Fire and ice, lit green by the aurora.
Lava cave and ice tunnel
Often described as ‘The Land of Fire and Ice’, Iceland is home to the largest glaciers in Europe, as well as some of the world’s most active volcanoes. Despite the freezing winter temperatures, this land, and the sky above it, is enchanting – spend eight days exploring the icons of the western and south-eastern countryside.
From the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle route to the magnificent Vatnajökull Glacier, you will experience the very best of Iceland’s winter. Marvel at powerful geysers, majestic fjords, roaring waterfalls, massive glaciers, mysterious volcanoes, swim in the Blue Lagoon, stroll black sand beaches, explore an otherworldly lava cave, an impressive man-made ice tunnel and sample authentic Icelandic fare. Not to forget spending nights in search of the glorious Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights dancing across a diamond-studded night sky.
Come and experience this astonishing destination with us on our exclusive small group tour. Iceland is like nowhere else on Earth.
Highlights
- Golden Circle and Icelandic Horses
- Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and Black Diamond Beach
- Bathing in the Blue Lagoon and Krauma Geothermal Spring
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- Vatnajökull National Park
- Icelandic Lava Show
- Icelandic Steamed Bread Tasting
- Visit to the Perlan including aurora show and ice tunnel
Eight days of fire, ice and aurora.
Johannesburg / Cape Town to Reykjavik
Evening departure from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Reykjavik in Iceland.
Reykjavik arrival
Velkomið! Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival, we will transfer from Keflavik International Airport to our hotel in Reykjavik. Check in, and then a short walk to a local restaurant for dinner.
Borgarfjordur Saga Valley
After breakfast, depart from the city and head to the Borgarfjordur district in the west of Iceland. Borgarfjordur has a rich history and is also known as the Saga Valley. Climb the Grabrok crater (optional) and visit Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring. Continue to Krauma for our lunch stop and a swim in one of the geothermal pools – be sure to pack your bathing suit! We then continue to the beautiful waterfall, Hraunfossar, which pours from a lava field in a series of waterfalls. The next two nights we spend near Borgarnes in West Iceland. We enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by an evening Northern Lights hunt, walking down to the coastline (weather permitting).
Snaelfellsnes Peninsula
After breakfast, head out to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Explore the national park with its incredible landscapes and views of the Snaefellsjökull glacier. Head to Grundarfjörður with its impressive coastline and surrounding mountains, lakes and waterfalls behind the village. Here you will find one of Iceland´s most photographed mountains, Kirkjufell. After enjoying a packed lunch, continue exploring the national park. Time and weather dependent, visit the beautiful Skardsvik beach with its golden sands and black lava rocks. Before returning to the hotel, visit to the Vatnshellir Lava Cave. This is a lava tube created when liquid lava flowed underground around 8,000 years ago. The cave lies at a depth of over 20 metres. Dinner at the hotel.
Golden Circle and Icelandic horses
Start the day travelling along the Hvalfjordur fjord with our first stop at an Icelandic wool outlet store (time permitting). From here we head inland to Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and stop at Laugarvatn Fontana to taste freshly baked hot spring bread with Icelandic butter, and herring or trout. Continue to Fridheimar, a geothermal greenhouse and horse farm, where we will enjoy a tour of the greenhouses, lunch and a horse show. After lunch, continue to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall and travel to Haukadalur, where we see steam rising from the Geysir geothermal fields as we arrive to see Strokkur “the Churn” erupt at 5 to 10-minute intervals. After dinner at the hotel, step into the evening darkness again to search for the elusive Northern Lights.
South Iceland and Eyjafjallajokull
Today we explore the South Coast. Our first stop is the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which plunges over the mountain. Further east, visit one of Iceland’s finest folk museums, Skogar. This museum contains a great collection of farm and domestic artefacts and turf-built houses. Nearby is the Skógafoss waterfall, which is 60 meters high and one of Iceland´s most impressive waterfalls. After lunch, visit the unique Icelandic Lava Show in the village of Vik, the only place in the world where you can witness a volcanic eruption up close. End the day with the infamous black lava beach and cliffs at Vik, from where you have amazing views of the Reykjadangar lava pinnacles. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Skaftafell National Park and Vatnajökull Glacier
Today is all about glaciers, ice and icebergs. The day starts with the picturesque Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs, the black sandy beach below called the “Diamond” beach where you see stranded icebergs and sometimes seals. All this is part of the Vatnajökull National Park, the largest National Park in Europe at about 12,000 square kilometres. Enjoy lunch at Fjallsárlón and afterwards take a short, guided walk to the Fjallsárlón iceberg lagoon (weather permitting). Return to the hotel for dinner.
Reykjavik and Blue Lagoon
After breakfast, we make our way to the famous Blue Lagoon, surrounded by lava fields, for a relaxing bath. Depart and travel back to Reykjavik, where we will see the Harpa Concert Hall and the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church. Visit the Perlán to experience the Wonders of Iceland exhibition, including an aurora show in the planetarium, museum, ice tunnel and observation deck. This evening, enjoy a traditional Icelandic dinner at the amazing Fish Company, before returning to our hotel.
Depart
After breakfast, enjoy some time at leisure for a last stroll through downtown Reykjavik or perhaps some last-minute shopping before transferring to the airport for your onward departure flight.
Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
Included
- Meet and greet on arrival
- Services of a qualified English-speaking Icelandic driver-guide
- Live the Journey tour leader accompanying the group
- All transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
- 7 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels
- All meals as indicated: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
- Krauma geothermal bathing entrance, with towel
- Guided Vatnshellir Lava Cave tour
- Laugarvatn Fontana steamed bread tour and tasting
- Friðheimar horse stables and greenhouse tour
- Skogar Folk Museum and turf houses
- The Lava Show
- Wonders of Iceland at Perlan, including the aurora show and ice tunnel
- Blue Lagoon comfort bathing entrance, with drink and towel
- Crampons for your shoes, for the duration of the tour
Not included
- International flights and airport taxes
- Visa fees
- All drinks
- Lunch on day 7
- Driver-guide and local escort gratuities, approx. EUR 100 per person
- Items of a personal nature: telephone bills, curios, laundry
- Comprehensive travel insurance
EUR 5,310 per person sharing · ± R90,270 · single supplement ± R10,880
One annual departure.
Land package cost
Per person sharing: EUR 5,310 (± ZAR 90,270). Single supplement: EUR 640 (± ZAR 10,880)
Use a currency converter for an approximate figure in your local currency, noting that the final cost is determined by the exchange rate at the time of confirmation and payment. Flights are excluded from the land package. This price is subject to a minimum of 12 guests – maximum of 16 guests.
Flights (estimate only)
International: South Africa to Iceland. From R28,000 per person including taxes.
Flight costs are estimates only and can only be confirmed on the day of booking, since airport taxes shift.
Good to know
Icelandic winter is genuinely wintry. Itineraries can change at short notice for weather, and some outdoor activities may be cancelled for safety. Guides work hard to find alternatives, but in these rare force majeure cases, activities can’t be refunded. Worth knowing before you book.
The Northern Lights: The bright dancing lights of the aurora are the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are known as “Aurora Borealis” in the north and “Aurora Australis” in the south. Aurora displays appear in many colours, although pale green and pink are the most common. Shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet have been reported. The lights appear in many forms, from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays that light up the sky with an eerie glow. Unfortunately, as with all natural phenomena, they are unpredictable, and a sighting may not be guaranteed.
You’ll need a reasonable level of fitness for this one. Expect uneven, often icy terrain most days, and you should be comfortable walking it unaided. We provide crampons for your shoes for the duration of the tour.
South African nationals require a Schengen visa to enter Iceland. Passports must be valid at least 6 months after tour dates, with sufficient blank pages.