Adventurer's Tour of Iceland's Volcanic and Glacial Landscape

My wife and I are back from seven days of road-tripping along Iceland's south coast from Reykjavik to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and back to Borgarnes along the west coast on a trip planned by our Zicasso travel specialist.

The Land of Fire and Ice truly lives up to its name and the hype. Our itinerary was packed with what felt like two weeks of experiences in a single week. We’re exhausted, but we feel deeply connected to nature and are thrilled to have seen so much of Iceland. The vast volcanic landscapes, moss-covered mountains, and pearl-white glaciers were simply breathtaking.

We visited waterfalls, explored an ice cave, walked black-sand beaches, boated through a glacial lagoon, spotted a rainbow over Vatnajökull glacier, wallowed in hot springs, and enjoyed some much-needed retail therapy in Reykjavík. To top it off, celebrating our decade together alongside a serendipitous waterfall-side wedding was very special. We were also lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights on both clear nights of our trip.

Working with our Zicasso specialist was fantastic. Since we drove ourselves, everything was mapped out in a nifty travel app containing all our tickets, timing recommendations, live Google Maps links, and ongoing support. We never felt rushed, stressed, or confused. Aside from adjusting to driving on the right side of the road (we drive on the left in SA), we didn't have to think about a thing. All activity and hotel bookings were taken care of. We just showed up and had an incredible time.

We will definitely return. Next time to tackle the full Ring Road loop.

Oh, and some top tips from the locals:

Never call an Icelandic horse a pony (and don't feed them).

Hold onto your car door in high winds. Gusts can literally rip them off their hinges.

Respect the Huldufólk (Hidden People). Leave stones where they are so you don't bring home a curse!

Protect the ecosystem and do not walk on the moss.

Skip bottled water. Iceland's tap water is among the cleanest in the world.

Our trip was fantastic and the variety of stops was perfect! Lava fields dating back thousands of years are unlike anything I have ever seen. Gorgeous, magnificent waterfalls, geysers, canyons, puffins, and beaches. Iceland has it all! And our guides were great and easy to understand. Loved the experience.

Iceland did not disappoint! From our arrival in Reykjavík to our final day at the Blue Lagoon, every moment was nothing short of magical.

A huge thank you to Zicasso’s travel consultant at the travel company for creating an amazing itinerary filled with the best Iceland has to offer. Highlights included exploring inside a volcano, marveling at Geysir Park, a full day in Vatnajökull National Park, the breathtaking glacier lagoon, the black-sand Diamond Beach, and the unforgettable waterfalls at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

We ended the trip perfectly with a relaxing soak at the Blue Lagoon—an ideal way to close out an incredible adventure.

Finally, a special thank-you to our guide. This trip would not have been the same without you! The hidden gems and personal touches you added turned a great trip into the experience of a lifetime.

Iceland is beautiful and makes for the most unique and amazing vacation! Zicasso’s travel company arranged a breathtaking and comprehensive itinerary for our vacation. It included all the big, important stops like the Blue Lagoon, Northern Lights boat tour, and Hallgrimskirkja church. But our trip also took us all the way to the east side of the country to see Diamond Beach, a blue ice-cave tour, and a glacier hike. Our itinerary included all of the beautiful stops in between, so we saw waterfalls, volcanic formations, and museums.

We stayed in our lodge in Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Every hotel selected was cozy, comfortable, and welcoming. And the food was delicious everywhere. A surprising highlight was a tomato farm—a delicious meal in a beautiful restaurant inside the greenhouse! Their wine bar was even more beautiful!

This was our second trip through Zicasso and we are already starting to dream up the next destination...

We experienced the most incredible adventure in Iceland, thanks to the detailed and thoughtful itinerary Zicasso’s travel specialist designed for us. From start to finish, we felt we were well taken care of and seeing and doing everything we possibly could to enjoy this unique country. The travel specialist really listened to what we were striving for and also provided spot-on suggestions.

From the Blue Lagoon to glacier adventures in a Super Jeep and snowmobiles, to a food tour and geothermal rye bakery tour, we experienced so much. More importantly, we were connected with the very best guides/driverscand our accommodations fit our family perfectly. All seven of us on this trip agreed it was one of the best trips we've ever taken and we hope to have the opportunity to go back.

I 100% would reconnect with the travel specialist again to plan future itineraries for us. In fact, we have family and friends who, after hearing about our experience, asked to be connected as well. We are so appreciative to have had this experience and now have fond memories to cherish.

We selected Zicasso's tour company to assist us with arranging a 12-day self-driving tour around the entire island of Iceland starting in mid-May. In addition to visiting and hiking the many wondrous geological sites on our own, we wanted to schedule some tours to reach areas we couldn't by ourselves, along with a few stops at the local hot springs.

The trip planner carefully listened to our wants and needs during an initial video call, and then curated a custom travel plan with all event, rental car, and hotel bookings pre-arranged and pre-paid. We just needed to show up, drive around the country, and enjoy, and that's just what we did.

His planned itinerary matched our interests very well, leaving just enough time between regions and sites to cover 95% of his recommendations. I was able to fully indulge in my photography, while the wife and I got to enjoy some spectacular tours (whale and puffin boat ride, a glacier climb, ice lagoon boat ride, ATV tour, super Jeep tour, yet another whale boat ride, and a delicious lunch at a tomato farm). All of the tour operators were friendly, entertaining, and capable, so they were well selected for us.

We stayed at eight different hotels, ranging from the typical chain in Reykjavík to mostly boutique hotels in stunning locations along the Ring Road. Our favorite (for the food) was a cabin operated by a local farmer whose farm-fresh meals were simply extraordinary. All of the hotels were clean and comfortable, and not too distant from the previous accommodation or the activities and sightseeing stops.

Several times, I texted the trip planner for help arranging dinner reservations, finding unique stores, or alerting the hotel of our late arrival or early departure. He came through every time without delay. Having a local Zicasso agent like him, with expert knowledge and 24/7 assistance, is invaluable for the peace of mind essential for a successful trip in a foreign land.

If we had any regrets, it was in not allowing ourselves a more relaxed pace and extended stay in Iceland. The typical tourist to Iceland spends less than 10 days there, so we thought an additional two days was a luxury. However, covering 2,100 miles in 12 days, with numerous and frequent stops, is no easy feat. Sleep was often a luxury, as we often stayed out late for the 10:30 sunset, only to start out early the next morning for a 7:30 breakfast and departure to the next destination. This was certainly no fault of the trip agent, as he made sure our travel was as trouble-free as it was. We will surely use this travel company’s services for a return trip.