Iceland Family Journey: Geysers, Glaciers, and Fjords

From glittering glaciers to black-sand beaches, Iceland’s wild landscapes will surprise and inspire travelers of all ages. Explore this subarctic isle’s natural and cultural treasures alongside our dynamic guides as you step behind the curtain of a spectacular waterfall or hike to the edge of a volcanic crater. Descend inside a lava tunnel, delve into Viking history, and get to know all about Icelandic horses at a farm.

Day 1 Reykjavík
Arrive in time to meet your fellow travelers for a welcome gathering this evening. Your arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Reykjavík
Start the morning at the Perlan museum, which showcases Iceland’s geological forces through exhibits on volcanic eruptions, explosive geysers, and more. After a classic Icelandic hot dog lunch, hop aboard a ship for a whale-watching expedition on Faxaflói Bay. Search for minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises diving through the waves, and learn about the incredible diversity of sea life in Iceland’s waters. The rest of the day is free for relaxing at your hotel or exploring Reykjavík.

Day 3 Hveragerði
Set off on a hike through an area dotted with hot springs, stopping to soak your feet in steaming pools along the way. Then head to a traditional Icelandic horse farm to meet the friendly equine residents and learn about this special breed. Icelandic horses are small, hardy, and have a unique ambling gait called the tölt. Get to know the horses amid the beautiful backdrop of surrounding hills before gathering for a homemade lunch at the farm. This afternoon, travel to a vast lava field and enter one of the longest lava tunnels in Iceland, where we’ll explore the amazing inner workings of a volcanic eruption. Continue to our hotel in Hveragerði, a town built around its own bubbling hot spring.

Day 4 Golden Circle
Discover the celebrated Golden Circle, a circuit that will take us to some of Iceland’s most amazing natural treasures. Hear the roar of the mighty Gullfoss waterfall and visit the Geysir hot spring, the namesake of all the world’s geysers. Continue to Thingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. Then visit a geothermal bakery to watch bakers digging pots of fresh bread out of hot black sand. Taste a slice still warm from the ground, and get the recipe for a loaf of rye. In the late afternoon, opt to stop by the Laugarvatn Fontana Spa for a soothing soak in geothermal waters.

Day 5 South Coast
Today, explore Iceland’s amazing history, from the Viking era to the industrial revolution. Visit a traditional turf-walled dwelling, and step inside a 20th-century schoolhouse while learning about Iceland’s architectural heritage, folk crafts, and modern technology. Then take a short walk to the Skógafoss waterfall, one of the biggest falls in Iceland at more than 80 feet across. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the base of the waterfall and watch for rainbows sparkling in the spray. This afternoon ramble on one of Iceland’s legendary black-sand beaches.

Day 6 Westman Islands/Vík
Leave the mainland behind and voyage to the Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago off Iceland’s southern coast. Go ashore on Heimaey, the only inhabited isle in the archipelago, and wander among the white wooden buildings of the single tiny town. Learn about the island’s recent volcanic history, view parts of the town buried by lava flows, and hike up the slopes of the Eldfell crater, where the ground is still warm from geothermal activity! Search for adorable puffins and other seabirds nesting on the island’s steep cliffs, then sail back to Vík—the southernmost village in Iceland, known for its black-sand beach and strange rock formations.

Day 7 Reykjavík
Return to Reykjavík this morning, stopping along the way to visit Seljalandsfoss, one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls. Step behind the curtain of the falls into a hidden cave filled with mist, and enjoy one of the best photographic opportunities in Iceland. Continue to the famed Blue Lagoon to soak in the hot spring’s iridescent blue waters. Continue to Reykjavík and enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 8 Reykjavík
Depart at any time.