Iceland Family Adventure Tour

Arrive in Iceland and join tour at Keflavik airport. From here we take the bus to the Blue Lagoon where we can have a wonderful start to our tour, relaxing in nature’s thermal baths. Then drive to our accomodation for the night.

Note: On some deapartures the Blue Lagoon will be visited on day 8 instead of day 1 please see joining instructions for details.

Overnight Simple Guest House

Driving to Hvolsvollur this morning we will stop to pick up some picnic supplies, before continuing to the stunning Seljalandsfoss waterfall. We will have the unique opportunity here to actually walk behind the falls, for an altogether different perspective. Continuing over the river Steinholtsa we shall take a walk into the narrow, breathtaking Stakkholtsgja gorge. Our main attraction today though is the area of Thorsmork, a natural reserve, shielded on three sides by glaciers and mountains and surrounded by ice caps and glacial rivers. Translating as the Woods of Thor, Thorsmork, is without doubt a highlight of our trip and certainly one of the most awe-inspiring locations in Iceland. A multitude of small gullies and valleys, overgrown with low birch-trees, snake down to the sea. There are some 170 species of plants, mosses and lichens in the reserve and in the distance, in the upper reaches of the valley, surreal rock formations have earned the valley the name of Gooalnd – Land of the Gods. Later we head to the village of Laugarvatn Iceland’s National School for Sports and sits on extensive thermal springs that the region is famous for. Please note: The vehicle used today for the Thorsmark trip is very heavy duty. This vehicle is necessary due to the terrain and also the river crossing we are required to do. This journey today can be bumpy but this route is necessary in order for us to see the amazing sights on offer.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, regarded by many as one of the most beautiful falls in the world. It cascades into a deep gorge with tremendous force, its spray forming colourful rainbows in the afternoon sun. En route we will also visit the Geysir Geothermal Area, the first spouting spring to became known to Europeans and thereby originating the name that all spouting springs became known as. There are some very small spouting springs in the area which only reach about a foot in height, but the main attraction is Strokkur, meaning ‘The Butter Churn’, which spouts every 3-5 minutes up to a height of some 30 metres. After our visit we will then continue to Laugavatn. On arrival the rest of the day will be left free for your own exploration and enjoyment.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving Laugarvatn today we drive to arguably the most important site in Iceland today – Thingvellir, meaning ‘Parliament Plains’. This was the site of Iceland’s first National Assembly in the year 930. It lies in a rift valley, about 5km wide with Lake Thingvallavatn bordering it on the south side and a mountain range to the north. The river Oxara, which flows past the site of the Parliament, supplied its participants with ample fresh water. Originating in a nearby volcano it flows into the rift valley over the edge of a 9,000 year old lava field. The largest of the ravines bordering the rift valley is called Almannagja Ravine near where the Parliament was held (there were at least three places where the Law Circle convened throughout the centuries, all quite near to each other). Having spent some time walking through the area we will continue on to Guesthouse Hof via Hvalfjordur (the whale fjord).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is spent driving on the Snaefellsnes peninsula – the peninsula of the snowy mountain. At 1,000 kilometres in length, the peninsula is dominated by the imposing Snaefellsnes Glacier, made famous by Jules Verne in his book: Journey to the Centre of the Earth. It may be possible to snow-mobile (optional) according to snow conditions. We drive along the south coast of the peninsula, visiting Buthir, where we will take a short walk on the light coloured beach, a rarity in this part of the world, given that much of Iceland is made up of black basalt lava. Continuing to Arnastapi, a tiny coastal village with an equally tiny harbour, we will take a scenic walk in search of some of the numerous birds that nest and feed along this coast, including kittiwakes and arctic terns. Farther along the coast, at Djuparlonssandur the sea has sculpted the rocks into bizarre formations. With the glacier dominating on the landward side we drive through the villages of Hellissandur and Rif.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We enjoy a boat trip around the islands of Breithafjordur (the wide fjord) this morning, once home to ‘Eric the Red’, a Viking of such dubious moral character that he was actually expelled from both Norway and Iceland for dispatching his enemies on a less than fair manner and actually went on to discover Greenland. We end our trip with a little ‘fishing’ as the crew cast their nets overboard to bring in fresh scallops and sea urchins, straight from the sea! We then drive to the valley of Borgarfjordur, the setting of Egil’s Saga, where we explore a multitude of natural springs under a birch covered lava field. These springs create the magnificent Hraunfossar (lava falls), a waterfall hundreds of metres wide that seemingly appears out of nowhere. A ten minute walk farther up the river brings us to the Barnafoss (Children’s Fall), which has carved out strange figures from the rock. Then it is back to Reykjavik, via Deildartunguhver, one of the largest hot springs in the world.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Today we are free to explore Iceland’s thriving capital city. You might like to take a self-guided walk around the colourful streets of Reykjavik (a map and general information will be provided locally). The world’s most northerly capital was established by the Norse chieftain Ingolfur Amarson around the year 874AD. The oldest part of the town is near the harbour, around the lake known as Tjornin, a favourite spot for strolling. Ducks, geese, swans and Arctic terns can be observed at close quarters and the harbour is always busy with trawlers and other vessels. The city has numerous options for children to enjoy, including the Volcano Show and Saga Museum. Alternatively you may prefer to try a little whale watching (optional). There can be few experiences on earth to top the sight of one of these mighty leviathans in their natural habitat, and what better way to finish our tour.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends today after breakfast.

Note: on some departures the Blue Lagoon will be visted today on the way to the airport. Please see joining instrcutions for details.

Included meals: Breakfast