Natural Wonders of Iceland
9 Days from $5,036 per person
Experience a world of natural phenomena: gushing waterfalls, volcanoes and stunning landscapes at every turn. The overwhelming beauty of this country will ensure you will want to return again and again.
Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange for flights to arrive on or before Day 1.
Overview
Experience a world of natural phenomena: gushing waterfalls, volcanoes and stunning landscapes at every turn. The overwhelming beauty of this country will ensure you will want to return again and again.
Travel to Europe often requires an overnight flight. Please arrange for flights to arrive on or before Day 1.
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Day 1: The Smoky Bay of Reykjavík
Welcome to Iceland. On arrival at Reykjavík's Keflavík Airport, you will be welcomed and your transfer will depart for your hotel at either 8 am or 3 pm. Join your Travel Director and travel companions at 6:30 pm for a Welcome Dinner served with wine.
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Day 2: Hot Springs and Waterfalls to Vík
Head east to visit Iceland's newest geothermal and electric power station at Hellisheiðavirkjun. Continue to the hot springs at Geysir and the mighty Gullfoss waterfalls, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara Falls. Then travel on to the ancient bishopric of Skalholt and see the historic church set in a remote location amid magnificent natural scenery, before continuing to your hotel in Vík.
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Day 3: By Glaciers and Icebergs to Höfn
Travel along the southern coast of Iceland, beside the black basalt sand beaches. The highlight of the day is the National Park at Skaftafell where you will see the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. Travel on to the luminous blue icebergs of Lake Jökulsárlón, the dramatic setting of scenes in two James Bond films. Arrive in the small harbor town of Höfn, an active lobster fishing hub. Your Travel Director takes you on a short orientation.
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Day 4: Eastern Fjords to Egilsstaðir
Explore the eastern coastal region, where Irish missionary monks lived some 1,200 years ago. Travel up the fjords to the beautiful area around Egilsstaðir.
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Day 5: By Desert, Lakes and Divine Waterfalls to Akureyri
Journey through the sand desert of Möðrudalur to the Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. View the Goðafoss, known as The Waterfall of the Gods. Continue on to the beautiful Lake Mývatn. This area offers a wide spectrum of geological formations and the concentrated geothermal activity produces mud pools and spectacular colored deposits. Continue to Akureyri where you have the evening to relax or explore at your leisure. Perhaps embark on an optional whale watching experience (available during whale season).
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Day 6: From the Capital of the North to Borgarnes
Enjoy an orientation of Akureyri, the capital of northern Iceland, first established as a trading center in 1602. Travel past mountains, waterfalls and green coastal regions to Hvammstangi. Later, continue on to the south-west coast of Borgarnes.
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Day 7: Exploring Snæfellsjökull National Park
Travel along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Snæfellsjökull National Park known as the Jewel of West Iceland and home to the country's most famous volcano. Enjoy a fascinating exploration of the park's many famous sites, including the magnificent Snæfell Glacier and Búðir, a romantic landscape of white, sandy hills, black lava fields and a yellow beach. Walk along the sea-cliff at Arnarstapi with its spectacular columnar rock formations.
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Day 8: Thingvellir, Blue Lagoon and on to Reykjavík
Journey south to Thingvellir, where the first meeting of the Icelandic parliament was held in A.D. 930. This remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge line where the American and European tectonic plates meet. On arrival in Reykjavík, enjoy an orientation of the city. See the Old Harbor, National Museum, the Domkirk church and Höfði House. Pass Althingishusid, Reykjavik's House of Parliament, and continue to the Hallgrímskirkja Church which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Visit Iceland's world-famous Blue Lagoon, where you join your newfound friends and toast your Icelandic vacation with a cocktail. Enjoy relaxing in the mineral-rich geothermal waters, surrounded by lava fields and snowcapped mountains. The Lagoon is a wonder of nature and offers a unique experience for both body and soul.
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Day 9: Farewell Reykjavík
Your departure transfer will arrive at Reykjavík Keflavík Airport at 5 am or 12:30 pm.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
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Definite Departure
| Depart Date | Return Date | Price | Discount | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May 19 | 20 May 19 | $5,595$5,036pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 19 May 19 | 27 May 19 |
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$5,595$5,036pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 24 May 19 | 1 Jun 19 | $5,595$5,036pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 2 Jun 19 | 10 Jun 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 7 Jun 19 | 15 Jun 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 9 Jun 19 | 17 Jun 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 16 Jun 19 | 24 Jun 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 21 Jun 19 | 29 Jun 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 23 Jun 19 | 1 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 30 Jun 19 | 8 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 5 Jul 19 | 13 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 7 Jul 19 | 15 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 14 Jul 19 | 22 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 19 Jul 19 | 27 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 21 Jul 19 | 29 Jul 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 28 Jul 19 | 5 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 2 Aug 19 | 10 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 4 Aug 19 | 12 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 11 Aug 19 | 19 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 16 Aug 19 | 24 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 18 Aug 19 | 26 Aug 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 25 Aug 19 | 2 Sep 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 1 Sep 19 | 9 Sep 19 |
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$6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 8 Sep 19 | 16 Sep 19 | $6,550$5,895pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 31 | Request Quote Book Now |
Price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: from $1,400 per person
Triple rooms are not available on this trip.
Option to pre-pay gratuities to Tour Director and Driver: $104 per person
Airport Transfers: On arrival at Reykjavík's Keflavík Airport, transfers operate at 8 am and 3 pm. Return transfers on the last travel day arrive at Keflavík Airport at 5 am and 12:30 pm.
AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive Member Benefit Discount on all Grand European Travel vacations. Plus receive a free travel gift! Call Toll Free: 1-866-847-3858 for details.
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Professional Travel Director
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Sightseeing with Local Experts
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Expertly Selected Hotels
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Cultural Enrichment
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VIP Access
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WIFI on Coach and in Hotels
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Most Meals
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Hotel Tips
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Personal Flight Options
Included Quality Dining
8 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners, 1 Dinner with Wine, all with tea or coffee.
Top Rated Highlights
- Visit Hellisheiði Power Station • Geysir • Vatnajökull National Park • Snæfellsjökull National Park
- See Gullfoss waterfall • Skalholt's historic church • Vatnajökull Glacier in Skaftafell • Lake Jökulsárlón • lake-side Egilsstaðir • Dettifoss waterfall • craters, boiling mud pots and geothermal hot springs at Lake Mývatn • the capital of northern Iceland, Akureyri • Snæfellsjökull National Park • black lava fields and yellow beach of Búðir • sea-cliff and rock formations of Arnarstapi • Parliamentary Plains in Thingvellir • Blue Lagoon • Reykjavík's Old Harbor, National Museum, and Höfði House
- Hellisheiðavirkjun: Visit Iceland's newest geothermal heat and electric power station.
- Geysir: Visit the famous spouting Geysir which has become synonymous with hot springs all around the world.
- Höfn: Your Travel Director takes you on a short orientation through this seaside village.
- Gullfoss: The spectacular two-tiered waterfall, the Icelandic equivalent of Niagara falls, drops a total of 105 feet while spanning the entire width of the Hvítá River.
- Skalholt: See the historic church.
- Skaftafell: Visit the amazing alpine setting of the National Park and experience the might of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier.
- Lake Jökulsárlón: See the setting for the James Bond film ‘Die Another Day.'
- Egilsstaðir: Visit this lakeside town.
- Dettifoss: Visit the most powerful waterfall in Europe and see the Godafoss, known as The Waterfall of the Gods.
- Lake Mývatn: Traverse spectacular landscapes of craters, boiling mud pots and geothermal hot springs shooting jets of hot water and steam into the air, at this renowned bird-watching site.
- Akureyri: Your Travel Director will provide an orientation of the capital of northern Iceland, established in 1602.
- Snæfellsjökull National Park: Enjoy a fascinating exploration of this magnificent park, home to lava formations, waterfalls and the most famous volcano in Iceland.
- Búðir: Admire the sandy hill, black lava fields and the yellow beach.
- Arnarstapi: Walk the sea-cliff and admire the rock formations.
- Thingvellir: The Parliamentary Plains are the most important historic site in the country, as the meeting place of the Althing, the world's oldest parliament that was founded in A.D. 930.
- Reykjavík: Explore the capital during your orientation. See the Old Harbor, the National Museum, the Domkirk church and Höfði House. Pass Althingishusid, Reykjavik's House of Parliament, and continue to the Hallgrímskirkja Church which can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
- Scenic Drives: Witness spectacular scenery, like nowhere else in the world, as you travel along the South and East coasts, through the Scenic mountain pass of Almannaskard and the Mödrudal Desert, past Hvammstang, along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and into the Snæfellsjökull National Park.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
Reviews
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
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Passports and Visas
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Currency
Iceland uses the Icelandic Krona. While it’s a good idea to have some money on you while you travel, you’ll usually find better exchange rates in your destination. The most convenient way to obtain cash is to use your ATM card at local banks. We recommend you also bring a valid credit card for purchases while you are traveling. It is important that you inform your financial institutions of your travel plans before you leave home so they don’t flag your purchases as potentially fraudulent charges.
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Cuisine
Scandinavian cuisine is rich and hearty. Try a traditional ‘smørgasbord’ with a selection of meat, fish, salads, hot dishes, puddings and cheeses. Sample dishes prepared with a variety of seafood including smoked salmon, cod, herring, sardines and mackerel. Popular meats include reindeer, lamb and fowl. Coffee and milk are very popular, along with lager. Aquavit is the local spirit, and is usually served chilled. Wines and other spirits are imported products and are very expensive.
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Packing
We suggest bringing a variety of clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
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Tipping
When dining out it is appropriate to leave 5-10 percent gratuity if a service charge has not already been added to your bill.
At the end of your guided vacation, it’s customary to offer your motor coach driver and Travel Director a gratuity. We recommend the equivalent of €3.00 per person/per day for your driver and €5.00 per person/per day for your Travel Director. Recommended gratuity for a Local Host and Local Specialist is 1-2 euros per person, paid at the conclusion of each guided visit. A convenient option is to prepay your tips before your departure.
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Baggage
Baggage on our trips is restricted to one large suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 30x19x10 inches and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. You are also permitted one piece of hand luggage, which should be small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf compartment. Please note that luggage with an adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach. Hotel porterage is included in your vacation.
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Health and Fitness
You will need to be comfortable on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours in various weather conditions. All of our vacations involve walking, often on cobblestone and uneven surfaces in historic city centers. In order to get the most out of your vacation you need to be able to comfortably walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day, be in good condition and be able to keep pace with the group.
If you need any medications, it is important that you bring enough to last you the whole trip and keep them in your carry-on bag while you travel.
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Insurance
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Hofn
Glacier Lagoon
Adult Price: Íkr5000.00
This is an exciting boat trip on the lagoon. During the excursion you sail among the huge icebergs in the picturesque scenery of Jökulsárlón. On the boat you get to taste the 1000 year old ice and if you are lucky you might even see some seals.
Egilsstadir
Petra's Stone Collection
Adult Price: Íkr1000.00
We visit Petra's Stone and Mineral Collection which was her old home and now a museum. Petra amassed a rich collection of rocks and minerals in this active volcanic region. You can wander around rolling landscaped gardens admiring the collection as well as the displays in the house.
Akureyri
Whale Watching
Adult Price: Íkr11000.00
The boat tour will take you to search for whales through a dramatic mosaic of stunning landscapes and beautiful coastlines. Rate of sightings makes this the perfect day trip for travellers in North Iceland (only available between mid-June - mid-August).
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
