Discovery & Wellness in Iceland

Arrive in Reykjavik and take a taxi to your hotel, Blu 1919, located close to the harbor and the famous Harpa music hall. Most flights to Iceland from the US are overnight, so take the day to relax, walk around Reykjavik a bit, and recover from your travels.

Tonight, we’ll take a walking tour on the way to dinner where we will enjoy local cuisine along with a wine pairing.

After a morning yoga session and breakfast, we’ll meet our driver and start our first day of exploration visiting the lava fields left by the most recent volcanic eruption in Fagradalsfjall. Lava fields are created when flowing lava cools off and forms artistic designs on Iceland’s landscapes. With time, the lava fields are covered in green moss and integrate into Iceland’s landscapes.

We’ll walk on, around, and along the most recent lava fields while we practice a walking meditation technique that you can use on your own for the rest of the week. Afterward, we’ll drive to a nearby fishing village to indulge in a warm bowl of lobster soup (vegetarian options available). This meal is often remembered as one of the highlights of a trip to Iceland.

After lunch, we’ll continue to what is perhaps the most famous thermal pool in the country, The Blue Lagoon. It's a geothermal pool of seawater mixed with freshwater that is generally between 37°C and 40°C. There's something very special about immersing yourself in the warm thermal hot spring waters when it is chilly outside, as it usually is in October in Iceland. The Blue Lagoon contains silica, algae, and minerals, thought to cleanse, heal and rejuvenate, and we’ll do just that thanks to the three face masks included in our Premium Package.

Our package will also include a bathrobe, towels and slippers, and your drink of choice at the swim-up bar. Take a toast to the fabulous experience with a glass of bubbly before rinsing off and getting ready for dinner at Lava Restaurant, right at the Blue Lagoon.

Dinner will start with a glass of sparkling wine followed by a seasonal Icelandic dinner made from the finest local ingredients.

After an invigorating yoga session at the hotel followed by breakfast, we’ll start our road trip. Today we’ll head all the way to the south shore to explore some of the mightiest waterfalls and most striking landscapes. In Iceland, the journey is often just as spectacular as the destination. The landscapes are so majestic that you can spend hours mesmerized by the abruptly changing weather, the otherworldly lava fields, the moss-covered hills, and the volcanic rocks.

Our first stop of the day will be at Seljalandsfoss waterfall, the famous waterfall you can walk behind thanks to the large caverns behind the tall but narrow drop. Dressing in waterproof clothing is key because the force of nature is apparent the moment you approach the waterfalls.

Here we’ll enjoy a refreshing waterfall meditation, practicing mindfulness to soak up the moment.

After Seljalandsfoss we’ll continue towards another waterfall, perhaps the most impressive of them all, Skogafoss. Skogafoss is famous because of the sheer amount of water that pours off the cliff right in front of you. The water spray here is at its strongest and often results in beautiful rainbows - sometimes double or even triple rainbows! You can admire Skogafoss from the bottom or walk up the 400 steps to get to the top.

We’ll continue driving to Reynisfjara black beach where we'll enjoy a simple yet hearty, freshly prepared lunch at a local cafe. After lunch, we have free time at this mythical black sand beach, flanked by the Reynisdrangarbasalt cliffs on one side and the wild ocean waves on the other. The area, and the beach in particular, are steeped in legends about trolls frozen by the morning sun. Look out for the rock formations in the ocean.

After exploring the area and trying to capture its raw beauty, we’ll drive back toward Reykjavik and stop for an early seasonal dinner at a cozy restaurant. 

We’ll arrive back in Reykjavik in the evening, on time to catch the Auroras in the streets of the city as they are often spotted in October.

Today we’ll wake to another fantastic yoga session followed by breakfast and a more relaxing day. We’ll leave Reykjavik a bit later than usual to allow for a bit of free time to do last-minute shopping in town, and then we’ll head over to Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO-listed site and the heart of Iceland’s birth.

Thingvellir is known as the place where the annual Parliament convened from the 10th century to the end of the 18th century. Today, it's a pleasant and very well-maintained park with a network of trails and well-marked paths.

We’ll enjoy some free time, then continue to the beautiful ION Adventure Hotel. ION is located far away from any nearby urban development and enjoys the peace and quiet that makes Iceland so special. The outdoor pool is a favorite spot, as is the glass observatory lounge from which you can enjoy sprawling views of the area surrounding the hotel and relax with a book. Ask for a hiking trail map. The map allows guests access to various trails on the lava fields around the hotel. 

We’ll head to the restaurant for lunch. We'll have some time in the afternoon to discover the nearby hiking trails, soak in the heated thermal outdoor pool or book a massage at the spa.

We’ll reconvene for a group dinner at the hotel’s premium restaurant. Here, beautiful locally sourced meals are served with a side of the same panoramic views.

After dinner, why not enjoy one last dip in the thermal pool?

If the Northern Lights are spotted, the hotel will wake you to let you know to head over to the observatory lounge, so you don’t have to wait outside in the cold.

We have saved perhaps the most famous day of the trip for the last. Wake up to a wonderful morning meditation session at ION’s beautiful yoga room then enjoy a leisurely breakfast by the window to start the day on the right foot.

Today is all about finishing the rest of the Golden Circle. We’ll start the day off at the strongest of all the waterfalls, Gulfoss, which you can enjoy from above. Water drops around 31m here and passes through raids and a narrow canyon that truly shows you the force of nature. You can see the waterfall from the main drop off point or walk a few steps up to a viewing platform for a wider view.

After Gulfoss, we’ll continue to see the Great Geysir and Strokkur Geysers. On a good day, and depending on the weather, the geyser can explode high into the air surprising all those around it. 

A visit to Iceland could not be complete without learning more about two uniquely Icelandic things: its horses and its greenhouse agriculture. We’ll enjoy lunch and a tour at an organic farm housed inside a greenhouse. Because of the weather, growing vegetables and fruits in Iceland can be a challenge so the local growers have designed a system of greenhouses that allow them to grow the kind of vegetables and fruits that grow in warm climates with the help of bumblebees.

Lunch will consist of a soup buffet with plenty of creamy butter and bread and a separate a la carte menu you can order from. The tomato beer is an intriguing choice.

After lunch, we’ll be graced with a private Icelandic horse demonstration of this indigenous horse breed not found anywhere else in the world. You can also stroke and get up and close with the horses at the stables.

We’ll return back to ION with free time to enjoy the outdoor pool or hiking trails before our final farewell drink and dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll drive back to Reykjavik and will be dropped off at the Radisson Blu 1919 around 11am where our lovely time together in Iceland will end. Depending on when your flight back home is, this day can be a final exploration day.