Altipiani Meravigliosi

I arrive at the airport of Reykjavík. Transfer to the hotel with shuttle bus, without assistance. Dinner free.
Accommodation Hotel Klettur.

Breakfast. Meeting with the guide at the hotel. Panoramic visit of Reykjavík. Departure for Reykjanes Peninsula. Thanks to its geothermal and volcanic features, Reykjanes is a UNESCO Global Geopark. Across the peninsula, you will discover unusual and breathtaking landscapes, including craters, lava cliffs and fissures. One of the highlights is the mysterious Lake Kleifarvatn. Visit the Krýsuvík geothermal area, with its colourful bubbling mud pools and hissing steam vents. Then drive along the coast, enjoying spectacular views of the powerful waves, and stop at the famous Strandarkirkja church. For generations, Icelanders have prayed in this charming church for the safety and good fortune of loved ones who work at sea. Take a few moments outside the church to admire the mighty ocean and rugged coastline. Continue to the Þingvallavatn region, home to Iceland’s largest lake, passing through the geologically active area of Nesjavellir. Continuation to Thingvellir. Arrival at Hveragerði in the evening. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel Örk.

Breakfast. Departure for Gullfoss. Gullfoss is a waterfall on the Hvítá River, fed by the Langjökull glacier, and one of the main stops on the Golden Circle. The water plunges in two successive drops into a deep gorge, raising a mist of spray that often forms rainbows on sunny days. Trails connect the upper and lower viewpoints, but the ground can be wet and slippery, especially in winter. In the early 20th century the waterfall was threatened by a hydroelectric project; the farmer Sigríður Tómasdóttir opposed the development, and her story is commemorated by a monument near the path. The Gullfoss area is visited together with Geysir and Þingvellir and offers access to excursions toward Langjökull. Continuation to Geysir. Geysir gives its name to every geyser on Earth: it is here, in the Haukadalur geothermal valley of southern Iceland, that the phenomenon was first observed and described. The Great Geysir, now rarely active, has yielded the stage to nearby Strokkur, which every few minutes hurls a column of boiling water several metres into the air, offering one of the island's best-loved sights. All around, the area bubbles with steaming pools, colourful springs and hot ground in an almost lunar landscape. A key stop on the famous Golden Circle, Geysir is easily visited together with Gullfoss and Thingvellir. A place where the geothermal power of the Earth reveals itself in full spectacle. Next, cross Iceland’s central highlands along the Kjölur route, passing through moorlands, desert plains, glaciers, glacial rivers, lakes and lava fields. Enjoy the sweeping views and peaceful solitude of one of Europe’s last wilderness areas. Stop at the geothermal area of Hveravellir, known for its fumaroles and hot springs. Arrival at Akureyri in the evening. Dinner free.
Accommodation Akureyri - Berjaya Iceland Hotels.

Breakfast. We will set off to discover Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area: at Skútustaðir we will make a stop for a walk among the pseudo-craters, fascinating natural formations; at Dimmuborgir we can instead admire very strange volcanic formations that resemble ruined castles. We continue towards the Námaskarð solfatara (in a Martian landscape) with its pools of boiling mud, its vivid colours and the steam rising from the ground. Return to Akureyri. Dinner free.
Accommodation Akureyri - Berjaya Iceland Hotels.

Breakfast. Departure for Husavik. Húsavík is Iceland''s whale-watching capital, looking out over Skjálfandi Bay in the north of the country. From its charming harbour the boats set out from which, in summer, travellers spot humpbacks, fin whales and sometimes even blue whales, among the largest creatures on the planet. The waterfront is dominated by the wooden church of Húsavíkurkirkja, an elegant structure from 1907, while the Whale Museum delves into the lives of these giants of the sea. The town also boasts the panoramic GeoSea geothermal baths, perched above the ocean. Húsavík is a perfect base for reaching the Dettifoss waterfall, Lake Mývatn and the volcanic landscapes of the north. Between sea, whales and tradition, it is one of Iceland''s best-loved towns. Continue towards Vatnajökull National Park, home to Ásbyrgi Canyon, with its distinctive horseshoe shape. In the afternoon, continuation to Dettifoss. Dettifoss is one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls: the Jökulsá á Fjöllum River, fed by Vatnajökull, drops about 44 meters into the Jökulsárgljúfur gorge. The gray water, laden with glacial sediment, creates a constant roar, visible already from the trails leading to the viewpoints. The waterfall lies in the northeast, between Lake Mývatn and Ásbyrgi, and can be reached via Route 862 on the western side or the rougher gravel Route 864 on the eastern side, depending on conditions. Nearby you can also see Selfoss and Hafragilsfoss. The ground is slippery and the area is exposed to spray: it’s important to stick to the marked paths. Arrival at Myvatn. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Narfastadir Guesthouse.

Breakfast. Today, continue towards the inland highlands of Möðrudalsöræfi, an area of outstanding natural beauty in the sub-Arctic. Visit the spectacular Stuðlagil Canyon, formed by impressive basalt columns resembling organ pipes. A viewing platform near the canyon offers a chance to admire its unique formations. You can see how similar basalt columns inspired the design of Hallgrímskirkja church in Reykjavík.

Then head south through the spectacular East Fjords, where towering mountains plunge towards the ocean. Arrival at Egilsstaðir. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Hotel Valaskjalf.

Breakfast. Departure for 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. Continuation to Skaftafell. Skaftafell is a hiking area of Vatnajökull National Park, between the glacial sands of Skeiðarársandur and the slopes of Öræfajökull. From the visitor center, trails of varying difficulty set off: the best known leads to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by basalt columns, while others reach the viewpoints of Sjónarnípa and the tongues of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier. The contrast between birch trees, lava, ice, and rivers makes the area particularly diverse. It is possible to join guided glacier hikes with suitable equipment; route times should be assessed according to the season and conditions. Late afternoon arrival to Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Fosshotel Nupar.

Breakfast. Crossing the Eldhraun lava field, formed by the devastating 1783 eruption of the Laki volcano, head back into Iceland’s interior. Arrive at Landmannalaugar. Landmannalaugar is one of the best-known areas in the Fjallabak region, in the southern Highlands. The rhyolite mountains form valleys in ochre, green, and black hues, crossed by trails and a natural hot spring where you can bathe. From here the Laugavegur trek starts toward Þórsmörk; shorter hikes are also possible to the Laugahraun lava field and Mount Bláhnúkur. Access is via seasonal F-roads, by 4x4 or organized transfer, and some river crossings require experience. Before setting off, you should check road openings and weather conditions. Leaving this uniquely coloured area behind, continue through fields of ash, pumice and lava at the foot of Hekla, Iceland’s most famous volcano. Arrival at Hella. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Stracta Hotel.

Breakfast. Continue to the south coast, taking in the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, the most famous in Iceland. Arrival at Reykjavík. Available evening. Dinner free.
Accommodation Hotel Klettur.

Breakfast. Airport transfer with shuttle bus.