Indianapolis Zoo Northern Iceland Adventure

Depart the U.S. today.

Upon arrival, after clearing customs and immigration, meet your driver and travel to Reykjavík. Enjoy the afternoon to explore the city on your own before returning to the hotel for a welcome orientation starting at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner. Please note: Individual arrival transfers are included in the program cost. If you wish to book a Flybus transfer from the airport to the hotel with stop at Blue Lagoon (Comfort package included) en route to the hotel, this can be purchased at an additional cost. Check-in is at 2 pm. Luggage can be stored at the hotel while exploring the city until time to check-in. Early check-in is also available at an additional cost.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for 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. After spending some time exploring the beautiful park, head to one of Iceland's best-kept secrets: Borgarfjörður. This is an enchanting area of mini forests, volcanic landscapes, glaciers and Viking history. Visit two spectacular glacial waterfalls: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. You'll get a good introduction to Icelandic Sagas and Viking history with a visit to the Snorastofa Museum in Reykholt, the manor farm of the eminent 13th century scholar, chieftain and writer of Sagas, Snorri Sturluson. The final stop of the day is Deildartunguhver, Europe's most powerful hot spring, before continuing on to Laugarbakki, a beautiful area steeped in old legends of outlaws, sorcerers and medieval battles.

After breakfast, journey to Siglufjörður with a few stops along the way. Begin the day with an excursion through the beautiful landscapes of Iceland on horseback. Continue to Hofsós to visit the Icelandic Emigration Center which tells the story of 19th century Icelandic emigration to North and South America. Continue northwards, heading into a region of steep mountains and sweeping ocean views to the herring-fishing town of Siglufjörður. This pretty town is nestled in a dramatic fjord overlooking the Arctic Ocean. Visit the award-winning Herring-Era Maritime Museum, where you will learn about the herring migration boom that transformed Siglufjörður into a bustling community during the early part of the 20th century. Some historians believe this is the event that helped modernize Iceland as a nation.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart Siglufjörður and head on to Eyjafjörður, the longest fjord in Iceland. In the town of Árskógssandur, you’ll take the local ferry to Hrísey, a tiny island in Eyjafjörður fjord, known for its abundant birdlife. Keep your eye out for Rock Ptarmigans, which are frequently observed on the island. Take a walking tour of the island. After sailing back to the mainland, visit the quaint fishing village of Hauganes and the family-owned Ektafiskur gourmet fish processing plant to learn how salted cod is prepared by hand. Next, journey onward to Akureyri, the Capital of the North. Enjoy some free time in Iceland’s second largest community. Set in a scenic fjord, Akureyri is a town with a vibrant art and culture scene. Relax in an outdoor café or browse for local crafts at the shops. Continue through a beautiful landscape of mountains and seacoast, enjoying views of Akureyri from across the sea before arriving in Húsavík, a pretty coastal town perched on the edge of the Arctic, within sight of the Arctic Circle, known as Iceland’s whale watching capital. Most recently the town received international fame as a filming location for the 2020 Will Ferrell movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

Húsavík is known as the town of whales, your group will walk down to the bustling harbour and board a beautifully restored oak boat for a 3-hour whale watching tour. Trained marine biologist guides will tell you about different types of whales seen in the area, and they will also point out whale sightings during your sail. You’ll also enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and an Icelandic cinnamon roll. After the tour enjoy free time for lunch in the town’s harbour area (not included). Visit the Whale Museum, an internationally known museum with information and research about whales and dolphins. End the day with a visit to the GeoSea geothermal sea baths in Húsavík, which is on Time Magazine’s 2019 list of the World’s Greatest Places. It´s a special experience soaking in the healing ocean water as you enjoy the view towards the mountains and Arctic Circle. Dinner is on your own tonight, Húsavík has a nice variety of restaurants and pubs. The area specialty is fresh-caught seafood.

After breakfast and check-out, drive along the fossil rich Tjörnes peninsula to the northern part of Vatnajökull National Park. This is the Jökulsárgljúfur region of the park, where glacial floods and volcanic eruptions have created a unique landscape of canyons and surreal rock formations. Explore the lush vegetation growing in the horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon. Vikings believed it was a hoof-print left by Sleipnir, Odin’s eight-legged flying horse from Norse mythology. Easy and scenic trails lead down to the enchanting canyon lake where you can enjoy views of forest and birds. Head through canyonlands and bizarre highland landscapes with views to the far-off Vatnajökull glacier. The park roads lead you to the powerful Dettifoss waterfall, the largest one in Europe. The roads lead you to the unforgettable Lake Mývatn area, a geological wonderland. Take in views of the shimmering turquoise waters inside the Krafla Viti Crater, then visit the nearby Krafla Power Plant to learn more about how Iceland harnesses geothermal energy. Some of the most bizarre attractions in the region are the bubbling mud pits and vibrant colours of Námaskarð geothermal area, the peculiar lava formations at Dimmuborgir, the pseudo-craters at Skútustaðir, and Laxá salmon river. Mývatn’s fantastical landscapes have made it a filming location for the popular HBO Game of Thrones series, as well as several Hollywood movies.

After breakfast, begin the journey back towards Akureyri for a short flight back to Reykjavik. On the way back to Akureyri you'll visit Goðafoss (the Waterfall of the Gods). Enjoy the view of glacial water thundering around surrounding lava to create a beautiful half-circle shaped cascade. Head to Akureyri and check-in for your domestic flight to Reykjavík on Icelandair. If the skies are clear, you'll have an amazing view over the dramatic highland wilderness of central Iceland during the 45-minute flight. Your group will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Reykjavík for your last night in Iceland. In the late afternoon or early evening, travel to Bryggjan Brugghus for an introduction to Icelandic beer at this local brewery accompanied with snacks. Later, have dinner on your own to sample the local cuisine. Transportation to Lady Brewery is included, transfer back to hotel on own (taxi is about $160 back to the hotel).

Check out of the hotel and transfer to Keflavík airport for the flight back to the U.S. Check-out is at 12 pm.