A Connections Boutique Group Journey
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Take in this stunning island nation on an unforgettable journey to the north, south and west of the country. Marvel at the raw volcanic landscapes, plunge into thermal swimming pools and admire fast-flowing glacial rivers, waterfalls, ancient Viking villages and coastal towns rich in tradition. Just two degrees south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is one of the few countries where the spectacular Northern Lights can be seen from late August to mid-April and where the summer months deliver 24-hour daylight.
Highlights
- Discover the north, south and west of Iceland, exploring the island's fascinating geology, culture and contrasts
- Experience an artisan workshop with a traditional craftsman who fashions knives and swords as the Vikings once did
- Drive on Europe’s second-largest glacier before descending into man-made ice tunnels for an unparalleled look deep inside
- Swim in a thermal swimming pool overlooking the sea in Hofsós
- Cruise the northern coast to spot myriad whale species
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Reykjavik
Arrive into the Icelandic capital and transfer to your modern boutique hotel in the city centre. Tonight, join fellow guests for a welcome dinner.
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
Day 2
Reykjavik | True Cosmopolitan Capital
Spend the day exploring both the contemporary and traditional sides of this cultured coastal capital. Start with a visit to a small workshop, where a local craftsman reveals the tradition of Nordic knife-making, which dates back to the Viking era. Continue to the National Museum of Iceland, which tells the story of Iceland’s founding through some 2,000 objects, including a medieval ship of the type used to settle the island You then visit Hallgrímskirkja church, the city’s most prominent landmark. Stop by some Icelandic design shops, and take a private tour of the Harpa, a cutting-edge performance centre built in 2011 to stage everything from jazz quintets to operas. This award-winning structure features a striking coloured glass façade designed to evoke Iceland’s basalt landscape. Venture out of town to your hotel in Iceland’s dramatic countryside.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Landhotel
Day 3
Thorsmork | Forces of Nature
After breakfast, embark on a Super Jeep tour through Thorsmork (“Valley of Thor”), a vast nature reserve of snowy peaks, jade-green slopes and glacial rivers trickling through dark volcanic earth. In a land already known for its scenic beauty, Thorsmork is a gem among gems, and a paradise for trekkers and photographers. Explore today with a skilled driver-guide, who leads you along the trails and rivers while discussing the reserve’s history, geology and wildlife.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Landhotel
Day 4
South Iceland | A Stunning Coastal Drive
Along with the Amalfi Coast and Ireland’s Ring of Kerry, the shore of southern Iceland offers one of the most scenic drives in all of Europe. Enjoy a morning’s drive along this enticing coastline, stopping to explore waterfalls and black-sand beaches. Iceland is one of the world’s most seismologically active places; learn how this has shaped the island with a visit to the Lava Centre, where state-of-the-art exhibits reveal the fascinating facts behind earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural forces. By contrast, the Skogar Folk Museum tells a more human story, depicting life in Iceland from the Viking era and beyond.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Landhotel
Day 5
Husafell & West Iceland | Saga Sites
Thingvellir National Park is that rare locale that is significant both as a scenic wonder and a cultural treasure: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament more than 1,000 years ago. It’s also one of the few places you can straddle two continents at once, as the conjunction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is exposed here. After exploring the park, continue to Fridheimar, a geothermally heated organic greenhouse, for a tour and freshly prepared lunch. Next, visit the regularly erupting Strokkur Geyser and stunning Gullfoss, where milky green glacial water plummets down Iceland’s most famous waterfall. Your adventure continues at Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe, which provides heat to villages and towns up to 40 miles away. Relax in thermal baths fed by the hot spring’s invigorating waters, then enjoy a dinner of fresh, local, farm-produced ingredients overlooking this powerful natural wonder.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Husafell
Day 6
Husafell & West Iceland | Langjokull Icecap
Today, enjoy stops at Hraunfossar and fabled Barnafoss waterfalls. After lunch, ride in a specially equipped eight-wheel truck on the colossal Langjokull icecap — Europe’s second-largest glacier — which, at its highest point, sits 4,760 feet above sea level. Descend into man-made tunnels carved deep into the glacier, exploring stages of glacial formation, blue-hued dens and even a chapel.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Husafell
Day 7
Siglufjordur & North Iceland | The Sea
Journey to the working fishing village of Siglufjordur, stopping en route for lunch on your own in quaint Blonduos. The glacial river flows through this small town, giving it a serene and scenic air. Continue to nearby Saudarkrokur for an A&K-exclusive visit to a fish leather tannery — the only one of its kind in Europe. Experience the tannery and its products on this privately guided visit, where fish skin is expertly processed to create high-quality leather. Continue to Hofsos for a dip in a thermal swimming pool, set on a hillside overlooking the sea, and designed by the same architect behind Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. This is one of the most renowned pools in Iceland and a favourite of locals. Dinner tonight is at your boutique hotel in the heart of Siglufjordur.
Meals Included: Breakfast, & Dinner
Accommodation: Siglo Hotel
Day 8
Dalvik | A Seagoing Safari
Icelandic waters are home to more than the tasty fish that have made commercial fishing one of the country’s biggest industries. There are also some 20 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises swimming off these shores, everything from the small harbor porpoise to the massive blue whale. Join an experienced crew of whale- and dolphin-spotters for an extraordinary safari at sea and see how many of these amazing creatures you encounter. Back on land, enjoy a delicious lunch at a local farm sourced from their own ingredients. During your time here, learn how the farm produces its fresh and colourful products. Then, leisurely explore pretty Siglufjordur. In addition to its scenic attractions, the town offers a pair of small museums (devoted to herring and folk music), charming local architecture and several inviting cafés.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Siglo Hotel
Day 9
Akureyri & Reykjavik | Coastal Culture
Venture to Akureyri, Iceland’s buzzy small city on the north coast. Visit its botanical gardens, among the northernmost of their kind and home to over 400 species of native flora. Explore the beautiful old town on a walking tour and enjoy lunch at leisure. Depart for the airport and fly to Reykjavik, where you check in to your hotel. Tonight, your farewell dinner features traditional Icelandic dishes.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
Day 10
Depart Reykjavik
This morning, enjoy breakfast before your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
Additional dates and rates may be available, please speak to one of our Travel Specialists for more information.
Single Supplement rates are available on request.
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik
This hotel is centrally located and interestingly designed, combining six connected houses in a vibrant district. Canopy by Hilton is an ideal choice for spending a few nights exploring Reykjavík.
All bedrooms have been designed with the natural world of Iceland front of mind. Shades of ocean, ice and volcanic rock are ever-present, and some rooms look out onto views of the sea and mountains. There’s a fitness room to burn off any energy you may have left over after a day exploring all the corners of the city, or simply relax in your room with all the mod cons you need, including wifi.
Enjoy a quick snack of small bites and ready-to-serve dishes at the Central Café or take time to enjoy and savour the local food. Delivered daily and at its freshest, local produce is at the heart of the menu at Geiri Smart restaurant. Here the hotel brings together a selection of award-winning chefs to create visionary and original menus and culinary delights, all for your delectation.
Hotel Husafell, Reykholt
A stay at Hotel Husafell will take you away from the crowds to give you awe-inspiring scenery and, in the winter months, the opportunity to view the northern lights. Ecologically responsible clients will also be pleased to know that the hotel uses 100 per cent organically sourced energy.
Hotel Husafell is a contemporary-styled retreat with a great selection of rooms and suites. They’re spacious, comfortable and stylishly adorned with the work of Húsafell’s own world-renowned artist, Páll Gudmundsson. There’s also a deluxe superior room and master suite with their own private terraces. Beautifully designed in true Icelandic style, most rooms are equipped with large floor to ceiling windows to frame the rugged mountains that Husafell is so well known for.
Dining here is exceptionally fresh, and of course, locally sourced, combining traditional Icelandic cuisine with an international flair to create unique and flavoursome dishes sure to delight. After a day of adventure, fill up on great food and relax in the geothermal pools, known for their exceptional mineral content. The Hotel Husafell offers the opportunity to combine adventure, luxury and style to make your holiday truly unforgettable.
Siglo Hotel
Located on the wharf of a traditional fishing village, this new 68-room boutique hotel encapsulates classic Nordic style and offers views over the surrounding mountains and marina. Restaurant Sunna and the lobby bar are located within the hotel where the chef easily accesses the daily catch being unloaded at the marina.
