6-Day Summer Guided Tour Package to North Iceland
Description
Details
Description
Experience the beauty of North Iceland and customize your trip with a range of exciting activities by booking this 6-day guided package. This summer holiday is perfect for guests who wish to explore a lesser-traveled region of Iceland, away from the crowds of the west and south.
This North Iceland holiday will get you off the beaten track and introduce you to the Mars-like landscapes this country is renowned for. It will also allow you to explore many incredible attractions, such as Europe's most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss, and the volcanic Lake Myvatn.
However, what makes it particularly special is that you can tailor your plans around a range of adventures. These thrilling activities include whale-watching in Husavik, a flight above the Arctic Circle, a highlands and hot springs hike, and an off-road waterfall adventure.
Another bonus of this North Iceland summer vacation is that you simply have to choose what you want to do when booking and will arrive to find hotels, domestic flights, transfers, and tours organized for you. We will take care of the details while you enjoy the full adventure of Iceland's captivating North.
Throughout most of your stay, you'll be based in the charming Capital of the North, Akureyri, although you will still get to enjoy two nights in Reykjavik. This will ensure you have ample time to catch the best sights and sounds of Reykjavik while focusing the majority of your time in the untouched North of Iceland.
Though the North appeals to all travelers, return visitors to Iceland will particularly appreciate this package for introducing them to such a fascinating new region.
Avoid the tourist crowds, get off the beaten track and customize your trip to shape an incredible summer holiday in North Iceland. Check availability by choosing a date and book your Iceland adventure.
Included
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival
You will start your holiday by landing at Keflavik International Airport, where a shuttle bus will be waiting for you as soon as you pass through customs. Already, you can tailor your holiday to the desires of your group, either by going straight to Reykjavik or detouring to the Blue Lagoon.
If you take the former option, you’ll have a chance to explore the quaint, quirky streets of the world’s northernmost capital. Reykjavik is renowned for its vibrant cafes and restaurants, fascinating museums and galleries, public sculptures and artworks, and exciting nightlife.
If, instead, you book a ticket to the Blue Lagoon, you will be able to enjoy the healing, azure waters of the world-renowned spa. Boasting steam-rooms, saunas, and a wealth of additional therapies, a dip here is a perfect way to rejuvenate after a long flight.
You will spend your first night in Reykjavik.
Day 2 - Heading North
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 choose to go sightseeing around the town on your own. 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. Not only will this expose you to magnificent nature, but it will let you get personal with the diminutive but friendly Icelandic horse.
Those with a curiosity about the country's microbrewery culture could instead opt into 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 opt to take another domestic flight, soaring above the Arctic Circle and visiting the far-flung Icelandic island of Grimsey. This 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 a hotel in Akureyri, which will be your base for the next three nights.
Day 3 - Lake Myvatn
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 to the region must-see. En route, you will stop at Godafoss waterfall, a stunning feature with a fascinating history.
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 themselves strike a dramatic contrast to 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 witness 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. Both up and downriver from this ominous sight are two more similarly striking waterfalls, Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss.
Day 4 - Off the Beaten Path
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 columns of hexagonal basalt, a rare phenomenon found in few places in Iceland.
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. Not only will you be able to hike through an incredible part of the country’s interior with stunning glacial views, but you’ll be able to bask in the naturally occurring geothermal pools of Hveravellir.
Day 5 - Culture and Adventure
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, to enjoy an unconventional snorkeling tour. Equipped with a drysuit, you will enter the otherworldly Silfra ravine and marvel over the 328 ft (100m) of visibility the site boasts and its incredible underwater sites.
To make this even more exciting, Thingvellir is located between two tectonic plates, meaning 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 the use of a mining lift, you will literally be lowered into a volcano, where you can marvel over its sheer size and the vividness of the colors that stain the walls.
You will be able to 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.
Day 6 - Departure
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!
What to bring
Good to know
Although it is summertime, the Icelandic weather can be very unpredictable. Please bring appropriate clothing. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.
Accommodation in Reykjavik
See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary.
Super budget level accommodations will be arranged in hostel dorm beds. For other levels, bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, and bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double or triple room(s).
If you are travelling in a group, but prefer a single room, please make separate bookings.
Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur.
For multi-day guided tours, accommodation cannot be upgraded and the levels below do not apply.
Guide to Iceland will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level.
We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.
Dormitory beds with shared bathrooms in guesthouses or hostels, such as HI Hostels. Located in the capital region. Breakfast is not included.
Private rooms with shared bathroom in guesthouses or hostels such as Capital Inn Guesthouse. Located in the capital region. Breakfast is not included.
Rooms with a private bathroom at three-star hotels such as Hótel Klettur, or quality guesthouses. Located in the city center or in close vicinity. Breakfast is included.
Rooms at four-star design hotels in the city center with a private bathroom at the absolute best locations downtown such as Hotel Alda. Breakfast is included.
