5 Day South & West Iceland Winter Journey with Blue Ice Cave

Setting out from Reykjavík, you will drive along route 1 passing through small towns and enjoying the beauty of the Icelandic countryside. Your first stop will be at the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall, which is located beneath the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Remember to ask your tour guide all about the colossal eruption back in 2010. Close by is the beautiful but less known waterfall Gljúfrabúi.

Next up is the stunning Skógafoss, a drop of 60 m (200ft) of natural raw power that must be seen to be believed. You will then have the additional pleasure of visiting the secret waterfalls of Kvernufoss and Írafoss.

Then it is on to Reynisfjara, a black sand beach nestling under Mt. Reynisfjall – seasonal home to numerous puffins that dive from its cliffs out to sea. Black basalt has been shaped into amazing different formations, most notably the famous Reynisdrangar. Beware the might of the Atlantic Ocean which looms with its powerful waves.

At the end of the day, your accommodation awaits in hotel Geirland, a lovely country hotel located next to the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. On the way there and during the night, we will look out for the Northern Lights if conditions are favourable to see them.

Today, you set off in the morning for a totally unique experience. A visit to a natural stunning Blue Ice cave will be the highlight of the day.

You start by driving to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. This famous lagoon is filled with huge chunks of ice that have cracked off Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and float slowly out to sea. Some icebergs wash on shore, lying on the vivid black sand like diamonds on satin and from there, your Ice cave adventure will begin.

The ice caves only form in the winter when glacial water freezes to create this unique natural phenomenon. Each season, the local glacier experts find the best caves to visit in an enjoyable and safe way. From the glacier lagoon, they drive you through the best of Icelandic highlands in a special Super Jeep to the ice cave. There you will have about an hour to explore and enjoy the magical blue caves. Please do not forget to bring your camera!

After this unforgettable adventure, you drive back to the Jökulsarlon where you join the bus again. From there, you drive to the Skaftafell national park where the amazing views will take your breath away!

On the way back to Reykjavik, you will of course be able to enjoy the beautiful nature of the South Coast and to make a quick stop in Vik village for some refreshments, while keeping an eye out for the Northern lights if conditions are right.

After spending the night in an accommodation in the Reykjavik area, your next day takes you to the world famous Golden Circle.

Today you will visit Geysers, Gullfoss and Thingvellir. We want to add something unique to your experience and that’s why we will also visit the Volcanic Crater Kerid.

First on the agenda is a visit to Thingvellir National park. It lies within the belt of volcanic activity and fissures which pass across Iceland, a part of the mid-Atlantic ridge, the junction of the american and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is a nice feeling to stand with your right foot in Europe and the left one in America. This amazing place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is shrouded in the history of Iceland and the Vikings of the past.

Next stop is the Geysir – the biggest geysers of Haukadalur are Strokkur and Geysir itself, which gives the others their name. Strokkur erups every 5 to 10 minutes, throwing a column of water into the air to a height of 20 to 30 meters. Here you can also buy some refreshments or lunch.

From Geysir we drive to Gullfoss. Known as the Golden Waterfall, this is one of the most amazing waterfalls in Iceland, powerful and beautiful as it rushes down from two tiers into an ancient valley.

Last on the agenda is a visit to the Volcanic Crater Kerid. The crater is 270 m wide and more than 55 m deep. There is a lake in the bottom of the crater which gives it a magical and colourful appearance. After enjoying this fantastic creation of nature, you return to your accommodation in the Reykjavik area.

The day begins with a drive along the west coast through the town of Borgarnes all the way to the beach in Ytri Tunga which is a well-known seal colony. The seals are friendly and curious and will climb up on the rocks near the sandy beach.

The next stop is the fishing hamlet Arnarstapi and then Hellnar where you will have time to walk along the cliffs for half an hour; the view to the sea from this hike is breathtaking.

In Djúpalónssandur you will discover incredible rock formations. The beaches are covered with small black stones which are unique. You will hike to one of the most impressive formations called Lóndrangar, which are a pair of rock pinnacles made of basalt approximately 70 m high.

After enjoying the many amazing sites above ground level it is now time to journey towards the Center of the Earth! You will go caving in the Vatnshellir lave cave where you can see the tumult of the volcanic landscape up close. This cave was created by volcanic eruption 7.000 ago.

You will also stop in Saxhóll which is an old 100 m high volcanic crater. There is a good path to the top of the crater where you can enjoy one of the most spectacular view in the area. From the magical Snæfellsnesjökull glacier to the mighty Atlantic Ocean, the scenery is simply amazing.

At the end of the day, you will finish with a drive through three small fishing villages on the way to atmospheric village of Stykkisholmur, scene of the famous movie “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. There you will enjoy a lovely evening and spend the night in the unique Hotel Fransiskus, a beautiful hotel located in a former monastery. The rooms are cozy and comfortable with private bathrooms.

After a refreshing rest and having breakfast at the hotel, you day starts on a high with a visit to the majestic Kirkjufell mountain, which is one of the most popular photo stops in Iceland. If you have not used your camera before on the tour then this one is a must! You will also visit the Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum, where you can taste some traditional Icelandic shark with a local schnapps while viewing hundreds of fishing and boating artifacts.

Driving across the Snæfellsnes peninsuela, your next stop is at Gerðuberg, a big wall of huge Basalt columns. The cliff is 500 m long and 12 to 14 meters high, one of the highest in Iceland. This is one of the marvels of nature that just makes you stop and wonder about the architectural brilliance of mother earth.

Next is the visit to the historic Borgarfjordur area where you will see the great Hraunfossar, a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 m (almost 300 ft!) across the Hallmundarhraun lava field, which flow from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá River from ledges created by less porous rock in the lava.

Literally a stone’s throw upstream from Hraunfossar, you will visit another waterfall called Barnafoss. Its name, “the waterfall of the children,” comes from an accident which is said to have taken place here in a previous century. There was a natural stone bridge over the waterfall, and two children from a nearby farm fell to their deaths crossing the river on the bridge. Afterwards, the grief-stricken mother had the bridge destroyed.

Finally, take in the sights at Deildartunguhver, the highest-flow hot spring in Europe, providing 180 liters pr second of 100 C hot water! Thread the path carefully while watching and hearing the powerful energy of the hot spring at work.

After this adventure exploring the Wild West of Iceland for two unforgettable days, you set off back to Reykjavik arriving there in time to enjoy the rest of your night while reflecting on the beauty of the Icelandic nature.