ICELAND
Iceland is the country where the Earth is still visibly being made. Volcanoes erupt with a regularity that the locals find inconvenient and visitors find astonishing. Glaciers carve their way across half the country. Geothermal lagoons steam in the middle of canyons that look borrowed from a science fiction film. The Ring Road runs over 800 miles around the coast and passes essentially all of it. The Highlands are an uninhabited volcanic interior that NASA used to train Apollo astronauts because nowhere else on earth approximated the moon as well. Iceland is for the traveler who wants a country small enough to actually circumnavigate yet also strange enough to feel borrowed from another planet.
A Taste of What's Possible
Soak in remote geothermal pools nestled in a magnificent highland canyon
Stay on a sparsely populated remote island to mingle with locals
Ride Icelandic horses on the beaches of Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
Westfjords
01
The raw, isolated northwest corner is humbling country. Tough to get to, entirely worth it — fjord after fjord to yourself, cliffs dropping straight to the sea, and the kind of silence that recalibrates something in you.
Austurland
02
East Iceland's remote coastline invites you in with its green fjords and friendly fishing villages tucked beneath sheer cliffs. Route 94 in summer takes you switchbacking through waterfalls and lush green valley walls that feel like b-roll from Avatar. And did we mention puffins?
CENTRAL Highlands
03
The uninhabited volcanic interior is one of the last truly empty places in Europe — a moonscape of black sand, glacial rivers, and steaming vents that requires a 4WD, summer timing, and a willingness to feel completely off the map.
“It was a wonderful set of adventures! So wonderful, in fact, that the trip managed to get my husband to love travel. He went from being afraid to fly earlier this year to actively wanting to plan another trip almost as soon as we returned from Iceland. The vast majority of the trip was seamless and each location/segment was delightful in its own way. In all, it was a phenomenal time. Thank you so much for all your hard work making this a wonderful experience for us.”
Kelly A. // Massachusetts
Sample Itinerary
Volcanoes, Glaciers, and the Midnight Sun: Iceland South to North
Day 1: On arrival in Reykjavík, you will be met and transferred to your accommodations in the historical heart of the city. Settle into the country’s natural wonders with a dip in an oceanside geothermal lagoon. If the timing is right, you might even catch the Northern Lights dancing overhead as you soak.
Day 2: Today you’ll head with your private guide and driver for the Golden Circle to discover breathtaking waterfalls, glaciers, geysers and craters. Along the way, descend into the magma chamber of a dormant volcano. This evening settle into your peaceful riverside lodge.
Day 3: Enter the southern Iceland highlands today with a SuperJeep expedition into Thor’s Valley, accessing remote landscapes including the iconic Stakkholtsgjá Canyon, picturesque waterfalls, and a striking black sand beach. Against today’s stunning backdrop, enjoy a chef-prepared BBQ picnic along the way.
Day 4: Explore the ins and outs of southern Iceland’s glaciers, starting with an exhilarating snowmobile ride. After fueling up for lunch in the seafront village of Vík, gear up for a glacier walk into a natural ice cave for otherworldly explorations.
Day 5: Take in dramatic landscapes of the Icelandic Highlands from the air on your private helicopter ride to the north side of the island, where you’ll touch down at your luxurious remote lodge. Settle in with a comforting meal and relaxing spa treatment.
Day 6: From your new base in the north, today you will explore the otherworldly Mývatn area. Walk through the surreal Leirhnjúkur mud pool and lava field area, hike to the stunning blue Víti crater lake, and bathe in the geothermal Mývatn Nature Baths.
Day 7: Venture out on a private traditional Icelandic sailboat in search of whales and puffins. On board you experience the essence of Iceland’s past coastal culture as you visit Lundey, the Puffin Island, as well as the traditional whale watching areas.
Day 8: Say goodbye to the north and fly back to Reykjavík to spend a memorable night at the legendary Blue Lagoon, soaking in the geothermal pools and indulging in luxurious spa treatments.
Day 9: Private transfer back to Reykjavík Airport for departure.
