Whether you're interested in whale watching on Iceland's beautiful southern coast, or taking a scenic flight over spectacular volcanoes and glaciers, Reykjavik makes the perfect base from which to explore this magical country.
Reykjavik is a city surrounded by geological wonders. Lava fields, mountains, thermal pools and glaciers are all close at hand and offer plenty of exciting opportunities for day trips and excursions.
Whether you're interested in whale watching on Iceland's beautiful southern coast, or taking a scenic flight over spectacular volcanoes and glaciers, Reykjavik makes the perfect base from which to explore this magical country.
Below is a selection of our favourite excursions. Please contact your Wexas Travel specialist for a full list.
Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a unique geothermal spa situated in the youngest lava field in west Iceland. Once there you have many recreational options such as walking in the Blue Lagoon’s spectacular surroundings, bathing in the milky blue-green water, relax in a geothermal steam bath or release the stress from your shoulders under a Blue Lagoon waterfall.
The departure time and duration is flexible. Entrance fee is included. Blue Lagoon is also available as arrival or departure transfer from/to Keflavik airport.
Prices from: £60 pp. June to August, £50 pp. rest of year. Includes standard entrance fee and shared bus transfer. Operates year-round.
Glaciers & volcanoes air tour
Fly over the site of the dramatic 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption on a never-to-be-forgotten aerial tour. Other highlights seen from above include Hekla volcano, another of Iceland's most active volcanoes, Thingvellir National Park, the spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall, Thórsmörk Nature Reserve and the multicoloured, rhyolite peaks of Landmannalaugar.
Prices from: £215 pp. Duration: 30 mins. Operates year-round.
Golden Circle tour
The Golden Circle is a popular route of about 300km looping out from Reykjavik and taking in some of Iceland's best natural and historical attractions. Pick-up from your hotel is free and highlights include Thingvellir National Park, where the old Icelandic parliament was founded in 930 AD, the geothermal area of Nesjavellir, Gullfoss Waterfall and the spouting hot springs of Geysir, after which geysers the world over were named, and Strokkur, which erupts spectacularly every 20 minutes.
Prices from: £60 pp. Duration: 8 hrs 30 mins. Operates year-round.
Golden Circle & Langjokull Glacier by super jeep
This excursion offers you a chance to see and experience some of Iceland’s greatest natural phenomena, geology and history. With the guidance and stops along the way you will become a part of the nature and a part of our history. We travel first to Thingvellir National Park where the parliament was founded over 1000 years ago. At Thingvellir you will see how the earth is ever so slowly pulling apart along the crustal plates and you will be able to stand where the Viking settlers stood centuries ago. Next we visit the geothermal area in Haukadalur where you can see geysers, hot springs, steam vents and brightly coloured algae. Strokkur is one of the largest and most powerful geysers and erupts almost every 10 minutes. The waterfall Gullfoss is something you will never forget and to some people it is the queen of Icelandic waterfalls. High and mighty it looks at you before it tumbles violently into the deep gorge and at Gullfoss café we stop for lunch. Now it´s time to try out our vehicles by having a look at the glacier and our highlands, splashing through rivers and the rough terrain, you will enjoy the landscape from your Superjeep, stopping by incredible sights. After the offroad part we visit by Faxi, a small but beautiful waterfall and then head to the amazing crater Kerid before driving back to Reykjavik.
Snowmobiling at Langjokull glacier is optional on this tour at additional price. Please note that if passengers choose not to do the activity they might have to wait in the car or on the glacier while other passengers enjoy snowmobiling. Also please note that the activity is a subject to weather conditions.
Operation: Tues, Thurs and Sat. year round. Minimum 2 people.
Departure: 8.30am. Pick up from hotels 15 minutes earlier
Includes: pick up and drop off to hotels, guided Superjeep tour
Duration: 8-9 hours
Price: £200 pp
Snowmobiling: £120 pp extra if 2 on 1 snowmobile and £150 if driving single
South coast sightseeing and glacier walk from Reykjavik
In this tour we will take you to the Sólheimajökull glacier on the south coast of Iceland. We pick you up from your accommodation in Reykjavík in the morning and drive along the south coast, past the volcano Eyjafjallajökulland to the glacier. Sólheimajökull glacier is a part of the fourth largest glacier in Iceland, Mýrdalsjökull glacier, about 600 km2. Underneath the glacier lies the volcano Katla, one of the biggest volcanoes in Iceland.
We will provide all the safety equipment needed for the ice and after a lesson in ice walking we will head onto the glacier to experience this unique environment with some amazing terrain with crevasse, sink holes and ice ridges.
After the glacier walk we will head back to Reykjavík and on the way we will stop and look at the magnificent waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.
Operation: daily year round
Departure: 8.00am. Pick up from hotels 15 minutes earlier
Includes: pick up and drop off to hotels, guided Superjeep tour
Duration: 9 hours - Glacier walk approx. 3 hours – about 1,5 to 2 hours on the ice
Price: £150 per person
Includes: All glacier equipment needed for the trip, English speaking guidance, transfers
Puffin Express
During each trip the boat goes as close as possible to the Puffin Island while an expert guide tells their visitors all about the magnificent Puffins and other majestic seabirds that can be seen during these tours. The guide will share his expert knowledge on Puffins with his guests, as well as telling them all about the other birds of interest they can be able to spot on these great tours. These birds include Northern Fulmars, Gulls, Arctic Terns, and Black Guillemots.
“Old Skúli” is a charming, old oak boat Special Tours use for their Puffin watching tours. It suits these sightseeing tours extremely well as on-board guests are able to enjoy excellent views from both inside and outside the boat. The boat is designed to be able to take passengers as close to the shoreline as possible due to its shallow draught. After circling the island, the captain will turn off the boat‘s engine to enjoy this wonderful moment of peace and quiet amongst Iceland‘s natural treasures.
Operates: 1 May – 20 August
Departures: Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30
Duration: 1 Hour
Prices: £30 per person
Included:
- Binoculars are offered on board
- Specially designed boat to get as close to the island as possible
- 100% viewing guarantee!
Whale watching from Reykjavik
Your whale watching adventure will start at Reykjavik´s old harbour located right in the city centre. Here you will be able to witness some of Iceland´s rich and thriving birdlife, particularly our famous sea birds, such as Gannets & Puffins, as well as visiting our rich variety of large sea-life, including minke and humpback whales, harbour porpoises and white-beaked dolphins!
You will board the ANDREA - the biggest whale-watching ship in Iceland and provides extra comfort, fantastic inside and outside viewing areas and a safe family-friendly environment. Inside we have a comfortable seating area with big windows for great viewing on both floors. You can also stay outside on our extra large viewing decks where everyone can find a spot by the railing and enjoy the fantastic panoramic bird’s-eye-view to capture the fantastic scenery around.
• 3 - 3.5 hours
• Comfortable inside seating
• Large viewing decks
• Café lounge with hot drinks and refreshments on board
• Warm overalls provided for your comfort
• Comfortable heated seating area and large windows for viewing
• Free wifi
Operates: Daily year round
Duration: 3 - 3.5 hours
Price: £45 (2016) £60 (2017) per person
Departs at 09:00, 13:00, 17:00
Includes warm overalls
NB If your tour does not sight a whale, we will offer you another ticket for free
The Viking Horse riding tour & Blue Lagoon
This combination of the Viking horse riding tour and The Blue Lagoon is for those who don’t have too much time but still want to make the most of it. Get acquainted with the Icelandic horse, which is a breed that has remained virtually unchanged since the Vikings brought it to Iceland in the 9th century. Enjoy a one-hour riding tour on the outskirts of the capital. After the healthy riding experience, we head to the Blue Lagoon. Entrance to Blue Lagoon included.
Operation: daily all year round
Departure: from Reykjavik at 09:30, 13:00
Pick up from hotels 45 mins earlier.
Duration: flexible. Departures back from Blue Lagoon at Return to Reykjavík is available at 15:00, 17:15 and 19:00. Please inform the bus driver on your way to the Blue Lagoon which departure you would like to take after visiting the Blue Lagoon.
Includes: Bus transfers, horse riding tour, guidance on horse riding part of this tour, entrance to the Blue Lagoon.
Price: £125 per person
