Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice

Arrive in Reykjavík
As the Iceland summer sun skims the midnight horizon, sunset melts into sunrise in this country of lush meadows and snow-capped mountains, hot springs and geysers, braided flood plains, frozen lava fields, and glaciers on top of volcanoes.

During your adventure, you’ll get to know your Icelandic guide, who will lead you as you ride ATVs, hike, and ride Icelandic horses. You are also accompanied by an AdventureWomen Ambassador, committed to helping make your experience a fun and personally rewarding adventure, and cheering you on as you reach beyond your comfort zone to take on new challenges in your own unique way!

You’ll be met by your guide at the Reykjavík airport early this morning to start your adventure! Everyone will meet your guide at 8:00am in the lobby of the Skuggi Hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, head out on foot to explore the city of Reykjavík. You’ll enjoy lunch in a local bistro today.

Ride an ATV through rocky mountain paths towards the summit of Mt. Hagafell, with 360-degree panoramic views. Two women will go on each ATV, and you’ll have a chance to switch drivers halfway through. You need to present your valid driver’s license to drive the ATV.

Check-in at the hotel for a well-deserved rest after a busy day! Then enjoy a festive welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Skuggi Hotel

Reykjavík to West Iceland
Head out of Reykjavík via the under-sea tunnel, and board a boat for an unforgettable trip on Breiðafjörður Bay where you will cruise between countless islands populated by millions of birds. Be on the lookout for many sea birds like kittiwakes, puffins, gulls, and terns while you see what fresh seafood the fishermen bring aboard during your ride.

Enjoy lunch on your own today in a local café.

Spend some time exploring the Snæfellsnes peninsula, enjoying stunning views all along the way. Time permitting, you will make a visit to Snæfellsjökull National Park. Declared a National Park in 2001, the area has an astonishing variety of natural landscapes, including moss-covered lava fields, pebbled beaches, and rugged cliffs.

Leave the park and drive about two hours to your hotel. Enjoy dinner as a group when you arrive!

Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Hamar 

West Iceland
Visit the largest and most spectacular Lava Cave in Iceland this morning, Cave Víðgelmir. Hailed as the mightiest of Iceland’s caves, its diversity and grandeur is unrivaled. Just shy of 5,250 feet, the cave features amazing colors and lava formations that lurk in the depths of the earth

Stop for a visit at the Icelandic goat farm owned by Johanna Bermann. In the year 2000, Johanna secured the last four horneless goats in Iceland, then on the brink of extinction, and bred them back to a sustainable population. She established the Icelandic Goat Conservation Center, and there are now over 800 Icelandic goats in the country. You may have the chance to come face to face with Bambi, the famous goat from Game of Thrones!

Enjoy a tasty lunch with the group today.

Visit the beautiful Hraunfossar waterfall, where cascades of spring water flow down the huge Hallmundarhraun lava field and trickle across the rugged landscape.

End the day by soaking in the Krauma Spa at Deildartunguhver, the largest natural hot spring in Europe. Drawing on the geothermal reserves of the area, it pumps out a staggering 180 liters of boiling water each second, and the billowing clouds of steam created by this mighty fissure are truly impressive.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Hamar 

West Iceland to Flúdir
Your next destination is historic Thingvellir National Park. You will see the spectacular natural amphitheater, where almost every important moment in Iceland’s history has taken place. Today Thingvellir is still regarded with reverence by Icelanders, its historical weight reinforced by a serene natural beauty. Thingvellir sits right on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and you can clearly see the dividing plates and the lake-filled-valley that has developed between the plates.

Continue to the Great Geysir hot spring area and Gullfoss Waterfall (the Golden Waterfall), two of Iceland’s most famous sights. Although the Great Geysir itself has been inactive since the 1960s, its neighbor geyser, Storokkur, fires off a 30-meter-high spout every few minutes.

Board a super truck and head through the Mars-like landscape to a glacier hut. Put on your snowmobile gear and learn how to operate your snowmobile. Drive off into the amazing glacial landscape. Two women will be on each snowmobile, and there will be a chance to switch drivers halfway through. You will need a valid driver’s license to drive the snowmobile.

Dinner tonight is at the hotel, with local slow food specialties!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Flúdir 

Flúdir

Head to the Geysir Hestar horse farm, where you’ll get to take a brief ride on the famous, gaited Icelandic horse and learn about the practice of tolting!

From the farm, drive toward the Þjórsárdalur Valley, enjoying a stop at the beautiful Hjálparfoss waterfall along the way. Stretch your legs at the Viking ruins (Stöng) and walk along to the paradise valley Gjáin. Gjáin is a tiny valley with lots of small picturesque waterfalls, clear, tranquil ponds, and amazing delicate volcanic structures. It is a perfect example of the natural beauty that Iceland has to offer. Enjoy a picnic lunch in an Icelandic forest today.

On your way back to the hotel, stop for a soak in the natural hot springs of the Secret Lagoon. The pool’s steam rising into the air gives it a magical feeling, and the temperature of the hot springs water stays at 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.

Changing rooms with showers are on site.

End this wonderful day with an amazing lobster feast at Restaurant Mika, where they specialize in “… a culinary journey of famous lobster dishes and handmade chocolate.”
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Flúdir 

Flúdir to Reykjavík

Head from Flúdir back to Reykjavík today.

Drive to Tungufell Farm, where the woman of the house is a farmer, artist, and seamstress. She has designed and sewn beautiful examples of Icelandic National Dress and will explain the clothing to you.

Head to Friðheimar, a charming farm where tomatoes are grown in geothermally heated greenhouses. The farm also breeds and raises prize winning Icelandic horses! Here you’ll see a beautifully arranged Icelandic horse show with music and Icelandic flags. Enjoy lunch at the cozy Greenhouse restaurant.

Drive back to Reykjavík and check into your hotel. For the afternoon, you will head to the beautiful new Sky Lagoon where you can soak in the incredible geothermal pools.

Enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner with your new friends to celebrate the end of a fantastic adventure!
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Skuggi Hotel

Depart Reykjavík
This morning you will have a few hours of leisure time in Reykjavík before you check out of the hotel.

Depart Reykjavík and explore the Reykjanes peninsula on your way to the airport.
Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.