Iceland Nature-Excursion Private Tour
Local Time
Why You Should Go
Even after our extensive travels, we truly believe Iceland’s natural beauty remains unparalleled! This active, outdoorsy private tour is our tribute to the geological wonders of the Icelandic landscape. Thrills and excitement can be found in traversing this land’s ancient glaciers, massive waterfalls, dormant volcanoes, and more than 45 hot springs. Meanwhile, the luxury accommodations of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Hotel Geysir, and Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm provide high-touch service and relaxation after a long day of adventuring. This tour is packed full of inspiring natural views of Iceland from the top of a canyon to the bottom of a volcano. Remember to bring your camera!
Based on the limited number of high-quality accommodations and guides, coupled with the extraordinary tourist demand in this tiny country, Iceland private tour costs are among the highest in the world. During the three-month, peak, summer season (June – August) Iceland hosts nearly 700,000 tourists, despite the country’s total population being only 350,000. Over the past several years, Iceland has experienced an incredible, 25% per year tourist growth!
Best Travel Time: Summer
Vik Village, Southern Iceland
Sample Itinerary
11 Days
Each private luxury tour is custom to the wishes of each client. This itinerary is a sample. Partnering with our long-established relationship with United Airlines, our sister company, TRAVNET, may provide competitive Polaris/Business Class international airfare, along with mileage points conversion.
1
Day 1
Fly to Reykjavík
Through our sister company, premium air provider TRAVNET, we may assist with your international airfare, as well as with mileage points conversion.
Reykjavík
2
Day 2
Arrive Reykjavík + Private Transfer to Blue Lagoon
Upon arrival at Keflavík International Airport in Reykjavík, you will be privately transferred to The Retreat at Blue Lagoon. The world-renowned Blue Lagoon is heated by geothermal energy and contains skin nurturing mineral salts and silica.
Today, you will experience the “Blue Lagoon Ritual” featuring a silica, algae, and mineral body treatment provided in three connecting rooms. Our family’s four-hour spa experience here was among our most memorable anywhere! Following our ritual and massage, the Retreat’s “Nest” was a fitting space to end with a blissful nap. The Nest provides unique suspended chairs with floor to ceiling windows looking out at the therapeutic water of the Blue Lagoon.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Private lagoon at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
3
Day 3
Golden Circle Private Tour + Transfer to Hotel Geysir with Snorkeling Stopover in Silfra
The Golden Circle features three of the country’s most popular locations in Southwest Iceland: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. Steeped in history and folklore, Þingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Farther down the circle is the Geysir Geothermal Area within the Haukadalur Valley, where vents and chimneys within the ground let out steam, visible from miles away. Gullfoss, which means “golden falls”, powerfully flows over a three-step staircase before plunging down 105 feet in two stages, into a crevice. Visitors are allowed to get as close as they brave in order to feel the power of Gullfoss.
After lunch at Friðheimar tomato farm, continue onto your private snorkeling excursion in Silfra lagoon (most famous dive and snorkel site in Iceland!). Here, you’ll have the opportunity to directly explore freshwater caves and tunnels via the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Following your tour, you will be privately transferred to the luxury Hotel Geysir!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel Geysir
Gullfoss Waterfall
Golden Circle
4
Day 4
Gjáin and Surrounding Touring with River Rafting
Following breakfast, you will have a full-day tour of Gjáin, Gjárfoss, and Háifoss waterfall (approximately 8 hours). Additionally, you will embark on an exciting river rafting adventure! On this approximately 4-hour tour, you and your rafting guide will navigate the glacial rivers and the surrounding geological marvels. You will be advised to bring warm clothing, including a fleece/wool sweater and pants, warm socks, a change of clothing, a bathing suit, and a towel. A wet suit, life vest, helmet, and all equipment for rafting will be provided. To conclude your rafting experience, warm up in the sauna and end your day with a delicious BBQ lamb feast!
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Geysir
Gjáin
5
Day 5
Inside the Volcano Excursion + Lava Center Visit
After breakfast at Hotel Geysir, you will begin your transfer to the Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm, including an 8-hour touring experience.
On a 4-5 hour group tour, take a journey inside the Thrihnukagigur volcano. With a total depth of 700 feet, this volcano has been dormant for over four thousand years! Enjoy a light lunch of Icelandic meat soup before embarking on a 3-kilometer trek (each way) around this ancient landmark. Undertake a thrilling 45-minute excursion inside the volcano via a sturdy lift as you are lowered to the bottom of the crater. Those with a fear of heights: be cautious! Please note a moderate fitness level is required for this excursion.
Next, you will visit the Lava Center. Here, surrounded by the ambient glow of artificial lava, learn about the science of volcanoes and the impact of eruptions on the Icelandic environment. A visually captivating cinema exhibition is also included.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm
Inside the Volcano tour
6
Day 6
South Shore Private Tour + Glacier Walk
Today, experience the stunning views of the Southern Icelandic countryside on the Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike. Join an expert guide on a 3-4 hour hike along the approximately seven-mile-long outlet glacier and traverse across icy water cauldrons, crevasses, ridges, and waterways. A packed lunch, rain gear, mountaineering boots, and technical glacial equipment will be provided.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm
Sólheimajökull Glacier
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, South Shore
7
Day 7
Thórsmörk Private Tour
On an 8-hour excursion, tour the mountain ridge and valley of Thórsmörk. Named the Norse god Thor, a 10.5-mile hike will take you along mountainside and valley trails. Here, arctic birch reigns supreme as well as a multitude of colorful flowers. You will spend the day navigating the valley, which is closed in between glaciers, and the winding Krossá river between the mountains. Be sure to have your camera at the ready!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm
Valahnukur viewpoint at Thórsmörk, Iceland
8
Day 8
Southeast Iceland Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon + Skógafoss Hike
Following breakfast at the Skálakot, journey to the Southeast to begin your 2-hour hike along the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. Named one of the “most beautiful canyons in the world”, Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is 328 feet deep and 1.4 miles long, with the Fjaðrá River, fed by glacier meltwater, running through it. This relatively short hike affords fantastic panoramic views of the canyon, along with its breathtaking waterfalls, including the Skógafoss waterfall! You will have the opportunity to climb the 370 steps to the top of this natural wonder and be rewarded with an awe-inspiring view out over South Iceland’s coastline!
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
9
Day 9
Horseback Riding Tour + Transfer to Blue Lagoon
Following breakfast at the Skálakot, enjoy a 2-hour horseback riding tour. Get to know the purebred Icelandic horses in the lowlands before heading up the gentle slopes of the Eyjafjöll mountains. Following your tour, you will be transferred back to The Retreat at Blue Lagoon where you will be free to enjoy the retreat’s relaxing amenities for the remainder of your day.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Icelandic Horses
10
Day 10
Reykjavík Private Tour
Today, stimulate your senses on a 4-hour food and wine walking tour of Reykjavík. Taste a variety of Icelandic delicacies, including aromatic wines, the wonderfully acidic Skyr yogurt, and fresh arctic char among others. Conclude the day with another relaxing stint in the Blue Lagoon’s facilities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík
11
Day 11
Fly Keflavík/Home
Following breakfast, you will be transferred to Keflavík International Airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Whales off the Icelandic coast
Hotels
The Blue Lagoon is the only 5-star luxury hotel in Reykjavik and offers a private, otherworldly Iceland experience. Situated on a man-made geothermal hot spring like no other, this property offers the ultimate solution to overcrowded lagoons: completely private access! The silica and chalcedony minerals cause the water to turn a milky, ethereal blue and is one of the most popular attractions in all of Iceland. The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon has taken this ultra-lux hotel to a whole new level of pampering. The 62-suite hotel/spa/resort features terraces overlooking the lagoon (!), floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, and Moss, their signature Michelin-recommended restaurant, onsite.
The Retreat Spa is built into 800-year-old lava flows and features steam rooms and therapeutic “bathing chambers” carved directly into the rock. Our family’s four-hour spa experience here was among our most memorable anywhere! Included is the “Blue Lagoon Ritual” featuring a silica, algae, and mineral body treatment provided in three connecting rooms. Following our ritual and massage, the Retreat’s “Nest” was a fitting space to end with a blissful nap. The Nest provides unique suspended chairs with floor to ceiling windows looking out at the therapeutic water of the Blue Lagoon. Kudos to the Retreat’s mastermind, Grimur Saemundson! This truly is a remarkable place.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is the only 5-star luxury hotel in Reykjavik and offers a private, otherworldly Iceland experience. Situated on a man-made geothermal hot spring like no other, this property offers the ultimate solution to overcrowded lagoons: completely private access! The silica and chalcedony minerals cause the water to turn a milky, ethereal blue and is one of the most popular attractions in all of Iceland. The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon has taken this ultra-lux hotel to a whole new level of pampering. The 62-suite hotel/spa/resort features terraces overlooking the lagoon (!), floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, and Moss, their signature Michelin-recommended restaurant, onsite.
The Retreat Spa is built into 800-year-old lava flows and features steam rooms and therapeutic “bathing chambers” carved directly into the rock. Our family’s four-hour spa experience here was among our most memorable anywhere! Included is the “Blue Lagoon Ritual” featuring a silica, algae, and mineral body treatment provided in three connecting rooms. Following our ritual and massage, the Retreat’s “Nest” was a fitting space to end with a blissful nap. The Nest provides unique suspended chairs with floor to ceiling windows looking out at the therapeutic water of the Blue Lagoon. Kudos to the Retreat’s mastermind, Grimur Saemundson! This truly is a remarkable place.
Directly across from the historic Haukadalur geothermal area sits Hotel Geysir, a modern, family-run hotel specializing in quiet and comfort. Opened in 2019, the hotel’s interior expertly blends the inorganic with the organic. Dark wooden floors contrast with concrete pillars and slender windows, which open guests up to views of The Great Geysir and hot spring area. Vertical gardens and stacked timber logs also tie in the natural landscape. With 77 rooms and six spacious suites, each guest room is equipped with stone detailing alongside cozy, plush furnishings and includes an optional wake-up service for northern lights. For a dining option, the Geysir Restaurant offers a range of Icelandic seafood and international dishes served a la carte, including an extensive wine selection. Suitable for all tastes, the dishes are prepared with ingredients sourced directly from farmers in the region. Hot springs, fishing options, and hiking excursions to waterfalls, glaciers, and the highlands are abundant here. We like to think of Hotel Geysir as a “base camp” for the modern Icelandic adventurer!
Hotel Geysir
Directly across from the historic Haukadalur geothermal area sits Hotel Geysir, a modern, family-run hotel specializing in quiet and comfort. Opened in 2019, the hotel’s interior expertly blends the inorganic with the organic. Sculptures and statues line the property, as a dedication to Icelandic history. Dark wooden floors contrast with concrete pillars and slender windows, which open guests up to views of The Great Geysir and hot spring area.
Vertical gardens and stacked timber logs also tie in the natural landscape. With 77 rooms and six spacious suites, each guest room is equipped with stone detailing alongside cozy, plush furnishings and includes an optional wake-up service for the northern lights. For a dining option, the Geysir Restaurant offers a range of Icelandic seafood and international dishes served a la carte, including an extensive wine selection. Suitable for all tastes, the dishes are prepared with ingredients sourced directly from farmers in the region. Hot springs, fishing options, and hiking excursions to waterfalls, glaciers, and the highlands are abundant here. We like to think of Hotel Geysir as a “base camp” for the modern Icelandic adventurer!
Our favorite boutique property on Iceland’s South Shore, the small, 14-room, Art Deco-inspired Skálakot Manor is surrounded by picturesque scenery and the peacefulness of the countryside, adjacent to the verdant Icelandic highlands. Compared to the other hotel options in the area, please note that though a stay at Skálakot requires more driving time to the various stopovers in the Golden Circle, we feel the quality and beauty of the area is unmatched. Proprietors Mumi and Johanna are part of a family who has spent seven generations taking care of the farm and horse breeding business. With 160 Icelandic horses, there are many to choose from for beautiful horseback rides around the surrounding areas. Though the accommodations here are not as striking and expansive as Deplar Farm in the north, the simple, elegant rooms include modern amenities and provide a unique Icelandic countryside experience. The service here is personal, friendly, and after the first night, you will feel part of Mumi and Johanna’s family. Enjoy the farm’s loveable, horse-herding dogs!
Skálakot Manor Hotel & Horse Farm
Our favorite boutique property on Iceland’s South Shore, the small, 14-room, Art Deco-inspired Skálakot Manor is surrounded by picturesque scenery and the peacefulness of the countryside, adjacent to the verdant Icelandic highlands. Compared to the other hotel options in the area, please note that though a stay at Skálakot requires more driving time to the various stopovers in the Golden Circle, we feel the quality and beauty of the area is unmatched. Proprietors Mumi and Johanna are part of a family who has spent seven generations taking care of the farm and horse breeding business. With 160 Icelandic horses, there are many to choose from for beautiful horseback rides around the surrounding areas. Though the accommodations here are not as striking and expansive as Deplar Farm in the north, the simple, elegant rooms include modern amenities and provide a unique Icelandic countryside experience. The service here is personal, friendly, and after the first night, you will feel part of Mumi and Johanna’s family. Enjoy the farm’s loveable, horse-herding dogs!
Request Custom Itinerary
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Location
Overview
| Temperature |
|---|
| Highs: Mid 50’s |
| Lows: Mid 30’s |
| Area |
|---|
| 103,000 SQ KM |
| 39,769 SQ MILES |
| Capital |
|---|
| Reykjavík |
| Population |
|---|
| 328,000 |
| Language |
|---|
| Icelandic |
| Currency |
|---|
| Icelandic Krona |
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