9, 10 or 7 NIGHTS:

REYKJAVIK - HELLA - GOLDEN CIRCLE - LANDMANNALAUGAR - CENTRAL HIGHLANDS - HUSAVIK - MYVATN

Days 1-3: Reykjavik (Friday* - Sunday)
Fly to Reykjavik and transfer one hour to 4 star Reykjavik Centrum for the next 3 nights ( * 1 night for Birmingham flight guests who arrive on Sunday). Enjoy 2 days exploring Reykjavik with optional excursions to the Snæfflesnes and Reykjanes peninsulas, visit the Blue Lagoon or take a puffin and whale-watching trip.

Day 4: Gulfoss - Geysir - Thingvellir (Monday)
Today we depart Reykjavik and visit Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfalls, spanned in sunshine by a beautiful rainbow. Nearby is the fascinating geothermal area of Geysir with its spouting hot springs, including ‘The Churn’ which spouts up to 70ft every 5-10 mins. From here we travel to the scenic ancient Parliament area of Thingvellir National Park, with its rift valley sitting astride the North American continental plates.

Day 5: Landmannalaugar (Tuesday)
Drive through green valleys and the black volcanic sands surrounding Mt Hekla to the fascinating geothermal area of Landmannalaugar, a jewel in the Icelandic landscape. The richly diverse colours of the surrounding rhyolite mountains have the feel of another planet. Enjoy a relaxing dip in a natural hot springs.

Day 6: Crossing Central Highlands (Wednesday)
Travel the unpaved Sprengisandur road north across the starkly beautiful central highlands desert with views of Vatnajokull’s distant ice-cap. Visit majestic Aldeyarfoss and Godafoss waterfalls before arriving at our hotel for the next 3 nights in Laugar or Husavik.

Day 7: Dettifoss - Tjornes Peninsula (Thursday)
We drive along the Tjornes peninsaula, rich in bird life. Then Asbyrgi Canyon and a walk amidst the strange rock formations of Jokulsargljufur National Park before arriving at Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall.

Day 8: Whale Watching - Lake Myvatn (Friday)
Enjoy a 3 hour whale watching trip (weather permitting) from the picturesque fishing village of Husavik. Close encounters with dolphins, minke and humpback whales are common. On to Lake Myvatn, a beautiful and strange moonscape with bizarre lava formations, bubbling mud pools, steam vents and thousands of birds. We stroll through Dimmuborgir lava field culminating in a walk to the rim of Hverfjall ash crater.

Day 9: Akureyri - Reykjavik (Saturday)
Today we return south via Akureyri, the capital of the north. We cross beautiful Oxnadalur mountain pass and on through ever changing scenery to Skagafjordur for an introduction to the Icelandic horse and Glaumbaer turf farm museum before arriving back in Reykjavik.

Day 10: Reykjavik - UK (Sunday*)
Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham flight guests have time for last minute shopping before transferring to the airport for their flight home.

*Stansted, Manchester and Glasgow flight guests have an additional night in Reykjavik, flying home on Monday.