Experience the spectacular splendour and untamed beauty of Iceland´s nature, breathtaking scenery and unique Icelandic history and culture. You will discover some of the most remote parts of the country and visit many well-known highlights as well. The Grand Tour of Iceland takes you on an unforgettable journey around Iceland including the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the magical West Fjords. The tour features all the best the country has to offer. Each day combines touring by bus, going for light walks, enjoying soft adventures and experiencing Icelandic culture and history. We stay in simple and charming guesthouses, farm- and tourist-class hotels, many of them set in the most stunning locations.
The Flybus shuttle brings you from Keflavík International airport to your hotel in Reykjavík where you spend the first night in Iceland. Free time to explore Iceland’s capital city on your own if time allows.
Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur or similar
Start point
Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula 235, Iceland
We see classic highlights today, the Golden Circle Route. We start with a visit to a geothermal greenhouse and watch how Icelanders grow tomatoes. Next door, we can take a selfie with an Icelandic horse and learn about its unique qualities and history. We explore Gullfoss, the beautiful double “Golden Falls”, and we walk through the active geothermal area of Geysir, where Strokkur “the churn” spouts up to 25 meters (70 feet) every five to seven minutes. The next stop is the ancient Viking Parliament area and UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir National Park. The Þingvellir plain is situated on a tectonic plate boundary where North America and Europe are slowly tearing away from each other. As a result, the plain is scarred by dramatic fissures, ponds, and rivers, including the great rift Almannagjá.
Overnight location:
Hotel Hamar or similar
Today, we explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, which juts out from Iceland’s West Coast. A rugged mountain chain runs its length, capped by the 1,446-meter Snæfellsjökull glacier, a mystical cone-shaped stratovolcano. We travel around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, through lava fields, and along the ocean with many excellent Icelandic photo opportunities. We see the most popular sites at the Snæfellsnes National Park where volcanic craters, lava flows, an ice cap, glaciated peaks, fjords, sandy beaches, and high cliffs shape its landscapes. We follow the adventure of Jules Verne’s classic science-fiction novel about “The Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Do not miss your chance to go on a trip to the interior of the earth under the glacier Snæfellsjökull! This lava cave tour takes you 35 meters underground and about 200 meters into the lava tube called Vatnshellir. In the afternoon, we catch the car ferry Baldur from Stykkishólmur to Brjánslækur in the West Fjords. On the 2,5-hour journey over Breiðafjörður Bay, we pass the island of Flatey, which is inhabited only during the summertime. If the weather is beautiful, you will enjoy a magnificent view of the bay’s countless isles as well as the glacier Snæfellsjökull.
Overnight location:
Fosshótel Westfjords or similar
We follow the coastline and stop at the folk and transport museum in Hnjótur. We continue through a very remote and sparsely populated region to the bird cliffs of Látrabjarg, the most abundant seabird cliff and the westernmost point of Iceland and Europe where you can see puffins from mid-May till mid-August. We take a walk in the wilderness to the top of the highest bird cliff in Iceland. Látrabjarg is known in the world for its density of Nordic birds. Puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, cormorants, kittiwakes, and other cliff birds flock either in hundreds, thousands and even in millions. Látrabjarg is a place where you can get very close to the seabirds, and even if you’re not into bird watching, you are entertained by the comic puffins and mesmerized by the sheer number of birds. If weather and road conditions allow, we travel to Rauðisandur beach with endless red sand. Well, not endless but 10 km is a lot. The magnificent hues of the sand differ with daylight, tides, and weather. This pure sand beach is home to countless seabirds and seals and is an oasis of unique tranquillity. Forget everything, except maybe getting the perfect shot of the ever-changing hues of yellow, orange and red.
Overnight location:
Fosshótel Westfjords or similar
We travel over mountains and along the shore of scenic fjords until we reach the majestic fjord Arnarfjörður, surrounded by high mountains. At the bottom of the fjord, we come across the unique waterfall Dynjandi with its seven levels of plunging water, declared the country’s most beautiful waterfall by the people of Iceland. We continue over a mountain pass and along the southern shores of the West Fjords which is a route less travelled and is characterized by sheer cliffs, deep cut bays and narrow stretches of coastal lowland. We reach Erpsstaðir, a family run dairy farm best known for their ice cream and various other dairy products. Take a look at the milk production world and taste their unique ice cream directly from the farm, with local seasonal flavours.
Overnight location:
Hotel Laugarbakki or similar
Today’s journey takes us slightly off the beaten track, around the Vatnsnes Peninsula. We pass the fishing village of Hvammstangi, also known as the seal capital of Iceland. A gravel road leads us around the peninsula to Hvítserkur, a striking 15-metre-high sea stack of igneous rock. Standing just offshore, it provides a nesting site for fulmars and gulls. According to legend, Hvítserkur is a troll who was turned to stone by the morning sun while trying to hurl a rock at a nearby monastery.
We continue towards Víðimýri, where we visit one of Iceland’s few preserved turf churches. Built in 1834, it features turf walls and timber gables both front and back, offering a fine example of traditional Icelandic craftsmanship. Nearby, we stop at Glaumbær, a charming turf farm museum that gives an insight into rural life in Iceland in the 18th and 19th centuries. The well-preserved buildings and exhibits bring the past vividly to life.
Our journey then continues along a high mountain road to Akureyri, often called the capital of North Iceland, where we stay for two nights.
Overnight location:
Sæluhús Studio Apartments or similar
Enjoy breakfast in the beautiful surrounding of the botanical garden in Akureyri. Afterwards enjoy a whale watching tour for 2-3 hours in Eyjafjörður – Iceland’s longest fjord right below the Arctic Circle. For additional bonus and fun, try your luck at sea angling towards the end of the tour. In the afternoon see the spectacular fjord landscapes while travelling to Siglufjörður, Iceland’s northernmost town, known as the herring capital of the North Atlantic. Siglufjörður is located on the mountainous Tröllaskagi Peninsula. On the way, we pass small fishing villages and stop at a deserted valley that even most Icelanders have not seen. Included is a visit to the Herring Era Museum in Siglufjörður, Iceland’s largest maritime museum and the only one in Iceland that won the European Museum Awards. We won’t miss the opportunity to taste the herring along with Brennivín, Icelandic schnapps.
Overnight location:
Sæluhús Studio Apartments or similar
We explore Goðafoss, the waterfall of the Gods, and continue to Lake Mývatn, known for its abundant bird life and amazing volcanic lava landscapes. We see pseudo craters, walk in the mysterious lava field Dimmuborgir, see the tephra cone Hverfjall, explore the hot springs, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pools of Námaskarð. We travel to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall, in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. The round-trip walk takes about 40-60 minutes. We continue east through the bare and sometimes deserted landscape with mountains all around and head through the uninhabited highlands to East Iceland.
Overnight location:
Hotel Eskifjörður or similar
It’s a day to admire the dramatic fjord landscape and its tiny fishing villages at the end of twisty roads in the East Fjords. Our first stop will be at Vök baths, a geothermal floating pool in Lake Urriðavatn where guests can soak in the hot water, within and surrounded by the lake. Later we visit Petra’s fascinating rock collection. A naturalist and a collector are two terms that have been used to describe Petra since she was a little girl. Petra collected for nearly 80 years this unique treasure of rocks, crystals, zeolites, quartz and more, all from the nearby area in the Eastfjords. In the afternoon we see Vatnajökull, Europe’s biggest glacier that is visible all-over Southeast Iceland.
Overnight location:
Fosshótel Vatnajökull or similar
Today we visit Vatnajökull National Park which covers about 14% of Iceland, making it Europe’s 2nd largest national park in terms of area. We stop for a boat ride amongst the floating icebergs on the magnificent Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, considered one of the highlights on tour around Iceland. Next, we walk along the black sands of the so-called Diamond beach. We explore the region of Skaftafell that is nestled below Iceland’s highest mountain and the second biggest stratovolcano in Europe, the 2.110-meter high Hvannadalshnúkur. We walk close to one of the many glacial tongues in the area – a true photo moment. We cross a sandy desert before reaching our overnight location Vík, the southernmost village in Iceland.
Overnight location:
Hótel Vík or similar
Today we travel along the South Coast of Iceland, between the sea, rugged mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls. We explore the black lava beach, Reynisfjara, and bird cliffs before stopping at the Skógafoss waterfall, another must-see location in South Iceland. The crashing water creates a mist that results in frequent and magical rainbows, just adding some more memorable experiences to the sheer beauty of this stunning scenery and place. Afterwards we visit Skógar folk museum with its turf houses assemblage of traditions of territorial relics on display. Later reach Seljalandsfoss waterfall where you can follow a slick and wet trail and walk right behind it. Come prepared and bring a raincoat and good boots as you will get wet. Then we visit the Lava & Volcano Exhibition Centre focused on geology and active volcanoes and watch a documentary film about volcanic eruptions in the past years in Iceland. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital.
Overnight location:
Hotel Klettur or similar
The Flybus airport shuttle picks you up at your hotel and takes you the Keflavík International airport.
End point
Keflavik International Airport / Keflavíkurflugvöllur (KEF), Keflavíkurflugvelli, Sandgerði, Southern Peninsula 235, Iceland
Terms & Conditions, Guðmundur Jónasson Travel ehf
Mandatory single room supplement:
Cancellation policy for Individual Travelers:
Multi-day fixed departure/SIC tours: A cancellation fee of 20% will be retained by us for cancellations made from 6 to 8 weeks prior to tour start. From 6 weeks until 4 weeks prior to tour start, the fee is 50%. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 4 weeks prior to tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed. GJ-Travel reserves the right to charge a non-refundable booking fee/deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour. Final payment is due 6 weeks prior to tour start.
Customized private tours (individuals and groups): Cancellation terms and fees will be stated in the individual price offer. General terms are: EUR 500 non-refundable deposit from moment of booking until 12 weeks prior to tour start, 10% cancellation fee for cancellations 9-12 weeks prior to tour start, 50% cancellation fee for cancellations 5-8 weeks prior to tour start and 100% cancellation fee for cancellations within 28 days prior to tour start or for no shows, and a tour begun but not completed.
Greenland tours:
A deposit of 60% of the tour package price is required to finalise a booking and issue the flight ticket. Unfortunately, we cannot block flight seats and hotel rooms in Greenland without a deposit. Full payment is due 8 weeks before the tour start.
Once the booking is confirmed and up to 8 weeks before departure: Cancellation and changes (of ANY kind) will cost 60% of the tour package price. 8 weeks before departure and until travel date: Cancellation and changes (of ANY kind) will cost 100% of the tour package price.
Trips to Greenland are always subject to weather, fog and ice conditions. Therefore the sequence of the day tours and excursions in Greenland is subject to change, or if needed, an alternative excursion will be operated if available. In addition, delays and flight cancellations between Iceland and Greenland can happen. Therefore we strongly recommend you buy travel insurance in the country of residence to cover any additional travel expenses should your flights be delayed or cancelled due to weather. We recommend not to book any international flight directly after a trip from Greenland. Ideally, stay a minimum of two nights in Iceland after the Greenland trip to avoid the risk of missing an international flight.
Complaints:
Every effort will be made to provide you with the best holiday possible. Should you, for any reason, not be satisfied with the services provided during your stay, please inform our tour guide or a member of our staff so that the situation can be rectified immediately. If you do not bring the complaint to our attention within 24 hours of the problem occurring and give us the opportunity to put things right, we will not be held responsible for the problem. Thank you for your co-operation!
Important Liability:
Guðmundur Jónasson Travel cannot take responsibility for defaults or delays caused by contracting parties. We reserve the right to change routes, itineraries or timetables without prior notice should road, weather conditions or operational situations so dictate. Some tours may also be operated in reverse. No liability is accepted for losses or expenses due to delays or changes of arrival or departure of flights or other services, injury, sickness, accident, strikes, damage, negligence, weather, war or other causes beyond the control of Guðmundur Jónasson Travel. Guðmundur Jónasson Travel can not accept responsibility for arrangements other than those paid for in advance as part of a Guðmundur Jónasson Tour. Extra excursions taken during one of our tours will be the responsibility of that individual operator.
We strongly recommend that all travellers to Iceland have general travel insurance issued in their country of residence. This insurance should also cover all activities, i.e. horse riding, white river rafting, mountain biking etc. which are part of their tour. Your contract will be governed by Icelandic law, and any disputes will be dealt with in the courts of Iceland.
We look forward to welcoming you to Iceland!
Cancellation Policy for Iceland (Seat-In-Coach)
Multi-day fixed departure/SIC tours:
A cancellation fee of 20% will be retained by us for cancellations made from 6 to 8 weeks prior to tour start. From 6 weeks until 4 weeks prior to tour start, the fee is 50%. No
refund is possible for cancellations less than 4 weeks prior to tour start, or for no shows, and a tour begun, but not completed. GJ-Travel reserves the right to charge a
non-refundable booking fee/deposit of up to 20 % in order to secure space on the tour. Final payment is due 6 weeks prior to tour start.
Cancellation Policy for Solar Eclipse 2026 Tours
A cancellation fee of 20% will be retained for cancellations made 6 to 8 months prior totour start. From 6 months to 4 months prior to tour start, the fee is 50%. No refund is possible for cancellations less than 4 months prior to tour start, for no shows or a tour begun, but not completed. GJ-Travel reserves the right to charge a non-refundable booking fee/deposit of up to 20% to secure space on the tour.
11 nights accommodation in comfort tourist-class hotels including breakfast
Hótel Klettur: Hótel Klettur is our accommodation in Reykjavík. The hotel offers standard rooms that are 18-24m2 with private bathrooms. A restaurant and bar are located on the ground floor of the hotel. The hotel is ideally located for sightseeing and some shopping in the city center.
Hótel Hamar: Hótel Hamar is the next hotel on the list. Hamar is located just outside Borgarnes, with a magnificent view of Borgarfjörður. The hotel offers standards rooms that are 18m2 with private bathrooms, the rooms are spacious, brigh and in a light Scandinavian style with underfloor heating. At the hotel there are two hot tubs, where you can enjoy and soak after a long day.
Fosshótel Westfjords: Fosshótel Westfjords is located in the small town of Patreksfjörður in the Westfjords. The hotel offers standard rooms that are 18m2 with private bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant on site. Here we will stay for 2 nights while we explore the beautiful Westfjords.
Hótel Laugarbakki: After the Westfjords, the next accommodation is Hótel Laugarbakki, located in NorthWest Iceland. The hotel offers standard rooms that are 15-20m2 with private bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant, bar and hot tubs on site. Here we will spend one night before travelling to the capital of the North, Akureyri.
Sæluhús Studio Apartments: Sæluhús is located in Akureyri, the capital of the North. The hotel offers studios that are stylish and well organized with kitchenette facilities and a balcony. The rooms are 32m2 with private bathrooms. We will be staying here for the next two nights, while we explore North Iceland.
Álfheimar Guesthouse: Next we head east. Álfheimar Guesthouse is located in Borgarfjörður Eyrsti. The hotel offers 18m2 rooms with private bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant on site and an excellent hiking area.
Fosshótel Vatnajökull: Now we head to the South. Driving past the magnificent Vatnajökull on our way to our next accommodation, Fosshótel Vatnajökull. The hotel offers standard rooms that are 258m2 with private bathrooms. The hotel has a restaurant and bar on site, while dining at the restaurant in the evening you will have a magnificent view of Vatnajökull glacier and the majestic Hornafjörður fjord.
Hótel Vík: Vík is the last accommodation stop on the countryside, Hótel Vík offers standard rooms that are 17m2 with private bathrooms. The guest rooms offer views of either the ocean, columnar basalt sea stacks or the nearby mountains. The hotel has a restaurant and bar on site.
All hotels have breakfast and free WiFi.
Hotels are subject to change.
International flights are not included
Experienced English-speaking driver and guide throughout tour apart from arrival and departure days
Iceland
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