7-Day Winter Private Guided Tour of Iceland | West, South and the Golden Circle

Welcome to Iceland!

You’ll land at Keflavík International Airport and once you’ve collected your bags and checked out the duty-free, you’ll step out into the arrival area where a driver will be waiting for you. 

You’ll be taken to Reykjavík city, unless you reserved tickets to the Blue Lagoon during the booking process. In that case, your guide will take you to the luxurious spa where you can soak all your jet-lag away in the mineral-rich water. 

Once in Reykjavík, you’ll check into your hotel. In the evening, you will meet your private guide who will go over the itinerary with you and tell you more about the adventures awaiting you. After that, you will have free time to either explore the city a bit or just unwind at your hotel room.

What you will see:

• Reykjavík city – Iceland’s vibrant capital

Optional Activities:

• Relaxing at the Blue Lagoon

Your adventure on the road begins after breakfast. Your guide will pick you up and whisk you out of the city and towards the farmlands of West Iceland. Your destination today is the legendary Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home of black pebble beaches, lava fields, majestic mountains and a glacier.

If you are visiting in September or October, you could opt for an adventure before you head out. Into the Volcano tour offers visitors to step inside the now empty magma chamber of a volcano. Via a large lift, you’ll be transported to the bottom of the volcano where you can see strange lava formations and the vibrant colours of the crater’s walls. 

After exploring the many attractions of Snæfellsnes, you will retire at your accommodations in the area. If the skies are clear of clouds, your professional driver will take you out hunting for the elusive Northern Lights. 

What you will see:

• Gerðuberg Cliffs – a wall of basalt columns forming geometric patterns
• Búðir Church – A jet-black church which is often photographed with the white Snæfellsjökull glacier in the background
• Djúpalónssandur Black Pebble Beach – A stunning, arch-shaped bay surrounded by dark cliffs.
• Kirkjufell Mountain – A distinctly shaped mountain featured in HBO’s Game of Thrones

Optional Activities:

• Stepping inside the empty chamber of a Volcano

Now it is time to head South and visit Iceland’s most popular sightseeing route, the Golden Circle. 

As you make your way through West Iceland, you will have the opportunity to have an underground adventure today. Víðgelmir is one of the largest lava tubes in the world and features spectacular colours and lava formations. You can reserve a spot on a tour during the booking process.

Alternatively, you can join a snorkelling tour in Silfra, is a fissure located between two continental plates. The water in Silfra is very clear which provides snorkellers with unparalleled visibility. 

After exploring the sites of the Golden Circle, your guide will take you to your accommodations in the area. You’ll be away from all major light pollution, making this a great site to try to spot the Northern Lights. 

What you will see:

• Þingvellir National Park – Birthplace of Iceland’s democracy and a meeting point of two tectonic plates.
• Öxarárfoss Waterfall – A beautiful waterfall in Þingvellir National Park.
• Geysir Geothermal Area – Home of bubbling mud pools, fumaroles and geysers.
• Strokkur – A geyser at Geysir Geothermal Area which erupts every 5-10 minutes.
• Gullfoss Waterfall – A large waterfall which falls in two steps into an ancient canyon.

Optional Activities:

• Exploring Víðgelmir, Iceland’s largest lava cave
• Snorkelling between continents at Silfra Fissure

Today, you’ll explore South Iceland, travelling along the coastline to the little village of Vík. Along the way, you’ll stop to explore glittering waterfalls and a black sand beach. You’ll also be in the shadow of two mighty glaciers today, Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. 

You can get to know glaciers better today by partaking in one of two excursions available during the booking process. The former is a snowmobiling tour on top of Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier. There is no feeling more exhilarating than rushing across the ancient ice and feeling the adrenaline surge through your veins.

The second option is a glacier hike on top of one of Mýrdalsjökull’s glacier tongues. After passing a small glacier lagoon, you’ll begin the descend up the ice giant. You’ll learn all about glaciers and witness blue crevasses, strange ice sculptures and deep moulins. 

At the end of the day, your guide will take you to your accommodations in or near the little village of Vík. 

What your will see:

• Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – A narrow waterfall which falls over 60-metre cliffs
• Skógafoss Waterfall – A much wider and more powerful waterfall with a staircase next to it which leads to a viewing platform.
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Iceland’s famous volcanic beach

Optional Activities:

• Racing across Langjökull Glacier on a snowmobile
• Glacier Hiking on top of Sólheimajökull Glacier

You’ll continue your journey East today, travelling through the black sand deserts of Mýrdalssandur on the way. Your destination is the glittering Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the stunning Diamond Beach. 

After travelling for a while, you’ll arrive at Skaftafell which will appear as an oasis after driving through this desolate landscape. Here, you’ll have the option of joining a glacier hike. The stunning view on the hike is the curtaisy of Iceland’s tallest peaks and Europe’s largest glacier, Vatnajökull. 

After a fun-filled day, you’ll retire to your accommodations in the realm of Vatnajökull. As always, your guide will let you know if the chances of seeing the green, white and pink colours of the Northern Lights are good. 

What you will see:

• Mýrdalssandur Desert – a black sand desert created by glacial erosion
• Skaftafell Nature Reserve – A scenic area filled with many hiking trails and paths
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – A calm, blue lake filled with enormous icebergs which have fallen off a nearby glacier
• The Diamond Beach – a black sand beach where icebergs have washed up on shore and glitter in the low sunlight

Optional Activities:

• Hiking up a glacier in Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Today it is time to head back to Reykjavík city. Along the way, you’ll stop at some new locations on the South Coast you haven’t seen before. That is, unless, you want to see some places you’ve already visited in a new light. Just let your guide know what you want to do.

Before you leave South-East Iceland, you have the option of adding a trip to an authentic ice cave if you are visiting between November and March. At Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, you’ll board a large vehicle known as a super jeep which will take you up Vatnajökull glacier. There, you’ll strap on crampons and enter a shiny blue ice cave where you’ll be given plenty of time to explore and take photos. 

Around dinnertime, you’ll return to your accommodations in Reykjavík where you’ll have free time to explore the city.

What you can see:

• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in a new light
• Eldhraun – a lava field created in one of the biggest eruptions in history
• Skálholt – A beautiful church site with a history that spans over a thousand years

Optional Activities:

• Visiting the Blue Ice Cave in Vatnajökull Glacier – Available between November and March

Now it is time to bid farewell to the land of ice and fire. When it is time to head to the airport, a driver will pick you up and take you through the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula to Keflavík International Airport. 

If your flight leaves in the afternoon or evening, you will have free time to explore Reykjavík city. You could visit the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church, the architectural wonder of Harpa Concert Hall or walk down Laugavegur Shopping Street in search for souvenirs.

If you didn’t have time on your arrival day, you could use this time to visit the Blue Lagoon. There you can unwind and recharge after days of travelling and arrive at the airport feeling relaxed and refreshed. 

What you can see:

• Hallgrímskirkja Church – the largest church in Iceland
• Harpa Concert Hall – a stunning building which has been voted as one of the best designed buildings in the world. 
• Laugavegur – A shopping street filled with cute cafés, unique boutiques and lovely restaurants. 

Optional activities:

• Unwinding at the Blue Lagoon