afterwards, you’ll get the chance to explore the Ice Tunnels inside the glacier, followed by an optional snowmobiling experience (see Extras tab for details). Finish your day with a drive to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, your home for the night.
Overnight in Stykkishólmur area
Classic - Fosshotel Stykkishólmur
Premium - Hotel Egilsen
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Five: Snæfellsnes sightings
Today you’ll be exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, starting with a short tour of Stykkishólmur – a fishing village full of quaint old houses. Next, you’ll journey on to the majestic Mount Kirkjufell, the dramatically formed coastal mountain in the nearby village of Grundarförður. Continue driving along the peninsula, scanning the bay for elusive Orcas. Depending on weather conditions, you might get to drive around the peninsula across a mountain road which has dramatic views of Snæfellsjökull – a glacier-topped stratovolcano. Before heading on to west Iceland, you’ll also visit the Arnarstapi cliffs and Djúpalón beach, a beautiful black sand beach. The unusual cliff formations and shipwrecks dotted along the sand make this beach a must-visit!
Overnight in Reykholt area
Classic - Fosshotel Reykholt
Premium - Hotel Husafell
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Six: Whale watching
Today you’ll make your way back to Reykjavik, stopping for lunch on the way before heading to the old marina (location weather dependent) for some whale watching. Iceland’s waters harbour tasty prey for Humpback Whales, Orcas, White-Beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises, all of which you might spot on this adventure. Afterwards, you’ll be transferred to the Blue Lagoon for an afternoon relaxing in its famous neon waters. We’ve secured Premium admission, which includes two treatment masks of your choice, robe, slippers and sparkling wine. To finish off your tour with a bang, you can choose to take part in the Into the Volcano experience (See Extras tab). The dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano is a unique natural phenomenon, and on this optional extra you’ll have the chance to see it from the inside - all you need is the willingness to hike for 45 minutes and the guts to descend 120 metres to the bottom of the crater in an open cable lift. Be prepared to be awed by nature on this experience of a lifetime. After all that excitement, you’ll transfer back to your hotel for your final night in Iceland.
Overnight in Blue Lagoon area
Classic - Northern Light Inn
Premium - The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Meals included: Breakfast; lunch
Day Seven: Home time
After a final breakfast it’s time to transfer to Keflavik Airport for your flight back to the UK.
Meals included: Breakfast
Whats included:
- Private English-speaking guides unless stated otherwise
- Private transfers unless stated otherwise
- Meals as listed
- Private air-conditioned transport throughout tour
What's not included:
- International flights to/from experience:
call 0208 251 0425 for AX specially negotiated flight rates - Tips for guides, drivers, porters, hotel and restaurant staff
- Any visa, customs, airport taxes or similar charges before or after the tour
- We cannot guarantee the included hotel breakfast for early departures
- Drinks during meals unless stated otherwise
- Personal expenses, such as laundry
To check all of our Iceland trips,click here!
Accommodation
You will get a choice of hotel options for the duration of your experience:
Classic ★★★
Classic hotels provide mid-range accommodation (minimum three-star rated), with comfortable rooms and private facilities. We’ve selected these hotels based on positive client feedback.
Premium ★★★★
Premium hotels are typically upper mid range (usually four star), with more amenities than our classic choices. They all have comfortable rooms with private facilities and have received good client feedback.
When booking an experience, please remember that the hotel category you select is for the whole tour. Please note that the actual hotel selection will be driven by availability at time of booking.
GETTING THERE
Typical return Economy flights from London to Reykjavik cost around £100 per person and take approximately three hours.
Experience start point: Reykjavik (KEF)
End point: Reykjavik (KEF).
Prices for departures to 30th October include a 20% Pioneers Club discount and are subject to Pioneers Club terms & conditions. Click here for more information.
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