Snæfellsnes & Thingvellir National Parks

Reykjavik & South Iceland

Whale Watching

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

We’ve yet to meet anyone who visited Iceland who wasn’t absolutely enamored and in awe of this fascinating country. Defined by its dramatic landscapes of volcanoes, hot springs, and lava fields, Iceland is also 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 it is also 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. And since it’s August, every night is the chance to experience the midnight sun!

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

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Essential Info

Essential Info

Price

$5202 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

August 12 – 19, 2023


Tour duration

7 nights/8 days


Group size

7-12 people


Included

  • 7 nights hotel accommodations
  • Based on having your own room
  • 7 breakfasts
  • 6 lunches  (one during a food tour)
  • 7 dinner
  • Sightseeing and activity admissions (except free time)
  • Shared airport transfers
  • All logistics are taken care of for you

Not included

  • Airfare
  • Wine, beer and drinks
  • Travel insurance

What to bring

We recommend bringing as little as possible! You will need to manage your luggage for up to a distance of a half mile, or an 8-10 minute walk to and from our hotel. If you need any packing tips, please contact us.

Travel insurance is highly recommended for any unexpected emergency expenses.


About your guide

One tour leader/guide

Trip Overview

Our adventure begins with an airport bus transfer to our hotel, and an option to visit the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa on the way if you arrive early. We’ll have a welcome dinner the first night.

This 8 day vegan tour of Iceland is based in Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital, which we’ll get acquainted with on a walking tour on our first full day of the trip. That afternoon, we’ll enjoy a boat excursion while glimpsing adorable puffins. In the late afternoon you’ll have some free time.

Day 3 of our trip we head along Iceland’s Golden Circle to visit some of the most amazing and popular natural wonders and sites of Iceland. The next day, we will make a trip to Iceland’s south shore to visit a charming village, waterfalls, and a black sand beach.

The morning of Day 5 we’ll visit the fascinating Perlan Museum, and then sample delicious snacks and treats during a vegan food walking tour. The afternoon will be yours to explore as you wish.

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.

The morning of Day 7 will be free for shopping or visiting a museum, and the afternoon for whale watching. Our tour will end after breakfast the next day when we head home.

Interspersed with all the sightseeing and activities will be all the most well-loved vegan restaurants in your destination. You will never have to worry about what you’re going to eat on a Veg Jaunts and Journeys tour. All the restaurant research will be done for you, so you can have an interesting and exciting vacation, with some time to relax too.

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. 

As we’ll be in the world’s northernmost capital during its summer months, you’ll get to experience Reykjavík’s midnight sun each night of our trip. This surreal phenomenon is due to the way the earth’s axis tilts this time of the year, resulting in 16 hours of daylight and a sun that remains visible in the sky throughout the night.

Meals Included
Day 1: Dinner

On the first full day of our Iceland tour, we’ll 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. The rest of the tour days on our trip are quite long, so 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 take advantage of the fact that Iceland is home to the majority of the world’s puffin population as we hop on a boat excursion in search of these adorable creatures. 

After our outing on the water, you’ll have a couple of hours of free time. We recommend heading down to the extremely picturesque Lake Tjornin. There you can take in the scenery, watch the ducks and swans swim by, or visit the National Gallery or National Museum just steps away. There is plenty around to do and see before we top off our day with a tasty group dinner.

Meals Included
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

As usual, day 3 begins with a nice vegan 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 fire, 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. 

Last but not least, 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, lunch and dinner

On day 4, 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 sneaker 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 4: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

On day 5 of our tour, we’ll head to the city’s highest hill to visit the fascinating Perlan Museum.

After enjoying this immersive museum and the accompanying views of Reykjavík, we’ll sample a variety of delicious snacks and treats on a vegan food walking tour. 

Then you’ll have the afternoon free to explore as you wish before we meet up for our dinner in the evening.

Meals Included
Day 5: Breakfast, lunch 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, lunch and dinner

On the morning of Day 7 you’ll have free time for shopping, visiting a museum, or exploring. 

After our free morning, we’ll take advantage of our last afternoon as well as the fact that Iceland has some of the best whale watching in the world, to head out on a boat in search of these impressive creatures. We’ll end day 7, the last full day of our trip, with a final group dinner and our last midnight sun in Reykjavík.

Our tour will end after breakfast the next day when we head to the airport for our flights back home.

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

Good to Know

Amount of walking: 5-6 miles per day (approximate)

Your tour cost includes hotel (based on single occupancy; no need to share a room unless you are traveling with a partner, family member, or friend); all meals; all sightseeing and activities mentioned above; all bus and train transportation between cities; city bus and/or subway transportation; all logistics taken care of for you.

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