Welcome to Iceland, the earth of contrast and legends. On your arrival in Keflavik, on the volcanic peninsula of Reykjanes, a chauffeur will be waiting for you to drive you with peace of mind, all the way to your address in the middle of the capital.

Your first evening will take place in the elegant Parliament Hotel, a discrete haven of a mixture of modern comfort with northern inspirations.

Discovering Reykjavik is tasting the endless creativity of its inhabitants, and the assumed simplicity of its ancestorial flavors. Accompanied by your private guide, explore the lively alleys of the historic center and let yourself retell the stories that built this human-sized northern capital.

From confidential art galleries to fascinating museums – maritime, historical or dedicated to the first Vikings settlers – you will forge a bond with yesterday and today, amid rough ground and unlimited imagination. Between two cultural stops, your trip will be punctuated by gourmet breaks: the occasion to taste some local specialties, born from a cuisine bringing to light lamb meat, fish, and the purity of the Island’s ingredients. From rustic to refined, enjoy this evolution of the Icelandic gastronomy, from the “made as before” to the creative renewal.

Then, to continue this moment of care, gain the Sky Lagoon, thermal sanctuary where the sea and the sky confound themselves in the skyline. Dive into its geothermic waters looking up at the ocean and let yourself guided by the ancestorial Icelandic ritual: a sensorial trip to fix the harmony between the body and spirit, in a scene inspired by rough and mythical landscapes of the island.

The evening will bring you back to the muffled comfort of the Parliament Hotel.

Optional:

Observation of whales on a private yacht: navigate in the open sea to approach humpback whales, small rorquals, orcas and dolphins, usually visible only a few meters away.  

Gourmet break with locals: share pastries and stories in the intimacy of a Icelandic home, to discover the hospitality full of humor of your hosts.

Leave the capital and follow the direction of Selfoss, a city of lively soul, where history is conjugated in the present. In this unique cultural center, 35 traditional buildings, carefully renovated, create a village of dialogue between Icelandic legacy and contemporary architecture.

In the food hall The Old Dairy, explore the modern gastronomy of the Island through a selection of local sites: cured meals, redesigned meals, wines and sweets will wake up your papillae. Continuing with the immersive exposition Skyrland, dedicated to the skyr, a lacteous treasure from the Vikings that became an icon of health across the world.

Your trip will lead you then towards some of the most famous natural wonders of South Iceland:

Seljalandsfoss, a 60-meter vertiginous waterfall that you can admire from its hidden cave, for an almost secret moment behind the water curtain.

Skógafoss, a majestic cataract of a hypnotic ballet of rainbows and ocean spray.

Sólheimajökull, the fascinating frozen lagoon that you will explore during a walk on ice, accompanied by skilled guide, through glowing fissures and ridges sculpted over the centuries.

Reynisfjara, one of the most impressive beaches on the planet: basalt columns, Hálsanefshellir Cave, and in the open sea, the needles of Reynisdrangar, mineral sentinels challenging the sea.

Your day will end at the Klaustur Hotel, a tranquil destination nested amid mountains and grasslands.

Optional: intimate dinner in an ancestorial cave.

Share a meal made by a chef, in a cave dug by the Celtics before the arrival of the first Vikings settlers. A rare experience where dishes, tales and Icelandic hospitality combine to create an unforgettable memory.

In the middle of the maintained park of Skaftafell, the Icelandic nature reveals its paradoxes: alpine landscapes sculpted by fire and ice, powerful rivers born from glacial floors, and vast sandy expanses of Skeidararsandur, lively ruins of the tumultuous influence of the volcanos.

A trek will lead you until arriving in Svartifoss, the “black waterfall”: here, the water takes off from the cliff of Basaltic columns, forever inspiring the Icelandic architecture, of the majestic Hallgrímskirkja in the National Theatre of Reykjavík. On the way, three other waterfalls – Þjófafoss, Hundafoss and Magnúsarfoss – punctuate your promenade of pure poetic moments.

You will continue your exploration towards Svínafellsjökull the glacial lagoon where we catch all the weaknesses and the power of ice.  Then towards the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier lagoon, the fascinating theater of massive blocks taking off to peacefully drift away. Navigating amid those icebergs offers a moving scene of a frozen world and vibrating at the same time.

At a few steps, the Diamond Beach is waiting for you: on the volcanic sand of an intense black, ice fragments are growing polished by the ocean as ephemeral diamonds. A dreamy landscape, renewed by the wishes of the tides and the light.

The evening will lead you back to your cocoon at the Klaustur Hotel.

Optional: Icebergs excursion

Exclusive excursion on the secret island of the lagoon: navigate towards an unknown land, taste champagne and refreshing drinks in front of the icebergs drifting away, and live a moment out of time, chopped by the rough and magnificent nature.

Begin the day with a peaceful excursion around the Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a village amid hills and plateaus. A short trek will lead you to the Systrafoss, an elegant waterfall taking off from the middle of the maintained nature, until the heights revealing impressive panoramic views of the valley.

Then, head to the impressive millennian canyon Fjaðrárgljúfur, born from the glacial erosion and layered lava flows: its sinuous meanders, looked up by abrupt cliffs, compose a savage and astonishing scene.

Not far away from there, live a fascinating moment: the lava show, an immersive reconstitution of a volcanic eruption, allowing you to feel, hear and approach the glowing lava, a catchy echo of Eyjafjallajökull and Katla, two giants asleep.

Continue your trip until arriving in Dyrhólaey, Basaltic promontory looking up at the ocean: its arc of lava, its abrupt cliffs filled with puffins and its panoramic view of the black coast and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, making it a must stop.

The day will end in the warm and refined atmosphere of the Rangá Hotel, a refuge of choice to admire the surrounding nature.

Optional: Excursion by snow bike and kayak on the Sólheimajökull glacier.

Adventure by snow bike on the ice fields: thrills assured in the middle of splendid landscapes. Kayak on the Sólheimajökull glacier: Paddle amid icebergs and enjoy an almost holy silence, punctuated by the shivers of the water against the ice.

A short trip by ferry will lead you to the mysterious Westman islands, born from underwater eruptions along a volcanic rift. On the biggest one, Heimaey, go on board for a memorable marine safari: marine caves of changing shades, vertiginous cliffs filled with thousands of sea birds, and perhaps the discrete manifestation of a whale between two ridges of black lava.

Back on the ground, climb to Stórhöfði, a promontory swept away by the wind, where the view embraces the glacier of the continent, and where the biggest puffin colony of the island is working in the spring.

Your journey will lead you through the lava fields between the ancient volcano Helgafell, and the younger Eldfell, always vibrating from memories. Look up at the “new city”, born from the 1973 eruption, before visiting Eldheimar, a Souvenir Museum dedicated to this main event that shook up the life of the Island.

Conclude with the beluga’s sanctuary, and observe these white giants, nowadays protected and growing in a peaceful marine refuge – a touching testimony of the respect towards the nature and its hosts of Iceland.

Then, regain the sweetness of hotel Rangá for a night in the middle of the savage South.

Optional: Safari and gourmet experience

A 4×4 car drive Safari and a gourmet experience: explore by an off-road vehicle the volcanic lands, then enjoy a refined lunch of flavors of the sea and the terroir – a genuine feast, between lobster, catfish and puffins, to conclude in style on this insular adventure.

Today, it is a dive in the center of the history and the Icelandic geology that is waiting for you. In Þingvellir, the first National Park of the island, admire the Mid-Atlantic Ridge taking off with open sky: here, the land is ripped off and straightened, revealing the moving frontier between the tectonic plates. In the same place, in 930, was based the oldest parliament still in activity in the world, the Althing — a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a strong symbol of the Icelandic identity.

Continue with the exploration of a lava cave, a real fossilized artery of the volcano: walk in the middle of these obscure tunnels, silent ruins of a burning past, and be amazed by this underground world, both mineral and dreamy.

Then, a stop at the Fridheimar farm will reveal to you a unique skill: thanks to geothermal energy, greenhouses are able to grow tomatoes of an exquisite freshness all year, a symbol of a sustainable and inventive lifestyle.

The trip continues towards the smoking land of Geysir, where the Strokkur geyser takes off from a regular growling, a vibrant reminder of the unsuspected strength slumbering under your feet. Then will appear the impressive Gullfoss, a mythical waterfall fed by the glacial river Hvítá, its perpendicular waterfalls creating a sonorous and visual show of a memorable intensity.

You will then regain the comfort of the Rangá Hotel.

Optional: Promenade by horse and dinner at an equine farm.

Promenade by horse followed by a rustic diner at the farm: discover the Icelandic horse and its unique look before sharing a typical meal in the welcoming atmosphere of a family farm.

Lunch on a glacier: a memorable feast on the eternal snow of the Langjökull, at an ice sculpted table, for an out of time moment, between the sky and earth.

NB: this activity relies on weather conditions and can be planned on another site if those do not allow it.  

Go for an exceptional excursion by Super Jeep towards the hidden valley of Þórsmörk, a jewel set amid glaciers and seep mountains. This natural sanctuary, lush and wild is worth the effort: to get there, you will need to go through rivers and fords of which the climate creates moody waters.

In the middle of this preserved jewelry box, let yourself be amazed by vertiginous canyons, birch groves and an abundance of foam and lichens. Promenade, exploration or simple contemplation, Þórsmörk distils an uncommon sensation across the world.

Your guide will be preparing for you a barbecue in the middle of nature, a delicious excuse to enjoy the moment, the closest to this pure beauty.

You will be back by the evening at the Rangá Hotel.

Optional: Mountain biking

Mountain biking on the ancient bridge of the Markarfljót (prohibited to motorized vehicles): a peaceful and splendid trip, punctuated by contemplation stops on the waters’ power and the eternal strength of ice.

Your last exploration journey begins in the maintained fjord of Hvalfjörður, a kingdom of secret beaches, majestic mountains and coves filled with birds, seals, and sometimes whales. From a prosper whaleboat station to a strategic navy base during the Second World War, the fjord is now a haven of nature filled with memories.

Go up the valley of Kjós, looked up by the lone Meðalfell mountain. From its top, the view embraces the Meðalfellsvatn lake, a refuge for many nesting birds. A break to the enchanting Kaffi Kjós will be the occasion to taste the sweetness of living in Iceland.

Then, The War and Peace Museum recounts the ally occupation and the unexpected role of this fjord in the victory against the Axis forces: a moving dive into global history through precious objects and touching testimonies.

Not so far away, a small Church dedicated to the poet Hallgrímur Pétursson is still watching on these lands, adorned by gorgeous stained glass by Gerður Helgadóttir.

To conclude your Icelandic journey, offer yourself a bath in the marine swimming pools of Hvammsvík: warmed up pools, steam bathtubs and refreshing dives in the North Atlantic assure a unique sensorial experience, to enjoy at your rhythm depending on the tide.

The evening will take you back to the Parliament Hotel, in the center of Reykjavik.

Optional: Icelandic barbecue OR gourmet experience at a local farm. Icelandic barbecue in the middle of nature:  taste the legendary Icelandic hot-dog, grilled on site, for a gourmet touch full of simplicity.

Dinner at the family farm: visit an ancestorial farm, meet its animals, discover its sustainable lifestyle and share a genuine dinner of local products.

Your journey has come to an end. Your chauffeur will drive you to the airport, letting you go back with thousands of photos of volcanos, glaciers, fjords and waterfalls in your luggage — and in your memory, the feeling of having touched by the tip of the finger the fierce and fascinating soul of Iceland.