Iceland: Northern Highlights

ICH Tour | Explorica Educational Travel
Take in the natural beauty of Iceland's diverse landscapes with a trip to one of Europe’s trendiest tourist destinations. Heat up in the Grábrók lava field, cool down at the breathtaking waterfalls, and explore Iceland’s beginnings as a Viking settlement at museums and city tours.
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Day 1 Overnight Flight to Iceland (Reykjavik)
Day 2 Halló Reykjavik
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Reykjavik tour director-led sightseeing tour
Explore Laugavegur streetBessastaðirHöfði HouseHallgrímskirkja Church visit
Details: Reykjavik tour director-led sightseeing tour
Culture, shopping and scenery beckon as you make your way through the first permanent settlement in Iceland’s history. You’ll explore the boutiques and cafes of historical Laugavegur street, walk along the grounds of Iceland’s “White House,” and catch a glimpse of history at the Hofdi House, where Reagan and Gorbachev held their famous summit in 1986. Finally, you’ll take in the beauty of the city and its surrounding mountains from the viewing deck at the Hallgrimskirkja Church.
Details: Hallgrímskirkja Church visit
Hallgrimskirkja, the Church of Hallgrímur, which is dedicated to the most renowned sacred poet of Iceland, Hallgrímur Pétrusson. Hallgrímsjirkja towers over the center of Reykjavik, with a 73m high tower that we can ascend. It is home to an impression 25 ton, mechanical action organ, designed to fill the hall.
Details: Icelandic Saga Museum visit
Go back to the beginning of Iceland’s turbulent history, starting with the earliest settlers and ending with the 16th century, and experience where legend and history collide.
Day 3 Reykjavik--Hvammstangi
Travel to Hvammstangi via Borgarnes
Details: Hraunfossar waterfall visit
Watch as this series of tiny waterfalls streams seemingly from the ground itself. The breathtaking Hraunfosser waterfall flows through a lava field and into beautiful turquoise water below.
Details: Deildartunguhver hot springs visit
Visit the most powerful hot spring in all of Europe. The 200 degree-and-rising water—used to heat homes in two neighboring towns—is steaming hot, be careful not to dip your toes!
Details: Vidgelmir Cave visit
At 148,000 cubic meters, Víðgelmir is the largest cave in Iceland and one of the largest lava caves in the world. It has beautiful ice formations and deep inside there are lava stalactites and stalagmites. Bones and jewelry from the Viking age are part of the archeological remains found in the cave in 1993, prompting its preservation.
Day 4 Hvammstangi--Akureyri
Travel to Akureyri
Details: The Herring Era Museum visit
The Herring Museum welcomes school groups from all educational levels. Preschoolers, elementary, college and university students have visited the museum over the years. The youngest generation enjoy a tale from "Story from a herring fjord" aboard the Týr, while older students participate in a treasure hunt through the museum buildings guided by museum staff. College and university students receive educational lectures on a variety of subjects.
Day 5 Akureyri
Details: Godafoss waterfall visit
Make a stop at the waterfall where ancient Icelandic lawmaker Þorgeir is said to have thrown Norse idols after making Christianity the country’s official religion.
Details: Myvatn Nature Baths visit
No trip to Iceland is complete without a visit to a geothermal pool. In a nature reserve in the heart of Northern Iceland you will find the Myvatn Nature Baths. Enjoy a relaxing and healing dip in the mineral-rich hot waters.
Details: Lake Myvatn region guided sightseeing tour
Take a walk in this eco-rich area, created by volcanic activity over two thousand years ago.
Day 6 Akureyri
Details: Dettifoss waterfall visit
Known for its striking power, the Dettifoss’ gray-colored water runs off a glacier and plunges an incredible 330 feet into the canyon below.
Details: Eyjafjördur fjord whale watching boat ride
Take a wildlife tour of the longest fjord in the country. Bordered by mountains and hills on each side, the Eyjafjördur will keep you on your toes with sightings of three different whale species.
Details: Akureyri thermal pool visit
Relax and unwind in the clear, warm waters of the Akureyri thermal pool, which is heated naturally year-round.
Day 7 Akureyri--Reykjavik
Travel to Reykjavik
Details: Grábrók lava field walk and volcano climb
Hike through the wreckage that Grábrók wreaked on the landscape when it last erupted three thousand years ago. Then make your ascent up the volcano itself and take a peek into the crater.
Day 8 Golden Circle
Details: Golden Circle excursion
Experience all the geological diversity that Iceland has to offer with a visit to the Tingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that falls on a rift between two tectonic plates. Then make your way to the Great Geysir, watch the Hvítá river disappear into the earth at the Gullfoss waterfall, and watch the Strokkur erupt.
Details: Thingvellir National Park visit
Visit Thingvellir National Park, the most significant historical site in Iceland since the Alpingi was established there, the original site of the Icelandic Parliament, founded in AD 930, and situated along the mid-Atlantic ridge. The long deep cracks, running from the north-east to the south west, give the landscape the appearance of a crevassed glacier. The peaks of the national park are covered by snow amongst the country's largest lake, Lake Thingvallavatn. Here you can enjoy a range of spectacular walks with beautiful scenery.
Details: Great Geysir Strokkur
Nearby, the "Great Geysir" Strokkur spouts and sprays water 30-35 meters in the air every 3-8 minutes. Photographers will have to be quick, or they'll miss the eruptions, which last only a couple seconds. Around the site are lots of colorful hot springs, steaming vents, warm streams, and psychedelic algae and mineral deposits.
Details: Gullfoss waterfall
If Iceland had a star attraction, then Gullfoss is certainly it. This waterfall is not necessarily the largest in Iceland, but is by far the most impressive. Here, the river Hvita drops a total of 32 meters in two falls. The canyon above them is 70 meters deep and 2.5 km long. When the sun is shining, you are likely to see a rainbow through the ample spray that forms.
Details: Gelato tasting at Efstidalur farm
Make a tasty stop on the Golden Circle and visit this unique recently renovated farm to take part in a gelato tasting experience. Sit back, enjoy the gelato while watching the cows through the windows.
Details: Fridheimar Tomato Eco-farm visit
Learn how Icelanders are able to grow tomatoes all year round despite the dark winters. This family-run farm welcomes tourists to come and have a taste of their home-grown vegetables.
Day 9 Flight home from Reykjavik
Fly home
Map of Iceland Highlights tour
Tour Includes:
  • 7 overnight stays in hotel with private bathrooms
  • Breakfast daily
  • Dinner daily
  • Full-time services of a professional tour director
  • Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
  • Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
  • Tour Diary™
  • Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.
  • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.310.7120 to price this tour with your requested options.
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4318.00 total fee
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