This morning’s included tour will acquaint you with delightful Reykjavík and its environs. Highlights include the shoreside Pearl Centre, fashioned from disused water tanks, the towering Hallgrim’s Church, the Presidential Residence in its idyllic setting, the Houses of Parliament and the Lutheran Cathedral.
This afternoon enjoy an included Golden Circle tour, which includes visits to the extraordinary sight of Tingvellir, a great lava arena where the world’s oldest national parliament, the Althing, was established in 930AD, and to Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest freshwater lake. You’ll also take in the Great Geysir, now all but extinct, but where its neighbour Strokkur spouts impressively every 10 minutes or so. The fascinating tour is completed with visits to the stunning Gulfoss Waterfall, perhaps Iceland’s most beautiful natural wonder, and to the fascinating Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation centre, where organically grown vegetables are produced with the aid of geothermal heat.

This morning you’ll depart Reykjavík and travel to your new hotel in Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest city. Akureyri is located on the country’s northern coast, and you’ll make several interesting stops along the way. Call first at Borgarfjörður, a picturesque area between Reykjavík and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, home to a delightful fjord, fed by trickles of water from the rolling hills and mountains that frame this wonderful scene.

Continue to the Holtavörðuheiði Plateau, for some fantastic views over the sweeping, open spaces that characterise Iceland’s interior. Your last stop will be the charming coastal town of Blönduós, before arriving at your new hotel in the late afternoon, where you’ll enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Join your tour manager this morning for an included excursion to the Mývatn region. Your tour begins at the Goðafoss Waterfalls (Waterfall of the Gods). According to myth, the waterfall was named in 100AD, when Icelanders accepted Christianity as their faith, symbolically throwing statues of the pagan Norse gods into the water at Goðafoss.
Continue to Lake Mývatn, which is something of an ornithologist’s heaven, attracting many interesting bird species, including one of the world’s largest ducks, the common eider. You’ll also visit the nearby Mývatn Nature Baths, where you’ll have the chance to bathe in the famous natural hot springs.

Today, you can choose between joining an optional whale-watching tour at Haugunes, followed by a brewery visit, or spending the day at leisure, perhaps exploring Akuryeri. Haugunes is a small costal village, just outside of Akureyri, on the Eyjafjördur Bay.

Guests who choose the optional excursion will board a small boat to make the 15-minute journey to the centre of the bay, where whales often congregate. Iceland is a renowned whale-watching destination, and Hauganes is one of the best places in the country get a get a glimpse of these magnificent marine mammals. In the afternoon, continue to a local brewery where they brew Kaldi, a popular Icelandic beer. Guests can enjoy a tour of the brewery, with an introduction to the brewing process, followed by a tasting session, before returning to Akureyri.
However you chose to spend your day, spend your final evening in Akuryeri at leisure, perhaps choosing to eat at one of the numerous nearby eateries.

Today you will transfer back to Reykjavík, calling en route at the picturesque Víðimýri Church, one of Iceland’s few remaining turfed churches. This well-preserved church dates to the mid-19th century, when many churches and other buildings were roofed with turf to protect their inhabitants from the country’s harsh climate.
Continue your journey to Reykjavík, stopping at a local stable on the way. The Icelandic horse, a distinct breed of horse native to the country, has developed thicker hair to deal with the extreme temperatures, and often only grows to be the size of a pony. Enjoy a tour of the stable and learn more about the Icelandic horse, as you see some in the flesh. Upon arrival at Reykjavík, check-in and enjoy a final night in the welcoming Icelandic capital, dining at your leisure, no doubt reflecting on a wonderful few days.

Transfer back to the airport for your return flight, after a delightful break in Iceland.