Group tours

Day 1
Keflavík at 08:00 with Reykjavík (Harpa) pick-up at 09:00 – South Shore via Seljalandsfoss – Skógafoss – Reynisfjara – Vík – Skaftafell
We will start the pick up in accommodation in Keflavík in the morning and then head to Harpa music hall where you can also join in and head up to the South Shore.
The drive from Reykjavík to Selfoss (a journey of around 1 hour) travels over a high mountain pass, across the Mid Atlantic Ridge and allows extensive lava fields and many volcanic peaks to be seen. The large geothermal power station of Hellisheidi is passed on the way, its numerous powerful steam vents rising skywards.
Iceland, anywhere, offers greatly contrasting scenes in ever changing landscapes on any journey. To travel the South Coast is an excellent example of this. Travelling east, soon the looming mass of Eyjafjallajökull appears, the now famous volcano as a result of its 2010 eruption. Views towards the icecaps of Tindfjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull icecaps as well as towards the Westmann Islands are also enjoyed.
The Markarfljót river is a wide and powerful river, its grey and black gravels and sands forming beautiful, temporary grey-scale features in its sediment choked river channel. The river’s flow naturally changes with the seasons and the weather but, on occasion (as in the 2010 eruption on Eyjafjallajökull), glacial floods (called jökulhlaup) can significantly increase the river’s flow to dangerous levels.
Moving on, it is on to some stunning the waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss is a slender “horse’s tail” of a waterfall, falling about 40 metres over ancient sea cliffs; this waterfall is one that can often be walked behind and around (if frost/ice free).
Skógafoss, by contrast, is more of a “curtain” of cascading water. Wider, and falling over 60 metres, this waterfall clearly demonstrates how waterfalls, given time, develop gorges downstream from their lips.
Moving on, the journey continues under the icecaps of Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull and towards the readily accessible valley glacier of Sólheimajökull. The present height of the permanent ice line is around 900m and the icecaps positively glisten when clouds are high, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Visiting Sólheimajökull glacier allows the scale of such features to be realized as well as the landforms of erosion and deposition that they create. This glacier is presently in retreat, significantly shortening, thinning and narrowing in recent decades. The snout area is entrancing with its temporary little lakes, mounds of ice cored moraines and abandoned ice blocks with their multitude of blue/turquoise hues. Beneath Mýrdalsjökull sits Katla volcano; when this one blows this area of southern Iceland will need to be remapped!
A stop is made at Reynishverfi where an extensive black pebble beach, spit and bar has developed. Also here are classic columnar basalt structures to be seen in the towering cliff face. This powerful coastal area offers a very fine end to the sightseeing of day.
A visit is then made to Vík. Here is a lunch stop where people can buy their lunches or have their packed lunches. Here café can also be enjoyed and a visit to the Vík Wool and Gift Shop.
Day 2
Skaftafell – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Skaftafell a short hike – Selfoss
We begin todays tour by driving past Höfðabrekka and the road to Þakgil which was the filming locations for the Frostfang Mountains, the mountain range in the far north of Westeros.
We head up to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón. The lagoon is one of the greatest natural pearls in south Iceland. You can explore this beautiful area that is rich in bird life, as it is among the main breeding grounds of the Arctic tern and the great skua.
When looking over Jökulsárlón you will see Vatnajökull, Europe´s largest glacier. Vatnajökull glacier was the filming locations for the “land beyond the wall” home to the White walkers and the wildlings.
Along the coastline, you can see many glacial tongues and one of Iceland’s largest volcanoes, Öræfajökull glacier, with the highest peak in the country.
We head to National Park Skaftafell, where we will have the option to take a walk to the waterfall Svartifoss, which is one of a kind.
After the walk in Skaftafell we head back the South shore coastline to Selfoss area.
Day 3
Selfoss area – Þjórsárdalur – Stöng – Hjálparfoss – Laugarvatn – Þingvellir
We begin this day by driving up to Thjórsárdalur a beautiful valley in South Iceland. We take a short hike to explore the valley or relax in the nature and take photographs.
Þjórsárdalur valley was the location for the epic voyage of Jon Snow, Ygritte and the free folk in Season 3.
We then head up to Stöng and visit the area that was the site of the greatest massacre and most elaborate scene in the series so far in season 4. You can explore the beautiful surroundings in this area. We also visit Hjálparfoss, a beautiful waterfall in the area.
After revisiting the story line of Game of Thrones we drive through Laugarvatn on our way to Thingvellir where part of Game of Thrones was also filmed.
Thingvellir National Park (and World Heritage Site) shows the Mid Atlantic Ridge in all its glory with lava flows, numerous gaping fissures and volcanic cones (e.g. Skjaldbreiður, a most impressive shield volcano).
In this section of the Mid Atlantic Ridge, uniquely lying above the ocean’s surface, an understanding of plate tectonics and continental drift is easy to grasp. It is here that the separating North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate can very clearly be seen.
Þingvellir has been a filming location both in summer and winter. It was used for its summer
beauty when Arya Stark and Sandor Glegane travelled from village to village in mid-Westeros in season 4.
In the series the amazing gorge Almannagjá in Þingvellir was used as a filming location for the stomping ground of the White walkers and the trail of the Wildlings from north of the Wall.
After plenty of time to stroll the area, to visit Öxarárfoss and to absorb some of the area’s splendid history (Thingvellir is the site of the Althingi, the world’s first democratic parliament), it is time to return to Selfoss area.
Day 4
Reykjanes Peninsula – Selfoss area – Grindavík sea village – Reykjanes Lighthouse – Gunnuhver – The Bridge between continents – Keflavík – Reykjavík
The South-Western region of the Reykjanes Peninsula is the home of a future geothermal park where the North Atlantic ridge rises from the ocean. Here you can find 100 different craters, caves and lava fields, a variety of birdlife; astonishing cliffs, high geothermal activity, and black sand beaches.
Grindavík is a prosperous fishing community. Salt Fish Museum – illustrating the fishing industry of the past – and MAGMA Earth Energy Exhibition – explaining Iceland’s volcanic origins, geology and tectonic processes – are most informative (these are optional visits).
Gunnuhver, which is the largest hot mud spring in Iceland with a crater of 20 metres in circumference. There are two ramps that offer a great view of Gunnuhver and the surrounding geo-systems of steam vents and hot springs.
Reykjanesviti, is a lighthouse which was built in 1908 and the centre piece to some of the most active geothermal hotspot activities found in Iceland.
The bridge between continents: The lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. According to the continental drift theory the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with great forces under the gaping rifts. The bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America.
NOTE: Either before the commencement of this tour or after its completion, should you wish to be in Iceland longer, GT Travel can readily assist you with additional accommodation, a selection of guided day tours, car hire, etc. Please make contact with us gt@www.gttravel.is or via the Contact Form found on www.gttravel.is