View the staggeringly beautiful natural wonders of Iceland – known as the Land of Fire and Ice for its volcanoes and glaciers – and come away with a deep respect for the country’s strict environmental policies.
Special Note: Due to limited access at some sites, this program is not recommended for guests with extreme walking difficulty or for those who require the use of a wheelchair.
DAY 1
After arriving at the Keflavík airport, you will transfer to your city-based hotel.
Check in time is at 3:00pm. Should your flight be scheduled to arrive sooner than this, you may wish to purchase an extra night so your room is ready upon your arrival. Otherwise, luggage storage will be available at the hotel until your room is available.
Note: Described as a “stylish hotel in the heart of Reykjavik”, your hotel is a landmark building which has the perfect address for exploring the city sights. Although the rooms are comfortable, they are basic.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with meals on your own.
The team at the Regent Seven Seas Hospitality desk can offer recommendations for sightseeing and dining.
DAY 2
After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and depart for Þingvellir National Park, an attraction of great historical, geological and cultural significance. It is located in a rift valley where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. The site is also where Iceland’s Parliament was founded in 930 AD. Thingvellir became Iceland’s first national park in 1930 and is home to Iceland’s largest natural lake, Thingvallavatn. Visit Öxarárfoss Waterfall.
Continuing on, you will head for the Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur Valley, home to the Geysir hot spring. Although Geysir doesn’t erupt often, it is surrounded by bubbling cauldrons of superheated mud, steaming pools and Strokkur, a geyser that erupts every 6-10 minutes. The geothermal activity at this popular destination is much like that happening all across and beneath Iceland that naturally powers countless hot tubs, swimming pools and greenhouses.
That same energy is used to bake bread underground at the aptly named Geothermal Bakery. After learning about the process, give it a try! You can slather on butter and top the bread with a piece of herring or trout. Note: The process of baking and extracting the bread from the ground is only done at certain times in the day. Seeing this process cannot be guaranteed.
You will next visit Gullfoss Waterfalls, whose name comes from the golden color of its water as it churns up silt and sediment. These magnificent waterfalls in the Hvitá River are fed by Langjökull, Iceland’s second largest glacier. The cascades are more than 100 feet high and fall in two tiers making for a magnificent sight. If not for the tenacity of a local environmental activist, Gullfoss would have been covered by the waters of a proposed hydroelectric dam.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Friðheimar farm which offers a horse show called Meeting with the Icelandic Horse. The show gives you an insight into the story of this remarkable horse breed which was brought to Iceland by the first settlers from Scandinavia around 900 AD. The Icelandic horse is small, sturdy breed, famed for its five gaits: in addition to the walk, trot and gallop, Icelandic horses have the tölt (a smooth run) and skeið (flying pace).
Finally, you will see Kerið, a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area that is one of the most visually stunning geological wonders in the country. This vibrant blue gem, which is part of the Western Volcanic Zone that includes the Reykjanes peninsula and the Langjökull Glacier, is it one of the three most recognizable volcanic craters in Iceland because of its unique red rock.
Once you return to your hotel, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 3
After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for a full day of touring South Iceland. While traveling through a mountain pass and into fertile farmland, you will enjoy astonishing views of the countryside, especially along this section of the Ring Road, which is flanked by rugged mountains, glittering glaciers and towering volcanoes.
A comfort stop will be made at LAVA Center where you will see a short educational movie about volcanic activity that reveals the lava theme that is an integral part of Iceland especially now with the active eruption near Grindavik.
Depending on the weather conditions, you may see Eyjafjallajökull, the site of a volcanic eruption in 2010 that was so enormous that its ash cloud halted Europe’s air traffic for several days.
Behold the beauty of Seljalandsfoss waterfall as it tumbles off Eyjafjallajökull Glacier into a deep pool below. If you don’t mind getting wet, you can walk behind the cascade to see it from the other side.
Just before lunch, an exterior visit is made at Vik Church, famous for its postcard views and after lunch you will stroll along the black volcanic sand beach at Reynisfjara. The basalt sea stacks rising out of the water there are absolutely spectacular.
From a distance, view Sólheimajökull Glacier, a glacier tongue of Mýrdalsjökull – the 4th largest glacier in Iceland and then visit Skógafoss Waterfall, one of the largest waterfalls in the country. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is frequently seen on sunny days.
Upon returning to your hotel, the remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
DAY 4
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will drive to Perlan, a nature museum with a revolving observation deck that offers a stunning 360° view of Reykjavik.
Then, it’s off to the world’s only live lava show, a highly engaging experience that recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava that slowly flows into a special area of the showroom. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allows you to get so close to molten lava that you can hear it sizzling and feel its intense heat.
After the show, you will drive to the port of Reykjavik for embarkation.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program details including timings indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
•Itineraries with the most up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
•The hotels used for this land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of the scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm. Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
Day 1
Arrive at Keflavík airport
Meet and greet in the Arrivals Hall after customs, immigration, and luggage claim
Transfer to your hotel
3:00pm Hotel check-in
TBA Hospitality Desk at the hotel
Evening at leisure, dinner on your own
Overnight at the Radisson Blu 1919 or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
Day 2
6:30-10am Breakfast at the hotel
7:30am Meet your guide in the hotel lobby
7:45am Drive to Thingvellir National Park
8:30am Visit Thingvellir National Park and Öxarárfoss Waterfall
9:45am Drive to the Geysir
10:35am Arrival at the Geysir for guided site talk and view the Geyser in action
11:30am Geothermal Bakery visit to learn about traditional Icelandic lava bread baking with tasting
12:05pm Drive from the Geysir to Gullfoss Waterfall
12:20pm Walk to the observation platform and view Gullfoss Waterfall
1:20pm Drive to the Efstidalur Restaurant or similar venue for lunch
1:45pm Lunch at the Efstidalur Restaurant or similar venue
3:15pm Drive to Friðheimar Farm
3:30pm Icelandic Horse show with an accompaniment of lively Icelandic music and stables visit
4:00pm Souvenir shop and comfort stop
4:30pm Depart for Kerið Crater
4:55pm Visit Kerið Crater
5:25pm Return to Reykjavik
6:25pm Estimated arrival time to your hotel
Evening at leisure, dinner on your own
Overnight at the Radisson Blu 1919 or similar hotel
Day 3
6:30-10:00am Breakfast at the hotel
8:15am Meet your guide in the hotel lobby
8:30am Drive to the LAVA Center
10:00am Movie and comfort stop
10:35am Drive to Seljalandsfoss waterfall
10:55am View Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
11:25am Leave Seljalandsfoss and drive to Vík village
12:15pm Short stop at Vik Church (exterior view only)
12:30pm Lunch at Berg Restaurant in Hotel Vik i Myrdal or similar venue
2:15pm Transfer to the black volcanic sand beach of Reynisfjara
2:30pm Visit the black sand beach
3:20pm Depart for Sólheimajökull Glacier
3:50pm Arrival at Sólheimajökull (explore glacier from afar)
4:20pm Drive to Skógafoss Waterfall
4:35pm Walk to Skógafoss Waterfall and free time for pictures
5:20pm Return to Reykjavik
7:40pm Estimated arrival time to your hotel
Evening at leisure, dinner on your own
Overnight at the Radisson Blu 1919 or similar hotel
DAY 4
6:30-10:00am Breakfast at your hotel
8:45am Meet your guide in the hotel lobby
9:00am Check out and depart for a short Reykjavik city tour
10:15am Drive to Perlan
10:30am Entrance to the Perlan Observation Deck
11:30am Drive to Lava Show
11:45am Arrival at Lava Show. Souvenirs, restrooms available
12:00pm Lava Show
1:00pm Transfer to the cruise port
1:30pm Arrival at the port for embarkation
Dietary Requirements
If guests have any food intolerance, allergies or vegetarian requirements, please advise RSSC no later than 90 days before sailing to be added to your land program booking extension. Any requests made after this time, may not be able to be accommodated at the restaurants.
Expected Weather
The weather in Reykjavik averages around 54 F (12 C) in summer. Iceland's summer starts in late May or early June and lasts through August. The midnight sun appears, meaning the days are incredibly long. The longest days last close to 21 hours until the sun sets.
Access:
Due to limited access as various sites, this program is not recommended for guests with extreme walking difficulty or for those who require the use of a wheelchair. Should guests participate with a wheelchair, they must have someone to push the chair as guides are not able to take on this task.
Sites with limitations:
Geysir bread experience: The site is located on a small hill with no vehicle access. Guests must walk a few meters but there is no pathway and the gate is narrow so a wheelchair will not fit through.
Kerid crater: Not accessible
Seljalandsfoss: Accessible only until the observation bridge
Black sand beach: Gravel parking area
Solheimajokull: Not accessible and glacier cannot be seen from the parking area
Skogafoss: Gravel walking path
What to Bring
Warm clothing, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, camera and a waterproof jacket with hood. We would highly recommend layered clothing, waterproof and windproof jackets. Umbrellas will not go as there might be strong winds.
Local Currency
Icelandic krona (ISK).
Euro/Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards are widely used. In larger towns and airports, it is easy to withdraw cash through ATMs (cash machines). Many places (restaurants, bars, tourist attractions) will take US dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros. It is important to mention, that any money given back after payment in US, Canadian Dollars or Euros, will be in ISK.
Electricity
Type C, F sockets, Voltage: 230V. We recommend bringing a universal travel adaptor for electric devices.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel.
Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality into Iceland.
Iceland is in the Schengen visa zone. US citizens do not require a visa to enter Europe.
The above information is subject to change and serves as a guide only. It is the ultimate and sole responsibility of the guest to ensure they meet the entry requirements for each destination.
If traveling internationally, the countries you are flying to and/or connecting through may have different document requirements and as such we encourage you to visit the government and airport websites of every country you will be traveling to throughout the journey to familiarize yourself with their requirements.
Hotel Address:
Radisson Blu 1919
Pósthússtræti 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Phone: +354 599 1000
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards, and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.
Program Includes for guests
•3-nights at the Radisson Blu or similar hotel – Standard Room
•Luggage handling at hotel at check-in and check-out
•Meet and greet and transfers
•English-speaking guide for the tours
•Touring and entrances as per the itinerary
•Geothermal Bakery with tasting
•Hospitality Desk on Day 1 – in hotel lobby (time TBA)
•2 lunches including water, a cup of coffee or tea, 1 glass of beer or wine
•1 bottle of water in the coach per person per day
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests:
•Visas if required
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar, laundry, room service
•Meals other than what is listed above
•Porterage at the airport
•Gratuities to drivers and guides
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change.
Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Price: $3,399 per guest based on double occupancy.
Hotel and Land Program pricing is not combinable with FREE 1-Night Pre-Cruise Luxury Hotel Package. If applicable, please contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises or your travel agent for multi-night pre-cruise hotel pricing information. Land program promotions are subject to terms.
