Epic 7 Day Summer Vacation Package with the Inside the Volcano Tour & Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

On this day, you will be spirited away from the city sidewalks and into the magnificent, unspoiled nature of Iceland. Being one of the most famous sightseeing trails in the country, the Golden Circle sports three deservedly famous natural wonders for you to enjoy on this day out, all in the company of an experienced guide.

Your first stop is the beloved Þingvellir National Park. This incredible geological site is where the tectonic plates of Europe and America meet, pushing and pulling to create this marvelous landscape of canyons and fissures, surrounded by the lava that poured out in this battle of tectonic giants. Later, Iceland formed its democratic parliament there. Therefore the name translates to 'Parliament fields.'

Next up is Geysir geothermal area, where you'll see the geyser Strokkur spout water 49-66 ft (15-20m) up in the air every few minutes. All around are steaming fumaroles and smaller geysers that bubble and spit boiling mineral water, creating strange and sometimes dreamy colors on the red mud ground. 

Your last stop on this day is the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss. It carries its name, 'The Golden Waterfall' with pride, and it certainly deserves it. Crowned with sunlight in summer, it is a glorious sight to behold and one of the nation's most-loved waterfalls.

The famous Golden Circle offers fun-filled activities for those who want to get in touch with a more adventurous side of themselves. You have three different adventure options that you can add to this day to make it even more magical.

For those who fancy some adrenaline rush, you can choose to go snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier, where you get to race over the age-old ice at great speed. If you prefer something calmer, you can get to know the Icelandic horse on a riding tour through the beautiful countryside.

You may also choose a snorkeling tour in the Silfra fissure at Þingvellir National Park. In the crystal clear waters that lie between the two tectonic plates, you can swim quite literally between the continents.

After this, you'll head back to the city for another evening in Reykjavík.

To start your day in a grand way, you will be picked up early at your hotel and head out for a day of wonders. The South Coast is like a treasure chest of natural beauty, boasting Iceland's most beautiful waterfalls and scenic yet otherworldly beaches and sand wastes. 

The first stop is at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, a narrow but stunning cascade over a small cave. A pathway next to the falls leads you inside this cave, providing you with a unique view of the South Coast through the curtain of water.

Next up is another waterfall, equally beautiful but vastly different. Skógafoss falls with great power from a 197-foot (60-meter) tall cliff onto the flat earth beneath. When the water hits the ground, the force creates mists in which you can often see a single or a double rainbow on sunny days.

There are two mighty glaciers located on the South Coast. The first you will see is Eyjafjallajökull, infamous for halting all air traffic when it erupted in 2010. The second one, Mýrdalsjökull covers the volcano Katla and is the fourth largest ice cap in Iceland.

Today you will have the option of hiking on top of one of Mýrdalsjökull's outlet glaciers, Sólheimajökull. Accompanied by a trained glacier guide, you will trek past ash-covered ice peaks, deep crevasses, and blue glacier moulins until you reach a large, white plain of pure white snow and ice. It is quite a sight.

Next, you'll make a stop at Reynisfjara black sand beach, where you can admire Reynisdrangar, the ever-watchful stack pillars that stand afar in the ocean like great dark guardians. Keep an eye out for puffins, as you might spot one or two nesting in the cliffs.

You will then head to your accommodation in the Vatjnajökull National Park.

Today, you will head to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where the huge icebergs break away and crumble from a nearby glacier, becoming massive, floating pieces of diamond ice in the azure water. The lagoon is inhabited by seals and birds that have become remarkably accustomed to the appreciative audience. 

If you wish to better view the icebergs and seals, you can opt for a boat ride on the lagoon. This excursion is perfect for the whole family as well as all nature photographers. 

Across the road is the Diamond Beach, a black sand expanse by the Atlantic Ocean, where the icebergs have broken up and can now be found spread out over the coast. The beautiful landscape appears to the unsuspecting eye as a velvety swath of sand littered with large, uncut diamonds.

You will then make the journey back to the capital, Reykjavík, where you will spend the night. Along the way, you will stop at some of your local guide's favorite places for a true insight into Icelandic nature and culture.

And now, for the highlight of your trip, you will descend 120 meters down into the empty magma kettle of the great, dormant volcano Þríhnúkagígur. This 150.000 cubic meters wide space, with a ground area the size of a football field, is a cathedral of nature's grandeur.

The burning lava has in the past created patterns and lines of color in the wide, high walls that lead up to the kettle-shaped opening, only 13 by 13 feet (4 by 4 meters) in size, giving the great space the appearance of the throne room of the mountain kings of old lore.

You will be picked up in Reykjavík and taken out to the site. Þríhnúkagígur stands over a dark, empty lava field, near the beautiful Bláfjöll mountain. When you arrive on-site, your well-versed guides will take you down into the kettle in a suspended elevator so that you can view the great space as you head down.

Afterward, there will be drinks and refreshments, maybe even some traditional Icelandic meat soup! When you have had your fill of both food and fun, you'll return to the city.

Today you can enjoy Reykjavík city and its many cafés, restaurants,  museums, or shops. You can even check out the geothermal pools, much adored by locals, or go up the tower of Hallgrímskirkja church; the possibilities are nearly endless.

If you have not had enough adventure yet, you have a choice of great things to do. There is a wealth of marine animals that reside in the waters just off Reykjavík, and today you could go on a whale watching tour to see great whales that call Faxaflói Bay their home. 

There is also a possibility of joining a horse riding tour in the beautiful countryside that surrounds the city. The Icelandic horse is a small and friendly creature that makes this tour perfect for beginners and experts alike.

Of course, if you'd rather get to know the city from up high, you could always take a geothermal helicopter ride, both over Reykjavík and the nearby countryside. Enjoy your last day in style, high above the ground.

Undoubtedly, today's most unique and of-the-moment option is to witness the Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption first-hand on a different helicopter tour! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will have you enjoy a spectacular take-off from Reykjavik's domestic airport, where you can watch the beautiful city shrink beneath you before you sail over the rugged landscapes of the Reykjanes Peninsula. You'll then marvel over the fiery fountains, frothing craters, and lava rivers both from the sky and ground, as this 1-hour excursion includes a dramatic landing!

Spend your evening in the city. Seek out some good music in the bars and other venues around you to experience the artistic side of Reykjavík.

Sadly, your last day in Iceland has arrived. When you feel ready to leave, you will hop aboard an airport shuttle and take one last ride through the charred and desolate lava fields of Reykjanes peninsula to Keflavík International Airport.

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. If you have an early flight back home, we wish you a pleasant journey.