Iceland Adventure: Circling the Land of Fire & Ice

Explore Iceland’s south coast en route to Vik, an area known for its volcanic black sand beaches and countless waterfalls. This is the region affected by the powerful 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano, an event brought to life at the Lava Center, which features interactive exhibits depicting the colossal natural forces that have created Iceland over tens of millions of years. Learn about Iceland’s dynamic geology: the volcanic eruptions and lava flows, rift systems, faults and glacial floods that have forged the island. The center introduces us to the UNESCO Katla Global Geopark plus Iceland’s elaborate monitoring system for surveying volcanos and earthquake zones.

Continuing along the south coast, stop at several thundering waterfalls, including powerful Skogafoss and Kvernufoss. Another famous highlight is Reynisdrangar Rocks, a trio of columnar basalt sea stacks. Legend holds that they were formed after two trolls were out fishing in a three-masted ship. When the trolls did not return to their cave before sunrise, they and their vessel turned into needles of stone, since trolls cannot tolerate daylight. Here, have a chance to walk on the famous black sand beach before continuing to the exciting Lava Show in Vik, followed by dinner at the restaurant on site. The Lava Show, renowned for its educational value, recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 2000°F, then pouring the molten rock into a room at close range where guests can watch it flow, hear it sizzle and feel the incredible heat.
After dinner, continue to a nearby hotel to spend the night.

The focus today is Skaftafell, a national park now absorbed inside the larger Vatnajokull National Park established in 2008. Known for its rugged landscapes, mountains and glaciers, Skaftafell contains about half of the Vatnajokull Glacier, Europe’s largest ice cap. No roads penetrate the park’s wild recesses, but two options offer a chance to explore a slice of it: Choose between a walk atop a glacier or an easy hike.

Then board a private Zodiac to explore Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, a less-touristed opportunity to get close to giant floating icebergs. The lake is the meltwater from Fjallsarlon Glacier, a tongue of the massive Vatnajokull Glacier, which has calved the huge chunks of blue ice that drift on the surface.

Enjoy a day of cultural connections as we enter the East Fjords, a little-visited region of forests, farms and picturesque fishing villages. In the town of Djupivogur, take a scenic walk along the coast near Alftafjordur, then join a local resident for a stroll around a historic fishing town, learning about daily life where traditions and livelihoods center on the sea. After, admire the Eggs of Merry Bay, one of Iceland’s most unusual sculptures. Created in 2009 by Icelandic artist Sigurdur Gudmundsson, the 34 large-scale egg replicas represent 34 bird species found in the area, each one mounted on a platform along the harbor.

Heading inland, follow a remote road to Vallanes Farm where we stop for hot drinks and snacks at this organic farm and cafe crafted of sustainably harvested wood. Continue to Modrudalur, one of the oldest farms in Iceland, with evidence of its presence since the original settlement by the Vikings. The site was an important crossroads where two historic cross-country trails intersected, and its location is referenced in the famous Sagas that date to the 10th and 11th centuries. Modrudalur is also the highest inhabited place in Iceland, at 1,539 feet above sea level. We spend the next two nights here at Fjalladyrd, a hospitable family-run farm and guesthouse that offers easy access to Askja volcano for our 4×4 adventure tomorrow.

Set out in Super Jeeps this morning for a thrilling tour towards Askja caldera. These large SUVs have been modified with big tires and extra shock absorption to provide a more comfortable ride over off-road terrain, allowing deeper access into Iceland’s central highlands. Ascend on foot to explore the massive Askja caldera, formed when the volcano erupted in 1875. Lake Askja, which fills part of the depression, is one of the deepest lakes in Iceland at nearly 700 feet.

The caldera contains several overlapping craters with active volcanoes beneath, including Viti, which warms a sulphuric blue-green crater lake. Following a picnic lunch, explore more sights of Iceland’s less-visited Central Highlands, including a look into the foreboding Drekagil (Dragon) Canyon, defined by dark, twisted lava formations. Return to Modrudalur for a second night at Fjalladyrd.

Witness the power of Dettifoss, Europe’s largest waterfall by volume and the most powerful cataract in Iceland. This thundering curtain of water, 330 feet wide and 150 high, is fed by the giant Vatnajokull Glacier. It is common to see rainbows, which make for dramatic photos. Next, explore the Hverarond geothermal area, an otherworldly setting of hissing steam vents, bubbling mud pots, cracked earth and pungent sulphur, then continue to Lake Myvatn.

Formed during a massive eruption 2,300 years ago, the Myvatn region is still a site of geothermal activity, with lava flows coming most recently from the 1984 eruption of Krafla volcano. Numerous lava formations are found in and around the shallow lake, and it’s worth exploring the pseudocraters of Skutustadir on a short hike. These phenomena are formed when lava flows over wet ground, pushing it down and trapping steam. As pressure mounts, steam explosions create these fascinating “false craters.”

One of the premier birdwatching areas in the world, Lake Myvatn’s marshes provide habitat for huge numbers of migratory birds in summer. More than 115 species have been seen at the lake, including 13 species of nesting ducks, and it’s advised to take a walk and see some of them.

Later today, enjoy a quintessentially Icelandic experience with a soak in a nearby hot spring. At Myvatn Nature Baths, amid clouds of steam rising from a fissure deep in the Earth, immerse yourself in soothing, milky-turquoise water that’s naturally heated by geothermal forces. Drawn from depths of up to a mile and a half below the surface, temperatures in the lagoon pools range from 98°F to 103°F.

This morning, explore the fascinating lava formations around Lake Myvatn on horseback. This optional 1-hour ride offers a striking vantage point on the region’s wondrous geological features, including whimsically shaped pillars and a close-up look at a false crater. Continuing westward, stop at Godafoss, one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls originating deep in the highlands. Shaped like a crescent, it drops 40 feet over a sheer volcanic cliff. Reaching Akureyri, connect with a late-afternoon flight to Isafjordur via Reykjavik, with scenic views of Iceland’s indented coastline and glacier-carved interior en route. Originally settled in the 9th century, Isafjordur became a trading post for foreign merchants in the 16th century and today is the main town in the remote Westfjords in far-northwest Iceland.

Please note: Depending on flight schedules, some departures will have dinner and overnight in Reykjavik on Day 7, then fly to Isafjordur first thing in the morning on Day 8.

The sheer isolation of the Westfjords region has kept it off the traditional tourist circuit. Plan to traverse it in depth over the next 3 days, adjusting our exact itinerary for weather and local conditions. Explore the wild hinterlands on an all-day 4×4 tour, stopping for walks, photos and a picnic lunch. At Onundarfjordur, observe rich birdlife in the marshlands and shallow estuary at the head of the fjord. Continue to the village of Thingeyri and beyond, transitioning to dirt track around the Fjallaskagi Peninsula.

High-clearance vehicles are essential for negotiating this rugged terrain while circumnavigating the highest mountains in the area. Keep an eye out for arctic fox, and look for pieces of petrified trees sticking out of the rocks alongside the narrow road—remnants of a forest that flourished in a much warmer climate thousands of years ago. Stop along the way for a scenic picnic lunch and return to Isafjordur for the evening.

From Isafjordur, reach Vigur Island via a private Zodiac ride, looking out for whales and birdlife along the way. This small outpost is home to thousands of seabirds including puffins, arctic terns, black guillemot and especially eider ducks, the source of precious down from which the island’s sole resident family makes its living, collecting feathers in the spring and summer and cleaning and drying them during the winter. Just a handful of people inhabit the tiny island; join them for lunch in their home. Also consider sending a postcard here from Europe’s smallest post office.

The maritime adventure continues while plying the intricate fjord system, searching for humpback and minke whales. Returning to Isafjordur, enjoy dinner at the Tar House restaurant, renowned for its fish stew and fresh Icelandic seafood. From the hotel, it’s an easy walk back into town later this evening in the lingering light of Iceland’s long summer days.

This morning, explore part of the vast Hornstrandir Nature Reserve that can only be reached by boat. A wild, untouched realm of tundra, sea cliffs, flowering fields and glacier-carved fjords, this 220-square-mile landscape in the most remote corner of Iceland has been protected since 1974. Humans inhabited scattered settlements along Hornstrandir’s bays and coves in recent centuries, although they were abandoned in the 1950s as residents sought growing job opportunities and an escape from harsh living conditions, leaving for surrounding towns. No roads, power lines or other manmade structures remain except for a few summerhouses that dot parts of the area.

Across the bay of Isafjardardjup, get close to the sheer cliffs on Bjarnarnupur before slowly passing a striking rock arch that’s home to cormorants and other seabirds. And with millions of seabirds nesting in Hornstrandir’s tall cliffs, the reserve is also home to protected Arctic foxes that roam freely on the land.  Whales and puffins are often seen in the sea en route to Kviar, the base for discovering the pristine Hornstrandir region. Kviar was a large farm until 1948, when the family that lived here joined their neighbors in search of an easier life elsewhere. The old farmhouse, now called Kviar Lodge, has been renovated as a cozy base for exploration, and we may see foxes playing outside. Take a short walk up the valley to look for some of the rich birdlife in the area, including common species such as eider ducks, swans, oystercatchers and snipes to rarer birds such as the white-tailed eagle. If foxes are present, we respect their summer breeding season and keeping a distance.

Returning to Isafjordur, have an early farewell dinner and then head to the airport for the evening flight to Reykjavik.

Please note: Activities in the Westfjords may take place on days or times that are different from what is shown on this itinerary, depending on local schedules, weather conditions, etc. 

After breakfast, a transfer to Keflavik International Airport is included to meet departing flights.