Iceland Adventure
Destination - Iceland
Seven Days - Six Nights
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to call your Tour Director and leave a detailed message, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. If for any reason, you do not receive an answer in a timely matter, please call the company emergency line and leave a detailed message, so we may assist you.
Tour Director Name and Phone
Company Emergency Line
What's Included
*Roundtrip flights to and from Iceland
* Six nights in 4-star Accommodations
* Seven breakfasts
*Welcome Dinner in Reykjavik
* Farewell Dinner in Reykjavik
* Lunch at Friðheimar
*Blue Lagoon Experience
* Reykjavik City Tour
* Perlan Interactive experience - Wonders of Iceland
* Perlan Planetarium
* Þingvellir National Park
* Gullfoss Waterfall
* Geysir Geothermal Area
* Northern Lights Hunt
* Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur
* Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
* Kvernufoss/ Skógafoss Waterfall as time allows
* Reynisfjara - Black Sand Beach and Rock Formation of Reynisdrangar
* Photo Op of Sólheimajökull glacier from afar.
* Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon & glacier float trip
* Breiðamerkursandur, also known as the Diamond Beach
* Jeep Excursion onto a glacier
* Tour of Friðheimar
* Tour of Hellisheiðarvirkjun Power Plant and Geothermal Exhibition
Highlights
Our tour kicks off with a welcome dinner in Reykjavik, Iceland after a soak in the geothermal seawater of the world-famous Blue Lagoon. The next day we will explore the fascinating city of Reykjavik by motorcoach and on foot visiting the National Museum, the Leifur Eiríksson statue, Sólfarið, Hallgrímskirkja, the old harbor area, City Hall, and see the Höfði house where Mikhail Gorbachov and Ronald Reagan met in 1986. On our stop at Perlan, we will be dazzled by an interactive and immersive experience called the "Wonders of Iceland." The following day we are heading out to explore part of the Golden Circle Tour where we will see Iceland's most famous waterfall, Gullfoss located in Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, if the weather is right, we will hunt for the elusive Northern Lights. The following day we head out to see Seljalandsfoss, a famous waterfall that allows people to walk behind it, a surreal and wet experience! Not to be outdone, we will also visit the scenic waterfall of Skógafoss. Our final stop of the day is Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with iconic rock formations thought to be the remains of petrified trolls! Once again, we will hunt for the Northern Lights, weather permitting. The next morning our first stop is at Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur where we will learn about Iceland's many active volcanoes. Next, we will take a glacier float on the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and afterward visit Diamond Beach, where glistening blocks of ice glitter on the beach before they melt into the sea. The fun continues as we board super jeeps for an expertly guided tour of a nearby glacier. The next day, leaving the southern coast of Iceland, we head back to Reykjavik. On the way, we will stop at Friðheimar, known for using geothermal heating for the cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers, and enjoy their famous tomato soup. Our final stop for this trip is at the Hellisheiðarvirkjun Power Plant to see a Geothermal Exhibition that explains how it is used in Iceland. Back at our hotel, we will conclude the trip with a festive farewell dinner where we can share our adventures.
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details a document that has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However, it is subject to change and does not form part of the contract between the client and Tours of Distinction. The itinerary featured is correct at this time. Occasionally itineraries change as we make adjustments according to input from travelers, and our tour directors, as well as with lodging and other availability. Our goal is to give you the most rewarding travel experience that is seamless and fun.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days before travel, in case any changes affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route as described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary. On occasion, it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations.
Note: Accommodations and restaurants can vary per departure date until the tour start date, they are not final and should be considered as examples of better than or comparable hotels and restaurants.
Day 1 | Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland
Arrive in Reykjavik and begin your group tour of Iceland as you head toward the famous Blue Lagoon. The lagoon is a geothermal wonder of nature, with pleasantly warm mineral-rich geothermal seawater in the middle of a lava field. The high natural levels of silica, minerals, and algae give the Lagoon its rich blue color – hence the name Blue Lagoon. Later, a city tour will show us the highlights of the capital. The remainder of the day is yours to explore at your leisure before we get together for a welcome dinner at a Viking-themed restaurant.
Overnight in Reykjavik at Fosshotel, Reykjavik
Welcome Dinner
Day 2 | Reykjavik
After breakfast at the hotel, our day begins with a tour of the city, both by walking and by bus. You will be visiting the National Museum, the Leifur Eiríksson statue, Höfði House where Mikhail Gorbachov and Ronald Reagan met in 1986, Sólfarið, Hallgrímskirkja, the old harbor area, City Hall, Nordic House, and Perlan - where you enjoy the Wonders of Iceland interactive and immersive experience. The Wonders of Iceland Exhibition in Perlan presents you with a man-made indoor ice tunnel and a perfect replica of the largest bird cliff in Europe, Látrabjarg. You can find Iceland’s first planetarium where the uniqueness of Icelandic nature is displayed and dive deep into Icelandic history with the most knowledgeable and friendly guides. The first exhibition is an extraordinary ice tunnel. This magnificent creation takes you on a visual journey of the past, present, and the possible future that awaits the Icelandic glaciers. The ice tunnel is 100 meters long and was built with over 350 tons of snow retrieved from the Bláfjöll mountain area.
Another way that the exhibition allows you to explore the wonders of Iceland is through its impressive interactive glacier exhibition. Guests can learn all about the Icelandic glaciers, from the way they are formed to how they affect the land and eventually how climate change has affected them. All this is displayed with the most cutting-edge technology, uniquely portraying Icelandic nature. The Planetarium is the first of its kind in Iceland. It takes you on an educational journey of the Aurora Borealis, featuring the Northern Lights in the most stellar of ways. You will learn all about them while enjoying a view of these natural phenomena from the comfort of a cozy cinema seat. The exploration of the ocean through the cinematic powers of modern technology is the closest we can get to this part of Icelandic nature. View anything from tiny algae to a gigantic whale in a setting that feels almost too real to believe!
Overnight in Reykjavik at Fosshotel Reykjavik
Breakfast at Hotel
Lunch and Dinner on Your Own
Day 3 | Selfoss
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. Today's adventure is to travel on part of the Golden Circle tour route. The Golden Circle is a 300-kilometer-long route of Iceland's three most popular natural attractions: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. The Geysir geothermal area is a hot spring paradise. The area is most famous for being the home of the geyser from which all other geysers derive their name - Geysir. Although Geysir itself is inactive, the neighboring Strokkur more than makes up for it. Every five to ten minutes it bursts a column of boiling water to heights that can reach over 40 meters.
Gullfoss waterfall is one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting down 32 meters into the river gorge of the river Hvítá. Unbelievably, Gullfoss was almost lost to us all in the early 20th century when British developers sought to harness its incredible force for hydroelectric power. Thanks to the efforts of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the landowner of the farm adjacent to the waterfall, the British developers eventually withdrew their plans.
The largest attraction on the Golden Circle route is the Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Iceland's national assembly, which eventually evolved into a parliament, was founded at this site in the year 930 and remained there until the year 1798 before it was moved to Reykjavík. This makes it the original site of what is now the world’s oldest legislature in existence. It also served as the ceremonial site of Iceland's declaration of independence in the year 1944 and the appointment of Iceland's first president.
Þingvellir is in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This has resulted in the area being full of dramatic cliffs, flowing rivers, and deep gorges as the area has been slowly tearing apart for millions of years due to the tectonic plates drifting away from each other at a pace of one inch per year. This makes Þingvellir the only place in the world where you can walk between two continental plates. Tonight, weather permitting, we head out on a hunt for the Northern Lights with our guide.
Overnight in Selfoss at Hotel Selfoss
Breakfast
Lunch and Dinner on your own
Day 4 | Jökulsárlón
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. The first stop of the day is a visit to the Lava Centre in Hvolsvöllur where you enjoy an interactive and exciting experience while learning about how volcanic eruptions have played a major role in shaping the history of the island. Examine the various volcanos, eruptions and lava flows, volcanic and rift systems, faults, and glacial floods that make Iceland a showcase of volcanism.
Our next destination is Seljalandsfoss. It is a truly spectacular waterfall where it is possible to walk behind it when conditions allow, offering a truly unique experience. Our next stop is Skógafoss, a location that was featured in the opening scene of the first episode of Season 8 of the Game of Thrones series! Afterward, you can possibly go for a short hike to Kvernufoss, a secluded waterfall close to Skógafoss that is not well known outside of Iceland and thus offers the opportunity of taking pictures away from the usual crowds and experience a more serene atmosphere than many of the better-known destinations [the possibility of visiting this waterfall depends on weather conditions and thus has to be evaluated on the day of]. They are some of the most photogenic waterfalls in Iceland and are deservedly among the most popular locations for travelers visiting the country.
Our final destination of the day is the black sand beach of Reynisfjara where we will see the rock formation Reynisdrangar. Legend says it was created when two trolls attempted to drag a schooner to shore that they had seen sailing nearby but got caught in the sun and were petrified along with the vessel. During your drive this day you will be able to see Sólheimajökull glacier from afar. Weather permitting, we will head out to hunt for the Northern Lights with our local guide.
Overnight in Jökulsárlón at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon.
Breakfast
Lunch and Dinner on own
Day 5 | Reykjavík This isn't right.... because on Day 6 we head back to Reykjavik
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is our first destination of the day, it is one of the most beautiful places in the country. Gigantic blocks of ice that break off from a nearby glacier float through the lagoon until they reach the nearby Breiðamerkursandur, also known as the Diamond Beach, where they will eventually melt into the sea. Visiting this attraction is a unique opportunity to experience the almost ethereal aura emanating from those large chunks of ice stranded on the sand, gleaming like diamonds when the sunlight hits them creating a breathtaking scene.
After the lagoon area visit, we will go on an excursion, driving onto a nearby glacier in super jeeps to see spectacular ice caves while accompanied by an experienced guide. The temperature inside the caves goes below zero degrees (Celsius) so it is extremely important to be appropriately dressed.
Overnight in ?????????
Breakfast at Hotel
Lunch and Dinner on Own
Day 6 | Reykjavík
The day begins with breakfast before we make our way back to Reykjavik. Along the way, we stop at Friðheimar, known for using geothermal heating for the cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers. For lunch, we will enjoy their famous tomato soup. After, we continue to the power plant Hellisheiðarvirkjun for a Geothermal Exhibition about how this type of energy is used in Iceland. Back in Reykjavík, the remainder of the day is at leisure before we get together for a farewell dinner.
Overnight in Reykjavik at Fosshotel Reykjavik.
Breakfast at hotel
Lunch at Friðheimar
Farewell Dinner
Day 7 | Depart Reykjavik
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel before we transfer to the airport
Breakfast
Notes
1. Our ground transportation for this trip is a coach. It is a good idea to bring along your mobile phone, camera, charging devices, and any other necessities.
2. Dress warm and wear many layers; the temperature will be cold. There can be snow or rain as well as strong winds. The average daytime temperature is 28 Fahrenheit. That said, March - October are prime times to see the Northern Lights.
3. Bring hand and foot warmers and don't be afraid to use them.
4. Protect your face and head from the wind and cold - wear a wool hat and mittens or gloves and wool socks, wool is self-wicking and will keep you insulated and warm.
Group Leader Description
This Tours of Distinction tour is accompanied by one of our professional tour directors. This person is responsible for coordinating traveler's accommodations, attractions, meals, and luggage on the trip. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have general knowledge of the places we will be visiting. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, and introduce you to our local tour guides who will have in-depth knowledge of the areas and attractions we are visiting. The Group Leader is also responsible for keeping the tour itinerary on time and for checking the attendance of all travelers to make sure no one is left behind. It is also the Group Tour Leader's responsibility to maintain appropriate traveler conduct while on the tour.
Transportation
If airfare is included in the cost of your tour, we will book the most convenient flights available within the budget allotted for this trip. For tours where no air is included, please contact Tours of Distinction for assistance.
For this trip, we will be using a coach from one of our trusted partners. We choose our partners with great care to ensure that your transportation throughout the trip is smooth and uneventful. However, we are not responsible if the coach has mechanical issues and will work with the executives of the company to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.
We do not practice seat rotation due to COVID-19, especially on a trip where the coach is in use for multiple days. There are some long rides on this trip and the coach will be stopping along the way. The coach will have charging and internet capability.
Solo Travelers
If you are a solo traveler and do not want to pay a single supplement and are open to sharing your accommodations with another traveler, Tours of Distinction will do their best to match you up with someone else. We cannot guarantee that we can find another traveler for you to room with and take no responsibility for any situations that may arise between roommates.
About Accommodations
On this trip, Tours of Distinction is using a 4-star hotel near the city center of Reykjavik via public transportation or Uber. Other hotels on this trip are located in small scenic Icelandic towns. Our chosen hotels may vary in size, character, and amenities. All our rooms are booked and chosen because they offer double occupancy with private bathrooms. Sometimes lodging facilities are changed before departure. These changes are predicated on availability and on the advice of our clients and the tour director's past experiences. When a change is made, you will be placed in the same caliber of hotel or better.
The Weather (Insert chart here)
Currency
It is always good to bring some cash on a trip. Some travelers spend more than others, so please consider your own spending habits when it comes to purchasing souvenirs, shopping, drinking, and tipping. It is also prudent to take along some emergency cash for circumstances out of our control.
The currency of Iceland is the krona (ISK), often seen as "kr." The banknotes are 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 ISK and the coins are 1,5,10,50, and 100. Credit cards and ATMs are widely available throughout the country. If using an ATM check your overseas charges before leaving home. It is best to exchange money in Reykjavik or Akureyri as it is impossible to find currency exchange in smaller towns. Buses don't accept credit cards, you have to pay with exact change.
VAT Returns
Keep your receipts for your purchases in Iceland. When departing Iceland, you can claim your VAT refund if the item is more than 12,00 kr. Passengers must reclaim their VAT before checking their luggage. For more information https://www.isavia.is/en/keflavik-airport/services-and-facilities/currency-and-vat-refunds
Converters and Adaptors.
Iceland uses Northern European electrical standards - 50 Hz/220 volts so converters may be required. Some mobile phones and laptops may already be compatible with multiple voltages, so you will just need a travel adaptor. Iceland uses the standard Europlug socket with two round prongs. You can use adaptors labeled as types C or F sometimes called Northern European adapters.
What to Take
Packing List
Travel Essentials in Carry-on or Travel Bag/Purse
Passport
Medicine
Driver's License
Credit cards/ATM cards
Cash
Glasses/sunglasses/contacts
Insurance cards
House/Car keys
Cell phone and chargers
Adaptors and converters as needed
Travel Documents
Emergency contacts
Credit card/bank contacts
Travel Pillow, Back pillow, earplugs
Water bottle
Hand sanitizer
Tolitery bag and toiletries
Compression socks if flying
Chargers for Phones, Computers, Camera
Pens
Lip balm
Itinerary
Specialized Packing List
Cold means nothing if you pack for it!
Underwear, undershirts/bras
Warm Sleepwear
Indoor shoes - choose a pair that is light and easy to pack and even carry along in your day bag.
Boots - Consider getting boots that are rated for the cold weather to keep your feet toasty warm.
Walking - Sticks - If you are unsteady on your feet or don't like walking on uneven terrain, bring a pair of collapsable walking sticks.
Parka/Jacket - We prefer a down or temperature-regulated Thinsulate parka that is big enough for you to layer. Make sure there is enough air between your body and the jacket to act as another layer of insulation. Also, make sure your parka has a hood. In our book, the longer the better!
Long Underwear - We prefer silk for warmth!
Snow or Wind pants best and/or Corduroy Pants - Jeans aren't great in cold weather, snow or wind pants with long underwear are best.
Wool Scarf
Neck warmer
Gloves or mittens - we love down-filled mittens!
Wool hat - yes, even with a hood, wear a hat!
Wool Socks
Rain Poncho - We find that these work best for the wind and rain.
Toiletries
Moisturizer & lip balm
Sealable plastic baggies to hold packed liquids
Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss
Deodorant
Brushes and combs, hairdryers not recommended
Face cleanser and make-up, make-up remover
Shaving supplies
Bandages/antibiotic ointment
Asprin and Vitamins
Tipping
Tipping in Iceland is not mandatory or expected, but it is appreciated. The standard rate of tax on Icelandic products is 24%. A standard tip is 10%. On a TOD tour, all tipping is included for baggage handling, drivers, tour directors, local guides, and meals. It is customary to tip your waiter, waitress, or bartender when dining on your own. You may also want to tip your chambermaid at your hotel, the range is $2 to $5 per day. At the end of each trip, it is up to your discretion to tip the local guide (range is $2-$5 for the experience), tour director, and bus driver (guideline is $5-$10 a day), if you feel that they did an outstanding job.
Unacceptable Behavior
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trip. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Lewd, drunken behavior is also unacceptable.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance isn’t just for trips overseas. It’s prudent to buy travel insurance for every trip because you never know what might happen when you’re far from home! We strongly recommend that the policy covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, accidents, medical evacuations, loss of luggage, and personal effects.
Feedback
Your constructive feedback is important to Tours of Distinction, we love hearing from you. It is so important to us that we will give you a 5% discount on your next Tours of Distinction trip. Your tour evaluation will be emailed to you upon your return home. If you don't receive it, please give us a call at 800-426-4324 so we can send it to you.
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Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a Tours of Distinction trip. For minors traveling with a guardian or parents, they must be 21 or older. The minimum age for group travel is 12.
