16 Days Nine Worlds - Self-Drive Combo (Tour 2)

Welcome to Iceland! Pick up the rental car at the airport and head to the colorful capital of Reykjavik. With an abundance of space, clean air and natural green energy - Reykjavik clearly revels in its reputation as being one of the most modern, forward thinking societies in Europe. Check in Hotel Canopy and explore the city on foot, visit local cafés, the beautiful Harpa concert hall designed by artist Ólafur Egilsson and Hallgrímskirkja church, Iceland´s highest church and Reykjavik´s most recognized landmark. For a birds-eye view of the city you can go to the top of the church tower. Overnight Hotel Canopy. 

Take an exclusive tour direct from Reykjavik heliport and fly over the inspiring black sand beach, volcanos, glaciers and waterfalls of the south coast of Iceland. As the sightseeing continues, we will touch down on the glacier for an hour-long private glacier hiking tour and exploration high up on the glacier far off the beaten track. As soon as we have explored the wonder-world of the glacier, we walk back to the helicopter and take off, bound for Reykjavik with magnificent bird's eye view on the way.  En rough we will fly over the foundations of the world’s oldest existing parliament at Þingvellir, through the geothermal explosions of Geysir and the power plants that harness their energy.  Gaze at the technicolour mountains around Landmannalaugar and thread the needle between the cascading glaciers of Þórsmörk, to the site of Eyjafjallajökull's world-famous 2010 eruption. From here, follow a trail of towering waterfalls as they drop out of the mountains to black sandy coastlines of newborn volcanic islands, then make a right turn and follow the sky back to city!  

Check out Hotel Canopy and head out to explore the Golden Circle which consists of Geysir, Gullfoss Waterfalls and Thingvellir National Park. Of all the spectacular nature that resides in Iceland these are three “must see” highlights that are easily experienced in one day.  Thingvellir National Park (UNESCO) is Iceland’s greatest historical site and a jewel of nature. It is the visible site of the mid-Atlantic Ridge where the N. American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. 

A short ride across the fertile farmlands in the south reveals the breathtaking Gullfoss ‘Golden’ Waterfall where traversing a narrow path provides close-up views of the thundering two-tiered cascade below. The Geysir geothermal area is where hot springs are in abundance, geysers explode and boiling pools of mud bubble.

Although the great Geysir is not as active these days, its neighbor Strokkur is very active, spouting water 30 meters (100 feet) up into the air every few minutes in a thrilling display of nature’s forces.  On your way to Hotel Skálakot stop at Secret Lagoon natural hot springs, located in the small village called Fludir and are in the Golden Circle area. We have kept it natural and unique for our guests so they can get the true Icelandic feeling. The pool’s natural surroundings and steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling. The warm water stays at 38-40 Celsius all year. In the whole area there are several geothermal spots and a little Geysir which erupts every 5 minutes, showing off for the guests relaxing in the hot spring.  

Evening arrival to Hotel Skálakot for overnight next 3 nights. Dinner at Hotel Skálakot restaurant.

Start your day with ice cave exploring.  This amazing ice cave and glacier presents you with black, white, and blue ice which is over 800’s years old.  This adventure is not for those who are claustrophobic (or those scared of the dark!), but most certainly for those who have and endless curiosity and exploring runs in their veins!   

Continue your day with visit to majestic waterfall Skogafoss before heading onwards to Reynisfjara with its basalt columns and crashing waves on the black beach and rock formation in the ocean and onwards to Dyrhólaey, where you enjoy spectacular views of glaciers and black beaches.

Drive to a glacier riverbank where your host for the evening will meet you and transfer you on a small motor boat over to his private island for an exclusive dinner and overnight experience. The island is a place of stunning beauty, untouched by modern development. The electricity comes from a windmill.  The owner collects rainwater, and food comes primarily from the island. Herbs and vegetables are grown in his gardens and you will have an opportunity to experience a traditional way of catching wild salmon in the river, using a net.  
The owner and his sheepdog will welcome you to the island where he spent his summers while growing up and is now following his dream to maintain a sustainable and ecofriendly space. Check the nets and take in the catch of the day, perhaps some trout or salmon. Learn about the life and history of the island and its surroundings. A bonfire will be lit and wooden coals prepared for the grill. Together you will enjoy a three-course meal which includes catch of the day and homegrown herbs and vegetables. Sharing stories by the fire is a great way to end the day.  Overnight at Skálakot Hotel   

Early morning private transfer to Keflavik International Airport for Ernesto & Amparo.  Start your day with Snowmobiling on top of Eyjafjallajökull glacier, an extraordinary experience and a once in a lifetime experience. This tour is the perfect length of time for 'first-time riders' and individuals looking for a scenic, fun-ride, exploring and experiencing the wilderness, the glacier and the breath-taking views over south Iceland. In perfect conditions the jaw dropping view includes Westman Islands, the whole south coast all the way to Ingólfsfjall and even a big part of the highlands! 

After tour drive onwards the magnificent Vatnajökull Glacier. Check in to Fosshótel glacier Lagoon for overnight next 3 nights 

Drive to the beautiful Skaftafell National Park, a green oasis wedged between sand and glacier. Its unique natural beauty is a result of favorable weather conditions and the interplay between fire and ice. In Skaftafell you have the opportunity to walk up to Svartifoss, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by black basalt columns. Onwards to the magnificent glacial Lagoon Jökulsárlón where 1000-year-old icebergs float serenely towards the ocean, sometimes cracking and turning as you watch them go by. You may even spot some seals if they are not too shy

Start the day with a kayak boat tour you will be able to cover large areas of the glacier lagoon and get closer to the icebergs than on the amphibian.  When possible, you can kayak almost all the way up to the glacier (as close as safe). Taste the 1000-year-old ice and if you are lucky you might even see some seals. The Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon is considered as one of the natural wonders of Iceland. Paddling on the Glacier lagoon provides outstanding experience and gives participants magnificent view of the ice cap and the vast dome of ice that rises above. The tour is fully guided, and all participants are provided with top of the line dry suite and all other necessary equipment. Our Kayaks are SIT-ON-TOP boats, very stable and should be suitable for persons who have not gone kayaking before. The excursion takes 1,5 hour and includes an English-speaking guide who explains to you the geology and facts of the lagoon. All participants provided with flotation suits and a life jacket. Evening return to Fosshótel Glacier Lagoon   

Leave the Höfn area and head towards Egilsstaðir. Thread the fjords en route, admire the majestic mountains such as the most photographed Vestrahorn. Stop at Egilsstaðir for lunch (not included) and head inwards to Norðurdalur to the beautiful Hengifoss waterfall for an easy (unguided) hike to this stunning waterfall surrounded by magnificent horizontal stripes of red and black basalt strata layers.  Arrive late in the afternoon at the Wilderness Center in Norðurdalur, an authentic and peaceful hideaway located on the edge Northern Europe´s biggest wilderness, 50 km inland from Egilsstaðir. Step in to a world of olden Icelandic times, relax and enjoy. Visiting the Wilderness Center is an adventure. As soon as you park your car and cross the old wooden bridge on foot, you step into the past. Every detail at the premises has been remade in the original style to make the visitor feel as if taking part in an adventure of the past. The buildings, interior decorations, food, activities and hosts all play a vital role in this experience. The accommodation offered is integrated into the museum, and thus our guests spend both night and day in the “Wilderness World.” The wonderful hosts will make you feel right at home, show you the area and cook delicious locally sourced food for you. During your stay you will experience an exhibition about how life used to be in the highlands in olden times 

After a hearty farm breakfast you will get to know the Icelandic horse, our trusted means of transport since the vikings settled in Iceland. Enjoy the scenery in the wilderness, ride along a glacier river and cross the river via an elevated ropeway/cablebridge to visit an abandoned farm and hear stories about the colorful inhabitant who lived in the farm.  After lunch jump aboard a superjeep and head into the deserted highlands near Snæfell mountain. At this time of year you are likely to see wild reindeers on the way.  Cross the wilderness and it´s canyons, admire the landscape and end the day in a natural hot spring.  Delicious home-cooked dinner and overnight in Wilderness Center. 

After a hearty breakfast, leave the Wilderness Center and head up North to Lake Myvatn area. You will drive through the North - East Iceland, the landscape exhibits an extraordinary variety of colors and it´s truly a magical region of natural phenomena.  

Evening arrival to Fosshotel Myvatn for overnight next 3 nights  In the evening Enjoy a relaxing swim in the Myvatn Nature baths. Drawing on a centuries-old tradition, the tastefully designed complex offers bathers a completely natural experience that begins with a relaxing dip amidst clouds of steam rising up from a fissure deep in the Earth´s surface and ends with a luxurious swim in a pool of geothermal water drawn from depths of up to 2.500 metres. 

This tour takes you through the area of Lake Mývatn with a local guide showing you their home and telling stories of their people along with visiting the natural highlights of the area and tasting the Local Food. You’ll have a chance to taste a bread baked with the geothermal heat from our Geysers, smoked arctic char and lamb right out of the hands of a farmer.  Stepping off the beaten track and visit a local farm smokehouse to learn about the art of cold smoked food. From there we visit the steaming grounds in Bjarnarflag where the famous Geysir bread is baked and explore the boiling mud pits of Hverir. From there we head to the old bathing cave of Grjótagjá located on the continental rift. An Included Farm to Table Lunch at Vogafjós restaurant.  After Lunch we visit Dimmuborgir Lava fields and explore this incredible maze of lava pillars, Our last stop in Mývatn area will be the Höfði region, where the lava fields meet the lake, famous for being the land North of the Wall in the TV series Game of Thrones.   

Start your day by driving to Ásbyrgi and the mighty Dettifoss waterfall, about 100 meters wide and drop of 45 meters having an average water flow of 193 m3/s making it the most powerful waterfall in Europe. With such a powerful nature phenomenon you feel how small we are against nature. Dettifoss and Ásbyrgi are located in the Vatnajökull National Park, formerly known as the Jökulsárgljúfur Park. 

Onwards to the charming fishing village of Húsavík. Join a scheduled RIB boat whale watching tour. We are using RIB boats, so you can travel faster to cover a larger area in search for whales. A RIB is extremely fast and makes it therefore more likely for us to find the big whales. Normally we do not have to leave our bay to look for whales of any kind, but on this tour, we focus on finding the bigger ones – further out. Nothing is guaranteed but, on this tour, your chances to encounter some of the world's biggest animals are increased.   
Evening return to Fosshotel Mývatn   

Check out Fosshótel Myvatn and drive Akureyri, north capital of Iceland. Stop at Godafoss (waterfall of the gods),  around the year 1000 a law speaker threw his statues of Norse gods into the waterfall and made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. Smart move as now 1000 years later we still stop at this waterfall to see its beauty and of course remembering our sagas.  

Drive to Akureyri domestic airport and retirn your rental car. Take a short domestic flight to Reykjavik domestic airport. A private driver will meet you in the arrivals‘s hall, assist you with your luggage and escort you to your private vehicle. Direct transfer to Retreat at Blue Lagoon located 45 minutes away from Reykjavik.   
After check in enjoy a relaxing soak in the milky blue waters of the Blue Lagoon, the pleasantly warm mineralrich water reputed for its healing properties. This unique natural pool of mineral rich geothermal water is in the middle of a lava field in the pure and beautiful Icelandic wilderness. The Blue Lagoon is known for its special properties and its beneficial effect on the skin and attracts visitors from all over the world The Retreat  Spa of the volcanic earth at the new luxurious Retreat at Blue Lagoon for a realxing soak. Built into an 800-year-old lava flow on the south shore of the Blue Lagoon, the Spa at The Retreat embodies the harmonic convergence of nature, design, and the radiant powers of geothermal seawater. The spa journey culminates with the Blue Lagoon Ritual. In a spacious sanctuary of interconnected chambers, you cover your body with the three treasures of geothermal seawater: silica, algae, and minerals. Silica brings radiance and cleansing, the algae brings nourishment and anti-aging and the minerals bring exfoliation and revitalization. The Blue Lagoon is a unique natural pool of mineral rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field in the pure and beautiful Icelandic wilderness. The Blue Lagoon is known for its special properties and its beneficial effect on the skin and attracts visitors from all over the world in search of health, relaxation and an exotic experience  
Enjoy a festive gourmet dinner at Moss Retreat restaurant... Overnight at Retreat   

Today you enjoy many of the most amazing things Iceland has to offer – a great mixture of nature, history and adventure. Your private driver will pick you up and takes to meeting point in Blue Mountains. From hear your will hike for about 45 min before arriving at the opening of the volcano. After arriving on location, you will be informed about all safety procedures and how to behave in the area and when inside the volcano. You will be wearing a helmet and harness. During this tour you will be surrounded by expert mountain guides and cave explorer at all times. Do you have the guts to descend 120 meters/400 feet to the bottom of the crater in an open cable lift?  Then you should not miss this extraordinary tour of a lifetime

Private transfer provided from The Retreat to Keflavik International Airport for your departure flight