Iceland - Land of the Midnight Sun

Our adventure begins today in Reykjavik. We use the public FlyBus shuttle bus service to transfer from Keflavik Airport (KEF) to our hotel. On arrival at Keflavik Airport please proceed to the FlyBus desk which is located in the arrival hall. A FlyBus representative will give you a voucher and direct you to the buses which leave every 35-40 minutes. The drive to the hotel takes approximately 45 minutes, via the main bus terminal where you might be asked to board a smaller bus for the final part of the journey to your hotel. On the drive from the airport to the hotel, you'll get your first glimpse of the blackened and rocky volcanic scenery found on this part of the island. There are no activities planned today so you're free to arrive at any time. After checking in to the hotel, you might have time to explore a little of the world's most northerly capital. Bustling with cosmopolitan energy and surrounded by pure, unpolluted nature, Reykjavik is a city of striking contrasts. Small colourful corrugated iron houses nestle next to futuristic glass buildings; state-of-the-art facilities lie beside rugged volcanic terrain and international influences mingle with Icelandic national traditions. All this creates a unique culture where the old embraces the new. On this holiday, our tour leader will join you for days 2 to 8 but this evening, you're free to settle in and enjoy this charming city.

This morning, we'll meet our leader at 8:30am for a welcome meeting and to get excited about the plans for the week. We'll begin by exploring Reykjavik on a city tour before travelling to Iceland's major highlights in the Golden Circle, starting with Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir translates to 'the fields of parliament' and was once the meeting place of more than 30 clan leaders who came together to reconcile differences and create a united nation after years of turbulent fighting. For this reason, Thingvellir plays a very important role in Iceland's heritage, but its geology is equally fascinating. The west half of Iceland sits on the North American tectonic plate and the east half sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate. Here at Thingvellir is the only place in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Rift can be seen above sea level and we can take a walk between two continents. We then continue to Solheimar Eco Village, a unique sustainable community where people with and without special needs live and work together in an inclusive and creative environment. The village is known for its handmade candles, ceramics, woodcrafts, herbal products and organic vegetables. During our visit we'll learn about the community's inspiring philosophy, sustainability projects and long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Our visit helps support local employment, traditional craftsmanship and the village's important social initiatives, contributing directly to the continuation of this remarkable community. We'll also have time to relax in the village's cosy coffee shop. We'll move on to the 'Beauty' of Iceland, Gullfoss Waterfall. Arguably Iceland's most beautiful waterfall, here the water plunges into a deep ravine with tremendous force whilst its mists form colourful rainbows in the sun. Close by is the Great Geysir. With the claim to fame of being the first spouting spring known to Europeans, Geysir has given all such springs their name. However, it's the Strokkur, meaning 'The Butter Churn', which is the main attraction these days, due to its impressive 30 metre/98 foot eruptions every few minutes.

Today, we'll see one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, Skogafoss. Standing at 62 metres/203 feet tall it's an impressive sight, and if we are lucky with the light we should spot rainbows in the spray. Seljalandsfoss waterfall is almost as tall as Skogafoss and here, weather permitting, we'll have the chance to walk behind the curtain of water. The pathway shows off the falls from the front, then circles around the back and emerges on the other side. Because of the constant spray, the path is always slippery and can be closed in winter when the path freezes over. We'll also stop at Vik I Myrdal, a rocky beach with incredible basalt cliffs that are said to have inspired Reykjavik's impressive cathedral. The beach is often incredibly windy and there are great photo opportunities of the waves crashing against the cliffs. We'll take a short walk to the beach and from the shore, we'll see the oddly shaped Reynisdrangar stacks out in the ocean and if we're lucky, we'll spot the resident puffins, fulmars and guillemots. Our final drive takes us to Skaftafell where we spend the next two nights.

This morning, we'll visit Skaftafell Nature Reserve, an area of wilderness inside the larger Vatnajokull National Park. There are numerous walks in the park taking us either to the mighty waterfall or to the face of one of the park's glaciers - our tour leader will decide on the day which route we take, depending on the weather and conditions. After lunch, we'll travel to Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon known as Iceland's Crown Jewels. Here the lagoon waters are speckled with icebergs and the surrounding black sand beach is littered with large, crystal-like chunks of ice. We'll take a 30-minute boat ride to truly appreciate this spectacular landscape - a real highlight of our tour of Iceland - and to see the blue-hued icebergs up close. Whilst out on the water, we'll also search for seals lounging on the floating ice. Then we return to our hotel in Skaftafell.

The lesser-visited Eastern Fjords are a stark contrast to the flat, black sand beaches of the south coast and as we travel today, we'll see where glaciers carved deep into the mountainous green terrain over thousands of years as we follow the natural bends of the fjords. Small fishing villages are dotted along the shorelines at the bottom of the white-capped mountains and herds of reindeer graze on the hillsides. Along the way, we'll visit some of the villages to experience the slow pace of life in this rural area and enjoy the natural surrounding beauty. Djupivogur is a historic trading village dating back to 1589 and, due to being nestled between two large lagoons, is very rich in birdlife. In Faskrudsfjordur, also an old trading post, we'll have some free time before travelling to our hotel for the night. Please note, Iceland's Eastern Fjords are a surprisingly foggy landscape (with around 200 days of fog each year) and it might not always be possible to appreciate the views.

Today we'll spend time exploring Lake Myvatn, a volcanic lake formed 3,800 years ago when a lava flow blocked the valley. It's now one of the most fertile spots in the world and attracts a wide range of nesting ducks. We'll take a short walk on lava fields and discover Dimmuborgir's dark castle. Created from lava, the arches and columns here are said to resemble a castle and the landscape is a great spot for photography. Afterwards, we'll visit the thundering giant that is Dettifoss Waterfall, Europe's most powerful falls with an amazing 44,000 litres of water tumbling over the crest every second. Dettifoss is Iceland's 'Beast' due to sheer cliffs and clouds of mist that can be seen from several miles away, whilst Godafoss in the south is known as 'Beauty' and here we will need to wear our waterproofs to enjoy the spray and roar up close. This afternoon, we'll arrive in Iceland's whale capital, Husavik, where we'll stay for the next two nights. Husavik is Iceland's oldest settlement and is picturesque with its wood-framed house and quaint position on the eastern shore of Shaky Bay. Depending on the weather conditions, your tour leader may switch the activities on days 6 and 7 around to maximise your experience.

Our first stop today is at Asbyrgi, an enormous rock formation said to be the hoof print of Sleipnir, God Odin's eight-legged horse, whilst other legends tell tales of these towering vertical cliffs being home to Iceland's hidden people, the Huldufolk. Our tour leader will tell us more! We'll have a chance today to experience Iceland's geothermal waters with a twist at the GeoSea baths close to Husavik village. These baths are set right at the water's edge and are filled with naturally heated sea water which was discovered in the mid-20th century when locals were drilling in the hope of finding fresh water. With the coast on one side, and volcanic mountains on the other, this is a wonderful way to relax for a few hours. Depending on the time of year, there may be the opportunity today to take an optional whale-watching trip for anyone who wants to try to spot these enormous, gentle giants.

We'll make our way back to Reykjavik today. The drive will take approximately five to six hours but we'll be rewarded with more of Iceland's beautiful, volcanic scenery as we go. We'll break the journey with a stop in the charming city of Akureyri where we spend some time to visit the botanical garden or just wander the streets admiring the wooden houses and shops. We'll also stop at Grabrok crater and stretch our legs with a short walk up to the crater. After checking in to our hotel for the night, and waving goodbye to our tour leader, you have the evening free. Why not head out to the harbour area and try out one of the city's great restaurants?

Our trip ends after breakfast this morning. The transfer back to Keflavik Airport (KEF) will be by the public FlyBus shuttle bus service and your tour leader will provide you with the details of your pick-up time and your voucher for this service. If you're leaving before the hotel breakfast starts, coffee and pastries are available in reception.