The Islands of Fire & Ice - Iceland & Greenland

On arrival to Keflavík International Airport, you will be greeted by a driver who will bring you to your accommodation in Reykjavík. After settling in, the rest of the day is free for you to explore the vibrant city centre with its abundance of museums, restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. If you're interested in checking out Icelandic design or experiencing the city's thriving coffee culture, head to the main street, Laugavegur, and enjoy its various shops and cosy cafes.

Spend the night in Reykjavík.

Join a transfer to the Airport to board your flight from Iceland to the Arctic village of Ilulissat in Greenland. Ilulissat is located at the mouth of the 56-kilometre (34-mile) long Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a sunny day, you’ll have expansive views over the Greenland ice cap from the plane.

On arrival in Greenland, you will be transferred to your accommodation. Then you will join a guided city walk to learn more about Ilulissat. You’ll see the historic part of town, the working fishing harbour, and more. In the evening, enjoy a 2-course welcome dinner.

Spend the next three nights in Ilulissat.

For the next 2 days you can choose your own adventure! You can pick from a wide range of exciting optional excursions, including a helicopter ride over nearby icebergs, a motorboat tour to the Eqi glacier, cultural demonstrations and village walks. Or why not go on a whale watching safari or excursion to the small, remote settlements in the area?

Note: We recommend booking the optional activities in advance. Contact your travel consultant at Nordic Visitor for advice. You might be able to book some activities directly from your hotel in Ilulissat during your stay.

You can explore more of Ilulissat today. Take your opportunity to buy a local souvenir. A popular gift is a “tupilak”, an Inuit version of a talisman or voodoo doll. Traditional tupilaks were sculpted into tiny creatures inspired by Inuit mythology.

You can also go hiking to the viewing point of the Ilulissat icefjord. Here you’ll get a breathtaking look at the huge icebergs coming from the bottom of the fjord. There are more hiking options if you are interested in exploring the surroundings further.

Today it’s time to say goodbye to majestic Greenland. On the return flight to Iceland, enjoy the stunning views over the beautiful landscapes. As we say in Greenland, “angalalluarina” (have a good trip)!

Upon your return in Iceland, you will join a transfer into Reykjavík. You have the afternoon to explore more of the Icelandic capital, maybe visit a museum or go up the tower of Hallgrímskirkja.

Spend the night in Reykjavík.

Collect your rental car in the morning and begin your journey on the classic Golden Circle route, home to some of Iceland’s most popular attractions. Start with a visit to the fascinating Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can walk in the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Next on the route is the Haukadalur geothermal area, where you can see Geysir – the original “geyser” – and its more active neighbour, Strokkur, which spouts water every few minutes. End the circle with visits to the majestic Gullfoss waterfall and the old implosion crater of Kerið. 

Spend the night in the Hvolsvöllur area.

Driving distance approx. 230 km / 143 mi.

Start with visits to the fairytale-like Seljalandsfoss waterfall, where you can experience walking right behind the misty cascade, and the gorgeous 60-metre (197-foot) high Skógafoss waterfall just a short drive down the road. Further ahead at Vík, you can make a stop at the black volcanic beach south of the village, from where you can view the rock formations Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar. The last stop of the day is to the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon. 

Spend the night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur/Skaftafell area.

Driving distance approx. 157 km / 97 mi.

Enjoy Skaftafell, part of the immense Vatnajökull National Park, and a place of great natural beauty. Here you’ll find many interesting hiking trails, including a short path to the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall. This area is also full of opportunities for more adventurous pursuits, such as guided glacier-walking or ice-climbing excursions. Then, head to the amazing Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, where you can join a boat ride among the maze of floating icebergs (optional). 

Spend the night in the Höfn or Djúpivogur area. 

Driving distance approx. 208 km / 129 mi.

Your drive along East Iceland today is characterised by spectacular fjords, tranquil fishing villages, rugged tundra and sweeping landscapes. On arrival to the otherworldly Lake Mývatn, you have an abundance of unusual natural wonders to explore, including the Krafla volcano, the curiously coloured Námaskarð pass, the massive crater of Hverfell and the lunar-like pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir. 

Spend the night in the Lake Mývatn area.

Driving distance approx. 430 km / 267 mi

Take advantage of today to further explore the surroundings of Lake Mývatn. You can start with an optional whale-watching trip from the village of Húsavík, “The Whale Watching Capital of Europe”. Then, drive through Jökulsárgljúfur; part of Vatnajökull National Park, visiting such sights as the hoof-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon and the most powerful waterfall in Europe, Dettifoss. End the day by bathing in the relaxing geothermal waters of the Mývatn Nature Baths, where you can experience the glow of the midnight sun. 

Spend another night in the Lake Mývatn area.

Spend the first half of the day around Lake Mývatn. We recommend a visit to Goðafoss (“The Waterfall of the Gods”) on your way to the charming town of Akureyri. Here you will find interesting shops and museums as well as the world's most northerly botanical garden.

After your break in Akureyri, you can head straight to Skagafjörður. Or take a detour on the way there to Tröllaskagi (“The Peninsula of the Trolls”), where you can enjoy fantastic scenery of beautiful mountains, cliffs and fjords. Then, continue through Siglufjörður, which was once the centre of Iceland’s herring fleet, and make a stop at Hofsós to relax in the thermal pool (optional) before arriving to Skagafjörður, an area known for its abundance of purebred Icelandic horses. 

Spend the night in Northwest Iceland. 

Driving distance approx. 301 km / 187 mi.  

Today you head to the Snæfellsnes peninsula. On the way you’ll see the countless mounds of Vatnsdalshólar and the beautiful Þingeyrakirkja church. You may also wish to make stops to the living museum at Eiríksstaðir, home of famous Viking “Erik the Red”, and the hot geothermal pool of Guðrúnarlaug. Or pay a visit to Stykkishólmur, a picture-perfect fishing village overlooking Breiðafjörður Bay. Here, you can take a walk up to the small hill overlooking the harbour, Súgandisey, for a wonderful panoramic view over the town, sea and surrounding mountains. 

Spend the night on Snæfellsnes Peninsula / Borgarfjörður area.

Driving distance approx. 335 km / 208 mi.

Experience the unique Snæfellsjökull National Park, with its amazing birdlife, lush valleys and lava fields. Driving around the peninsula is the ideal way to see its highlights. Explore Dritvík Cove, see the Lóndrangar cliffs and visit Hellnar and other small villages along the coast. And don’t miss the impressive Arnarstapi cliffs bursting with birdlife. You might also wish to test your strength at the stones of the black volcanic beach of Djúpalónssandur like the seamen in past times.

Spend the night in Reykjavík.

Driving distance approx. 219 km / 136 mi. 

On your day of departure, a shuttle bus will collect you from your hotel in Reykjavík and deliver you back to Keflavík International Airport ahead of your scheduled flight.

If your flight is in the afternoon, you can fit in a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa or even take a short, guided tour of the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula (optional; not included).