Lava Waterfalls, Sagas & Unique Canyon Baths - Small Group Tour

About this experience

Explore the home of the Icelandic Sagas on our Silver Circle Day tour of the wild landscapes of West Iceland, visiting magical waterfalls, spectacular canyon baths, powerful hot springs and much more.

What's included

Itinerary

1. Tour stop

   Your first stop is Bifröst in West Iceland, a name you might recognize from Norse mythology. Here you’ll visit the Glanni waterfall, which lends a mythic feel to what’s often described as the boundary between the human and the gods’ realms. The falls drop in several steps across the ancient lava fields of Grábrókarhraun. As you take in Glanni, you’ll also have a clear view of the three Grábrók volcanic craters rising above the surrounding fields.

2. Tour stop

   Deildartunguhver is the first sight on the tour - the most powerful hot spring in Europe, which is so strong that it provides hot water and power for the locals for miles around. After spending some time walking amongst the steaming clouds of vapor at Deildartunguhver, we’ll move onto Hraunfossar, also known as the “Lava Waterfalls”.

3. Tour stop

   Enjoy an unforgettable visit to the Sturlureykir Icelandic horse farm. You can get as close as you want to these beautiful friendly animals and then enjoy some home made "hot spring bread" called rugbraud in Icelandic with a nice cup of coffee or ice cool water.

4. Tour stop

   Our last stop is at Reykholt, which used to be the medieval home of Snorri Sturluson, a famous Icelandic historian and chieftain. Here you’ll find Snorralaug (Snorri’s Pool), another traditional natural hot spring, where local people have bathed since the 12th century. From there, we will return you to the capital city, after a day of wonder and exploration in the wilds of West Iceland.

5. Tour stop

   Hraunfossar are a majestic waterfalls that stretch for nearly a kilometer over ancient lava fields, with meltwater from the Langjokull glacier pouring into the Hvita river, seen from several viewing platforms.

6. Tour stop

   Just a few yards away is Barnafoss, also known as “the waterfall of the children”, a name it was given when two local children tragically fell from a stone bridge into the waters here. The grieving mother had the bridge destroyed to save others from her sad fate.

7. Tour stop

   Our next stop is Husafell, a breathtaking woodland oasis and a historical site with traditional turf houses and even some “elf huts” to delight the children too. You’ll also see intriguing works by local artists, as well as the famous “Lifting Stone of Husafell”. From Husafell, you’ll now be transported in 4WD cars further inland to the Deildargil Canyon, where you’ll see Langifoss, a towering two-tiered waterfall. Very few people know about Langifoss, as it’s not mentioned on many maps, so this is a special treat.

8. Tour stop

   The best part of the tour comes next, as we take you to the Canyon Baths, an enchanting and exclusive experience, a traditional Icelandic hotpot found deep in the magnificent Hringsgil canyon. Three geothermally-heated stone pools of varying temperatures (30-41°C or 86-105°F), have been built here, along with a cold-water pot and a cooling waterfall, using traditional methods and materials. The Canyon Baths are an extremely peaceful and relaxing place too, as they allow no more than twenty visitors at a time. Sustainably built in a remote location, it’s a wonderful place in which to relax and unwind, imagining what it was like for the early settlers to bathe in the same way. The Canyon Bath are situated in a protected natural environment, so that means no soaps can be used in the showers, but guests are welcome to use the facilities at Husafell for free as well. Bathing shoes and towels are also provided for you.

Know before you go

• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels