Luxury Iceland Tours & Holidays

Things to do in Iceland

Visit the Ice Caves at Vatnajokull Glacier
Ice caves can be found in Iceland’s glaciers and are one of nature’s true works of art, with translucent blue waves and icy stalactites. The water that runs through them freezes only in the winter, so you’ll need to visit then in order to take a tour into one of the long, frozen chambers at Vatnajokull Glacier along the southern coast.

Take a Dip in the Blue Lagoon
Iceland is home to many hot springs, but the Blue Lagoon is the most famous. Here you can soak in the milky blue warm waters surrounded by black volcanic landscape, scooping out a handful of silica to create your own natural face mask and perhaps enjoy an in-water massage too. There’s even a bar in the middle for sipping while soaking.

See the Northern Lights
Thanks to its location near the Arctic Circle, Iceland is one of the world’s best places to watch the northern lights. While winter is the best season for viewing due to the long nights of darkness, it’s possible to see them dancing in the sky away from light pollution on any clear, cold night from late September through April.

Enjoy Whale Watching
Iceland is Europe’s whale watching capital, with tours available from Reykjavik, Husavik in the northern region, and from the Snaefellsness Peninsula, where orca whales follow the herring in the water that surrounds it. Minke whale sights are common, and during the summer, the cold sea becomes a veritable feeding ground for sperm whales, humpback whales, fin whales or even a blue whale.

Explore the Black Sand Beaches & Dyrholaey Cliffs Near Vik
Near the tiny town of Vik on Iceland’s south coast, you’ll find lots to explore. It’s home to a beautiful church and a black sand beach with some remarkable hexagonal basalt columns, while dramatic rock formations rise from the ocean just offshore. The small Dyrholaey Peninsula is known for its dramatic cliffs where puffins and other sea birds are often spotted.

Witness Skogafoss
One of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, Skogafoss has been featured in films and on TV including “Vikings” and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” It plummets almost 200 feet into a pool below, and on a sunny day, rainbows develop in the mist. Visitors can climb to the top for a different perspective and a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

Discover the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
This large glacial lagoon has been featured in “Game of Thrones” and a long list of films, including “View to a Kill.” Here, seals often float on the icebergs that are continuously breaking off the glacier, floating through a short river and into the sea where the waves turn some back, leaving them lying like crystal gems, scattered across the black sands.

Walk Behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
One of the most beautiful and unique waterfalls in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss cascades nearly 200 feet into a pool below. A hidden path will bring you behind the cascades where you can gaze out at the landscape from behind the veil of water. While it’s rare, when timed right, some have even watched the colorful northern lights from inside the falls.

Watch Strokkur Erupt in the Geysir Area
The Geysir geothermal area is located along the Golden Circle, and while its namesake no longer erupts, the star of the show is Strokkur geyser which sends water and steam skyrocketing 100 feet into the sky every 5 to 10 minutes. There are many other fascinating features too, including boiling mud pools, steam vents and over a dozen hot water blow holes.

Marvel at Gullfoss Falls
Just a few minutes down the road from the Geysir area, Gullfoss, also known as Golden Falls, sets within a deep canyon along the Hvita River. It drops a total of 105 feet in two stages, a dramatic display of nature’s power. There are multiple meandering walking paths that provide different perspectives including one where you can feel the mist.

Explore Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a small but fun city to walk around with a compact downtown area and lots of colorful street art. The locals are friendly and there are lots of outstanding cafes, unique shops and other attractions to explore. Highlights include iconic Hallgrimskirkja Church which provides a view over the city from 244 feet above, Harpa Concert Hall and the national museum.

Sample Icelandic Cuisine
You probably won’t have the opportunity to sample Icelandic cuisine at home, so now is the perfect time to try it, including delicious eats like Harðfiskur, a dried fish (usually cod), lots of delicious lamb dishes and some unusual foods as well. If you’re adventurous, you might try Svið, a baked sheep head, or Hakarl, made of cured, fermented shark.

Drive the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is the most popular tourist route, covering 190 miles, with many attractions along the way. This is where you’ll find some of the must-sees, like Gullfoss Falls and the Geysir area with its famous geothermal features, as well as Thingvellir Park where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian continents and visit historic landmarks like Law Rock.

Do a Super Jeep Day Out
There are many Super Jeep tours available through Iceland, with some of the country’s best spots accessed only by 4X4 roads. You can head into the Highlands to hike and explore dramatic mountain ranges that few other tourists get to see. Some will bring you to remote geothermal areas with boiling mud pools and hot springs, including options for an unforgettable soak.

Visit Snæfellsjökull National Park
Snæfellsjökull National Park is located on the Visit Snæfellsnes Peninsula, worth of visit of its own as a microcosm of everything Iceland has to offer. The park sits at the tip and boasts a breathtaking coastline with black sand beaches and all sorts of fascinating geologic features. There are a number of lava caves, including Vatnshellir which can be toured during the summer.