Icelandic Short Break

Day 1 - Arrive Reykjavik
On arrival at Keflavik airport, you will be driven to Reykjavik ( a journey of around 40 minutes). The Radisson Blu 1919 hotel, was built for office use in 1919 by the first shipping company in Iceland. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Reykjavik, a perfect blend of historic architecture and modern interiors.

Day 2 - Golden Circle
Spend the morning visiting Thingvellir, the site of the original Althing - the oldest democratic parliament in the world. This area is noted for its spectacular lava formations and is the only place in the world where you can actually see the tectonic plates drift apart. Walking down the main rift, you can witness how the faults and fissures of the area show the rifting of the earth's crust. The ecosystem of Lake Thingvallavatn is a perfect example of species evolution in nature.

In the afternoon, continue to Geyser, which gave its name to all other erupting hot springs. Here, you will see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, spouting up to 90 feet into the air. End the day at the Ranga Lodge - after a dinner of fresh local cuisine, you may be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights.

Day 3 - Thorsmork and Glacier Walk
Start the day travelling in super-jeeps along the south shore of Iceland with its many waterfalls (one of which you can walk behind), black sandy beaches, awe-inspiring mountain ranges and strange lava formations. A sight to behold is the Solheimajokull glacier tongue extending down from its mother glacier, Myrdalsjokull. The Myrdalsjokull has an area of about 590 km² and rests on a volcanically active massif mountain, which last erupted very powerfully in 1918. Just west of this glacier is another much smaller volcano, but now very famous due to its eruption in 2010 - the Eyjafjallajokull.

Take a walk using crampons and other safety equipment up onto the ice field where you will discover a wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses. Ice climbing and hiking is becoming more and more popular as a sport in Iceland, as conditions are quite good most of the year.

Thorsmork is surrounded by rugged and beautiful mountains, glaciers and glacial rivers, with a multitude of small valleys clad with low birch-trees that create endless possibilities for the nature lover. You will find the more than 170 plants, moss and lichen species in this lush area, which was a fjord some 12,000 years ago. The outlet glaciers tumble down into the gullies, some of them ending in spectacular glacial lagoons. The glacial melt-off forms rivers that have to be crossed on the way to Thorsmork, sometimes quite challenging as an innocent stream can change in a matter of hours to a thunderous torrent. Our skilled drivers are very experienced in these driving conditions and will take you safely across any river.

After lunch at the land of the gods Basar (barbeque), enjoy a light walk  into the narrow Stakkholtsgja gorge before heading back to Reykjavik.

Day 4 -  Blue Lagoon
Your trip finishes at the world famous Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal spa surrounded by lava field and black sandy beaches. Enjoy the comfort of the warm lagoon water, the facilities of the VIP area and sample the fantastic cuisine at the Lava restaurant before your private transfer back to Reykjavik airport.

Pricing
3 nights from £2,630 per person, including flights from UK and private driver/guide throughout. Glacier walk is included, all other activities are available at an extra cost.