Under the Spell of the Elemental Forces

Welcome to Iceland! Upon your arrival, you'll be transferred to a guesthouse in Reykjavík. If you're up for it, spend the afternoon unwinding in the famous Blue Lagoon. Enjoy your first night in the comfort of the guesthouse.

Leave Reykjavík behind and head to the Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its geological significance and historical importance. Visit the Geysir high thermal area, home to the famous Great Geysir and Strokkur, and marvel at the Gullfoss waterfall. Continue your journey to the western highlands, exploring the rhyolite area of Kerlingarfjöll. Spend the night in a guesthouse in Kerlingarfjöll or Hveravellir.

Spend the day exploring the unique rhyolite area of Kerlingarfjöll. Known as the 'Women's Mountains', this high-temperature thermal area offers a variety of short and long hikes through an extraordinary volcanic landscape. Witness the colorful mountains, dark obsidian peaks, and white glaciers that make Kerlingarfjöll a sight to behold. Stay overnight in the same guesthouse as the previous day.

Start your day early and head to the thermal area of Hveravellir for a hot bath. Visit the old Glaumbær peat farm and the small peat church Víðimýri to experience the living conditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Continue your journey through the small coastal village of Hofsos and the dreamy fishing villages of Siglufjördur and Olafsfjördur. Your destination for the day is Dalvik, where you'll spend the night in a guesthouse.

Today, you have the chance to observe humpback whales at the large Eyarfjördur fjord, one of the best whale watching spots in Iceland. In the afternoon, visit Akureryi, often referred to as the capital of the north, and the horseshoe-shaped Goðafoss waterfall. End your day at the eastern shore of Mývatn, where you'll stay overnight in a guesthouse.

Spend the day exploring the unique natural beauty of Mývatn. Discover a variety of unique volcanic phenomena, including pseudocraters, deep fissures, explosion craters, active fissure volcanoes, and old lava lakes. Take short walks and enjoy an exceptional thermal bath near Mývatn in the evening. Stay overnight in the same guesthouse as the previous day.

Set off early in the morning and travel south past the ancient volcanoes Hrossaborg and Herdubreid to the Askja volcanic massif. Start your hike to the sulphur-filled Viti Crater, where you'll be greeted by the large crater lake Öskjuvatn and the almost 9-kilometer-wide volcanic caldera. In the afternoon, return to Mývatn for another relaxing bath. Stay overnight in the same guesthouse as the previous day.

Leave the impressive Mývatn area and head to Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Continue your journey east along the Jökulsá á Brú river gorge to Stuðlagil, one of Iceland's most beautiful basalt column gorges. After a break in Egilsstadir, travel on to the East Fjords. Spend the night in a guesthouse in Berunes.

Travel along the beautiful coastal road, taking in views of the deep glacier valleys and the vast outwash plains. Reach the Stokksnes peninsula, where you can photograph the famous Vestruhorn mountain against the backdrop of the large black beach and small black sand dunes. Spend the rest of the day at the large ice lake Jökulsárlón and its breathtaking surroundings, including the Diamond Beach. Stay overnight in the same guesthouse as the previous day.

Enjoy a day of wonderful photo opportunities in the local area. Depending on the weather and availability, you can head to the small mudflat island of Ingolfshöfði in the afternoon. This is home to many seabirds and, on a clear day, offers a fantastic view of Iceland's highest ice-covered mountain, Hvannadalshnukur. Stay overnight in the same guesthouse as the previous day.

Drive past the glacier lagoon on the way to Skaftafell National Park, home to an astonishing variety of species. Hike to the Svartifoss waterfall, surrounded by basalt columns that resemble organ pipes. Cross the expanses of the Skeiðarársandur sand plain and travel through the Eldgjá volcanic fissure, one of the largest in the world. Arrive in Landmannalaugar in the evening and stay overnight in a highland hotel.

Spend the day in the region around Landmannalaugar, known for its hot springs and fascinating color contrasts. At the foot of colorful rhyolite mountains, a black obsidian stream seals off the wide valley of the glacial river Jökugilskvísl. Explore the area through the many attractive hiking trails. Stay overnight in the same highland hotel as the previous day.

Leave the spectacular southern highlands and head to Cape Dyrhólaey, the huge rock arch at the southern tip of Iceland. Close to your guesthouse is the large black beach Reynisfjara, which you can visit in the late afternoon and evening for photo opportunities. Spend the night in a guesthouse.

Start early and take advantage of the morning light at the large beach and/or Cape Dyrholaey. Continue to the magnificent waterfalls Skogarfoss and Seljalandsfoss further to the west. Afterwards, drive to Reykjavík, so that there is still time for a short visit to the city. Spend the night in a guesthouse.

Depending on your flight time, you may have to leave very early for the airport. Breakfast is not included on this day. This marks the end of your journey, and you'll be heading home or continuing your travels elsewhere. We hope you enjoyed your time in Iceland and look forward to welcoming you back in the future!