6-Day Summer Guided Tour Package to North Iceland

On day two, your North Iceland vacation will begin. You'll head to Reykjavik's Domestic Airport, then enjoy a scenic 45-minute flight to the capital of the north, Akureyri.

Upon arrival, there are five equally enticing ways to enjoy your day. If you'd like to relax and learn about Icelandic culture, you could go sightseeing around the town alone. Akureyri is a vibrant place with many attractions, such as the world's northernmost botanical gardens and the Hof Cultural Centre.

A second option is to go whale-watching. North Iceland is one of the most reliable places to see the gentle giants of the deep in summer, particularly humpback whales. You also have a chance to see dolphins, puffins, seals, and even blue whales and orcas.

Another way to get close to the animals of North Iceland is to take a horseback riding tour through the rural landscapes just outside Akureyri. This will expose you to magnificent nature and let you get personal with the diminutive but friendly Icelandic horse.

Those curious about the country's microbrewery culture could instead opt for a trip to the beer spa. Here, you can bathe in hot tubs of young beer, which is unusually relaxing and beneficial for the skin. Adults can elevate their experience by enjoying a cold one in hand.

Finally, you could take another domestic flight, soaring above the Arctic Circle and visiting the far-flung Icelandic island of Grimsey. The island features abundant birdlife, with millions of avian species nesting and residing there.

One of the reasons birds love Grimsey is because the island has plenty of fish. Birds will not have any problems finding fish to eat. Moreover, no mice, minks, or rats are on the island, making it safe for the birds to lay their eggs even in low grass.

Grimsey is a place of magical, remote beauty, and it is a unique honor to have your passport stamped with proof that you made it to this northern reach.

After an action-packed day, you'll retire in the North Iceland area, which will be your base for the next three nights.

On your third day, you will take a guided tour around the spectacular Lake Myvatn area with two options.

This is North Iceland's most renowned natural attraction and a place all visitors of the region must see. En route, you will stop at Godafoss waterfall, a stunning feature with a fascinating history.

Located 21 miles (34 kilometers) from Akureyri, the Godafoss waterfall has a width of 98 feet (30 meters). Moreover, Godafoss falls from a height of 39 feet (12 meters).

Once you reach Myvatn, you'll find yourself surrounded by otherworldly sites. The Skutustadagigar pseudo-craters that line the southern shore are perfectly formed. The basalt fortress of Dimmuborgir has a commanding, ominous presence. The lakes contrast dramatically with the surrounding lava with their colorful serenity.

You will then travel to a seething geothermal area nearby named Namafjall before witnessing how this energy is harnessed at a power plant in the Krafla volcano system. From here, you'll head to the peak of Mount Leirhnjukur to see unbelievable panoramas of the area.

From this vantage point, you'll note that many of the landscapes seem almost Martian, explaining why NASA has used the area to simulate Moon missions.

If you want to relax after a full day of sightseeing, your first option is to choose a day tour that ends with a soak in the beautiful Myvatn Nature Baths. This serene site sits on the lake's edge, and its waters are heated to the perfect bathing temperature.

If you prefer to do more sightseeing and explore more renowned attractions in the north, you can choose a day tour that combines Lake Myvatn and the mighty waterfall Dettifoss. Dettifoss is world-renowned for holding the title of Europe's most powerful waterfall and thunders into a stark, ancient valley.

Dettifoss boasts an average water flow of 6,186 cubic feet (193 meters cubed) per second. It also measures 330 feet (100 meters) wide and falls 150 feet (45 meters) toward the Jokulsargljufur canyon.

Up and downriver from this ominous sight are two more similarly striking waterfalls, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss.

On your fourth day in North Iceland, you have the opportunity to get off the beaten track and explore some of the most remote reaches of the region. You can customize your trip in one of three ways.

Your first option is to relax in the city and have a free day enjoying the lovely town of Akureyri.

Your second choice is an off-road waterfalls tour. While most guests to North Iceland only see the waterfall Godafoss, this adventure will introduce you to two more. Hrafnabjargafoss tumbles beautifully down a cliff into a serene rock bowl, while Aldeyjarfoss surges between hexagonal basalt columns, a rare phenomenon found in few places in Iceland.

Interestingly, the Hrafnabjargafoss waterfall connects to Skjalfandafljot, one of Iceland’s longest rivers. Hrafnabjargafoss may not be as famous as other waterfalls in North Iceland. However, it has a unique charm that makes it a notable stop along the way.

The waterfall only measures about 16 feet (five meters) tall but falls from a cliff shaped like a horseshoe in several chutes. Furthermore, you’ll see black sands and moss-covered lava rocks surrounding the waterfall.

Meanwhile, the beautiful Aldeyjarfoss waterfall stands taller than Hrafnabjargafoss at 65 feet (20 meters). However, it’s the impressive surroundings that make the Hrafnabjargafoss waterfall a must-see gem.

This journey also includes visits to the spectacular Bardardalur valley and the little-known beach of Kaldakinn.

Finally, you can take another super jeep tour into the Highlands, this time heading to the vividly colored geothermal mountains of Kerlingarfjoll. This portion of the tour lets you hike through an incredible part of the country’s interior with stunning glacial views. 

Moreover, you’ll be able to witness the wonders of the naturally occurring geothermal pools of Hveravellir. Interestingly, Hveravellir’s unique location offers majestic views of some of Iceland’s most notable glaciers, like Hofsjokull and Langjokull.

On your fifth day, you will say goodbye to North Iceland and take a domestic flight back to Reykjavik. If you did not get a chance on your arrival day, you could use this time to plumb the capital's culture, relax as you explore the city, and immerse yourself in the local way of life.

Otherwise, you could take one of two exciting tours.

Firstly, you could head to Thingvellir National Park, one of Iceland's most beautiful, interesting, and popular spots. 

This site is also rich in history, where the Icelanders founded their parliament in 930 AD. It’s also where they converted to Christianity in 1000 AD, and declared independence from Denmark in 1944.

For the adventurous side of Thingvellir National Park, it offers a chance to enjoy an unconventional snorkeling tour. Equipped with a drysuit, you will enter the otherworldly Silfra ravine and marvel over the 328 feet (100 meters) of visibility the site boasts and its incredible underwater sites. Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim.

To make this even more exciting, Thingvellir is located between two tectonic plates: the Eurasian and the North American plates. In turn, you will technically be swimming between the continents.

Your second choice is to embark on an adventure that can only be done in Iceland: a descent into a magma chamber. With a mining lift, you will be lowered into the Thrihnukagigur volcano, where you can marvel over its sheer size and the vividness of the colors that stain the walls.

As the mining lift slowly takes you deeper into the Thrihnukagigur volcano, you’ll see different colors on the walls, brought by intense heat and pressure from the last eruption. The descent takes about six minutes, giving you enough time to marvel at bizarre and vibrant formations draped in red, blue, orange, violet, and yellow.

You can explore its base once you reach the bottom and hear the echoes of your footsteps as you walk through a cavern that could easily fit the Statue of Liberty.

After making the most of your final full day, you'll retire for the night in Reykjavik.

Today is your last day, but as you take the shuttle back to the airport, you can at least relish the fact that you were able to explore one of Iceland’s most beautiful regions and reminisce on the adventures you dared to join.

Of course, if you have a late departure, you can fit in more time exploring Reykjavík, picking up the last of your souvenirs, or getting in a visit to one more city attraction.

If you did not go to the Blue Lagoon on your arrival day, you could opt to stop there before your flight. It is just as lovely to rejuvenate and energize yourself in its healing waters after your holiday as it is in preparation for it.

We wish you a safe journey home and we hope to see you back in Iceland again!