My name is Elana Christiansen, and I own a Travel Agency specializing in group trips. I went to Iceland in May 2022 and fell in love with the country immediately. I returned in Sept 2023 with a small group and we had an incredible time! I'm a seasoned traveler that has seen many countries, and Iceland is at the top of my list! This trip will be fairly active and fast-paced, and we'll see some of the best sites that Iceland has to offer. The natural beauty is stunning, and you won't see another country like it. Ask if you have questions, and I'm always ready to share some of my hundreds of photos of Iceland with you.
This was us enjoying the gorgeous scenery! We'll be there in the summer time and this means the sun almost never sets!
An outline of the proposed itinerary is below.
Arrive in Reykjavik this day, and check into your hotel. This is an included pre-tour hotel stay to help you settle in. You have the day free to adjust to the time zone and possibly take a food tour if you're interested. Maybe visit the Blue Lagoon.
I'll be arriving in Reykjavik a few days ahead of time to acclimate to the time zone and city. I recommend this! It's a great city, and you may even have time for a dip in one of the many thermal pools in Reykjavik!
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
During the welcome meeting at the hotel, you will meet our Chief Experience Officer and fellow travelers, and learn more about your tour. This will last about 1 hour. (The CEO is not me. We'll have a local guide with us for the trip that will be our private driver.)
I invite the group to dine together afterwards at a locally owned restaurant. This is optional.
Today we drive to Akureyri, stopping for lunch at a local cantina. We'll stop along the way at beautiful sites. In the late afternoon, explore the town or opt to go on a whale-watching tour.
The optional whale-watching excursion: Some of the species spotted near Akureyri in Eyjafjörður include Bottlenose Whales, Mink, and Humpback Whales. (This is an additional $87)
We'll head to Mývatn lake, stopping en route at Goðafoss waterfall. In Mývatn, explore lava formations of Dimmuborgir and the geothermal area of Námaskarð.
Visit Dettifoss waterfall, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe.
Reach Bakkagerði in the East Fjords region for a night in a local guesthouse. This little town is only accessible by one road over a mountain pass. It's a beautiful view!
We'll leave beautiful Bakkagerði behind and travel down the coast driving through the majestic eastern fjords. En route to Hofn, we'll catch a glimpse of Vatnajokull glacier, the largest ice cap in Europe.
Marvel at the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, with a chance to see seals sunbathing on the bright blue ice. The massive icebergs floating towards shore tower over visitors.
There is an optional excursion to see more of the lagoon by boat. This is approximately 45 minutes long and an additional $40-$70 depending on the boat. Let me know if you're interested and I can find out more about availability.
We'll stop by Diamond Beach, which gets its name from chunks of glacier that float to shore. As these blocks of glacier ice melt, they develop a crystal clear sheen, set against the black sand of the beach. We may or may not get to see these in the summer since the ice melts.
Continue on to Skaftafell National Park with time to explore before continuing on in the evening to the small town of Vík.
At the national park there is a flat walk to one of the glaciers, or for those not going on the glacier walk, I'll be doing an uphill hike to the Svartifoss Waterfall. It's an incredible site!
We'll visit Reynisfjara beach, also known as black sand beach. We'll continue along the Golden Circle and stop at the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Gullfoss.
We'll also visit Geysir Hot Springs and Þingvellir National Park. We'll arrive in Reykjavík in the early evening.
After breakfast, you can leave for home anytime or spend additional time in Reykjavik.
Accommodations
Standard hotel (5 nights), local guesthouse (2 nights)
Meals
7 breakfasts
Transportation
Private minivan/bus, walking
Staff & experts
Professional guide for the entire trip.
Physical Grading for trip: 3 out of 5
Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.
Please Note: I'm inviting people on this trip that will be good travel companions. We'll be spending the week together so flexibility in attitude and a "go-with-the-flow" mindset is crucial. We'll be on the move everyday and some of our days will be long. There will be a lot of driving since it's the best way to see the country. My ideal scene is that we're a supportive group that can have fun together.
Click here to schedule a consult with me about the trip:
This trip is for people 18 and over only.
$3200 per person, not including flights (based on double occupancy and includes a $3 donation to Planeterra. More below.)
Part of the above fee will include you booking your transfer to and from the airport. I'll help you with this.
If you're traveling solo and want to book a room alone, the single traveler supplement is $699.
There is a max of 3 single spaces available.
The deposit is $350 to hold your space due Dec. 30, 2024. This is non-refundable.
Final payment is due on or before April 20, 2025. If you would like to join us and this date has passed, please contact me and I will check if there is hotel space available for the tour.
We will prebook any add-on activities, because they are popular and may sell out.
Prices for Pre-tour and Post-tour nights to add on in Reykjavik are coming soon.
There is only space for 14 people so we'll be a small group.
Travel Insurance is required for this trip. I have 2 companies that I can recommend. If you don't like buying Travel Insurance, ask me about the time I fell of a bike in Holland.
A U.S. Passport with at least 6 months validity is required for this trip. If you don't have a passport, please start the process now. The passport office is receiving record numbers of applications, and your application can take longer than anticipated.
If you'd like to visit the Blue Lagoon, that will need to be done before or after this tour since it is not included here.
This trip will require some moderate physical activity such as walking for long periods and some hiking. If this concerns you at all, call me and we'll talk.
Cancellation Policy
Please also note that the weather near the Arctic Circle can be variable, including some rain. Occasionally this will mean that we need to amend our itinerary to keep you safe. We will always endeavor to deliver a tour as close to the itinerary described as possible and ensure you see as much as possible, despite any bad weather.
I'm partnering with G Adventures for this trip and they support Planeterra International Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
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