ICELAND: NATURAL WONDERS, DELICIOUS DETOURS

Welcome to Reykjavik, the world’s most northern capital! Once you have landed at Keflavik Airport in Iceland, you’ll be met by your Sky Vacations ambassador who will assist you in collecting your car rental and familiarizing you with your program. Once you’re in your car, drive along lava landscapes to your hotel in Reykjavik. The rest of the day is yours to rest and use at your own leisure.

Optional culinary experience: enjoy a hands-on early/evening/late cooking lesson in English. You’ll learn about Iceland’s unique culinary culture and the new Nordic cuisine using fresh, Icelandic ingredients. The course is led by professional chefs from Salt Kitchen.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

The journey begins! Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading out of the city, where you’ll explore some of the Golden Circle and South shore areas. Drive to Gullfoss waterfall and the nearby Geysir Hot Spring Area, highlights of Iceland’s famous Golden Circle. Continue your trip along the south coast, viewing highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. On a clear day, you might glimpse majestic Eyjafjallajokull, the site of the (in)famous volcanic eruption in 2010. This region is one of Iceland’s best farming districts, providing geothermal vegetables and some of Iceland’s best-known dairy and meat products.

Optional Culinary Experience: Perfect for lunch or dinner, our team can schedule a visit to a dairy farm just minutes from Gullfoss Waterfall. The farm’s restaurant overlooks the milking area and features cuisine with locally sourced beef and vegetables, as well as homemade milk products such as ice cream, feta cheese, and skyr (a thick, low-fat yogurt-like product). The Ice Cream Barn is an immensely popular stop with locals. During your visit, you can even watch the dairy cows through a big window in the dairy barn.

Overnight in the Vik area.

Today you’ll be in the area of the largest national park in Western Europe: Vatnajokull National Park. First, you’ll drive past Eldhraun, the largest single lava flow in the world in recorded history. You’ll also cross over vast sand plains created by glacial washes. Visit the majestic Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europe’s largest glacier. The area is ringed by glaciers and offers excellent winter hiking possibilities. You can even join a guided hiking tour taking you onto a glacier – an unforgettable experience. Continue to the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Nearby is Diamond Beach, which has become quite famous in the social media community. 

Optional Culinary Experience: If you love barbecue and a cold beer, let us reserve a visit to a local spot that specializes in their own craft beer along with other Icelandic labels. Their barbecue and grill items include slow-cooked barbecued ribs and pulled pork, great burgers, along with legendary french fries that are “possibly made by unicorns.”

Overnight in the Vik area.

Today drive to the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, the site of the ancient Icelandic parliament and a jewel of nature. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows on the edge of Iceland’s largest lake. You can enjoy the unique experience of walking between continents on a path leading through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Continue to charming Borgarfjordur fjord, a region known for local culinary and craft traditions. Visit the remarkably beautiful Hraunfoss and Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. We recommend a visit to the nearby Krauma natural geothermal baths, where you can relax in pools fed by a perfect blend of water from Deildartunguhver and nearby glacial springs.

Optional Culinary Experience: We can arrange a visit to a sustainable, local country market created by women from the region. Discover homemade treats like ice cream, candy, cheese, and jams, as well as handicrafts and herbal remedies. This is a nice stop for getting picnic lunch ingredients and tasty souvenirs for friends at home.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Explore the countless natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which also includes Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snæfellsnes has become known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it has so many diverse types of landscapes in one area. A visit here will be a feast for your eyes and for your camera! We recommend you stop at the wind-tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs and the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. The beautiful Snaefessjokull glacier-volcano is the crown jewel of the peninsula. Legends say that the mountain is home to a benevolent half-troll guardian. Drive along the north coast through bustling fishing villages, stopping to look at Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in the country.

Optional Culinary Experience:  A unique dining experience awaits you in Grundarfjordur. We have access to a little restaurant in an adorable renovated early 20th-century house with a lovely view over the seacoast. The menu changes based on the best products each season, with good seafood, lamb, and vegetarian offerings.

Overnight in the Borgarfjordur area.

Drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula and visit the moonlike lava fields around Lake Kleifarvatn. The peninsula is a UNESCO GeoPark, with over 50 interesting sites connected to geothermal activity, volcanoes, and tectonic plates. One of the most interesting of these is Krysuvik, a geothermal area with primordial bubbling mud pools. We recommend a stop at Grindavik fishing village, famous for its heritage of producing salt fish (bacalao). Salt fish made an enormous impact on the prosperity of the Icelandic nation, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Perhaps you would also visit the famous Blue Lagoon and enjoy its pleasantly warm geothermal waters, rich in silica and minerals that are great for the skin. (Note: Bookings must be made in advance. We are happy to book a time for you.) After a great trip, it’s time to head to Reykjavik for your last night in Iceland!

Optional Culinary Experience:  Grindavík is home to one of our favorite family-owned, cozy restaurants specializing in light, healthy soups, salads, pizza, and main courses. Ingredients are organic and the menu changes weekly.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Drive back to Keflavik International Airport. We recommend departing your hotel in Reykjavik no later than at least 3 hours before your flight departure. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive to the airport, and check-in will start 2 hours before your departure.

If you did not visit the Blue Lagoon earlier but have some free time today, you might want to use the opportunity en route to the airport. For this detour, please be sure to allow for at least 2- 3 hours extra so you’ll have ample time at the lagoon. Your rental car should be returned to the airport service area,  which is located only 2 minutes from the airport building. A shuttle will then transport you to the departure hall for your onward journey.