• Accommodations in well-located, atmospheric small hotels
• Stunning, unique natural scenery
• Hellisheidi geothermal power plant
• Popular Skogafoss waterfall
• Lake Myvatn’s mud flats, lava fields, and volcanic craters
• Dramatic bird-watching coastal cruise
• Glacial River Canyon National Park
• Dettifoss, Iceland’s “Niagara”
• Godafoss, “waterfall of the gods”
• Visit to Icelandic Breed horse farm
• Touring the beautiful Snaefellsnes Peninsula
• Thingvellir National Park
• European-accented Reykjavik

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Reykjavik, Iceland

Day 2: Arrive Reykjavik/Selfoss Upon our early morning arrival in Iceland’s capital, we meet our Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, have breakfast at a local restaurant then enjoy a scenic drive east. We stop to view the geothermal exhibit at the Hellisheidi Power Plant. Mid-afternoon, we reach pastoral Selfoss, and our hotel. Tonight: a briefing on the journey ahead followed by a welcome dinner. B,D

Day 3: Selfoss/Vik Our first stop today is at picturesque Seljalandsfoss, Iceland’s most visited waterfall, followed by nearby Skogafoss, another popular waterfall, known for its rainbows on sunny days. We continue on to lovely Vik, Iceland’s southernmost town, where we’re free to explore and shop for items of locally produced wool. This afternoon, we walk along the black-sand beach at Reynisfjara, lined with columnar basalt-filled caves. En route to our hotel, we stop by the Solheimajokull “sliding” glacier. B

Day 4: Selfoss/Reykjavik/Akureyri/Lake Myvatn We transfer to Reykjavik this morning for the one-hour flight to Akureyri, Iceland’s “northern capital,” where, upon arrival, we travel to beautiful Lake Myvatn. One of the world’s natural wonders, Lake Myvatn and its environs of bubbling mud flats, lava fields, and lunar-like volcanic craters comprise a stunning national park. We stop to explore the bizarre lava formations at Dimmuborgir, and also see the region’s unique “pseudo craters,” the boiling mud pots at Namaskard, the explosion crater at Viti, and the flat volcano system at Krafla. B,D

Day 5: Lake Myvatn/Husavik/Vatnajokull National Park This morning we travel to Husavik, where we embark on a bird-watching cruise to Puffin Island. Depending on the season, we may see thousands of seabirds here, including puffins, black guillemots, fulmars, and Arctic terns. On departures that visit after the puffins have migrated for the season (typically in August), we take a whale watch cruise out of Husavik. This afternoon, we visit Vatnajokull National Park, yet another of Iceland’s natural wonders. Here we see Asbyrgi, a huge canyon enveloped by towering walls; in the middle of the partially wooded canyon sits a hoof-shaped rock called “The Island.” Next, we visit Hljodaklettar Echo Cliffs, where we explore the labyrinth of “echoing rocks” created by the spiral basalt formations of the arches and canyons here. Our last stop: jaw-dropping Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall and Iceland’s “Niagara.” B,L,D

Day 6: Lake Myvatn/Akureyri/Siglufjordur This morning, we stop at Godafoss, the “waterfall of the gods” named for the carvings of Norse gods discarded here when the country was declared Christian a thousand years ago. Mid-morning, we arrive in Akureyri, where we have free time to explore and for lunch on our own. We travel on to Siglufjordur, where we visit the unique Herring Era Museum then arrive at our hotel in time for dinner there tonight. B,D

Day 7: Siglufjordur/Borgarbyggo We travel towards the southwest corner of Iceland today, passing through more incredible natural scenery. En route, we visit Glaumbaer, a folk museum featuring authentic turf houses. Later we stop at a Gauksmyri farm featuring famed Icelandic horses – small, hardy, and with long manes. We also enjoy scenic views at Grabrok Crater, and stop to view the thermal areas of Deildartunguhver and Hraunfossar Falls. B,D

Day 8: Borgarbyggo/Snaefellsnes Peninsula Today we encounter the stunning Snaefellsnes Peninsula. We begin with a walk along the shell sand beach at the abandoned fishing village of Budir, surrounded by a vast lava field. We also explore the caves and bizarre rock formations along the rugged shore at Arnarstapi, site of thousands of nesting cliff birds. After a lunch of a traditional fresh seafood soup at a rustic oceanfront restaurant, we see the haunting remains of abandoned coastal farms at Djupalonssandur. B,L,D

Day 9: Borgarbyggo/Reykjavik En route to Reykjavik today, we visit Thingvellir National Park, known both for its historic import and as the place where the fissure between the geological plates of North America and Europe is most evident. It’s also a gem of nature, with canyons, caves, waterfalls, and ponds surrounded by snowcapped mountains. We learn about the historic parliament founded here in 930 CE, and walk along a gorge into the rift valley itself. Then we depart for famed Great Geysir and Gullfoss, Iceland’s immensely popular “golden” waterfall. We continue on to Reykjavik, arriving in time for dinner on our own in this stylish city. B,L

Day 10: Reykjavik This morning we embark on a tour of the Icelandic capital. Then the remainder of today is at leisure to explore and enjoy Reykjavik as we please; those who wish can join in an optional tour to the Blue Lagoon. Tonight, we celebrate our adventure over a farewell dinner. B,D

Day 11: Depart for U.S. Today we depart for the airport and our return flights to the U.S. B

Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain in a natural environment. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy this tour to the fullest.

B = Breakfast included L = Lunch included D = Dinner included

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; flight within itinerary
• 9 nights’ accommodations in First Class hotels
• 20 meals: 10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 7 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all ­entrance fees
• Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
• $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next ­Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)

2024 Tour Dates & Prices
including international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Please call if your city is not listed or for land only prices. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, surcharges, and fees of $497, which are subject to change until final payment is made.

Single travelers please add $995 Apr, May, Oct; $1,195 all other dates. Your $475 deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days prior to departure. All tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, surcharges, and fees) are guaranteed.

Accommodations: Days 4-5: ⁺Hotel Laxa (Lake Myvatn); Days 9-10: *Hotel Borg (Reykjavik)

Business Class upgrade (subject to availability; pricing subject to change) on round-trip international flight: $1,795 per person from Boston, Newark, New York; $2,395 per person from other cities

Reykjavik – On Your Own

3 days/2 nights from $395 total price
Single Supplement: $295

Make the most of the long days in Iceland’s colorful capital, at your own pace.

Your Tour Price Includes

• 2 nights’ accommodations at Hotel Reykjavik Centrum (First Class)
• 2 meals: 2 breakfasts
• Transfer to Reykjavik airport

Please see the Accommodations tab for hotel information.

Please note: October 24 departure will stay at the Hotel Borg in Reykjavik

Pricing: $395 Apr, May, Oct; $495 all other dates. Single Supplement: $295 all dates

Terry G. Lacy
Ring of Seasons, Iceland, Its Culture and History
A longtime resident of Reykjavik, Lacy weaves tales of family life, anecdote, lore and history into this illuminating personal portrait of Iceland.

Halldor Laxness
Independent People, An Epic
Rich in local color, this great mock-epic by the Icelandic Nobel Prize-winner features the indelible Bjartur of Summerhouses, a hard-headed, independent-minded sheep farmer.

Jeff Kanipe, Alexandra Witze
Island on Fire: The Extraordinary Story of a Forgotten Volcano That Changed the World
Two science writers discuss the political and natural ramifications of the 1783 eruption of Iceland’s largest volcano, Laki, which led to global death, famine and even revolution. Great for the geologically minded but accessible to all with an interest in volcanoes.

Insight Guides
Insight Guide Iceland
This guide emphasizes culture and history, with wonderful photographs, maps and essays from experts.

National Geographic Maps
Iceland Adventure Map
A detailed map at a scale of 1:465,000, printed on handy tear- and water-resistant paper.

Evan Sung (Photographer), Jody Eddy, Gunnar Gislason
North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland
Catering to a rising interest in Nordic cuisine, this cookbook celebrates Iceland’s food alongside its haunting landscapes, portrayed in starkly beautiful, full-color photos.

Karen Oslund
Iceland Imagined
This cultural and environmental history explores the geography, literature, language, culture, politics and symbolism of Iceland, Greenland, northern Norway and the Faroe Islands.

John Haywood
Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings
The history of the Vikings told through a series of innovative maps and excellent photographs. This book traces the routes of 9th-century Viking merchants and explorers throughout Europe and the New World.

Gunnar Karlsson
The History of Iceland
A history of Iceland from the Viking era through colon-ization, independence and the 20th century. Karlsson draws on the sagas and rich literature of Iceland in presenting this comprehensive history.

Yves Cohat
The Vikings, Lords of the Seas
An indispensable reference that fits in your pocket, this slim volume is packed with maps, archival photographs and illustrations.

William Fitzhugh (Editor), Elisabeth Ward (Editor)
Vikings, The North Atlantic Saga
An extensively illustrated volume of Viking culture, history and exploration that focuses especially on voyages to North America. Published in conjunction with a Smithsonian exhibit, it features essays and 400 color photographs.

Nancy Marie Brown
The Far Traveler, Voyages of a Viking Woman
Brown’s intriguing account of the life of the young Viking woman Gudrid sheds light on early Norse settlements in Iceland, Newfoundland and beyond. It’s an archaeological mystery, a history of ancient seamanship and a biography all rolled into one.

Lawrence Millman, Paul Theroux (Introduction)
Last Places, A Journey in the North
Millman explores the culture and history of the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland in this hilarious account of his travels in the wake of the ancient Vikings.

Sarah Moss
Names for the Sea, Strangers in Iceland
A stranger in a strange land, British novelist Sarah Moss captures the spirit of Iceland in this tale of a year in the island nation with her husband and two children.

Bill Holm
The Windows of Brimnes, An American in Iceland
In these provocative essays, Minnesotan Bill Holm writes about the fate of America from his fisherman’s cottage on the shore of a creek in northern Iceland.

Jon Krakauer (Photographer), David Roberts
Iceland, Land of the Sagas
Krakauer and colleague Roberts hike and climb around Iceland in this classic travel narrative, reissued as a paper-back and featuring Krakauer’s color photographs. The book interweaves the natural and cultural history of the island with the authors’ own adventures.

Arnaldur Indridason
Jar City
Indridason’s first moody police procedural translated into English finds Reykjavik detective Erlendur Sveinsson investigating the brutal murder of a lonely pensioner and the man’s connection to the deaths of a number of young women. Made into a darkly superb film.

Snorri Sturluson, Jesse Byock (Translator)
The Prose Edda
A new translation of one of the most influential and entertaining medieval Icelandic sagas, the source for much of what we know of Norse mythology.

Jane Smiley (Editor), Robert Kellog (Introduction)
The Sagas of Icelanders
Nine sagas and six tales composed between the years 1000 and 1500, including an account of Leif Eriksson’s voyage to North America, all newly translated. With an introduction by Jane Smiley.

E.C. Pielou
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Arctic
Our bestselling book on the Arctic, this guide covers the geography and climate, plants, birds and wildlife of the Circumpolar North.

Richard Fisher
Volcanoes, Crucibles of Change
A complete primer for the volcano lover, this heavily illustrated book covers types of volcanoes and eruptions, worldwide distribution and the physics of their formation.

Carl Christian Kinze
Marine Mammals of the North Atlantic
A guide to the marine mammals of the North Atlantic featuring 250 color illustrations.

Egill Bjarnason
How Iceland Changed the World
A breezy, beach-read of a history book, exploring the myriad ways that an island nation at the top of the world has exerted a profound effect on major global events for the past 800 years. The New York Times describes it as “a joyously peculiar book.”