Today we depart the USA on our overnight flight to Iceland. October, with its 15 hours of darkness, is one of the best months to visit Iceland to view the northern lights – a natural phenomenon appearing in clear skies over Iceland under ideal temperatures.

Upon arrival, we meet our guide and board our motorcoach traveling to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Unique in many ways, this modern city is home to 100,000 people and offers a variety of restaurants, museums, galleries, and theaters. Heated entirely by geothermal water, it is home to the “smoking bay.” On the included panoramic city tour of the world’s most northerly capital, see the old town center, the Presidential residence of Bessastadir, the Parliament, the National Museum (outside only), Laugadalur swimming pool, Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture museum, the ‘Pearl’, Hofoi House (site of the Iceland summit of 1986), and Hallgrímskirkja Church, whose steeple is a landmark of the city. Enjoy free time for lunch, then prepare to ‘take off’ as we visit FlyOver Iceland. On this virtual flight, experience waterfalls, geysers, scenic landscapes, and the spectacular natural wonders of Iceland. After this amazing experience, we are transferred to our hotel for two nights. Dinner is included this evening. *Opportunity to view the northern lights. (D)

After breakfast, we journey towards Kirkjubaejarklaustur, a picturesque village known for fabulous trout fishing. Just before Kirkjubaejarklaustur, we witness the magnificent Fjadrargljufur, an oddly shaped canyon formed during the Ice Age. We visit the famous Skaftafell National Park where we venture close to the mighty Vatnajökull glacier, Europe’s largest glacier. At Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon admire the breathtaking sight of floating, blue-tinted icebergs on this 180-meter (591-foot) deep glacial lagoon. Nearby, we visit Diamond Beach, where silvery icebergs rest on black sands. *Opportunity to view the northern lights. (B)

Today, we visit the breath-taking black beach at Reynishverfiand enjoy the view of Dyrhólaey cliff, a nature reserve and home to thousands of seabirds. We witness Skógafoss waterfall with Mýrdal-sjökull glacier towering above and ribbon-like Seljalandsfoss. We then stop at Skoga folk museum to learn historical facts of Iceland’s life of the old days. We continue our travels through the region of Hvollsvöllur, famous for the setting of the epic Njáll’s Saga, and then onto the Golden Circle Region. We travel to Selfoss for a two night stay. *Opportunity to view the northern lights. (B)

On our full-day tour of the Golden Circle, our excursion includes a drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Thingvellir National Park. A remarkable geological site, it is one of the few spots in the world where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is seen above water. The park is situated by Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest lake on the island. We visit Geysir, Iceland’s most famous area for thermal activity where we’ll see outstanding natural wonders. We have a chance to view ‘Strokkur’, one of the most active geysers, and ‘Gullfoss’ (Golden Waterfall), Iceland’s most famous waterfall. After our scenic tour, we have lunch at Fridheimar, a unique local family farm with one of Iceland’s biggest eco-friendly greenhouses, where we learn about farming with geothermal heat. We return to the hotel in the late afternoon. *Opportunity to view the northern lights. (B, L)

Today, we explore a lava tunnel at Raufarholshellir Cave. We are guided though a lava tunnel that is easy and enjoyable to navigate with a footbridge and several paths built over the roughest terrain making this tour accessible for most tourists. Impressive lighting in this part of the tunnel highlights the changing colors and clearly shows the powerful seismic activity that formed the tunnel. Next, we travel the beautiful coastal road to breathtaking Reykjanes peninsula, one of the most active volcanic areas in Iceland. We visit the geothermal area of Krysuvik and Lake Kleifarvtn with its hot springs and solfatares. Next, enjoy a remarkable life enriching experience as we visit the Blue Lagoon – a lake of warm-mineral rich geothermal water, internationally renowned for its healing prowess. The Blue Lagoon is known for its special properties and its beneficial effect on the skin. We will have an opportunity to soak in the pleasantly warm mineralrich water. At the end of this remarkable day, we travel to Reykjavik for our overnight stay and farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Following breakfast, transfer to Keflavik Airport and bid a fond farewell to amazing Iceland, returning home with memorable life enriching experiences to cherish. (B)