Explore the wilds of the Icelandic highlands in a Super Jeep and a snowmobile, during which you will visit historical sites, hot springs, ancient glaciers, roaring waterfalls and mountain lakes steeped in eerie legends.
NOTE: This program involves three days of being driven in 4x4 off-road vehicles called “Super Jeeps”, as well as a snowmobiling tour. Guests with back injuries should not participate as the roads and trails may be quite bumpy.
DAY 1
After flying into Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik, you will proceed to the baggage claim area and through Customs, after which you will be met by your driver. After checking into the hotel in Reykjavik, you can enjoy the remainder of the day as you please. Any meals are on your own.
Your hotel is located in the financial district of midtown Reykjavik, a short walk to the central core of the city.
DAY 2
Following breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will drive off in 4x4 vehicles. Crafted for uniquely tough conditions, these vehicles are custom-built with up to three transmissions, two steering systems, turbocharged engines, an array of radio equipment, marine-type satellite navigation and the world’s biggest road-legal tires. Only professional drivers, who are often the owners, are allowed to pilot them. These vehicles have been used off road to cross Antarctica and traverse the wild Icelandic highlands. They are just as suitable for highway driving.
Your caravan of Super 4x4 vehicles will head towards Þingvellir National Park, a remarkable geological phenomenon and important historical site. Located by Þingvallavatn, the biggest lake in Iceland, Þingvellir is where the world’s oldest democratic parliament was founded in 930 AD.
The beautiful canyon running through the park is the meeting point of two tectonic plates. UNESCO deemed the area a World Heritage site because of its combination of natural phenomena and historical significance.
After Þingvellir, you will drive to the Geysir geothermal area, where you will see abundant hot springs, as well as the famous geyser Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes, shooting a column of hot water high into the air.
After lunch, another extraordinary adventure awaits you at Langjökull glacier, where you will go on a snowmobile safari on Iceland’s second-biggest glacier. Langjökull is an endless source of adventure with plenty of off-road opportunities.
Snowmobiles are great fun and easy to operate. They are two-seated touring sleds with hand warmers and high windshields. The guides will lead the snowmobile adventure into the Icelandic highlands, where you will be treated to majestic views of the Langjökull glacier and its surroundings.
Langjökull has several enormous ice-filled volcanic craters, rimmed in by imposing volcanoes and set in the breathtaking Icelandic interior. The views from the flanks of Langjökull are spectacle. You will also see Eiríksjökull glacier, the highest mountain in west Iceland, dome shaped Hofsjökull glacier in middle of the highlands and the Kerlingafjöll mountain range.
Back in your vehicle, you will next drive to Gullfoss waterfall, which roars through a rugged canyon before plummeting more than 100 feet. The water from the White River falls in two stages, which adds even more drama to its descent. Gullfoss means Golden Waterfall in Icelandic because of the color of the water, which originates from a sediment-rich glacier.
After this day of rugged adventure, your accommodation for the night will be the Land Hotel in the south of Iceland.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will depart for the Secret Lagoon, a geothermal area near the village of Flúðir. The Secret Lagoon was created in 1891 and is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland. The natural surroundings and steam rising into the air lend the setting a magical feeling. Around the lagoon, you will find several hot spots and a walking path that allows a closer look at the boiling hot springs.
After a relaxing dip in the Secret Lagoon, you will head to the Greenhouse Friðheimar to watch an Icelandic horse show. You will also gain an insight into the history of this remarkable horse breed that was brought to Iceland by the first settlers from Scandinavia around 900 AD. The Icelandic horse is a small sturdy breed famed for its five gaits. In addition to the walk, trot and gallop, Icelandic horses have a smooth run known as a tölt and a flying pace called a skeið. After the show, you will enjoy lunch in the Greenhouse Friðheimar.
Back in Reykjavík, you will check into your hotel for an evening at your leisure with dinner on your own.
NOTE: there are change facilities at the Secret Lagoon and towels will be provided.
DAY 4
Following breakfast and check out from the hotel, you will meet your driver for another adventure in the volcanic countryside. It will start with a pleasant drive through Hafnarfjörður town, situated on an ancient lava flow. Driving towards Kleifarvatn Lake, you will take an interesting off-road shortcut that will show off the capabilities of your 4x4 vehicle. The tuff stone mountains, reflected in the waters of the lake, lend an eerie stillness to the surroundings that make the folk tales of serpent-like lake monsters sound almost believable.
After pausing for photos, you will continue to the multicolored deposits from the hot springs of Seltún, where you can walk among the boiling mud pools and hissing steam vents. It looks like an otherworldly landscape with bright yellow, red and green steamy soil.
Another stop will be made at photogenic Grænavatn or “green lake,” a crater from a volcanic eruption that filled with bright green water. Grænavatn is one of the most noteworthy phenomena of its kind in Iceland.
You will then continue across breathtaking lava fields with a stop at Strandarkirkja Church prior to lunch of Icelandic lobster at a restaurant by the ocean. Afterwards, you will head off the beaten track by following a trail known as The Thousand Waters, where the road winds through numerous rivers, mud banks and streams.
In time, you will be dropped off at the pier for embarkation.
NOTE: your luggage will be taken from the hotel to the ship while you are on tour.
Land Program Details Step by Step
•The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. Program times are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. •Itineraries with the up-to-date details will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive a final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review the letter and your final itinerary carefully for further amendments.
•The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
•Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
•If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until Day 2 of the program.
•If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night, as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
•If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrive at Keflavík Airport, pass through Customs and transfer to your hotel. Check in is at 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available sooner, this cannot be guaranteed. If you have an early-arriving flight you may want to book an extra night to guarantee early check in.
The remainder of the day will be at your leisure with dinner on your own.
Overnight at the Hilton Hotel Nordica or similar hotel
Meet and Greet and transfers
•Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
•Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
•Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Transfers are not included for guests arriving independently before the program start date.
•If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2
From 7:00am Breakfast and check out from the hotel
9:00am Depart from Reykjavik
9:45am Arrive at Þingvellir National Park
10:15am Drive to the Geysir hot spring area
11:15am Explore the Geysir area and enjoy lunch at the Hotel Geysir
12:00pm Lunch at Hotel Geysir
1:00pm Drive to Langjökull glacier
1:45pm Prepare for the snowmobile tour
2:15pm Begin the snowmobile tour
3:15pm Finish the snowmobile tour
3:30pm Drive to Gullfoss waterfall
4:00pm Stop at Gullfoss waterfall
4:30pm Begin driving to the Land Hotel
5:45pm Arrive at the Land Hotel, check in, dinner on your own.
Overnight at the Land Hotel or similar hotel
DAY 3
From 7:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Depart for the Secret Lagoon
9:50am Arrive/optional bathing at the Secret Lagoon
11:30am Depart for Friðheimar
11:45am Watch the horse show at Friðheimar
12:15pm Lunch at Friðheimar
2:00pm Drive to Reykjavík
3:30pm Arrive at the hotel, dinner on your own
Overnight at the Hilton Hotel Nordica
DAY 4
AM Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Drive through Hafnarfjörður and along a rough road on the way to Krýsuvík
9:45am Stop at Kleifarvatn lake
10:00am Drive to Krýsuvík
10:15am Stop at Krýsuvík hot springs and Solfataras
10:45am Drive to the Strandakirkja Church
11:00am Stop at the Strandakirkja Church
11:15am Drive to the Fjöruborðið restaurant
12:00pm Arrive for a lobster lunch
1:15pm Drive through The Thousand Waters trail to Reykjavík
2:30pm Arrive at the pier for embarkation
Expected Weather
The weather in Iceland can be extremely unpredictable; however, June, July and August are the official summer months, when it’s bright all day and night. June features the longest days of the year, and the sun doesn't set for weeks.
The average temperature in June is 48°F / 9°C
The average temperature in July is 51°F / 10.7°C
The average temperature in August is 56°F / 13°C
What to Bring
Warm layered clothing such as thermals, fleece and a good jacket, good sturdy shoes and a camera.
For the snowmobile tour: you will need wind and waterproof outdoor clothing, fleece jacket and warm trousers (jeans not recommended), thermal or fleece underwear (good to have), good sturdy waterproof shoes, i.e. hiking boots, gloves and hat
Please note: During snowmobiling you are provided with overalls, balaclava and helmets. Shoes can be provided, sizes however cannot be guaranteed so we recommend you wear your own waterproof shoes.
Local Currency
The local currency is the Icelandic Krona. However, many companies accept EUR, GBP and USD bills only. No coins or change is given back in ISK.
Electricity
European standard 220 volts. Bring your own travel adaptor for electric devices.
Luggage:
Although staying in the best hotels in the area, porterage service is not a standard service in Icelandic hotels. Very few hotels in Iceland have porterage staff full time and if they do it is normally 1 porter. As a result, you could experience a delay in receiving your luggage to your room depending on the size of the group. Since the hotels used are small, you may prefer to take your suitcase with you to your rooms.
Guests will be permitted to bring 1 suitcase and any carry on’s with them throughout the journey. Excess large pieces will be stored in Reykjavik during the program.
Please make sure to pack accordingly before disembarking the ship as excess luggage will be collected on the pier before you depart in the Super Jeeps.
Any luggage that will be stored will be taken to your hotel in Reykjavik where you will receive it back on Day 3 upon your return to the hotel. Note that the cruise line, the hotel, nor our local ground operator are liable for any lost or missing items. We do not recommend leaving valuables behind. You should keep any valuables with you in your handbag or luggage that will accompany you on the journey. Please make sure that all luggage is properly tagged with full names and cabin number on the ship.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A valid passport is required. Check with your local embassy for any entry requirements for your nationality.
Hotel addresses
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
Suðurlandsbraut 2, 108 Reykjavik
Landhotel, 851 Hella
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.
Program Includes for guests
•2 nights at the Hilton Hotel or similar: Guestrooms Plus including breakfast
•1 night at the Land Hotel or similar: Standard room including breakfast
•Lunches (1 drink included)
•Day tours and admission fees per the itinerary
•Excess luggage storage in Reykjavik
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes for guests
•Meals or beverages not listed above
•Gratuities to drivers and guides
•Personal expenses
•Hotel incidentals including mini bar and room service
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 60 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 60 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program.
