Iceland Adventure with Reykjavik, South Shore, & West Coast
Are you ready for the Iceland adventure of a lifetime? This is the perfect combination of relaxation, exploration, and mingling with your new best friends! You will experience the known sites of Iceland like Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon but also venture off the beaten path to see sites on both the South Shore and West Coast. Along the way, you will enjoy luxury accommodations, meals, private guides, relaxing baths, cocktail parties, and more instagram-worthy moments that you have experienced any other week! All alongside Greg and special guides who guarantee an adventure of epic proportions! We will also have the option to see Northern Lights as an add-on if weather permits!
This luxury travel group will allow you to see this magical part of the world with up to 36 cosmopolitan travelers who appreciate the perfect blend of relaxation and exploration! Coordinated by Gregory Kiep who has traveled the world with groups such as Atlantis Events, RSVP Vacations, R Family Vacations and many more, this vacation will bring together the best parts of LGBT-friendly travel.
Accommodations:
Exeter hotel
You’ll relax and recharge at this brand-new, modern hotel with rooms decorated in a modern, rustic-sheik style. It has a fantastic bar for happy hours, and an amazing bakery for early morning nibbles. It is perfectly situated in the center of Reykjavik, right by the old harbour, and features a sauna and a fitness room.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: REYKJAVIK DAY
Flybus airport transfer from Keflavik airport to hotel.
Meet and Greet with Bubbles! Meet your local guides and kick off this fabulous trip with champagne.
Reykjavik City Walk: Parade through central Reykjavik with private guide.
2 course dinner at fine restaurant (Not including drinks)
Restaurant similar to Kol Restaurant
DAY 2: GOLDEN CIRCLE & KIKI
Private Golden Circle tour
Lunch
Dinner in Reykjavik
A night out at Kiki (with a special performance!)
Your Golden Circle journey will begin (or possibly end, depending on scheduling) by treading in the footsteps of the ancient Vikings at Thingvellir National park. You’ll walk through the gorges that are being torn apart as the tectonic plates rip away from each other, and if you listen closely, you just might hear the echoes of the Vikings deliberating at this UNESCO World Heritage site: the first parliament in the world.
The renowned Geysir geothermal area is not to be missed. You’ll walk a path through boiling ground, and be on your guard as the geyser Strokkur will erupt when you least expect it. This place is hot hot hot!
The majestic waterfall Gullfoss is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. It was so cherished by the locals in the countryside that a local woman, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, often walked all the way to Reykjavik to try and prevent the falls from being harnessed for electricity. This was in the early 20th century, before they had built roads in the area.
LUNCH - Friðheimar - Tomato Greenhouse Restaurant
At Friðheimar, you’ll find tomatoes being grown all year round, despite Iceland’s long, dark winters, under artificial lighting in greenhouses. They welcome visitors to see their greenhouses, and then enjoy a taste of the crop. And now you can take delicious food souvenirs away with you, made from these local tomatoes and cucumbers. They also breed horses, and put on a horse show – in fourteen different languages.
DAY 3: WEST COAST // KRAUMA BATHS & GOATS
Today is focused on a relaxed day after a night of partying - a perfect hangover day! We will leave at about noon to explore the western part of Iceland and relax in the fantastic Krauma baths. You’ll then have the freedom to do your own thing in the evening!
Experience nature from its core by bathing in the geothermal baths at Krauma. The hot water originates in Europe’s most powerful hot spring Deildartunguhver, at a temperature of 100°C (212°F). To achieve the perfect bathing temperature they mix the hot water with cold water from Rauðsgil, which originates in the glacier Ok, the smallest glacier in Iceland. Krauma offers five relaxing natural geothermal baths, a cold tub to get your blood circulation going, two calming saunas, and a relaxation room where you can rest by the fireplace while listening to soothing music.
We will continue on to the wonders of Hraunfossar and Barnafoss, a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 meters out of the massive Hallmundarhraun lava field. And finally, we will visit Icelandic goats. Unlike any other, these gentle, cuddly, and curious animals are on brink of extinction, but through selfless dedication and determination, our friendly local goat breeder is keeping the stock alive and inviting you over for a cup of coffee and some time with the animals. Some of these goats guest-starred in Game of Thrones! (Just saying.)
Krauma
Experience nature from its core by bathing in the geothermal baths at Krauma. The hot water originates in Europe’s most powerful hot spring Deildartunguhver, at a temperature of 100°C (212°F). To achieve the perfect bathing temperature we mix the hot water with cold water from Rauðsgil, which originates in the glacier Ok, the smallest glacier in Iceland.
Krauma offers five relaxing natural geothermal baths, a cold tub to get your blood circulation going, two calming saunas and a relaxation room where you can rest by the fireplace while listening to soothing music.
Háafell Goat Farm
Meet purebred Icelandic goats - unlike any other, these gentle, cuddly and curious animals are on brink of extinction but by selfless dedication and determination our friendly local goat breeder is keeping the stock alive and inviting you over for a cup of coffee and time spent with the animals.
DAY 4: SOUTH SHORE & GLACIAL WALK
Today we explore the south of Iceland to the halfway point of the island. We will then go on a 2 hour hike to, and walk on, the Sólheimajökull glacier.
The South Shore Safari will take you through the breadbasket of Iceland on your way to the gems of the south. You’ll see the villages and farms of the southern flat lands before we arrive at the mountain ranges. In clear weather you can see volcanoes and glaciers that have erupted 9 times in the last 50 years, the latest of which was the infamous Eyjafjallajökull eruption of 2010 that stranded millions of travelers all around the world.
Reynisfjara beach, with its basalt column cliffs, is a particular favorite of the South. The crashing waves of the open Atlantic break on the black sandy beach of Reynisfjara, which is quite picturesque with its mountainous backdrop. Remember to be extra careful at this beach as the waves are unpredictable and powerful.
We’ll visit the hidden waterfall Gljúfrabúi, where you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss and the magnificent Skógafoss. These are amongst the numerous characterful waterfalls that we will see from the road on our drive along the old sea cliffs, and if it’s very windy you’ll even see a few of them flow upward.
The South Coast of Iceland has everything you want to see in Iceland: waterfalls, glaciers, beach, volcanoes, beautiful mountains & farms.
Sólheimajökull Glacier Walk
Along the way to the glacier, we will have a good view of the glacier lagoon and the area around the glacier. When we are at the starting point, we start with a safety briefing and a short lesson how to use the crampons and the ice pick on the glacier walk. Included in your tour are a helmet, crampons, ice axe, and other safety equipment. (There is also an “easy-walk” option.)
The glacial landscape is amazing and dynamic, including crevices, sinkholes and small black volcanic sandhills. Sometimes it’s possible to take a look at the small holes or enter the caves. In winter the ice is blue and clear, the surface mostly covered by snow. During the summertime, the ice becomes more white and the volcanic ash which forms various patterns in the landscape is more visible.
As previously mentioned, the glacial landscape changes day by day which makes it even more interesting to see and explore. With the glacier melting very rapidly in recent years the landscape has become more exciting. Sólheimajökull glacier is the ideal place to view geomorphology in formation and the effects of global warming on glaciers.
DAY 5: REYKJANES & BLUE LAGOON
Today we go for both action and relaxation. We will drive through the Reykjanes peninsula before driving into the black sands close to the fishing village Grindavík. We will then soak in the famous Blue Lagoon before heading off to Reykjavik for a farewell dinner.
Blue Lagoon
Discover the waters of the Blue Lagoon ,where you’ll be able to experience a couple of hours' relaxation in one of the most unique places on earth. Entry includes a silica mud mask, use of a towel, and a drink of your choice.
DAY 6: DEPARTURE DAY
With a sad but re-energized heart, we’ll bid farewell on our transfer back to the Keflavik airport!