Day 1 Overnight Flight to Iceland

A Riley motorcoach will transfer us to MSP Airport where we will board an overnight flight to Reykjavik, Iceland.

Day 2 Welcome to Iceland

We'll arrive in Iceland this morning and be transported to our hotel. Our local tour guide will give us a tour of Reykjavik. You will have the rest of the day to get rested or explore the city on your own. Our hotel is centrally located within waking distance to many of the sights, shopping and restaurants in Reykjavik.

Hotel: Fosshotel

Day 3 Akureyri, Iceland

Our day starts at the Perlan Museum, home to the Wonders of Iceland Exhibition. This unique nature museum showcases volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal energy. Visitors can explore the world’s first indoor ice cave, learn about glaciers, and enjoy a stunning 360° display of the northern lights, along with their formation and ancient stories. Additionally, experience the Geldingadalir eruption in an impressive volcanic show about Iceland’s first volcano eruption. Afterwards, we begin our travels along Iceland’s Ring Road. First stop, Grabrok Volcano Crater. The crater is the largest of three craters and formed about 3400 years ago in a fissure eruption. Climb the steps to the top of the crater where you can walk around the top while enjoying beautiful views of the Borgarfjörður countryside. Continuing our tour along the Ring Road, we stop at Turf Church, Víðimýrarkirkj which was built in 1834 and features a traditional turf roof and timber structure. Step inside to admire the beautifully preserved interior with intricate wood carvings, colorful decorations and historic artifacts. We continue along scenic fjord landscape and over several mountain passes until we reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. (B, D)

Hotel: Hotel KEA

Day 4 Mývatn, Iceland

This morning we visit the botanical garden. As we depart the city, enjoy panoramic views over Eyjafjörður fjord before we enter Vaðlaheiði, a tunnel system that runs beneath the Vaðlaheiði mountains, stretching approximately 7.2 Kilometers. This afternoon we visit Goðafoss known as the waterfalls of the Gods. We continue to Lake Mývatn and Skútustaðagígar where you can walk around pseudo craters. To end an exciting day, we take a relaxing soak at Mývatn Nature Baths, a small lagoon with a unique blend of minerals, silicates and geothermal micro-organisms. The warm soothing waters benefit both skin and spirit alike. This evening our guide will take us on a Northern Lights Tour to hopefully see the Aurora Borealis. (B, D)

Hotel: Sel Hotel Mývatn

Day 5 Egilsstaðir, Iceland

In the morning we take a walk at Dimmuborgir “the dark castles,” a lava labyrinth, hoping to get a glimpse of the trolls who are said to live there. Walk around this unique nature park featuring bizarre lava formations that were created as molten lava cooled, with steam percolating through it. This afternoon we visit the hot springs area of Námaskarð, with bubbling mud pools and steaming solfataras. As we make our way to our next attraction, we travel through the uninhabited highlands and moonlike surrounding to east Iceland. With some luck we might spot an artic fox or see a reindeer. We will take a detour to Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall in the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. (B, D)

Hotel: Hérað - Berjaya Iceland Hotel

Day 6 Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland

We continue our travels along the Ring Road with our first stop at stop at Jökulsárlón, a glacial lagoon filled with floating icebergs. As we explore this extraordinary site maybe we’ll see seals swimming in the arctic waters. You can walk on the famous “Diamond Beach” where large icebergs get stranded on the black sand beach. The ice pieces, shaped by the ocean, stand out against the dark sand, creating a unique scene. Get up close and personal with the ice while walking along the beach. Afterwards, we board Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Boat Tour. Travel across the lagoon seeing floating icebergs and the glacier up close. This evening our guide will take us on a Northern Lights Tour to hopefully see the Aurora Borealis. (B, D)

Hotel: Hotel Laki

Day 7 Hella, Iceland

A beautiful drive with many natural wonders awaits as we continue along the coast passing Eldhraun Lava Field then cross the Sandy Desert overlooked by mountainous cliffs, glaciers and waterfalls. We stroll along the black lava beach of Reynisfjara near the village Vik where we will stop for lunch. Next stop is at Skógafoss, an impressive waterfall that is 60 meters high. We continue to the high but narrow Seljalandsfoss waterfall which plunges over the mountain. And finally, we make a visit to the LAVA Center to learn about past, present and future volcano eruptions in Iceland. (B, D)

Hotel: Stracta Hotel

Day 8 Reykjavik, Iceland

Today we begin at the geyser geothermal fields with hot springs and bubbling pools. The original geyser “Geysir” is now dormant but has been replaced by Strokkur which erupts at every 5-10 minutes. We continue our travels to Gullfoss known as “the golden falls.” This double waterfall tumbles 34 meters into Hvita River. Enjoy a tour at Friðheimar Tomato Farm and a geothermal greenhouse, a delicious tomato soup lunch is included here. Here we will also learn about the Icelandic horse and it’s special qualities and history. As we make our way on the final leg of the Ring Road, a stop is made at Thingvellir National Park which sits on the boundary between the Northern American and Eurasian tectonic plates. You will see dramatic landscapes of rift valleys and crystal-clear lakes. We return to Reykjavik for our last evening to enjoy on your own. (B, L)

Hotel: Fosshotel

Day 9 Home

This morning we will say goodbye to Iceland and board our flight at Keflavik airport to fly back to Minneapolis, MN.