Untravelled Iceland - Hidden Gems on Volcanic Grounds
Regions
Southeast, Highlands
Starting Point
Kevlavik
Best time to travel
All year
Recommended Length
6 - 8 days
Minimum Age*
Off the beaten track
Activity Level **
4/5
This exciting eight day tour of Iceland will take you to some of the wildest areas of Iceland, where you will venture off the beaten track and discover hidden valleys, spectacular mountains and geothermal heritage in Iceland's West, South and Highlands. Soak in natural warm pools set in a stunning wild landscape, explore breath-taking volcanic heritage, fjords and waterfalls as you explore some of Iceland's most beautiful and untouched scenery on guided hiking and off road tours.
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
✓ get close to geothermal activity at Geysir, Húsafell and the highlands
✓ explore Iceland's wilderness on hiking tours at Glymur, Landmannalugar and Húsafell
✓ relax in the soothing hot natural thermal waters at Krauma baths
✓ discover the natural wonders and highlights along the golden circle
✓ Icelandic heritage and culinary traditions on an Icelandic farm tour
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TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 - arrival - overnight in Reykjavik
Day 2 - hike to Glymur Waterfall - Krauma Baths - overnight in Reykjavik (230km)
Day 3 - Golden Circle - Thingvellir National Park - Geysir - Gulfoss - overnight Hveravellir area (220km)
Day 4 - hiking and swimming in the Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjoll geothermal area - overnight in Reykjavik (220km)
Day 5 - Food and farm tour along Hvalfjordur (270km)
Day 6 - Hiking and off road tour at Landmannalaugar - overnight in Reykjavik (300km)
Day 7 - Hiking and canyon baths at Húsafell - overnight in Reykjavik (80km)
Day 8 - departure
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO ICELAND
Welcome to Iceland! After your arrival, you will transfer to Reykjavik, where you will have the rest of the day to explore the lively capital.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 2 - HIKING TO GLYMUR WATERFALL AND RELAXING AT KRAUMA BATHS (230 km)
A guided tour from Reykjavik will take you to the Hvalfjörður area in the morning, a beautiful wild landscape with black mountains, green fields, black sand beaches and picturesque waterfalls. A hiking tour along a scenic canyon will take you to Glymur, Iceland’s second highest waterfall. Enjoy the views of the waterfall plunging into the deep canyon and the panoramic vistas over the Hvalfjörður fjord.
Continue to Iceland’s largest hot spring, Deildartunguhver, which is fueling the neighbouring Krauma hot baths, where you can soak in the luxury geothermal waters and recover from the hike for the rest of the afternoon.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 3 - GOLDEN CIRCLE - THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK - GEYSIR - GULFOSS (220 km)
You will head to Iceland’s wild Highlands area today and you will discover some of the iconic natural highlights of the famous Golden Circle route along the way. Stop at the UNESCO Thingvellir National Park, a place of historical and geological importance and home of the first ever Icelandic parliament. Continue to the geothermal area of Geysir, one of the most active hot spring areas in Iceland and home to the impressive and always active Strokkur geyser. The last stop before you will head into the Highlands will be at the iconic Gulfoss waterfall, which plunges into a deep canyon over two stages.
Overnight in the Hveravellir area.
DAY 4 - HIKING AND SWIMMING IN HVERAVELLIR AND KERLINGARFJOLL (220 km)
The multicolored Kerlingarfjöll Mountain Range in the Icelandic Highlands is a haven for nature lovers and adventurous travelers. A guided hiking tour will take you through the wilderness and along hot springs, steaming vents, boiling mud puddles and rusty red mountains. In the afternoon, you will head north to the Hveravellir geothermal area, where you can take a dip in the natural warm pool while admiring the stunning surroundings. Return to Reykjavik in the evening.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 5 - HVALFJORDUR FJORD FOOD AND FARM TOUR
The Hvalfjordur fjord, tucked away between the ocean and the mountains, welcomes you today to learn about its history, heritage and rural Icelandic life on a farm tour. You will visit several local farms and other food producers in the area and hear from the farmers about the changes, challenges and joys of modern Icelandic farming. Of course, the tour will not be short of opportunities to sample some unique and surprising culinary treats. This down-to-earth tour is perfect for you if you are interested in artisan food, local heritage and incredible nature.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 6 - LANDMANNALAUGAR HIKING AND OFF ROAD TOUR (300KM)
Landmannalaugar on the edge of the highlands is one of the most surreal, wild and colourful landscapes in Iceland. A special 4x4 tour will bring you into the heart of the wild area, which is only accessible by foot or jeep. Admire the stunning landscape made of waterfalls, lava fields, colourful mountains and crater lakes on this off road adventure tour and a guided hiking tour.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 7 - HUSAFELL HIKE AND CANYON BATHS - REYKJAVIK FOOD AND BEER WALK
Today you will have the chance to discover Iceland’s unique wild nature and culture with a guided hiking tour in the remote Húsafell area, characterized by endless lava fields, green mountains and waterfalls. Take in the surreal landscape before finishing the walk at the
Húsafell Canyon Baths made of three geothermal pools nestled in a magnificent canyon. Choose from three geothermal pools while soaking up the views of the surroundings.
Return to Reykjavik for the afternoon, where you will enjoy a guided food and beer tasting tour of the capital, which will lead you to various locations to sample some fresh, local and creative delicacies.
Overnight in Reykjavik.
DAY 8 - DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport and departure.
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SERVICES INCLUDED
Family Adventure Holidays
- accommodation in good standard middle-class hotels and/or guesthouses
- activities, visits and tours as outlined, escorted with a certified, English speaking guide where desired/required
- all transfers as outlined
- all taxes and insurances for the activities
- expert travel planning, trip preparation and 24/7 on-tour support
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TIMES & RATES
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Description
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GALLERY
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Contact us for a quote
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TRAVEL TIPS
When to travel
The main season and most popular time for visitors to come to Iceland is between June and August when the days are long and large parts of the country are free from ice and easily accessible. The hinterland offers great hiking conditions during this period as most of the terrain is now fairly dry.
May and September also allow travelers to get to most places in Iceland, but some of the higher areas and the heartland might be restricted because of snow. The weather is colder, wetter and breezier than over the summer months, but you will be rewarded with less crowded landscapes and viewpoints.
Even though most of the side roads are closed and the days are shorter, October to April is a rewarding time to visit Iceland. This is the perfect time to experience the Northern lights flickering on the dark sky and to venture off on a real snow and ice adventure.
How to travel
Keflavik, Iceland’s international airport, is located around 50km southwest of Reykjavik. Icelandair and many other international airlines offer frequent connections to Keflavik usually a few times a week. There are many direct flights from the European continent and it’s also possible to connect through major European hubs. You will also find frequent connections to North America due to the fact that Iceland had recently become a popular stopover destination between North America and Europe and the flights take only a couple of hours.
It is easiest to rent a car upon arrival and discover the island in your own time. Alternatively, if you prefer not to drive, there is a wide range of organized tours starting from Reykjavik nearly every day, bringing you to many exciting places in Iceland.
Traveling with children
Travelling with kids in Iceland is easy. Even though there are not many activities only for kids, the overwhelming landscape, the many swimming pools and the friendly hospitality of the Icelandic people make a trip to Iceland with kids very enjoyable. Curious children will be eager to find out more about the volcanoes, waterfalls and glaciers and will be delighted by the sheer amount of seabirds. Adventure activities are available for kids from 8 years (sometimes older) and the easy hikes, horse riding adventures, speedboat or whale watching tours will keep them easily entertained. The route should be planned carefully as some of the distances between the attractions can be quite far. Reykjavik has the biggest choice for kids. Kids pay half price (or often nothing) in museums and pools. Most of the accommodations offer family rooms and cater for smaller children.
What to bring
Regardless of the time of the year that you are travelling, you should come prepared for all kind of weather in Iceland and plan a lot of layers. Make sure to pack smart and to stay warm and dry. So your luggage should always contain the following items:
- fleece jacket or wooly sweater/jumper
- rain and windproof jacket
- rain pants
- sturdy walking shoes with good grip
- proper waterproof hiking boots
- gloves and a scarf
- hat (sun hat also)
- swimsuit
- thermal underwear
- warm socks
- quick dry towel
As you will encounter the midnight sun over summer, it can also be helpful to bring some eye shades for sleeping. Sunglasses and sunscreen are highly recommended. Midgets are common over the summer months, so bring an insect repellent.
A very warm, ideally insulated jacket should always be packed if travelling over the winter months.
Remember that you will most likely also hit town in Reykjavik, so make sure to pack a nice outfit and shoes.
For more practical travel advise and general information on visiting Iceland, please follow the link below.
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* The minimum age is based on the overall tour, some activities can require a higher minimum age, this will be advised at proposal stage. While not all activities are suitable for very small children, we are happy to tailor the tour to meet your specific wishes and needs.
** The activity level is based on the amount of tours and activities included (1 - few tours and activities with a lot of free time, 5 - a lot of tours and activities with little free time). The activity level does not reflect the difficulty of the activities or tours included. Itineraries can be tailored to match the preferred level of activity.
