A journey into the most unspoilt nature, in touch with the most spectacular natural elements: waterfalls, glaciers, lakes, geysers, volcanoes, canyons and beaches. In Iceland, a land of wonderful landscapes, you can witness the power of nature in all its facets.

If you visit between mid-June and mid-July you can experience the magic of the white nights: the days grow ever longer and brighter, wrapped in an almost magical atmosphere; in the weeks around the summer solstice, the darkness of night practically never comes.

This natural phenomenon is greeted by Icelanders with a series of festivals and rituals that enliven many small towns and fishing villages, where the power of nature is celebrated. Everything is wrapped in an almost unreal light that seems to stop time in a kind of never-ending twilight.

Reykjavik

Arriving by air in Reykjavik allows a visit to the northernmost capital in the world. The city stands out for its modern architecture and the life that animates it: there are indeed many bars and restaurants popular with young people.

The centre is small and easily explored on foot; it is worth going to Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral, the symbol of the city, and climbing the bell tower, from which you can admire the whole city. It is also worth strolling to the Ráðhús (City Hall), where you will also find the little Tjörnin lake with its swans; to experience the capital’s nightlife you need to lose yourself in the alleys of the old town: around Laugavegur it is full of shops, bars, pubs and restaurants.

Finally, do not miss Harpa, the modern architectural structure that rises in front of the sea and houses a concert hall and the conference centre.

The weather changes quickly and you must be ready for anything: in a few minutes it goes from sun to rain, from clear skies to hail.

Just 40 km from the capital rises the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which on 19 March 2021 awoke after hundreds of years of inactivity; despite the frequent eruptions it can be visited safely by climbing some of the paths along its slopes, from which the lava flows can be observed.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is one of the most visited areas of the country and includes, a short distance from the capital, Iceland’s three most famous attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall.

In the area of the erupting springs of Geysir you can witness one of Iceland’s most spectacular phenomena: the geysers; here you can see several active geysers that “explode” every 5-10 minutes, with jets of water that can reach as high as 30 metres. Geysir, the most famous, from which all the others take their name, no longer erupts today but is said to have reached up to 80 metres in the past.

A visit to the Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most imposing in the country, lets you admire and listen to the power of the water. It is a waterfall formed by two drops that then flow into a narrow, deep canyon, only to “explode” again further on: a true natural spectacle, thanks also to the wonderful colour of the water.

The third stop on the Golden Circle is the famous Vatnajökull National Park, established on 7 June 2008 by the Icelandic government with the aim of protecting the vast area of 12,000 sq km (it is in fact the largest national park in Europe).

A visit to the park deserves at least a full day, since you can come across splendid valleys, watercourses, waterfalls, lava fields and the famous glacier from which it takes its name.

With a surface area of 8,100 sq km, the Vatnajökull glacier covers around 8% of the country’s surface; beneath the thick layer of ice lie several active volcanoes, including Bárðarbunga (the largest) and Grímsvötn, whose eruptions periodically melt the ice, creating glacial floods that cover the plain below and pour into the sea.

It seems impossible that the ice conceals beneath it a series of mountains, valleys, plateaus and volcanoes. From a geological point of view, Iceland is in fact the only country in the world where a mid-ocean ridge emerges from the waters, generating earthquakes, eruptions, hot springs rising from underground and geysers.

Inside the park you can also cross the walkway over the two tectonic plates, the American and the European, and the bravest can even dive right between the two plates.

Waterfalls, volcanoes, fjords and glaciers

And after this tour some might think there is nothing else to see in Iceland, whereas the journey has only just begun: from the Svínafellsjökull glacier, with its intense and distinctive blue colour, to the spectacular Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls.

The Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, created by the melting of the Vatnajökull glacier, is the natural habitat of the seals that swim in the icy water among the many icebergs floating along until they reach the famous Diamond Beach.

The latter takes its name precisely from the pieces of ice that, settling on the black sand beach, look just like diamonds.

Besides seals, Iceland is famous for the whales you can encounter on one of the many organised tours; at the right time of year, between May and August, it is common to come across the puffins that return to Iceland to nest.

Before leaving, whatever season you choose, you need to be prepared for weather that is “fickle” and changes constantly; in every season you can enjoy the beauties of this country.

Choose the Guiness Travel Tours

Guiness Travel also organises a tour to discover the natural wonders of Iceland.

For Guiness, travelling is an enriching experience to be savoured in every pleasant moment, and it means feeling pampered by every kind of comfort; the only way to guarantee the well-being of participants and respect for the places visited is to open the tours only to a limited number of selected participants.

All the itineraries in the catalogue are 100% independently planned and carefully designed and tested, allowing the product to evolve constantly and reach a high, wide-ranging cultural standard.

That is why we created the Guiness Exclusive Tour, a unique travel experience, mindful of sustainability, which will give you considerable advantages:

  • organisation;
  • attention to detail;
  • the search for excellent services on site (designed to give you maximum comfort, leaving you free to think of nothing but enjoying the moment).

Thanks to the Guiness Exclusive Tour you will return home with a suitcase full of wonderful new memories, immersed in the beauty of the world, thanks also to the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites included in all our programmes.

Discover the Marvellous Iceland tour!

Discover the itinerary of the Marvellous Iceland tour

Team Guiness