DAY 1
Most flights arrive very early in the morning. Chances are you will be tired and unfortunately airport check-in is typically around 2 PM.
We recommend doing some gentle sight seeing before headed to your hotel.
Viking world https://www.vikingworld.is/
and
Höfuðstöðinan https://hofudstodin.com/ (an art and culture destination in Iceland that permanently houses the installation Chromo Sapiens by artist Shoplifters )
are enroute to Reykjavik
Once you check - in to your hotel we recommend freshing up and heading to PERLAN https://www.perlan.is/en-gb
PERLAN is an interactive museum (has ice caves) with an amazing restaurant and observation deck. Here you will learn about his beautiful country and it will set the tone for the rest of your trip. If you arrive at Perlan @ 4:00 PM ... have dinner at 5:30 and back to the hotel by 7:30 for an early bedtime you will find that the jetlag will be gone the next day.
DAY 2
Breakfast is included at your hotel
Today you get to explore the city of Reykjavik. Be sure to see the Harpa Opera house and just down a beautiful seaside walk from the opera house you will find a statue of the SUN VOYAGER https://sunvoyager.is/
Iceland is known for their artists. It is gallery after gallery of unique uninhibited art and funky cafes! Several of the buildings are painted in murals. You camera will be clicking fursure
We recommend dining at KOL for a sensory treat http://kolrestaurant.is/ - you will need to book ahead, Prices are fair and portions large for a true fine dining experience. KOL is right beside the famous church Hallgrimskirkja. The lighting at sun down on this church is spectacular!
We recommend hitting a grocery store and loading the car with snacks. Once you hit the road... snacks are hard to find.
DAY 3
Breakfast is included at the hotel
Expect 100KM of driving . Today you can visit Hraunfossar, Barnafossar, Krauma (admission approx. CA$60.00), Deildartunguhver,
We definitely recommend using the facilities at Krauma. Great value for the experience.
DAY 4
Breakfast is included at the hotel
Head to Arnarstapi. There is a beautiful hike between the 2 quaint seaside points of Arnarstapi and Hellnar. The hike takes roughly an hour. It is stunning and not difficult... but the terrain is lava rock so be sure to have proper footwear
I you are in for a longer drive... head to Kirkjufell. It is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Also know as Arrow Head mountain in Game of Thrones
NOTE: If you do Kirkjufell you are looking at 320 KM in driving. Approx 3.5 hours. If you skip Kirkjufell your day would be under 3 hours of driving
DAY 5
Breakfast included at the hotel
Today you drive from Varmaland to VIK.
Roughly 270 KM or 3.5 hours
We recommend seeing .....
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
and
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
DAY 6
Breakfast is included at your hotel
We are going to circle back a bit in driving today but it will be worth it!
At Skogafoss Falls there is a famous trail... The Fimmvörðuháls trail starts at Skógafoss, follows the Skógá River along Waterfall Way, continues on to Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull, finally ending 25 km (15.5 miles) later in Thórsmörk. Not only do you get to see a massive number of waterfalls, but you also get to hike between two recently active volcanoes and walk on one of the youngest landscapes on the planet.
There are buses available to get you back to your car
DAY 7
Breakfast is included at your hotel - Long day!
Today we recommend - The famous GOLDEN CIRCLE!
Most people do....
Gullfoss Waterfall ( 1 hour stop)
Geysir Hot Spring Area (1 hour stop)
Kerid Crater ( 1 hour stop)
and
Thingvellier Park (2 hour stop with small hike)
We would encourage you to also visit.....
FRID HEIMAR for lunch - https://www.fridheimar.is/ You will need a reservation. It is defiantly a sensory treat as you dine right in a tomato greenhouse with basil growing on your table. It really does not get fresher than this!
and
Laugarvatn Fontana Spa.... no need to go into the spa itself. What we find fascinating about this stop is they actually make bread in the earth here. The ground is so hot you can boil eggs, Have you seen the show DOWN TO EARTH with ZAC EFRON and DARIN OLIEN? They make rye bread here. There is a tour at 11:45 AM and 2:30 PM daily https://www.fontana.is/en/rye-bread-experience
DAY 8
Breakfast is included at your hotel
FIRST STOP - Reykjanes Peninsula which is enroute to your BLUE LAGOON Spa reservation.
Here you will cross Miðlína or Leif the Lucky Bridge, which is a walkway linking the North American & Eurasian tectonic plates. Otherwise known as the "Bridge Between Two Continents"!
FINALLY - you end your trip at The Blue Lagoon!
** Please note.... starting your trip at the Blue Lagoon is also an option. It opens at 8:00 am which is a nice beginning to your trip being you arrive at 6 AM in the morning. Hotel check is not till mid afternoon... you do have a window to fill here.
