South & West Iceland Family Adventure

Arrive at Keflavik Airport, pick up your rental car and head to Reykjavik for your next two nights. Reykjavík’s town center is relatively small, which makes it easy to explore on foot. You’ll see Hallgrimskirkja Church which is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable buildings in Iceland and reminiscent of something you might see in Lord of the Rings.

Overnight in Reykjavik.Tenon Recommends: Reykjavik Saga Hotel 4* or similar

Highlights (optional): Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights Center, Hop On/Hop Off bus tour, Family park & Botanical Gardens, The Pearl, whale watching, Árbær open air museum, swimming in a local pool.

Reykjavík is definitely a family friendly city thanks to Iceland being a safe country with many parks for outdoor activities. Visit the busy harbor for a peek into the huge shipping business of fishing, cargo boats and sightseeing vessels, walk along the waterfront, explore the charming shopping area or visit local museums and sights.

Overnight in Reykjavik. Tenon Recommends: Reykjavik Saga Hotel 4* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (optional): Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights Center, Hop On/Hop Off bus tour, Family park & Botanical Gardens, The Pearl exhibition of Iceland’s natural wonders, whale watching, Árbær open air museum, swimming in a local pool.

Explore Iceland’s famed Golden Circle route which includes its most spectacular natural features: Þingvellir National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Geyser hot springs, and Gullfoss waterfall. Stop at the multicolored Kerið Volcanic Crater Lake, a fascinating landmark created 3000 years ago. Have your camera ready because the sites are nothing short of spectacular! After taking in the wonders, you’ll relax in the geothermal Secret Lagoon a hot spring always between 100* – 104* degrees fahrenheit.

Overnight in Selfoss. Tenon Recommends: Hotel Grímsborgír 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (included): Entrance to Secret Lagoon.

South Iceland is where the geothermal energy is harnessed for many greenhouses which produce most of Iceland’s vegetables. You can experience this first-hand with a visit to Friðheimar greenhouse cultivation center, then visit their Icelandic horses. Perhaps you’ve heard of Skyr, Iceland’s superfood similar to yogurt? You can stop at the Skyrland exhibition to learn the 1000-year story of how a Viking dairy product became a global health food. YUM!

Overnight in Selfoss. Tenon Recommends: Hotel Grímsborgír 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (optional): Friðheimar Greenhouse, Skyrland exhibition, horseback riding, swimming in a local pool.

South Iceland has breathtaking landscapes of waterfalls, volcanoes, glaciers, rugged coastline, and black beaches. Experience the spray from a waterfall as you walk behind it for a different perspective. In the distance, a glacier-volcano looms, completely covered by a massive icecap. Stand atop rugged sea cliffs, often teaming with seabirds and admire breathtaking views of the North Atlantic.

Overnight in Vik. Tenon Recommends: Vík Apartments 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Journey across the sands of glacier rivers and moss-covered lava fields further east, to Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull. Its glacial lagoon fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high.

Overnight in Vik. Tenon Recommends: Vík Apartments 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlight (included): Boat tour on the glacier lagoon.

Grab some coffee, tea or signature hot chocolate at Vik’s school bus coffee and book exchange, then say goodbye to this charming village and head to your next destination, a hotel with its own swimming pool and slides.

Overnight in Hveragerði. Tenon Recommends: Hotel Örk 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (Optional): Geothermal Park, Lava Show, bird watching boat tour, lava caving, horseback riding.

Drive northwest today. There are many interesting stops along the way including a volcanic crater, locations for short hikes and panoramic views of mountains, interesting basalt rock formations, and bird cliffs. The magnificent Snæfellsnes peninsula is known for its unparalleled scenery, and the highlight is no doubt the Snæfellsjökull glacier itself. The area is known for its national park, small fishing villages, birding and hiking opportunities, as well as history and culture.

Overnight in Hellnar. Tenon Recommends: Fosshótel Hellnar 3*, or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (optional): Lava caving.

Continue your adventure exploring the peninsula. Snæfellsjökull volcano, which is covered by a glacier, was made famous by the Jules Verne novel ‘A Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ which begins here, and Game of Thrones fans will recognize Kirkjufell as “the mountain like an arrowhead”. You’ll gain another scenic perspective from the water on a whale watching tour.

Overnight in Hellnar. Tenon Recommends: Fosshótel Hellnar 3*, or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (included): Whale watching.
Highlights (optional): Lava cave tour.

Your adventures continue with the opportunity to ascend a volcano crater on foot today for an incredible view of the countryside and surrounding mountains. Highlights include mossy lava fields, rivers and waterfalls. Stop in Reykholt to learn about the Icelandic sagas, and see Europe’s most powerful hot spring, the water from which is used for heating in nearby towns.

Overnight in Borgarnes. Tenon Recommends: Hraunsnef Hotel 3* or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (Optional): Glacier walk, Lava caving.

Head south to the Reykjanes peninsula, where lighthouses outnumber villages. Reykjanes has several high-temperature geothermal areas, three of which have been harnessed to generate electricity. In the Geothermal Energy Exhibition in the Hellisheiði lava fields, visitors can learn not merely about geothermal power but also local geological history.

Overnight in Grindavík. Tenon Recommends: Northern Lights Inn 3*, or similar
(Breakfast included)

Highlights (Optional): Geothermal Energy Exhibition.

Enjoy breakfast, then head over to the famous Blue Lagoon for fun and relaxation. Return your car, and board your flight back to the US or embark on further adventures!

(Breakfast included)
Highlights (Included): Blue Lagoon.