CIE Tours: 2024 - 6 Day Taste of Iceland
Day 1 Reykjavík Panoramic Tour | Perlan Observation Deck
Your tour departs your hotel at 2:00 PM. Discover the capital city Reykjavík on a panoramic tour, experiencing its charming architecture and beautiful, brightly-colored rooftops. Visit the Perlan Observation Deck to see magnificent 360º views of the city and its surroundings of mountain, glacier and volcano vistas. Return to your hotel for a welcome drink and canapés with your group, followed by free time for dining independently.
Day 2 Golden Circle | Friðheimar Tomato Farm
Begin your journey on the famed Golden Circle, starting with the spectacular Þingvellir National Park, a meeting place of old Icelandic clans. It is also where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet above ground. Journey to the Secret Lagoon: smaller and more intimate than the Blue Lagoon, it’s where savvy travelers go to enjoy the Icelandic spa experience. Don’t forget your swimsuit! Savor lunch in the greenhouse of Friðheimar Tomato Farm. Then it’s on to the Strokkur geyser, which erupts every 10 minutes. Stop at Gullfoss Waterfall, one of Iceland’s most popular sights; with two separate drops, it’s one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Move onto your countryside hotel below the Hekla volcano where you’ll enjoy dinner with your group. (B, L, D)
Day 3 LAVA Center | Skógar Folk Museum | Skógafoss Waterfall | Black Sand Beach
Visit the LAVA Center to learn about Iceland’s volcanoes, and how their eruptions and lava flows have shaped the country over time. Visit the Skógar Folk Museum to explore Iceland’s cultural heritage and learn about the lives of Iceland’s early settlers through an array of tools, books, and handicrafts. Visit the nearby Skógafoss Waterfall, where on sunny days a double rainbow is often visible. Discover Reynisfjara’s black sand beach and rock formations along with the legends of its history. Dine at your hotel tonight. (B, D)
Day 4 Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon | Diamond Beach | Skaftafell Wilderness Area
Visit the Skaftafell Wilderness Area and view some of its wonders: glaciers, waterfalls, a snow-capped volcano and lava fields. Savor lunch with a view of the surrounding countryside at the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. Visit the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where bright blue and white icebergs dot the waters. Head to nearby Diamond Beach and marvel at glistening natural ice sculptures on the black sands. Return to your accommodation and dine independently this evening. (B, L)
Day 5 Seljalandsfoss Waterfall | Reykjavík | The Blue Lagoon
Journey to the beautiful Seljalandsfoss Waterfall where, weather permitting, the sure-footed can walk the trail that takes you behind the 60-meter falls. Travel back to Reykjavík, and spend the rest of the afternoon independently exploring the city. In the evening, visit the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa in a man-made lake surrounded by lava fields; relax in the mineral-rich waters before sharing in a farewell dinner with your group. (B, D)
Day 6 Tour Ends in Reykjavík
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
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Reykjavik
The fire, frost and water symbolized by the red, white and blue of Iceland’s flag are manifested in this land. Reykjavik, or Smoky Bay, was so named in 874 A.D. by Ingolf Arnarson when he sighted the numerous hot springs on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Today this remarkably pollution-free city is wrapped around a sweeping bay and has managed to retain its charming Old-World atmosphere. A pastiche of red-blue-and green-roofed houses together with the tall gray tower of Hallgrim’s Church dominate the skyline. In Old Town, many of the wooden buildings have been lovingly restored and stand side by side with modern timber and concrete structures. There are fine museums and art galleries; historic pubs present activity in late afternoon. The beautiful countryside outside of Reykjavik includes such natural wonders as volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, mountains and spectacular waterfalls.
Excursions
Reykjavik - The Golden Circle - FD Tour
Reykjavik - The Golden Circle - FD Tour
Capture the ‘The Big Three’ on this classic excursion to Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Strokkur and Thingvellir National Park.
From Reykjavík you will drive over the Mosfellsheidi heath to beautiful Thingvellir National Park, a place of tremendous interest as a primary site of both Iceland’s geological and historical heritage. In 2004 the site of Thingvellir was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. On this tour you get the opportunity to walk through the geological fault known as Almannagja - the place where Europe’s oldest national legislative assembly, the Icelandic Althing, was established in the year 930AD, and where it convened in grandiose surroundings every summer for nearly eight centuries. After your walk in Thingvellir, the tour continues over the Lyngdalsheidi heath into the fertile farmlands of the south, to visit the most beautiful waterfall of the country, Gullfoss. Nearby, you’ll also stop at the Geysir geothermal area with its multitude of hot springs, where the most active one, Strokkur, spouts every few minutes. Return to Reykjavik through the Grimsnes region.
Tour Duration: 7-8 hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes - however some rough grounds
Physical Activity Level: Moderate
Included: Private car with driver-guide Pick up/drop off at the port.
Not Included: Meals
Reykjavik - Bathing in the Blue Lagoon - HD Tour
Reykjavik - Bathing in the Blue Lagoon - HD Tour
Here guests can enjoy a relaxing bathe in the surreal milky waters of Iceland’s most famous of geothermal Spas – The Blue Lagoon. So what exactly IS the Blue Lagoon? Well, it is Iceland's most unique and popular attraction. Guests will enjoy bathing and relaxing in Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater, known for its positive effects on the skin. A visit to the spa promotes harmony between body, mind and spirit, and enables one to soak away the stresses of modern life. The spa's guests rekindle their relationship with nature, soak up the scenic beauty and enjoy breathing the clean, fresh air. In addition to bathing in the lagoon guests have access to a sauna with a view of the lagoon, a sauna with white walls that resemble silica mud and a cozy steam bath carved into a lava cave. Of course, guests bathing in the milky waters of the lagoon have easy access to the famous white silica mud, an essential part of this ultimate in spa experiences.
Tour Duration: 3-4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Physical Activy Level: Easy
Included: Private car with driver-guide, Blue Lagoon Comfort Experience (entrance fee, towel rental, Silica Mud Mask, choice of one drink at the Lagoon.) Pick up/drop off at the port.
Not Included: Meals
Reykjavik - Langjökull Glacier & the Ice Tunnel
Reykjavik - Langjökull Glacier & the Ice Tunnel
Experience Iceland's stunning natural topography in an exhilarating new way during this full-day, off-road adventure on the Langjökull Glacier. Start out early morning on a four-wheel-drive tour into Reykjavík’s hinterland. We drive through the tunnel of Hvalfjordur to the Borgarfjordur area. Watch for the historical home of the famed Icelandic historian and law speaker Snorri Sturluson, author of Snorra Edda. Along the way you will see the lava waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Turning off the paved road you will travel into the gravel desert of Kaldidalur to Langjökull glacier were your driver will drive out onto the icecap to the entrance of the ice tunnel. After about 50 minutes in the glacier our return journey takes us through the Kaldidalur or “Cold Valley” which offers spectacular views of the surrounding glaciers and their imposing landscapes. Our last stop will be at Thingvellir, the most significant historical and geological site in Iceland where in 930 AD the Vikings formed Althingi - the oldest still-existing parliament in the world. In 2004 the site of Thingvellir was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. We then drive directly from Thingvellir to Reykjavik.
Wear/Bring: Warm clothes for cold weather, waterproof/warm coat and suitable footwear
Tour Duration: 11-12 hours
Tour can operate: Mornings
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Moderate / Strenuous
Included: Transportation by private 4x4 super jeep with driver-guide. Pick up/drop off at the port.
Not Included: Meals
Reykjavik Highlights - HD Tour
Reykjavik Highlights - HD Tour
Reykjavík is the world's most northerly capital, with more than one third of Iceland’s population. Today Reykjavík is a modern city with a variety of restaurants, museums, galleries and theatres. Visit the most important sights of the city, including the Old Town, the city cathedral, Hallgrimskirkja church and the “Pearl” (no entrance fees included in this tour).
Add ons:
- A visit to the open-air museum of Arbaer Travel back to Reykjavik’s past with a visit to a fascinating collection of town and farm buildings from the last few centuries.
- A visit to the Pearl vantage point. The new Perlan is an exciting interactive exhibition about Iceland’s nature and geology. Entrance includes the “Wonders of Iceland Exhibit (including Glaciers and Ice Cave) and the 360° Observation Deck.
- Hallgrimskirkja Church Climb the tower of this iconic church for a beautiful view over the city and sea. (Tower access closed during church services and some events)
- A visit to the National museum The National Museum of Iceland’s permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation - Heritage and History in Iceland, provides insight into the history of the Icelandic nation from the Norse Settlement to the present day. The exhibition includes about 2.000 objects.
Tour Duration: 3-4 hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No - Arbaer museum is not accessible
Physical Activity Level: Easy
Included: Private car with driver-guide, Pick up/drop off at the port.
Not Included: Meals and entrance fees (optional)
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