Grand Tour of Iceland 2024

AVAILABLE:
May 20 to August 26

DURATION:
12 days / 11 nights

TOUR ID:
GG03

Arrival and departure transfer by FLYBUS airport shuttle (no guide)
10 days escorted Iceland tour with an English speaking guide or driver-guide
11 nights accommodation, in rooms with shower/WC
11x breakfast and 10x 3-course dinner
Visit to three national parks
Entrance and visit to lava cave on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Ferry trip to the West Fjords
Admission fee to folk and transport museum at Hnjótur
Farm visit
Visit to a geothermal greenhouse and horse stables
Entrance to Herring Museum
Whale watching tour in Eyjafjörður fjord
Vök Baths, including towel
Visit to Petra's stone collection in the East Fjords
Boat trip on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Exhibition and 4K movie at Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur

Any private expenses
Any additional services
Meals that are not listed under "included"
Single supplement (mandatory when in single room)

Day 1. WELCOME TO ICELAND

The Flybus shuttle brings you from Keflavík International airport to Reykjavík where you spend the first night in Iceland. You may explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.

Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur or similar in Reykjavík. (50km / 31mls)

Day 2. GOLDEN CIRCLE

We see classic highlights today, the Golden Circle Route. We start with a visit to a geothermal greenhouse and watch how Icelanders grow tomatoes. Next door, we can take a selfie with an Icelandic horse and we learn about its unique qualities and history. We explore Gullfoss, the beautiful double “Golden Falls” and we walk through the active geothermal area of Geysir, where Strokkur “the churn” spouts up to 25 meters (70 feet) every five to ten minutes. The next stop is the ancient Viking Parliament area and UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir National Park. The Þingvellir plain is situated on a tectonic plate boundary where North America and Europe are slowly tearing away from each other. As a result, the plain is scarred by dramatic fissures, ponds, and rivers, including the great rift Almannagjá.

Overnight location:
Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (300km / 186mls)

Day 3. SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA AND FERRY TRIP TO WEST FJORDS

Today, we explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which juts out from Iceland’s West Coast. A rugged mountain chain runs its length, capped by the 1,446-meter Snæfellsjökull glacier, a mystical cone-shaped stratovolcano. We travel around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, through lava fields, and along the ocean with many excellent Icelandic photo opportunities. We see the most popular sites at the Snæfellsnes National Park where volcanic craters, lava flows, an ice cap, glaciated peaks, fjords, sandy beaches, and high cliffs shape its landscapes. We follow the adventure of Jules Verne’s classic science-fiction novel about “The Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Do not miss your chance to go on a trip to the interior of the earth under the glacier Snæfellsjökull! This lava cave tour takes you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube called Vatnshellir.

In the afternoon, we catch the car ferry Baldur from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur in the West Fjords. On the 2,5 hour journey over Breiðafjörður Bay, we pass the island of Flatey, which is inhabited only during the summertime. If the weather is beautiful, you enjoy a magnificent view of the bay’s countless isles as well as the glacier Snæfellsjökull.

Overnight location:
Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (290km / 180mls)

Day 4. ICELAND'S WESTERNMOST POINT

We follow the coastline and stop at the folk and transport museum in Hnjótur. We continue through a very remote and sparsely populated region to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, the most abundant seabird cliff and the westernmost point of Iceland and Europe where you can see puffins from mid-May till mid-August. We take a walk in the wilderness to the top of the highest bird cliff in Iceland. Látrabjarg is known in the world for its density of Nordic birds. Puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants, kittiwakes and other cliff birds flock either in hundreds, thousands and even in millions. Látrabjarg is a place where you can get very close to the seabirds, and even if you’re not into bird watching, you are entertained by the comic puffins and mesmerized by the sheer number of birds. If weather and road conditions allow we travel to Rauðisandur beach with endless red sand. Well, not endless but 10 km is a lot. The magnificent hues of the sand differ with daylight, tides, and weather. This pure sand beach is home to countless seabirds and seals and is an oasis of unique tranquillity. Forget everything, except maybe getting the perfect shot of the ever-changing hues of yellow, orange and red.

Overnight location:
Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (150km / 93mls)

Day 5. BEAUTIFUL WEST FJORDS

We travel over mountains and along the shore of scenic fjords until we reach the majestic fjord Arnarfjörður, surrounded by high mountains. At the bottom of the fjord, we come across the unique waterfall Dynjandi with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country’s most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland. We continue over a mountain pass and along the southern shores of the West Fjords which is a route less travelled and is characterized by sheer cliffs, deep cut bays and narrow stretches of coastal lowland. We reach Erpsstaðir, a family run dairy farm best known for their ice cream and various other dairy products. Take a look at the milk production world and taste their unique ice cream directly from the farm, with local seasonal flavours.

Overnight location:
Hotel Laugarbakki, Hvammstangi or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (440km / 273mls)

Day 6. HEADING NORTH

Today’s journey is a little bit of the beaten track, around the Vatnsnes peninsula. We pass the fishing village of Hvammstangi, also called the seal capital of Iceland. A gravel road takes us around the peninsula to Hvítserkur, a highlight on the east coast of the region; a mass of igneous rock, about 15 meters high, situated on the seashore. Fulmars and gulls live on Hvítserkur. An old story has it that Hvítserkur is a petrified troll that intended to stone a nearby cloister, but dawn arrived before he could succeed. We continue to Kolugljúfur canyon, where waterfalls cascade into the deep, rugged gorge. It is a breath taking sight to walk on the viewing platform and watch the calm waters of the river suddenly leap and tumble onwards over so many impressive falls – a sight which will leave no one unmoved. Further north we stop at Víðimýri to visit one of the few preserved turf churches in Iceland. The church was built in 1834 and has turf walls, but timber gables both back and front. We continue along a high mountain road to Akureyri, also called the capital of North Iceland, where we stay for two nights.

Overnight location:
Sæluhús Studio Apartments, Akureyri or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (290km / 180mls)

Day 7. ICELAND'S NORTHERNMOST TOWN, WHALE WATCHING & SEA ANGLING

Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful surrounding of the botanical garden in Akureyri. Afterwards enjoy a whale watching tour for 2-3 hours in Eyjafjörður – Iceland’s longest fjord right below the Arctic Circle. For additional bonus and fun, try your luck at sea angling towards the end of the tour. In the afternoon see the spectacular fjord landscapes while travelling to Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. Siglufjörður is located on the mountainous Tröllaskagi Peninsula. On the way, we pass small fishing villages and stop at a deserted valley that even most Icelanders have not seen. Included is a visit to the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður, Iceland’s largest maritime museum and the only one in Iceland that won the European Museum Awards. We won’t miss the opportunity to taste the herring along with Brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.

Overnight location:
Sæluhús Studio Apartments, Akureyri or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (170km / 106mls)

Day 8. GEOLOGICAL AND VOLCANIC LAVA WONDERS

We explore Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, and continue to Lake Mývatn, known for its abundant bird life and amazing volcanic lava landscapes. We see pseudo craters, walk in the mysterious lava field Dimmuborgir, see the tephra cone Hverfjall, explore the hot springs, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð. We travel to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. The round-trip walk takes about 40-60 minutes. We continue east through the bare and sometimes deserted landscape with mountains all around and head through the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland. We explore the northernmost fjord on the East Fjord Mountain range. The isolated village Bakkagerði at Borgarfjörður-Eystri has only 120 inhabitants; offering an end of the road location. This charming village is built snugly next to the steep mountainside and getting there is a dramatic but rewarding drive. The colourful mountains are unique and impressive.

Overnight location:
Guesthouse Álfheimar, Borgarfjörður Eystri or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (370km / 230mls)

Day 9. EASTFJORDS AND GEOTHERMAL BATHING

It is a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords. Our first stop will be at Vök baths, a geothermal floating pools in Lake Urriðavatn where guests can soak in the hot water, within and surrounded by the lake. Later we visit Petra’s fascinating rock collection. A naturalist and a collector are two terms that have been used to describe Petra since she was a little girl. Petra collected for nearly 80 years this unique treasure of rocks, crystals, zeolites, quartz and more, all from the nearby area in the Eastfjords. In the afternoon we see Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier that is visible all over Southeast Iceland.

Overnight location:
Fosshotel Vatnajökull, Höfn in Hornafjörður or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (340km / 211mls)

Day 10. VATNAJÖKULL NATIONAL PARK, GLACIERS & GLACIER LAGOON

Today we visit Vatnajökull National Park which covers about 14% of Iceland, making it Europe’s 2nd largest national park in terms of area. We stop for a boat ride amongst the floating icebergs on the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, considered one of the highlights on tour around Iceland. Next, we walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond beach. We explore the region of Skaftafell that is nestled below Iceland’s highest mountain and the second biggest stratovolcano in Europe, the 2.110-meter high Hvannadalshnúkur. We walk close to one of the many glacial tongues in the area – a true photo moment. We cross a sandy desert before reaching our overnight location Vík, the southernmost village in Iceland

Overnight location:
Hotel Vík, Vík in Mýrdalur or similar. Breakfast & dinner included. (280km / 174mls)

Day 11. THE SOUTH COAST

Today we travel along the South Coast of Iceland, between the sea, rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. We explore the black lava beach, Reynisfjara, and bird cliffs before stopping at the Skógafoss waterfall, another must-see location in South Iceland. The crashing water creates a mist that results in frequent and magical rainbows, just adding some more memorable experiences to the sheer beauty of this stunning scenery and place. Afterwards we visit Skógar folk museum with its turf houses assemblage of traditions of territorial relics on display. Later reach Seljalandsfoss waterfall where you can follow a slick and wet trail and walk right behind it. Come prepared and bring a raincoat and good boots as you will get wet. Then we visit the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Centre focused on geology and active volcanoes and watch a documentary film about volcanic eruptions in the past years in Iceland. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital.

Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur, or similar in Reykjavík. Breakfast & Farewell dinner included. (210km / 130mls)

Day 12. DEPARTURE DAY

Individual transfer by Flybus shuttle from your accommodation in Reykjavik to Keflavik airport.

Breakfast included. (50km / 31mls)

May 20, 2024	English
June 03, 2024	English
June 17, 2024	English
July 01, 2024	English
July 15, 2024	English
July 29, 2024	English
August 12, 2024	English
August 26, 2024	English

20% Deposit
Cancellation:
A cancellation fee of 20% of the tour price will be retained by us for cancellations made from 4 to 8 weeks before tour start. A cancellation fee of 50% applies for bookings cancelled 14-28 days prior to tour start. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 14 days before tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed.
TOURIS reserves the right to charge a deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour.
Children discount: 20% discount for children 8-11 years of age if sharing room with parents.
Tour is not recommended for children younger than eight years of age.
Triple rooms are double rooms with extra bed and ideal for two adults and one child. Available on request only.

MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 20 passengers

LANGUAGES: English

AGE: Min Age 8+

MEALS: 11x breakfast and 10x dinner (3-course). Dinner on the first night in Reykjavík is not included.

Complementaries:
• Free Wi-Fi on the bus

Additional services
• Extra night in Reykjavik before/after the tour – on request
• Upgrade for private airport transfer – on request

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: Included in the program and price. Airport transfers are operated by the FLYBUS shuttle and are not guided.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Most hotels, farms, and guesthouses used on this tour are simple tourist-class category, many of them set in the most stunning locations. All rooms have private shower/wc. Triple rooms are on request.

HOTEL LIST 2024:
- Reykjavik: Hotel Klettur or similar in Reykjavík (first and last night)
- West Iceland: Hotel Hamar, Borgarnes or similar (1 night)
- West Fjords: Fosshotel Westfjords, Patreksfjörður or similar (2 nights)
- North West: Hotel Laugarbakki, Hvammstangi or similar. (1 night)
- Akureyri: Sæluhús Studio Apartments, Akureyri or similar (2 nights)
- East Iceland: Guesthouse Guesthouse Álfheimar, Borgarfjörður Eystri or similar (1 night)
- Vatnajökull National Park: Fosshotel Vatnajökull, Höfn in Hornafjörður or similar (1 night)
- South Iceland: Hotel Vík, Vík in Mýrdalur or similar
*Please note that above hotel list is subject to change and that double rooms in Iceland are normally twin beds.

NOTE: Itineraries may be subject to change at short notice during severe weather conditions and certain outdoor activities/day trips may be cancelled during the winter season in Iceland. In these rare cases, where situations of force majeure apply, excursions/activities cannot be refunded, but the local guides will try their best to find reasonable alternatives where and whenever possible.

CANCELLATIONS:
A cancellation fee of 20% of the tour price will be retained by us for cancellations made from 4 to 8 weeks before tour start. A cancellation fee of 50% applies for bookings cancelled 14-28 days prior to tour start. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 14 days before tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed.
The exchange of one arrangement for another must be agreed by us beforehand. TOURIS reserves the right to charge a bookings fee/payment deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour.

PAYMENT:
A deposit of 20%, of the total package price should reach TOURIS within 2 days of confirmation of booking and full payment not later than 6 weeks prior to tour departure. In case of delay on payments, TOURIS will reserve the right to treat this as a cancellation and withdraw its confirmation of the services.
Every detail regarding the booking must be included, in order for TOURIS to ensure efficiency, including the passengers´ name, flight information, all accommodation, tours and other services.

TRAVEL INSURANCE:
To avoid dispute in case of cancellation, we strongly recommend that our clients purchase a comprehensive travel insurance in their home country, that covers your cost should you have to cancel your tour. This kind of travel insurance is usually not expensive and it frequently covers other risks too.