Cultural Tour Package to Iceland With Nature Expeditions

On the second day of your ten-day winter holiday in Iceland, you will get to know Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital city. If you are exhausted from your travels, today can be friendly and relaxed, but those eager to start their holiday off with gusto have a range of opportunities before them.

As noted, Reykjavik is a lively capital city with a range of attractions. From geothermally heated pools to fancy boutiques, from spectacular nature reserves to museums on all facets of Iceland’s culture, you’ll be able to pack your day with fun regardless of the interests of your group.

Those with a passion for wildlife have a unique opportunity today to go whale-watching from the city’s Old Harbour. The waters of Faxafloi are teeming with life, with countless seabirds, dolphins, and porpoises feeding here throughout the year. If you are coming in the months framing the country’s winter (such as September and April), you’ll also have an excellent chance to see Humpback whales, Minke whales, and even Atlantic puffins before they set off on their migration south.

However, if you arrive before the end of October, you have an even more highly recommended tour. After being escorted to Thrihnukagigur volcano, you will board a mining lift and enjoy a spectacular descent into its vast magma chamber.

Colored by the elements of the earth and large enough to hold monuments such as the Statue of Liberty comfortably, you will be awed as you approach the chamber’s bottom. Once you reach it, you’ll have over half an hour to explore, marveling over the incredible features and the gravity of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Regardless of whether you whale watch or descend into the volcano, you’ll still have plenty of time to get to know Reykjavik. If the sky is clear when the sun sets, you could find a park or nature reserve far from the city’s urban light pollution in hopes of a display of the aurora borealis.

On the third day of your ten-day winter vacation to Iceland, you will hopefully be fully rested and ready to begin your Ring Road adventure. Your guide for the next six days will pick you up and, after introductions, will escort you around the sites of the world-famous Golden Circle.

The first of the three attractions that make this route so renowned is Thingvellir National Park, the Icelandic mainland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Those with a passion for nature will marvel over the forests, waterways, and lava fields, as well as the surrounding volcanoes and views of the country’s largest lake.

History and culture buffs, meanwhile, will marvel over the fact that it was here that Iceland founded its still-ongoing parliament over a thousand years ago.

The second Golden Circle attraction is the Geysir Geothermal Area; as its name suggests, this is home to the country’s most famous geysers (one of which gave its name to all similar features worldwide). The most impressive of these is Strokkur, a hot spring that boasts just minutes between its eruptions, the heights of which often reach and even exceed twenty meters.

The third major attraction is Gullfoss waterfall. Standing at an impressive height of over thirty meters, you’ll marvel over it from the viewing platforms above as it cascades in two steps down an ancient valley. If you are traveling outside midwinter, there will even be a path to a deck where you will be close enough to feel the spray of the falls on your face.

Once you have completed Iceland’s most famous sightseeing route, you’ll travel to a hotel in the area for the night. Of course, should the conditions be promising, it is highly recommended to take a short walk from your accommodation in hopes of catching the aurora borealis.

On the following day of your Icelandic package holiday, you'll be driven along Iceland's South Coast. On this journey, you'll be blessed with a showcase of beautiful natural features to your left and magnificent views over the seas to your right.

The first two major attractions are waterfalls that you will undoubtedly have seen plenty of photographs of when researching Iceland for a holiday: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss. Both of them pour from a height of 197 feet (60 meters) from sea-facing cliffs but otherwise are completely different.

Seljalandsfoss tumbles in a gentle stream before an enormous cavern, making it one of Iceland's most unique waterfalls. Meanwhile, Skogafoss is much more classic in its appearance but far more powerful.

After enjoying both of these falls, there is an optional tour you can partake in. In clear weather, you can catch glimpses of the glaciers of Eyjafjallajokull and Myrdalsjokull earlier in your travels, but now have the opportunity to get up close to them by embarking on a glacier hike on a tongue the latter.

Glacier hiking is an incredible experience. The snow and ice terrain, dramatic formations, and unbelievable views make for an unforgettable adventure, and the sad reality that these glaciers are fast disappearing makes the tour that much more special.

After exploring the outlet of Solheimajokull, your journey along the South Coast will continue until you stop at Reynisfjara Beach. Covered in black sands and beaten mercilessly by the waves of the Atlantic, this spot is as haunting as it is beautiful. 

The coastal geology here makes it all the more spectacular. The Dyrholaey rock arch curves out to sea on the horizon, and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks tower offshore.

These sea stacks are particularly compelling to those interested in Iceland's folklore. It is said that they were created when two malevolent trolls waded into the waters to grab a ship. Before they could drag it to shore for whatever nefarious purpose they intended, however, the sun rose, and both of them - as well as the vessel they had contact with - were turned to stone.

After enjoying Reynisfjara, you'll head to the adjacent village of Vik. Incredibly scenic, this is a fantastic spot to marvel over the northern lights.

You will retire in South Iceland after a day full of adventure. 

On the sixth day of your winter vacation in Iceland, you'll wind up and down the magnificent fjords of the East, far from any of the tourist crowds that gathered at the more accessible locations over the past few days. Not only is this one of the country's most remote regions, particularly in the winter months, but this is also one of the most magnificent.

In terms of natural landscapes, you can expect enormous bays of sparkling water framed by great tabletop mountains. Inland, you will get glimpses of Vatnajokull glacier and Snaefell, the country's tallest freestanding peak. Vestrahorn and Eystrahorn are two other dramatic mountains you will see, renowned for their ominously dark rocks and jagged twin peaks.

Further on your journey, you will also be privy to less classically Icelandic landscapes, such as those at Hallormsstadaskogur. However, Iceland has little woodland. You'd never think so when looking at the country's largest forest.

Regarding wildlife, this is likely to be the favorite region for animal enthusiasts. In the cliffs and islands of the Eastfjords are countless seabirds, with many staying over the winter months. Along the shores, those with a keen eye have a great chance of spotting seals. 

Furthermore, herds of wild reindeer, which are not found anywhere else in Iceland, roam in this region and are easiest to find in winter when they move to lower lands to graze in.

Culture enthusiasts will also find plenty to keep them entertained throughout the journey. You will pass through many tiny fishing hamlets and villages that feel as if they have barely changed in centuries. Despite this, each has its own distinctive charm. 

The East boasts a wealth of folklore, and your guide can tell you about the legends of each elf rock and tales of the monster said to reside in the serene Lake Lagarfljot.

Another adventure is on offer today: a horseback riding trip through the landscapes of Iceland’s southwest. Except for the puffins, Icelandic horses are the country’s most famous animals, renowned for their small stature, friendliness, curiosity, and abundant intelligence. Meeting one is a pleasure, and riding one through beautiful nature like a Viking of old even more so.

After this, you can bask in the healing waters of the Vok Spa, which sits just outside Egilsstadir.

Once you have explored the magnificent, untouched Eastfjords, you'll head to Egilsstadir, the region's largest town. Here, you’ll explore the vibrant settlement and look out for the auroras from one of its dark corners.

You'll retire in East Iceland for the night.

On the final day of your ten-day Icelandic holiday, you’ll need to catch your Flybus in time for your departure.

For those who have a later flight and choose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you will finish off your stay unwinding before you head to the airport. This is the perfect place to relax as you bathe in the warm, mineral-rich waters as you look back on the incredible adventure you have just taken in the land of fire and ice. If your flight is later, there are plenty of things to do in Reykjavik.

You can visit the Arbaer Open Air Museum, which is particularly festive over the holiday season. Alternatively, take a dip in Laugardalslaug, the largest pool in the country, or go shopping in the boutiques along Laugavegur.

We hope you enjoyed your stay and that you come back to Iceland soon!