Active Iceland

On arrival, make your own way to the hotel. Check into your hotel and enjoy exploring this lovely capital. Be sure to check out the design stores and cool cafes in central Reykjavik.

Today you will be doing the 'Inside the Volcano' tour. You are picked up from your hotel for this 5–6 hour tour (about 35-40 minutes inside the volcano). There is a hike into the volcano and lunch provided. After arriving on location, your group will be informed about all safety procedures and how to behave in the area and when inside the volcano. In smaller parties of 6–7 people, you will take a lift down for about 6 minutes through the centre of the dormant Thrihnukagigur Volcano.

You will spend about half an hour on the ground of the volcano, during which time you can take as many photos as you want. However, you are not allowed to take rocks and stones from the crater. Expert guides will be with you at all times, in the cable lift and on the ground in the magma chamber.

Return to Reykjavik, an easy city to explore on foot or bike. Feel the fresh air on your face with a visit the harbour and perhaps enjoy a food tour of this small capital. If you're interested in experiencing the city's thriving coffee culture, head to the main street, Laugavegur, to enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes. Be sure to consider seeing the live show at the Harpa centre "Icelandic Sagas The Greatest Hits".

After breakfast, join an amazing 2-hour RIB Express tour to see the magnificent whales of Faxaflói Bay. The 12-meter-long boat allows you to get very close to the animals in a way that's safe for both passengers and whales. When you head out into the bay it's a fast, thrilling ride with the wind in your hair. On the way, we stop at Akurey, the puffin island to catch a glimpse of these adorable seabirds that live around here during their nesting season.

You will have plenty of time out in the whales' feeding grounds before returning back to Reykjavik on a scenic route along the coast. A perfect photo opportunity!

After the tour its recommended that you stop by the Whales of Iceland Exhibition in the harbour area. Admission is included.

Pick-up your rental car this morning, and then, snorkelling in Silfra is today's adventure and one of Iceland's best-kept secrets. Iceland straddles the rift between the Eurasian and North American continental plates and you can see the rift for yourself on this snorkelling trip. You are provided with a dry suit, as the temperature of the water is around 2 degrees. You then get to float on the lake's surface, peering into the depths through pristine water that takes twenty years to filter down from a glacier through volcanic ash. By the time it reaches Silfra, the water is so transparent that people have been known to get vertigo as they hover on the surface, floating as if on air over the fissure below.

After snorkelling, you can explore Þingvellir National Park and the surrounding area. Þingvellir is one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in Iceland where you can become better acquainted with Iceland's history and traditions. You can join guided tours of the site and also find short hiking trails to help you explore Þingvellir National Park.

This morning, hit the road to enjoy the attractions of the Golden Circle before the crowds (approximately 5 hours driving in total). Head to Geysir which gave its name to the international word geyser, watch the most popular geyser, Stokkur (the Churn) which erupts about every 10 minutes. Then continue on to see the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall, the two-tiered waterfall is one of the most well-known and beautiful in Iceland. It is so large, it's difficult to see it all from one viewpoint!

Then make your way around the beautiful South Coast of Iceland, travelling via Dyrhólaey (Iceland's southernmost point accessible via a short detour on Road 218) and the Reynishverfi’s scenic black beach with basalt columns. Vik is a good spot for a late lunch before continuing on to Kirkjubæjarklaustur. You’ll pass through part of the moss-covered Skaftáreldahraun lava field, believed to be the largest lava field created from one eruption. Take a small detour and walk to Fjadrargljufur Canyon. In Kirkjubæjarklaustur you’ll find a number of lesser known attractions such as a small waterfall (Systrafoss), Kirkjugólf (Church Floor) basalt columns, and lots of craters. Your accomodation is close by this evening.

This morning, you will go Glacier kayaking, the ultimate way to experience the magnificence of the world famous Vatnajökull National Park. This unforgettable trip enjoys unbeatable panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers and their reflection in the mirror like water of the Heinaberg Lagoon. From the lagoon you will have an excellent view
over Vatnajokull and on the tour you step on one of the icebergs and take a short walk, overlooking the lagoon and surrounding area, with safely equipped with the appropriate glacier gear.

Enjoy a outside hot tub this afternoon at your hotel, happy hour between 6 - 8 pm before a lovely dinner at the lagoon restaurant.

After breakfast, walk the Svínafellsjökull glacier tongue. Svínafellsjökull is a breathtaking outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull glacier and the scenery and views are simply stunning. You will walk through a wonderland of glacial ice sculptures, meandering through ice ridges and the deep crevasses of the glacier. At the outset of our tour, an experienced guide teaches you how to use basic glacier equipment like crampons and ice axes, the required equipment for this tour.

After the activity, make your way to the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing experience and dinner. (Return your hire car at the Keflavik Airport tomorrow morning.)

Comfort Package included in your Blue Lagoon visit:

• Visitor Pass
• Entrance to Blue Lagoon
• Use of Towel
• Drink of your choice (you need to ask for this at the bar)
• Silica mud mask

Drive to Keflavik International Airport and return your hire car before flying out.