Detailed Port Descriptions

Day 1             Thurs June 13            Reykjavík, Iceland

Transfer from Reykjavik International Airport to your hotel. Discover culture and history in Reykjavik, Icelands capital.  Explore the old section on a walking tour featuring the Parliament, harbour, city hall and the city’s oldest building. Gaze up at the famous glass façade of the Harpa Concert Hall, a true marvel of modern architecture. Tonight, gather with your fellow travellers and experience the freshness of Icelandic food at a local restaurant. (D) Accommodation: Centerhotel Grandi, Reykavik  

Day 2             Fri June 14              Reykjavík, Iceland

Spend your day in CME learning sessions. (B) Accommodation: Centerhotel Grandi, Reykavik  

Day 3    Sat June 15    Reykjavík—Golden Circle– Reykjavik

Travel the Golden Circle to see Icelands’ most iconic natural wonders, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Thingvellir National Park where you can walk between two continents.  Lean how locals use Iceland’s geothermal energy to cook food and taste ‘lava bread’, which is submerged into the earth and cooked for 24 hours. Continue along the Golden Circle and take in the beauty of the Gullfoss (Golden Falls) double-cascade waterfall before visiting the explosive Strokkur fountain geyser.  Return to Reykjavik for an evening on your own. (B) Accommodation: Centerhotel Grandi, Reykavik  

Day 4    Sun June 16   Reykjavik – Lake Mývatn - Húsavík

This morning, fly* to Akureyri and take in the unique volcanic landscape that surrounds Lake Mývatn. You will have a chance to explore the Hverir geothermal area, where bubbling mud pools resemble a Martian terrain. Next, it’s your choice!  Dip into the  Lake Mývatn Nature Baths, frequented by Icelanders and visitors alike—OR– hike through Dimmuborgir and pass by irregular      lava formations and mystical caves that inspire your imagination. End your day in Húsavík, one of the first settlements on the   island. (B&D) Accommodation: Fosshotel Húsavík , Húsavík  

Day 5    Mon June 17  Húsavík—Whale Watching— Grenjaðarstaður—Húsavík

Gear up in thermal wear to join expert whale watchers on a cruise on Skjálfandi Bay. Aboard specialized Zodiacs, you’ll get as close as you can to whales in northern Iceland. You may see humpback, minke, fin or harbour porpoise, and possibly the orca or giant blue whales that frequent these waters. After free time for lunch, travel to Grenjaðarstaður where you will visit and learn about the traditional Icelandic turf settlement homes. Return to Húsavík in the late afternoon, where the remainder of the day is yours. (B) Accommodation: Fosshotel Húsavík , Húsavík  

Day 6    Tues June 18  Húsavík - Goðafoss - Akureyri– Laugarbakki

En route to Akureyri, stop at one of Iceland’s most historic waterfalls, Goðafoss, where Iceland was converted to Christianity in A.D. 1000. Enjoy time at leisure in Akureyri to explore Iceland’s second largest city. Perhaps you’ll peruse its botanical garden, a public park positioned just 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle and dedicated to finding and testing foreign plants to grow in Iceland. Next, head to the scenic Norðurland Vestra region, famous for its horse breeding. On a family owned farm, grab your camera for a photo tour of the stables and interact with these friendly animals and their care takers. Later this afternoon, travel to the village of Laugarbakki for an overnight stay. (B & D) Accommodation: Hotel Laugarbakki, Laugarbakki  

Day 7    Wed June 19  Laugarbakki- Snæfellsnes Peninsula—Reykholt

This morning, journey to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, with its camera-ready black sand beaches, mountain peaks, volcanic craters, rocky coastlines, and tiny fishing villages. Connect with the local culture during a visit to a maritime museum illustrating fishing techniques, such as the century-old tradition of catching and preserving the Greenland shark; you’ll also taste hákarl  - cured shark meat.  End the day in Reykholt, your home for the next 2 nights. (B & D) Accommodation: Fosshotel Reykholt, Reykholt  

Day 8    Thurs June 20  Húsafell -Langjökull Glacier Expericence– Reykholt

This morning, journey inland to Húsafell and look out at the misty waterfalls cascading over lava rocks. Then, experience and Impact Moment with a visit to Jóhanna’s goat farm. Here, she has helped to bring this unique breed, dating back to the time of Iceland’s settlement, back from the brink of extinction. After visiting with the friendly goats, enjoy a simple meal of homemade specialities from the farm. Then, bundle up and ascend  Langjökull Glacier  via mountain truck and go ‘Into the Glacier’ to experience the purest blue ice colour in this man-made tunnel, the world’s largest.  (B, L & D) Accommodation: Fosshotel Reykholt, Reykholt  

Day 9    Fri June 21    Reykholt –Blue Lagoon—Reykjavik

Visit the Settlement Museum and dive into the origins of Icelandic heritage, including the works of the famous Viking poet Egill Skallagrímsson. Drive to the Reykjanes Peninsula, home to the famous Blue Lagoon. Take a dip in the warm, mineral-rich waters of the iconic geothermal pool, located in the heart of a dramatic lava field. Come together this evening for a farewell dinner at a restaurant featuring Icelandic cuisine. (B & D) Accommodation: Centerhotel Grandi, Reykavik  

Day 10  Sat June 22    Reykjavik

Today you will head home having experienced the most stunning spectacles of Iceland’s natural beauty; an incomparable stretch of nature. (B)