Seljalandsfoss waterfall in Iceland

Classic Iceland

Jökulsárlón, Iceland

Classic Iceland

Humpback whale in Iceland on a whale watching tour

Classic Iceland

Discover the Otherworldly Landscapes of South Iceland

Days: 8 | From: $14,765/per person

  • Enjoy accommodations at best-in-class boutique hotels.
  • Curated tours with outstanding private guides: you’ll have an instant local friend with insider access.
  • Discover the best of what Iceland has to offer.

Experience Iceland’s most iconic sites on a journey that combines geothermal lagoons, volcanic terrain, black-sand beaches, glaciers, and highland wilderness. Begin in Reykjavík before exploring the Golden Circle, the South Coast, and the dramatic glacier regions of Skaftafell and Mýrdalsjökull. With glacier hikes, ice-cave visits, whale watching, horseback riding, and super-jeep adventures, this itinerary highlights Iceland’s natural power and variety while offering comfortable stays in well-located hotels along the way.

Talk to a Vaya Travel Specialist

We tailor itineraries to your dates and interests, adjusting hotels, excursions and length as desired.

5-Star Reviews

We consistently receive 5 star reviews from our discerning clients.

At a Glance

  • Reykjavík
    3 nights: hot springs, whale watching, food city tour, and the geysers and waterfalls of the Golden Circle
  • Vík
    2 nights: horseback riding, volcanic beaches, jaw-dropping glaciers, and iceberg lagoons
  • Hvolsvöllur
    2 nights: discover the rugged and untouched mountains and valleys of Thórsmörk

All itineraries are fully customizable. We will send you a personalized variation that reflects your interests and travel dates at no extra cost. Call to discuss your travel plans with one of our Specialists who know this region firsthand.

5-Star Reviews

Find out why our discerning travelers consistently rate us with 5-stars.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Iceland

Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll meet your private driver for a transfer to the Sky Lagoon. Located just five minutes from the city center, the lagoon features an infinity-edge pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Carved into lava rock and framed by moss and turf elements, it offers a peaceful and distinctly Icelandic setting. You can also take part in the Skjól Ritual, a five-step experience rooted in Iceland’s bathing traditions that focuses on warmth, cold, steam, and quiet moments of relaxation.

If you’re traveling in August or September, when nights are darker, you may head out this evening on a northern lights tour for your first chance to see the aurora.

Accommodations: Iceland Parliament Hotel, 3 nights

Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton is a stylish, centrally situated hotel in Reykjavík, just steps from the city’s main square and the Icelandic Parliament building. Thehotel showcases Icelandic contemporary art, sophisticated design and history. The hotel features 163 boutique rooms and
suites, inspiring function rooms, and a stunning historical ballroom. The property offers 163 rooms across seven floors, each appointed with modern décor and high-end amenities. Facilities include a full-service spa, a restaurant featuring locally inspired cuisine, and a fitness center. Enjoy their SPA sanctuary, which includes a geothermal tub, sauna, steam room, and cold mist.

Day 2: Reykjavik Food Tour and Whale Watching

Begin the day with a guided food walk through Reykjavík’s old city center. Visit a selection of handpicked restaurants and specialty stops to sample traditional Icelandic dishes and learn how early cooking and preservation methods helped Icelanders endure long, harsh winters. Arrive hungry! This experience offers a generous taste of Iceland’s culinary culture.

In the afternoon, head out to sea for a whale-watching excursion. Iceland is considered one of the world’s top locations for spotting marine wildlife, and you may see minke whales, humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins, or harbor porpoises. The birdlife is equally impressive, with chances to view puffins, gannets, guillemots, and Arctic terns as they feed along the coastline.

Accommodations: Iceland Parliament Hotel, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 3: The Golden Circle

Set out on a full-day exploration of the Golden Circle, known for its dramatic landscapes and deep historical roots. Begin at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and visit the nearby Öxarárfoss waterfall.

Continue to Efstidalur Farm, a family-run dairy farm where you can sample homemade organic ice cream while looking out toward Mount Hekla. Next, visit the Geysir geothermal area to watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes, sending a column of hot water high into the air. From there, travel to Gullfoss, one of Iceland’s most powerful and impressive waterfalls.

Lunch is enjoyed at Friðheimar, a working farm that offers a memorable farm-to-table experience inside its greenhouse. End the day at Kerið, an ancient volcanic crater lake known for its colorful slopes and striking turquoise water.

Accommodations: Iceland Parliament Hotel, 3 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 4: Travel to Vík: Waterfalls, Horseback Riding, and Black Sand Beaches

Travel from Reykjavík to Vík past some of Iceland’s most striking landscapes: black-sand beaches, dramatic sea cliffs, powerful waterfalls, and glacier-carved terrain. Walk along the jet-black sands of Reynisfjara with its basalt columns and local legends. Vist two of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss, where a path leads behind the cascade, and Skógafoss, an impressive curtain of water plunging over a former sea cliff.

Upon arrival in the picturesque village of Vík, enjoy an easy horseback ride along the black beach on smooth-gaited Icelandic horses. Later, experience a live lava demonstration inspired by eruptions from Eyjafjallajökull and Katla. Molten lava is poured into the room, allowing you to safely see, hear, and feel its heat up close, offering an unforgettable look at Iceland’s volcanic power.

Accommodations: Hotel Vík í Mýrdal, 2 nights

Hotel Vík í Mýrdal is a contemporary hotel set beneath the cliffs of Vík on Iceland’s south coast, a short walk from the black-sand beach of Reynisfjara. The property features modern rooms and suites with clean Nordic design, large windows, and views of the sea, cliffs, or village. Facilities include a restaurant serving Icelandic dishes with local ingredients, a cozy lounge and bar, and a fitness center. The hotel’s location places guests at the foot of Reynisdrangar’s dramatic basalt formations.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 5: Iceberg Lagoons and Glacier Trekking

Head east from Vík toward some of South Iceland’s most impressive natural sights. Begin at Fjaðrárgljúfur, a winding canyon with steep moss-covered walls, before continuing to Skaftafell National Park, home to the vast Vatnajökull glacier. Visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland’s deepest lake, where massive icebergs drift in front of the glacier—a standout moment of the day.

Then set out on a 3-hour guided hike on Falljökull glacier, traveling by modified 4×4 to reach the ice. With crampons and an ice axe, explore crevasses and ice formations alongside your glacier guide. After, take a Zodiac boat tour on Fjallsárlón, offering close views of floating ice and the surrounding peaks. After, return to Vík for the evening.

Accommodations: Hotel Vík í Mýrdal, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 6: Ice Caves and Travel to Hvolsvöllur

Depart Vík and travel along the South Coast toward Hvolsvöllur, stopping en route for a visit to the Katla Ice Cave. Board a super-jeep and head into a remote area of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. After a safety briefing, take a short guided hike across the ice to reach the natural cave, where you’ll have time to explore its blue corridors and photograph the unique formations.

Continue to your hotel in Hvolsvöllur for the evening.

Accommodations: Hotel Loa, 2 nights

Hotel Loa is a contemporary boutique hotel located in the small town of Hvolsvöllur, set between Iceland’s southern farmlands and the foothills of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. The property features modern, minimalist rooms with clean Nordic design, warm wood accents, and large windows framing views of the surrounding countryside. Facilities include a stylish restaurant and bar serving locally inspired dishes, a cozy lounge, and easy access to the region’s highlights, including waterfalls, glaciers, and black-sand coastlines. The hotel’s quiet village setting offers a comfortable base for exploring Iceland’s South Coast.

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 7: Overland Exploration of Thórsmörk

Spend the day exploring Thórsmörk, a rugged highland valley framed by three glaciers and shaped by winding gorges, shifting riverbeds, and icy streams. Travel by super-jeep, crossing rivers and navigating rough terrain as you make your way deep into this remote landscape.

The approach takes you past Eyjafjallajökull, whose glacier meltwater feeds the powerful rivers that carve through the valley. Continue inland into Thórsmörk’s dramatic interior, where steep ridges, volcanic slopes, and hidden pockets of birch forest create one of Iceland’s most striking wilderness areas.

Accommodations: Hotel Loa, 2 nights

*Includes: Breakfast

Day 8: Departure

Say goodbye to Iceland and transfer back to Keflavik airport for your departing flight.

*Includes: Breakfast

Popular Ways to Customize This Itinerary

  • Spend time on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula to visit Viking-era towns and remote glaciers

  • Head inland to the multicolored mountains and moonlike valleys of Landmannalaugar

  • Take a flight north to Akureyri to discover the lesser-visited North Coast with its fishing villages, sprawling national parks, and remote landscapes

  • Soak in the vibrant mineral-rich waters at the iconic Blue Lagoon

  • Include some downtime for rest and relaxation! Some free time to unwind or have a massage will allow you to feel refreshed and ready for the remainder of your trip. Many of our properties include excellent spas or wellness centers. We can help arrange these services or include properties that offer health & wellness amenities.

  • Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip

Contact us to learn about more options for designing and customizing your trip.
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