Iceland Family Holiday

Hallo! Welcome to Reykjavik, a city that sees around 22 hours of sunlight a day in summer and as little as 4 hours of sunlight in winter. This creates the perfect opportunity to experience the magic of the midnight sun or Northern Lights, depending on the weather and time of year you're travelling. Your family adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 3 pm today. After, your leader will guide a walk through the city centre to introduce you all to the country's fascinating folklore. You’ll soon see why Iceland is called the Land of the Sagas as you learn tall tales like the ‘Elves of Iceland’ (known in Iceland as ‘the hidden people’) and the trolls, whose existence is shrouded in mystery. And that’s not to mention the 13 Santas – a fun fact for the kids! After you've worked up an appetite, you may like to join your fellow travellers for a group dinner this evening.

This morning, travel from Reykjavik to the Snaefellsness Peninsula. Along the way, stop at a few of Iceland’s iconic sites, like Mount Kirkjufell and the white beach at Budir. Continue to Arnarstapi and take a short stroll along the coastal cliffs to see the rich bird life. Then, make your way to the basaltic pebble beach Djupalonssandur – see if the kids can spot the distinctive rock formations – an elf church and a kerling (troll woman). Head on to your accommodation for the night, a family-run horse farm. Icelandic horses are known for their gentle temperament and for having five natural gaits (most horses have just three!), making them excellent riding horses. Settle in, enjoy a home-cooked dinner and get to know the friendly resident horses.

Head out early this morning to follow the Golden Circle driving route to Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir was the location of Iceland's first parliament, founded in AD 930, and is also the site of the Silfra Fissure, where tectonic plates are pulling apart and exposing some pretty wild rock shelves. Then, continue to the Geysir Geothermal Area and check out the Strokkur Geyser – it swells with blue water before erupting and shooting a spout up to 20 m (65 ft) in the air. Witness the sheer power of the Gullfoss Waterfall on the Hvita River. Stop by the Secret Lagoon, a natural hot pool where you can take a dip in the restorative water. Tonight, you’ll stay in the Hvolsvollur region, in a wooden cottage backdropped by mountains.

Today’s highlights are the iconic Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, a black-sand beach and the Dyrholaey Peninsula. If you’re visiting between April and August, you may be lucky enough to spot puffins perched on the cliffs. Arrive in picture-perfect Vik, where you’ll have time to grab some lunch on your own, then head to the incredible lava show, where you'll get to experience the flow of real lava. It’s sure to have the kids talking as you make the drive back to your cosy cabin in Hvolsvollur. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening together under the magnificent Icelandic sky. If it’s midnight sun season, you might forget about bedtime altogether, and if it’s the time for Northern Lights, your cottage is in the perfect location to take in the mesmerising show.

This morning, head back toward Reykjavik, stopping off for lunch along the way. Then, visit a local family home where the kids will be able to make their very own Skrimsli – a cuddly Icelandic wool monster that they can take home to remember their time in Iceland. They’ll get to choose the colours, eyes, horns and hair to design their own monster while you hear the story behind how Skrimslis became a beloved Icelandic keepsake, and learn about what coastal life is like here, just outside Reykjavik. When you arrive, maybe join your group for a farewell dinner.

With no activities planned today, you are free to depart at any time. There are plenty of amazing activities on offer in the Icelandic capital to fill your day and your leader will be happy to provide recommendations before you go. If you’d like to book additional nights in Reykjavik, just speak to your booking agent.