Beautiful 8-Day Winter Vacation Package to Iceland with Ice Caving

Discover the wonders of the Golden Circle sightseeing route on day two of your winter vacation.

The Golden Circle is Iceland's most popular tourist route. It includes three main sights — Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area in the Haukadalur Valley, and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall.

You'll start the day with a trip to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After meeting your expert guide for the day and the other travelers on the tour, you'll take a minibus out of Reykjavik toward the park. 

Thingvellir is a spectacular place between two tectonic plates that are pulling apart. You'll get a unique chance to see the earth's crust as you explore.

There's also a beautiful fissure filled with crystal-clear water here (the Silfra fissure), where you can go snorkeling as an optional extra excursion.  Snorkeling participants need to be comfortable in the water and able to swim.

Thingvellir is also the site where the world's first parliament was formed in 930 A.D. — the Althingi is still active today. Your guide will explain the area's history, and you'll have time to soak in the beautiful sights of the waterfalls, lava fields, valleys, and lakes.

From here, your group will continue to the Geysir geothermal area. The Geysir hot spring gave all other geysers its name but is inactive now. 

Luckily, the nearby Strokkur geyser erupts every few minutes. Surrounded by steam vents, bubbling mud pots, and jetting hot springs, you'll have some excellent photo opportunities.

Your final stop on the Golden Circle tour will take you to the thunderous Gullfoss waterfall. The word "Gullfoss" means "Golden Falls," and this is where the Golden Circle gets its name. The waterfall is fed by the glacier meltwater of the Langjokull ice cap along the Hvita River.

The two-tiered waterfall is over 100 feet (about 32 meters) high. The sound of the water cascading down into the valley below is incredibly loud, and the view is extraordinary. 

Other optional tours today include a horseback-riding excursion through the Icelandic countryside and a snowmobiling tour over the Langjokull glacier. 

After a fantastic day, your group will return to Reykjavik, where you can spend the evening exploring the city or relaxing in your downtown accommodation.

Travel along Iceland's South Coast and discover the waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, and black-sand beaches this region is known for.

After breakfast in Reykjavik, you'll meet the guide leading you on this two-day South Coast adventure. Your group will travel out of the city and follow the Ring Road along Iceland's southern coast.

The day's first stops are at the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. These falls are about the same height — roughly 200 feet (about 60 meters) — but that's where the similarities end. Seljalandsfoss is narrow and gentle, while Skogafoss is broad and thunderously powerful.

You'll now continue along the coast to the famous Reynisfjara black-sand beach. You might recognize it from TV shows and films like Game of Thrones and Star Wars: Rogue One. You can walk along the jet-black sands and admire the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Legend has it that these stacks are the petrified remains of two trolls caught in the rising sun's light.

Along the beach, you'll also see caverns of basalt rock formations, giving the area a magical yet eerie feel. Be careful not to wander too close to the waters, as sneaker waves can appear from nowhere and be highly dangerous.

Your group will now travel into the Skaftafell Nature Reserve within the Vatnajokull National Park. Skaftafell was formerly a national park in its own right but was absorbed into Vatnajokull in 2008. The area has various hiking paths with stunning views of the Vatnajokull glacier and Iceland's highest peak, the Hvannadalshnukur mountain.

Within the nature reserve sits the final stop of the day, the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. This incredible glacial lake is often considered the best natural attraction in the country. 

Mighty icebergs break off from a glacial tongue and float around the lake's waters. Many also drift onto the nearby Diamond Beach, creating a dramatic contrast between the bright white ice and the jet-black volcanic sands.

If skies are clear and the aurora forecast is promising, you might see the northern lights shining above the lake. It's an unforgettable sight, so keep watch for the magnificent natural display.

Your accommodation tonight is a comfortable country hotel in Southeast Iceland.

Journey beneath the ice of the Vatnajokull glacier with a once-in-a-lifetime ice-caving tour.

After breakfast at your accommodation, you’ll meet a professional glacier guide at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon parking lot. From here, you’ll ride a Super Jeep onto the glacier and receive the safety gear you need for your ice cave trip.

Each year, glacier experts scout the ice caps looking for ice caves that are safe to open. The caves change each year as the glacier moves and shifts, meaning each trip to an ice cave is unique. You’ll enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience with your group, enjoying stunning views of the unusual icy structures.

You’ll take a short hike over the glacier before entering the ice cave. Marvel at the sapphire blue and white walls of ice surrounding you and admire the bizarre shapes formed by the glacier’s movement. You’ll have plenty of time in the cave to take photos.

After your incredible ice cave experience, you’ll return to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon for another glimpse. Seeing the glacial lake in daylight is a totally different experience than seeing it at night, so you’ll be glad for some extra time here. 

If you’re lucky, you could even see some of the seals that make their home in the icy waters.

Your driver will now take your group back along the South Coast to Reykjavik. You’ll enjoy gorgeous views along the way, with glacier-capped mountains to your right and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean on your left.

As the sun goes down, you might be able to spot the northern lights in the sky before you reach Reykjavik. If they appear, the driver will stop to let you get out and take some photos.

You'll return to your accommodation in central Reykjavik for a relaxing evening in the city center and a good night's sleep.

Explore the marvels of "Iceland in miniature" with a two-day small-group sightseeing tour of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and West Iceland. Snaefellsnes Peninsula is known for its diverse and condensed natural beauty, featuring glaciers, volcanoes, black sand beaches, and picturesque fishing villages.

Your local guide will collect you from your accommodation and drive you and the rest of the sightseeing group north out of Reykjavik. The day's first stop is the Ytri-Tunga beach. This beach is unusual in Iceland as it has golden sands instead of volcanic black sands — it's also home to a seal colony, so you'll have an excellent opportunity to photograph these animals in their natural habitat.

From here, you'll continue your journey along the peninsula's southern coast, enjoying gorgeous sea views. The group will now stop at two picturesque fishing villages, Arnarstapi and Hellnar. You'll have free time in Hellnar to walk the coastal path and admire the basalt cliffs below. 

The next stop is the Djupalonssandur black-sand beach, an interesting counterpoint to the Ytri-Tunga beach earlier in the day. Visitors must walk through an otherworldly landscape of solidified lava structures to reach this beach. It's a fascinating place with beautiful jet-black pebbles dotted all around.

You'll now enter the Snaefellsjokull National Park, home to the enormous Snaefellsjokull glacier-capped volcano. This volcano was the entrance point to the underworld in Jules Verne's novel Journey to the Center of the Earth. It's a gorgeous place, visible all the way from Reykjavik on a clear day.

After exploring Iceland's third and final national park, you can enjoy a picturesque hike to the Londrangar sea cliffs. You'll now travel back through the peninsula toward your accommodation. Don't forget to watch out for the northern lights along the way — you'll be perfectly placed to spot them if the sky is clear. 

Depending on the level of accommodation you've selected, you'll stay in a guesthouse or a hotel in West Iceland.

Discover more of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and the highlights of West Iceland on the second day of your small-group tour.

You'll start the day with a hearty breakfast at your accommodation before continuing your Snaefellsnes tour. Your first stop is the iconic Kirkjufell mountain, which sits just outside the small fishing village of Grundafjordur.

The Kirkjufell mountain is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. "Kirkjufell" translates to "Church mountain," but many people say it resembles a cone. You might recognize it from Game of Thrones, where it was used as a set for the "mountain shaped like an arrowhead."

While you're here, don't miss the short walk to the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall — this is one of the best places to get a good photo. You'll have the picturesque waterfall before you and the mountain peak in the background.

When your group has finished sightseeing here, you'll travel off the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and into West Iceland, visiting the Borgarfjordur area to see two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. 

The Hraunfossar waterfall is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a mineral-rich lava field, created by an eruption of one of the volcanos lying under Langjokull glacier. Barnafoss is very different — it's a more powerful waterfall just a short walk upstream from Hraunfossar. You can cross over the falls at various points for some stunning perspectives.

Your last stop of the day will take you to admire the Deildartunguhver hot spring. It's the highest-flow hot spring in Europe and heats many of the homes in West Iceland. It's too hot to swim here, but you can get a great view of the water from the wooden walkways.

You'll also visit two settlements today. Reykholt is a tiny village home that was the home of the great Medieval writer, politician, and chieftain Snorri Sturluson. Borgarnes is an important historical town, home to the Settlement Center, where you can learn more about Iceland's first inhabitants.

After two days exploring West Iceland, you'll return to your hotel in central Reykjavik.

Spend your penultimate day in Iceland sightseeing in Reykjavik or participating in an exciting optional excursion.

Since today is the last full day of your trip, you might want to get some final excitement into your adventure. Thrillseekers can enjoy a one-hour ATV tour. You'll take your ATV over the rugged and wild terrains of the surrounding Icelandic countryside, speeding your way through some of the most stunning local landscapes and experiencing a different side of Iceland's fast-moving and exciting culture.

After your experience, you'll be taken straight back to your accommodation in Reykjavik, where you can spend the rest of the day at your own pace exploring the sights and sounds of the city.

Animal lovers might prefer a whale-watching boat trip from the Old Harbor. Iceland's waters are home to several whale species — many of them migrate south in the winter months, but you still have a pretty good chance of spotting some whales with the help of an experienced guide. 

Alternatively, you have plenty of opportunities for sightseeing if you want a full day in the city. Climb the tower of the Hallgrimskirkja church, Iceland's second-tallest building, for panoramic city views and excellent photo opportunities. Visit some of the city's best galleries, such as the National Gallery of Iceland or the Einar Jonsson Museum and Sculpture Garden.

If you want to see even more of Iceland, you can add a return day trip to Lake Myvatn. You'll fly out from Reykjavik's domestic airport and spend the day marveling at the wonders of this North Iceland gem.

A local guide will collect you from Akureyri, the "capital of the North," and take you around the Godafoss waterfall and the geothermal area around Lake Myvatn. You'll see the Namaskard Pass, hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots, and craters. It's a fantastic place to learn more about Iceland's geothermal activity before you return home.

This option includes return flights from Reykjavik to Akureyri — your travel agent will arrange this for you so you can focus on the experiences and attractions.

You'll spend your final night in Reykjavik. Make the most of the city's bustling nightlife, or get an early night before your flight tomorrow.

It's time to say goodbye to Iceland.

Depending on your flight's departure time, you can head straight to the airport on your pre-organized shuttle or enjoy some last-minute sightseeing in Reykjavik. 

For those of you who have a later flight and chose to visit the Blue Lagoon today, you'll finish your trip by relaxing and rejuvenating in the mineral-rich waters before heading to the airport. Soaking in the warm, azure waters and reflecting on the adventures you've had in the land of fire and ice is the perfect way to round off your trip.

We hope you've had a fantastic and memorable time in Iceland, and we'd love to welcome you back soon!