At a Glance
Be enchanted firsthand into the mystical and pristine grandeur of the “Land of Ice and Fire” as you journey along beautiful valleys, majestic mountains, black sand beaches, towering volcanoes, marvel at the dancing northern lights and uncover the magic of Iceland on this 6-day multi-adventure odyssey.
Your adventure begins at the Reykjavík city centre, where you shuttle to explore the World Heritage Thingvellir National Park which is the symbolic heart of the Icelandic nation. Travel to the historic Hveragerdi, a 5000-year-old lava bed famous for its hot spring and greenhouse, learn and go on a ride on the Majestic Icelandic Horse. A voyage of discovery that will leave you captivated with its diverse scenery, from marveling at the spectacular northern lights, exploring the wilds of the forest of Thor at ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- All meals specified in itinerary
- 5 nights accommodation in luxury hotels on a twin share basis
- Brief orientation in Reykjavik On Day 1
- Professional guiding: two support vans, 6:1 guest-to-leader ratio
- Sightseeing and activities as stated in the itinerary
- Luggage and shuttle transfers
- Park and other entry fees
- Comprehensive travel planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Itinerary
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Ion Geothermal Hike Half Day Today, you meet with your tour leaders at 8:30 a.m. at the Canopy by Hilton Reykjavík City Centre. Please arrive dressed in your cold-weather hiking clothes and hiking boots. Bring along your luggage and a daypack containing winter gear and anything else you may want for today's hike (your luggage will be transported to our first night's accommodations). After meeting in Reykjavík, the world's most northerly capital city, we shuttle to Thingvellir National Park where we walk around this World Heritage site that is also the symbolic heart of the Icelandic nation. Chosen because of its accessibility and favourable conditions including good pastureland, firewood, and water, Thingvellir boasts of a diverse biosystem. |
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After exploration, we move to Nesjavellir and our award-winning, eco-conscious home for the night, the ION Adventure Hotel. In the afternoon, you have the option of taking a tour around the Hengill geothermal area and seeing firsthand how renewable geothermal energy is produced while enjoying the valley views around or enjoy views of this secluded valley from the hotel’s Northern Lights Bar. Tonight, we come together for our first meal at ION's renowned Silfra restaurant. Be delighted by the flavours of modern Icelandic fare with a slow-food twist made with locally procured ingredients. |
ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Hveragerdi Winter Walk Half Day Horseback Riding 1 Hour Today, we travel to the town of Hveragerdi, built on a 5,000-year-old lava bed and famous for its hot springs and greenhouses, both of which are heated with geothermal water. After this, we move towards Reykjadalur, a hanging valley (dubbed the Smoky Valley) lined with hot springs, bubbling mud pots, and steaming vents. After an amazing lunch, we head to a beautiful luxury, log-cabin-style riverside resort, Hotel Rangá, and our home for the next two nights. On our way, we go for a ride on the majestic Icelandic horse where we learn about this unique breed and its importance in Icelandic culture while taking in views of surrounding volcanoes and glaciers. |
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When at the hotel, feel at home, relax, and take a dip in one of the three outdoor geothermal tubs. Dinner will be at your convenience in the hotel's restaurant, and while deciding what to order, take into consideration that our hotel sits on the shores of the salmon-stocked Eystri-Rangá. A nearby smokehouse adds a mouthwatering flavour, the best of the best. Before retiring for the night, don't forget to sign up for a northern lights wake-up call; the hotel provides blankets and custom-made benches from which to watch the breathtaking display. |
Hotel Rangá, HellaBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Super Jeep Expedition Full Day On this day, we begin our adventure by climbing into our private all-terrain Super Jeeps to explore a remote and rocky road past frozen waterfalls and canyons near the active Katla Volcano. Our ride brings us to what is considered one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, an area protected between Tindfjallajokull and Eyjafjallajokull Glaciers, this is none other than the wilds of Thorsmork (meaning "the forest of Thor," the god of thunder). Accompanied by our local mountain guides, we explore this unique environment surrounded by pristine valleys and ice fields. Not only do the mountains and glaciers offer a majestic backdrop, but they also protect the Thórsmörk Valley from harsh elements, creating a warmer climate that remains relatively temperate, even in winter. We also explore Gigjökull Glacier on the slopes of the notoriously active Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, often in the global news during its large-scale eruption in 2010. After an amazing day in the wintry wild, we return to the hotel by super jeep and then we gather for a gourmet dinner featuring seasonal farm-fresh ingredients. |
Hotel Rangá, HellaBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Sólheimajökull Ice Walk Half Day After having a hearty breakfast this morning, we head to the foot of Sólheimajökull Glacier. Ash from the most recent eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull has left its mark on the glacier in the form of gradients of grey and black smeared across the snow and ice. Putting on crampons and accompanied by our local mountain guides, we scale the undulating frozen landscape, learning about the different shapes and features of the glacier's surface. After lunch, we continue with a hike along the south coast of Iceland, a region famous for its volcanoes, glaciers, and black-sand beaches. Admire Eyjafjallajökull volcano from a distance before a shuttle to the small fishing village of Vík, the country's southernmost town, set on a long black-sand beach and surrounded by moss-covered lava fields, dramatic rolling hills and sea cliffs that are home to a variety of arctic birds. You’ll stay at Hótel Kría, where mountain views take centre stage through floor-to-ceiling windows. Tonight, you can choose to dine here or walk into town for dinner at the local brewery or café. |
Hótel Kría, VíkBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Katla Ice Cave Tour Half Day Today we go into a memorable ethereal landscape, an ice cave under an active volcano and inside a glacier! After shuttling to Mýrdalsjökull we put on crampons to begin our exploration inside this natural ice cave where we'll be surrounded by undulating ice walls in shades of blue, black, and white, and in a certain light, a metallic hue. At noon, we return to Vík. Starting at the town's iconic red-roofed church, which overlooks the village from its hilltop perch, we loop toward town. Take in vistas of unique sea stacks and black cliffs of columnar basalt, stunning natural architecture formed by the sudden cooling of lava flows exposed to the Atlantic Ocean. We will be celebrating a spectacular and fun-filled week together with a festive dinner at the hotel tonight. |
Hótel Kría, VíkBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
Coastal Hike 2 Hours Today we come to the end of our journey but not after travelling to the town of Thorlákshöfn, a small harbour village on the southwest coast of Iceland, learn about the importance of the fishing industry in Icelandic culture as we walk along the coast and also get the chance to spot seabirds and seals in the North Atlantic Ocean. We get to have one last amazing lunch together. Afterward, we say our goodbyes to the land of fire and ice, and then we shuttle to Reykjavík or Keflavík airport. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
NoneBreakfast, LunchDates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is avaialble on request.
More Info
The departure and finish point is Reykjavik, Iceland
Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Reykjavik. Reykjavík Airport is the main domestic airport serving Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, located about two kilometres from the city centre. Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is the largest airport in Iceland and the country's main hub for international flights.
Iceland, near the Arctic Circle, has a cold and temperate climate due to the North Atlantic Current that carries Gulf Stream warm water north. That means that even though winters are cold, Iceland generally experiences higher average temperatures than other places in the world located at a similar latitude. Iceland's climate includes conditions typical for a Nordic country, but there are some variations between different parts of the island: The south coast tends to be warmer, wetter, and windier than the north, and snowfall in winter is more common in the north than in the south. Known as the Land of Ice and Fire due to its many volcanoes, Iceland is always subject to the possibility of volcanic activity.
The summer months of May through August are ideal for lots of daylight hours. December is also popular for the winter holidays and seeing the Northern Lights, although it will be quite dark during that time and you will see very little—if any—sunlight at all.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 120 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 120 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 120 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 120 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
