Iceland in 10 Days
Exploring Iceland for 10 days allows you to tour around the breathtaking Golden Circle and rugged south coast, giving you ample time for some fabulous activities. From t-shirt weather and 24-hour daylight in summer, to spectacular frozen waterfalls and the Northern Lights in winter, Iceland really is a destination for all seasons. Think diamond beaches, expansive landscapes, and dark blue seas contrasting with snow-capped mountains.
By sticking with a select few places on this itinerary and staying in some locations for two nights to fully appreciate your holiday, the journey can be relaxing and fun as well as packed with options for each day. Hikes, snorkelling, lava tunnels, and whale watching are all on offer – as well as soaking in hot springs of course!
Highlights
Blue Lagoon hot springs
Golden Circle highlights
Volcanoes, glaciers & lava fields
Whale & puffin watching cruise
Snorkel between tectonic plates
Glacial hike & ice cave tour
10 days from £2,500 pp
Plus international flights from £250.
A 10-day holiday in Iceland for a family of four usually costs from £10,000 plus flights, depending on accommodation.
Iceland in 10 Days day-to-day itinerary
Day 1 Reykjavik
Welcome to Iceland! When you arrive at Keflavik airport you will collect your vehicle from the airport office and make your way into Reykjavik.
Welcome to Iceland! When you arrive at Keflavik airport you will collect your vehicle from the airport office and make your way into Reykjavik.
Today you will enjoy the Flyover Iceland experience. State of the art technology is utilised to give you the feeling that you are flying over Iceland’s most beautiful scenery. You hang suspended, feet dangling, before a 20-metre spherical screen, while the film whisks you away on an unforgettable journey across Iceland – complete with wind, mist, scent and motion special effects!
This evening, we will recommend an excellent fish restaurant, and after dinner you can start to explore the city, perhaps strolling up to the iconic Hallgrímskirkja church, in a commanding position overlooking the city.
Day 2 Reykjavik whale watching
Today head out into Faxafloi bay in the hope of spotting whales and dolphins. Reykjavik lies on one of the key whale migration routes, so a whale watching cruise while you’re here is a must.
Accompanied by an expert naturalist, take to the sea with excellent chances of spotting minke and humpback whales, as well as white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Occasionally you might see other species such as killer whales, fin whales, sei whales and long-finned pilot whales. The views throughout are stunning, and the bay is also full of birdlife, with puffins, gannets and guillemots swooping past.
Day 3 Reykjavik – Vik
Leave Reykjavik behind you today as you head towards the south coast. There are various places to stop on the way and we will make suggestions we think will best suit your family. One of our favourites is a 5,000 year old underground tunnel that was carved out of the rock by a stream of lava from a nearby volcano. There are different sections of the tunnel, including one that is home to incredible sheer ice stalagmites and stalactites. There are different sections of the tunnel, including one that is home to incredible sheer ice stalagmites and stalactites. Depending on the age of your children, you can choose between a more and less adventurous route; on the latter you will head deep into the tunnels by headlamp, clambering over boulders into more difficult terrain.
Day 4 Vik
This morning you will take part in an exciting family activity. There are several to choose from, depending on the ages of your children and month you will be visiting. In the winter, we love the snowmobile tour on Myrdalsjokull glacier, with incredible views over the snowcapped hills. In summer, you can instead kayak on a beautiful glacial lagoon, with icebergs floating past. Another popular activity is visiting a secret ice cave, or those with younger children might enjoy a lava show. We will be able to suggest something suitable for your family.
The rest of the day is free; we will give you extensive recommendations on what you can do and places that you might like to visit.
Day 5, South Coast
A further day to explore the dramatic south coast. You may like to visit one of our favourite black sand beaches, where there is an impressive black basalt cliff and stunning views in both directions. We also recommend that you go to Dyrholaey Cape, home to sheer cliffs with millions of birds nesting in the spring and summer. There is a lighthouse on top of the promontory and beautiful trails around the edge of the cliffs for superb sea views.
There should also be time today for a stop at Skogafoss waterfall and a climb up to the top of the falls to get a sense of their height. Other options for today include a guided hike or horse ride – ask us for details if you’re interested!
Read More Day 6, Golden Circle We will also give you some extra top tips for how to spend your day, along with a few insider recommendations of lesser-known gems… Day 7, Golden Circle You’ll also visit Thingvellir. For nearly a thousand years, the tribes and clans from across the country would meet here every summer for the world’s oldest parliament. Although nothing physical remains, the remote nature of the location, surrounded by hundreds of miles of challenging terrain, gives you an appreciation of how hardy the early settlers must have been. For budding geologists – this is also the only place that you can see the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet! Day 8 Golden Circle Day 9 Blue Lagoon You’ll be staying in this area tonight, as it’s where the airport is located. Depending on how your timings go, you might decide to explore more of the Peninsula. Highlights include the Reykjanestá bird cliff, the colourful Gunnuhver geothermal hot spring field, Brimketill natural lava rock pool and the Krýsuvík hot spring area with its boardwalk and steamy bubbling pools. Day 10 Departure
Leave the south coast behind and head to the Golden Circle, Iceland’s historic heartland. Along today’s route there are several stops that we recommend, such as Iceland’s oldest swimming pool, a natural geothermal pool complete with small geyser! Other great stops include the incredible Gullfoss, Iceland’s most famous waterfall and a truly majestic sight, and the well-known geysers at Haukadalur. This dramatic and barren moon-like valley is home to a number of geysers, the most impressive of which erupts reliably every 5-7 minutes in a huge spout. Hold your noses here as the smell of sulphur is strong!
An exciting day of adventure today. Did you ever imagine you’d snorkel in Iceland? Well, today you will… Snorkelling the Silfra Fissure is truly a ‘one of a kind’ amazing experience where you will immerse yourself in the clearest water in the world and float between two continents! Accompanied by a guide, and dressed in a dry suit, you will float through the fissure, through glacier water that has been passing through volcanic rock for 30 to 100 years. When you finish, enjoy a mug of hot chocolate and cookies to warm up.
Head out with a private guide to explore the area around the hot springs of Reykjadalur, the ‘Smoky Valley’. Your adventure starts with a drive on a super jeep to the trek start point (which will vary depending on the weather). From here, start trekking through a spectacular landscape peppered with hot springs. You will stop along the way to swim in a hot pool and will enjoy a delicious snack of homemade tomato soup and Icelandic eggs that is cooked in the springs, served with 24-hour underground bread!
After breakfast, make your way back west, driving back through Reykjavik to the Reykjanes Peninsula for a soak in the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal seawater reserve known for its positive effects on the skin. The lagoon also features a waterfall for a massage and a steam bath.
All too soon, it’s time for your adventure to end. Drive back to the airport today, in time for your flight home.
Company Google reviews
Call us and we will be happy to provide you with a free-of-charge no obligation itinerary and quotation designed for you.
01728 752751
Iceland in pictures
Why choose us?
- Unparalleled family travel experience
- Specialist knowledge across six continents
- Hand-picked local partners
- Every holiday is tailor-made for you
- 100% financial protection
- 24hr emergency contact number
100% Financial
Protection
We are members of the Travel Trust Association, a trade association of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Travel Organisers that operate trust accounts in order to provide financial protection for the consumer. Membership number Q0176.
