Iceland with Matt and Grace Grooms

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 Leifur Eriksson 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 paths will be unpaved and mostly gravel so please expect mud in certain areas and be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

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.

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.

After visiting the waterfall you will be transferred 30 minutes to take advantage of the healing and rejuvenating waters of the Secret Lagoon. This man made geothermal pool, built in 1891, is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. You’ll be surrounded by walkways and small steamy hotspots as you soak and relax at the end of your tour. Please bring a bathing suit, towel and a change of clothes. A locker will be provided in the changing rooms for you to keep your things. Please note you are expected to have a quick shower before entering the thermal baths. These showers are in one room without any blockers/walls to separate people so you may experience nudity. You are free to wear your bathing suit in this instance.

Take a private transfer to Hvolsvollur. Stops for the bathroom/snacks will be made as needed.

Overnight in Hvolsvöllur.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. Hotel Eyjafjallajökull 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 and wear comfortable walking shoes.

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 and wear comfortable walking shoes.

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.

From town you will be transferred 55 minutes to the Fjadrargljufur Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in Iceland. This massive canyon is millions of years old and features the Fjarda River carving the way through its base to create a truly breathtaking landscape. Here you will hike (1.9 miles roundtrip) above the canyon. This is marked as an easy trail fit for beginners. The path is mainly gravel so please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Take a private transfer to Skaftafell. Stops for the bathrooms/snacks will be made as needed. Please note this is a remote area so the driver will let you know when and where you can stop.

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

The lagoon is formed naturally from melted glacial water and is exponentially growing from blocks of ice that crack away from the glacier and crash into the waters. Your 40 minute private boat tour will take you around the lagoon to float alongside the icebergs and watch the seals at play.

After the boat tour, you will be transferred 30 minutes in a jeep where you will begin your walk. Explore the Breidamerkurjokull section of the largest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajokull. You’ll snap on a pair of crampons and listen to a brief safety briefing from your local guide. After you are ready to explore the endless terrain of snow and ice and photograph the magnificent Crystal Ice Caves. This hike is considered easy and no prior experience is necessary. The hike is 2 miles roundtrip and will take approximately 3 hours. After returning to Jokulsarlon you will be transferred back to your hotel to relax for the remainder of the day.

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

A 10 minute private transfer from your hotel gets you to Vatnajokull National Park. A leisurely 2.5-mile hike through the park will take you to the spectacular Svartifoss Waterfall. At a towering 66 feet, the water cascades down massive basalt columns that are nestled in the lush green landscape. Generally considered a moderately challenging route with an unpaved gravel trail so please be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes and pack a warm, waterproof jacket.

Take a private transfer to Reykjavik. Along the way you will have a 1 hour stop in a town called Vik for lunch on your own. Stops along the way for bathrooms/snacks 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 Leifur Eriksson offers a continental breakfast. The exact breakfast will be determined by your finalized hotel.