Northern Lights and Whale Watch

Snæfellsnes National Park

Golden Circle and Thingvellir National Park

Fall in Love With the Dramatic Landscapes and Mystical Charm of Iceland

An enchanted island, defined by its dramatic landscapes of volcanoes, hot springs, and lava fields, Iceland is alive with vivid colors and a vibrant culture. Icelanders may believe in elves through their rich folklore tradition, but Reykjavik is a modern cosmopolitan city, and a very vegan-friendly place, with most restaurants offering at least one vegan option and with some dedicated vegan restaurants. This Iceland vegan tour is based in Reykjavik, a very walkable city, with a few 12-hour long day trips. Experience the magical Northern Lights, immerse in local culture, and enjoy some truly spectacular cuisine.

Why You’ll Love This Tour!

Travel the Golden Circle, an almost 200 mile route around Reykjavik that includes along the route Thingvellir National Park, Gulfoss waterfall and Haukadalur valley with its multiple geysers and hot springs

Visit the Southern Region of Iceland, with its black sand beach and various stunning waterfalls, and Snæfellsnes National Park, a magical and otherworldly experience

Enjoy a whale watching boat tour and a late-night Northern Lights experience

Click the Tabs to Find Out More

Essential Info

Essential Info

Price

$5262 USD/per person

*A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tour cost, along with a registration form, are required in order to join the tour. Your space is not guaranteed until both of these are received.


Dates

September 7-14, 2024


Tour duration

7 nights/days


Group size

7-10 people


Included

  • 7 nights accommodations
  • 7 breakfasts
  • 2 lunches
  • 7 dinners
  • Airport Transfers
  • Sightseeing and activity admissions
  • Transportation between activities
  • All logistics are taken care of for you

Not included

  • Airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages

What to bring

Comfortable shoes.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for any unexpected emergency expenses.


About your guide

One tour leader/guide

Trip Overview

On Day 1, Arrival Day, the adventure begins with an airport bus transfer to our hotel, with an optional visit to the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on the way. We’ll have a welcome dinner the first night.

On Day 2, our first full day, we will enjoy a walking tour of Reykjavik, the nation’s capital. As our tour is based in Reykjavik, this is a good opportunity to note places of interest where you may wish to return during your free time. We will have lunch in Reykjavik before visiting the Perlan Museum. Following dinner, we will embark upon a search for the Northern Lights.

On Day 3 of our trip, we will travel to Iceland’s Golden Circle to experience some of the most amazing and popular natural wonders and sites of Iceland.

Day 4 brings the wonder of a whale watch, followed by a Vegan Walking Tour of Reykjavik. You’ll have some free time in the afternoon to visit places of interest.

On Day 5, we embark upon a day-long tour to the south shore to visit a charming village, waterfalls, and a black sand beach.

Day 6 takes us to Snæfellsnes National Park which boasts dramatic and dreamy landscapes and sites. Later that day, we will head back to Reykjavik for dinner.

On Day 7, we will enjoy one of Reykjavik’s quirkier tours: A Cat Tour! This tour explores the history of famous cats in Iceland, and 10% of the profits of the tour go to the Cat Protection Society and its shelter. Following an afternoon of leisure time, we will regroup for our farewell dinner.

On Day 8, we will depart, forever changed by the enchanting landscapes of Iceland.

Itinerary


Our multi-day tour of Iceland gets started with a pre-arranged bus transfer, transporting you from the airport to our Reykjavík hotel, stress-free. If you happen to arrive early in the day, you’re welcome to store your luggage at the hotel.

For a relaxing start to your Iceland experience, there’s also the opportunity to visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa before the official start of the tour. This man-made seawater lagoon is heated by a nearby lava flow, and the salt and silica-rich water offers a nourishing natural spa experience in a stunning setting. The Blue Lagoon spa is around a 20-minute drive from the airport, making it an excellent option to stop by on the way to Reykjavík if you arrive early. Let us know and we can arrange the spa visit for you.  Alternatively, you can choose to explore Iceland’s capital city on your own before meeting the group for our welcome dinner.

Meals Included
Day 1: Dinner

Day 2, the first full day of our Iceland tour, we will enjoy a group breakfast before heading out for a 90-minute walking tour of Reykjavík, which will help you get your bearings in the city. This is a great opportunity to take note of the places you may want to explore more in your free time.

After lunch together, we’ll head to the city’s highest hill to visit the fascinating Perlan Museum. This immersive museum allows you to experience the northern lights in its planetarium, interact with the glacier exhibit, and see a lava show. It also offers panoramic views of the city.

After exploring this immersive museum and admiring the accompanying views of Reykjavík, we’ll enjoy a group dinner, prior to embarking upon our Northern Lights adventure.

Meals Included
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 begins with a leisurely breakfast before we head out in the late morning for about an hour’s drive to Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle, an area home to three awesome natural wonders.

First, we’ll visit the Geysir Geothermal Area, which steams with geothermal activity, creating pools, vents, and chimneys of fascinating colors thanks to the mineral composition of the area. A particular highlight is Strokkur, the most active of the geysers.

From there, we move to the thundering Gullfoss waterfalls. This waterfall consists of two cascades that cut through a valley into a deep gorge, creating mists and rainbows you’ll definitely want to capture with your camera.

Finally, we’ll head to Thingvellir National Park. This is another astounding geological phenomenon, the result of two tectonic plates colliding and creating lava fields, cavernous gorges, the Oxara waterfall, and a natural amphitheater. It was at this amphitheater where Vikings met over a thousand years ago, creating the world’s oldest parliament.

After taking in all these incredible sites, we’ll make our way back to Reykjavík for a group dinner to end the evening.

Meals Included
Day 3: Breakfast and dinner

On Day 4, we will embark upon a whale-watching adventure, heading out on a boat in search of these impressive creatures.

Upon our return to shore, we will join a Vegan Walking Tour of Reykjavik, sampling a variety of delicious snacks and treats along the way. You’ll have some free time this afternoon to explore on your own. Some suggestions include Lake Tjornin, where you can take in the scenery, watch the ducks and swans swim by, or the National Gallery or National Museum.

To complete the day, you’ll have the opportunity to regale us with your free-time activities during our group dinner.

Meals Included
Day 4: Breakfast, lunch (on the vegan food tour), and dinner

On Day 5 we embark on an 11-hour day trip to Iceland’s south shore, ideal for nature lovers of all kinds. This is one of the country’s most scenic regions, and we’ll venture as far as Vík, a charming village surrounded by high beautiful bird cliffs. We’ll learn about this unique region and take in the beautiful landscape which stands out from the rest of the country. Besides being one of the flattest regions on the island, it has high mountains to the north that shield the area from the harshest northern winds. As a result, nearly all grain farming in Iceland is done there.

Next, we’ll visit the gorgeous Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls. Seljalandsfoss, part of the Seljalandsá river, originates from the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. What makes this waterfall so remarkable is that you can walk behind it for an unbelievable view. We do recommend you bring either a raincoat or a waterproof coat along if you want to stroll behind it, which we, of course, highly recommend. Skógafoss is another famous Icelandic waterfall, as well as the starting point of the Fimmvörðuháls walk over to Þórsmörk mountain ridge. This most picturesque of all waterfalls is something of a film star, having appeared in films such as Thor: The Dark World and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Next, we’ll stop at the beautiful Reynisfjara black sand beach, which features the Reynisdrangar rock formations and columnar basalt. This is one of the most spectacular beaches in Iceland but can be quite dangerous due to the ocean’s powerful waves and sudden water surges, so all guidelines must be followed on the beach.

Finally, we’ll stop by the majestic Sólheimajökull glacier, trekking up to a small lake that has formed in front of the retreating glacier and taking in the views.
We’ll end this full day of our tour heading back to Reykjavík to relax and refuel with a late dinner.

Meals Included
Day 5: Breakfast and dinner

Day 6 of our trip begins with breakfast, before we head out for a 12-hour journey to the otherworldly Snæfellsnes National Park. This is an area Icelanders often associate with spiritual experiences and folk tales. We’ll witness spectacular views of this unique region where geological wonders border on the magical.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula in the west of Iceland is like a miniature version of the entire island, featuring gorgeous samples of some of the country’s famous natural wonders. This includes black beaches, magnificent mountains, volcanic craters, incredible bird life, magical caves, and of course, the most picturesque glacier of them all, the 700,000-year-old Snæfellsjökull.

On our way to Snæfellsnes, we’ll stop at the small village of Arnarstapi, where we’ll gain real insight into quintessential volcanic craters. Our journey also includes beautiful views of the iconic Kirkjufell mountain and the dark cliffs and black sand of Djúpalónssandur bay, a favorite among photographers.

Finally, we head to the middle of this beautiful peninsula where Snæfellsjökull sits. The stunning glacier has captured the imagination of people all over the world, including Jules Verne, who began his novel Journey to the Centre of the Earth at Snæfellsjökull glacier.

Meals Included
Day 6: Breakfast and dinner

On Day 7, we will experience the wonderful world of felines, joining a history and mythology tour of Reykjavik’s famous cats. We will enjoy warm beverages and treats at the Cat Coffeehouse. Our tour guides donate 10% of their profits to the local Cat Protection Society.

We will enjoy a group lunch, followed by free-time activities. Then, we will reconvene for our farewell dinner.

You’ll enjoy one final night to sleep in magical Iceland, prior to breakfast and departure on
Day 8.

Meals Included
Day 7: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Breakfast

Good to Know

Amount of walking: 5-6 miles per day

What’s Included: Hotel (based on single occupancy; no need to share a room unless you are traveling with a partner, family member, or friend); meals, as specified on each daily itinerary; all sightseeing and activities mentioned above; connections between the airport and hotel.

Airport: Plan to fly into and out of Keflavík International Airport (KEF)

Previous Guests Praise Veg Jaunts and Journeys


Check Out Our Other Vegan Tours