Iceland 8-Day Vacation: Dive into the Historic & Cultural Past of Iceland

When you land at Keflavik Airport, your private transfer will drive you to Reykjavik, which is the world’s most northern capital. As you and your guide wander around the city, you will be provided with a relaxing introduction to Iceland. With every step that you take along the cobblestones below the snow-capped mountains, you will feel the history of the Vikings who laid the groundwork for Reykjavik to become a big city with a small-town vibe. After having dinner at the only Michelin-starred restaurant in the city, your guide will direct you to your luxurious accommodation for the remainder of the evening.

In the morning, your guide will escort you to Stykkisholmur, which is located in West Iceland near Snaefellsnes Peninsula. From there, you will venture to Gufuskalar, which is one of the oldest fishing sites in the country. Here, you will find Irskrabrunnur or the Well of the Irish, which has been in the area since the 9th century. After lunch, you will venture to Gudrunarlaug or Gudrun’s pool, where a small body of water is naturally fed from a hot spring. It is one of the oldest pools in the country, and it dates back about 1,000 years.

After an Icelandic breakfast, you will transfer to Skagafjordur, where the famous Battle of Orlygsstadir took place. When you step onto the original battlefield and witness the monument that has been dedicated to the fight, you will be amazed. Your next stop will be Gasir. This area was once a major trading post in Northern Iceland during the Middle Ages. The cultural hub of Siglufjordur is known for being a picturesque town along with its award-winning Herring Era Museum. Here, the museum is split into three houses that depict the progression of their fishing process and how it turns fish into a meal or oil.

Today, you will visit Hofskirkja Cathedral, which was built in 1763 and is one of the oldest stone-built churches in Iceland. Nyibaer or New Farm in Holar is a captivating turf-house that was built in 1860. The name is misleading because the old farm was still standing when the new one was built, and people even lived here until 1945. You will step inside the turf-house and be met with an index of archeological artifacts and relics. Afterward, you will venture to Gvendarbrunnar, which is a well that was blessed by the bishop and later saint Gudmundur Arason. Then, you will come across a trail that leads up to Mount Gvendarskal.

This morning, you will travel to Asbyrgi Canyon or the Shelter of the Gods. Your guide will then direct you to the helicopter center, where you will take to the skies for a bird’s eye view of this magnificent canyon. You will touch down on the top of this emerald-cloaked canyon and be amazed by the rocky cliffs that surround you. After your tour, you will drive past the canyon to the northernmost point of the country. When you reach the Arctic Henge and the sacred ground that is similar to its predecessor, Stonehenge, it will have mystical qualities because it harnesses the power of the midnight sun.

Kirkjubaer Abbey was Iceland’s first abbey and steeped in religious history. It has also been in operation since 1186. You will visit the abbey before transferring to Myrdalsjokull Glacier, which is the country’s fourth-largest ice cap. After the ice cap, your guide will lead you down to one of National Geographic’s Top 100 non-tropical beaches: Reynisfjara Beach. From there, you will travel to Reyniskirkja Church, which was finished in 1934. When you step onto the landscape and look out across the vast ocean, you will feel as if you have entered another world.

This morning, you will visit Hofsstadir Historic Park, which is where a Viking longhouse sits. The longhouse was first built during the Settlement period from 870 - 930 AD, and the park retains much of the ancient feel that it possessed during that era. After your tour, you will transfer to Reykholt, which is the home of the Viking’s literature. Here, you will explore Snorrastofa Center, which is the cultural and medieval center of Reykholt. Skalholt is a historical site that is located on the Hvita River, and this will be your last stop of the day. It was the center of ecclesiastical power for 700 years but still remains a holy place in many Icelandic people’s hearts.

This morning, your guide will lead you to Bessastadir, which is now the presidential residence but once played a prominent historical role in Iceland’s past. When you walk through the halls of the president’s home, only by invitation, you will feel the historical tug from Iceland’s previous dwellers. Afterward, you will travel to the village of Fludir. To conclude your adventure in Iceland, you will visit the Secret Lagoon and sink into its warm depths. After your spa-like experience, you will be transferred to Keflavik Airport for your flight home.