Arrive in Keflavik and collect your hire car for the week. To help you relax into the holiday mood we have included a visit to the nearby Sky Lagoon, because when you visit Iceland you must have the chance to experience an authentic Icelandic geothermal bathing experience! Depending on your arrival time, you can either stop off here on your way to your hotel in Reykjavik, or check in to your hotel first and then nip back to the Sky Lagoon. Here you can look forward to taking part in the seven-step Sky Ritual, designed to follow traditional bathing culture and leave you refreshed and invigorated as you make your way between hot and cold bathing pools against a spectacular Atlantic backdrop. Once you have soaked away any stresses, you can go out and explore the fantastic city of Reykjavik. Be sure to take a stroll to the Hallgrimskirkja - star of a thousand postcards. This impressive church is a real landmark, dominating the skyline and offering panoramic views from its 75 metre-tall tower. In addition, we recommend visiting the Old Harbour where you will find the Harpa Concert Hall, one of the most iconic buildings in the city, and where you may even be able to enjoy a concert if you are lucky. End your day dining at one of Reykjavik's many excellent restaurants and enjoy your first taste of the delicious and sometimes unusual Iceland cuisine.

Today you say farewell to the city and drive north to the spectacular Snaefellsnes Peninsula, which translates as 'snow mountain peninsula'. Today's selection of walks will allow you to explore the contrasting landscapes along its south coast. Before heading to the peninsula, you might decide to explore Borgarnes, one of the first places the Vikings settled on the island, and home to museums and galleries - excellent for a wet day and very interesting. Our personal favourite is the Settlement Centre (tickets not included), where you can learn about how Iceland was first colonised, and about a saga set in the local area. More information about the Settlement Centre can be found here: https://www.landnam.is/eng/. Borgarnes is also a good place for visiting the supermarket to stock up on supplies for your adventures. Continuing on your way, you may wish to break up your journey with a walk to the perfectly formed crater of Eldborg, which rises 60m above the surrounding lava. (12km total out and back on a well-maintained walking track from a roadside farm where there is an official parking area). You will soon see how the Snaefellsnes Peninsula lives up to its name. It is the epitome of Icelandic landscape, with its diverse mix of glaciers, mountains, lava fields and fjords, volcanic rock cliffs and a stunning wild coast with peaceful coves and sandy beaches. If you are lucky when you stop off at Ytri Tunga you can admire seals frolicking on the beach, before you continue to Budir and visit its beautiful little black wooden church. From Budir you might decide to take a walk to the Budahraun lava field and lava tunnel too - on this short walk you can also experience superb views of the Snaefellsnesjokull glacier (7km walking, +150m). Eventually you arrive in the charming port of Arnarstapi, a village nestled at the base of the iconic Snaefellsnesjokull, your home for tonight. There is a lovely clifftop coastal walk that you might decide to do here too (5km round trip, negligible ascent) - keep your eyes peeled for marine mammals passing close to the shore. When you have finished exploring, you can finally settle into your hotel for the evening, with its desirable location here on the coast. Either one or both of the Budir or Arnarstapi walks could easily be done on Day 3 instead if you wish.

Waking up in this wild paradise, today you will explore more of the southern coast of Snaefellsnes, including perhaps starting with the walk from Budir or the one along the coast at Arnarstapi as described for Day 2, before heading to the northern part of the peninsula where you will spend tonight. On your way, you will be captivated by the geological wonders of the ocean reef that was formed as ancient lava flows hit the cold Atlantic waters at Djupalonssandur beach. Walk along this striking black sand and lava-pebble beach and experience the mysterious atmosphere created by the remnants of a shipwreck, and the four ancient lifting stones that were once used to test an aspiring fisherman's strength. Spot the commanding yellow lighthouse of Svortuloft, warning the fishermen below about the perils of the sea, before you head to the northern part of the peninsula where the landscape changes and fjords appear, adorned with waterfalls. Before continuing to Kirkjufjell, you also have the option to pause for a short walk inland to visit the Raudholl crater - an easy 6km round trip. Back in your car, it is just a short drive to reach the lovely Svodufoss waterfall. You can park very close by and follow a short, easy, well-maintained path to the viewpoint to admire the tumbling waters. Close to here, at Olafsvik, you have a good opportunity to stop for fuel for both yourself (coffee!) and your car. Prepare to be dazzled, because what we think is one of the best drives you can do anywhere in the world is coming right up! It is short yet epically sweet as you make your way to Stykkisholmur. Approaching the imposing Kirkjufjell en-route, you simply have to grab your camera and capture its picturesque cascades. You might make a stop here to admire this scene for a while, and it will be obvious why Kirkjufjell is said to be the most famous mountain in Iceland. Next, you can head to Berserkjahraun to marvel at the 4,000-year-old lava field created here after the frequent eruption of four scoria craters and is the setting for a famous local saga - we'll leave the story for you to discover when you are there. Then, arriving in Stykkisholmur with its characteristic colourful wooden houses, you can settle into your hotel before heading out for dinner at one of the local restaurants. It is a good idea to have topped up the fuel in your car today, or tomorrow morning before you leave Stykkisholmur, as you will be driving plenty of miles over the next 3 days, through areas where there are fewer options for filling up the tank.

If you didn't stop at Borgarnes yesterday, you could still do so this morning before heading off on a scenic drive through the picturesque Hvalfjordur fjord, again with plenty of opportunities to pause and go off exploring on foot. Meaning 'whale fjord', this area was not named because there is any greater chance of seeing whales here than anywhere else in Iceland; instead an old folk story has it that an angry red-headed whale once terrorised Iceland's west coast, and was lured into a trap here. There are so many things to see and do around here, yet the highlight is almost certainly hiking to the Glymur Waterfall, the second highest in Iceland at almost 200m. We have a selection of hikes of varying length and difficulty from which to choose, allowing you to discover these spectacular cascades your way. Trekking poles are recommended for each option: Short out and back hike to the first waterfall viewpoint (allow 2.5-3 hours) / Medium out and back hike to several waterfall viewpoints (allow 3-3.5 hours), for those who are more surefooted and want a more adventurous and varied hike. A spare pair of 'wet shoes' (hiking sandals with spare socks are ideal) is recommended for use on river crossings on this route! You will negotiate a tunnel-shaped cave, and a river crossing with stepping-stones (sometimes submerged) and a small hanging bridge consisting of a cable stretched across the river to hold combined with a tree trunk on which to walk / Long circular hike around Glymur (allow 4-5 hours). Again, a spare pair of 'wet shoes' is recommended for river crossings here. This option is only for the most surefooted experienced hikers who also have a good head for heights, and must never be undertaken in rain or shortly after heavy rainfall. As well as the river crossing described in the Medium route, you will need to make a much wider and slightly deeper river crossing by wading across, and then only if you find a crossing point where you decide it is safe to do so. The water is usually 40-50cm deep here, and can be deeper. You must be prepared to turn around and go back the way you came if it is not safe to cross. PLEASE NOTE: all three Glymur routes are unsuitable for those with a fear of heights and, depending how you feel about this, you might find you want to turn back early - in which case you would not see the waterfall itself. In addition, depending on the weather, sometimes the river can swell, meaning that it may not be possible to do the Glymur Waterfall hikes. In either case, we have plenty of excellent alternatives for you. Another favourite of ours is the detour to the delightful Reykholt Valley, showcasing the fascinating Deildartunguhver hot springs - some of the fastest flowing in the world. Naturally warmed waters emerge at 97 degrees centigrade at a rate of around 180 litres per second! Further along the valley, you will find the smaller yet also impressive waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafalls. All three sites are easy to visit, with parking areas close by, so you can wander and wonder to your heart's content. If you want to do the longest hike at Glymur today as well as visit the other waterfalls, you will need to begin your day in very good time to allow for the detour to see the Deildartunguhver, Hraunfossar and Barnafalls before setting off on your Glymur hike.

Iceland's Golden Circle comprises three of the country's most popular attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Hot Springs geothermal area, and the Gullfoss waterfall. These three National Parks are classified as 'must sees' for very good reason, and will no doubt have your camera bursting with snaps of nature's artistry. Today you will get to experience the three parks and enjoy leaving the masses behind as you venture out on a walk that is off the beaten track. Even better, we have hand-picked a fabulous hotel at Gullfoss for the two nights either side of today, so that you can emerge before breakfast to experience the powerful serenity of Gullfoss before the crowds arrive. Then, after breakfast, you can head over to Thingvellir National Park where you will be greeted by majestic landscapes sculpted by the forces of continental drift and past volcanic activity. Feel in awe of the huge tectonic fissure along the mid-Atlantic fault, lava fields galore, the Skjaldbreidur lava shield, and the shimmering waters of Thingvallavatn - the largest body of fresh water in Iceland. When you have finished taking in the beauty, you can step away from any crowds for a few hours as you take a walk through this unique historical and geological area. We have a put together a selection of walks to choose from, including a short easy wander by Lake Thingvallavatn (2-6km, 30min-1.5 hours); a circular walk where you get to walk in the huge Stekkjargja fissure itself (6km, 1.5-2 hours); and a longer out-and-back route through this magnificent scenery (11km, 2-2.5 hours, +270m, -270m). There is also an interesting visitor centre here (tickets not included) that you might like to visit too, where you can learn more about the National Park. Returning to your car, your next stop is Geysir National Park, where you can observe the Strokkur geyser in action as it spouts boiling water up to 20m into the air every 5 to 8 minutes! Next, if you didn't head out before breakfast to do so, your final treat of the day still awaits: the walk to the stunning Gullfoss Waterfall where you will be mesmerised by its thundering beauty as the Hvita River falls into the impressive canyon. With all that excitement, you end your day with another night staying inside the famous Golden Circle. Perhaps you will sneak out before breakfast (again?) tomorrow to spend more time absorbing the energies of Gullfoss? Alternatively, visit 'the secret hot springs' nearby, Iceland's oldest bathing pool? It is entirely up to you, as this is your holiday!

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before embarking on today's adventure - an exploration of the geothermal area around Hengill Volcano. While the volcano itself hasn't erupted for some 2,000 years, the lava still runs close to the surface providing the ultimate sensory experience as you walk through what is the largest geothermal area in Iceland and an absolute gem for interesting walking away from the crowds (10km, 3 hours, easy to follow signed route with some tougher terrain). As this natural energy plant shares its constant display of power, you can expect to encounter vibrant colours, hear the hissing of hot springs and steam vents, and see mud pools bubbling away like giant witches' cauldrons. With is so much power, this is one of the major renewable sources of Iceland's electricity and heated water. Who knows, your shower this evening may be heated from the very landscape through which you have been walking today! When you have finished exploring this fascinating area, it is time to make your way to the nearby town of Hveragerdi for the night. The town, often known as 'the hot spring town', is home to the Hveragerdi Earthquake Exhibition where you can experience an earthquake simulator and learn about the quake that hit the south of Iceland in 2008. You will have time to visit the exhibition and other local attractions before enjoying dinner and settling into your hotel for the evening. PLEASE NOTE: the geothermal areas are monitored closely by authorities and can be closed during periods of increased activity, as was the case in summer 2023.

Today brings another highlight of the week as you venture along the southern coast of Reykjanes Peninsula. This untamed coastline is best known for its volcanic activity and the otherworldly landscapes this creates - in fact, this is a landscape changing right before your eyes. Witness bubbling mud cauldrons at Krysuvik and marvel at the geological formations at Kleifarvatn Lake. Today's hike will take you through the eruptive Fagradalsfjall area, the most volcanically active area in Iceland. Having witnessed the last three eruptions in Iceland; Geldingadalir in 2021, Meradalir in 2022, and Litla-Hrut in 2023, the area is now almost constantly in the headlines. You'll find a great network of paths for exploring the area where the geology springs to life and you are immersed in an otherworldly landscape of sights and smells. Brace yourself for a spectacle of smoking craters, freshly formed lava fields, fragmented lava blankets and incredible patterns of rope lava! We have two excellent routes to choose from: an out and back to the viewpoint over the Litla-Hrut eruption site (18km, 6-8 hours, almost flat), or a longer out-and-back where you walk on the other side of the main lava field and summit Litla-Hrut (22km, 7-9 hours, +400m, -400m). That said, sometimes the activity is such that it is not possible to enter the area for safety reasons, and this will be clearly signed by the authorities here. An excellent alternative adventure on this day is hiking and dipping on the Hot River Trail - in fact why not get up early and hike in Fagradalsfjall and to the Hot River if you can? This shorter out and back walk takes you up the Reykjadalur Valley on a clearly marked path that can be very muddy in places, punctuated with wooden boardwalks and bridges (7km, 2-3 hours + optional time for bathing). You arrive at the confluence point of two tributaries: one hot, one cold, and the further uphill and upstream you venture along the hot river, the warmer the water. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and wallow in shallow natural hot pools, so remember your swimwear and a towel large enough for getting changed behind! We have a selection of other routes you can add on in the Hot River area, so there is a plethora of great options for a full day of adventure. When you have finished exploring, you will return to Reykjavik for the final night of your trip and another opportunity to soak up the city's atmosphere, visit its attractions, and raise a toast over dinner to a fantastic week of adventure in the Land of Fire and Ice.

Your Icelandic adventure comes to an end, and today you make your onward journey. Depending on your travel plans, you may wish to enjoy a final stroll through the city and immerse yourself in the unique culture. You may even wish to end your trip in the same way as it started, with a visit to one of the thermal pools. If you aren't quite ready for your trip to end then why not book some additional nights in Reykjavik so you can enjoy some of the many day trips from the city such as whale watching tours or visiting the famous Blue Lagoon. Our Sales Team will be happy to arrange additional nights' accommodation for you - please speak with them for more details.