Iceland: Reykjavik and the Golden Circle

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik is a thriving cultural hub with international appeal. The city impresses with fascinating Nordic-inspired architecture and serves as the gateway to Iceland’s prodigious natural wonders. Settle into your modern hotel in the city center. Tonight, join fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Spend the day exploring both the contemporary and traditional sides of this cultured coastal capital. Start with a visit to the National Museum of Iceland, which tells the story of Iceland’s founding through some 2,000 objects, including a medieval ship of the type used to settle the island. You then visit Hallgrimskirkja Church, the city’s most prominent landmark. Pause to take in the exterior of the Harpa, a cutting-edge performance center built in 2011. This award-winning structure features a striking colored-glass façade designed to evoke Iceland’s basalt landscape. This afternoon, embark on a thrilling whale-watching boat ride. About 20 species — such as blue whales, fin whales, minkes and humpbacks, each with its own characteristics and behaviors — visit Icelandic waters throughout the year. Marvel as these magnificent giants surface, sometimes within a few yards of your vessel, affording you an unforgettable, up-close wildlife encounter.

Thingvellir National Park is that rare locale significant both as a scenic wonder and as a cultural treasure: a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament more than 1,000 years ago. It’s also one of the few places where you can straddle two continents at once, as the conjunction of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is exposed here. Next, visit the regularly erupting Strokkur Geyser and stunning Gullfoss, where milky green glacial water plummets down Iceland’s most famous waterfall. Then, visit greenhouse farmers at Fridheimar to learn how they grow tomatoes year-round using geothermal energy. Experience the diversity of Icelandic food as you enjoy lunch in the greenhouse. Tonight, check in to your luxury retreat nestled in the wild Icelandic countryside, and raise a toast to the spectacular icy landscapes around you with a refreshing cocktail in hand.

After breakfast, embark on a Super Jeep tour through Thorsmork (Valley of Thor), a vast nature reserve of snowy peaks, jade-green slopes and glacial rivers trickling through dark volcanic earth. In a land already known for scenic beauty, Thorsmork is a gem among gems, a paradise for trekkers and photographers. Explore today with a skilled driver-guide, who leads you along the trails and rivers while discussing the reserve’s history, geology and wildlife. After working up an appetite in the great outdoors, stop in the midst of the wild for an al fresco barbecue lunch, taking in the fresh air and striking beauty of this rugged natural setting. Tonight, indulge in a chef-led culinary experience at your hotel.

Today, witness majestic works of unchecked natural power, starting with the Urridafoss, the most voluminous waterfall in Iceland, watching as it plummets down to the sprawling Thjorsarhraun lava field. Then, visit Selfoss, where the past intertwines seamlessly with the present as 35 meticulously restored historic buildings have over time transformed into a bustling cultural hub. Inaugurated in 2021, this center fuses avant-garde architecture with the rich tapestry of Iceland’s heritage. Stop at the Old Dairy Selfoss food hall to savor contemporary Icelandic flavors for a delightful introduction to the nation’s evolving food culture. Continue to the Skyrland exhibition to sample skyr, Iceland’s distinct superfood, and take in a multi-sensory journey encompassing visuals, aromas and flavors related to this Viking dairy delicacy. Afterward, view Kerid, a volcanic crater lake. Its caldera is still intact and the lake never drains out because it is at the level of the groundwater.

Return to Reykjavik and enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.

• Embark on a Walking Foodie Tour of local markets and culinary hotspots to sample the best of Icelandic cuisine.
• Thrill to the Icelandic Lava Show with VIP admission to safely view red-hot flowing lava up close.
• Immerse Yourself in Geothermal Warmth as you sink into a natural hot tub in Sky Lagoon, overlooking the ocean.

Afterward, return to your hotel. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, take your private transfer to the airport for your departing flight.