Winter Iceland Adventure

Arrive early this morning to Keflavik where you are met by your guides for the week. Enjoy a light breakfast on the Reykjanes Peninsula as you get to know the guides and other members in your group. Hear about the set plans for the week and any adjustments that may be made due to forecasted weather.

Depending on the weather this day, either visit sites en route to the Highland Center, or drive the 4-5 hours straight there. Stop somewhere along the way for a snack break and to change to super jeep vehicles.

Arrive to the Highland Center Hrauneyjar in time for dinner this evening. Settle in to the guesthouse at Hrauneyjar. If the conditions are right, you might step outside to spot the Northern Lights for your first time on the trip, or enjoy a nice sauna to relax after your travels.

Spend the next two days in the remote highlands enjoying various activities based on the current weather conditions. The Highland Center offers an amazing base camp from which to explore this vast and remote region and take advantage of activities. Today, the group snowmobiles to nearby Landmannlaugar. Receive instructions and driving tips before heading out for the day. Drive along the highlands and near the impressive Hekla volcano, one of the most active in Europe.

Arrive to Landmannalaugar where you enjoy a packed lunch with a following dip in the nearby hot springs. Explore your surroundings a bit before returning back to the Highland Center for dinner and rest.

Enjoy breakfast at the Highland Center before you set out on super jeeps to Þórsmörk today. Stop en route at Stefnir’s place, one of the owners of the tour company who can give you an introduction to the Icelandic horse on his horse farm in the highlands. This farm is in a remote area and the hospitality of the locals offers a unique experience, particularly in the middle of winter! Head on to Thorsmörk, the valley named after the Norse god Thor. This hiker's paradise is located between three glaciers and offers a spectacular landscape to explore in summer and winter. Stop en route to see the outlet glacier Gýgjökull and the first location of the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption.

Spend the night in Husadalur valley, which is inaccessible to regular cars this time of year. During winter the riverbanks heighten and are a challenge to cross, thus requiring super jeeps to traverse. Enjoy a dinner buffet tonight and comfortable mountain hut in a dorm-style accommodation. Set out on an evening snowshoe hike searching yet again for the Northern Lights. 

After breakfast set out for a snowshoe hike of the region. After lunch the group packs up its gear and you head back towards the coast towards civilization. Stop along the way to explore more of the Eyjafjallajökull region by car and foot. Arrive to Midgard Base Camp where you are welcomed with a warm dinner. Spend the next two nights here at this new and modern hostel with full restaurant. Overnight in bunkbed-style dorms and shared bathroom facilties or see about an upgrade to a private room. The rooftop hot tub is a relaxing way to try and spot the Northern Lights and the workers here will share the story of how Midgard came to be and explain the unique family bond that many of them share. This operation is a new and rare feat in a small countryside town. Many of its workers are family and have a unique story to share about how the local business positively impacts the community. Sit down for dinner and chat with any of the tour guides or leaders to get to know their fascinating story.

Travel along the southern coastal region today, stopping to explore some main attractions such as Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and the black sands of the beach along the south coast in this area such as Reynisfjara Beach, or explore a more remote location as the group prefers! The main attraction for the day, however, is Sólheimajökull glacier, an outlet glacier to the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap. Strap on some crampons and set out on a hike on the glacier as you learn about the fascinating geology of this landscape and Iceland. Learn some introductory climbing skills and how to use ropes before you scale over the glacier. The activity, which is suitable for beginner climbers as well, is not for the faint of heart! You can learn how to use an ice ax and ropes, all while putting them to the test! After the ice climb, return to Midgard Base Camp for a nice dinner at the end of the day.

Today is spent at a more leisurely pace after the activities of the days previous. After breakfast you set out to tour the Golden Circle route, including Þingvellir National Park, Geysir and Strokkur geysers, and Gullfoss Waterfall. For lunch stop at a local tomato farm where you can enjoy homemade tomato soup and bread in the farm's greenhouse. At the tail end of the tour arrive to Reykjavik where you set out on a short sightseeing tour around the town before checking into your hotel. Enjoy dinner together at a restaurant in Reykjavik. 

Enjoy a free day in the city today. A number of guided day tours can be arranged for you this day, or you can opt to spend the day free to relax. Horseback riding, whale watching (though winter may not be the ideal time for this), flightseeing, helicopter rides, or a visit to the nearby Blue Lagoon hot spring are great recommendations. Explore the Golden Circle today as well or try a Silfra Fissue snorkel! The day is free to arrange as you like. Enjoy dinner out at a restaurant of your choice again this evening and toast your travels in Iceland!

Transfer back to the Keflavik airport for your return flight home.