Glorious Glaciers and Northern Lights

Once you have landed at Keflavík Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport. Take some time to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula, a UNESCO Geopark site, before you head to Reykjavík. Reykjanes is home to the renowned Blue Lagoon, and you might enjoy the chance to relax in the soothing azure waters.

Once you have landed at Keflavík Airport, please pick up your luggage and head through customs. Collect your rental car at the airport. Take some time to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula, a UNESCO Geopark site, before you head to Reykjavík. Reykjanes is home to the renowned Blue Lagoon, and you might enjoy the chance to relax in the soothing azure waters.

Today you can choose to continue to explore the marvellous Borgarfjörður region, or you can visit the scenic Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Borgarfjörður: is a hidden gem filled with enchanting volcanic scenery, glacial views, and Viking age history. Langjökull glacier offers exciting adventures such as exploring an ice cave. Other interesting sites in the area are the colourful Viðgelmir lava cave and the scenic Húsafell nature area.

Snæfellsnes Peninsular: is known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it contains so many different types of Icelandic landscape in one location. We recommend a stop at the wind tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs and the rocky beach of Djúpalónssandur. The beautiful Snæfellsjökull glacier-volcano is the crown jewel of the peninsula. Drive along the north coast through bustling fishing villages, stopping to look at Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in the country. (B)

This morning, head for the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, where the world's oldest parliament met for centuries on the shores of Iceland’s largest lake. This is also the meeting point of the tectonic plates that divide the North American and European continents, giving you the rare chance to take a walk between two continents. Visit the quirky geothermal fields of Geysir. Stroll along a footpath around colourful bubbling mud pools and spouting geysers. The most famous of these is Strokkur, which erupts about every ten minutes. Then visit the dramatic, two-tiered Gullfoss waterfall, a spectacular sight in winter when frozen mid-cascade. You can get great views of the waterfall from different angles on a variety of paths. (B)

Travel along the south coast, one of Iceland’s main farming areas. You’ll see many farms and shaggy haired herds of Icelandic horses as you head along the Ring Road. See the magnificent Skógafoss waterfall and then visit the nearby Skógar Folk Museum, known for its collection of mementos from this region’s past, housed in beautifully preserved old turf-roofed buildings. Make a stop in pretty Vik village. Nearby you can admire stunning views of a black sand beach and the black basalt columns of Reynisdrangar. You’ll also see glaciers from the road, including Mýrdalsjökull and Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajokull. The road leads alongside Vatnajokull as you head to your overnight in Southeast Iceland. (B)

Explore glacial wonders in Vatnajokull National Park, Western Europe's largest national park. Start with a visit to Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, where blue, white, turquoise, and black-streaked icebergs shift and dance. Nearby is the Diamond Beach, an area where icebergs rest on black sand. Visit the National Park’s majestic Skaftafell area, which is located between two glaciers and offers several winter hiking possibilities. Skaftafell is an excellent place to try a guided hike on a glacier, to get up close and personal to a glacier and learn about the formation. (B)

Drive along the scenic south coast back to the west. Visit Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall that you can walk behind. You’ll also be passing through landscapes impacted by Eyjafjallajökull volcano, famous for its 2010 eruption. If the skies are clear, you might even get a glimpse of the glacier-crowned volcano.  The town of Hveragerði is great to take a break and enjoy the peaceful village atmosphere. Hveragerði is famous for its geothermal greenhouses where flowers and vegetables are grown year-round. The town has several charming restaurants featuring local cuisine, as well as a small geothermal park. (B)

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. (B)