Yonge Iceland Exploration
October 10-18, 2020

Day 2

Blue Lagoon & Reykjavik 

After breakfast, meet your private transfer to the Blue Lagoon. Experience the radiant powers of geothermal seawater in this 2.5 hour visit. You will have premium tickets including:

• Silica mud mask and a second mask of your choise

• Use of towel, bathrobe, and slippers

• Glass of sparkling wine if dining at Lava restaurant and a drink of your choice

• Option to upgrade to the Retreat Spa offering a more exclusive experience

Your private driver will return you to your comfortable accommodations in Reykjavik. Enjoy the evening to explore on your own.

Optional activities include: Visiting one of the local geothermal hot pools, our favourite being Sundhöll Reykjavíkur and Vesturbæjarlaug. Grab a delicious cup of coffee from Reykjavík Roasters that have now just opened a new location inside Ásmundarsalur Art Museum that you can have a wander through after coffee. Have one of Brauð & Co’s famous cinnamon buns and visit the top of Hallgrímskirkja church for views over the city. Perlan Museum holds a wonderful exhibition called The Wonders of Iceland exhibition that is a great museum visit, as well as boasting a 360 degree view of Reykjavik on a clear day.

The National Museum is a great museum and covers the history of Iceland from settlement until present day. Access to this museum also gives you entrance to The Culture House who hold the exhibition ‘Points of View’ which talks about the more contemporary natural history of Iceland.

Private transfer, overnight at Icelandair Hotel Marina in a superior room

Day 6

Golden Circle tour: Hot Spring, waterfalls and Þingvellir National Park

Driving out of Reykjavík, we head straight to warm up and soak in the natural hot springs of the Secret Lagoon, Iceland’s oldest natural swimming pool. We will be there early, when it is quietest, allowing us to truly relax and soak in the magic of this wonderful geothermal pool. A great way to start the day!

Afterwards, we will warm up by enjoying a unique lunch inside the tomato greenhouse farm Friðheimar. There, they produce over one tonne of tomatoes each day. Having lunch amongst all the tomato plants in the greenhouse is something we are sure you will never forget. We will be able to try their famous tomato soup, ravioli pasta or grilled tortilla pizza, homemade bread, as well as hot beverages. Lunch is included in the price of this tour.

Next we will witness the force of Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful waterfalls. On sunny days, rainbows appear in the mist of this golden hued waterfall. From there, it is only a short drive to see the wonders of the geothermal area of Geysir, the original exploding geyser, and its surrounding steam vents.

After all this we drive onto the famous Þingvellir National Park. This National Park holds historical and geological significance as Þingvellir is the site of the first known parliament in the world, where many of Iceland’s most important decisions were made. It is also a place of incredible beauty, sitting in the rift valley of the separating North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. From there, it’s a short drive back into town, reaching Reykjavik in time for dinner.

Small group tour, overnight at Icelandair Hotel Marina in a superior room

Day 7

Reykjavik Day 

Take another easy day in Reykjavik after a busy few days of tours. Catch up on anything you missed on the first Reykjavik Day. If you are looking for even more then you can explore the Old Harbour area near your hotel. Take a walk through the up and coming Grandi area by the Old Harbour in Reykjavik. It has many new cafes popping up in this area after getting squeezed out of downtown Reykjavik. Here you can also find the exhilarating FlyOver Iceland experience and Omnom Chocolate factory, you should definitely try their delicious tasting chocolate and join the factory tour. The Marshall House has just opened up in a restored fishing factory and holds a great contemporary museum and exhibits, as well as a fantastic restaurant. You could also join a whale watching tour operated from the Old Harbour to see the many whales and dolphins that inhabit the waters off Reykjavik.

Small group tour, overnight at Icelandair Hotel Marina in a superior room

**Activities not included, items listed above are suggestions of what can be done on this day. 

Day 8

Private Reykjanes & Lava Tunnel 

Today we will embark on a customised and private version of our Reykjanes peninsula and LAVA Tunnel tour where we visit UNESCO Global Geopark of Reykjanes, which has some incredible sights. We'll start with the 1 hour tour through Raufarhólshellir, or the LAVA Tunnel, which is one of the longest lava tubes in Iceland. Here we will explore the depths of this lava tunnel, witnessing the inner workings of a volcanic eruption, following the path that the lava flowed during the Leitarhraun eruption 5,200 years ago. The colours and textures within the cave from the lava are incredible.  From here we visit the geothermal area Krýsuvík with its bubbling mud springs, as we continue onto the fishing town of Grindavík, where we visit one of our favourite local cafes by the harbour, which has one of the best lobster soups, as well as other soup, sandwiches and cakes. 

After lunch we'll head to Gunnuhver, the largest hot spring in Iceland, and the cliffs and lighthouse of Reykjanesviti. We'll make a short stop by the Bridge Between Two Continents, a small bridge linking the fissure that is separating the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates before dropping you off at Hotel Berg.

Private tour, overnight at Hotel Berg

Day 9

Reykjavík Leisure and Departure Day

Enjoy a delicious breakfast and some free time before you take the hotel shuttle to the airport.

Icelandair Hotel Marina

In touch with Iceland’s maritime past & present, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina, steps from downtown Reykjavik, is situated in a completely renovated four-story building that has become a landmark among local residents. It is located next to the historical, and still fully functioning, dry-dock called Slippur. With an emphasis on blending the dynamic, creative atmosphere of this rapidly developing district with the country’s strong fishing traditions, Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina offers everyone the opportunity to see and experience the capital at its most creative and colorful.

Hotel Frost & Fire

Comfort and design come together at Frost & Fire Boutique Hotel, where every room has been thoughtfully appointed with an eye to Nordic design and the ability to fully enjoy the majestic views over the Varmá river, surrounding hot springs and Mount Reykjafall in the distance. All rooms, for example, have a private entrance so guests can enjoy the outdoor spa facilities whenever they’d like.

Lilja Guesthouse

Lilja Guesthouse is located in Hornafjordur, in the South East region of Iceland where Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier, plays the major role in a spectacular scenery.

Lilja Guesthouse opened in April 2017. It offers 26 nice and cosy rooms divided into three categories and located in two separate buildings.

Lilja Guesthouse is very much a family affair, run by Ólafur Páll Vignisson and Þorbjörg Inga Þorsteinsdóttir. The owners are passionate about turning their visitors stay into great memories.

Hotel Berg

Hotel Berg is a newly renovated four-star boutique hotel on two floors located above a small marina in Keflavík, where most travellers begin and end their journey in Iceland due to its short distance to the international airport. Hotel Berg is only a 5-minute drive to the airport, yet has quiet surroundings, as it is well away from the noises of the airport.

PRICE: $3595 per person

Deposit: 30% due today
Final Balance: Remaining balance due 90 days prior to departure