10-Day Diving & Sightseeing Adventure in Iceland with Glacier Hike

Welcome to Iceland!

You’ll arrive at Keflavík International Airport, located in the middle of a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula. After you’ve collected your bags, find your bus which will take you to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík.

If you wish to jump into the deep end and begin your Iceland adventure right away, you visit the famous Blue Lagoon spa. Just make sure to reserve a time slot during the booking process. You’ll then be dropped off at the lagoon on your way to the city, and picked up once you are feeling refreshed and replenished. Note that the Blue Lagoon can also be visited on another day.

Once in Reykjavík, you are free to explore the city. Your accommodation is centrally located, meaning you’ll be in the walking distance of some of the country’s finest restaurants as well as the city’s famous nightlife.  

Today your diving adventure around Iceland begins.

You will be picked up in the morning by your friendly guide, and whisked away towards Þingvellir National Park. It is here where Viking settlers would gather to lay the laws of this land over a thousand years ago. 

The park has a rich history, but it is also geographically interesting. Þingvellir is located on the boundary of two tectonic plates which are constantly moving apart, creating cracks and fissures around the area. 

Two of these fissures, Silfra and Davíðsgjá (David’s Crack), are located in Lake Þingvallavatn, making them the perfect spots for diving. Silfra is more popular with foreign visitors, offering both diving and snorkelling tours, while Davíðsgjá is a favourite among local divers.

The underwater topography at Davíðsgjá is composed of massive, round boulders and square plates that lie stacked up on top of each other. Although Davíðgjá is darker than its sibling, Silfra, the visibility is usually around 100 metres each day. Keep an eye out for a dwarf char hiding in the lava or even a giant trout on an exploration trip from the deeper parts of the lake. 

After your dive, you’ll head north to the town of Akureyri where you will spend the next two nights.

After breakfast, you’ll head further north where you’ll find today’s dive site. On the seafloor of Eyjafjörður fjord lies a hydrothermal vent, a sort of underwater geyser, known as Strýtan. Today, you’ll explore both this 55-metre hydrothermal chimney as well as a smaller one called Arnarnesstrýtur. 

Strýtan and Arnarnesstrýtur are the shallowest known vents in the world, making them the only hydrothermal chimneys scuba divers can visit. 

When the hot water from the vents mixes with cold seawater, it creates a nice warm temperature which attracts a myriad of and diverse wildlife. The area is probably the best place in Iceland, if not the world, to observe wolffish.

After a long and fun dive, you’ll return to your accommodation in Akureyri. 

Today, you’ll get to dive and snorkel in waters found on the Diamond Circle, a route between some of North Iceland’s most stunning attractions. You’ll also get to visit these beautiful places starting with the arch-shaped waterfall, Goðafoss. 

Before visiting your first dive site, you’ll stop at Tjörnes Peninsula to enjoy the views found there. Keep an eye out for Rock Ptarmigans or, if you are visiting in the summer, Atlantic Puffins. 

Similar to Davíðsgjá and Silfra in the south, Nesgjá is the result of tectonic movement. This underwater fissure is relatively shallow but boasts of impressive visibility. The walls of the Nesgjá are angular and uniformed, appearing as if they were carved by hand and not nature. 

You’ll then head to a river, Litlaá, where you’ll snorkel in geothermal waters. Here, you can drift with the current, admiring the multi-coloured sediments and volcanic sands found on the bottom of the river.

The next sightseeing stop on the Diamond Circle is Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall. Sci-fi fans might recognise this impressive feature from the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s 2012 film Prometheus. 

You’ll then explore the geothermal area of Námafjall. Here, you’ll find a Mars-like landscape filled with steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pools. 

Before reaching your accommodation in the Mývatn area, you’ll stop at Mývatn Nature Baths to unwind after a busy day. 

Now it is time for one last dive in North Iceland. Your guide will take you back to Eyjafjörður Fjord for a dive at either the French Gardens or The Wall.

Both sites are absolutely stunning but rarely visited and thus considered hidden gems amongst divers. Here, you’ll see strange geological formations and an abundance of wildlife, including colourful anemones, redfish, lumpsuckers, and wolffish. You’ll also see rocks covered with algae, giving them a pink or purple hue.

After the dive, it is time to head back South. You’ll drive through rocky mountains, jagged lava fields and verdant farmlands on your way to Reykjavík City, where you will spend the night.

No trip to Iceland can be complete without visiting the Golden Circle. And there is no better way to wrap up a diving tour of Iceland than with a visit to the country’s most famous dive site, Silfra fissure. Luckily, you’ll be doing both today.

You’ll start off heading again to Þingvellir National Park, the birthplace of Iceland’s democracy. Here, you’ll dive in the crystal clear waters of Silfra, a fissure located on the boundary of two tectonic plates.

After your dive, you’ll explore the rest of the Golden Circle, starting with the geothermal area of Geysir. The star of the site is the geyser Strokkur which erupts every 5-10 minutes, reaching heights of around 15-20 metres.

You will then head to Gullfoss waterfall, which is fed by Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull. The river Hvítá rushes south from the glacier before plunging 32-metres into an ancient canyon.

At the end of the day, you’ll return to your accommodation in Reykjavík and bid farewell to your diving guide. You will then have the rest of the evening free to explore the city, and perhaps take part in the vibrant nightlife.

After a night in the city, it is time to head back to the countryside. In the morning, a guide will pick you up in a small but comfortable minivan and take you on a 2-day tour of Iceland’s south coast.

Your first stop today will be at the waterfall Seljalandsfoss. This majestic feature falls down 60 metres into a small river. The pouring water drops over a cave on the cliff, which you can enter. Know that doing this will get you wet, but that shouldn’t frighten you after days of diving.

A short drive from Seljalandsfoss is another impressive waterfall, Skógafoss. This one falls from a similar height to his neighbour but is much more powerful. Skógafoss drops onto a black sand plain, which allows you to walk right up to the falling water. But, again, doing this might get you wet, so remember your raincoat.

You’ll continue further east to Vatnajökull National Park. There, you’ll find the nature reserve of Skaftafell, a beautiful area filled with green flora, black sands, and white glaciers. Here, you’ll meet a professional glacier guide who will give you crampons and other gear needed for a glacier hike. You’ll then explore the frosty landscape on top of the ice cap, enjoying the views and the crunching sound of your feet against the ice.

Once back down, your driver will take you to a lovely countryside hotel in the region where you’ll spend the night.

Today after breakfast, you’ll head out to explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, perhaps the best-known feature of Vatnajökull National Park. Here, you’ll see enormous icebergs that have broken off a nearby glacier float on a bright blue lake.

Though seeing the bergs from the lagoon’s shores is an amazing experience, an even better one is seeing them up close on a boat tour. And that is exactly what you’ll do. As you sail amongst the blue and white icebergs, keep an eye out for seals that can often be seen swimming between them.

Once back on shore, you’ll head to The Diamond Beach, where you can see smaller icebergs lying scattered around a black sand beach.

From there, you’ll travel to another, larger black sand beach, Reynisfjara. Here, you’ll see the enormous sea stacks, Reynisdrangar, protruding from the ocean. Also, take note of the cliffs which are made of grey hexagonal columns.

After an eventful two days, you’ll return to Reykjavík, where you’ll spend the next two nights.

Today you’ll have a whole day to explore the northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavík.

Reykjavík is one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, and it’s easy to explore. The city centre is very walkable, and there are many things to do here. These include visiting Hallgrímskirkja Church or Harpa Concert Hall, hiking around the Old Harbour or Lake Tjörnin, or visiting a museum.

You can head out in the morning to explore; see where the sights and sounds will take you. If you would like guidance, you can always contact your travel advisor for some great suggestions.

There are plenty to choose from if you are looking for an adventure. The first of which is a helicopter tour over Reykjavík. You’ve already explored the country on land and underwater, so the only thing left is from above. A helicopter tour will take you over the city and land on top of the nearby Esja mountain. There, you’ll get a fantastic view of Reykjavík, Faxaflói Bay, and the surrounding countryside.

Alternatively, you could book a whale-watching tour — that is if you haven’t had enough of Iceland’s aquatic wildlife. Departing from the Old Harbour, you’d head out onto Faxaflói Bay in search of the many whales, dolphins and purposes that make these waters their home.

The third option is a relaxing soak in the Sky Lagoon, a new geothermal spa located a short distance from the city centre. The Sky Lagoon’s infinity pool looks over the Reykjavík skyline, the president’s house and the North Atlantic Ocean.

Now it’s time to bid farewell and make your way home with memories you’ll never forget.

If your flight leaves in the afternoon or evening, you’ll have time to explore Reykjavík a little, perhaps visiting a museum or two. Within walking distance of your accommodation is the National Museum, the Saga Museum, and the Icelandic Phallological Museum.

You can also schedule a visit to the Blue Lagoon on this day, stopping there on your way to the airport. Relaxing in the mineral-rich waters of the lagoon is a great way to unwind after ten adventurous days on the road.