Your pick-up in Reykjavik starts at 09:00 and can take up to 30 minutes; your patience is much appreciated.
Grábrók
After a 1.5-hour drive, the day will start with a refreshing, short, easy, but incredibly scenic hike around the impressive volcanic crater, Grábrók. This crater was formed in an eruption approximately three thousand years ago and lay right next to the Ring Road.
Hvítserkur
Next, we will leave the beaten path, searching for a hidden gem. After another 1.5-hour drive, we will arrive at a beautiful fjord where we will see a unique rock formation. Hvítserkur is a 15-meter (49 feet) high basalt stack that looks like a dragon or an elephant drinking from the water. The bizarre phenomenon stands in the water, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery.
Dalvík
From here, it is only a short drive to Dalvík, a small fishing village where we will spend the night in a cozy hotel. In winter, we will look at the Northern Lights forecast every evening during the tour to catch a glimpse of this beautiful phenomenon. Your accommodation is at Hotel Dalvik or similar.
Northern Lights
If the forecast is in your favor, then it is more than likely that you will be able to see the magical show put on by the dancing northern lights during your tour with us. We can, unfortunately, never promise they will be seen. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions. The best time to see them is between September and March when it’s dark and clear. The sky needs to be as dark as possible, so the best places to see them are well away from city lights (that’s where we are going!).
Goðafoss
After breakfast, we will drive to a stunning and historic waterfall. Goðafoss, the waterfall of the gods, was named after Iceland switching from the Norse religion to Christianity. According to the legend, the person who had the right to make Christianity the official religion of Iceland threw his statues of the Norse gods into this waterfall.
Lake Mývatn
After a short drive, we will reach the Lake Mývatn region. Covering an area of 36.5 km2, Mývatn is the fourth-largest lake in Iceland. Countless tiny islands dot its surface, surrounded by a thrilling volcanic landscape and home to an incredibly vibrant range of flora and fauna. This area is deservedly one of Iceland’s most valuable protected nature reserves.
Skútustaðagigar pseudo craters
While traveling around the lake, we will visit the insanely enchanting Skútustaðagigar pseudo craters. These interesting geological features were formed when fresh lava entered the lake and trapped the wet sediment underneath, causing many steam eruptions. This happened approximately 2,300 years ago. Today, the picturesque small craters are covered with grass, and there are marked walking paths through the area.
Dimmuborgir
We will continue by discovering more about the region’s violent volcanic history. Just a few minutes from the craters is Dimmuborgir; there is a fascinating lava field. This incredible site has massive lava rock sculptures, colossal rock pillars, caves, caverns, tunnels, and lava bridges. Walking through this alien scenery feels like being on another planet or in the middle of a fairy tale full of trolls and magical creatures.
Víti Crater
We will hit the road again; it is a short drive to a scenic volcano. The crater is filled with milky blue and green water, and the ground around it is still steaming, giving it a surreal look.
Námaskarð – Hverir
The area is part of the Krafla volcano system and is highly active today. There is no new lava surfacing but wildly bubbling hot springs, mud pots, and loud, meter-high fumaroles surrounded by poisonous soil with minerals that paint the site in extremely vivid colors. The air smells intensely of sulfur. This can be pretty unpleasant, but the sights will make you forget the smell!
Mývatn Nature Baths
On our way to our hotel, we will stop at the beautiful Mývatn Nature Baths. It is often referred to as the Blue Lagoon of the North. Indeed, the color of the water is the same milky blue as the Blue Lagoon, while the entrance fee is half the price.
Enjoying a pampering bath here is an optional extra you can do at your own cost. You will have an hour and a half to relax and enjoy the benefits of the natural geothermal water. Those who choose to stay dry can have a meal or coffee in the restaurant and enjoy the view.
To end our long day, we will return to our hotel in Dalvík, the cute fishing village where we stayed on our first night. We will drive through Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland. Even though it is tiny, with a population of fewer than 20 thousand people, Akureyri is the largest city outside the greater capital area.
Whale Watching
After breakfast, we will board a boat on a fantastic whale-watching tour to see the gentle giants of the north! Dalvík is famous for its incredibly high whale-watching success rates. These exceed 99% in summer, with anywhere from months up to half years in a row with 100% success rates.
We will probably see humpback whales, as they are abundant in the bay all year round. White-beaked dolphins, harbor purposes, and minke whales are often seen in the bay. After seeing the whales, you can grab a rod and do some sea angling on the way back to the harbor. We will barbecue the catch as soon as we arrive and share the fresh, fantastic food.
Turf Farm
After the whale-watching adventure, we will start our drive back to Reykjavík. It is a long way to go, but we will stop at the charming Glaumbær Turf Farm.
We will head to Reykjavík, arriving at the city around 8 PM.
We will drop you off at your original pick-up location.
Cancelation policy
We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if the booking is canceled 2 days or less before the event.
We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if the booking is canceled 14 days or less before the event.
We will charge a cancellation fee of 10% if the booking is canceled 365 days or less before the event.
One of a few tours in Iceland that offers a scheduled departure in a small group to explore the North. This part of Iceland is attractive, impressive, and sometimes you can feel there like you are in the middle of nowhere – it’s also a less tourist region. There is only one tour each week, so we would recommend starting to plan your trip with your northern adventure.
Get in touch with Your Friend in Reykjavik for all your Iceland travel planning needs. We love to help you plan the perfect trip, making personal recommendations for tours and activities you should check out during your visit. Craft your custom Iceland itinerary with our expert guidance!