Gran Tour dell'Islanda

I arrive at the airport of Keflavik. Transfer to the hotel with shuttle bus, without assistance. Free time for a first discovery of the city. Reykjavík is the world’s northernmost capital, a compact and colourful city stretching between Faxaflói Bay and the snow-capped outline of Mount Esja. The heart of city life beats along Laugavegur, the main shopping street, and through the lanes of the Old Town, where houses clad in corrugated iron painted red, yellow and turquoise cluster around Lake Tjörnin, alive with waterfowl. Dominating the skyline is Hallgrímskirkja, the Lutheran church whose expressionist lines were inspired by basalt columns and whose tower offers sweeping views over rooftops, sea and mountains. Along the waterfront, Harpa gleams with its honeycomb glass façade catching the shifting northern light, while nearby the Sólfar sculpture, the “Sun Voyager”, traces its steel profile against the fjord. Culture has an importance far beyond the city’s size: the National Museum of Iceland recounts eleven centuries of history from the Vikings to the present day, while the Reykjavík Art Museum and the former home and studio of sculptor Einar Jónsson add to the cultural landscape. Live music venues and lively cafés animate summer evenings, when night seems almost to disappear. Reykjavík also lives through its geothermal waters: outdoor pools such as Laugardalslaug are genuine social institutions, while the geothermal beach at Nauthólsvík makes bathing possible even in winter. The city is an ideal base for exploring the Golden Circle — Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall — as well as for excursions in search of the Northern Lights or whales in the waters of the bay. With Nordic design, a food scene that reinterprets fish, lamb and wild ingredients, and a creative energy out of all proportion to its size, Reykjavík is a vibrant gateway to Iceland. Dinner free.
Accommodation CenterHotel Arnarhvoll.

Breakfast. Meeting with the Italian-speaking tour leader in the hotel lobby. A day dedicated to exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, a region of remarkable natural beauty that inspired Jules Verne’s novel *Journey to the Centre of the Earth*. Depart Reykjavík in the morning and make the first stop at Kirkjufell, one of Iceland’s most iconic mountains, renowned for its distinctive pyramidal shape. Walk to nearby Kirkjufellsfoss, where you can enjoy the famous view of the waterfall with the mountain in the background. Continue to Arnarstapi, a picturesque fishing village on the southern coast of the peninsula, known for its dramatic basalt cliffs and distinctive rock formations shaped by the Atlantic Ocean. Free lunch. In the early afternoon, visit Lóndrangar, where two impressive basalt pinnacles, the eroded remains of an ancient volcanic crater, rise above the coast to heights of approximately 75 and 61 metres. Continue to Vatnshellir, a remarkable lava tube in Snæfellsjökull National Park. Descend into the cave with a guide to see the striking formations created by ancient lava flows. Afterwards, continue towards the Borgarfjörður area. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Borgarnes.

Breakfast. The journey continues through Iceland’s spectacular scenery, leaving the southwest behind and heading north into a region of more remote, unspoilt landscapes. The first stop is Grábrók, an impressive volcanic crater formed around 3,400 years ago. A wooden boardwalk leads to the summit, where you can enjoy sweeping views over the surrounding lava field and the Norðurárdalur valley. Continuation to Blönduós. Free lunch. In the afternoon, continuation to Hauganes. Hauganes is a village on the western shore of Eyjafjörður, between Árskógssandur and Dalvík. The small harbor is still tied to fishing and serves as a starting point for sea excursions, especially whale watching. From the coast you can see the island of Hrísey and the mountains of Tröllaskagi; the landscape changes quickly with the light and weather of the north. Hauganes also offers outdoor geothermal pools and a quiet atmosphere, suitable for a stop before continuing on to Akureyri or Siglufjörður. Board a traditional wooden boat for an approximately three-hour whale-watching trip, with the chance to see whales in their natural habitat. Arrival at Akureyri in the evening. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel Edda Akureyri.

Breakfast. Departure for Godafoss. Goðafoss is a waterfall of the Skjálfandafljót River, along Route 1 between Akureyri and Lake Mývatn. The water splits into several branches and drops over a basalt ledge, creating a broad curtain visible from both banks. The name means waterfall of the gods and refers to the tradition according to which, in the year 1000, the chieftain Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði is said to have thrown the statues of the old deities here after Iceland’s conversion to Christianity. The trails lead to various viewpoints; in winter, ice and spray make the ground slippery. Not far away you can visit the historic farm of Laufás and the volcanic landscapes of Mývatn. Continuation to Myvatn. Mývatn, literally “midge lake”, is one of the most extraordinary natural sites in the north, a shallow lake born of eruptions and ringed by one of the island''s most varied volcanic landscapes. Its waters host an exceptionally rich waterfowl population, while all around unfold spectacular geothermal phenomena: the pseudocraters of Skútustaðir, the bizarre lava pinnacles of Dimmuborgir, the steaming Hverir field with its boiling mud pools and the Víti explosion crater. Nearby, the Mývatn Nature Baths offer the “Nordic cousin” of the Blue Lagoon in a more intimate version. From here the powerful Dettifoss waterfall is within reach. Between fire and water, Mývatn is a distillation of Iceland''s geological wonders. Free lunch. Continue to Egilsstaðir. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel Edda Egilsstadir.

Breakfast. Departure south along Iceland’s spectacular east coast, with its fjords, mountains and small fishing villages. Stop at Djúpivogur. Djúpivogur is a charming fishing village set on a peninsula in the eastern fjords, part of the international Cittaslow movement for slow living quality of life. Its little harbour and old trading houses tell of centuries of maritime commerce, while along the shore the unusual artwork Eggin í Gleðivík lines up thirty-four stone eggs, one for each bird species nesting in the area. Offshore lies the island of Papey, once home to Irish hermits and today a realm of puffins and seals. The pyramidal mountain Búlandstindur, held sacred by locals, rises in the background. Quiet and off the main flows, Djúpivogur is a serene stop in eastern Iceland. Continuation to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Jokulsarlon is Iceland's most famous glacial lagoon, a turquoise expanse studded with icebergs that calve from the tongue of the great Vatnajokull glacier and drift slowly toward the sea. It is one of the country's most astonishing natural sights: blocks of ice, carved into countless shapes and streaked with blue and black, mirror themselves in the water while seals slip among them. A little further on, icebergs run aground on the black sand of nearby Diamond Beach, glittering like gems against the ocean. In summer boats cruise the lagoon among the ice; in winter the silence is almost total. A place where the power of glaciers becomes visible, on the island's southern coast. Free lunch. In the afternoon, continue to Vík í Mýrdal. New stop at Fjallsárlón. Fjallsárlón is a glacial lagoon at the foot of Fjallsjökull, in southeastern Iceland. Icebergs break off from the glacier tongue and float in a smaller, calmer basin than the nearby Jökulsárlón; in suitable months you can take boat or zodiac tours with authorized operators. The lagoon is close to Route 1, between Skaftafell and Höfn, and offers direct views of the glacier and the Öræfi mountains. The ice can move quickly and the shores are uneven: it is important to follow the paths and local guidance. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel Dyrholaey.

Breakfast. We will begin the day with a lovely relaxing walk on the black beach of Reynisfjara. Departure to Reykjavík. Driving along the south coast we also come across the spectacular Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. On this day we take the famous "Golden Circle" excursion, which includes a visit to the well-known Geysir area, where Strokkur erupts every 5-10 minutes. We also visit the Gullfoss waterfall and Thingvellir National Park, where the forces of the great Atlantic rift are clearly visible. Arrival at Reykjavík in the evening. Dinner free.
Accommodation CenterHotel Arnarhvoll.

Breakfast. Hotel/airport transfer on departure with shuttle bus, without assistance.