Winter Iceland in Style

Touch down at Keflavík's small but perfectly formed airport. The airport characterises the country; small, colourful, friendly, and straightforward – and often blanketed with snow at this time of year. Your driver will be waiting to welcome you in the arrivals hall and will take you directly to your hotel.

Explore part of Iceland’s Golden Circle. Your first journey into Raufarhólshellir allows you to witness the inner workings of a volcanic eruption, walking the path of lava that flowed during the Leitahraun eruption 5200 years ago now scattered with ice. Then you’ll head to Thingvellir National Park, part of Iceland’s history since the first Althingi in 930 and a geological phenomenon standing on two tectonic plates that are gradually moving away from each other.

Today, you’ll be travelling into the Golden Circle and enjoying a high-octane ride over a glacier. After breakfast you will head to Geysir, home to spouting geysers with the most energetic one Strokkur, spouting to a height of 40 meters. Afterwards, you will see the power of Gullfoss waterfall cascading 32 metres in two stages directly to the canyon below. You will finish the day snowmobiling over Langjökull glacier. Enjoy views from Langjökull towards Eiríksjökull glacier, the highest mountain in west Iceland, the dome shaped Hofsjökull glacier, and Kerlingafjöll Mountain range.

The last few days have shown you sublime landscapes, but now it’s time for the South Shore of Iceland, famous for its mythical beauty and black, sandy beaches. Seljalandsfoss waterfall flows from the volcano Eyjafjallajökull, and if you’re not afraid of getting a little bit wet, you can walk behind the wall of water on a hidden footpath. Spot the basalt sea stacks in the ocean as well, where legend has it two trolls were pulling a ship to shore before daylight broke and they were turned to stone.

Lagoons and lakes beckon today. First stop is Jökulsárlón, the deepest lake in Iceland that is connected to the ocean. You’ll watch blue-tinted icebergs flow out of the narrow channel to the sea or towards the black sand of Diamond Beach. Then, you’ll head to the Crystal Ice Caves within Vatnajokull Glacier. These natural ice caves are only formed when temperatures start cooling again – a winter exclusive.

Start the day driving from South Shore to the national parks of Skaftafell and Vatnajökull national parks – one of the biggest in Europe – where you can choose a hiking route. The scenery around Skaftafell is full of stark contrasts. See the glacier-topped peak of Hvannadalshnjúkur rising to 2109 meters making it the highest point in Iceland. Choose a route to view Fjardargljufur and enjoy incredible views over the canyon which stretches for two kilometres. Svartifoss is a two-hour walk to the Black Waterfall surrounded by dark lava columns, or you could hike to see the glaciers at Svínafellsjökull.

Surrounded by high mountains, majestic glaciers, and birch woods, Thorsmork valley is a sight to behold. The only way to drive into Thorsmork is by mountain vehicle in order to cross the rugged landscape and small glacial rivers. Highlights of the trip include seeing Gigjokull – a glacial tongue that drains from the Eyjafjallajokull – Gigjokull, a crater glacier that has formed a lagoon, and the many waterfalls and 170 species of plant that call the valley home. End the day at Blue Lagoon Retreat Spa.

After breakfast, set off to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula. At crystal-clear Kleifarvatn Lake, you’ll learn how an earthquake in 2000 drained 20 per cent of its water and how it regained its levels eight years later. The next phenomenon is Seltún Geothermal Area where you’ll see striking green, yellow and red soils coloured by sulphuric deposits. You’ll then ride to Krísuvík peninsula over the mountain Festarfjall and to the black sandy beach Selatangar where the views are even more spectacular this time of year.

Refreshed and rejuvenated, you’ll be collected from The Retreat at Blue Lagoon and taken back to Keflavik airport where you’ll board your flight home.