Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - Wednesday, October 2

Fly to Akureyri, Iceland -- via Reykjavik with Icelandair

Overnight Aloft

*Arriving in Akureyri
Flights to Akureyri originate from Reykjavik and depart from Reykjavik Domestic Airport.

This is a separate location, about a 45 minute transfer from Keflavik International Airport.

These flights will most likely be on Icelandair.

You may want to consider an early night in Reykjavik or Akureyri.

The trip begins at Akureyri airport on Thursday October 3 at 12:00 PM.

Day 2 - Thursday, October 3

Arrive in Akureyri, Transfer to Siglufjörður, Segul 67 Brewery, 'Almost-Arctic' Beer Dinner

You will land at Keflavik International Airport, clear customs, gather your bags and transfer (45 mins) to Reykjavik Domestic Airport for your 45 minute flight to Akureyri, Iceland's Northern Capital. Meet the group, and our local driver at the airport. We will load the bus, and head north along Iceland's longest fjord. This scenic road traverses hills, follows the coast, and dips into a series of excellently enginneered tunnels, before reaching Iceland's Northermost city, Siglufjörður. At latitude 67 N, we are just 43 map minutes from the arctic circle. Check-in to our hotel in the middle of the North Atlantic - on edge of the world. Our first stop, imagine that, will be Segull 67 Brewery, set in a truly awesome, former fish processing plant, where we'll have a tour and tasting, before our 'almost-arctic' beer dinner near the hotel. Welcome Beers and Northern Lights tonight?

Overnight in Siglufjörður  (D)

Day 3 - Friday, October 4

AM Explore, Visit Herring Museum, Seafood Lunch, Bruggsmiðjan Kaldi Brewery, to Akureyri

Enjoy a lovely breakfast, with beautiful views of the harbor, and take in the isolated beauty of this historic town. The Herring Museum exhibits the history of the most important trade in the region, and there are also museums relating to folklore, music and poetry. Next, we'll retun to Akureyri retracing our steps, and seeing the road from both directions. Along the way is the best roadside cafe imaginable, with a truly delicious variety of fresh baked goods and an unlimited bowl of spectacular fish soup. After lunch, we'll do a little sightseeing before continuing south to visit Iceland's original craft brewery - Bruggsmiðjan Kaldi Brewery. We'll tour, tatse and learn the saga of the brewery's beginning. Continue to Akureyri for a weekend in the northern capital. Many, bars, music venues, cultural attractions, and restaurants await. A somewhat sheltered location deep in a fjord provides Akureyri with mild weather all year round. Akureyri town center is filled with traditional wooden structures from the early 20th century. The main street of Hafnarstræti, runs to Ráðhústorg square, and a cluster of restaurants, cafés, and shops. Near the harbor is Hof Cultural and Conference Center, Akureyri’s version of the famous Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík. A short walk from here is the Oddeyri district, which is dotted with more historic buildings.

Overnight in Akureyri  (B, L)

Day 4 - Saturday, October 5

Morning Walking Tour, Saturday in Akureyri, Beer and Music this evening

Enjoy breakfast, before we meet our local guide for a walk around town. Learn some local history, discover some out of the way places, and ask questions of a local to help plan your day. Afternoon and evening is free, plans will emerge, no doubt.

Overnight in Akureyri  (B)

Day 5 - Sunday, October 6

Goðafoss, Whale Watching, Húsavík Öl, Mývatn Thermal Springs, Beery Dinner

Today is pretty much a perfect Iceland BeerTrip day. Enjoy breakfast before we load up the Beer Bus and begin our journey north, then east, then south, then west and then north again... but not all in one day. First stop is Goðafoss, alledgedly so named because idols of ancient Icelandic gods were thrown into the falls when Iceland adopted Christianity -- a good story, probably not true. It is a stunning horseshoe-shaped cascade falling from a height of 12 meters (40 feet), spanning a width of 30 meters (100 feet). If we are blessed, the morning light will make for great pictures on the east-facing falls. Next head North to Húsavík, the oldest settlement in Iceland, famous for whale watching, and home to Húsavík Öl brewery. Húsavík is a great location for whale watching, as the harbor is close to the action, with no long boat rides out to sea and back. Board a boat, see some whales, break for lunch in this charming town. There will be time to explore a bit, before we visit and taste at the local brewery - Húsavík Öl. After a fine day on Iceland's Northern edge, we change scenes and travel to the mysterious, geologically rich Lake Mývatn. Tonight enjoy a soak in the thermal springs, and a fine dinner at our hotel - which also houses a small brewery! Eat and taste and enjoy the house beers. Aurora Borealis dances this evening.

Overnight in Myvatn  (B, D)

Day 6 - Monday, October 7

Icelandic Horses, Skútustaðagígar area, Dimmuborgir, Dettifoss, Bakkagerði, KHB Brewery

Eat breakfast, and prepare to embark on a truly Icelandic experience. Saddle up on a genuine Icelandic Horse for an easy ride - perhaps a Tolt, too - around this fascinating landscape of geologic and volcanic sculptures formed over the aeons. A truly  unique experience! Break for lunch, before we load up the bus and travel to the quiet side -- East Iceland. Along the way we will visit eerie, volcanic Dimmuborgir ('dark castles'), where it is said Satan landed when kicked out of Heaven. Next - weather permitting - we'll  drive and hike a bit to Dettifoss, a thundering waterfall that is the most powerful in Europe. Dettifoss is located in Vatnajökull National Park, a vast protected area that stretches all the way to Iceland’s south coast. The waterfall is one of several on the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, which ultimately runs into the remarkable Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. Continue to Bakkagerði on the eastern edge of the island. Our hotel, their fine restaurant, and KHB Brewery and Distillery await our arrival. This is probably the only place in Iceland where Landi is still being distilled (commercially). Dinner, drinks, and Northern Lights(?) tonight.

Overnight in Bakkagerði (B, D)

Day 7 - Tuesday, October 8

AM Explore / Walk, Brewpub Lunch in Egilsstaðir, To Breiðalsvik, Local Beers, Dinner  

Easy morning, with time to enjoy breakfast and look around a little bit, relax, or take some pictures. Mid-morning, we travel to Egilsstaðir for a walk around town and lunch at the local brewery tap in the regional capital. Next we'll follow the ring road, bound for Breiðalsvik, a well conceived community, offering food, lodging, libation, and hospitality, while keeping things local. Lovely hotel, restaurant, and brewery here - beautiful scenery, too. Aurora Beerealis tonight...?

Overnight in Breiðalsvik (B, L, D

Day 8 - Wednesday, October 9

Scenic Drive to Höfn, with stops, PM and Evening Free in Höfn

We'll turn the corner today, at the south-eastern edge, and start our slow trek to Reykjavik.back west. Monotonously beautiful coastal mountain scenery awaits, as we wind our way along the eastfjords. The lovely town of Hofn is our home tonight as we ready ourselves for a big day tomorrow! Hofn has a local bar and renowned restaurants close to the hotel. Enjoy.

Overnight in Höfn (B) 

Day 9 - Thursday, October 10

Diamond Beach, Glacial Lagoon Cruise, Glacier Hike, to Vik for Dinner, Beer, and Beds

Another epic Icelandic exploration today, this time on the famous south coast! Enjoy breakfast and get ready for a thorough investigation of waterfalls, black sand beaches, and massive glaciers. Our first stop this morning is the famed Diamond Beach, where chunks of glacial ice enter the sea from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, pushed seaward by the massive Vatnajökull Glacier. After time to marvel and beachcomb, we head to a quieter access for floating icebergs, amazing vistas, photo ops, and glacial walks -  Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Fjallsárlón Glacier. A scenic cruise, a glacier walk, and a Super Jeep ride back down the hill will ensure you see the whole show. Next we continue southwest toward Vik, Iceland's southernmost town.

Overnight in Vik (B, D)

Day 10 - Friday, October 11

Golden Circle, to Reykjavik, Walking Tour, PM Free

Leave Vik early this morning with a couple waterfalls -- Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss -- to visit and photograph before we drive along the famed Golden Circle Route -- Thingvellir, Geysir and Strokkur, and Gullfoss Waterfall, before eventually landing in Reykjavik. This famous, historic, geologically awsome area awaits us (and pretty much every other tourist in Reykjavik). Very worthy destinations all, we will 'blend in' and make sure we get good access and nice pictures of these natural wonders - Thingvellir National Park, where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge splits 2 massive continents, and Iceland too, slowly pulling Euope and North America apart. Geysir and Strokkur, and Gullfoss Waterfall offer opportunities to see a geyser erupt, and perhaps take a picture from behind a waterfall. Land at our hotel this evening in Reykjavik's center. Check-in and regather to meet our local guide, a night on the town, with history and orientation, as well as a brewpub visit or two.

Overnight in Reykjavik (B, L)

Day 11 - Saturday, October 12

Free Day in Reykjavik, Farewell Beer Dinner, Nightcaps Perhaps

Reykjavik means 'Bay of Smoke', as early inhabitants mistook the geothermal steam to be smoke. It is a big little city, or a little big city. In either case, there are many things to do and see, from museums and cultural atractions, to neighboorhood bars, eateries and brewpubs. Tonight we'll enjoy one last Icelandic dinner to celebrate our Icelandic Beer Adventure. And who knows what might happen on a Saturday night in Reykjavik!?! Cheers!

Overnight in Reykjavik (B, D)

Day 12 - Sunday, October 13

Alas, time to go home

Breakfast at the hotel this morning is the final event of our tour. The trip ends today, or extend in Reykjavik, or beyond. Details about airport transfers will be available at the hotel, with easy options to get to Keflavik International Airport.

Overnight in Reykjavik (B)