Upon our arrival in Keflavik, Iceland, we will be welcomed by a local English-speaking guide who will direct us to our waiting motorcoach. From here we'll transfer to a restaurant for a delicious breakfast before heading to Reykjavik. Along the way, we will drive by the presidential residence at Bessastaðir as well as Hafnarfjörður, the town where the “hidden people” and humans live together in harmony. We’ll then drive through Elliðaárdalur and Laugardalur valley with its sports and recreation area and geothermally heated, outdoor swimming pool. In Reykjavík we will go to the viewing platform at Perlan built on water tanks that hold the city’s hot water supply. After enjoying the spectacular view of Reykjavík and its surroundings, we will make our way to Höfði house where the all-important summit between former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former U.S.S.R. Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev took place in 1986. Next we’ll visit Hallgrímskirkja, the harbor, and the old town center where the Icelandic parliament and the town hall are situated. Our last stop is the Harpa Music Hall and Conference Centre before the tour ends and we settle into the Fosshotel Reykjavík. The afternoon is at your leisure to rest or explore the many shops and restaurants close to our hotel. This evening we have an unforgettable time planned under the magical winter sky! We will be whisked out of Reykjavík in search of a night sky free of city lights in order to enhance the beauty of the aurora borealis*, as this spectacular natural phenomenon is best enjoyed well away from any light source. Before continuing our search for the wonders of the night sky, we will head down to the black sandy beaches of the south for some Icelandic delicacies. The road takes us to one of Iceland's most renowned seafood restaurants for an unforgettable lobster feast. Once our taste buds have been entertained, the search for those mysterious lights of the winter sky will continue on the way back to Reykjavík.

*Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

(Breakfast and dinner included)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before we depart for the day. From Reykjavík we will drive to Borgarfjörður, an area rich with cultural and historical heritage. We’ll visit Reykholt and the splendid Barnafoss and Hraunfossar waterfalls where the water flows out from beneath a lava field into the river below. We will also stop at Deildartunguhver, Iceland's largest hot spring in terms of water production per second. Now we kick the action into a higher gear and make our way to Langjökull Glacier for a visit to the Ice Cave. We will travel by monster trucks to the entrance of the cave 1,200 meters above sea level. The Ice Cave leads from the surface of the glacier down to the deep underground where we will be able to view ice which has taken hundreds of years to develop. As we go deeper, the ice gets older and the color changes from white to deep blue – perhaps the closest thing to traveling back in time to the Ice Age. Our day comes to an end back in Reykjavík with the evening on our own.

(Breakfast and lunch included)

After breakfast today, we’ll visit some of the most interesting and famous sites of Iceland – Þingvellir National Park and the Geysir area. Þingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the geological wonders of the world. Here we can see the effects of the tectonic plate movements which have opened various cracks and fissures in the earth's crust. It was here that the Icelandic Parliament was founded in the tenth century. After taking a walk in the unique landscape of Þingvellir, we continue to the famous geothermal area of Geysir. Here the Strokkur hot spring ejects its water column high into the air about every five to ten minutes, and numerous other small springs are boiling and bubbling. Then we only have a short drive to reach Gullfoss, a magnificent waterfall which Icelanders refer to as the “golden” waterfall, surely one of the most beautiful in Iceland. During our day’s tour, we will stop at Friðheimar to see how farmers use Iceland’s natural geothermal power to grow vegetables year round. We will also visit the stables to meet some beautiful Icelandic horses and listen to stories of the history of Icelandic horses and their unique purebred qualities. En route to Hella, we will get close to geothermal spots to observe the bubbling hot water gushing out of the earth. Upon our arrival in Hella, we’ll check in to the Landhotel for the next two nights and enjoy a wonderful dinner together.

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Enjoy breakfast this morning before we depart to explore Iceland's South Region on a tour that will take us all the way to the village of Vík. We will stop at different places along the way, the first of them being the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. This is a small, but very picturesque, waterfall special not only for its beauty, but also because it is actually possible to walk behind it. The village of Skógar is our next place of interest. There we will have a look at the Skógafoss Waterfall, one of the highest in Iceland, and visit the Skógar Folk Museum which gives excellent insight into Iceland's history. We continue our drive to Vík, famous for the Reynisdrangar pillars that rise out from the shores of Reynisfjara Beach, one of Iceland's most famous black-sand beaches. On our way back to Hella, we will stop at the LAVA Centre, the largest volcano and earthquake exhibition in Iceland. This interactive experience reveals the epic forces of nature that shaped our planet and created Iceland. In addition to great hands-on exhibits, LAVA has a 360-degree viewing platform that overlooks the great volcanoes of Eyjafjallajökull, Katla, and Hekla along the beautiful Westman Islands off the south coast. Dinner will be enjoyed as a group this evening before we head out to look for the northern lights!

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Following breakfast this morning, we’ll tour the Reykjanes Peninsula, including stops at Seltún with its rich-colored soil in bright yellow, red, and green hues; the Gunnuhver mud pool; Reykjanesviti lighthouse; and the “bridge between two continents.” Here we can stand between the North American and Eurasian continental plates! We will then continue to Reykjavík to check back into the Fosshotel Reykjavík for the night. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to walk and experience the atmosphere of the beautiful city. We’ll then come back together for a wonderful farewell dinner at a unique restaurant!

 (Breakfast and dinner included) 

After breakfast we’ll depart for the airport with a stop at the famous Blue Lagoon along the way. The Blue Lagoon is a unique geothermal spa situated in the youngest lava field in west Iceland. Soak in the milky blue water or simply walk through the spectacular surroundings of the lagoon. Optional outdoor massages or spa treatments are also available (not included; must be booked in advance). On site there is also a fantastic restaurant with an á la carte menu, a smaller cafeteria and bar, and the Blue Lagoon shop. The shop sells Icelandic designer clothing and art as well as skin-care products based on the unique blend of minerals, silica, and algae in the Blue Lagoon’s geothermal seawater. After this relaxing experience, we will continue on to the airport for our flight home.

(Breakfast included)