Winter Wonders and Delicious Detours of Iceland

Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival, collect your rental car at the airport and drive towards Reykjavík to explore the largest municipality in Iceland for your overnight stay. Ingolfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland, built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavík stands today. The town got its name “Smokey Bay” after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a deep impression on the first settlers. Reykjavik offers a multitude of restaurants and/or coffee houses, making dinner a great way to get better acquainted with Iceland's capital.

Approximate distance: 50km /30 miles


Overnight in Reykjavík

Breakfast at your hotel. Head out of the city, where youll explore some of the Golden Circle and South Shore areas. Drive to Gullfoss waterfall and the nearby Geysir hot spring area, highlights of Icelands famous Golden Circle. Continue your trip along with the south coast, viewing highlights such as Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls. On a clear day you might glimpse majestic Eyjafjallajokull, the site of the (in) famous volcanic eruption in 2010. This region is one of Icelands best farming districts, providing geothermal vegetables and some of Icelands best-known dairy and meat products. Youll pass by many charming farms, some with their own on-site geothermal greenhouses.


Overnight in Vik area

Traditional Icelandic Culinary options:



•    The small café at Fontana Geothermal Baths bakes traditional sweet rye bread using the earths natural geothermal heat. At 14:30 (2:30 pm) every day, you can watch as the bread is removed from its cooking tins in the ground and taste it fresh with plenty of Icelandic butter. If you don't have time to wait for the tour, we still recommend you try a slice of the cafe rye bread topped with smoked trout from the lake. We also suggest the lunch buffet; it features healthy Icelandic home-style food with ingredients from nearby farms and greenhouses



•    The Efstidalur II traditional dairy farm is just a 10-minute drive from Gullfoss waterfall. The farms restaurant overlooks the milking area and offers local beef and vegetables as well as homemade milk products such as ice cream, feta cheese and skyr (a thick, low-fat yogurt-like product). During your stop, you can watch the dairy cows through a big window in the dairy barn.

Hloduloftid Restaurant is open Sunday – Thursday from 8:00 – 20:00 (8:00 am – 8:00 pm The Ice Cream Barn is open daily from 10:00 – 21:00 (10:00 am – 9:00 pm) both are closed on 24- 26 December, 31 December and 1 January



•    Fridheimar is a charming horse farm and greenhouse facility near Fludir. Clean geothermal and hydroelectric energy provides resources to grow many types of organic vegetables such as tomatoes and bell peppers. A restaurant specializes in a buffet featuring Fridheimars famous tomato soup, fresh bread, and salsas.

The restaurant is open daily between 12:00 and 16:00 (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm) except for 24-26 December, 31 December and 1 January. In order to guarantee a table, please call ahead in advance for a reservation

Breakfast at your hotel. Today youll be around the largest national park in Western Europe, Vatnajokull National Park. First, youll drive past the largest single lava flow in the world in recorded history, Eldhraun. Youll also cross over vast sand plains created by glacial washes. Visit the majestic Skaftafell area of Vatnajokull National Park, named after Europes largest glacier. The area is ringed by glaciers offers good winter hiking possibilities. You can even join a guided hiking tour taking you onto a glacier, an unforgettable experience. Continue to the shimmering icebergs of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Nearby is Diamond Beach, which has become quite famous in the social media community.


Overnight in Vik area

Traditional Icelandic Culinary options:



•    Thorbergur Cultural Centre honors one of Icelands beloved authors, Thorbergur Thordarson. The centers building resembles a giant shelf of books, a very unique photo opportunity. The nearby Hali restaurant on site has become famous among Icelanders for its traditional Icelandic specialties, especially its arctic char (trout) sourced from a nearby farm. The daytime menu has soups, salads, sandwiches, light fish main courses, and homemade cakes. The evening menu has soups, salads, main courses featuring seafood and locally sourced lamb and beef, and traditional Icelandic desserts

The center itself is open daily from 12:00 – 16:00 (12:00 pm – 4:00 pm) except for 23 -25 December and 31 December



•    If youre itching for barbecue and a cold beer the Smidjan Brugghus in Vik specializes in beer crafted on-site, along with other Icelandic labels. Their barbecue and grill items include slow-cooked barbecued ribs and pulled pork, great burgers, along with legendary French fries that are possibly made by unicorns

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to the UNESCO-listed Thingvellir National Park, the site of the ancient Icelandic parliament and a jewel of nature. The park itself is situated in a stunning volcanic landscape of mountains and lava flows on the edge of Iceland's largest lake. You can enjoy the unique experience of walking between continents on a path leading through the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Continue to Borgarfjordur fjord and visit the remarkably beautiful Hraunfoss and Barnafoss waterfalls and Deildartunguhver, the most powerful hot spring in Europe. We recommend a visit to the nearby Krauma natural geothermal baths, where you can relax in pools fed by a perfect blend of water from Deildartunguhver and nearby glacial springs. The landscape around the spa is peaceful and beautiful.


Overnight in Borgarfjordur

Breakfast at your hotel. Explore the countless natural wonders of the Snaefellsnes peninsula, which also includes Snaefellsjokull National Park. Snæfellsnes has become known as “Iceland in a Nutshell” because it has so many different types of landscapes in one area. A visit here will be a feast for your eyes and for your camera! We recommend you stop at the wind-tangled Arnarstapi sea cliffs and the rocky beach of Djupalonssandur. The beautiful Snaefessjokull glacier-volcano is the crown jewel of the peninsula. Legends say that the mountain is home to a benevolent half-troll guardian. Drive along the north coast through bustling fishing villages, stopping to take a look at Kirkjufjall, the most photographed mountain in the country.


Overnight in Borgarfjordur area

Traditional Icelandic Culinary options:



•    Anyone with an interest in Icelands culinary heritage should not miss the Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum, run by the countrys last shark farmer. Youll learn about this unique delicacy and, if youre brave, have a taste. The museum is open daily from 10:00 – 17:00 (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)



•    The House of Food (Bjargarsteinn) in Grundarfjordur is a little restaurant in an adorable renovated early 20th-century house with a lovely view over the seacoast. The menu changes based on the best products each season, with good seafood, lamb and vegetarian offerings



•    Stykkishólmur town is considered one of Icelands most eco-friendly communities. This towns restaurants are committed to low environmental impact. They get ingredients from local fishermen, farmers and breweries. Diners enjoy the view over the island filled Breidafjordur Bay and watch the fishing boats and fishermen at work to bring in fresh seafood

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to the Reykjanes peninsula and visit the moonlike lava fields around Lake Kleifarvatn. The peninsula is a UNESCO Geo Park, with over 50 interesting sites connected to geothermal activity, volcanoes and tectonic plates. One of the most interesting of these is Krysuvik geothermal area with primordial bubbling mud pools. We recommend a stop at Grindavik fishing village, famous for its heritage of producing salt fish (bacalao). Salt fish made a huge impact on the prosperity of the Icelandic nation, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Perhaps you will also visit the famous Blue Lagoon and enjoy its pleasantly warm geothermal waters, rich in silica and minerals that are great for the skin. (Note: Bookings must be made in advance. We are happy to book a time for you.) After a great trip, its time to head to Reykjavik for your last night in Iceland                                                     


Overnight in Reykjavik

Traditional Icelandic Culinary options:



•    Salthusid Restaurant (The House of Bacalao) is located in Grindavik, a town famous for its saltfish processing. The menu features beautifully presented seafood. The specialty is salted cod, but the restaurant also offers salmon, lobster, arctic charr. If you prefer meat courses, you can enjoy Icelandic lamb and beef specialties

The restaurant is open 12:00 – 21:00 daily. (12:00 pm – 9:00 pm)



•    Grindavík is also home to Hja Hollu, a family-owned, cozy restaurant specializing in light, healthy soups, salads, pizza and main courses. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced. The menu changes weekly and includes vegetarian, fish and chicken options. You can also enjoy fresh-made juice and smoothies and home-made desserts

The restaurant is open 8:00 – 17:00 (8:00 am – 5:00 pm) on weekdays and 11:00 – 17:00 (11:00 am – 5:00 pm) on Saturdays. The kitchen closes at 15:00 (3:00 pm), but people can get sandwiches, beverages, smoothies and deserts until closing time. (The restaurant is closed on Sundays)



•    Lava Restaurant at the Blue Lagoon has a fine dining experience using locally sourced ingredients. Built into an 800-year-old lava cliff, the restaurant looks out over the Blue Lagoon. The fish of the day comes right from Grindaviks harbor. Lunchtime Set menus (two and three-course options) give you a great overview of Icelandic favorites with a unique flair. A feature of the restaurants dinner menu is the 4-course tasting menu, a very elegant way to experience the range of Icelandic cuisine