People walking down a trail on Backroads Trip
People on Backroads trip in Iceland
Iconic Geysir, geyser in Iceland
Iceland - Gullfoss Falls
Hveradalir Valley in Iceland
Backroads Iceland Multi-Adventure Tour
Horseback riding in Iceland
Picnic spread
Skogafoss waterfall in Iceland
Multi-Adventure
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Iceland's Golden Circle & Volcanic Highlands Multi-Adventure Tour

Majestic Mountains, Waterfalls & Geothermal Splendor

Couples, Friends & Solos

6 days 5 nights

Activity Level: 1-3

Premiere Hotels

From: $6,499 - $6,699 pp dbl occ

($1,750 - $1,800 for sgl occ)

Iceland's stunning Highlands delight at every turn. Trek through wild lunar landscapes and lava fields. Find steaming vents, verdant canyons and colorful rhyolite. Relax at remote and stunning hotels where Icelandic horses roam—places that feel a world away, yet are minutes from Southern Iceland's plunging waterfalls and spouting geysers.

Walk/Hike
Horseback
Raft
Iceland Multi-Adventure Tour map
Iceland Multi-Adventure Tour map

Iceland

Start/End Reykjavík

Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

Highlights

  • Witness Iceland's geothermal wonders—boiling and bubbling hot springs and mud pots, spouting geysers and steaming pools and lagoons
  • Hike through breathtaking scenery of Seltún on the Reykjanes Peninsula, also home to the newly erupting Fagradalsfjall volcano
  • Walk through “waterfall way,” where 26 falls vie for your attention, and visit the mighty tiered Gullfoss (Golden Falls) in its dramatic canyon
  • Embark on a private Super Jeep expedition to explore the remote stunning wilderness and hidden valleys of Iceland's colorful Highlands
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The Backroads Experience
The Backroads Experience
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Multi-Adventure Tours
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Itinerary

Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Day 1
Description

Start your journey with a hike to the recent eruption site of Fagradalsfjall Volcano | Wonder at the black lava and the marks and scars from the prolonged eruption | Continue to Gljufrabui, a hidden waterfall inside a narrow ravine, and walk behind the iconic Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

Accommodations
Exterior view of Skálakot Manor Hotel
Skálakot Manor Hotel
Hvolsvöllur
| Premiere Hotel

This elegant and cozy family-owned hotel and working farm with Icelandic horses and sheep is set in stunning countryside.

Days 2-3
Description

After witnessing the mighty Skógafoss, ride an all-terrain Super Jeep to the hard-to-reach Skógar plateau | Hike a section of the famous Fimmvörðuháls, passing 25 more waterfalls as you descend the stunning “waterfall way” | Drink in spectacular views of the south coast and the wide-open Atlantic Ocean | Explore lush green canyons, pass by grazing sheep and take in views of the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull ice caps | Learn about farming in Iceland and eat the mushrooms from the country’s only mushroom farm | Raft the glacial Hvítá River | At day’s end, slip into a basalt stone hot pool at our unique retreat | End the day with a lively performance by an Icelandic musician.

Accommodations
Exterior view of Torfhús Retreat
Torfhús Retreat
Selfoss
| Premiere Hotel

This remote retreat isn’t your average hotel—its traditional residences blend into the beautiful landscape with their living turf roofs and stone and reclaimed wooden walls.

Days 4-6
Description

Ride an Icelandic horse in the heart of the Golden Circle, where the Geysir geothermal field awaits—Strokkur hurls steaming water 100 feet into the air and massive Gullfoss waterfall flows and sprays along its wide staircases | Travel over a rocky desert to the heart of the remote Iceland Highlands in a Super Jeep | Explore an awe-inspiring and untouched wilderness filled with some of the most surreal landscapes on earth | Colorful jagged peaks, ice caps, hidden verdant canyons and ancient calderas await | Journey through the moon-like Hveradalir, the "valley of hot springs" filled with volcanic rhyolite, fumaroles and rising steam | Continue to Ásgard and be amazed at the rainbow-colored mountain slopes with the Hofsjökull glacier and the highlands in the distance | Discover picturesque Thingvellir before journeying back to Reykjavík.

Accommodations
Exterior view of Highland Base at Kerlingarfjoll
Highland Base at Kerlingarfjöll
Kerlingarfjöll
| Premiere Hotel

Experience the Highlands at this remote and newly renovated lodge, a historic oasis with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group

Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

Please Select a Group Size

Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Activity Level: 1-3

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.

Daily Route Options

Day 1
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 1 miles | 100 ft. gain
Level 1 | 2 miles | 400 ft. gain
Level 2 | 3 miles | 700 ft. gain
Day 2
Other
Super Jeep Expedition
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 5 miles | minimal elevation gain
Day 3
Other
Horseback Riding (1 Hour)
Other
Arctic Rafting on Hvitá River (3 Hours)
Day 4
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 3 miles | 300 ft. gain
Level 2 | 5 miles | 700 ft. gain
Level 3 | 8 miles | 700 ft. gain
Other
Super Jeep Expedition
Day 5
Walking & Hiking
Level 2 | 3 miles | 700 ft. gain
Level 2 | 4 miles | 500 ft. gain
Level 3 | 7 miles | 700 ft. gain
Day 6
Walking & Hiking
Level 1 | 2 miles | 200 ft. gain

What's Included

  • All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
  • Snacks and beverages between meals
  • Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
  • Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
  • Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
  • Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
  • All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
  • Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
  • On biking and multi-adventure trips with biking, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
  • Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
  • Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
  • Park and other entry fees
  • Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
  • Select coach transfers
  • Baggage transfers

Straight talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Climate & Itinerary Changes

The combination of Iceland's prolific waterfalls, vast ice fields, vibrant green landscape and warm ocean currents makes this island like no other place in the world. The island's climate can be as surprising as its terrain, with weather patterns and microclimates that can bring sun, wind, fog, sleet, rain and snow all in the same day (or hour!). Please be sure to bring warm layers and waterproof gear for every day of the trip. In addition, the fluctuating weather might result in flight and mid-trip itinerary changes, but your Backroads Leaders are always prepared to make necessary adjustments to ensure a great trip while keeping safety the top priority.

Shuttle Time

In order to access the most scenic routes and significant points of interest on this trip, multiple shuttles of one to three hours in our support vans and in Super Jeeps are incorporated into our itinerary.

Ask a trip expert

Have a question and need expert advice? Our team of Trip Consultants is here to help! You can also visit our Help Center.

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