Day 1: Welcome to the land of ice & fire!
You'll be picked up at Keflavík airport and be transferred to your accommodation in Reykjavík. Depending on your flight schedule you'll have time to explore Iceland's capital on your own.

Day 2: The (thorough) initiation
After breakfast we meet our guide and our 4x4 equipped bus which will be our personal means of transport for the next week.
Off we go towards the Reykjanes peninsula. Among vast lava fields we drive towards Krysuvik, a very active geothermal region. It's also a coastal region and on our way we will pass thousands of dangling fish bodies, hung to dry - a preserving method already used by the Vikings.
In Krysuvik we will get our first close contact with steam vents and bubbling hot springs - the geothermal phenomenons Iceland is famous for. It's part 1 of today's "Iceland initiation" since the area with its contrasting colours is not only a feast for the eye, your nose will have its share as well...

From here we continue to Hveragerdi where we go for a walk in the mountains to reach the place for part 2 of our "Iceland initiation": a bath in an authentic natural hot river!

After so much relaxing it's about time again for some serious sightseeing. The famous Golden Circle with its three highlights Geysir, Gullfoss and Thingvellir is next on our program. Geysir, the one and only, the "father", the one geysir that gave its name to all Geysirs in the world has been dormant for some years. In the neighbouring Strokkur he had found a worthy substitute, erupting in photo-friendly 5-7 minute intervals.
With a height of 32 m the nearby Gullfoss, the golden waterfall, is not Iceland's highest water drop but one of its most beautiful. Last but not least we explore Thingvellir, a place of high historical and geothermal interest. It was here that the first still active democratic parliament was created and it's right here where the tectonic plates of North America and Europe drift away from each other.
 
Head and camera full of images we direct ourselves towards our nearby accommodation for the night.  

Day 3: Landmannalaugur or a trip to the moon
Today we leave the coastal regions and the Ring Road and venture into the rough and beautiful interior. An arid moon like landscape awaits us on our drive. In Landmannalaugar mountains of yellowish clay and rocks in all shades from grey to red contrast with the black of the lava fields and the fluorescent green moss. It's one of Iceland's most famous hiking areas.

Having arrived we start exploring the area by having a look at the Ljótipollur crater. Afterwards we hike up Bláhnúkur, the blue summit, and when coming down again will do some small hikes among vast areas of basalt, rich in rhyolite and obsidian. One of Iceland's most beautiful natural hot pools is right here and for sure we'll plunge into the nice warm waters before leaving.  

Today we'll sleep in a mountain hut in the interior.
 
Day 4: Practice Icelandic
For today's program we have chosen all the sites with the most difficult to pronounce Icelandic names.
In the morning we'll start by passing the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (...), located on the Ring Road in the very South of the island. Our destination for the day is the area of the mighty Vatnajökull, not only Iceland's biggest glacier but the biggest one in Europe!

In the Skaftafell National Park we go for a trekking towards the beautiful waterfall of Svartifoss - the black waterfall - named after the black basalt columns that surround it. Following the trail up the mountain we will have spectacular views on the descending glacier tongue. We finally reach a view point from where we will not only see the vast interior ice cap of the Vatnajökull but also the peak of Hvannadalshnúkur, at 2.110m Iceland's highest mountain.

To change perspectives we will then visit another of the many glacier tongues that descent from Vatnajökull vast centre down to the coast. One of them ends in the famous Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon filled with white-blue-black icebergs in all shapes. Of course we will stop here but also at the smaller and less known Fjallsarlón, a lagoon with not as many icebergs but an impressive glacier front making for a great photo opportunity.
At the end of the day we'll make a test to check if you have learned the pronunciation of the Icelandic names well ;-)

Accommodation in the area.

Day 5: Iceberg close-up, petrified trolls and puffins on the rocks
Today we better have a good breakfast to get ourselves ready for all the marvels awaiting us during the day.
We start driving back to the area of the glacier lagoons we've already been to the day before. This time we won't content ourselves with admiring the icy beauty of the floating icebergs from afar but embark on a Zodiak and drive AMONG them. An unforgettable journey!

Continuing west we will stop at the photogenic Eldja canyon and then drive on through the desert like southern river deltas to the town of Vík.
On we go to the Southern shores visiting its bird colonies and endless black sand beaches. If we haven't seen Puffins until now today our chances are sky high, literally, since our first stop will be Dyrhólaey. The steep basalt cliff is not only a spectacular sight in itself but also the breeding place for a big puffin rookery during the summer. From its top we will have a good view on the parent's coming and going and the little ones in their rocky nests.
Reynisfjaraserá is our next stop, a vast black sand beach adorned with basalt rocks in unique shapes. Out on the ocean we'll admire some giant rocks, their shape reminding of petrified trolls – at least that's what the legend wants us to believe.

Soon after we'll reach our accommodation for the night.

Day 6: A lot, a lot, a lot of water
Today we head towards Skógar where we admire Skógafoss' wet beauty. At a height of 60m and a width of 25m it's one of the biggest waterfalls in the country. During a short trek up the river we'll pass several  smaller waterfalls.
And we're not through yet with the wet, rumbling and splashing Icelandic beauties: Seljalandfoss and Glufrafoss are on today's list as well. At Seljalandfoss we can even get behind the waterfall (and maybe a little wet...). Glufrafoss is one of the many hidden Icelandic treasures and although located right next to the popular Seljalandfoss far less visited. In this area we can also witness the impact of the eruption of the famous Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010.

Day 7: Secret stops and Iceland's capital
Along the Southern coast we head back to Reykjavik stopping at small villages like Selfoss, an agricultural town, known for its geothermal green houses. Iceland grows (among other) its own tomatoes!
On the way our guide will surprise us with some "secret" extra stops... but pshhhhht, don't tell anyone when you come back!

In the afternoon we'll have free time in Reykjavik. Iceland's capital is a vibrant, international city with plenty of excellent restaurants, a lively bar and music scene and a world famous night life.

Day 8: Good bye Iceland...
Depending on your flight schedule you have some more time to explore Iceland's capital on your own.
But eventually time has come to say goodbye. The last we can do for your is to drive you safely to the airport and to wish you a pleasant journey home (and hoping for you to come back. But we're sure you will. You might haven't noticed it at that time but we've infected you with the famous "Icelandic virus"...!).

Clothes and Shoes

• Hiking boots
• Pair of hiking sandals
• Fleece sweatshirt
• Hiking socks
• Fast drying T-Shirts (syntethic or wool)
• Long jons
• Trekking pants
• Waterproof pants
• Wind and rain proof jacket
• Warmer jacket
• Gloves
• Scarf or neck gaiter (balaclava)
• Hat
• Swim suit

Other Equipment

• Bag or small suitcase
• Small day backpack
• Sleeping bag (10°C)
• Sunscreen
• Towel (best fast dry/synthetic)
• Head/lamp light
• Ear plugs
• Sun glasses
• Water bottle
• Hiking pole(s)