Under the Northern Lights in Iceland with Grandma Joy’s Road Trip

Get to know the group. Your welcome dinner at a local restaurant is included. Toast to an exciting trip ahead! Your meal tonight will either be a set menu or a la carte. Only tap water is included. The water in Iceland is in fact one of the cleanest and most delicious drinking water in the world.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Klettur offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Today you will be privately transferred 45 minutes to your first stop in Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you will be able to look down a volcanic rift and straddle two tectonic plates. Fun fact: This is the only place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet and can be seen on dry land! Thingvellir is recognized as the place in which Iceland’s identity as a nation began as it was the site the Viking settlers chose as their parliament back in the 10th century. From the vehicle, you will be making multiple stops. The walking distance from the parking lot to the viewpoint will vary between .2 miles and .5 miles. The path will be unpaved and mostly gravel so please expect mud in certain areas and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

From Thingvellir National Park you will be privately transferred 35 minutes to the viewpoint. Visit the spouting hot springs of the Great Geysir and Strokkur where you’ll be able to walk around the geothermal area. The lively Strokkur spouts water 100 feet into the air every few minutes, so have your camera ready and enjoy the show! Your walk will be short but on an unpaved, gravel path so please wear comfortable walking shoes. Due to the weather in Iceland changing constantly, please be prepared for mud on the trail. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

Travel to where the milky Hvita river drops into a volcanic fissure, forming one of Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls, Gullfoss. From the geysir you will be privately transferred 10 minutes to the viewpoint. You will have some time to walk around the area and take some epic photos. Your walk will be short but on an unpaved, gravel path so please wear comfortable walking shoes. There are several walking paths and viewing platforms around Gullfoss that offer stunning views of the waterfall and canyon. Be careful and stay on designated paths, as the terrain can be slippery and dangerous. Due to the weather in Iceland changing constantly, please be prepared for mud on the trail. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

Lucky visitors will have the opportunity to gaze up at the beautiful dancing waves of light that stretch across the sky. Please note: The Northern Lights are only visible during certain times of the year and weather conditions. They may not be visible for all groups.

Dinner at the hotel is included. Your exact meal offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Overnight in Hvolsvöllur.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Fljotshild offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.

This morning you will be privately transferred 30 minutes to Seljalandsfoss Waterfall. A short hike will take you to the magnificent falls, also one of the most popular sites in Iceland. The 200 foot cascade is fed from a volcanic glacier and thunders over steep granite walls. A pathway behind the falls will allow you to experience the power of the falling water. You will get wet from the mist created by the waterfall, so plan to bring suitable clothing, like a waterproof jacket. The path to the falls is unpaved gravel so please be prepared for mud in some places.

You will be transferred 25 minutes to explore the Skogafoss Waterfall. There are two viewpoints for this waterfall, one is ground level while the other is at a higher point requiring stairs to reach it. The height is similar to walking up 5 floors. Walking over emerald green landscapes, beside rugged canyons and countless waterfalls, you’ll be surrounded by giant rainbows as you approach Skogafoss. Keep your camera handy, this is said to be the most breathtaking hike of your visit. The path to the falls is unpaved gravel so please be prepared for mud in some places.

From the falls you will be transferred 30 minutes to a place like no other. You’ll be enchanted by the mystical Reynisfjara black sand beach. The panorama of basalt caves, black beach sand and giant stacks of basalt rock overlooking the Atlantic Ocean could be mistaken for a completely different planet. The waves are dangerous so there will be no swimming but you will be able to walk up and down the beach taking in the scenery. As it will be windier on the coast, please be sure to bring layers to bundle up for this experience. From here you will be transferred into town for lunch on your own.

After lunch you will be transferred 55 minutes to the lava fields. The Lakagigar are a series of craters that were formed by one of the largest volcanic events in recorded history. Lava and ash from the eruption of 1783 created a lava field almost 16 miles across, which you’ll explore by vehicle.

After leaving the lava field you will be transferred 55 minutes to Skaftafell National Park. A fairly easy hike will take you to Vatnajokull Glacier, the largest glacier in Europe, which covers a whopping 8% of Iceland’s landmass. As you continue, you will encounter some of the country’s most striking scenery including glacier lagoons and Reynisdrangar, basalt sea stacks at the base of Reynisfjall mountain. Please note the weather in Iceland can be unpredictable so this activity is weather dependent. After your visit in the park you will be transferred 10 minutes to your hotel where you will have the remainder of the evening at your leisure.

Lucky visitors will have the opportunity to gaze up at the beautiful dancing waves of light that stretch across the sky. Please note: The Northern Lights are only visible during certain times of the year and weather conditions. They may not be visible for all groups.

Dinner at the hotel is included. Your exact meal offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Overnight in Skaftafell.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Skaftafell offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Today you will be transferred 45 minutes to Jokulsarlon Glacier. Behold one of Iceland’s crown jewels: the turquoise waters of the country’s deepest lake. Plunging to a depth of 814 feet, the icebergs on its surface are made of ice over 1,000 years old. You'll be able to view the lagoon after a short walk on a gravel path from the parking lot. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

Take a private transfer to Vik. Stops for the bathrooms will be made as needed. Upon arrival in this small village you will have 45 minutes for lunch on your own.

Relax after a day of exploring by soaking in the oceanside geothermal lagoon - the Sky Lagoon. Here you’ll enjoy the lagoon's signature 7-step ritual, which includes a cold plunge, steam, and a relaxing sauna overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. With its blend of modern design and natural surroundings, Sky Lagoon provides a unique and peaceful retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.

You’ll take a break from walking and be driven across the country’s south shore, to experience the full grandeur of the coast in comfort. From dramatic glaciers like Reynisdrangar and Solheimajokull to the power and strength of the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the natural beauty you will experience today is truly unforgettable.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Klettur offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Snæfellsjökull National Park, on the edge of the Peninsula itself, offers views of the Snæfellsjökull glacier which lies on top of a volcano and can be seen from Reykjavik on a clear day. During your transfer you will make different stops along the way to get out, stretch your legs and walk around to explore on your own. Some of the stops include: Budir, Djúpalónssandur, Ólafsvík and Kirkjufell. Your drive will end in Lysuholl.

Along your drive you will stop by the small fishing village of Arnarstapi. Here you will be able to go for a stroll along jagged cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. You will have 1 hour to explore on your own.

Lucky visitors will have the opportunity to gaze up at the beautiful dancing waves of light that stretch across the sky. Please note: The Northern Lights are only visible during certain times of the year and weather conditions. They may not be visible for all groups.

Dinner at the hotel is included. Your exact meal offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Overnight in Snaefellsnes Peninsula.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to Hraunfossar and Barnafoss Waterfalls. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed.

Stop at the Borgarfjordur fjord to take in the Hraunfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls, as they cascade over black lava rock on their way to the Hvítá River. As one of the earliest areas settled by the Vikings, their influence here is still felt strongly even today. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

Deildartunguhver Hot Springs is the most powerful hot spring in Europe, known for its rapid flow rate of about 57 gallons per second. But don’t worry, there are a number of walkways and observation points to safely guide you around the spring. Please note that these are not soaking hot springs and you are not allowed to touch the water. You will have 20 minutes to look around and take photos before getting back into the vehicle. If there is ice, the path is well maintained and will be covered with sand.

No journey to Iceland is complete without a soak in the geothermal baths! Hot water from the spring you just visited mixes here with icy cold water from Okjökull glacier to create temperatures ranging from the high 30s to low 40s Celcius. Towels and a locker with a key are provided. Please remember to pack your bathing suit. Please note you are expected to have a shower before entering the thermal bath in a "shared" gender shower. This is multiple shower heads in one room without any blockers/walls to separate people. There may be nudity while in these shared shower rooms but please feel free to wear your bathing suit if you wish.

Take a private transfer to Reykjavik. Stops for the bathrooms will be made as needed.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included. Toast to a fantastic week exploring with new friends! Your meal tonight will either be a set menu or a la carte. Only tap water is included. The water in Iceland is in fact one of the cleanest and most delicious drinking water in the world.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Klettur offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.