Iceland Solar Eclipse Experience with SimonBiologyTravel

Depart today from your home city for your overnight flight(s) to Reykjavík.

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and immigration, meet your taxi driver and travel to your hotel in Reykjavík. Enjoy the afternoon to explore the city on your own before returning to the hotel for a program orientation with your guide at 6 pm followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel restaurant. Please note: Individual arrival transfers are included in the program cost. Check-in is at 3 pm. Luggage can be held at the hotel until check in while you explore the city. Early check-in or pre-night is also available at an additional cost. The hotel is located in a suburb of Reykjavík on a lake. There are trails nearby and beautiful scenery to enjoy by the lake. In order to reach the city center, you will need to take a taxi.

Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby to begin your morning exploring the city of Reykjavík. Accompanied by your guide, discover the highlights of Iceland's exciting capital. Learn about life in the city from the very beginning of settlement in Iceland to the present day. Stop by the Lutheran church of Hallgrímskirkja, the largest in Iceland, and drive through the university district, past the Nordic House and the National Museum of Iceland. In the city center, stop by the City Hall, which juts into the small lake of Tjörnin, and the nearby Parliament House. Drive by the harbor to observe fishing vessels of different sizes, whale hunters, and whale watchers. There are also many public works of art in Reykjavík, especially sculptures. Witness the impressive architecture of the Harpa, a concert hall and conference center built on the town center's northern waterfront, whose dramatic design captures and reflects the city's light, ocean, and sky with a thrilling effect. Pick up lunch at a local café, and then experience the immersive Lava Show in Reykjavík. The Lava Show recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava up to 2,000 °F, and then safely pouring it into a showroom full of people. Spend the rest of the afternoon at Sky Lagoon, a geothermal lagoon spa experience, where the ocean meets the sky. Immerse yourself in the warm and rejuvenating waters of an oasis near the city center. Enjoy this authentic and remarkable place through an unforgettable and inspiring spa experience. Have dinner tonight at a restaurant in the city.

This morning, enjoy the incomparable experience of whale watching, getting as close as possible without disturbing the animals. It may be possible to see dolphins, as well as humpback, orca, blue, and minke whales during this 3-hour cruise. Accompanied by a guide, travel across Faxaflói Bay, where a blend of warm and cold ocean currents creates spectacular whale-watching opportunities. Afterward, visit a local cafe for lunch. In the afternoon, board another boat for a once-in-a-lifetime viewing of the total solar eclipse, with eclipse glasses included. This experience also includes a light snack with a celebratory drink on board. Then, enjoy dinner in the evening at a local restaurant.

Spend today exploring the Golden Circle. The first stop is Þingvellir National Park to explore the grounds of Alþingi, the ancient parliament site on the shores of Iceland's largest lake. Þingvellir also showcases the dramatic continental drift between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Next, visit Iceland's famous Gullfoss, or "Golden Falls," and the nearby Geysir hot spring area to see numerous spouting hot springs and boiling mud pools. Enjoy a special lunch at Friðheimar Greenhouses with a "stem to table" experience served among the plants. After an introduction to the greenhouse, sample classic tomato dishes like Friðheimar's famous tomato soup, as well as new creations made with a twist, like green tomato and apple pie or refreshing, homemade tomato ice cream. After lunch, step outside to tour the stables and observe a show with the unique Icelandic horse. Continue exploring and then return to Reykjavík. Then, have dinner this evening at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, depart for the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Snaefellsnes is a unique area with a variety of geological features, such as lava fields, volcanoes, a glacier, beautiful rock formations, yellow and black sand beaches, and caves. It is also home to some fascinating bird life. The main attraction is Snaefellsjökull National Park, where a beautifully shaped cone volcano and glacier sit at the very western end of the peninsula. The glacier and the unspoiled natural wonders surrounding it are described in Jules Verne's novel "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." According to Icelandic folklore, Snaefellsjökull is also considered a source of spiritual power and has been linked to supernatural and mythological tales for centuries. Have lunch, and then visit one of Iceland's older lava tubes, Vatnshellir Cave, which was created during an eruption 8,000 years ago. Explore the cave with your guide and view lava formations and walls with vivid colors. To descend into the bottom of the cave, visitors need to be able to walk a spiral staircase for several stories. Late in the afternoon, return to Reykjavík. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, have free time to explore Reykjavík. Late in the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight(s) home. Lunch will be on your own today. Check-out is at 11 am.