Explorez la belle Islande sous son manteau hivernal avec ce voyage de 6 jours/5 nuits. L’itinéraire couvre l’ensemble des plus beaux sites en hiver en Islande et des paysages incroyables comme la grotte de glace naturelle à la couleur bleue envoûtante au Parc National Vatnajokull.
Les temps forts du voyage comprennent la baignade au Blue Lagoon, la visite du Cercle d’Or et d’autres trésors de la nature islandaise comme Jokulsarlon et sa plage d’icebergs.
Vous explorez également une grotte de glace aussi appelée ice cave. Ces grottes se forment tous les ans en hiver et sont accessibles seulement à cette saison.
Le jour de votre arrivée, vous rejoignez une sortie aurores boréales en bus ou en bateau : à vous de choisir !
Au moment de la réservation, vous avez la possibilité d’ajouter des activités à votre itinéraire : une session plongée à la fissure de Silfra, une session motoneige au Langjökull, le deuxième plus grand glacier d'Islande ou bien rejoindre une balade à cheval.
Le séjour comprend 5 nuits d’hébergement et où vous avez de nombreuses opportunités de chasser les aurores boréales.
Alors saisissez votre chance de visiter les plus beaux sites islandais en hiver ! Vérifiez la disponibilité du voyage en cliquant sur “choir une date”.
Bon à savoir
Informations sur l'excursion
Disponible: Nov. - Mar.
Durée:
6 jours
Activités:
Plongée snorkeling , Grotte, Randonnée - Trekking , Motoneige - Ski doo, Balade à cheval , Observation des baleines, Visite de sites naturels, Bateau, Aurores boréales, Baignade sources chaudes, Grotte de glace
Difficulté:
Facile
Âge minimum:
8 ans
Langues:
English
Temps forts:
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa and is the single most popular attraction in Iceland.
The water is rich in silica and sulphur that helps make your skin shine like a baby. The Blue Lagoon also operates a Research and Development facility that helps find cures for skin ailments using the mineral-rich water.
The temperature in the bathing and swimming area is very comfortable, and averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F). There´s a restaurant there and it´s a truly romantic and beautiful place one should not miss while in Iceland.
The Golden Circle is a 300 km route to the 3 most popular natural attractions in Iceland. The Golden Circle consists of Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir.
Geysir is a geyser that gives its name to hot springs all over the world. But although Geysir itself is not active anymore the area features spectacular hot springs such as the powerful Strokkur (spouting a vast amount of water every 10 minutes, regularly about 15-20 meters into the air), Smidur and Litli-Strokkur.
Gullfoss waterfall
The 'Golden Waterfall', is the second part of the Golden Circle, and one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting 32 meters into the river gorge of the popular rafting river Hvita. It is Iocated about 10 km from Geysir.
Thingvellir national park
The largest attraction of the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park. The Icelandic parliament was founded there in 930 and remained until the year 1798.
Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important places to visit in Iceland, not just for its historical and cultural values, but for also its magnificent landscape.
Thingvellir is surrounded by a beautiful mountain and volcano range and is the site of a rift valley, where the tectonic plates meet, marking the crest of the Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Of particular note at Thingvellir are the magnificent Almannagja gorge, and the beautiful lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. The popular Gjabakkahellir lava cave is also in the area.
The fissure Silfra is located by Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest lake, and is famous for its clear waters and popular for diving and snorkeling, as you can literally swim between continents.
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the northernmost capital of a sovereign state in the world.
Despite a small population (120.000 and more than 200.000 in the Greater Reykjavik area), it is a vibrant city that draws an ever increasing number of visitors. It is the financial, cultural and governmental centre of Iceland. It also has a reputation of being one of the cleanest and safest cities in the world.
Geography
The city of Reykjavik is located in southwest Iceland by the creek of the same name. Throughout the ages, the landscape has been shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the area is geothermal. Much of the current city area area was subglacial during the Ice Age, with the glacier reaching as far as the Álftanes peninsula, while other areas lay under the sea. After the end of the ice age the land rose as the glaciers drifted away, and it began to take on its present form.
The coastline of Reykjavik is set with peninsulas, coves, straights and islands, most notably the island of Videy, and seabirds and whales frequent the shores. The mountain ring as seen from the shore is particularly beautiful. Mount Esja is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavik and lends its distinct feature to the whole area. This majestic mountain is also highly popular for climbing. Other notable mountains that can be seen from the seaside are Akrafjall and Skardsheidi and on clear days one may even see as far to the legendary Snaefellsjokull glacier, at the end of the Snafellsnes peninsula.
The largest river to run through the city is Ellidaa in Ellidaardalur valley, which is also one of Iceland‘s best rivers for salmon fishing.
Transportation
There are no trains or trams in Iceland, but most people travel by car. The city also operates a bus system. There are two major harbours in town, the old harbour in the centre and Sundahofn in the east. The domestic Reykjavik Airport is located at Vatnsmyrin, not far from the city centre and close to Oskjuhlid and Perlan. The international Keflavik Airport at Midnesheidi heath then lies around 50 km from the city. Cars, jeeps and bicycles can be readily rented in the city and many organized tours are also being offered.
What to See & Do in Reykjavik
The local arts scene is strong in Iceland, with both annual events and single ones, many of whom have hit the international stage. For the annual ones please check our articles Best Annual Events in Iceland and the Top Ten Festivals in Iceland. Major events taking place in Reykjavik include the Iceland Airwaves, Gay Pride, RIFF (The Reykjavik International Film Festival), The Reykjavik Literature Festival, Cultural Night, the Reykjavik Arts Festival, Food & Fun, the Reykjavik Fashion Festival and the Sónar music festival.
Among famous people from Reykjavik are artists Bjork Gudmundsdottir, Sigur Ros, writers Halldor Laxness (born in Laugavegur) and Arnaldur Indridason and mayor Jon Gnarr. For more well-known and fairly-well known Icelanders, check our article on the subject.
You might also want to check our article on some of the many things to see and do in Reykjavik, such as visiting the city‘s many museums, exhibitions and galleries, checking out live music, visiting the Harpa music hall or the theatres, visiting the lighthouse at Grotta, the main shopping street of Laugavegur, visiting the old harbour and the flea market, going on a bird- and whale watching tour or visiting Videy island. We also have a top ten list of things to do.
Make sure to visit the public square of Austurvollur, one of the city‘s most popular gathering places, where you‘ll also find the national parliament, Althingi, the state church a statue of independence hero Jon Sigurdson, as well as cafés, bars and restaurants. Austurvollur was central in the 2008 protests, along with Laekjargata, home to the House of Government. You are also not likely to miss the great church of Hallgrimskirkja that towers over the city from the hill of Skolavorduholt, wherefrom you‘ll get a great view of the city.
Try a walk by the city pond, greet the many birds that frequent the area and visit the city hall, stationed by its banks. The Hljomaskalagardur is a beautiful park that lies by the pond, it ideal for a nice walk and sometimes concerts get held there. Further off is the campus of the university of Iceland, the Nordic house and the Vatnsmyri wetland, a particularly pleasant place, but be mindful of not disturbing the wildlife there and keep to the pathways.
For a nice swim on a warm day, we particularly recommend Nautholsvik beach.
Visit the Laugardalur valley, home to one of the city‘s best swimming pools, as well as the Asmundarsafn gallery, a beautiful botanical garden and a domestic zoo. A walk by the Aegissida beach, with it‘s old fishing sheds, in the west part of Reykjavik also holds a particular charm. The aforementioned Elllidaardalur valley is also a popular resort.
Another place that offers one of the city‘s best (and free) views is Perlan, up in Oskjuhlid hill. The hill itself is a popular resort, with over 176.000 trees and great opportunities for walking and cycling.
Travel to Alftanes to see the president‘s house at Bessastadir, which is also a historical site in it‘s own right, having been the educational centre of Iceland for centuries. Nearby is a beautiful lava field, Galgahraun, well worth a visit, though there is currently an environmental struggle going on as to it‘s future state.
The city is furthermore a short drive from many of Iceland‘s major attractions, most famously the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon. In close vicinity you‘ll also find the Heidmork preservation area, a favourite pastime resort of the people of Reykjavik, as well as the Blue Mountains, one of Iceland‘s most beloved skiing venues.
Finally, we‘d like to stress that these are only some suggestions of the many things you might check out in Reykjavik. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you‘ll be able to make the most of your visit and we wish you a pleasant stay in our capital.
Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s most famous glacier lagoon. Conveniently located in the southeast by Route 1, about halfway between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Höfn, it is a popular stop for those travelling along the South Coast or around the circular ring road of the country.
Geography
As a glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a lake that is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. In this case, it is Breiðamerkurjökull, a tongue of Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.
It stands out, however, due to the fact that it also fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high.
These icebergs, other than their scale, are notable for their colouration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also dyed electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past.
When the icebergs finally make it across the lagoon, they either drift out to sea or wash up on the nearby shore. Because of the way they glisten against the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur, this area has been nicknamed ‘the Diamond Beach’.
In spite of being a rather recent formation, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country, with depths reaching 248 metres. With a surface area of 18 square kilometres, it is also growing to be one of the largest.
History
Jökulsárlón has not been around since Iceland’s settlement; it only formed around 1935. This was due to rapidly rising temperatures in the country from the turn of the twentieth century; since 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull has been shrinking at a dramatic rate, and the lagoon has begun to fill its space.
Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating. As recently as 1975, it was just 8 square kilometres, and now that size has more than doubled.
In the relatively near future, it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord.
Though a dark omen for Iceland’s glaciers and ice caps in general, the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull has resulted in an incredibly beautiful, if temporary, site. This has not been overlooked by Hollywood.
Jökulsárlón has been featured in the James Bond films A View to Kill in 1985 and Die Another Day in 2002, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and 2005’s Batman Begins.
In 2017, Jökulsárlón was enveloped into the Vatnajökull National Park, thus it is now fully protected by Icelandic law.
Wildlife
Because of the wealth of herring and capelin that the tides bring into the lagoon, Jökulsárlón is somewhat of a hot-spot for Iceland’s wildlife.
In summer, it is a nesting site for Arctic Terns; stay well away from this area, as these birds are notorious for the fierceness with which they protect their eggs, dive-bombing the heads of any they see as a threat. Skuas also nest on the lake’s shores in this season.
Seals can be reliably spotted here throughout the year, swimming amongst or else hauling out on the icebergs. Jökulsárlón provides them with a safe haven to rest and socialise, especially considering the waters of southeast Iceland are renowned for their population of orcas.
Snæfellsjökull (1446 m) is an ice-capped volcano found on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in West Iceland.
Though many consider Snæfellsjökull to simply be a particularly impressive ice cap, it is, in fact, a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano. The mountain is actually called "Snæfell" (Snowy Mountain), though the “jökull” (Glacier) is often added to help distinguish it from other mountains of the same name. For the first time in recorded history, Snæfellsjökull had no snow or ice at its peak in August 2012, causing concern amongst locals that climate change is threatening the nature of the mountain.
On clear days, one can see Snæfellsjökull from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, approximately 120 kilometres away over Faxa Bay, making for an impressive sight—and a tick off the bucket list if you can’t make it to travelling across the Peninsula itself. The volcano makes up just a small part of the larger Snæfellsjökull National Park.
History
Nearby villages include Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík, all of which were commercial and fishing hubs throughout the peninsula’s long history of human inhabitance. Fishing took off primarily in the 13th-Century, with fishing stations being built in all areas with easy access to the open ocean.
One notable example would be the settlement of Dritvík, one of the largest fishing stations in Iceland at the time, utilising around 40–60 boats and employing between 200–600 people. Fishing in the region declined during the 19th century due to a change in Iceland’s fishing practises, though it is still an important source of livelihood for those living on the Peninsula.
Snæfellsjökull has, for centuries, been considered to be one of the world’s ancient power sites, a source of mysticism, energy and mystery for the peninsula’s superstitious population. This likely has something to do with the stratovolcanoes place in the Icelandic sagas; the feature takes a prominent role in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, a late 14th-century saga that tells the story of Bárður, half-human-half-troll, who became the “guardian spirit of Snæfellsjökull.”
In Literature
Snæfellsjökull serves as the entrance to a fantastical subterranean world in Jules Verne’s classic 1864 novel “Journey to The Centre of The Earth.” Given its central place in the novel, Snæfellsjökull has become one of the most popular spots for visitors in Iceland and has inspired a wealth of writers, poets and artists.
Since “Journey to The Centre of The Earth”, Snæfellsjökull has appeared in the Blind Birds trilogy by Czech SF writer Ludvík Souček (partially based on Jules’ work) and in Under The Glacier, a novel by Iceland’s only Nobel laureate, Halldor Laxness.
Nearby Attractions
Along with the glacier, attractions include the two nearby basalt cliffs called Lóndrangar and the many fascinating lava formations at the beautiful Djúpalonssandur beach, such as the arch rock Gatklettur. At Djúpalonssandur, one can also test their strength just as the ancient sailors once did with the four "strength" stones, Amlóði ('Useless'), Hálfdrættingur ('Weakling'), Hálfsterkur ('Half Strength') and Fullsterkur ('Full Strength'). In the area, one can also explore the Saxhóll volcano crater and 'the singing cave' Sönghellir, which is named after the loud echoes inside.
Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls of the island with an astounding width of 25 meters and a drop of 60 meters.
This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland for travellers to visit. It is located in South Iceland, not far from Skogar, which itself features a highly interesting regional museum. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall often produces a single or double rainbow on sunny days.
Seljalandsfoss in the river Seljalandsa in South Iceland is one of the most sought waterfalls in the country.
Seljalandsfoss has a narrow cascade but is one of Iceland's highest waterfalls, at 63 meters. The waterfall is highly picturesque and has the rare distinction that one can actually walk behind it.
Geysir is a famous hot spring in Haukadalur valley in South Iceland. Part of the ‘Golden Circle', Geysir gives its name to hot springs all over the world.
Though Geysir itself is hardly active anymore, the area features spectacular hot springs such as the powerful Strokkur, which spouts a vast amount of water every 10 minutes, around 15-20 meters into the air, Smidur and Litli-Strokkur.
North of Geysir are fumaroles, i.e. unlike the hot springs that emit hot water, only steam and gas emanate from these. You may be able to observe bright yellow stains at the fumaroles, this is native sulphur, which crystallizes from the steam. At the southern part of the geothermal area, called Thykkuhverir, you‘ll find various mud pots. Such mud pots are actually fumaroles that boil up through surface water/groundwater and may become steaming fumaroles during dry spells, rather than the usual boiling mud pots.
About 2 km from Geysir is an old preserved natural pool called Kúalaug. One can bathe in it and it has room for 3-5 people at a time, but care should be taken, as the area around the pool is very delicate. The temperature is 39-43°C, depending on how you are positioned in the pool. The water is slightly muddy, as the pool is built on soil, and the bottom is slippery due to algae, so caution is advised.
In Haukadalur there has also been tree planting in recent times and today the forest Haukadalsskógur is one of the largest in South Iceland. Aspen, various types of pine, and other plants have been tried out there and experiments and research continue. We also recommend visiting the tree museum, built in the memory of forester Gunnar Freysteinsson. There are good paths and roads in the forest and the wood is specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs.
Haukadalur has been a church site since ancient time. The current wooden church was last rebuilt in 1938 but the variety and appearance of the church dates back to 1842, making it one of the oldest of its kind in Iceland.
Haukadalur is indeed a historical place. It was settled during the age of settlement and scholar Ari “The Wise“ Thorgilsson grew up there. The first pastoral school in Iceland was also built there.
For accommodation, Hotel Gullfoss is about 7 km from the Geysir area, and closer still is the Hotel Geysir.
Gullfoss (translated to ‘Golden Falls’) is one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found on the Hvítá river canyon in south Iceland. The water in Hvítá river travels from the glacier Langjökull, finally cascading 32m down Gullfoss’ two stages in a dramatic display of nature’s raw power.
Because of the waterfall’s two stages, Gullfoss should actually be thought of as two separate waterfalls. The first, shorter stage of the waterfall is 11m, whilst the second stage is 21m. The canyon walls on both sides of the waterfall reach heights of up to 70m, descending into the 2.5km long Gullfossgjúfur canyon (geologists indicate that this canyon was formed by glacial outbursts at the beginning of the last age.)
In the summer, approximately 140 cubic metres of water surges down the waterfall every second, whilst in winter that number drops to around 109 cubic metres. With such energy, visitor’s should not be surprised to find themselves drenched by the waterfall’s mighty spray-off.
In the early days of the last century, Gullfoss was at the centre of much controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland’s nature. In the year 1907, an English businessman known only as Howells sought to utilise the waterfall’s energy and harboured ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant.
At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson. Tómas declined Howell’s offer to purchase the land, stating famously “I will not sell my friend!” He would, however, go on to lease Howells the land, inadvertently beginning the first chapter of Icelandic environmentalism.
It was Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the charge. Having grown up on her father’s sheep farm, she sought to get the lease contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer. The ensuing legal battle was an uphill struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík if only to keep the trial moving. Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began.
Thankfully, in 1929, the waterfall fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people. Today, Sigríður is recognised for her perseverance in protecting Gullfoss and is often hailed as Iceland’s first environmentalist. Her contribution is forever marked in stone; a plaque detailing her plight sits at the top of Gullfoss.
Restaurant / Cafe
Besides Gullfoss, visitors can enjoy the views from Gullfoss Cafe, a locally run delicatessen that serves a wide variety of refreshments and meals. The menu has options to tantalise everyone’s taste buds; hot soups, sandwiches, salads and cakes. There is also a shop on site where visitors’ can browse and purchase traditional Icelandic souvenirs.
Strokkur (Icelandic for "churn") is one of the most famous hot springs in Iceland and belongs to the famous Golden Circle.
Strokkur is a fountain geyser in the Geysir geothermal area in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavik. Strokkur is a powerful hot spring and an impressive sight. It erupts about every 4–8 minutes and spouts water to a height of 15 – 20 m, sometimes up to 40 m.
Snaefellsnes is a large peninsula extending to the west from West Iceland ending with a national park, Snaefellsjokull National Park, where the glacier towers over the scenery, as can sometimes be seen from Reykjavik, lending its beauty to the area.
Snaefellsnes peninsula
The peninsula stretches over 100 km to the west as a mountain ridge that includes active volcanoes and is unique in the variety of mountains found.
A few small and beautiful villages are located on the south side and a few fishing villages are on the north side: Rif, Hellissandur, Olafsvik, Grundarfjordur and Stykkisholmur. The last one is highly popular for travelers, featuring a volcano museum and a ferry that takes you across the fascinating Breidafjordur bay to Brjanslaekur on the south border of the Westfjords.
Other museums you might want to check out are the Maritime Museum at Hellissandur, the regional museum Pakkhusid at Olafsvik, and, last but not least, the shark museum at Bjarnarhofn, indeed listed as the nr. 1 Snafellsnes attraction by Lonely Planet Travelers. Also, many of the Icelandic sagas take place at Snaefellsnes.
Snaefellsnes has an abundance of interesting sights. At the national park, you can witness the impressive lava formations of Djupalonssandur creek and test your strength on its four stones, see the two massive lava formations that compries Londrangar, explore the Saxholl volcanic crater and enjoy the echo of 'The Singing Cave', Songhellir. You may also hike on the majestic Snaefellsjokull glacier. The glacier has strong ties with folklore and was the setting for Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Other sights we can recommend at Snaefellsnes recommend include Raudfeldsgja canyon, east of the national park and the rugged and colourful Berserkjahraun lava field, near Bjarnarhofn, on the north side of the peninsula.
Last, but not least, Snaefellsnes is one of the main setting forLaxdaela saga. Chieftain Snorri godi, Gudrun Osvifursdottir, Bolli Thorlakssson all lived there as well as his namesake Bolli Bollason, the first West Norse member of the Varangian guard, an elite unit of the Byzantine army. Iceland's most famous mass murderer, Axlar-Bjorn, also lived at Snaefellsnes.
Skaftafell is a nature preserve in Oraefasveit. It used to be a national park of its own but joined the larger Vatnajokull National Park in 2008.
Skaftafell is notable for its rich flora, growing between sands and glaciers, and overall for its amazing and contrasting scenery. You can take short and easy trails to the waterfalls Svartifoss and Hundafoss, as well as Skaftafell glacier, with the mountain Kristinartindar and Morsardalur valley further off.
Skaftafell is also the perfect base camp for those seeking to climb Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnukur.
Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside the small fishing village of Vík í Mýrdal.
With its enormous basalt stacks, roaring Atlantic waves and stunning panoramas, Reynisfjara is widely considered to be the most beautiful example of Iceland’s black sand beaches. In 1991, National Geographic voted Reynisfjara as one of the Top 10 non-tropical beaches to visit on the planet.
Reynisfjara is found around 180 km from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, and is a popular stop-off for those taking a sightseeing tour along South Coast. Driving to the beach is particularly easy, taking an approximate two and a half hours from the capital.
Folklore
Upon visiting the beach, travellers will immediately observe rocky sea stacks sitting off the shoreline, known as Reynisdrangar. According to local Icelandic folklore, these large basalt columns were once trolls engaged in trying to pull ships from the ocean. However, as bad luck would have it, the dawn quickly arose, turning the trolls into solid stone.
Another legend tells of a husband whose wife was kidnapped and killed by two trolls. The man followed the trolls down to Reynisfjara where he froze them, ensuring that they would never kill again.
The sea stacks themselves are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Species that can be found here include Puffins, Fulmars and Guillemots, making it a must-see location for all birdwatchers out there.
Potential Dangers
Visitors to Reynisfjara must be made well aware of the potential dangers present at the beach. First of all, the rolling, roaring waves of Reynisfjara are particularly violent, often pushing far further up the beach than many would expect.
Visitors are advised to never turn their back on the waves, don't go chasing after them and keep a safe distance of 20-30 metres.
Aside from these sudden and dramatic shifts in tide (known as “sneaker waves”), the currents off the shore are infamous for their strength and ability to drag helpless people out into the freezing cold open ocean. A number of fatal accidents have occurred at Reynisfjara, the last of which occurred in January 2017.
Vik in Myrdalur valley is the southernmost village on the Icelandic mainland, located 186 km from the capital Reykjavik.
Vik is important as a service centre for the inhabitants and visitors of the marvellous Reynisfjara beach.
Reynisfjara is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches on earth (see for example Islands Magazine). This black pebble beach boasts an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns called Gardar, which resembles a rocky step pyramid and out in the sea are the spectaculary shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. The area has rich birdlife, including puffins, fulmars and guillemots.
Kirkjufell (“Church Mountain”) is a distinctly shaped mountain found on the north coast of Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula, only a short distance away from the town of Grundarfjörður.
Kirkjufell takes it’s name from its resemblance to a church steeple, sharpened at the top with long curved sides. From other angles, the mountain can resemble a witch’s hat or even a freshly scooped ice cream.
Photography at Kirkjufell
Peaking at 463 m, Kirkjufell holds the honour of being Iceland’s most photographed mountain. Throughout the centuries, Kirkjufell’s striking slopes have acted as a visual landmark for seafarers and travellers.
Walking distance from Kirkjufell, one can find the photogenic waterfall Kirkjufellsfoss (“Church Mountain Falls”), an excellent subject for photographers who can easily frame the mountain in the background. Despite its relatively diminutive height, Kirkjufellsfoss’ three-pronged falls make the waterfall particularly stunning, even for Iceland.
At the base of the mountain, visitors will also be able to find a lake; on calm and clear days, this lake reflects a perfect mirror image of Kirkjufell, only adding to the fantastic photo opportunities around this area. On top of that, the colours of Kirkjufell change with the passing seasons; the summer see it a lush green, full of life, whilst the winter months scar the mountain’s face with a mask of barren brown and white.
Fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones will recognise Kirkjufell as a shooting location from Season 7 of Game of Thrones. The mountain is showcased from the scenes ‘beyond the wall’ when Jon Snow, The Hound and Jorah Mormont, among others, brave the wilderness in hopes of catching an undead wight. Having seen it in a vision, The Hound acknowledges Kirkjufell as “[...] the mountain like an arrowhead.” Even the Games of Thrones producers can’t resist capturing the mountain on celluloid!
Hiking Kirkjufell
There is a fairly steep trail to the top of Kirkjufell, from where there are magnificent panoramas of the surrounding fields, coastlines and rivers. The mountain takes roughly an hour and a half to ascend, and one and a half hours back to the bottom.
Alongside this mountain-track is a steeper route to the peak which involves two points where one needs to rope-climb. This route should never be attempted in the winter, and never without a certified guide. Given the steep elevation, it is highly recommended that you bring a sturdy pair of hiking boots, snacks and water to the trail.
Getting to Kirkjufell
Kirkjufell is extremely close to Grundarfjörður, a small town on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, approximately two hours drive from Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik. From Grundarfjörður, one travels ten minutes west down Route Snaefellsnesvegur 54 to the base of Kirkjufell. Visitors have plenty of parking space to choose from, all free of charge.
The Diamond Beach is the name of a strip of black sand belonging to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain, located by the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon on the South Coast of Iceland.
Breiðamerkursandur
Breiðamerkursandur is a glacial outwash plain located in the municipality of Hornafjörður. The sand stretches approximately 18 kilometres along Iceland’s South Coast, more specifically from the foot of Kvíárjökull Glacier to the famed glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, that nests by the foot of Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier. Both glaciers count amongst the 30 outlets of Vatnajökull, Iceland’s largest ice cap.
The outwash plain was formed when three of Vatnajökull’s outlet glaciers, Breiðamerkurjökull, Hrútárjökull and Fjallsjökull, flowed forward due to volcanic activity and ground the rocks of the underlying surface, creating and pushing forward the glacial sediments. Such sand plains are a common part of the Icelandic landscape, due to the island being volcanically active as well as boasting numerous ice caps. The terminus (the tip of a given glacier) also dug deep into the ground and left what is now the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
Jökulsárlón Icebergs
The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is one of the most famed and visited attractions in Iceland. Floating on the lagoon are enumerable ice bergs that have broken off the resident glacier, creating an ever-changing scenery of incredible allure.
The river Jökulsá connects the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, meaning that these icebergs eventually drift out to sea where they are polished by the waves before floating back to the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur. The name "Diamond Beach" comes from the white ice on the black sand appearing like gemstones or diamonds, as they often glisten in the sun and sharply contrast their jet black surroundings.
4 nuits d'hébergement à Reykjavik (catégorie à choisir dans les options. Petit déjeuner non compris en catégorie Super Economique. Petit déjeuner compris en catégories Confort et Sélection)
Entrée standard au Blue Lagoon (surclassement disponible) et transfert aller-retour
Visite du Cercle d'Or en minibus (surclassement disponible avec d'autres activités)
2 jours dans la Côte Sud avec visite d'une grotte de glace en minibus
1 nuit dans un hôtel de campagne dans le Parc National Vatnajokull durant la sortie de 2 jours dans la Côte Sud (petit déjeuner, salle de bain privative en fonction de la disponibilité)
Chasse aux aurores boréales
Itinéraire de voyage
Assistance d'un agent de voyage veillant à la préparation de votre itinéraire de voyage
Taxes incluses
Déjeuner et dîner
Vols internationaux
A emporter avec vous:
Appareil photo
Maillot de bain
Vêtements chauds
Bonnes chaussures de randonnée
Vêtements d'extérieur imperméables
Bon à savoir:
Les aurores boréales sont un phénomène naturel dont la manifestation ne peut pas être garantie, mais ce circuit vous emmènera là où vous aurez le plus de chance de les apercevoir, si le temps le permet.
Notez que l'ordre de l'itinéraire peut évoluer en fonction de vos horaires de vol et des disponibilités des prestations.
Règlement du voyage possible en deux fois. Pour cela, merci de nous envoyer un email.
Itinéraire quotidien
Jour 1 - Arrivée et Blue Lagoon
Bienvenue en Islande! Une fois sorti de l’aéroport, vous pouvez sentir cette brise fraîche islandaise sur votre visage. Vous prenez la navette aéroport vous menant à la capitale à travers des champs de lave.
Votre hébergement a été choisi avec soin offrant confort et un excellent emplacement en ville pour visiter Reykjavik. Profitez de la soirée pour une première découverte de la ville en vous promenant dans les rues commerçantes et pour tester les cafés et restaurants faisant la renommée de la ville.
Si vous souhaitez, vous pouvez également rejoindre une excursion complémentaire pour chasser les aurores boréales à bord d’un bateau ou à bord d'un minibus. Nuit à Reykjavik.
Jour 2 - Cercle d’Or
Aujourd’hui, vous visitez le site le plus connu d’Islande : le Cercle d’Or comprenant le Parc National de Thingvellir, la zone de Geysir et la chute de Gullfoss.
Le Parc National de Thingvellir est classé au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO pour son importance culturel et géologique. C’est en ce lieu qu’a été fondé le premier Parlement en 930. Les chefs vikings se rassemblaient alors au bord du lac Thingvellir pour débattre sur les nouvelles lois. Ils profitaient également de la vue des eaux cristallines de la fissure de Silfra, connue aujourd’hui pour être un fabuleux spot de plongée.
La gorge marque la séparation des plaques tectoniques européennes et américaines qui s’écartent un peu plus chaque année de 2 mm. Même si le chemin était bien plus étroit il y a 1000 ans, vous marchez tout de même sur le pas des Vikings.
Le deuxième arrêt du Cercle d’Or est la zone de Geysir connue pour ses geysers propulsant de l’eau dans les airs très régulièrement. Bien que le geyser “Geysir” est aujourd’hui endormi après 10 000 ans d’activité, Strokkur entre en éruption toutes les 10 minutes propulsant de l’eau à plus de 40 m de haut.
Sur le site, vous pouvez également voir plus de 30 petits bassins bouillonnants et des fumerolles. Promenez-vous tout autour du site pour découvrir ses petites sources chaudes et voir les différentes couleurs de roches.
A la chute de Gullfoss, vous découvrez la puissance de la cascade se jetant dans un étroit canyon à travers une chute à deux étages. Vous pouvez vous approcher au plus près de la cascade en empruntant le sentier le long de la cascade.
Si vous n’avez pas eu le temps d’aller au Blue Lagoon le jour précédent, nous pouvons programmer votre visite du lagon bleu ce jour après votre découverte du Cercle d’Or. Si vous souhaitez ajouter des activités durant cette journée, vous pouvez par exemple rejoindre une session plongée à la fissure de Silfra. Vous pouvez également faire de la motoneige au top de Langjokull, le deuxième plus grand glacier d’Islande où vous profitez d’une vue imprenable sur la vallée.
Vous pouvez également rejoindre une balade à cheval à travers la campagne islandaise entre paysages montagneux et formations rocheuses.
En soirée, vous pouvez rejoindre une excursion aurores boréales : chasser ces belles lumières dansant dans le ciel. Retour et nuit à Reykjavik après cette journée forte en émotions. Nuit à Reykjavik.
Jour 3 - Côte Sud
Aujourd’hui, vous partez pour 2 jours d’exploration de la Côte Sud, la région la plus populaire d’Islande pour la beauté et la variété de ces paysages.
Vous découvrez en cours de route deux cascades impressionnantes. La première est Seljalandsfoss se jetant d’une falaise. Longez le sentier qui vous permet de vous rendre sous la cascade. Vous découvrez ensuite la cascade de Skogafoss, une haute chute gardant un trésor caché.
Puis, vous explorez la plage de Reynisfjara et son sable noir entourée d’une colonne de basalte au pied de la falaise et se tenant face à l’océan. Ensuite cap vers la réserve naturelle de Skaftafell, populaire pour ses sentiers de randonnée au pied du plus grand glacier d’Europe, Vatnajokull. Le pic culminant Hvannadalshnjúkur à 2110 m (6,922 ft) est visible depuis les sentiers de randonnée.
Enfin, vous découvrez la belle lagune glaciaire de Jokulsarlon où des blocs de glace du glacier Breiðamerkurjökull flottent dans l’eau pour finalement dériver vers l’océan.
La glace est d’un blanc et bleu purs. Vous pouvez voir des phoques et mouettes reposant sur ces icebergs. Ne manquez pas de vous promener sur la plage de diamant qui se situe à proximité. Les blocs de glace d’un blanc étincelant contrastent avec le sable noir volcanique et font penser à des diamants.
Vous passez la nuit dans un hôtel de campagne près de Jokulsarlon ou près de la réserve de Skaftafell offrant des spots exceptionnels pour observer les aurores boréales.
Jour 4 - A l’intérieur d’une grotte de glace
Aujourd’hui vous montez à bord d’une jeep modifiée qui vous emmène vers l’incroyable grotte de glace sous le glacier Vatnajokull. Avant d’arriver à la grotte, il y a une petite randonnée - n’oubliez pas de prendre des bonnes chaussures de randonnée.
Les grottes de glace sont découvertes par des spécialistes chaque automne qui évaluent la sécurité du lieu et également vous proposer la visite des plus belles grottes. Les grottes de glace changent tous les jours en fonction de la météo, toutes les grottes de glace sont alors différentes. C’est alors une expérience unique de visiter l’une d’entre elles.
Vous passez environ 45 minutes à l’intérieur de la grotte : nous vous conseillons alors de vous habiller chaudement. Vous serez équipé d’un casque mais n’oubliez pas de prendre un bonnet pouvant se glisser sous le casque.
Après cette expérience à couper le souffle, retour à Reykjavik dans la soirée. Vous faites un deuxième arrêt à la lagune glaciaire de Jokulsarlon pour voir le site sous une autre lumière. Vous pourrez également voir des phoques se baignant parmi les icebergs.
Sur votre route retour vers la capitale, vous vous arrêterez en cas de présence d’aurores boréales. Nuit à Reykjavik.
Jour 5 - Votre choix - Reykjavik VS Péninsule de Snaefellsnes
Option 1 : Visite libre de Reykjavik
Profitez de la journée dans la capitale pour visiter Reykjavik dont la belle sculpture Sólfarið (“Sun Voyager”) représentant un navire viking face à l’océan aux bâtiments du Parlement situés dans les rues commerçantes.
En parlant de shopping, vous pouvez vous promener dans les rues principales à la découverte des boutiques originales ou profitez d’un des nombreux cafés de la capitale. Les boutiques vendent de nombreux objets artisanaux et souvenirs d’Islande comme des livres ou des bijoux avec pierres volcaniques.
Vers le vieux port, vous pouvez déjeuner à l’un des nombreux restaurants et partir pour une observation de baleines au large.
Option 2 : Paradis de photographe
Si vous souhaitez découvrir plus de la nature islandaise, vous pouvez rejoindre l’excursion vers Snaefellsnes. Elle est connue comme l’Islande en miniature offrant un large panel de paysages.
L’impressionnant glacier-volcan Snaefellsjokull a été d’ailleurs cité comme l’entrée au centre de la Terre par Jules Verne dans “Voyage au centre de la Terre”. Le glacier est situé au bout de la péninsule de Snaefellsnes que vous découvrez durant cette journée. Vous retournez ensuite à Reykjavik en longeant la route du Sud de la péninsule.
Vous découvrez la montagne Kirkjufell en forme de cône en arrivant au village d’Olafsvik. Un peu plus loin, vous explorez les villages de Rif et Hellissandur.
Vous visitez non pas une mais deux plages de sable noir : Djúpalónssandur et Dritvík qui étaient durant des siècles des importants centres de pêche en Islande.
Vous poursuivez vers Hellnar, un charmant village où vous profitez d’une jolie balade pédestre au bord des falaises admirant la vue sur l’océan et l’observation d’oiseaux.
Si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez ajouter une autre sortie aurores boréales. L’arrivée à Reykjavik dépend des conditions météorologiques des aurores boréales. Vous serez à la capitale entre 21h et 1h. Nuit à Reykjavik.
Jour 6 - Départ d'Islande
Le dernier jour, vous prenez une navette depuis votre hôtel pour vous rendre à l’aéroport international de Keflavik.
Si votre vol est en fin de journée, profitez-en pour découvrir un peu plus la capitale islandaise. Vous pouvez tester les cafés, visiter les musées ou vous balader dans la ville.
Par exemple, vous pouvez vous balader en direction de l’église Hallgrimskirkja dont l’architecture rappelle des colonnes de basalte et voir la statue de l’explorateur Leifur Eriksson se tenant face au monument.
Si vous n’avez pas encore visité le Blue Lagoon, vous pouvez profiter d’une heure ou deux dans les eaux laiteuses du lagon bleu avant votre départ.
Bon vol et à bientôt en Islande !
Hébergement à Reykjavik
Découvrez ci-dessous nos catégories d'hébergement. En catégorie Super Economique, vous aurez un lit en dortoir en auberge de jeunesse. En catégories Confort et Sélection, si vous réservez pour 1 personne, vous aurez une chambre individuelle. Les réservations de 2 personnes ou plus auront des chambres doubles ou triples en catégorie Confort et Sélection. Si vous voyagez à plusieurs mais que vous souhaitez avoir une chambre individuelle, merci de faire plusieurs réservations. Merci de noter que la catégorie d'hébergement ne s'applique pas aux excursions de plusieurs jours avec nuit(s) incluse(s) organisées par un opérateur. Ces hébergements ne peuvent être surclassés. Nous faisons toujours notre possible pour répondre aux requêtes spéciales qui peuvent induire un coût additionnel.
Super Economique
Chambres ou lits en dortoir avec salle de bain partagée dans des guesthouses ou auberges de jeunesse comme HI Hostel situées dans la région de Reykjavik. Petit déjeuner non inclus.
Confort
Chambres avec salle de bain privative dans des hôtels 3 étoiles comme le Fosshótel Barón ou des guesthouses de qualité. Situation à proximité du centre-ville. Petit déjeuner inclus.
Sélection
Alda Hotel est un hôtel 4 étoiles situé sur Laugavegur, la rue commerçante de Reykjavik au coeur de la ville. Il offre des chambres avec salle de bain privative. Petit déjeuner inclus.
Assurance annulation voyage
Cette assurance garantie l'annulation et le remboursement de l'ensemble de votre voyage sauf le prix de la souscription à l'assurance annulation voyage : 5 000 ISK/participant.
L'annulation peut être demandée jusqu'à 48h avant le début de votre voyage. Pour annuler votre voyage et demander un remboursement, merci d'envoyer un email à info@guidetoiceland.is jusqu'à 48h avant votre voyage et en expliquant votre situation.
Merci de noter que l'assurance couvre l'annulation complète de votre voyage. Elle ne couvre pas l'annulation de prestations de voyage individuelles ou une partie de votre voyage. Le montant de l'assurance n'est ni remboursable ni transférable.
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