Southern Iceland (9 days)
Iceland 2017 – Travel period from 20 June-20 September
Day 1
Apotek Hotel 3 nights (Days 1 – 3) + 1 night (Day 8)
On arrival at Keflavik international airport your private driver waits for you. He will drive you to your hotel in Reykjavík for check-in.
A representative from B2Iceland will meet & greet guests at arrival at the Apotek Hotel and is available to go through the program and be on call 24/7 during their time in Iceland.
Apotek Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel located in a historic building on a quiet and beautiful square in the centre of downtown Reykjavik close to the shopping, entertainment and cultural district. Apotek Hotel offers 45 rooms, including standard, superior, deluxe, junior suites and a tower suite. Rooms are of modern design with a classic touch and are fully equipped with modern amenities such as flat screen TV, free WiFi, safe, minibar and coffee/tea set.
Apotek has a fabulous, stylish bar and restaurant on street level which offers unique dining in a wonderful and lively atmosphere. Guests can use the spa at the sister hotel, “Hotel Borg” just a few doors away.
The historical building formerly housed the pharmacy, “Reykjavikur Apotek” and was designed by former state architect, Guðjón Samúelsson in 1917. Guðjón also built some of Iceland´s most renowned buildings such as the National theater building, Hotel Borg, Akureyrarkirkja church and Hallgrímskirkja church.
Evening is free for leisure. Upon request, dinner restaurant reservation will be made.
Overnight Reykjavík
Day 2
Reykjavík – easy day
Today you have a transfer to and from a local Crossfit Station. Other than that the day is for you to relax and recover from long flight.
Options available for activity with the kids.
Optional Reykjavik walking tour or Bicycle tour or Segway tour with a local guide.
Overnight Reykjavík (Breakfast)
Day 3
Þríhnjúkagígur Volcano tour/ Inside the Volcano (12year age limit/exceptions possible)
You will be picked up at Apotek hotel by your private driver. He will take you to the starting point of the Þríhnjúkagígur Volcano tour.
The dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano is a unique natural phenomenon. By setting up the necessary gear and equipment, we’ve created a tour that opens the door to a new world.
The hike from the parking lot to the Volcano is 45 minutes- on rugged terrain but relatively easy. You spend up to 40 minutes inside the volcano. On the way you will get to know a bunch of stuff about volcanoes and volcanic activity in Iceland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhriwgemEvE
Your driver will pick you up after the tour and take you to lunch at one of the wonderful seaside restaurants on the south shore.
Overnight Reykjavík (Breakfast)
Day 4
Circle with Snowmobile tour on Langjökull Glacier
The Golden Circle route is the most popular sightseeing route in Iceland for a reason. It includes visits to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the most renowned hot spring in the world and probably the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland
After you have been picked up by your driverguide in a Super Jeep at your hotel, you will drive to Thingvellir National Park. This UNESCO site is where the oldest existing parliament in the world was
formed. It´s not only one of the most historic places in Iceland, but also a natural wonder because of its location literally ON one of only two tectonic rift valleys in the worlds.
At Thingvellir, you can actually see how the continental plates of America and Europe have drifted apart. Huge canyons are the most clear manifestation of that, one of which “Peningagja canyon” is thought to make wishes come true when you throw a coin into it.
From Thingvellir we will continue to the geothermal area around the Geysir hot spring and Gullfoss waterfall (Golden waterfall). These attractions are two of the most popular ones in Iceland – and for a reason! Everybody is blown away by the natural power that is reflected in the spouting geysers and huge waterfalls.
The jeep will continue towards Langjokull glacier, Iceland’s second largest glacier, where we will try out our super Jeep vehicles off road: the ride will take you across glaciers and highlands, splashing through rivers and the rough terrain. This drive is only available for monster jeeps and you will be experiencing something unique.
After an off-road ride, then head to our Villa in the south, but one quick stop at the amazing Kerid crater.
Overnight at the Villa in Stóri-Dalur (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Situated in Stóri-Dalur, this villa features free WiFi and a terrace. Guests benefit from balcony and a barbecue. Free private parking is available on site.
The villa has 5 bedrooms as well as 5 bathrooms. There is a seating area and a kitchen complete with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave. The living room includes a flat-screen TV and DVD player. Other facilities at Hólar Private Luxury Villa include a sun terrace.
Guests can enjoy a breakfast cooked to order buffet and 3-course dinner with fresh local ingredients.
Your Driver-guide will stay in a smaller house close by.
Day 5
Þórsmörk / private ATV tour
The morning we go on a thrilling adventure trip, an ATV – Tour : This 2-3 hours ATV tour takes you between two of Iceland ‘s most famous and notorious volcanos, Hekla and Eyjafjallajökull. We will be crossing small rivers and will visit waterfalls and caves along the way.
During the tour we will stop at a cave which was once inhabited by Irish monks located by the river Fiská. At the cave we will light a fire where we treat ourselves with cup of coffee, te and hot chocolate. Just outside the cave entrance stands a rock formation believed to be home of elves and sometimes we even make contact with the inhabitants. This tour offers an easy ride for everyone. 2 will share each ATV.
In the afternoon we will visit Thorsmörk Nature Reserve. With its beautiful nature and stunning landscape, Thorsmork is one of the most popular hiking areas in Iceland.
Thorsmork is a valley situated between the rivers Krossa, Thronga and Markarfljot. The surrounding mountains are themselves cut with small valleys, gullies and dells.
The area is protected and offers a wide vegetation of moss, fern, birchwood and other small shrubs. The climate is warm, and better than usual in South Iceland.
One of the great places to have a bit of adventure, special for the teenagers is the small ravine, Nauthúsagil.(bring extra socks and shoes if your feet get wet ☺ )
Overnight at the Villa in Stóri-Dalur (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6
South Coast / Glacier and black sand beaches
We spend our morning on Sólheimajökull Glacier. We will join a tour that leaves at 10:00.
This tour offers you the opportunity to hike and climb at the immeasurably magnificent Sólheimajökull glacier. Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Iceland’s 4th biggest glacier. The glacier tongue is a rugged, raw and ever changing hub of ancient frozen water; truly a phenomenal place.
On the Blue Ice tour, we will explore the crevasse riddled outlet glacier and also have the chance to test our ice climbing skills.
With its amazing ice formations, sinkholes and jagged ridges, Sólheimajokull glacier is absolutely an unforgettable site to spend the day. We will provide you with all the tools you will need for your time on the glacier: ice axes, crampons, helmets and safety lines and, of course, we make sure that you are always safe on the ice.
In the afternoon, we head to the black sand beaches and we also walk to the Wreckage of a US Navy plane on a black sand beach of Solheimasandur, the walk is 2miles long from the parking to the Plane.
Overnight at the Villa in Stóri-Dalur (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7
Fjarðargljúfur Canyon – Glacier lagoon- Svartifoss Waterfall
Our first stop is Fjarðargljúfur Canyon, a magnificent and massive canyon, about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The canyon has sheer walls, and is somewhat serpentine and narrow.
The Skaftafell region of Vatnajokull National Park is a lush oasis where you can hike for days on gorgeous trails through forests, waterfalls, black sands, mountains, glaciers.
You can’t leave this area without a hike to Svartifoss waterfall, bordered on both sides by tall black basalt columns, resembling the pipes of a giant organ.
In the afternoon, we stop by the picturesque Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. We take a Zodiac boat ride between the huge icebergs, which constantly break away from the glacier tongue of Breiðamerkurjökull, producing a wonder world of ice. The lagoon has provided the backdrop for many major feature films and programs including ‘Batman Begins’ and most recently ‘Game of Thrones.’
We visit the lovely town of Höfn in Hornafjordur is dominated by Europe’s biggest glacier, Vatnajokull, which towers over this region and has immensely affected the landscape.
The most bewitching site in the area is the mystical Jokulsarlon glacial lagoon with immense floating icebergs that have broken off from the descending glacier tongue of Breidamerkurjokull.
Hofn offers an excellent glacier exhibition, the region has always relied on the fishing industry to support the local economy and Hofn is known as the ‘Lobster Capital of Northern Europe.’ Fresh langoustine lobster is the pride of menus throughout the region and should not be missed.
Overnight in Apotek Fosshotel Vatnajökull (Breakfast)
Fosshotel Vatnajökull is an attractive hotel in the southeast of Iceland with a spellbinding view of the magnificant glacier Vatnajökull. In beautiful surroundings, the hotel has been designed to make sure your stay is as peaceful and relaxing as possible.
Fosshotel Vatnajökull has just been renovated with addtional 40 new rooms. It has a modern restaurant, bar and a conference venue.
Day 8
Reykjavík – flight Höfn – REK / Blue Lagoon relaxing / sightseeing Kleifarvatn – Whale watching afternoon from Reykjavík
Morning transfer to the small airport at Höfn, a 1H flight will take us to Reykjavík. Our Driver-guide will say goodbye and on arrival in Reykjavík a private transfer waits us.
The flight can offer unforgettable chance to fly across the country for an adventure in Iceland´s pure nature.
We head for the rough tracks of Reykjanes, one of the most active volcanic areas in Iceland.
On our way, we will see the fish that is being dried out in the lava field, like it has been for centuries here in Iceland. We’ll stop to explore and take in the view of a beautiful volcanic landscape. We will visit the geothermal area of Krýsuvík and Lake Kleifarvatn with its hot springs and solfatares. The moonlike surroundings of the lake never fail to leave a strong impression on our visitors!
We will also enjoy a peaceful time at the Blue Lagoon, a unique natural pool of mineral rich geothermal water located in the middle of a lava field in the pure, beautiful Icelandic wilderness.
The Blue Lagoon is known for its special properties and its beneficial effects on the skin, and attracts visitors from all over the world in search of health, relaxation and an exotic experience.
In addition to bathing in the lagoon, guests have access to a sauna with a view of the lagoon, a steam-bath with white walls that resemble silica-mud and a cozy steam-bath carved into a lava cave. Guests can also stand beneath a small waterfall for an energizing massage. Of course, guests bathing in the milky waters of the Blue Lagoon have easy access to the famous white silica-mud, an essential part of the spa experience.
Whales and marine life in Iceland! Evening departure at 17:00 or at 21:00, depending on if you want to have dinner before or after.
Whales are beautiful animals and one of nature’s most extraordinary sights. Our experienced guides on board will share with you their wealth of knowledge on the whales, as well as passing on some interesting facts and old sea stories about encounters with these magnificent creatures. The whales round these parts are not shy, often surfacing quite close to the boat, and, as our sea-fairing guides will tell you, to see a whale up close truly is a sight to remember. There is over 90% viewing success (if you are in the unlucky few percent, you get another tour for free). This tour departs from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik.
Overnight in Reykjavík, final 1 night. Apotek hotel. Superior rooms.
Day 9
Reykjavík – Departure Day
Today we take it easy until our flight departs. You will be picked up 3 hours before your flights is scheduled to leave.