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Nature · Iceland

Iceland Whales & Waterfalls: 6 Days

Whales, the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon, all from one Reykjavík base, with the Perlan ice cave and Icelandic horses as optional add-ons. No car needed.

  • 6 days / 5 nights
  • Starts at Keflavík (KEF)
  • No car needed
Three Atlantic puffins on a grassy cliff in Iceland

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

6sights on the route
5nights in one Reykjavík hotel
1whale-watching trip
1Golden Circle day by coach
ReykjavíkGolden CircleBlue LagoonKeflavík
2Day 2

Whales and the Old Harbour

Whales from the Old Harbour

Elding whale watching

Why it is worth itA whale-watching boat from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. In puffin season you can swap to the puffin tour if your kids would rather see puffins.

Insider tipDress everyone warmly, even in summer; it is cold out on deck.

Optional add-on

Perlan Wonders of Iceland

The indoor ice cave, the glacier exhibit and the observation deck at Perlan, on a hill above Reykjavik.

$95 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

Golden Circle by coach

The Golden Circle by coach

Þingvellir National Park

Why it is worth itA national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site where you walk through a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian plates. Iceland’s parliament first met here in 930.

Insider tipWalk the Almannagjá gorge path between the rock walls; it is an easy, mostly level walk.

Geysir and Strokkur

Why it is worth itThe geothermal area that gave every geyser its name. Strokkur erupts every few minutes, so you will not wait long.

Insider tipStand upwind of Strokkur so the spray does not soak you, and stay on the paths; the water is boiling.

Gullfoss

Why it is worth itA powerful two-tier waterfall on the Hvítá river that drops into a deep canyon.

Insider tipBring a waterproof layer for the lower path; the spray carries a long way.

4Day 4

A slow morning, or horses and waffles

A slow morning and a warm pool

A Reykjavík geothermal pool

Optional, paid on site

Why it is worth itSwim like a local in a neighborhood pool heated by geothermal water.

Insider tipEveryone showers without a swimsuit before getting in; it is the rule.

Optional add-on

Ishestar Horses and Waffles Ride

A gentle 50-minute ride on an Icelandic horse in the lava fields near Hafnarfjordur, then waffles and hot chocolate.

$220 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

6Day 6

Blue Lagoon and home

A last soak

Blue Lagoon

Why it is worth itA geothermal spa in a lava field on the Reykjanes peninsula, with warm, milky-blue water. It is close to the airport, so it is an easy last stop.

Insider tipPut conditioner in your hair and try to keep it out of the water; the minerals leave it stiff for days.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

This one is designed so no one has to drive after an overnight flight. You base yourselves in Reykjavík for five nights at Fosshotel Reykjavík, with family and connecting rooms, and the tour buses pick you up at the stop next door. The kids get whales (or puffins), geysers and waterfalls on the Golden Circle, and a last swim at the Blue Lagoon on the way to the airport. The ice cave at Perlan and Icelandic horses with a waffle are optional add-ons.

  • Whales and the Old HarbourMorning Elding whale watching from the Old Harbour.
  • Golden Circle by coachFull-day guided Golden Circle Classic tour with pickup near the hotel: Þingvellir, Geysir (Strokkur erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss.
  • A slow morning, or horses and wafflesA slow morning in Reykjavík, or add Íshestar "Horses & Waffles" in Hafnarfjörður: a gentle introduction to Icelandic horses, followed by waffles (optional add-on).
  • Free family dayOptions: Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo, a city pool, Hallgrímskirkja tower, or an optional add-on tour.

Trip at a glance

Length
6 days / 5 nights
Starts / ends
Keflavík Airport (KEF)
Getting around
No car needed; transfers and tour pickups booked
Pace
One base, one main activity a day
Best time to go
June to August
Great for
Families with kids about 6 and up
Accommodations
Comfort Plus
Flights
Not included. You book; timing tips in your pre-trip guide

Day by day

Day 1 and day 6 are travel days. The order of the days in between is flexible and can shift with the weather.

Day 1Arrive and settle in
Flybus from KEF with drop-off at your hotel (the "Flybus to hotel" fare; Fosshotel Reykjavík is served via Bus Stop 12, right beside the hotel). Rest, a walk to the harbour, an early night.
Day 2Whales and the Old Harbour
Morning Elding whale watching from the Old Harbour. Swap to the Elding puffin tour in puffin season if your kids would rather see puffins. Afternoon free around the harbour, or add Perlan: the indoor ice cave, the glacier exhibit and the observation deck (optional add-on).
Day 3Golden Circle by coach
Full-day guided Golden Circle Classic tour with pickup near the hotel: Þingvellir, Geysir (Strokkur erupts every few minutes) and Gullfoss.
Day 4A slow morning, or horses and waffles
A slow morning in Reykjavík, or add Íshestar "Horses & Waffles" in Hafnarfjörður: a gentle introduction to Icelandic horses, followed by waffles (optional add-on). Afternoon at a Reykjavík geothermal pool (optional, paid on site).
Day 5Free family day
Options: Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo, a city pool, Hallgrímskirkja tower, or an optional add-on tour. Any of these can be booked for you.
Day 6Blue Lagoon and home
Check out, take the transfer to the Blue Lagoon (Comfort entry), then the transfer on to KEF for your flight.

What’s included

Included

  • 5 nights at Fosshotel Reykjavík
  • Flybus airport transfer from KEF to the hotel
  • Elding whale watching (or the puffin tour)
  • Golden Circle Classic guided day tour
  • Blue Lagoon Comfort entry, with transfers Reykjavík → Blue Lagoon → KEF
  • A day-by-day plan and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • International flights
  • Rental car (not needed)
  • Meals (hotel breakfast is about ISK 4,700 adult / 2,350 child per day if you'd like to add it)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending and optional add-ons

Optional add-ons: Perlan Wonders of Iceland ($95 per person), Ishestar Horses and Waffles Ride ($220 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Your hotels, experiences, transfers and guides are booked for you. Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.

Questions

What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
Do I need a car?
No. Car-free. Airport bus, tour pickups at the bus stop next to the hotel, and a Blue Lagoon transfer on the way home.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so your arrival and departure fit the plan.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$7,378
2 travelers · 6 days / 5 nights
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