Iceland's phenomenal natural beauty is gloriously weather-beaten, shaped by thousands of years of tectonic, geothermal and volcanic activity. This private tour of its southern coast, from Reykjavik back to the Reykjanes Peninsula, takes in all these marvels - with three equally remarkable places to rest along the way.
Whether taken in the depths of snowy winter or in the bright light of the midnight sun, this outdoor adventure offers small, earth-born surprises and vast, enchanting landscapes.
After arriving into Iceland’s lively coastal capital, take a private transfer to the Sandhotel for a calm night’s rest. This unique boutique bolthole showcases Nordic manners at their finest, spread across three art deco townhouses with a humble yet fascinating history. Chic, pared-back and with something of an art deco feel, its rooms are supremely comforting. A small restaurant serves relaxed menus that honour local ingredients, while its on-site bakery has been run by the same family since 1920 – and you won’t want to miss their outstanding fresh breads and cakes.
Overnight: Sandhotel, Reykjavik
Iceland’s Golden Circle is an eastward loop of natural wonders from Reykjavik. Your private tour will start with the mystical Thingvellir National Park, sitting in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, which are slowly drifting away from each other. Iceland’s national parliament was established here in 930, and its stunning, sprawling mossy outcrops are now a UNSECO World Heritage Site. A little further inland is the Geysir area – an exciting geothermal spectacle of hot spouting geysers. While the most well known is the Great Geysir, the most spirited is Strokkur, blasting water up to 40 metres high every few minutes. You will continue north to a spot where waters flow downwards, instead: the powerful Gullfoss waterfall sends water from Iceland’s second largest glacier plummeting 32 metres into a canyon below. Finally, moving southwards, the Kerið volcanic lake crater is a magnificent sight to behold, at 170 by 270 metres wide. Your private tour will end with a detour down to the south coast, to spend the next three nights at Skálakot – as much boutique hotel as a seventh-generation family-run horse breeding farm. This 14-bedroom hotel is in fact an extension of the farmhouse the family lives in, with its rooms and suites blending a homely welcome with 20th-century design. Besides incredible ocean and mountain views, its fine dining restaurant focuses on fresh local ingredients.
Overnight: Skálakot
Today’s private tour will take you along a route that tracks some of Iceland’s most impressive coastal sights – and up close to meet them. The Skógafoss waterfall thunders down into a small canyon where you can walk up to meet the impact, while dauntless travellers will be keen to pop behind the veil of the Seljalandsfoss waterfall’s current, which flows down from the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic glacier. A few beaches here are covered in black sand, like Reynisfjara, a stretch that delivers the setting for an otherworldly stroll. Sculptural columns of basalt form the cliff edge, mighty Atlantic waves break on the beach, and the jagged Reynisdrangar stacks sit just out at sea. Legend has it that a couple of industrious trolls saw a ship on the horizon one night, tried to drag it to shore, but got caught out by the sunlight – at dawn they turned to stone and remain there as a warning.
Overnight: Skálakot
Light walks will punctuate your thrilling Superjeep tour of the Thórsmörk valley, which takes its name from the Norse god Thor. This sheltered valley in the remote southern highlands is a verdant contrast with the glacial realm above, where the slowly retreating tongue of the Gígjökull crater has formed a lagoon. Reaching the canyons below might mean crossing straight through rivers in your Superjeep, or bounding over fantastically rocky terrain to reach secluded waterfalls. Indeed, it may seem that the entirety of mossy Thórsmörk – with a landscape at times breathtakingly open when viewed from the valley floor or atop misty ridges; at times wonderfully intimate, winding through lichen-covered caverns – is all your own.
Overnight: Skálakot
Your final day celebrates the geothermal activity that affords Iceland much of its admiration for nature, from lakes that have survived earthquakes to sulphuric waters that have turned rocks into a kaleidoscopic canvas. At the Krysuvikurberg cliffs, meanwhile, birdwatchers will delight in spotting seabirds throughout the year, particularly in summer when a 60,000-strong flock – including puffins – nest on the cliff face itself. Pause at a local lobster hut for a delicious peninsula lunch.
Best known of all Iceland’s natural beauties and surrounded by an incredible grey solidified lava field, the Blue Lagoon’s salty 40°C waters are lent their striking shade of turquoise thanks to a chalky white silica floor. It is a stunning sight to behold, and rich in minerals for a supposedly healing skincare treat. The Retreat Hotel is the only one to provide unrestricted access to the lagoon’s waters. Its 62 suites are built into the surrounding rock, along with a divine subterranean spa and a restaurant offering dynamic five or seven-course Icelandic tasting menus. Floor-to-ceiling windows afford arresting panoramas from rooms full of natural wood panels, slate coloured walls and a contemporary, minimalist air.
Overnight: Retreat Hotel
Depart on your private transfer for your flight home.
| Low | $ 12,512 |
| High | $ 13,295 |
"Iceland was amazing, we absolutely loved it. The blue lagoon was the perfect way to finish. Jon was a fantastic guide, he cared a lot that we were seeing all we could but he paced it sensibly. Thanks for all of your help organising it."
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| £££ | Great quality at competitive prices |
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