THE MUSIC & NATURE OF NORTHERN ICELAND
ITINERARY
JULY 27 - AUGUST 3, 2025
Note: the times in this itinerary are in the local Greenwich Mean Time Zone (GMT) which is 4 hours ahead of EST. In this itinerary we use the 24-hour clock ("military time") as is most commonly used in Iceland. All activities are subject to weather changes. If an event becomes impossible to do because of extreme weather or any other reason, we will change the order of destinations or substitute for activities of equal value and interest.
DAY 1: SUNDAY, JULY 27th | WELCOME TO "NICELAND"
Arrive at KEF airport and transfer to Reykjavik
Most flights from North America arrive early in the morning at the Keflavik Airport. Our guide Thor will be waiting where you come out of the customs (with a bunch of other drivers and guides). Look for a sign on his tablet that says "Project Por Amor." You can also use the messenger within our trip app to communicate.
Keflavik International Airport
Check into Sand Hotel
We’ll be staying at our favorite boutique hotel with contemporary Scandinavian design in Reykjavik. The Sand Hotel is well-located in the heart of Reykjavik on the high street, Laugavegur. Official check in isn't until 15:00 but we request early checkins which they accommodate upon availability. If there is a wait, you can leave our bags with the concierge and explore the many shops, restaurants, and interesting places around the hotel. Going on a stroll down the promenade street it's on, Laugavegur is a great way to acclimate. Or get a pastry at one of Reykjavik’s best bakeries which is part of our hotel.
12:00 ~ Welcome Lunch at Messinn
Messinn is a small seafood restaurant situated in the heart of Reykjavík. Their specialty is fresh fish along with butter-fried potatoes and mouth-watering vegetables. It’s perfect for a warm and cozy environment to begin our experience of Iceland.
Lunch at Messinn
13:30 ~ Introduction to Reykjavik: An insider's perspective with our guide Thor Tulinius
Throughout the week, we’ll be led through Icelandic culture, landscapes, and other phenomena by our illustrious leader, Thor Tulinius. Thor is a well-seasoned actor and director of theatre having performed in over 50 theatre productions for the Reykjavik City Theatre, The National Theatre of Iceland, and various professional theatre groups. He also founded his own theatre company, Thibilja, in 1989. Also an extraordinary guide, Thor tells stories of the sagas and legends, explains and discusses many aspects of Icelandic life and economics, and executes an impeccable program. This afternoon, he’ll walk us through his hometown to orient you and gain a little insight into this great city. The best way to readjust to a new time zone is to walk outside.
Our illustrious tour guide, Thor
15:00 ~ Return to Sand Hotel and nap
Take the afternoon to rest and readjust to the new time zone. Or feel free to explore the city on your own.
The Sand Hotel
19:00 ~ Welcome dinner at Sjávargrillið
For our welcome dinner, we've selected Sjávargrillið, a renowned seafood restaurant nestled in the heart of Reykjavik. This culinary gem celebrates Iceland's rich maritime heritage, offering exquisite flavors crafted from the freshest local ingredients. It's close to our hotel so those of you who are exhausted from traveling can easily return to your beds.
DAY 2: MONDAY, JULY 28th | REYKJAVIK
Breakfast at our hotel
The Sand Hotel has a full Scandinavian-style breakfast buffet with a variety of hot and cold choices and is included every morning at the hotel. A typical Icelandic breakfast usually consists of skyrr (Icelandic yogurt), müsli, green apples, oranges, coffee, eggs, oatmeal, kleinur (Icelandic cardamom crullers), and their miraculous fish cod oil for the daring! The buffet is open from 7:00 to 10:00 am.
Sand Hotel breakfast
10:00 am ~ Introduction to Icelandic folk music with Funi
The ensemble Funi (Icelandic for "Fire") breathes new life into great Icelandic songs that have been hidden for too long in old recordings and dusty old books. Its founders, Bára Grímsdóttir and Chris Foster will cover main areas of Icelandic folk music such as Rímur, Tvísöngur and hymns. We'll visit them in their Reykjavik home and they’ll demonstrate the lángspil and fiðla, play archive recordings, and perform live. Feel free to ask questions as the format will be informal and conversational.
Private living room concert of Icelandic folk music group, Funi
12:30 ~ Lunch at Höfnin
Have lunch at this cozy family-run restaurant in the harbor with a magical view overseeing the marina, the local fish trade, and the beautiful Esja mountain in the background. The aqua-green house was built in the 1930s as a baiting shed and fishing gear storage over the turn of the last century. Their cooking is as spectacular as the setting.
Höfnin restaurant
14:00 ~ Sky Lagoon Geothermal Spa
After lunch we’ll head to Reykjavík's Sky Lagoon. This world-class hot spring that offers breathtaking ocean views as you soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters. The unique Seven-Step Ritual, inspired by Icelandic bathing traditions, guides you through a rejuvenating journey that includes a sauna, steam room, and a refreshing cold plunge. As you relax in the infinity pool, you'll feel a deep sense of peace, surrounded by the beauty of Iceland's dramatic coastline elements.
Sky Lagoon geothermal spa
Dinner and evening on your own
Explore Reykjavik’s extraordinary food, music, and culture scene on your own. See our list of recommended restaurants and performances for ideas of what to try. If there's a safe volcano erupting nearby we'll visit it.
Reykjavik evening concerts
DAY 3: TUESDAY, JULY 29th | AKUREYRI
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Be checked out and ready to depart at 10:00.
10:15 ~ Arrive at Reykjavíkurflugvöllur (Reykjavik Airport)
We’ll depart at 11:05 from a small domestic airport a few blocks from downtown. This easy 45-minute domestic flight offers spectacular views of Iceland’s inner landscape when the weather is clear. We’ll land in Akureyri’s small airport.
11:50 ~ Arrive at Akureyrarflugvöllur (Akureyri Airport)
12:30 ~ Lunch at Kaffi Ilmur
Have lunch at Akureyri's favorite small restaurant located in the center of the main walking street, in one of Akureyri’s oldest houses. In 1916 it started out as a saddler’s shop. Later, it became a goldsmith’s, overlooking the fjord. Kaffi Ilmur is family owned and built on old traditions and recipes for Icelandic cakes.
Lunch at Kaffi Ilmur
14:00 ~ Arrive in Akureyri and Private Organ Concert by Eythor Ingi Jonsson at Akureyrarkirkja
Iceland’s second most populous city, Akureyri rivals Reykjavik for the center of artistic life in Iceland. Their famous Lutheran church in the center of town is a beautiful setting for a brief solo concert by our friend Eythor, their principal organist, choirmaster, and avid nature photographer. He’ll perform a selection of music by Icelandic composers on their 3,200-pipe organ.
Private Organ Concert by Eythor Ingi Jonsson at Akureyrarkirkja
15:00 ~ Earth and Elf Dimensions with Bryndis Fjóla
Traveling through Iceland one cannot but be in awe of the incredible variety of shapes and forms that Mother Nature has sculpted in the land. Knock on any farmhouse and you will discover that “hidden people” are recognized and respected as part of the belief system and way of life of the Icelandic people. We'll meet Bryndis, a Seer and horticulturalist who lives in resonance with these magical entities who willingly communicate with her to inspire others to participate in their action to protect and revere the land. This energy and folklore run throughout Icelandic history, art, and identity. We’ll meet in the world’s northernmost botanical garden, Lystigardur, and walk her hidden trail to learn more about the existence of the elves that dwell there, the messages they bring, and the greater supernatural powers of nature. The experience will activate your environmental awareness and connection with our planet.
The Icelandic Hidden Folk
16:30 ~ Check in and relax at the IcelandAir Hotel Akureyri by Berjaya
Welcome to our friendly hotel with a magnificent view, tastefully decorated, with bright rooms. The warm geothermal swimming pool (our favorite in Iceland) is just across the street, and the center of Akureyri is only a short walk away.
IcelandAir Hotel Akureyri by Berjaya
Dinner on your own in Akureyri
Continue exploring this Arctic urban playground. We recommend visiting the folk museum, Akureyrarkirkja Church, the Fjord shop (an eco-friendly store run by Anna Örvarsson next door to the Berlin coffee shop), the studio of textile artist Anna Gunnarsdottir, the Center for Visual Arts, or any of the other many museums of Akureyri. See a performance at Hof or check out the popular Green Hat Club (Graeni Hatturrin) for live Icelandic music (TBD).
Views of Akureyri
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, JULY 30th | LAKE MYVATN
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Be checked out and ready to depart at 8:50.
Traditional Icelandic breakfast
9:30 ~ Godafoss Waterfall
Witness the thundering waterfall of the Norse Gods. The whitewater of the 100 feet wide Skjálfandafljót River falls 40 feet creating a tumbling falls unlike any other.
Godafoss Waterfall
11:30 ~ Skútustadir
We'll begin our day in Myvatn by driving around the lake. Like nowhere else in Iceland, this beautiful body of water is surrounded by astonishing landscapes and is the Iceland many people always imagined. We'll stop by is a pseudo crater field that looks like a collection of mini volcanoes along the southern shore of Lake Myvatn. Continuing our drive, we'll do a photo stop by the lava pillars at Höfdi and a stop at the Laxá River to see Harlequin ducks and the Barrow's Goldeneye.
Lava pillars at Höfdi
12:30 ~ Lunch at Kaffi Borgir at Dimmuborgir
Enjoy lunch at this small family farm-to-table restaurant that serves lamb, goat, and beef raised on their farm and bakes their bread in a bucket in the ground. After eating, we'll explore Dimmuborgir, the giant lava field with the most incredible black lava formations. It means "Dark Castles" and dates to about 2000 years back. In Icelandic legends, this is the home to the famous trolls of Christmas.
Dimmuborgir
15:00 ~ Grjótagjá
Next, we'll visit a small and magical underground lava cave with crystal-blue geothermal water inside.
Grjótagjá Geothermal Cave
14:30 ~ Hverir
Namakard is one of the most beautiful geothermal areas in Iceland. Colorful hills, mud cauldrons, steaming vents and fumaroles.
Hverir geothermal area
16:00 ~ Krafla Geothermal Power Plant
Iceland is at the forefront of sustainable energy production. Almost all electricity in Iceland is produced using renewable energy sources, with 73% provided by hydropower plants and 26.8% from geothermal energy, accounting for over 99% of total electricity consumption in Iceland. We'll visit this geothermal power plant to learn firsthand how it all works.
Krafla Geothermal Power Plant
17:00 ~ The Viti Crater Lake
An old volcano with a green lake inside of it, formed in 1724, the name means "hell."
Viti Crater Lake
18:00 ~ Dinner at Vogafjós Farm
We'll have dinner on a farm that has been owned by the same family for about 120 years. They practice mixed stock farming, consisting of approximately 120 sheep and about 40 cows and cattle. Their restaurant is located inside the cowshed and offers homemade local food fresh from the farm or the nearest region. Their Geysir rye bread and cake is baked in the ground with geothermal heat. Go inside the cowshed to pat the calves and even try the fresh milk and ice cream. Vogafjós Farm believes it is good to know what you are eating because "you are what you eat."
Dinner on a farm
20:30 ~ Check into Fosshotel Myvatn
Fosshotel Mývatn is designed by award-winning architects and features almost exclusively low-environmental impact. The building is a low-rise, clad with larch wood and grass roof which makes it in perfect harmony with the surrounding nature. Make yourself at home in their wood theme designed rooms, bringing you even closer to the wonderful landscape north of Lake Mývatn.
FossHotel Myvatn
DAY 5: THURSDAY, JULY 31st | DIAMOND CIRCLE
Breakfast at the Fosshotel
Daily Icelandic breakfast
15:00 ~ Private eco whale-watching cruise
The whale-watching capital of Europe offers the chance to view as many as 12 species of whale including humpback, minke, fin whales, orcas, and blue whales. Seeing these gentle giants up close is life-changing. The boat ride is approximately two hours long.
Private whale watching boat tour
12:45 ~ Lunch in Husavik at Salka Restaurant
We'll have lunch in a cozy local restaurant called Salka. Husavik is a picturesque town famous for its whales and most recently, as the hometown location of Will Ferrell's recent hit movie "Eurovision" that was nominated for a 2021 Oscar for best song "Husavik."
Salka restaurant in Husavík
13:15 ~ Begin the Diamond Circle
Today we will begin driving the route famously known as the "Diamond Circle." This scenic loop is considered an Arctic treasure for the omnipresent and active processes of Mother Nature herself; immense geological movement, crushing pressure, burning heat, abundance of bird life—all in the wake of bubbling hot springs, volcanic lake beds and dried lava fortresses.
Diamond Circle views
11:00 ~ The Ásbyrgi Cliffs
The continental divide between North America and Europe has resulted in beautiful and fascinating geological formations. Ásbyrgi Canyon is a spectacular horseshoe-shaped depression in the northeast of Iceland, steeped in folklore. The canyon’s 328-foot-high cliffs, as well as the thick woodland of birch and willow below, create an area quite unlike that found anywhere else across Iceland. We'll take a short walk through the forest to a small lake and bird sanctuary called Botnstjörn.
Ásbyrgi Canyon
10:00 ~ Visit to Dettifoss Waterfall
Dettifoss is the largest waterfall in Europe in terms of volume. It is fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. The thunderous falls have an average waterflow of 6,186 cubic feet per second. It is 330 feet wide and plummets 150 feet down. If there's time we'll do a quick visit to the nearby Hafragilsfoss, another spectacular nearby waterfall that is a well-kept secret to most foreigners.
A common rainbow at Dettifoss Waterfall
18:30 ~ Return to the Fosshotel to relax and have dinner on your own
18:30 ~ Myvatn Nature Baths (Jardbodin)
To end an exhausting but deeply enriching day, soak in the heavenly geothermal alkaline lagoon and natural steam baths surrounded by arctic volcanos. We prefer this to the famous Blue Lagoon near the Reykjavik Airport because it is similar but much less crowded and far more scenic. The milky blue water contains large amounts of minerals and some sulfur which is beneficial for eczema, psoriasis, and respiratory problems. Those who prefer to return to the hotel instead can be dropped off.
Myvatn Nature Baths
DAY 6: FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st | SIGLUFJORDUR
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
9:00 ~ Depart Myvatn
We'll continue our journey down the Arctic Coast Way, and drive the scenic coast of “Troll Peninsula,” down the longest fjord in Iceland. Pass through Akureyri and the town of Dalvik. on our way to Siglufjordur.
12:00 ~ Arrive in Siglufjordur and check in at the Siglo Hotel
On a coastal fjord less than 40 kilometers (25 mi) from the Arctic Circle, we’ll visit the humble fishing village of Siglufjordur for the night. This lively harbor with a cheerful array of candy-colored houses and windswept wildflowers was historically a booming fishing capital of Iceland and the northernmost town in Iceland. We’ll be staying in the classy Siglo Hotel. Built into the fisherman's marina, all rooms at Siglo Hotel have wonderful views of the beautiful surrounding mountains and peaceful environment of Siglufjord.
Siglo Hotel
12:30 ~ Afternoon free in Siglufjordur and lunch on your own
In Siglufjordur colorful folk museums provide rare insight into life in North Iceland. We highly recommend both the Herring Era Museum (across from the hotel) and the Folk Music Center. The glaciated mountains, lake and black sandy shores make for fabulous hiking. Go for a morning swim with locals in the local geothermal-heated outdoor swimming pool and public sauna. Have lunch on your own at one of our hotel's wonderful restaurants, Sunna, or Kaffi Raudka or some of the other good places in town such as Torgid or the Harbour House Cafe.
Afternoon free in Siglufjordur
18:00 ~ Visit to Adalheidur Eysteinsdóttir's artist studio
We'll visit the artist studio of Adalheidur Eysteinsdóttir, a local and celebrated sculptor who creates life-size figures out of reused pieces of wood. We'll meet her at an old community center she acquired, Althyduhusid, where she lives, works, and operates an exhibition space. They organize nine exhibitions a year by various artists and events like concerts, workshops, dance shows, lectures, poetry readings, and more.
Adalheidur Eysteinsdóttir's artist studio
19:30 ~ Dinner at Siglunes
Between the snowy mountains in Siglufjörður, you can find a popular and passionate chef from the warm country of Morocco. Jaouad Hbib fills this former herring fishing town with an exotic aroma from the warm lands of North Africa, brightening our day with his masterful cooking and an enthusiasm for cheese. He keeps a room full of different cheeses, stored at the perfect temperature.
Siglunes restaurant
DAY 7: SATURDAY, AUGUST 2nd | RETURN TO REYKJAVIK
Breakfast at the Hotel Siglo
Daily Icelandic breakfast
9:30 ~ Scenic Drive to Reykjavik
Depart for Reykjavik at 9:30. The drive is beautifully scenic and five and a half hours in length plus a few stops along the way.
10:30 ~ Glaumbær Turf Houses archeological and historical site
As we journey along the fjord through horse country with heavenly landscapes of sloping mountains, glacial ice, and deep valleys, we'll stop at the Glaumbær Museum. Everybody used to live in a turf house in Iceland, both rich and poor, and there are still some left that are well-preserved. One of the best and most historically significant is this one that dates to the 18th century. Here lived Snorri Þorfinnsson and his parents 700 years earlier in the 11th century (around 1010). Snorri is thought to be the first European to be born in America, “Vinland,” while his parents were on exploration there long before Columbus discovered America. He built the first church in Glaumbær and is one of two men considered to be responsible for the Christianisation of Iceland. Snorri's mother, Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir, was the widow of Þorsteinn, who was Erik the Red's son and the brother of Leif the Lucky, who discovered America.
Glaumbær Turf Houses
12:30 ~ Lunch at Sjavarborg Restaurant near Laugarbakki
Enjoy lunch at this Icelandic foodie destination. Sjavarborg focuses on locally sourced fresh ingredients housed in an old slaughterhouse warehouse with a beautiful view of the fjord. Depart at 14:00.
17:00 ~ Arrive in Reykjavik and check back into Sand Hotel
We'll have new rooms for the night. Take a couple to relax or explore Reykjavik on your own. See our suggestions for shopping, museums, and other fun places to go.
Return to Sand Hotel
19:30 ~ Final tasting menu dinner at Fish Market
Our Icelandic friends will welcome you to their country with a multi-course tasting menu dinner. Take a moment and savor the best of Icelandic pescatarian cuisine with a tasting menu that head chef Hrefna Rósa Sætran and her team have created from the freshest selections of Reykjavik’s fish market. Seasonal locally sourced ingredients are passionately prepared for a family-style culinary journey.
Fiskmadurinn restaurant
21:00 ~ Final night in Reykjavik
Enjoy Reykjavik’s nightlife. For those who are interested, we can see a concert at Harpa or one of many other venues across town, depending on what is happening tonight (optional—cost not included).
Music concert at Mengi
DAY 8: SUNDAY, AUGUST 3rd | FAREWELL ICELAND
Breakfast at the hotel and check out
Daily Icelandic breakfast
10:30 ~ Private Violin Performance with Sif Margrét Tulinius at Thor's mom's house
A sublime week of Icelandic magic can only be complete with a live musical performance. Before our final lunch and airport drop-off, we'll head over to the house of Helga Brynjólfsdóttir Tulinius, Thor's mother. Here, she'll prepare coffee, tea, and cake. One of Iceland's most well-known violinists, Sif Margrét Tulinius, who also happens to be Thor's sister, will perform a selection of her recent album Trilogy: Bach and the Present. It's a conversation between four composers and three hundred years, featuring all three of JS Bach's sonatas composed in 1720 and three compositions by living Icelandic composers Huga Guðmundsson, Viktor Orra Árnason and Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson.
Private Violin Performance with Sif Margrét Tulinius at Thor's mom's house
Transfer to Keflavik Airport
We will escort you to the KEF airport to catch your flights home. Most flights to North America depart at around 5:00 pm.
Return home feeling inspired and full of life