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7 days - Small Group Summer Tour of South and West Iceland
Join a small group and journey through the breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture of South and West Iceland while staying in comfortable hotels. Travel across a variety of stunning scenery, from dramatic volcanic fields and windswept coastlines to charming fishing villages and historic sites. Marvel at majestic waterfalls, stroll along black sand beaches, and admire towering cliffs alive with birdlife. Discover geothermal wonders shaped by powerful natural forces, and immerse yourself in the region’s unique heritage. Each day unveils new adventures, deepening your connection to Iceland’s extraordinary nature and fascinating past.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Motor coach
We can arrange a private airport tranfer for you.
On arrival at Keflavik International Airport, you will be welcomed and driven to your accommodation in Reykjavík.
If you are arriving earlier in the day, you might consider adding a day tour. We’d be happy to make suggestions based on your interests. One of our favorite activities after a long flight is to visit one of the neighborhood geothermal pools. It is so refreshing to relax in the warm water, breathing in the fresh Icelandic air. It’s a great way to get to see Icelandic daily life and maybe meet a few locals. It’s also nice to take a stroll in the old city centre, perhaps visiting one of the museums or relaxing with a cup of coffee in a cozy café.
Dinner this evening is at your leisure. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee-houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland’s capital.
Meet your guide at 09:00 am and set out to explore Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital. Learn about the history while visiting landmarks such as Hallgrímskirkja, the University district, and the harbour, where fishing boats, mountain views, and the Harpa concert hall create a distinctive atmosphere. Afterwards take a short drive out of the centre to Bessastaðir, the historic home of the president of Iceland. Although it is closed to visitors, it remains an important landmark.
Then we’ll make our way to an Icelandic restaurant for lunch, where you’ll discover the flavours of Iceland through a seasonal menu.
After lunch, we will head to Harpa and enjoy the Volcano Express, a short film showcasing Iceland’s powerful volcanic landscape.
Return to Reykjavik and dinner on your own.
We leave Reykjavík and head west through the countryside towards Borgarfjörður Valley, a region shaped by geothermal energy, rivers and lava fields. First stop is at Deildartunguhver, Europe’s most powerful hot spring, where steam rises steadily from the ground.
We will then head to Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, both part of the same river system. At Hraunfossar the cold spring water emerges from beneath a wide lava field and flows into the Hvítá river – a formation created by volcanic activity over 1000 years ago. A short walk upstream leads to Barnafoss, where the river narrows between rock formations. This site is also known for its own tragic tale, which adds to the atomosphere of the area.
The journey then continues to Húsafell, a peaceful area on the edge of the highlands. From here, we’ll embark on the Into the Glacier tour — a guided adventure into a man-made ice tunnel inside Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. Specially equipped vehicles will take us up onto the ice, where we’ll explore the heart of the glacier from the inside.
Todays adventure starts at Hvammsvík Hot Springs located in Hvalfjörður, where geothermal pools meet the sea.
After a rejuvenating soak we will continue towards the Golden Circle. The first stop is Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where Iceland’s parliament was established in 930 AD, making it the oldest in the world. The site is also located between two tectonic plates, The North American and Eurasian plates. This is clearly visible in the landscape.
After taking in the sites at Þingvellir, we head to Laugarvatn Fontana. Here, we’ll witness the traditional baking of rye bread using geothermal heat. After learning about the history and technique behind this age-old tradition, we’ll enjoy a taste of the freshly baked bread. Next we head to Friðheimar Geothermal Greenhouse & Horse Stables where we learn about greenhouse farming supported by geothermal energy and also meet the Icelandic horse.
Our last stop on this exciting day is at Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s best-known watefalls. Followed by the Geysir area, where the geyser Strokkur erupts every few minutes
This morning explore the South Shore of Iceland, known for its waterfalls, open landscapes and coastal features shaped by volcanic activity. The day includes a visit to Skógafoss, one of Iceland’s most recognized waterfalls, as well as Seljalandsfoss, where it is possible to view the falls from behind.
We explore Skógar Folk Museum, with more than 15,000 artefacts related to farming, fishing and daily life in rural Iceland. Turf houses and tools on display offer insight into the country’s cultural heritage.
Further east, we reach the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, known for its striking hexagonal basalt columns and sea stacks rising from the ocean.
A short stop is also made in the village of Vík before returning to Geysir.
Begin the day with a visit to Kerið, a volcanic crater formed about 3000 years ago. The crater is about 55 metres deep and features a small lake at its base, with steep slopes of red volcanic rock surrounding it.
From there, we head to Reykjanes Peninsula, known for its geological activity. The first stop at this moonlike landscapes is the famous Blue Lagoon. This geothermal spa is renowned for its strikingly vivid blue-turquoise and mineral-rich waters. Soak and relax surrounded by the surreal and lunar-like landscape of volcanic rocks and moss.
After the relaxing soak at the Blue Lagoon we explore Reykjanes Peninsula. The area is shaped by volcanic forces, with dramatic fissures, bubbling hot springs, and vast lava fields creating a unique landscape. Our first stop is at the Bridge Between Continents, which lies on one of the world’s largest plate boundaries, that between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. We continue to Iceland’s oldest lighthouse, Reykjanesviti. The lighthouse offers sweeping views of the rugged coastline and surrounding landscapes. It serves as a testament to Iceland’s maritime heritage. Afterwards, we stop at Gunnuhver a geothermal area with boiling mud pools, fumaroles, and vibrant colours from surrounding rocks and minerals that give it an otherworldly atmosphere.
We then head back to the hotel in Reykjavík for one last night.
Breakfast at your hotel. Please note that this might be a light breakfast if you are taking an early morning flight.
When it’s time to say goodbye to Iceland, a taxi will pick you up from your hotel for your airport transfer approximately three hours before your flight. If your departure is in the afternoon, you may choose to add a visit to Sky Lagoon, where you can unwind in the warm mineral waters before heading to the airport (optional, not included).
All prices listed are per person, twin share (double room).
This tour stays in 4-star comfortable hotels with private bathrooms, generally quality class hotels. Single, twin and triple rooms are available. The price per person is the same for twin and triple rooms.
Minimum age for children on this tour is 8 years. Somewhere between 8.000 and 10.000 ISK per person per day is a good budget for lunch and dinner while on tour. There will be stops during the tour at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations where meals, drinks and snacks can be purchased. You will spend about 40 minutes at each attraction when you stop.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions, will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
This new hot springs centre has eight natural hot springs that evolve into the ocean with temperatures ranging from ocean temperatures (around 10°C) to 42°C in the old original hot spring. It is included in many of our tours and was awarded 'best thing to do in the world' by TIMEOUT magazine in 2023.
No-one has missed the beautiful black beaches of Iceland on Instagram. Wanting to know more about how to visit this spot? See our ultimate guide to Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland.
Soak in a lava field & fine dine in your dressing gown - make the most of your visit to the Blue Lagoon.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours with 50 Degrees North. The safety of our travellers, staff and operators is a major priority of 50 Degrees North. With an operational office in Norway, 50 Degrees North has access to an up-to-the-minute flow of information regarding the countries we work in. We are also in regular contact with the various operators we use. Their in-depth knowledge and understanding of their various areas is vital.
