05JUL23 – KEFLAVIK AIRPORT/THE BLUE LAGOON/HOTEL STRACTA

Upon arrival (usually early morning), transfer from the airport to the hotel in a large private vehicle with an English speaking driver/guide with a stop at the exclusive part of Blue Lagoon on the way.

NOTE: Driver/guide will have a sign in the arrival hall. Now it’s on to Blue Lagoon:

Blue Lagoon where you’ll enjoy a relaxing soak in the natural geothermal formations.

NOTE: Blue Lagoon not far from the airport

Including the “Premium” package: (8-12 noon)

Entrance to Blue Lagoon

Silica Mud Mask

Use of Towel – 1st Drink of your choice Algae Mask

Use of Bathrobe and Slippers

Sparkling wine at LAVA (or non-alcoholic beverage)

Lunch reservation at LAVA at 11:00 (can be enjoyed in your bathrobes – pay direct)

12:15 p.m. – After a very relaxing experience, transfer to your hotel in the country. The driver/guide waits for you with luggage.

On the way to your hotel we’ll visit the famous Lava Tunnel (02:00 p.m.) on the way.

Our standard tour allows you to explore the tunnel in an easy and enjoyable manner. The tunnel is in many places covered in large rocks and difficult to pass. A footbridge and several paths have been built over the roughest terrain making the standard tour accessible by most people. Impressive lighting in this part of the tunnel highlights the changing colors and clearly shows the powerful volcanic activity that formed the tunnel.

2 nights accommodation at Hotel Stracta in SUPERIOR TWIN ROOMS with breakfast included.

06JUL23 – GOLDEN CIRCLE WITH SNORKELING ADVENTURE with stop a Hot Spring

09:00 a.m. This morning you will be met by our own private vehicle again, along with your English speaking driver/guide.

Your journey continues east past the lava fields and to Thingvellir national park, where the Icelandic parliament was established in 930 AD and the Eurasian- and North American tectonic plates meet, which have formed a large crevice in the lava while slowly drifting apart.  After a walk around the area you will go snorkeling the Silfra fissure

OPTIONAL – Snorkeling the Silfra fissure

Departure: 11:00 a.m. (part of small group)

Duration: 2.5 h at the site; 30-40 min in water

Please bring long thermal underwear and thick wool socks (or two pairs of warm socks), as well  as clothes suitable to the weather conditions on the day of your tour – gloves and a hat are a  good idea at all times of the year!

Please note that the Silfra car park is restricted to commercial vehicle parking. Your parking lot  is P5, about a 5 minute walk down the road from Silfra. The National Park charges a fee for car  parking to be paid on Check-in.

Snorkeling in Iceland is an activity that everyone who has learnt to swim can enjoy.

The Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is notorious for its amazing visibility and underwater landscape. Melt water from Langjökull glacier, located about 50 kilometres from Lake Thingvellir, travels for over 30 years through lava fields before flowing into Silfra River. This filtering process makes the Silfra water as clear as water can be.

Snorkelers experience a visibility of over 100 meters and can drink the water while swimming in it.

The fissure is the result of the American and Eurasian continental plates drifting apart. Divers are literally diving between the continents.

Your guide will walk with you to the platform and give you a briefing before gearing up. Since the water is cold, the snorkeling tour is conducted in dry suits. These suits will keep you dry and the thermo undergarments provided will keep you warm and comfortable.

Non-swimmers and pregnant women are not allowed on this tour.

NOTE: Maximum 6 snorkelers per snorkel guide

After the snorkeling part continue onwards to the Geysir area (approx. 55 km; 1 h) where the enormous geothermal heat in the ground has formed several hot springs.  Among them is Geysir, from which the English word geyser takes its meaning and Strokkur, which spouts boiling water 25-30 meters high in the air every 5 minutes or so. From Geysir it’s a short drive to Gullfoss waterfall (approx. 10 km; 15 min) which cascades 32 meters down a canyon in two steps.

The driver/guide then takes you across Haukadalsheidi where you’ll take a photo stop of the opaque and vivid aquamarine colors of Kerid crater lake before you head to your hotel.

On the way to your hotel make a stop at Hrunalaug Hot Spring

07JUL23 – HOTEL STRACTA – SOUTH SHORE WITH GLACIER HIKE – HOTEL KRIA

Breakfast at hotel

Your driver/guide will take you on a South Shore Tour with a glacier hike on the way before you reach your hotel in Vik

Travelling south, you stop at Seljarlandsfoss, one of the tallest waterfalls in Iceland where you take a short path that leads behind it so you can see the waterfall from an interesting view and feel the spray and drizzle on your face.  A short drive east is Skogarfoss, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland which offers a spectacular view as you stand on the grassy fields and gaze upon the waterfall and the mountains around it.

Continue eastwards to the small town of Vik i Myrdal  From the cliff you have a magnificent view of Reynisdrangar, strange lava formations that stand out from the sea, as well as the surrounding countryside and Myrdalsjokull glacier from ground level.

In the afternoon there will be a Glacier Hike: OPTIONAL

Glacier walk tour on Sólheimajökull glacier, the tour lasts around 2½ hours. Approximately 1 hour on the glacier. (This is part of a small group)

This activity tour takes you safely with an expert glacier guide among the crevasses and glacier sculptures. You’ll be totally surrounded by the majestic scenery and experience the power of the living glacier.

It’s a fairly easy to moderate walk with real ice crampons attached to your hiking boots. Included: Guiding services, glacier gear and safety equipment (ice crampons, ice axe, helmets).

Bring with you: waterproof warm clothing and hiking boots.

Iceland is the type of place that makes you feel small and fragile – even powerless, when immersed in all this surreal nature and truly spectacular scenery. So let’s take it up close and personal, feeling and understanding the strongest shaping force on earth – glaciers.

A glacier is a river of ice. It flows. That’s because the highly compressed layers of ice are very flexible. At locations where a glacier flows rapidly, giant cracks called crevasses are formed. This is why it’s so dangerous to walk on a glacier – the crevasses get sometimes covered over by snow.

Your guide may show you with the ice axe spots that may look like solid ice and snow but are in fact a steep drop just covered in a light dusting of snow. (Please bring good hiking boots or good shoes with rubber sole)

After an adventurous day drive to your hotel in the countryside.

2 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Kria in MOUNTAIN VIEW TWIN with daily breakfast included.

08JUL23 – HOTEL KRIA/JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON/ VATNAJOKULL NATIONAL PARK/HOTEL KRIA

09:00 a.m.

Today we will visit two glacier lagoons, Fjallsarlon and the famous Jokulsarlon with its icy beach.

See glaciers, black sand beaches and see the icebergs up close.

Drive further east to Vatnajokull National Park. Then it‘s two glacier lagoons, Fjallsarlon and the famous Jokulsarlon with its icy beach. . You will get the chance to sail on the glacier lagoon in a zodiac (part of small group).

See glaciers, black sand beaches and see the icebergs up close.                            

Visit Diamond Beach

Drive down towards Vik down the east coast.

Walk up to Svartifoss (‚Black Waterfall‘) in Skaftafell, a small but beautiful waterfall surrounded by black hexagon basalt columns.  We stop at Svinafellsjokull glacier where Game of Thrones and parts of a Batman movie were filmed. 

After an adventurous day return to your hotel in Vik.

09JUL23 –  HOTEL KRIA/TOUR WITH ATV ADVENTURE/REYKJAVIK

Breakfast at hotel

09:00 a.m. – South Shore Tour in a regular vehicle with an English speaking driver/guide.

During the day: 2 hour fun ATV ride on a black sand beach visiting the old plane wreck. (ATV´s  for sharing – part of small group)

The tour starts with a briefing and safety instructions at the ARCANUM base nearby Mýrdalsjökull glacier in South Iceland. From the base we head down to the black lava sands, crossing small rivers on the way. The black lava sand derives from previous glacial outbursts of the dormant volcano Katla.

Down at the black beach we stop and enjoy the amazing view up to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier (weather dependent) and along the coast to the southernmost part of Iceland, the small peninsula Dyrhólaey.

On we go along the coast to the famous aircraft wreck, from there we continue to the river Jökulsá and up to the foot of the mountain.

On the return ride we follow the mountain back to the base.

This tour gives you the opportunity to get in touch with the raw black lava sand landscape by the south coast, an unforgettable experience of conflicting landscapes where the nature envelopes the traveler in its warm embrace.

After an adventurous day continue to your hotel in the capital of Iceland.

2 night´s accommodation at Hotel Alda in DELUXE TWIN with daily breakfast included.

10JUL23 – REYKJAVIK

Breakfast at hotel.

10:30 a.m. pick up from Hotel Black Pearl for a 3 hour Walking Tour with a fun local guide.

The tour takes you on foot around the heart of Reykjavík with an English speaking Icelander. The main focus is the general history of Iceland and the evolution of Reykjavík as a town. We also tell you about elves, vikings, food, nightlife, music, economic aspects and political affairs. Finally there are the funny facts about Iceland and the places you must see in Reykjavík. The tour is laid out in an informative and comic way, where there is also room for personal questions.

This 3 hours private tour will allow for small stops on the way with a some light food sampling: Pastry, fish pan, famous hot dog, lamb soup, lobster soup, controversial samples, tapas of lamb / char

You will be full after this tour.

OPTIONAL: 2:30 p.m. – Drive to the brand new Sky Lagoon.

Immerse Yourself in Warmth With The Dramatic Northern Ocean Stretching Out Before You. Join Us in Spring 2021 for Rejuvenation & Icelandic Inspiration at the Edge of the World!. Relax & Rejuvenate. 

Access to your private locker room and start your “7 step ritual”

05:00 p.m. – Sky Pass for access to our luxurious private changing rooms featuring signature Sky Lagoon amenities.

Step 1: Slow down, relax in the lagoon

Welcome! Enter through the cave-like entrance to the lagoon. It’s time to settle in. Step into the warm waters and relax. Breathe in the refreshing ocean air. Float through a breathtaking canyon and take in a view toward Mount Keilir. To the other side, the rhythmic theatre of the ocean sets your breath free. Step 1 is about the journey from the changing room out towards the infinity edge. It’s gently entering a state of serenity and calm where you feel relaxed and open to what is to come. Take your time!

Step 2: Cool down with the cold plunge

Next comes cold therapy, a deeply traditional step for Icelanders. You have choices! Wander in the fresh Icelandic air. Or if you’re brave like a Viking, take a dip in the cold pool. It’ll stimulate your immune system, decrease blood flow in your body and tighten skin. The cold plunge is also proven to boost your happiness—it’s a natural high! We recommend 10 seconds to wake up your senses, although you can stay for up to 30 seconds. If you’re recovering from a long-haul flight or after hiking, you’ll really reap the benefits. Conquer your mind, invigorate your senses and wake up!

Step 3: Relax with a view in the sauna. After a cold awakening, visit the sauna for 5 to 10 minutes. Allow the heat to open your pores, remove toxins and cleanse your skin. Enjoy breathtaking ocean views while the heat works its magic. With an enormous window with unobstructed ocean views, this is the most amazing sauna in Iceland. Take 10 minutes here to let the heat work its magic and heighten feelings of wellbeing. Gentle acoustics echo the sound of the ocean and create a sense of calm.

Step 4: Refresh in a cold fog-mist

Next, balance the heat from the sauna by stepping slowly through our cold fog-mist space. Take a deep breath here and refresh your senses! The cold mist rejuvenates the skin and helps prepare you for what comes next. It’s stimulating—another natural high!

Step 5: The Sky Body Scrub

It’s time for reinvigoration. By applying our signature Sky Body Scrub, your skin will be exfoliated and glowing. The highlight of The Ritual, we’ve developed our unique sea salt scrub to give your skin a soft healthy feeling. With its light and comforting spring-like scent, it’ll work wonders. Use slow circular movements to gently massage the scrub into your skin.

Step 6: Steam room

With your skin tingling from the Sky Body Scrub, steam will once more open your skin. Here, The Ritual’s key therapeutic elements are absorbed and the hydrating benefits of the Sky Body Scrub maximized.

With the scrub still on, you’ll find that the moisture and warmth help you breathe deeply and easily. Relax. Clear your sinuses and feel the health in your lungs. The steam improves your overall body function. It feels great!

Step 7: Shower and relax in the lagoon

Finally, rinse off the scrub in the shower. Then, step back into the warm geothermal lagoon. Lean back, close your eyes, breathe deeply, feel the results and enjoy the moment! Let all the benefits of this unique journey sink in. You’ll feel every single muscle in your body is relaxed, rejuvenated and energized.

When you’re ready, head to the Lagoon Bar for a refreshment.

These seven steps, taken in sequence and at a slow pace, can lead to deep relaxation and wellbeing. As Icelanders have done for centuries, discover the power of tradition and be inspired by these incredible surroundings.

06:00 p.m. – After experiencing the newest spa in Iceland drive back to your hotel.

11JUL – REYKJAVIK/KEFLAVIK AIRPORT/HOME

Morning to enjoy what Reykjavik has to offer.

Afternoon pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport in a private large van with an English speaking driver in time for your flight.

Bon Voyage!