Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road

Board an overnight flight to Reykjavik.

Welcome to Iceland! Meet your fellow travelers at a welcome lunch. Then, get a feel for Reykjavik, often called "the greenest city on Earth," with your Tour Director leading the way.

• Soak in views of the city from the Perlan Observation Deck

• See the iconic Höfði House and the presidential residence at Bessastadir

• Visit Hallgrim’s Church and the University District

• Pass the Old Town Center, Parliament House, and modern City Hall

• Glimpse the artwork of Ásmundur Sveinsson and Einar Jónsson, both famous Icelandic artists

Enjoy a free afternoon in Reykjavik or add an excursion.

Leave the bustle of Reykjavik behind as you travel around the Golden Circle, a ring of some of Iceland’s most magnificent natural wonders.

• Stop at Thingvellir National Park to see the Althing, an open-air governmental assembly that was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798

• Sit down for lunch at Fridheimar Farm, where the produce is grown fresh in a greenhouse heated by geothermal energy

• Explore the Great Geysir geothermal area, located in the Haukadalur Valley

• Discover Gullfoss, or the “Golden Waterfall,” a natural wonder and one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe

Continue on to the South Coast, a lowland region of lush farmland, striking waterfalls, beaches, glaciers and picturesque villages.

• Make a photo stop by the Eyjafjallajökull volcano to marvel at breathtaking views (weather permitting)

• View coastal mountain scenery as you travel to the Seljalandsfoss waterfall for a short walk behind the falls

• Enter the Skogar Museum to learn more about Iceland’s cultural heritage

• Marvel at the Sólheimajökull glacier and iconic black sands of Reynisfjara beach

This evening, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Please note: The order of today's events may be changed due to hotel location and weather.

Travel east toward the town of Egilsstaðir, admiring the stunning landscape and stopping for a boat cruise en route.

• Pass the Eldhraun lava field and Skaftafell National Park

• Cruise through the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, keeping your eyes open for seals (seasonal, mid-May–September)

• Pass through the East Fjords region as you continue on to Egilsstadir, stopping for photos and short walks along the way

Sit down to an included dinner with your group this evening.

Please note: The order of today's events may be changed due to hotel location and weather.

Make your way north toward the Akureyri region, stopping to admire breathtaking waterfalls and volcanic landscapes as you go.

• Travel through Mödrudalsöræfi desert plateau on your way to Dettifoss for a short walk around the rim of the waterfall (Please note: The road to Dettifoss is closed in bad weather.)

• Stop at Lake Mývatn to learn about the boiling mud pools and geothermal activity of the Námaskard sulfur field

• Marvel at the beauty of Goðafoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most famous cataracts, before ending the day in Akureyri

Get to know more about Icelandic culture during a visit to town of Siglufjörður.

• Learn about the country’s maritime history as you follow a local guide through the Herring Era Museum

• Enjoy a tasting of herring, one of Iceland’s most important culinary staples, washed down with Brennivín schnapps

Spend a free afternoon in the Akureyri region or add an excursion.

Drive through the landscapes of West Iceland to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Along the way, stop to visit an Icelandic horse farm and learn about the animals that live there.

Later, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Continue exploring the sites of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula with your Tour Director before returning to Reykjavik.

• Pay a visit to rural Arnarstapi, a breathtaking fishing village that was once an important trading post

• Set off to explore Snæfellsjökull National Park, which has a natural landscape dominated by the massive Snæfellsjökull Glacier

Tonight, say goodbye to your Tour Director and fellow travelers at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.