Family Adventure in the West of Iceland
Regions
Southwest, Southeast, West
Starting Point
Reykjavik
Best time to travel
all year
Recommended Length
9 - 12 days
Best for
from 6 years
Activity Level **
3/5
If you are looking to venture off the beaten track, but don't want to miss out on some of the incredible natural highlights that Iceland has to offer, this tour is perfect for you. Visit the beautiful peninsula of Snæfellsnes, home to the national park around the impressive Snæfellsjökull glacier and dive deeper into "sagaland", Iceland's western inland where history, tales and folklore become vivid with every step. The rich volcanic heritage of the area reflects in lava tubes, hot springs, bubbling geysers and steaming pods. Special guided tours and excursions will take you closer to nature and the geological heritage of the region. The opportunities are endless and can be tailored to your specific wishes to suit the whole family.
Family Adventure Holidays
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
✓ beautiful landscapes and volcanic heritage on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, along the Golden Circle and on Reykjanes
✓ snorkeling between continents in Thingvellir National Park
✓ splash and relax in the natural thermal pools and simply enjoy the view
✓ whale watching tour on the Snaefellsnes peninsula
✓ snow-mobile adventure on Langjökull glacier
✓ venture in the footsteps of trolls, elves and other mystical creatures
Family Adventure Holidays
TOUR OVERVIEW
Day 1 - arrival - overnight Snæfellsnes peninsula (150km)
Day 2 - Vatnshellir Lava tube - Snæfellsjökull National Park - overnight Snæfellsnes peninsula (100km)
Day 3 - horse riding OR sea kayaking - overnight Snæfellsnes peninsula (130km)
Day 4 - whale watching tour - visit an Icelandic sheep Farm - overnight Hvalfjörður area (100km)
Day 5 - snorkeling between continents - Laugarvatn Caves - Geysir - overnight Geysir (150km)
Day 6 - Gulfoss Waterfall - snow mobile tour on Langjökull - overnight Geysir (100km)
Day 7 - coastal villages Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri - overnight Selfoss (80km)
Day 8 - volcanic heritage of Reykjanes - Blue Lagoon - overnight Reykjanes (110km)
Day 9 - departure
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1 - WELCOME TO ICELAND
Welcome to Iceland. After your arrival, you will pick up your rental car and make your way to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, often also referred to as a miniature version of Iceland due to its varied volcanic landscape and diverse geological features.
Overnight on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
DAY 2 - SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA - VATNSHELLIR LAVA TUBE
Today, you will have time to explore Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula in all its natural beauty. Drive along golden beaches, green hillsides, black rock formations, beautiful waterfalls and colourful fishing villages. Your tour will take you to the Snæfellsjökull National Park, set around the impressive Snæfellsjökull, the iconic mountain referenced in Jules Verne’s bestseller Journey to the Center of the Earth. You will follow in the footsteps of the adventurers as you descend into the Vatnshellir Lava Cave, a small cave system formed by lava flowing beneath the rock. Admire the stunning geology and fascinating rock formations in the underworld in one of Iceland’s most impressive lava caves.
Overnight on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
DAY 3 - HORSE RIDING OR SEA KAYAKING ON SNÆFELLSNES
You will have the choice today if you want to explore the beautiful coastline around the Snæfellsnes peninsula with its unique rock formations, abundant marine life and beautiful views on a sea kayaking adventure or to explore the beautiful wilderness of the peninsula on a beach horse riding tour, taking you along vast black lava fields and long, golden beaches.
Enjoy the rest of the day to explore more of the iconic Icelandic landscapes of Snæfellsnes or take some family time out in one of the natural hot springs around the area.
Overnight on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
DAY 4 - WHALE WATCHING - ICELANDIC FARM VISIT
Iceland and the Snæfellsnes peninsula in particular offer excellent chances to see sperm whales and orcas in their natural habitat, especially if you are travelling between late winter and early summer. Over the summer months, you are likely to encounter other species, like minke, humpback or pilot whales feasting on the food-rich waters around Snæfellsnes.
You will leave the peninsula and travel south towards Fossatún, where you can learn about Icelandic sagas and mystical creatures that you might then encounter in the small, but fun Fossatún Troll Park. Finish the day with a visit to a real working Icelandic sheep farm, where you can experience authentic Icelandic country life. Depending on the season, you will be able to help with shearing the sheep or nursing the lambs!
Overnight in the Hvalfjörður area.
DAY 5 - SNORKELING BETWEEN CONTINENTS - LAUGARVATN CAVES GEYSIR
Today you will follow along the famous Golden Circle route where many natural wonders are waiting for you along the way. You will visit the Thingvellir National Park, part of UNESCO World Heritage for its natural and cultural value and site of Iceland’s first parliament starting at 930 AD. A wonderful and unique water adventure is waiting for you at Silfra, where you will dive into the crystal clear waters of the Silfra ridge, set on the tectonic rift between the Euroasian and American plate. Admire the bizarre rock formations and enjoy fantastic clear views with up to 100m sight as you snorkel between continents.
Iceland’s most remarkable man-made caves are waiting for you to be explored at Laugarvatn, where you can visit the cave and learn more about the people living here up to the early 20th century. You can also take a soothing dip in the beautiful hot pools at Laugarvatn before finishing the day with a visit to the Geysir geothermal area, home to some of Iceland’s most impressive, hot water-spitting geysers.
Overnight along the Golden Circle.
DAY 6 - GULFOSS WATERFALL - SNOW MOBILE TOUR FROM GULFOSS (100KM)
Gulfoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls, where the waters from the Hvítá river plunge down over two stages at Gulfoss into a narrow canyon. Stroll along the canyon and enjoy the spectacular views over the water and the landscape. Gulfoss is also the starting point for the snow mobile tour that is waiting for you on the Langjökull glacier, Iceland’s second largest ice cap. Explore the mars-like landscape of Iceland with mountain ranges and a vast landscape from your super jeep before enjoying the thrill of powering over the ancient ice of the glacier.
Overnight in the Geysir area.
DAY 7 - COASTAL VILLAGES EYRARBAKKI AND STOKKSEYRI - SELFOSS
The coastal villages of Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri were once important port and trading centers for Iceland’s southern coast and while they are quiet and relaxed today, you can still pick up some sea-faring sense in the villages today. Take time for a stroll in the villages or head to the coastline at the Atlantic Ocean with some beautiful beaches before paying a visit to the Icelandic witchcraft and ghost museum, where you can dive into the mystical side of Iceland and learn about ghosts, elves and also the Northern Lights.
Relax for the rest of the day by further exploring Iceland's southwestern coast or enjoy some family fun in the Selfoss pool.
Overnight in Selfoss.
DAY 8 - REYKJANES PENINSULA
You will have the last day to explore the stunning volcanic wonders of the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest of Iceland. Explore the unrivalled scenery of the landscape made from lava fields, volcanic craters and bubbling mud pods at Seltun and the aftermath of the volcanic eruption at Geldingadalir in 2021. Dip into the relaxing hot waters one last time at the stunning Blu Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most iconic thermal pools.
Overnight on the Reykjanes peninsula
DAY 9 - DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport and departure.
Family Adventure Holidays
SERVICES INCLUDED
Family Adventure Holidays
- accommodation in hotels, farms & guesthouses
- private car hire for the entire trip
- activities, visits and tours as outlined with a certified, English speaking guide where desired/required
- all taxes and insurances for the activities
- expert travel planning, trip preparation and 24/7 on-tour support
Family Adventure Holidays
TIMES & RATES
Family Adventure Holidays
Description
Family Adventure Holidays
GALLERY
Family Adventure Holidays
Family Adventure Holidays
Contact us for a quote
Family Adventure Holidays
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.
Family Adventure Holidays
* 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.
