Welcome to Reykjavik! You meet the the other Expeditioners for a fun icebreaker - this is going to be your main trip community.
WHAT we’re doing in Iceland
Chasing Nordic Dreams
We’re exploring lava tunnels and waterfalls. Chasing the Northern Lights and walking in an ice cave. Discovering black sands and hot springs. Visiting a sustainable farm and national parks. For the daring, we’re also snorkeling between tectonic plates, hiking a glacier and whale watching.
This trip is all about your inner “Great Expeditioner” - experiencing not just a beautiful place and its people, but also getting you to feel all the true travel emotions. So we’re coming at you with everything - adrenalin, awe, delight, excitement, peace, rejuvenation, even a bit of discomfort and some personal growth!
WHERE we’re going
Iceland’s Hidden Treasures
- Day 1 - Meet other Expeditioners and explore Reykjavik on a guided walk
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Day 2 - Thingvellir National Park, Stokkur geyser, Gulfoss waterfall, sustainable farm-lunch, Northern Lights
Rev it up - Snorkel at Silfra Fissure
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Day 3 - Lava Tunnels at Raufarhólshellir, Blue Lagoon geothermal spa time
Rev it up - Whale Watching from Old Harbour
- Day 4 - Road trip to Vik í Mýrdal & explore the village, South Iceland Waterfalls, Black Sands
- Day 5 - Jökulsárlón Glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach & Ice Cave tour
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Day 6 - Dyrhólaey, Eldhraun lava fields, Sólheimajökull glacier, farewell dinner in Reykjavik
Rev it up - Hike on Skaftafell glacier
- Day 7 - Departure OR fly to Akureyri
- Day 8 - Volcanic lake, Hot springs, Godafoss & Dettifoss Waterfalls (latter between May & October)
- Day 9 - Breakfast and fly home from Akureyri
- Answer the call
Our Daily Adventure
Unfold the Journey
We kick off with a walk at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with wonders like the rifts & fissures typical to the country’s geology.
Rev it up #1 - Discover the Continental Drift right up close, by being in it! You can snorkel or scuba at the Silfra Fissure in Thingvellir between the Eurasian & North American tectonic plates in subzero temps.
We explore the Lava Tunnel at Raufarhólshellir, a unique natural lava tube formed 5,200 years ago. Then it’s to the Blue Lagoon, where geothermal seawater creates a transformative spa experience. Here we unwind and rejuvenate with the premium experience set up for us. (Note: In case we do not see the Northern Lights on Day 2, we head out tonight for another guided hunt to maximize our chances.)
Rev it up #2 - We go whale watching in the day from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a thrilling marine adventure in icy waters.
After breakfast, it’s our road trip to the coastal village of Vik í Mýrdal, aka Vik, nestled just beneath a glacier and with landscape drama wherever you go. We head to the iconic Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfall, and to Reynisfjara black sands beach where ancient lava cools in the waves.
We start at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon inside Vatnajökull National Park, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean and we witness icebergs from the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. From here we head to Diamond Beach, where we get to see sparkly iceberg chunks on the black sands. It’s almost impossible to get used to this sight! Next we kick it up a notch with riding custom super-jeeps towards the Ice Cave. The cave is a hugely thrilling experience where we spend time exploring its super-unique features!
Today is Dyrhólaey, a dramatic coastal arch & birdwatching haven, plus Eldhraun lava field – the world’s largest moss-covered lava plain. From there we go to Sólheimajökull glacier before heading back to Reykjavik for a farewell dinner for the Expeditioners leaving the next morning.
Rev it up #3 - Take a guided glacier hike on Skaftafell, experiencing the Icelandic interplay of ice & fire!
Breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport. OR, if you’re going onto Akureyri - breakfast, checkout and take a flight to Akureyri, settle in and get ready for the next day.
We explore Lake Mývatn - known for its volcanic landscapes and as a filming location for Game of Thrones. We then head to Hverir’s geothermal area, where mud pots and fumaroles create a sight out of time. Then it's on to the beauty that is Godafoss waterfall. Between end of May & October we end the day at Vatnajökull National Park, this time from the North- Eastern part of the country, and Dettifoss waterfall - the 2nd most powerful waterfall in Europe!
Breakfast, check out and transfer to the airport, taking back not just souvenirs but major stories & new friends and possibly, a personal milestone as well. Here end our Iceland adventures.
How you’re experiencing Iceland
The Essence
Sensory highlights
We see raw, unfiltered sights like glittering glaciers, geysers & the Aurora Borealis; hear the roar of cascading waters; tingle our smell & taste buds with local & some sustainable food; and experience a climate that is cold, challenging and completely unlike ours, maybe even going in the Continental Drift for the sub-zero touch.
Trip Feel
You will feel relaxed, be rejuvenated or in discomfort sometimes, definitely cold and also cozy; you’ll get amazed, or even have that poetic fatigue of a day well spent. This trip is a whole-istic experience that brings you the highest highs as well as epiphanies difficult to find in daily life.
New Things to Discover
Through our “rev it up” activities (see day-wise plan for details) you may find you’re more adventurous than you think! Only with challenges do we believe that growth sets in, so go for it. Expeditioners who participate in all trip optionals may even get a surprise in their next GE trip!
Who you’ll meet
- Your trip companions: the Expeditioner family for a week and friends for a lifetime Iceland’s people, some of the friendliest and party-loving folks Our activity experts: champions at their specializations who can also tell us local tales A part of yourself that’s new or that you haven’t experienced in a while!
Why this trip is for you
Unlock the true you
We design our trips specifically for “Great Expeditioners”: active travellers who want to do/see everything on their vacation, and also engage in experiences way beyond regular sight-seeing. Expeditioners want to utilise travel time to learn & grow - through physical activity, culture & adventure, new people and also some unwinding.
Those coming on this trip are keen to leap outside their comfort zone & push their own (and their fellow Expeditioners’) limits. They welcome the invitation to do something new, rise up to challenges and attain skills or milestones.
The wildly unique climate of Iceland, so different from India, also enables this. It makes every activity more thrilling, teaching you how to thrive in an unfamiliar but interesting environment.
Our focus is on the community we create along the way too, for which we carefully assemble the Expeditioners who will journey together. By the end, you will not only have incredible memories or new passions, but also a sense of belonging with fellow adventurers-turned-friends.
Stay, meals, transport
We ve curated hotels, meals like the farm lunch, and inter-city travel in a way that keeps you in a space of comfort and convenience, so that you can focus all your energies on leveling up with the climate, and taking part in all experiences and activities
Things to Expect, Fitness & Preparation
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Weather
Iceland is a place of extremes, with hourly weather forecasts that need to be followed. It does not allow for ... Read More
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The Northern Lights
March is a great time to see the Lights, since geomagnetic activity starts increasing this time of the year! At ... Read More
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Cell / internet service
Travelers can easily use their mobile phones and access the internet in cybercafés and at Wi-Fi hotspots in main cities ... Read More
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Drinking Water
Tap water is considered safe to drink unless marked otherwise. In keeping with Iceland’s sustainable mindset, don’t waste water and ... Read More
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Food
Icelandic cuisine is a mix of seafood and local lamb - it has twice as many sheep as humans. We ... Read More
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Physical fitness
A moderate fitness level is recommended to fully enjoy the activities we have on the trip. While you don’t need ... Read More
Things to Carry
- You need 3 layers of clothing for daily use: thermal wear, a base layer of warm clothing, and a winter jacket
- The winter jacket needs to be 100% waterproof, breathable and windproof. For this, brands with GORE‑TEX technology are optimal
- GORE‑TEX technology is also found in pants, footwear, gloves, etc. and works well for the climate we anticipate, so you can purchase this or similar brands
- Winter footwear with good grip: Please look for Vibram or similar brands that are optimal for 'wet ice’ conditions. The sandpaper-like texture of the brand’s rubber lugs helps increase friction so grip is enhanced
- Swimwear (it's also possible to rent this at Blue Lagoon for a fee)
- Winter parka - essential for the combined possibilities of wind, rain & snow (It’s also possible to rent this in Iceland)
- European plug to charge your phones
- Personal medicines if any
Inclusions
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● Accommodation: 4 nights Reykjavik + 2 nights Vik
● Travel: Airport transfers, road travel for Vik
● Daily Breakfast at accommodation
● Lunch at sustainable farm
● Farewell Dinner
● Lava Tunnel Tour
● Blue Lagoon Premium Spa Package
● Ice Cave Tour
Exclusions
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● GST at 5%
● TCS as applicable
● Flights & Visa fees
● Travel + Medical Insurance
● “Rev it up” optional activity charges
● Meals (except those mentioned in Inclusions)
● Lodging tax to be paid directly at the hotel (4.5 EUR per room as of 2024)
● Tips & Porterage
● Personal expenses - laundry, alcoholic beverages, minibar, phone fees, mineral water etc.
Inclusions
-
● Accommodation: 4 nights Reykjavik + 2 nights Vik
● Travel: Airport transfers, road travel for Vik
● Daily Breakfast at accommodation
● Lunch at sustainable farm
● Farewell Dinner
● Lava Tunnel Tour
● Blue Lagoon Premium Spa Package
● Ice Cave Tour
Exclusions
-
● GST at 5%
● TCS as applicable
● Flights & Visa fees
● Travel + Medical Insurance
● “Rev it up” optional activity charges
● Meals (except those mentioned in Inclusions)
● Lodging tax to be paid directly at the hotel (4.5 EUR per room as of 2024)
● Tips & Porterage
● Personal expenses - laundry, alcoholic beverages, minibar, phone fees, mineral water etc.
F.A.Q’s
Demystifying Your Journey
You need a Schengen visa to enter Iceland. Great Expeditions does not offer visa processing - you can choose to do it on your own OR we can facilitate this service through our sister concern, BIT. Please reach out to us if you require this service.
Great Expeditions does not offer any flight bookings. You can choose to do it on your own OR we can facilitate this service through our sister concern, BIT. Please reach out to us if you require this service. If you’re booking on your own, please plan to arrive in Reykjavik on Day 1 by midday!
Please decide on your own plans for this - Great Expeditions will not be able to assist with Foreign Exchange Currency
Great Expeditions does not offer Travel / Medical Insurance. You can choose to do it on your own OR we can facilitate this service through our sister concern, BIT. Please reach out to us if you require this service.
You can pay via any - NEFT, UPI, or Credit card (with 2% bank charges). Reach out to us for details.
Policies and Disclaimers
Transparency Matters
Booking Policy:
● For booking your seat on the trip, an advance payment of 25% of the tour cost needs to be made.
● Valid passport copies with at least 6 months from date of travel.
● PAN Card copy of every traveler.
● Final Payment: 60 days prior to the trip.
Cancellation Policy:
● 45 or more days prior to departure: 75% of tour cost is refundable.
● 15 – 44 days prior to departure: 50% of tour cost is refundable.
● 14 – 0 days prior to departure: tour cost is non-refundable.
