Iceland Escape: Golden Circle & Whale Watching
Observe Iceland’s most extraordinary animal
Experience both the nature and incredible inhabitants of Iceland with this adventure vacation. Go whale watching, relax in the Geysir Geothermal Area, and tour the beautiful Golden Circle.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Reykjavik into Keflavik Airport (KEF)
- Round-trip airport transfers via Flybus Airport Shuttle
- 3 nights in Reykjavik at the Storm Hotel or similar
- Full-day guided Golden Circle Classic Tour
- Whale Watching Tour
- Daily breakfast
Prefer to travel in the winter to experience the Northern Lights? Check out our Wonders of Iceland package!
Great Ways to Explore
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Visit Reykjavík, a city of bold contrasts: cosmopolitan and small-town yet vibrant and sophisticated.
- Enjoy the perfect balance of scheduled activities with free time.
-
Your full-day guided Golden Circle tour brings you to 3 of the country’s incredible “must-see” sites!
-
Marvel at the majestic Gullfoss Falls.
-
Take part in an unforgettable Whale Watching adventure at sea.
Enjoy the exciting city of Reykjavik, with the ideal combination of scheduled activities and free time to explore on your own!
Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of the world, boasts a wide array of exciting activities and attractions. Reykjavik is pure, clean and vibrant -- creating the perfect settings for a relaxing yet refreshing vacation. Dominated by a range of majestic mountains to the east and divided by one of the country's best salmon rivers, the city of Reykjavík is a tempting attraction for anyone who loves to combine a lively city experience with the wholesome sights and sounds of nature.
You’ll enjoy a guided full-day Golden Circle Classic tour, highlighting three of Iceland’s most incredible and iconic attraction – Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall, and the famous Geysir geothermal area.
You’ll also take part in an unforgettable whale watching experience, observing these extraordinary animals and various sea birds in their own environment, with commentary and stories from expert guides. The whales in this area are not shy, and the viewing success is 90% - however if you don’t see any, you’ll get to repeat the tour on another day, for free!
In between, you can create your own personalized experience to include as much of the city’s famous natural offerings, arts and culture, renowned dining, local designer shopping, health and wellness facilities, and exciting nightlife as you’d like!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Reykjavik into Keflavik Airport (KEF)
- Round-trip airport transfers via Flybus Airport Shuttle
- 3 nights in Reykjavik at the Storm Hotel or similar
- Full-day guided Golden Circle Classic Tour
- Whale Watching Tour
- Daily breakfast
Prefer to travel in the winter to experience the Northern Lights? Check out our Wonders of Iceland package!
-
Visit Reykjavík, a city of bold contrasts: cosmopolitan and small-town yet vibrant and sophisticated.
- Enjoy the perfect balance of scheduled activities with free time.
-
Your full-day guided Golden Circle tour brings you to 3 of the country’s incredible “must-see” sites!
-
Marvel at the majestic Gullfoss Falls.
-
Take part in an unforgettable Whale Watching adventure at sea.
Enjoy the exciting city of Reykjavik, with the ideal combination of scheduled activities and free time to explore on your own!
Reykjavik, the northernmost capital of the world, boasts a wide array of exciting activities and attractions. Reykjavik is pure, clean and vibrant -- creating the perfect settings for a relaxing yet refreshing vacation. Dominated by a range of majestic mountains to the east and divided by one of the country's best salmon rivers, the city of Reykjavík is a tempting attraction for anyone who loves to combine a lively city experience with the wholesome sights and sounds of nature.
You’ll enjoy a guided full-day Golden Circle Classic tour, highlighting three of Iceland’s most incredible and iconic attraction – Thingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall, and the famous Geysir geothermal area.
You’ll also take part in an unforgettable whale watching experience, observing these extraordinary animals and various sea birds in their own environment, with commentary and stories from expert guides. The whales in this area are not shy, and the viewing success is 90% - however if you don’t see any, you’ll get to repeat the tour on another day, for free!
In between, you can create your own personalized experience to include as much of the city’s famous natural offerings, arts and culture, renowned dining, local designer shopping, health and wellness facilities, and exciting nightlife as you’d like!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Enhance your vacation with:
- Upgraded accommodations
Departure Airport:
Departure Month:
Prices From:
Day 1. Welcome to Reykjavik!
Welcome to Iceland! Upon arrival at Reykjavik/Keflavik Airport, you’ll take a Flybus transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure, to begin exploring this vibrant city!
Transfer to Reykjavik hotel
Located in Reykjavik's city center, Storm Hotel offers stylish and comfortable accommodation between the main business and shopping districts. The hotel is within walking distance from Iceland’s main shopping street Laugavegur, which is home to a variety of designer shops, cafés, restaurants, gift shops and exciting nightlife. Near the Storm Hotel is Laugardalur, where you can find a variety of different recreation like one of the largest swimming pools in Iceland, Reykjavik Park and Zoo, the Botanical Garden and more.
Storm Hotel offers a Nordic-inspired designed combined with functionality, quality and style. Each of the 93 guestrooms has a sleek bathroom and an ultra-comfortable luxury bed as well as free Wi-Fi. Start your day with a filling breakfast and then relax after sightseeing with a drink in the bar/lounge.
Individually decorated rooms themed for a specific day in the ancient Icelandic calendar adds Nordic beauty to your stay at the Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels. Along with the experience of staying in a hotel inspired by the Northern Lights, guests can enjoy a bar and lounge, daily breakfast served in the dining room, meeting and banquet rooms, and free Wi-Fi, all accompanied by Iceland's changing lights theme.
The rooms, in addition to their unique theme, also have a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi access, air conditioning, ironing facilities upon request, and private bathrooms including a hair dryer, and complimentary toiletries. The expansive Laugardalur park is a short walk away from the hotel, which features a gorgeous Botanic Garden, the Family Park and Zoo, and the largest swimming pool in the city. Other points of interest close to the hotel include the Sun Voyager sculpture which is just under two miles away, as well as buses that can take you to iconic places like Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Gullfoss and Geysir, and more.
Hotel Fron is a contemporary hotel located in the center of Reykjavik on Laugavegur, the main shopping street. The hotel offers a daily breakfast buffet, and has an on-site bar where guests can relax with a cocktail.Â
Guest rooms are spacious with Scandinavian style decor. Amenities include a private bathroom, TV, free Wi-Fi, hair dryer, in-room safe, phone, coffee maker, and kettle. Limited room service is available.Â
Located on a busy street, this relaxed hotel is just a 7-minute walk from HallgrÃmskirkja, an 8-minute walk from Harpa concert hall, and about a mile from the National Museum of Iceland.
Located close to the city of Reykjavik, Hotel Klettur puts you right in the middle of Iceland's most exciting attractions. Enjoy excursions to the Golden Circle, The Secret Lagoon, volcano and ice cave excursions, and more! The modern hotel has undergone a recent upgrade and refurbishment and features a style of casual luxury. Relax in the lounge and game room, sip a cocktail or two at the bar during happy hour, and be sure to start your day off right with the daily breakfast buffet. An ideal hotel to make home base during your trip to Iceland, Hotel Klettur is steeped in culture, comfort, and convenience.Â
Day 2. Reykjavik
After breakfast, you’ll embark on a full-day guided Golden Circle Classic tour! Explore the geological wonders of Thingvellir National Park, marvel at the golden Gullfoss Falls, and visit hot springs at Geysir Geothermal Area.
Golden Circle Classic (Full Day)
The Golden Circle Tour takes you on a wondrous circular journey through the heart of Iceland’s Southern Region, stopping at some of Iceland’s most iconic sites. You will visit historical places of Iceland and see incredible Icelandic nature, all in one day. The Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal area, and Gullfoss Waterfall have their own stories to tell.
Rich History & Colliding Continents at Thingvellir National Park: The first stop during the Golden Circle tour is at Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is an attraction of great historical, geological, and cultural significance. Thingvellir is located in a rift valley where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. The UNESCO designated World Heritage Site is also the birthplace of the Althing - Iceland’s parliament founded in 930 AD, where the nation’s most powerful leaders would meet to decide on legislation and carry out brutal Viking-age justice. Thingvellir became Iceland’s first national park in 1930. It is also home to Iceland’s largest natural lake, Thingvallavatn.
Majestic Gullfoss Falls: Another stop during Iceland Golden Circle is Gullfoss (Golden Falls). Gullfoss waterfall gets its name from the golden color of its water as it churns up silt and sediment. The magnificent waterfalls lie in the Hvitá River and are fed by Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. In total, Gullfoss is 105 feet high, falling two tiers that are 35 and 65 feet high, respectively. Gullfoss is also at the center of one of Iceland’s most famous acts of environmental activism. Back in the early 20th century, developers wanted to dam the mighty waterfall to generate electricity, but through the will and determination of Sigriður Tómasdóttir, Gullfoss was saved. Extra time is allotted at this location for a lunch break at Gullfoss Café.
Bubbling with Excitement at Geysir Geothermal Area: The last stop on the Golden Circle tour is at Geysir geothermal area, which is located in the Haukadalur valley and is the scenic home of the infamous Geysir hot spring. To visit is to pay your respects to the progenitor of all geysers, as Geysir is the geyser for which all others are named. Geysir doesn’t erupt often but is surrounded by bubbling cauldrons of super-heated mud, steaming pools, and Strokkur, a geyser that erupts every 6-10 minutes. The smells, colors, and eruptions at this popular destination are a window into all the geothermal activity happening across (and beneath) Iceland, making all those hot tubs, swimming pools, greenhouses, and geothermal energy possible.
Day 3. Reykjavik
Today you will be in for a treat - an unforgettable whale watching experience, departing from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik.Â
Whale Watching from Reykjavik
This approximately three-hour tour will be led by experienced guides who will share their wealth of knowledge (and some old sea stories!) as you observe whales and other interesting sea life.
The whales here are not shy, either, and will often surface very close to your boat. They are so sure that you’ll observe whales during the tour, that if you don’t, you can take the tour again on another day, for free! You’ll travel in comfort, too, as the boat offers a café lounge with Wi-Fi, hot drinks and refreshments, as well as use of warm overalls, if needed.
Day 4. Depart Iceland
If your flight is in the afternoon, use your last moments to walk along the harbor seafront and breathe the fresh Atlantic breeze. Based on your pre-arranged time, you will be met by Flybus at your hotel, and transferred to the airport for your flight home.Â
Transfer to Reykjavik airport (KEF)
Fly home!
We have selected the most economical flight schedule for you. Please note that shorter and more convenient flight options may be available at an additional cost.
Advertised vacation package prices are per person based on two people traveling together, unless otherwise noted. Advertised package rates are based on select departures as noted on the booking calendar above, were available via the Great Value Vacations website and may not represent current prices.
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