6-Day Untamed Tour | Golden Circle, Snaefellsnes, Highlands, Northern Lights and Animal Round-Up
Description
Summary
Description
Come along on this epic journey and witness the unique combination of untamed Icelandic nature and wildlife. Visit the Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Highlands and take part in the traditional annual event of the gathering of both sheep and horses. This is the perfect tour for all nature admirers, and a photographers delight.
During this amazing six-day tour you will get a good introduction to Icelandic geology, as you'll start by exploring the UNESCO World Heritage and National Park of Þingvellir before driving the harsh highland desert of Kaldidalur. It is the complete opposite of the National Park, with phenomenal views of Langjökull glacier that feeds powerful rivers and waterfalls.
After witnessing the aftermath of past volcanic eruptions, you will travel to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on the west coast of Iceland. Circling the jewel Snæfellsjökull glacier, you will hike along the tall ocean cliffs, visit black and white beaches, travel through a diverse volcanic terrain, and see the monumental mountain Kirkjufell.
To complete the day, you will go on a whale watching expedition hoping to see some of the amazing wildlife that surrounds our island.
Every day will be enjoyed and remembered for its own natural beauty and uniqueness, with fluctuating weather and winds and the special arctic light that will make the most ordinary surroundings look extraordinary.
In northern Iceland, you will attend and take part in the annual gathering of sheep and horses were the local farmers come from the mountains with animals that have spent the summer grazing free in nature. It's a wonderful experience, where locals come together honouring old traditions and enjoying local food.
Driving though Kjölur route is again another example of our diverse landscape, with black deserts, glacially carved out mountains and colourful geothermal hotspots. The tour cannot be completed without visiting the last two Golden Circle sites, the roaring waterfall Gullfoss and the erupting Geysir.
Immerse yourself in nature, culture and traditions, and spend the nights searching for the elusive Northern Lights on this all-encompassing 6-day tour. Check availability by choosing a date.
Included
Map
Attractions
Activities
Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Thingvellir, West Iceland & Snaefellsnes Peninsula
After an early pickup in Reykjavík capital, you'll head towards Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The days will be a long on this tour, and today you will spend around 9-10 hours on the road, but don't worry! Your time will be spent at spectacular sights of unmatched beauty.
The first stop will be in the rift valley of Þingvellir National Park, which should already be in the autumn colours and therefore one of the most beautiful sights on the island during this time of year.
After exploring the national park, you will drive through the highlands of Kaldidalur or the 'Cold Valley', passing Langjökull glacier before stopping at Húsafell for lunch.
Next on the itinerary are Hraunfossar, amazing waterfalls that come to life from underneath the lava field Hallmundarhraun. Close by are the Barnafossar waterfalls with the glacier river Hvítá running through.
You will then enter the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where you will make several stops before reaching your accommodations. After dinner, you will go out to hunt for the elusive Northern Lights.
Day 2 - Snaefellsnes Peninsula & Whale Watching
After an early breakfast, you will head out for more natural wonders and wildlife. Get ready to spend about 10-12 hours on the road, witnessing the marvels of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and discovering the wealth of marine life in Breiðafjörður Bay.
As you travel along the magnificent coastline of the peninsula, you will be circling one of Iceland's most famous volcanos: Snæfellsjökull.
Covering the volcano is a large glacier, and as you travel, you'll witness several different lava fields from past eruptions. You will also visit attractions like the hamlet Arnarstapi, Lóndrangar rock stacks, Djúpalónssandur black pebble beach, and other secret spots before lunch in the village of Ólafsvík.
You'll then board a boat heading out to Breiðafjörður Bay in search of the gentle giants in the ocean on a 3-hour whale watching tour. After the excursion, you'll finish your sightseeing trip with a stop at the monumental mountain Kirkjufell.
At the end of the day, you will enjoy a nice dinner and spend the night in a hotel in Stykkishólmur town. Northern Lights lookout after dinner.
Day 3 - The Gathering
You will spend the morning down by the ocean; spotting seals near the massive rock stack Hvítserkur that, according to legend, is a petrified troll. But the highlight of the day is the annual gathering of sheep from the mountains.
Icelandic sheep spend their summers grazing in the wild nature. Every year farmers, farmworkers and other locals will go on horseback into the mountains to gather the sheep and herd them back to a sheep assembly called Hamarsrétt, located down by a stone pebble beach on the Vatnsnes Peninsula.
You will end the day with a dinner at the village of Hvammstangi before getting to your accommodations in the area. You'll spend the evening searching for the Northern Lights if you are not too tired after this active 8-10 hour day.
Day 4 - Horse Gathering
After a relaxing morning, you'll continue observing the old Icelandic tradition of rounding up animals from the pastures, but this time it is the gathering of horses, not sheep, that will fill up day.
At the horse assembly in Skrapatungurétt, located in Laxárdalur valley, farmers and locals collect horses that have been roaming around wild in the mountains and then sort them in the sorting fold.
You will spend a few hours there with the locals and the beautiful Icelandic horse before visiting the farm of Ósar for dinner.
Day 5 - Kjolur Route in the Highlands
Today you will leave the coastline and head inland through the barren highlands of Iceland. Get ready to spend around 9-10 hours on the road and witness black deserts, glaciers, volcanoes and geothermal areas.
If the weather and road conditions allow, you'll spend some time in the colourful geothermal hot spot of Hveradalir before reaching a mountain hut in Kerlingarfjöll mountains where you will have dinner and spend the night.
If cloud conditions are right, you will spend the evening hunting for the dancing Northern Lights.
Day 6 - Gullfoss, Geysir & Reykjavik City
Today, you'll spend around 8-10 hours on the road, returning to civilisation after spending the night in the mountains. But before you reach Reykjavík, you'll make a few stops.
First up is the mighty Gullfoss. The waterfall is one part of the popular route of the Golden Circle which consists of this beautiful cascade, Þingvellir National Park, which you visited on the first day, and your next stop, Geysir geothermal area.
At Geysir, you can watch as the hot spring Strokkur erupts every 5-10 minutes in a spectacular water column, before stopping at a local farm for lunch.
You will be travelling through parts of the South Coast on your way back, and crossing the Atlantic Ridge before reaching the capital of Reykjavík.
What to bring
Good to know
For a single room there is a supplement extra, as single rooms are more expensive.
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