Duration: 8 Days
Icelandic folklore maintains there are clans of elves and trolls living in the country’s extraordinary hills, rocky outcrops, and lava fields. Will you meet these “Huldufólk” or “Hidden People” said to dislike churches, daylight, and electricity? Hard to say. But here’s what you will see on this breathtaking tour of Iceland—active volcanoes, roaring waterfalls, jagged glaciers, floating icebergs and black-sand beaches. Unique, local experiences await in the “Land of Fire and Ice,” including tasting piping hot bread baked by the heat from the hot springs, sipping Geysir schnapps served at freezing point, and standing in awe before the spectacular Lake Jökulsárlón, home to Europe’s largest glacier and the site of some of the most dramatic scenes from the James Bond movie Die Another Day. The gargantuan sights in the land of the elves will surely leave you stirred, not shaken.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides (with headsets to hear every word), to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to Reykjavik!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Incredible Iceland
REYKJAVIK Orientation drive.
HELLISHEIDARVIRKJUN Visit the geothermal heat and electric power station.
GEYSIR Stop at the hot springs and [LF] taste local specialties with a glass of Geysir Schnapps.
GULLFOSS Take pictures at the Gullfoss waterfalls.
THINGVELLIR [LF] Walk through the rift valley en route to Borgarnes.(B,D) 180 mi / 290 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
NATURAL WONDERS Iceland is the only place in the world where separation between the North American and European geological rift (tectonic plates) are above sea level, and nowhere in the world are the edges of both plates as clearly visible than the rift valley in Thingvellir National Park. Here, you can stand on two continents at the same time!
Giant Love
HAUGANES Take a [LF] whale-watching cruise before continuing to Akureyri. (B) 217 mi / 350 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
WILD & WONDERFUL Take a whale-watching cruise from Hauganes for the chance to spot humpback and minke whales and dolphins surfacing on the glassy waters of Eyjafjordur bay.
Heavenly Sights
AKUREYRI Take an orientation walk that includes the botanical gardens.
GODAFOSS Take pictures of the "Waterfall of the Gods." Scenic drive to the lovely blue Lake Myvatn.
LAKE MYVATN Stop at lake Myvatn.
DETTIFOSS Take photos of the most powerful waterfall in Europe (road conditions permitting) before continuing to Egilsstadir. (B,D) 190 mi / 305 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Take the photographs of a lifetime with a stop at North Iceland's historic and magnificent Gooafoss waterfall, stretching 90 feet across dramatic rock formations to deliver its spectacular cascades along the glacial-fed Skjalfandafljot River.
Warm Friends on an Icelandic Fjord
EGILSSTADIR Scenic drive en route to Hofn. (B,D) 159 mi / 256 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Hear about the Lagarfljotwurm, a snake-like animal that is supposed to guard a pot of gold located by Lake Logurinn and take in the natural beauty of this fjord town where sheep farming, fishing, and music festivals are all part of the culture.
Icy Beauty
LAKE JOKULSARLON [LF] Take photos of the Vatnajokull Glacier (weather permitting). Scenic drive through Skaftafell National Park en route to Vik. (B,D) 169 mi / 272 km
LOCAL FAVOURITE
PICTURE PERFECT Drive through the national park at Skaftafell and stop at Lake Jokulsarlon. Snap photos to capture the astonishingly beautiful glacier Vatnajokull (the Water Glacier) which flows into the lake for a spectacular sight to see at Iceland's largest ice cap.
Earthly Powers
VIK AREA Scenic drive with views of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano.
SELJALANDSFOSS Take photos of the waterfall.
REYKJAVIK Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D) 118 mi / 190 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Eyjafjallajokull is one of Iceland's few stratovolcanoes (with an ice cap covering the caldera). When the volcano erupted in 2010, the glacier topping also broke, and the plume of ash rose over five miles into the sky - interrupting European air travel for almost a month!
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
