Iceland Family Journey: Geysers, Glaciers, and Fjords

Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Visit the Wonders of Iceland exhibit at the Perlan museum, where you can see and feel all of Iceland's natural wonders under one roof. Walk through a 100m long man-made ice cave to experience what glacial environments are like, and how global warming affects this part of the world. Top your visit off with an unparalleled 360° view of Reykjavik and surrounding areas from the observation deck.

Enjoy a traditional Icelandic hot dog for lunch. Typically made with lamb, and a bit of pork and beef, these hot dogs have a natural casing that give a satisfying snap when you bite into it. They're often topped with raw white onions, crispy fried onions, capers, mustard, ketchup, herbs, a sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep and remoulade, a sauce made with mayo. Walk up to the stand and order "one with everything"!

Take a boat ride into Faxaflói bay to try and spot minke and humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Each tour has an expert guide to maintain safety at sea and answer any questions you may have.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Hike along the scenic Reykjadalur trail. Walk along the rolling hills and pools of bright blue water. Follow the steaming pools that line the footpath until you come to the hot springs - natural pools heated by geothermal activity.

The Icelandic horse is a very unique breed. Although small and at times pony-sized, Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy. Tour this working farm and learn all you need to know about the Icelandic horse, with a focus on its gait and unique character.

Experience the otherworldly beauty of one of Iceland's most spectacular features, the lava tunnel. Formed by enormous lava flows during a volcanic eruption, these tunnels boast a twisting labyrinth of passageways, filled with unique formations and underground waterfalls.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Discover one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, Gullfoss, and complete the circuit known as the Golden Circle. This massive waterfall cascades over three “steps” before spilling into a large crevice. Fed by a glacier lake, the water passing through the falls can be a dark grey depending on how much sediment gets pushed through the river.

See a variety of geothermal pools and the erupting hot spring Strokkur. Geysir is one of the oldest geysers recorded in the world, but is most often dormant. Strokkur erupts a spray of boiling hot water straight into the air about every ten minutes.

Stop at Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site, to see the tectonic faults created by North American and Eurasian tectonic plates shifting apart. The Oxara river cuts through the largest rift in the valley, Almannagja, and leads to the Oxarafoss waterfall. Iceland’s parliament was also established in the area in 930. The park was later created to protect the remains of the open-air assembly grounds.

Watch first hand as bakers dig out a pot of fresh bread from steaming black sand. Taste the bread, served hot from the ground, with some butter and take home the recipe for Iceland's famous rye bread.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit Skogar Museum and take a tour of one of Iceland's most iconic sights, a traditional turf house. Named after the turf used to create the walls and the roof, these cheap but effective houses helped the early Icelandic people to survive the region's harsh seasons. Learn about the construction of these homes, the families who lived there and how a unique culture evolved out of these humble communities.

Visit Skógafoss, one of the largest and most recognizable waterfalls in Iceland. The 60m (200 ft) high falls forms a constant mist that floats in the air, if viewed in the sunlight the mist can create rainbows. The sound and view of the thundering water cutting through the green hills make the falls a must-see on any trip to Iceland.

Take a tour of the rugged coastlines of the Westman Islands. Formed by underwater volcanoes, some of these islands surfaced as late as 1963, and feature an exciting array of caves, monoliths and sheer cliffs. On top of the beautiful features, these islands boast the world's largest populations of Atlantic Puffins (before September) and a high potential to spot breaching whales like Orcas or Fin whales.

Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.

Seljalandsfoss is a 60m (196 ft) tall waterfall located along the popular ring road. Behind the flow of water is a path, allowing visitors to peek behind the curtain of water cascading over the rocks above.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The Secret Lagoon natural hot springs are the Golden Circle's best kept secret. The pool's natural surroundings and steam rising into the air gives the place a magical feeling. Warm water stays at 38-40 celsius all year. There are several geothermal spots and a little Geysir which erupts every 5 minutes. Swimsuit and towel rentals are available.

Not ready to leave? Your Expedition Leader can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.