Iceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient LegendsIceland in Winter: Natural Wonders & Ancient Legends

This morning we’ll fuel up on a hearty breakfast before embarking on a full day of Icelandic explorations. We’ll start in Hafnarfjörður, home to Iceland’s largest colonies of elves, trolls, and mythical creatures. Collectively, these spiritual beings are called “Hidden Folk” or “Huldufólk” in Icelandic. After some storytelling about these fantastic spirits, we’ll set out on the most famous route in Iceland, the Golden Circle. Þingvellir National Park will be our first stop, an area known for its ruins of old stone shelters and the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. It also lies on the divergent edges of the European and North American tectonic plates. It is this active plate boundary and associated hot spot under Iceland that creates the steaming vents and chimneys of the Geysir Geothermal Area. The final stop on our excursion today is the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall. Venture close enough to feel the mist on your face via the pedestrian walkway to the waterfall’s edge.

Today we have a full day overland journey along Iceland’s South Coast (4-5 hours total driving) punctuated by several spectacular stops. The first visit will be at the impressive, nearly 200-foot drop of Seljalandsfoss waterfall, whose water originates at the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. At our next stop, we’ll have the option of seeing the equally tall and impressive Skógafoss waterfall or taking a dip at Seljavallalaug, Iceland’s oldest and arguably one of the world’s most stunning public swimming pools. Keep your eyes peeled as we continue our drive past Drangurinn Rock, a landscape feature that, according to local folklore, was ripped from a mountain by an outlaw and then became a home for elves. After another two hours along the southern ring road and we’ll reach Svartifoss waterfall, whose waters cascade over a cliff of dark lava columns. We end our day at a guesthouse on the coast at the base of the Vatnajökull ice cap, an ideal place to view the Northern Lights if conditions are right.

Today we reverse our route and travel along the South coast back to Reykjavik (5-6 hours total driving). Along the way, we’ll stop at more of the amazing sites that we missed yesterday. We’ll start at Jökulsárlón, a stunning glacial lagoon renowned for its icy blue waters speckled with icebergs from the surrounding Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. A couple of hours further on and we’ll find ourselves at Reynisfjara, a picturesque beach with enormous columns of basalt rising from its distinctive black sands. We’ll eventually make it back to the city where we’ll have some time to explore the city. 

This morning we head north out of Reykjavik to Hraunfossar (meaning Lava waterfalls) and Barnafoss (Children’s waterfall), two unique and beautiful falls with a rather dark legend behind the name. We’ll then pay a visit to the natural geothermal baths and spa at Krauma to enjoy a healing soak in the steaming baths before continuing on our way to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. If we are fortunate, we might catch sight of the elusive Northern Lights from our guesthouse this evening.

Today we’ll thoroughly explore the magical Snæfellsnes Peninsula. At the tip of the peninsula, we’ll find the glacier-topped Snæfellsjökull volcano that was the inspiration for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” We’ll make a few other stops to appreciate the dreamscape-like scenery of the peninsula including at the black church of Búðakirkja in Búðir and learn about the elves and trolls that inhabit this rocky, windswept land. We'll also get a taste of Iceland by visiting the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum and for those who are brave enough, take a "bite" out of some petrified shark meat. This evening we’ll stop in at a friendly local farmhouse to learn about Icelandic cuisine and enjoy a home-cooked meal. This evening will be another great opportunity to see the Northern Lights if the skies are clear and solar activity is high.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before packing up to return to Reykjavik. The remainder of the day is free to further explore the city. This evening we’ll gather for a final group dinner celebrating our journey through remarkable Iceland.

After a remarkable eight days together, today you’ll catch your flight home or onward to your next adventure destination. We look forward to seeing you on your next adventure!