Today we leave Reykjaviík to explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You will be picked up from your Reykjavik hotel/guesthouse between 9 and 9:30 and our first stop is a delicious Icelandic bakery, followed by a visit to a hidden hot spring. The optional dip in the warm geothermal water next to an old lava flow is highly recommended, and this is definitely Iceland off the beaten path! We continue to the charming fishing village of Stykkishólmur for lunch, followed by a stop at Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall, one of Iceland’s most beautiful and photographed locations! As we cross to the southern coast of the peninsula, the gorgeous Snæfellsjökull volcano and glacier come into view, creating a dramatic backdrop. We will conclude the day with a beautiful coastal hike with amazing views of sea cliffs, basalt columns, and sea birds. Finally, enjoy an excellent dinner with fresh Icelandic dishes in the Hellnar/Arnarstapi area. (Total driving time today: ~4.5 hours)

In the morning we explore more of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, starting with an otherworldly black sand beach, Djúpalónssandur, where you can test your strength on the lifting stones that fishermen used to use to determine whether they were strong enough to go out to sea! We then head underground with a visit to a lava cave located at the base of Snæfellsjökull, the location for Jules Vernes’ famous Journey to the Center of the Earth. We then drive to the Golden Circle (one of the most popular areas in Iceland, and for good reason) where we visit Thingvellir National Park, the spot where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are drifting apart, an incredible phenomenon that you can only witness in Iceland! Dinner is at an “earth cooking” restaurant where your food is cooked using the geothermal steam from the earth, one of the only places in the world to use this method of cooking. We spend the next two nights at a comfortable farm stay. You can visit the animals, learn about life on a working Icelandic farm, or relax in the hot tub or sauna. (Total driving time today: ~4 hours)

After a delicious farm-fresh breakfast, we start the day with a beautiful hike to Reykjadalur, a hot spring river! After hiking for about an hour we will arrive at the hot spring to soak and enjoy the scenery. After returning, we will have lunch inside a geothermal greenhouse, one of the culinary highlights of the trip! We continue to two of Iceland’s most famous sights in the Golden Circle–the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, one of the largest in Iceland, as well as Geysir geothermal area, where Iceland’s most active geyser is located (it erupts every 5-10 minutes!). Tonight’s dinner is at a traditional Icelandic restaurant in Selfoss.
(Total driving time today: 3 hours)

Our drive today takes us along Iceland’s southern coast, visiting some of the country’s most well-known natural attractions. We will visit Seljalandsfoss, an incredible waterfall we can walk behind, as well as Reynisfjara, Iceland’s most famous and iconic black sand beach. After lunch, we spend some time in Vik where you can choose to go horseback riding, enjoy a lava show, or visit the town’s church or museum. In the afternoon we have a short hike along Fjaðrárgljúfur, a dramatic canyon with a breathtaking vista! Tonight we stay at one of Iceland’s nicest hotels with stunning modern Scandinavian architecture. Dinner will be a first-class meal at the hotel restaurant. (Total driving time today: ~4 hours)

Start the day off with a visit to Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s most famous glacial lagoon. The lagoon is filled with magnificent icebergs that broke off from the glacier in the distance, a part of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. Get up close to the large blue and white icebergs as we embark on a kayaking excursion on the lagoon. If you would prefer, you can opt for a zodiac boat tour instead of kayaking (trips from October-April will go on a glacier hike in the afternoon instead of the kayak/zodiac tour). We then visit Diamond Beach, a black sand beach where icebergs, which appear like diamonds against the black sand, wash ashore allowing you to walk right up to them. These are once in a lifetime experiences that you can only have in a handful of places in the world, and Iceland is one of the best! We then head back to Reykjavik, stopping on the way to visit Skógafoss, another stunning and unique waterfall that you can walk up to! Near Skógafoss, we will have dinner at a wholesome and cozy farm to table restaurant for our last meal together before drop off in Reykjavik. This will be the perfect note on which to end our trip! (Total driving time today: ~5 hours)