After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin our day with a drive through the countryside, leaving the ring road for the first time. Our first stop will be a quick visit to Deildatunguhver, a hot spring that boasts the highest water flow in Europe.
We will then drive to Viðgelmir Lava Cave. At base camp, we will gear up with helmets and headlamps, and then take a short walk across the field to the opening of the lava tube. Viðgelmir Cave offers an unforgettable experience - at nearly 1600 meters long, it is Iceland's largest lava cave, and it offers stunning colours and rock formations that we can observe as we make our way along wooden walkways that have been installed to make exploration easier. The tour will last for approximately 1.5 hours.
After the tour, we will continue our drive to Hraunfossar waterfall, which translated means "lava waterfalls." Here, we can see countless creeks streaming out from under lava formations and dropping down into the Hvitá river. Just above Hraunfossar is Barnafoss waterfall - we will take some time to explore the surroundings, as well as purchase lunch or other refreshments at the restaurant on site.
After lunch, we will drive toward Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. This is one of the few places on earth where continental drift - that is, the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates drifting away from each other - can be observed. Apart from being fascinating geologically, Thingvellir is also important historically. It is the site of the first known formal parliamentary system, which was established in 930 AD on the plains under the grand wall of Almannagjá.
The next destination is Geysir geothermal area, a hotspot for geothermal activity. We will wait for Strokkur, the most active geyser in the area, to erupt. Every 5-10 minutes, it blows hot water roughly 20-25 meters in the air. A short drive away is our final attraction for the day: Gullfoss waterfall. Also known as 'The Golden Falls,' this waterfall descends in two cascades into the deep gorge of the Hvítá glacial river.
We will end our day with dinner and some good rest at our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner