Iceland Winter Explorer – 8 days

Welcome to your Winter Adventure in Iceland!

Once you arrive at Keflavik International Airport and clear customs, you’ll pick up your car at the rental service area. You only need a short ride with a shuttle bus located outside the arrival hall to get to your preferred rental vehicle. The shuttle bus departs every 10-15 minutes, so you won't be wasting your time waiting for the transfer.

You will be staying in the heart of Reykjavik, the world's northernmost capital. Get settled into your hotel and start exploring.

Reykjavik city center offers many great sights, and the city is unique in so many ways. You will not find the towering skyscrapers of America or the age-old narrow streets, which time has seemingly forgotten and seemingly unchanged since Roman times, as in Europe. Reykjavik is somewhere in between and yet miles away. With its small quirky houses and both tiny and open spaces, it’s colorful, modern, charming, and old all the same time. So, don’t forget to bring your camera along, and get ready for photo ops at every turn.

After breakfast, start your day by discovering the Borgarfjordur area. We recommend visiting the stunning Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls coming straight from the lava field, Deildartunghver - the most powerful hot spring in Europe, and Krauma, a hot spring Spa. It’s also possible to see one of the historic sites in Iceland and archaeological remains, a spectacular lava cave, and Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjokull where you can join an exciting tour to a man-made ice cave tunnel.

Hvalfjörður gives an excellent opportunity to enjoy the unique beauty of Icelandic fjords, with its sloops, shores, canyons, and waterfalls and its somewhat controversial history of whaling. The area is especially quiet and tranquil.

Accommodation in Borgarnes area

Today, you will have a full day to explore the wonders of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Snaefellsnes is truly a magical place, with its volcanoes, glacier, basalt columns, and waterfalls. The peninsula is rich in wildlife, including dozens of species of birds and bays teeming with whales. Snaefellsjokull glacier is a 1446 m high dormant stratovolcano in the middle of Snaefellsnes National Park. It is the main tourist attraction towering over the national park at the far end of the 90 km-long stretch of land. There are plenty of things to do in the National Park. One of the most exciting activities is exploring the Vatnshellir lava cave, which is included in this package. The lava tube was naturally created nearly 8000 years ago in a volcanic eruption from a nearby crater.

Accommodation in Borgarnes area

During your holiday in Iceland, you cannot miss the famous Golden Circle. You have the whole day to enjoy the sights of this area. The main highlights are Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the great Geysir geothermal area with bubbling mud pools and spouting geysers, and the milky waterfall Gullfoss. Friðheimar geothermal greenhouse is a wonderful add-on to the day, along with green and lush farmlands before you reach your hotel for the night. There are a couple of geothermal areas in the Golden Circle. We highly recommend the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, the oldest geothermal pool in Iceland, and the Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn.

Accommodation in the Selfoss area

Start your day early and travel along the stunning South Coast of Iceland. You surely have an eventful day ahead, starting with exploring Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, the hidden "secret" waterfall, and the picture-perfect Skogafoss. Here, don't miss the Skógar Museum and a lesser-visited watery gem that is Kvernufoss Waterfall. If you’re looking to enjoy a marvelous South Coast attraction in peace and quiet, this could be just the spot for you! After visiting these stunning waterfalls, it’s time to head to the charming coastal village of Vík. Head up the hill to visit the quaint church and soak up the brilliant views over the town. Stroll along the black sand beach and admire the terrific vistas of Reynisdrangar.

Accommodation near Kirkjubæjarklaustur

This day, your adventure continues on the way to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. On your way there, make a stop at Skaftafell Nature Reserve, a part of the Vatnajökull National Park. You can spend time marveling at the area’s great beauty by trekking the many well-maintained hiking trails, including a short walk to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, which features pitch-black hexagonal basalt columns and a rugged canyon.

Continue your journey to the spectacular Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, which has been the setting set for many Hollywood movies. You can witness the slow breakdown of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier as huge blocks of ice constantly break off the glacier and float on the lagoon.

Experience the stunning beauty of an ice cave. With a local guide, you'll explore hidden spaces on a glacier hike near Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe.

On Diamond Beach, you can find small icebergs (crystals) that have washed ashore and look like glittering diamonds. Many seals call this beach home, and it is one of the best places in the country to see Orcas from the shore.

Accommodation in the Kirkjubæjarklaustur area

Today you have another exciting day ahead of you. You will be driving back toward Reykjavík, but you still have plenty to see and do along the South Coast. Make sure not to miss the rugged and moss-covered Eldhraun lava field and the spectacular Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon.

You'll visit Reynisfjara, with its world-famous black-sand beach and basalt columns, the Reynisdrangar sea cliffs jutting out from the ocean, being beaten by the dramatic North-Atlantic ocean waves. Afterward, you continue to Dyrhólaey with its amazing view of the south coast landscape and black beaches before heading towards Reykjavík.

Accommodation in Reykjavík

Sadly, your Iceland vacation has come to an end.

If you’re flying in the afternoon, you have the option to visit the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula to explore Seltún, an interesting geothermal area with bubbling mud pots, steam vents, and colorful mountains and could be also possible to stop at the Blue Lagoon before driving to Keflavík Airport where you drop off your rental car.