Highlights
- Rejuvenate in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon
- Enjoy a sumptuous three-course candlelit feast in ancient Viking caves
- Discover the icy wonders of the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon by Zodiac
- Go whitewater rafting through the Golden Circle's Gullfoss canyon
- Descend into glacier caves and master the art of ice climbing
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Reykjavík, Relax at The Retreat Spa, Icelandic Culinary Adventure | Reykjavík |
| Day 2 | Transfer to the Golden Circle, Gullfoss Canyon Rafting, Viking Feast | Golden Circle |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Kirkjubæjarklaustur via South Coast Waterfalls, Ice Climbing | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 4 | Jökulsárlón Lagoon Tour & Zodiac Excursion, Dinner at Kjarr Restaurant | Kirkjubæjarklaustur |
| Day 5 | Kötlujökull Glacier Tour & Caving, Transfer to Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon Spa | Reykjavík |
| Day 6 | Guided Rock Climbing Experience, Dinner at ÓX | Reykjavík |
| Day 7 | Explore Reykjavík at Leisure, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Reykjavík, Relax at The Retreat Spa, Icelandic Culinary Adventure
Velkominn til íslands (welcome to Iceland)! Known for its myriad geological wonders encompassing icy glaciers, steaming geysers, and towering volcanoes, the "Land of Fire and Ice" is home to some of Europe's most dramatic and diverse landscapes. Upon arrival at the Keflavík airport, your driver will be waiting to take you on the 20-minute transfer to your accommodation: The Retreat at Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon Spa.
Check into one of The Retreat's 60 elegant suites, all carved directly into lava rock, with an aesthetic that blends warmth and minimalism with luxury linens and bespoke Italian furniture. All rooms feature heated floors, sumptuous bathrooms filled with the spa's award-winning skin care products, and unlimited access to The Retreat and spa. Opt for one of the two lagoon suites for floor-to-ceiling views and a private spa pool.
The rest of the day is yours to relax and rejuvenate in your stylish surroundings. Soak in the mineral-rich geothermal seawater pools, then unwind with one of the spa's bespoke massages or treatments. Later, you'll dine on the tasting menu at the Lagoon's Lava Restaurant, whose rocky interior is built directly into an 800-year-old lava cave on the spa's west bank. Enjoy thoughtfully prepared plates showcasing Iceland's fresh produce and culinary traditions while gazing at the volcanic landscape.
Day 2: Transfer to the Golden Circle, Gullfoss Canyon Rafting, Viking Feast
This morning, you'll head out with your private driver to discover Iceland's Golden Circle, a landscape dotted with hot springs and woven with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. You'll have plenty of time to explore the vast Þingvellir National Park, geologically and historically significant thanks to its tectonic plates that straddle Europe and North America. It's also famous as the home of Law Rock, the site of the world's first parliament. Continue on to see the regularly erupting Strokkur Geyser and the 3,000-year-old Kerið crater with its turquoise lake.
Your final stop is Gullfoss. One of Iceland's most impressive waterfalls, the cascade is nestled in a scenic canyon on the Hvítá River. You'll experience the thundering falls up close as you spend the next few hours on a private rafting trip, journeying through a series of serene canyons mixed with whitewater waves and rapids. After hot cocoa on the riverbanks, your driver will drop you off at your accommodation for the night, the highly regarded Hotel Rangá. Featuring its own observatory with powerful telescopes in a remote area free of light pollution, the hotel is ideally placed to capture a glimpse of the northern lights in winter.
Junior and master suites are themed by continent and imaginatively furnished with original artwork and artifacts, with balconies offering terrific views of the Rangá River. Check in, and after a refresh, you'll transfer to the nearby Caves of Hella to enjoy a memorable Viking-inspired feast that pays homage to the caves' history. In the glow of candlelight, you'll dine on a delicious three-course meal featuring Icelandic salmon and lamb accompanied by fine wines or local craft beers. Afterward, you'll be dropped back at the hotel, where you can head to the bar to sample one of Iceland's most extensive whisky collections.
Day 3: Transfer to Kirkjubæjarklaustur via South Coast Waterfalls, Ice Climbing
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Iceland's southern coast is characterized by vast glaciers leading to thundering waterfalls and a coastline adorned with basalt rocks and black-sand beaches. After breakfast, you'll be collected by your driver for a private tour of the south's most compelling spots. Start with Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall along the Seljalandsá River, where a footpath leads you to a coveted position directly behind one of Iceland's most photographed cascades. Next is Gljúfrabúi waterfall. Tucked away in a crevice, it plunges 131 feet (40 m) into a pool at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical canyon.
Finally, you'll reach the mighty Skógafoss; at 197 feet tall (60 m) and 82 feet wide (25 m), it's one of the country's largest cascades, shrouded in myths of buried treasure and a wonder to behold from its black, basalt base. Your tour concludes on the coast, home to the Dyrhólaey Arch and the haunting Reynisdrangar sea stacks at Reynisfjara Beach. Break for lunch, and afterward, you'll have the chance to see Iceland's icy wonders up close with a private ice-climbing tour of the Sólheimajökull glacier.
Whether a beginner or an expert climber, your experienced guide will select the best climbing spots suited to your ability and preference. After several hours on the ice, you'll continue to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and check into your luxury cabin in the Hrifunes Nature Park. Equipped with everything you need for a self-catering stay, the warm and tasteful furnishings, designed to complement the remote rural setting, are enhanced by a private wood-fired sauna and hot tub. You'll spend the evening in Vík at one of the town's many excellent restaurants before returning to your cabin for a peaceful night.
Day 4: Jökulsárlón Lagoon Tour & Zodiac Excursion, Dinner at Kjarr Restaurant
Your discovery of southern Iceland continues today with a private tour of the Skaftafell nature reserve and nearby glacier lagoons. Start with a 3-mile (5 km) hike to the slender Svartifoss waterfall, surrounded by hundreds of jagged basalt columns. With the bar set high for the rest of the area's natural wonders, a visit to Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon won't disappoint. You'll have plenty of time to explore the icy scenery before continuing to the larger and better known Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
It's an impressive sight as you watch the icebergs float toward the ocean, only to return, glittering and polished by the waves, to the black sands of Diamond Beach. For sweeping views across the entire lagoon, your guide will show you one of the best vantage points atop the nearby hill, where, depending on the time of year, you may also be able to spot seals, porpoises, or small whales.
After spending the morning on land, you'll conclude your visit with a private boat tour of the lagoon. Step inside your nimble Zodiac boat, which allows you to get as close as possible to the vast icebergs, whose bright blue undertones are streaked gray with volcanic ash. After an exhilarating couple of hours on the water, your driver will drop you back at the Hrifunes Nature Park. While away a relaxing couple of hours predinner in the sauna and hot tub before dining at local favorite Kjarr Restaurant, situated next to the Systrafoss waterfall and known for it's locally foraged fresh produce.
Day 5: Kötlujökull Glacier Tour & Caving, Transfer to Reykjavík, Sky Lagoon Spa
Iceland's southern coast is famous for its glacial wonders, and you'll start the day with an exhilarating private tour of the Kötlujökull glacier. You'll travel by Super Jeep across the icy terrain and don helmets and crampons to explore the south's famous ice caves—distinctive for their layers of different colored ice and volcanic ash that paint impressive stripes into the glacier. Warm up with hot cocoa back in your Jeep, and you'll shortly pass the Hjörleifshöfði cave, known for its distinctive Yoda silhouette—"Star Wars" fans will recognize the location from the film "Rogue One."
Continue along the coast as you journey back to Reykjavík, passing highlights such as the Eldhraun lava field, created in 1783 by a vast lava flow from Lakagígar, and the enchanting Gljúfrabúi waterfall, whose cascades descend 131 feet (40 m) into a pool at the bottom of a narrow cylindrical canyon. The surrounding volcanic landscape is dotted with several petite waterfalls and views of the mighty Tröllagil (Troll Gorge). Soon, you'll reach the award-winning Sky Lagoon geothermal spa, where the afternoon is yours to unwind and immerse yourself in the spa's seven-step Sky Ritual experience.
Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of centuries-old Icelandic wellness practice, with contrasting water temperatures, heat, steam, and fresh air, while luxuriating in the spa's infinity edge design. You'll continue the relaxed vibe at your nearby 5-star hotel, The Reykjavík Edition. Check in to one of the boutique rooms or suites that blend copper details, elegant Scandinavian design, and individual furnishings from local artisans. Suites enjoy uninterrupted views of the harbor, Mount Esja, and the glacier-capped Snæfellsjökull volcano.
Day 6: Guided Rock Climbing Experience, Dinner at ÓX
It's your last full day in Iceland, and you'll see out your week in the "Land of Fire and Ice" with a full-day private rock climbing excursion just outside Reykjavík. Focused on your personal climbing goals and based on your experience level (beginners and seasoned climbers are catered for), your expert coach will lead you on a series of basalt climbs in the Icelandic wilderness.
Beginners will learn the basics of the sport, such as safe top rope setup, quick draw clipping, belaying, and rope management. After a day of climbing, you'll return to your hotel in time for tonight's dinner reservation at ÓX, an intimate 17-seater Michelin-starred restaurant, where you'll have a birds-eye view of the chefs at work.
Day 7: Explore Reykjavík at Leisure, Depart
Your luxury adventure in Iceland comes to a close today. However, there's still time for some last-minute sightseeing in Reykjavík. Pick up any last-minute souvenirs with a stroll through the colorful shopping streets of Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, whose rainbow-colored streets you can't miss. Continue until you reach the striking Hallgrímskirkja church, whose architecture is inspired by the unusual basalt columns across Iceland.
Sip one last coffee on the waterfront and admire the gleaming architecture of the award-winning Harpa Music Hall before meeting your driver and transferring to Keflavík. You'll be dropped at the airport in plenty of time to catch your flight home or to your onward destination. Safe travels!
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