Cet été, partez à la découverte des principaux sites du Sud d'Islande dont le Cercle d'Or, le Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik et la Côte Sud en un voyage de 5 jours/4 nuits !
Le voyage comprend l'hébergement durant 4 nuits, une journée de visite du Cercle d'Or, le Blue Lagoon, 2 jours guidés le long de la Côte Sud et vers la lagune glaciaire de Jökulsárlón avec une randonnée glacier. Vous découvrez également de nombreuses cascades et la plage de sable noir de Reynisfjara, des glaciers et des volcans.
Vous avez également l'opportunité d'explorer Reykjavik avec l'option de partir observer les baleines au large de la capitale !
Profitez des longues journées islandaises pour ne rien manquer des visites que l'Islande a à offrir avec ce voyage de 5 jours/4 nuits ! Cliquez sur "choisir une date" et sélectionnez le nombre de participants pour voir le prix et réserver votre voyage en Islande.
Bon à savoir
Informations sur l'excursion
Disponible: Avr. - Oct.
Durée:
5 jours
Activités: Randonnée sur glacier, Visite de sites naturels, Baignade sources chaudes
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.
Jokulsarlon is a glacier lagoon in the south of Vatnajokull national park that is easily reached by the Ring Road.
Covered in thick glacial ice until the 1930’s when the glacier started retreating, the lagoon today measures 7 square miles (20 km2). More than 300 feet of ice still breaks away each year, reshaping the lagoon and filling it with icebergs - causing an alarmingly beautiful sight.
The water is freezing cold and contains a mixture of salt and freshwater giving it a blue-green color. There is plenty of fish and birdlife by the lagoon and the vast sand area of Breiðamerkursandur, and hundreds of seals stay there in winter.
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.
Thingvellir is one of the most important sites to visit in Iceland for its landscape, history and cultural value.
The Icelandic parliament was founded in Thingvellir in 930 and remained there for centuries.Thingvellir is surrounded by a beautiful mountain range and is the site of a rift valley, marking the crest of the Mid-Atlantic range. Today it is a natural park, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and considered a vital part of the ‘Golden triangle’ (with Geysir and Gullfoss). Of particular note is the magnificent gorge Almannagja, which marks the eastern boundary of the north American plate and into which the beautiful waterfall Oxararfoss falls.
Other notable attractions within the park include the beautiful lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland, the Silfra fissure, one of the world's top dives, and Gjabakkahellir, one of Iceland's most interesting lava tubes.
The South Coast of Iceland is the country's most visited sightseeing route, along with the Golden Circle.
The famed South Coast shoreline stretches from the greater Reykjavík area and is dotted with natural wonders such as cascading waterfalls, volcanoes both active and dormant, black sand beaches and glacier lagoons.
Geography, Nature & Wildlife
Iceland is divided into eight geographical regions. Out of these, the Southern Region is the largest, as it spans over 24.000 square kilometres with its administrative centre in the municipality of Selfoss.
What is known as the South Coast embodies the shoreline of this particular region. The area consists of a lowland that is mostly composed of marshlands, bays and cultivated pastures that are met by a series of black beaches where the estuaries to the east and west of the district close off the coastal body.
Underneath the soil rests a vast lava field, known as Þjórsárhraun. Its edges reach several hundred metres offshore where the ocean waves crash upon them, thereby protecting the lowland from the invasion of the sea. This results in the South Coast being unusually lacking in the deep fjords that so distinctly characterise the rest of Iceland's shore line.
The region boasts vibrant bird life during all seasons. It is not only rich with both marshland birds and seabirds but also migrating birds such as the North Atlantic puffin. Some species stay throughout the harsh Icelandic winter, including the northern diver, the loom and various species of gulls and ducks.
Highlights of the South Coast
The South Coast offers an unprecedented array of natural wonders that draw thousands of visitors each day. When driving the route from Reykjavík City, the highlights in their correct order are:
These attractions count for but a fraction of what the South Coast has to offer. The vast sand plains of Sólheimasandur are home to a crashed DC-3 Plane Wreck, and close to Seljavellir by the Skógar Village there's Seljavallalaug, one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland.
3 nuits en hébergement à Reykjavik (catégorie à choisir dans les options. Petit déjeuner non inclus en catégorie Super Economique. Petit déjeuner inclus en catégories Confort et Sélection)
Transfert aéroport à votre arrivée et départ d'Islande
Visite du Cercle d'Or en minibus (surclassements possibles avec d'autres activités)
2 jours de visite de la Côte Sud en minibus avec randonnée sur glacier
1 nuit en hébergement au parc national Vatnajokull durant le voyage dans la Côte Sud (petit déjeuner inclus, salle de bain privée en fonction des disponibilités)
Entrée au Blue Lagoon (surclassements disponibles) et transfert aller-retour
Itinéraire de voyage
Assistance d'un agent de voyage veillant à la préparation de votre itinéraire de voyage
Taxes incluses
Dîner
Déjeuner
Vols
A emporter avec vous:
Chaussures de randonnée
Vêtements chauds, coupe-vent et imperméables
Maillot de bain et serviette
Appareil photo
Bon à savoir:
Bien que ce soit l'été, la météo islandaise est imprévisible. Vous visitez des cascades et des glaciers, il est alors important que vous apportiez des affaires imperméables et chaudes pour la randonnée sur glacier mais aussi de bonnes chaussures de randonnée.
Règlement du voyage possible en deux fois. Pour cela, merci de nous envoyer un email.
Itinéraire quotidien
Jour 1 - Arrivée à Keflavik
Après votre arrivée à l'aéroport international de Keflavik, vous commencez votre voyage en Islande en vous rendant à Reykjavik via la navette aéroport. Après installation à votre hôtel dans le centre-ville, vous passez le reste de la journée à explorer la capitale islandaise. Vous trouvez de nombreux points d'intérêt comme l'église Hallgrímskirkja, les rues commerçantes de Laugavegur et Skólavörðustígur, les boutiques de design, les cafés branchés, les restaurants de classe internationale, le vieux port, le centre des congrès de la Harpa et le lac de Reykjavik pour n'en citer que quelques-uns. Nuit à Reykjavik.
Jour 2 - Le Cercle d'Or
Vous partez pour une journée de visite du Cercle d'Or, l'ensemble de sites le plus connu d'Islande. Vous visitez Thingvellir, un parc national classé au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO, célèbre tant pour sa beauté que pour son histoire.
De là, vous poursuivez avec la visite de la zone géothermique de Geysir, où vous pouvez voir le geyser Strokkur expulser de l'eau à plus de 20 à 40 m dans les airs très régulièrement.
Vous terminez la journée avec la visite de la chute de Gullfoss, considérée comme la plus belle cascade d'Islande et que l'on appelle souvent "la chute d'Or".
Nous proposons de nombreuses activités en options lors de votre visite du Cercle d'Or pour agrémenter votre expérience islandaise. Vous pouvez partir faire une session snorkeling à la fissure de Silfra, faire une balade à cheval ou une session motoneige sur le glacier Langjokull.
Vous passez une nouvelle nuit à Reykjavik et profitez-en pour vous laisser tenter par un des restaurants ou bars de la capitale.
Jour 3 - Premier jour dans la Côte Sud
Aujourd'hui débute votre voyage le long de la Côte Sud. Vous profitez de toute la beauté que cette région a à offrir. En chemin, vous découvrez la plage de sable noir de Reynisfjara, des charmants villages islandais et finissez la journée avec la lagune glaciaire de Jökulsárlón, un des plus beaux sites d'Islande. A proximité se trouve la "plage de diamant", une plage de sable noir recouverte d'icebergs qui avec la lumière du soleil ressemblent à des diamants. Nuit dans le Sud de l'Islande.
Jour 4 - Deuxième jour dans la Côte Sud
Aujourd'hui vous partez randonner sur un glacier! Vous vous rendez à la langue glaciaire Sólheimajökull où débute l'activité. Pensez à prendre de bonnes chaussures de randonnée pour pouvoir y ajouter les crampons que nous vous fournirons.
Depuis le glacier, vous avez une vue spectaculaire sur la nature islandaise environnante.
Sur la route retour en direction de Reykjavik, vous faites quelques arrêts pour découvrir les belles cascades de Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi et Skógafoss. Vous passez la dernière nuit de votre voyage à Reykjavik.
Jour 5 - Dernier jour - Départ
Vous passez le dernier jour en Islande à explorer la capitale. Ce jour, vous pouvez également partir observer les baleines partant du du vieux port de Reykjavik. Admirez ces animaux des mers durant deux heures mais également les macareux qui pourraient faire leur apparition. En fonction de vos horaires de vol et si vous n'avez pas visiter le site le premier jour, vous pouvez rejoindre le Blue Lagoon pour vivre votre dernière aventure islandaise. Une navette vous dépose ensuite à l'aéroport pour prendre votre vol international. A 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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