You will be arriving in the afternoon, please find the Airport Direct kiosk, where you get checked in and will be directed where to board on the bus to the hotel. The travel time is about 45 mins to Reykjavik city, and it depends on where your hotel is on the drop off list, it might take an extra 15-20 minutes to arrive at the hotel.

We start with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Reykjavik and then the tour takes a scenic route from Reykjavik past Mount Esja and then by tunnel deep under Hvalfjordur into West Iceland. We’ll stop in Borgarnes for a few minutes for refreshments and to enjoy the tremendous views across Borgarfjordur.

Your first stop will be at Bifrost – a place that you might have heard about when reading stories about Norse Mythology. Here, aside from the mythical border between human and god´s world, you will find a tiny, but charming waterfall called Glanni. Located on the Nordura River, multiple tiers fall down across old lava fields called the Grabrokarhraun. In fact, you can also enjoy the view over 3 volcanic craters called Grabrok, that rise above these fields.

Our next stop is a visit to Deildartunguhver, famed as the most powerful hot springs in Europe. It produces more than 180 liters of boiling hot water per second! You can feel the fierce power of Mother Nature as you walk safely on boardwalks through billowing clouds of steam around the bubbling hot springs, or just see them from the viewing platform.

Next Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool) is a smaller hot spring found just a few minutes away in Reykholt, where local people have bathed since the 12th century. This pool was first mentioned in the medieval writings of Snorri Sturluson, a famous Icelandic poet and chieftain, who used to live and bathe here too. Snorralaug is now a protected archaeological site. There will be time to take pictures of the beautiful old timber church here, which dates back to the 19th century. You can take a look inside, where a viewing glass to a medieval smithy cistern can be seen.

Next, we will see the great Hraunfossar, a stunning series of waterfalls formed by several rivers running a distance of about 900m across the Hallmundarhraun lava field, created a thousand years ago by a volcano erupting under the nearby Langjokull glacier. Hraunfossar translates as the “Lava Waterfalls”, but nowadays it’s clear glacial meltwater that tumbles down into the Hvita (White) river below to provide one of the most breathtaking views in the country.

A short walk through the many viewing points and platforms here brings us to another beautiful waterfall, but this is one with a tragic tale to tell. This is Barnafoss, or “the waterfall of the children”. The sad story here is that there used to be a natural stone bridge over these ferociously powerful falls, and one day two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths when they were trying to cross the river. The grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed so that no others would ever suffer the same fate.

we will end our tour in the woodland oasis of Husafell. Husafell is a magical place to unwind after a day of wonder, with birch tree woodlands, waterfalls, rugged lava fields, crystal-clear water springs, medieval remains and much more to see. The fairytale setting of Husafell has been home to many artists, and the modern-day sculptor Pall Gudmundsson now makes interesting faces and even rock harps, which he cuts out of local stones. The Husafell Stone can also be found here, a legendary lifting stone that has been used to test the strength of the locals and in international competitions too.

Our tour’s first sensational sight is the “hidden” waterfall at Gljufrabui, which is concealed in a cave and is missed by most visitors here – but we will show you how to find it! Nearby there is an even more fantastic sight, a 60-meter-high waterfall called Seljalandsfoss, which plunges off the side of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano into a deep pool. There is also a path that can be walked around this waterfall, although it can be very slippery, so you should check with our guide first. This place is very popular, as it has been seen in several music videos, TV programs, and feature films.

The next stop on our South Coast tour brings us to Skogafoss, one of the most recognizable waterfalls in the world, featured in “Game of Thrones” and many other films and TV programs. From a height of 60 meters, the waters crash over the cliffs and produce sheets of spray and spectacular rainbows on sunlit days. It’s even possible to climb up some stairs to see the falls from on high too. There’s a café and restrooms here if you want to grab a snack or a coffee.

The final stop on your first day on the South Coast is a visit to the famous black sand beach at Reynisfjara, once named by National Geographic in the Top Ten of non-tropical beaches in the world. The dark volcanic sands are pounded by powerful Atlantic waves and the brooding sea stacks of the Reynisdrangar loom just offshore, a supernatural picture opportunity. Don’t go too close to the waves – they’re often much faster and stronger than you might expect! Hexagonal basalt columns decorate the cliffs, providing a home to puffins and other summer seabird visitors. The stone sea arches of Dyrholaey can also be seen in the distance.

Now we come to the highlight of your South Coast adventure – the Diamond Beach, and the Glacier Lagoon at Jokulsarlon. Diamond Beach gets its name from the countless sparkling fragments of multi-colored icebergs found here. They are slowly being sculpted into fantastic shapes by the wind and the waves on this black sand Atlantic beach. The eye-catching slivers and chunks of ice of all shapes and sizes will astound you and offer fantastic photo opportunities. This is the perfect location to pop up the question.

Just a few hundred yards away from Diamond Beach is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, one of Iceland’s “crown jewels”. Here, enormous bright-blue and ghostly-white icebergs tumble away from the receding Breidamerkurjokull glacier and crash into an ever-growing meltwater lagoon. From there, the icebergs very slowly start making their way towards the Atlantic Ocean, and you will have the opportunity to take a thrilling 45-minute amphibious boat tour amongst the bergs, getting up close to these icy giants and maybe even seeing a seal or two as well. Jokulsarlon truly is an extraordinary place, a bucket-list location featured in several Hollywood movies, but also very peaceful and tranquil too. The scenery is stunning, and always changing too, as wind and tides pull the icebergs in different directions all the time. After enjoying the magic of the Glacier Lagoon, it will be time to return to Reykjavik.

Hofskirkja was the last church of this type to be built in Iceland, dating back to the 19th century. Deep layers of turf make up the roof of the church here, which is also surrounded by moss-covered burial mounds. Rebuilt in the 1950s, it is still a practicing church, even though it seems to be merging into the landscape around it. Not many turf churches have survived in Iceland, so this is a rare opportunity to see one. The church is not open to the public, so this will be a quick photo stop.

Fjaðrárgljúfur River Canyon The river canyon at Fjadrargljufur is an astonishing place, a winding green gorge about a hundred meters deep and nearly two kilometers long. Fjadrargljufur became famous when it featured in a Justin Bieber music video. It is now very popular with visitors from all over the world as a result. It’s an extraordinary natural environment, deeply carpeted with fragile mosses. The canyon was formed a few thousand years ago during a glacial period, leaving a snaking river behind when the ice sheet retreated. We will stay at this marvelous place for an hour.

Vik Village The charming village of Vik is the furthest point south in Iceland. It has a fairytale feel to it, overlooked by a pretty church where there are fantastic panoramic views. We’ll take you to this vantage point, where you’ll also be able to see the Reynisdrangar and Dyrholaey from another perspective. Vik is also unusual for being an Icelandic seaside village without a harbor. In the summer, countless seabirds nest here, including Arctic terns.

The day begins with a scenic drive out of Reykjavik, heading towards the majestic Mount Esja and into Iceland’s heartland – Thingvellir National Park, a natural spectacle without parallel. Here, the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are tearing apart, little by little each year, giving you the unmatched opportunity to have your feet standing on two continents at the same time. Geologically enthralling, Thingvellir is also significant in the cultural and historical life of Iceland, as it was the site of the oldest surviving Parliament in the world, established by the Vikings in 930 AD. Laws were passed, disputes were settled, festivals were held, and the Icelandic nation was ruled from here for nearly a thousand years. Iceland declared its independence from Denmark here in 1944. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its rich cultural history and the stunning natural environment that lies all around.

After enjoying the experience of Thingvellir, you will travel onwards to the world-famous hot spring, Geysir. On our way there, we will pass through the small village of Laugarvatn, which sits next to a beautiful lake of the same name in a geothermally active area called Haukadalur. The plumes of superheated vapor billowing into the air in this area are used by the locals to bake rye bread in the ground! Known throughout the world for its power and beauty, Geysir has become a synonym for this fantastic show of nature. Strokkur, another hot spring, sits nearby and is very active, reliably erupting to heights of up to 30 meters every few minutes. It’s possible to get quite close to Strokkur too, but it’s wise to check the wind direction first! Streams of superheated water trickle all around, leaving intriguing colorful residues behind. While we are in the Geysir area, you will also have time to buy lunch or some snacks or shop for souvenirs at the adjacent service station.

Gullfoss is a double drop waterfall with a cascade of more than 30 meters, producing endless sheets of spray as more than a million gallons a minute of water crash down into a narrow canyon. Gullfoss is a natural marvel at any time of the year. There are several viewing perspectives, depending on the time of your visit, which will give you the chance to fully experience the thundering power of this magical waterfall. Setting off countless rainbows on sunny days, and equally stunning when it’s partly frozen in the winter, it is now a protected site having nearly been converted into a hydroelectric power plant a few decades ago.

These three amazing attractions complete the classic Golden Circle tour, but to add even more value and wonder to your experience, we will also stop at the dramatic red earth Kerid volcanic crater. Three thousand years old and more than 50 meters deep, a walk around this crater and lake with its colorful mix of mossy greens and red earth hues is a visual highlight for you and your camera. Bjork once played a concert here too.

Our tour continues towards the Grindavik as we make our way to the Blue Lagoon, enjoying a beautiful drive through the rugged Reykjanes peninsula, admiring vast lava fields, cone volcanoes and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean before we arrive in the town of Grindavik. Blue Lagoon (admission included) It is now time for you to get prepared for the most relaxing part of your day! You will spend the rest of your day relaxing in the iconic naturally-heated water and enjoying the fantastic facilities there in the world-famous Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is extremely popular and sold out on most dates, but as our tour includes all admission tickets, you can start looking forward to enjoying this unique spot as soon as you have completed your booking. After spending two hours at the Blue Lagoon, it will be time to head back to Reykjavik’s bright lights, where you can reflect on a fantastic day and enjoy the rest of your night in the capital city.

Time flies when you travel. A representative from Airport Direct will pick you up from the hotel