10D9N Iceland & United Kingdom
Day 01 – REYKJAVIK KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – REYKJAVIK
On arrival at Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in Reykjavik, capital of Iceland.
Day 02 – REYKJAVIK: SNÆFELLSNES PENINSULA [B]
Today, you will tour the
Snæfellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland. Due to its diverse geology, the peninsula is often called “Iceland in Miniature” – a microcosm of Iceland and its attendant beauty! Highlights include the following:
Snæfellsjökull Volcano – the highest peak in this part of Iceland and wearing as it were a magnificent crown of ice (on clear days, it is visible from Reykjavik);
Ytri-Tunga – a charming farm with a nearby beach that is popular with seals and enjoy watching entire colonies of seals as they bask in the sun or play in the water!;
Arnarstapi and
Hellnar – the cliffs and rock formations including
Gatklettur, a magnificent arch extending into the sea, decorating the coastline between Arnarstapi and Hellnar (2 villages that are about 2.5km apart) offer spectacular scenery;
Lóndrangar – two black basalt columns so tall that they can be seen from the road;
Djúpalónssandur – a gorgeous black lava (pearl) pebble beach where you will probably notice a certain curiosity on the beach: four large smooth stones regarded by the locals as “lifting stones” used to measure the strength of fishermen who once worked and lived in the region by their ability to lift the stones! Health permitting, check out your strength by lifting the stones weighing between 23kg and 154kg .. but, please do not in any way hurt yourself in the process!;
Mount Kirkjufell – rising out of the green hills and surrounded by rivers, this is one of the most popular photography spots in Iceland!
Day 03 – REYKJAVIK: SKAFTAFELL NATIONAL PARK & JOKULSARLON GLACIAL LAGOON [B]
Today, you will head to the magnificent
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. Do look out – not that you can miss it! – for
Mount Hvannadalshnjúkur, the tallest mountain in Iceland and also the sprawling black sand desert between
Skaftafell National Park and the lagoon itself. There will be stops at the gorgeous
Seljalandsfoss waterfall (where you can walk behind the curtain of water!) and the majestic – and much-photographed! –
Skógafoss waterfall with its impressive 60m drop. Upon arrival at the Glacier Lagoon, you will have the opportunity to take a walk along the lagoon edge and admire the unique scenery. The lagoon produces a feeling of incredible tranquillity as the 1,000-1,500 years old ice that has broken away from Vatnajökull glacier silently drifts into the lake and slowly melts away. The lagoon covers 18km
2 and reaches more than 248m at its deepest point. Numerous popular movies have filmed scenes here – movies such as Batman Begins, Tomb Raider and two James Bond productions. On the drive back to Reykjavik, weather and sighting-forecast permitting, you will go in search of the magical
Northern Lights (a.k.a.
Aurora Borealis)!
Day 04 – REYKJAVIK: BLUE LAGOON SPA & NORTHERN LIGHTS CRUISE [B]
A day for revitalisation and rejuvenation! A geothermal spa in a lava field south of Reykjavik, the
Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular sites in Iceland. Its warm water, at an inviting 36-39 degrees Celsius, has been known to be wonderful for the skin – the natural active ingredients (mineral salts, silica and blue-green algae) in the warm water are reputed to soothe the body and relax the mind. And for a holistic experience, try out the lagoon’s white silica mud for its revitalizing effect on the skin as it gently cleanses and exfoliates the skin. There is also an indoor Blue Lagoon and geothermal sauna for those preferring not to be outdoors especially in winter. After dinner (own expense), you will go in search of the “
Northern Lights“, yet again! This time, you will do it from aboard a “viewing boat” that will leave Reykjavik’s coast and the city’s lights. Whilst onboard, your guide will tell you all about the fascinating and beautiful “northern lights”, including the folklore and superstition behind the lights, as well as the underlying scientific facts behind this phenomenon. There are light refreshments (own expense) that you can enjoy onboard the boat.
Day 05 – REYKJAVIK: GEYSIR, GULFOSS WATERFALL & ÞINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK [B]
Visit the
Geysir geothermal area today where the most active hot spring
Strokkur spouts steaming water up to 30 meters into the air every 8 minutes or so. Then see
Gullfoss, or the “Golden Falls”, an iconic waterfall located in the glacial river Hvítá. Watch the water plummet down into the 32-meter-deep crevice below. Afterwards, make your way to the historical and geological wonder of
Þingvellir National Park where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart from each other at a rate of a few centimetres per year. Þingvellir has been on the
UNESCO World Heritage list since 2004. Top off the tour with a visit to
Kerið (entry included), a volcanic crater lake roughly 270m long and 55m deep.
Day 06 – REYKJAVIK [B]
Free day to explore
Reykjavik city centre at your own pace.
Day 07 – REYKJAVIK KEFLAVIK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – LONDON [B]
After check-out, you will be driven from your hotel to Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport for your flight to
London, capital of United Kingdom. On arrival at
London Heathrow International Airport, transfer by private vehicle to your hotel in Central London.
Day 08 – LONDON: CITY TOUR & SIGHTSEEING CRUISE [B]
Enjoy your morning in
London at leisure. In the afternoon, see the best of London on the famous red double-decker sightseeing bus. On this fully-guided tour, which starts from Victoria Coach Station, you will pass famous sights such as
St Paul’s Cathedral,
Tower of London,
Buckingham Palace,
Westminster Abbey,
Big Ben, the
Houses Of Parliament and
London Eye. Next, you will board a
Thames River Cruise and view London’s famous landmarks and also its bridges from a different perspective. The cruise passes
Shakespeare’s Globe,
Cleopatra’s Needle and
London Bridge before you arrive at
Westminster Pier for you to rejoin the bus that will take you to Buckingham Palace for great photo-shots before your tour concludes at where you first started out – Victoria Coach Station. And if you do wish to witness the ever-popular
Changing of the Guard Ceremony, you may wish to head to Buckingham Palace the next morning and try to catch the event at 11am.
Day 09 – LONDON [B]
Enjoy this free day on your own, and go shopping in the streets of London.
Day 10 – LONDON – LONDON HEATHROW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [B]
Transfer by private vehicle from your hotel to London Heathrow International Airport for your flight home.
Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.
