Amazing Family Adventure

Arrival in Iceland.  On your own transfer to your hotel in Reykjavik. Airport transfer is not included, but we are happy to help you arrange shared or private transfers. It is also possible to visit the Blue Lagoon on your way to the city. (this needs to be booked in advance)

Your Iceland experience starts when you turn on the hotel’s hot water—the water comes right from underground volcano-heated springs and heats most buildings in Iceland!  The rest of the day is yours to enjoy Reykjavik. Perhaps you’ll visit one of the city ‘s museums, several of which have exhibits for children. One of our favorite activities among our families at Iceland Travel is a visit to one of the geothermal outdoor pools.  It’s fun to relax and play in the unique warm water, and you´ll see many Icelandic families out enjoying the same activity.  Each facility has a pool area for small children, as well as arm floats.  Some pools even have slides.  One of the most popular swimming pools in the area for families is Laugardalslaug, located in the Laugardalur recreational area. This area is also home to the Family Park and Icelandic Farm Animal zoo.

Please note that most hotels start check-in around 14:00 - 16:00 (2:00pm 4:00pm)

Amazing Flight Over Wilderness Wonders – Great Museums – Food and Fun

Breakfast at your hotel. Make your way this morning to the Grandi area of Reykjavik’s Old Harbor neighborhood. You can get there by city bus or taxi. If you have older kids you can enjoy an easygoing walk through the charming town center (about a 30 – 40-minute stroll). Once the area where fishermen worked, the Harbor has become a neighborhood for boat tours and whale watching, museums, art galleries and a fantastic foodie culture. It’s a fun, family friendly area to walk and enjoy stunning views of the sea and Mount Esja.

This morning you are booked for the FlyOver Iceland amazing flight simulated experience. (Check your confirmation for your booked time).  FlyOver Iceland utilizes state-of-the-art technology to give you the feeling of flight. In addition to the flight you‘ll also be immersed in interactive multi-media experiences to learn about Iceland‘s nature and culture.

When you enter the FlyOver Iceland building, you‘ll be met by FlyOver tour guides and the resident troll woman Su Vitra (the Wise One.)  Don‘t worry-  this troll is very friendly, as long you treat Iceland‘s nature with respect and kindness. Su Vitra and your guides will take you to two fun and educational experiences to enjoy before your flight. First you‘ll meet a friendly old Icelandic storyteller sitting by the fireside in a Viking longhouse.  He‘ll weave a wonderful tale as shadows act it out behind him.  Afterwards step into the Well of Time where Su Vitra the troll will take you back in time to see Iceland‘s past.  You‘ll see how violent forces of fire and ice created the island millions of years ago.  Then you‘ll see how the first Vikings settled in Iceland.  Finally, you‘ll discover how Icelandic people have adapted to live in this sometimes-harsh volcanic island near the Arctic Circle.

Then it‘s time for the flight! Board special flight seats where you‘ll hang suspended, feet dangling, before a wrap-around 20-metre  (66 foot-) spherical screen. A film whisks you away on an exhilarating journey across Iceland. Soar over glaciers, waterfalls, vast volcanic wilderness and black sand beaches while soul stirring music plays.  Special effects, including wind, mist and scents, combine with the ride’s motion to create an unforgettable experience as if you are actually flying over untamed wilderness wonders. (The flight is about 8.5 minutes and, combined with the pre-flight shows the whole experience is about 35 minutes)

The rest of the day is open to enjoy Reykjavik your way. The Old Harbor area has plenty of activities the family will love.  We’ve included some suggestions.  These are not included in the price, but we are happy to book them for you.

    Take a boat tour to look for whales or puffins
    Meet life-size replicas of whales and dolphins and learn amazing facts about marine life at the Whales of Iceland exhibit
    Check out exciting films about volcanic eruptions, glaciers and northern lights at the cozy Cinema of Fire, Ice and Theatre
    Experience the Icelandic Sagas and Viking history at the Saga Museum with lifelike wax figures
    Board a Coast Guard vessel and see how people lived and worked at sea in the 1950s at the Reykjavik Maritime Museum

 Getting hungry?  Head over to the Old Harbor’s Grandi Food Hall. Everyone in the family is sure to find something he or she loves to eat in this collection of artisanal street food. Afterwards wander over to the Valdis ice cream parlor to try some of Reykjavik’s best homemade ice cream.

Another idea today is to visit the interactive Wonders of Iceland at the Pearl. You can walk through a real ice cave, feel the power of volcanoes and earthquakes, and watch a planetarium show about northern lights. There is also a 360°observation deck where you can see the whole city and the mountains ringing it.  We can book the experience for you.  If you have a ticket to Wonders of Iceland you can take a free shuttle bus from Harpa Concert Hall to the Pearl.

Perhaps you’ll end the exciting day with a visit to one of the outdoor geothermal pools.

A Walk Between Continents – Erupting Geysers –  Golden Waterfall – Colorful lava formations

Breakfast at your hotel. Today remember to wear comfortable outdoor shoes, such as hiking boots for the visit to the cave. It’s also recommended to bring a warm and waterproof jacket since the cave sometimes has water dripping from the ceiling. (Temperature in the cave is 0-4°C or 32 -38°F).

Pick up your rental car and set off to explore the Golden Circle, Iceland’s most famous collection of natural wonders!  (Please check your confirmation to see what time your visit to the Lava Tunnel has been booked.). First visit Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will see where the Vikings formed the world’s oldest parliament in the 9th century and learn about how Icelanders would travel from all over the island once a year to meet here and make important decisions for the country. This is also where the European and North American tectonic plates meet. You can walk on a path that actually takes you between both continents!

Afterwards visit the surreal Geysir geothermal area where a series of hot springs and mud pools bubble away. The Strokkur geyser shoots a high plume of steam into the air every few minutes; keep your camera ready!  Nearby is Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, believed to be Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. You can wander on footpaths leading around the falls for amazing views of the glacier water plunging into a deep canyon. During the day, we also suggest a visit to Fridheimar, a geothermal greenhouse where vegetables are grown using geothermal energy. There is a café where you can enjoy some of the best tomato soup in Iceland.  The Efstidalur dairy farm is a great place to stop to try home-made ice cream. In the ice cream café you can peek through a window overlooking the barn and see the cows who provide the milk for the ice cream.

On your way back to town, head to Raufarholshellir, the Lava Tunnel. (Make sure to arrive no later than 15 minutes before your booked time). The certified cave guide will take you into this magnificent lava tunnel, one of the longest ones in Iceland  Created by a volcanic eruption over 5000 years ago, the tunnel shows spectacular colors and lava formations.  The guide will tell you about how the tunnel was created. You might feel as you are seeing a volcano from the inside out!

Return to Reykjavik and drop off your car. Overnight in Reykjavik.

Volcanic Views– Colorful Wilderness Wonderland –  Hot Spring River

Breakfast at hour hotel. Remember to dress well in layers and good outdoor shoes (such as hiking boots). Bring a wind and waterproof jacket, a swimsuit and towel. You’ll be heading into the wilderness highlands of Iceland’s interior. No one lives here, but it is a fun place to visit with a taste of adventure included. Expect bumpy roads, water crossings and some spectacular scenery and crisp air.

Board a SuperJeep, a specially outfitted vehicle with large tires that can handle the unpaved rocky mountain tracks of the wilderness. Your driver guide will whisk you through the southern farmlands onto an unpaved mountain track leading towards Mount Hekla.  This beautiful volcano is one of Iceland’s most frequently erupting (last eruption was 2000). In the Middle Ages, people in Europe believed it was the entrance to Hell. You’ll get as close as possible to the volcano before heading into a fire and ice landscapes so bizarre that you’ll understand why Hollywood movies have been made in this area. Drive through a river and into Landmannalaugar nature reserve. This is a strange world where steam rises from the ground and the mountains show brilliant colors of red, orange and gold. If you’re up for it your guide will take you on a short hike to get a better view over the mountains, glacier ice and steaming hot springs. Then relax in a unique river that is a blend of cool spring water and underground hot springs—it’s the perfect temperature for a bath. You’ve experienced nothing like this:  to bathe in a mountain hot spring in a colorful world of ice and fire.

Head back to Reykjavik, enjoying more amazing scenery and learning amazing facts about Iceland.

Overnight in Reykjavik.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the international airport for your departure flight.  Airport transfer is not included, but we are happy to help you arrange shared or private transfers.  We recommend you depart your hotel no later than three hours before your departure flight.