5 Day Summer Package | Golden Circle, South of Iceland with a Greenland Day Tour

You'll start your second day in Iceland with a visit to the famous Golden Circle. This trio of attractions is comprised of a stunning national park, a magnificent waterfall and a geothermal area.

Your first stop on the Golden Circle route is Þingvellir National Park. This UNESCO heritage site is not only historically significant; it is a geological wonder. This is the place where Viking settlers gathered to establish Iceland’s parliament in the year 930 AD. It is also where two tectonic plates are drifting apart, sometimes causing measurable earthquakes in the area. You can see evidence of this drift in the faults and cracks that distinguish the region.

Next up on your tour is the powerful Gullfoss waterfall. Located on the Hvítá river, this dynamic waterfall cascades down two ‘steps’, plummeting 32 meters into the river gorge. A pathway leads you close enough to Gullfoss to feel the water spray on your face.

Your last stop is the geothermal area of Geysir. This is an area of bubbling mud pools and shooting hot springs where you can witness the dependable hot spring Strokkur erupt every 10 minutes or so, reaching heights of 15-20 metres.

If you’d like to add something extra to your Golden Circle day, there are plenty of choices. You can go snorkelling in an underwater canyon called Silfra in Þingvellir park, or you can go horseback riding in the countryside. The Icelandic horse is famous for being friendly and gentle, perfect for both beginners and expert riders alike. Daredevils can opt to go on a snowmobile tour on the nearby Langjökull glacier.

On this day you’ll get the full Arctic experience when you board a plane at Reykjavík’s Domestic Airport and head out to Greenland. You’ll land on a small island, just off the eastern shores of Greenland, where you’ll visit the charming village of Kulusuk.

Stepping off the plane in Kulusuk village is like stepping back in time, its traditional green, yellow and red houses seem completely unaffected by time. This small fishing village of around 300 people is enclosed by jagged mountains and glacier-filled fjords. Visiting Kulusuk is an experience you’ll never forget.

Your guide will meet you at the airport before taking you on a walk through the village. There you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the country’s rich culture as you meet the locals and learn about the community’s history before you head on back to Reykjavík in the late afternoon.

Today you’ll be taken to some of Iceland’s most beautiful places. Iceland is filled with amazing contrasting landscapes, and on this journey south, you’ll drive through both green valleys and barren sand fields, past volcanoes and glaciers.

You’ll stop at Dyrhólaey peninsula—the southernmost part of the country’s mainland—where you'll be surrounded by puffins and other seabirds. You’ll take in the view of mountains, glaciers and beaches and the noticeable arch that the sea has eroded from the heartland before you head on out to your next location.

At the black sand beach of Reynisfjara, you’ll see the huge basalt column cliffs for which it is famous. Rising from the waters are the towering rock formations of Reynisdrangar, and you’ll be able to hear the thunderous noise when the treacherous waves crash into the cliffs and the volcanic rocks surrounding the beach.

You will also visit two of Iceland’s most beloved waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. The former is one of the biggest cascades in the country with a width of 25 metres and a 60-metre drop. On sunny days you might see a double rainbow forming in the mist. Seljalandsfoss is a unique waterfall with a pathway which will lead you behind the falling water.

If you are feeling adventurous, you have the option of going glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull glacier, where an experienced guide will take you past the snowy peaks and blue crevices. You could also opt to extend your journey and travel all the way to Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where you can watch enormous icebergs that have broken off a nearby glacier, float on the serene water before they drift off to sea.

Waking up in Reykjavík on your last morning in Iceland, you can head on out to the city’s many cafés for your morning coffee, or do as the locals and visit a bakery for an Icelandic sweet roll called ‘snúður’.

If your flight leaves late in the afternoon, you can spend a few hours on a whale watching tour or do some shopping on Laugavegur shopping street. If you didn’t stop at the Blue Lagoon on your way to Reykjavík, here is your chance to soak in the hot geothermal waters before you board the plane home.