Home / Multi-Day Tours / Around Iceland / Iceland Family Vacation – Tour Around Iceland for 10 Days
Enjoy fun-filled family holidays in Iceland. Bring the whole family to Iceland for an action-packed ride around the island. Enjoy an exciting whale watching tour where you could encounter the blue whale, the largest creature ever to roam the earth, have a look at the beautiful puffins, take a boat tour on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon or go for a horseback ride on the beautiful Icelandic horse. If you want a different vacation for your family this year, this Iceland family vacation package is for you.
If you are interested in receiving more information about this tour, please click on the “Request a quote” widget on the left side of the page. A quick form will open up where you will provide us with more information about your travel expectations. You will then be connected with your specialized travel agent who will assist you throughout the planning a provide a fully detailed quote.
Please note that this itinerary can be adjusted and customized to meet your travel needs and preferences. The package can also be offered as a privately guided tour if a self-drive option is not what you had in mind for your Iceland experience.
FT-02
May - Sept
Self-Drive
10 days / 9 nights
Around Iceland
Welcome to your Iceland family vacation! Once you arrive at Keflavik International Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Reykjavik. In the afternoon you can explore some landmarks of the city like Perlan building, Hallgrímskirkja Church and Harpa – Music & Conference centre. Reykjavik has also many interesting museums and we recommend to visit the Northern Lights Centre, the Saga Museum or the Marine Museum. You could also visit the Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park. Very special in Iceland are also the outdoor swimming pools and in Reykjavik you should not miss to visit Laugardalslaug (see picture). Overnight in the heart of Reykjavík.
Your journey around the island starts today! You will pick up your rental car in the morning and start your day in Þingvellir National park. Þingvellir because of its beauty and its geological and historical value, was accepted as UNESCO’s heritage site in 2004. After exploring the treasures of the park, head south to see Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall to complete the “Golden Circle”. In the afternoon we recommend stopping by at the country farm Vorsabær II where you can get in contact with the farm animals and the kids can go horse riding. Stay the night at a hotel/guesthouse/cottage in the area.
Today you will head to the famous South of Iceland. After breakfast and packing, drive east to the picturesque waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Near Skógafoss you will find Skógar Museum where you can see how the Icelanders used to live. A bit further is Mýrdalsjökull glacier where you can enjoy an optional snowmobile or glacier walk tour. Drive further along the south shore to Dyrhólaey natural reserve where you can find one of the best seabird colonies in Iceland where you might spot some puffins. Dyrhólaey is a 120 meter high headland into the sea and you definitely should hike on it. You stay the night close to Vík and we recommend you an evening walk at the black beach of Vík.
Today you will head to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. You will cross Mýrdalssandur and Eldhraun which is the largest lava field ever to flow on earth in historical times. We recommend the great hiking trail to Svartifoss waterfall that is surrounded by beautiful basalt columns – this is also convenient for small children. Near Skaftafell you can join an optional birdwatching tour to Cape Ingólfshöfði which is home for thousands of nesting seabirds, like puffins and great skuas. Continue east to the glacial lagoon Jökulsárlón that comes from the roots of Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. During summer time you can take an optional boat tour where you will sail between the icebergs while the local guides tell you the story about this great phenomenon. You stay the night close to Höfn.
Time to travel the tranquil and beautiful East Fjords of Iceland. On your way there you can join an optional boat tour from Breiðdalsvík where you might see some puffins and seals and enjoy some sea angling. We also recommend to stop and explore Miss Petra´s stone collection and then continue your travel through tranquil coastal villages towards the largest village in the east, Egilsstaðir. Nearby Egilsstaðir, there is a small forest called Hallormsstaðarskógur. In the ancient times, it was believed that a large worm-monster lived in the lake by the forest, our very own Loch Ness monster. If you manage to snap a photo of it you are in for some seriously good rewards. Close to Hallormsstaður you will find Hengifoss, a beautiful waterfall which takes about 30 minutes to walk up to. Stay the night in Egilsstaðir (the “Capital of the East”).
Today you will drive to the amazing and almost surreal Mývatn area. We recommend that you take the Dettifoss Road and explore Dettifoss Waterfall (the most powerful in Europe), Hljóðaklettar Cliffs and Ásbyrgi Canyon. After that drive to Húsavík, where you can take an optional whale watching tour before continuing to Lake Mývatn. Please note that we recommend a 4×4 vehicle if you are taking the longer route to Mývatn via the Dettifoss Road. Around the Mývatn area you will find amazing attractions such as the colorful Námaskarð pass, the Skútustaðir pseudo craters, the Dimmuborgir lava formations, Krafla volcano and the Natural Baths of Mývatn. Stay the night in Mývatn.
Start the day early by exploring the sights around Lake Mývatn before driving to Akureyri. On your way to Akureyri (the “Capital of the North”) stop and enjoy the charming Goðafoss waterfall. In Akureyri we recommend that you visit Kjarnaskógur forest, a recreational area with a playground for the kids, visit the Christmas house and it is always popular to spend the afternoon in the town’s outdoor geothermal swimming pool & Water Park. Overnight in or around Akureyri.
It’s time to continue your Iceland travel. Leave Akureyri behind and start making your way to the beautiful Skagafjörður fjord where you can enjoy optional riding tours on the famous Icelandic horse or an exciting family river rafting tour. On your way to Skagafjörður, we recommend you drive the Tröllaskagi peninsula and visit the towns of Ólafsfjörður, where you will find a Museum of Natural History, and Siglufjörður, where you will find a Herring Era Museum. In the afternoon we recommend visiting one of the most beautiful swimming pools in Iceland in Hofsós. The best thing about the pool is its location next to a stunning fjord. Stay in a hotel or guesthouse in Skagafjörður area.
Today you will be heading back to the capital. Before finishing your ”ring road”, take a look at the highlights of West Iceland. Sights along the way are the volcanic crater Grábrók, Barnafossar and Hraunfossar waterfalls, Deildartunguhver (the largest hot spring in Europe) and the settlement center in Borgarnes. There is also a really unique children park in Borganes, known as Bjössaróló, that was handmade by a local craftsman. Once heading back to Reykjavík, you can either take the Hvalfjörður fjord route or take the “under ocean” tunnel Hvalfjarðargöng that was made in 1998 to shorten the ring road. If you are interested in sport and museums, you can pass by the sports museum in Akranes and hop on board the Kútter Haraldur (an old famous Icelandic ship) in Akranes museum center. Once back in Reykjavík return the car and stay the night in central Reykjavik.
Your last day in Iceland! Transfer to Keflavik airport. If you have an afternoon flight you can either do some last minute shopping or stop by the Blue Lagoon (optional) to relax before you flight home. Have a safe journey home!
Budget accommodations include shared facilities in guest houses, country hotels, farmhouses, etc. In some cases, the rooms might be equipped with a TV and a washbasin. The in-room amenities are limited and basic but they all adhere to a high standard of cleanliness.
Breakfast is included.
Comfort accommodations offer access to private facilities (shower and toilet). This type of lodges belongs to the 3-star hotel category. Most of these properties have an in-house restaurant. This section offers an upgrade in comfort and service compared to the budget category. Breakfast is included.
Quality accommodations offer private rooms with en-suite shower/bath and toilet. These rooms are the best available accommodations in 4-star hotels or the highest quality lodges in each region. Luxury accommodations - the highest class of lodges, suites, and penthouses - are available upon request. Breakfast is included.
Type: Compact
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 2
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: Intermediate Wagon
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Economy
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 3
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: SUV Full Size Luxury
Passenger: 5
Luggage: 4
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Type: VAN
Passenger: 8
Luggage: 5
Doors: 5
Transmission: Automatic
(Manual option available)
Hallgrímskirkja Church is most certainly Reykjavík´s best-known landmark. The white concrete Church whose image is printed in many postcards, dominates the city. As a matter of fact its tower can be seen from almost every corner of Reykjavík. Its distinctive and futuristic exterior made the Church one of the most visited spots in Reykjavík.
This sublime museum displays artifacts from the settlement to the modern age of Iceland history. The exhibition gives you an excellent and enlightening overview of Iceland's history and culture. The museum functions as the center for the preservation of Iceland´s national heritage. It counts about 300,000 artifacts and nearly four million photographs in its collation.
Perlan Dome is a landmark of Reykjavik, offering magnificent views to the city as it is located on a hill. From 2017, it features an exhibition with a man-made ice cave 100 meters long.
Harpa is the famous concert hall and conference center located in Reykjavik. The building features a distinctive and original colored glass facade inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland. Its unique architecture makes it one of Reykjavik most loved landmarks.
Þingvellir National Park is the most important historic and geological sites in Iceland. The area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and today the entire area is a protected national treasure.
Geysir is the famous hot spring area located in the Haukadalur valley. The main attraction is known as Strokkur, which erupts energetically at regular intervals of 10 minutes or so its boiling waterjets can reach as high as 30 meters.
Gullfoss, also called the Golden Waterfall, is one of the most iconic gems of the likewise named Golden Circle. The waterfall is located in the upper part of the River Hvíta. Gullfoss is actually two separate waterfalls, the upper one has a drop of 11 meters and the lower one 21 meters.
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the area called Grímsnes in the South of Iceland, along the famous Golden Circle route. The crater walls are steep and often covered with Icelandic moss. The inside of the crater is a lake whose water is aquamarine colored due to the minerals from the soil. The crater is 55 meters deep and about 3000 years old.
Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous and visited waterfalls in Iceland. It located along the South Coast of the Country right by the road n. 1. The waterfall is part of the Seljalands river that originated from the famous volcano glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The waterfall is approximately 60-meter high and it is famous for its path that leads visitor behind its powerful water flow.
Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river on the South Coast of Iceland. This picture-perfect waterfall descends 60 meters from the cliffs. Before pouring down the cliffs becoming the famous waterfall, the river flows through the Skógárgil gorge.
The famous promontory named Dyrhólaey is located in the south coast of Iceland. From this peninsula, that once was a volcanic island, the views are stunning. Glacier, lava columns, the open sea. The highlight of this area is the lava arch that is standing in the ocean. Dyrhólaey is also well known for its puffin colonies during the summertime.
Skogár Folk Museum is located next to the Skógafoss waterfall, in south Iceland. It consists of a cultural heritage collection of folk craft artifacts and examples of typical Icelandic turf farmhouses.
Please visit the museum's webpage for further information. https://www.skogasafn.is/
Reynisfjara is a famous black sand beach in the South of Iceland, just next to the village of Vik. Black sand, lava formations, and basalt columns make it a popular stop for all visitors.
Reynisdrangar cliffs are towering basalt-type rock formations situated near the shore of Reynisfjara black sand beach, on the South Coast of Iceland. The folk legend wants them to be the rocky representation of two trolls turned into stone after being caught by the sunlight after dawn.
Svartifoss, or the Black Fall, is a beautiful waterfall in Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park. It falls off dark lava columns. The hike to the waterfall takes approximately 45 minutes.
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake located in the Southeast of Iceland on the edge of the Vatnajökull National Park. The Lagoon developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake can be seen from Route 1 between Höfn and Skaftafell. The lagoon offers outstanding views of the ice cap and it is one of the most spectacular and loved, natural destinations in all Iceland.
Eldhraun is a lava field in the southern highlands of Iceland. It was created by a great volcano eruption known as Skaftareldar.
Höfn is an Icelandic fishing town located in the southeastern part of the Country. The town, the second largest in the southeastern part of Iceland, offers scenic views of Vatnajökull (the largest ice cap in Europe by volume). The main economic activities in Höfn are fishing and tourism. The location is also well known for its culinary tradition with lobster being the most acclaimed specialty of the area.
Búlandstindur is a mountain in Easter Iceland of 1069 meters above sea level. It is a pyramid-shaped stack of basaltic strata.
Hengifoss Waterfall, located in East Iceland, is the third highest waterfall in Iceland. The waterfall is 128 meters high and it is surrounded by basaltic rocks featuring red layers of clay between the lava strata.
Petra's Stone Collection is a rock museum/ collection in Stöðvarfjörður, East Iceland. Petra was a local lady who collected various natural stones throughout her life, the stones that now make up her stone collection.
Mývatn is a volcanic lake in northern Iceland. It is located in a geothermal area not far from Krafla volcano. The lake was formed by a volcanic eruption therefore the surrounding area is characterized by lava pillars and craters. The lake is also well known because of the rich waterbirds fauna that populates it.
Dettifoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park in Northeast Iceland. It is part of the Diamond Circle and it is the considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe. The water of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river descends from the nearby Vatnajökull glacier and falls for more than 44 metres, causing a massive, crashing spray. This the largest waterfall in Iceland in terms of volume discharge.
Hljóðaklettar(translates: sound rocks) or Echo Rocks like they are sometimes called are a collection of basalts columns. They are the remains of an ancient volcano's which have been eroded by the Jökulsá river. These unique formations, arches, and caves are one of a kind and it seems like they have formed in every direction. There are two marked paths in blue from the parking lot that is ideal for a short hike. They are an easy stroll, one will take about 30-40 minutes (1km) and the Circle path takes about 1, 15 -1,5 hours(3km). The paths that are marked in red are longer and a bit more difficult.
Ásbyrgi canyon is located in the north of Iceland on the Diamond Circle Road. The crater has the shape of a horseshoe and measures 3.5 km in length and over 1 km wide.
Dimmuborgir is a field of unusually shaped lava formations located east of Mývatn in Iceland. The area consists of caves and rock formations resembling an ancient collapsed fortress. The lava tubes were formed by a lava lake flowing in from a large eruption in the Þrengslaborgir and Lúdentsborgir crater row to the East. The legend wants Dimmuborgir to be connecting earth with the infernal regions.
Mývatn is a volcanic lake in northern Iceland. It is located in a geothermal area not far from Krafla volcano. The lake was formed by a volcanic eruption therefore the surrounding area is characterized by lava pillars and craters. The lake is also well known because of the rich waterbirds fauna that populates it.
Goðafoss Waterfall is located in the Barðardalur area in the northeastern region of Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from 12 meters height. The river originates in the Icelandic Highland and runs from the highland through the Bárðardalur valley. It is amongst Iceland larger waterfalls.
Akureyri is the main town of northern Iceland. It is located at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord and is the second largest urban area of Iceland. Akureyri is well known to be an important port and fishing center.
Skútustaðir is a chain of volcanic pseudo craters in the Mývatn area. They were formed by gas explosions when boiling lava flowed over the cool, wet surfaces about 2,300 years ago.
Akureyrarkirkja is an outstanding Lutheran Church in Akureyri designed by Guðjón Samúelsson. It is located in the center of the city, overlooking the town from the top of a hill.
Siglufjörður, a lovely village, located in North Iceland, is often known as the Herring town as the herring industry was blooming in Siglufjörður in the 1940s and 1950s.
Hofsós Swimming Pool is a lovely swimming pool in North Iceland with astonishing view of Skagafjörður.
Grábrók Crater is the larger of three craters in a volcanic fissure belonging to the volcanic system of Ljosufjoll. Grábrók is located in the fjord of Borgarfjörður in West Iceland.
Hraunfossar is a series of waterfalls coming from underneath Hallmundarhraun, a lava field formed by an eruption of the volcano situated under the glacier Langjökull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river. Hraunfossar is located near Húsafell and Reykholt.
Barnafossar, also known as Bjarnafoss, is a series of rapids coming from out of the surrounding lava plains. The name means "Children´s falls".
Deildartunguhver Hot Spring is the largest hot spring in Europe. It provides all hot water for the neighbouring villages.
Laugavegur is the main shopping street in Reykjavik and it is located in the heart of the city. Its name means literally „wash road“ as this was once the route to the hot springs where many Icelanders took their clothes to launder. Today it is a vibrant and innovative street filled with designer ateliers, tourist gift shops, bars, and restaurants.