Activités from Reykjavík

Activités from Reykjavík

Reykjavík and the surrounding area offer plenty of activities as well as standard day tours. Many of these activities can be added onto the tours, making for a fuller day with more than just enjoying the breath-taking nature, while other require a longer time or more dedication. Then there are even a few things that you can do on a whim, and don’t even have to take too much time! » Whatever it is, you can trust that there’ll be plenty of things to do!

Snorkelling and Diving in Silfra

Snorkelling – it’s not just just for the tropics anymore! Good news for everyone, from experienced divers to novice adventure-seekers; the fissure Silfra is not only a world-class diving location but ideal for snorkelling tours as well. The crystal-clear water offers over 100 metres of visibility. Don’t miss out on floating along the fissure and seeing first-hand the amazing world underneath ours. Silfra is also a world-renowned diving site, for those who want to experience it full-force and have the necessary permits (a drysuit permit is needed to dive in Silfra, but everyone can snorkel). Several tour operators offer day tours in this location all year.

Horseback Riding

Not only is the Icelandic horse a horse of a different colour, it’s a horse of an entirely different genetic makeup. Having been bred in almost perfect isolation for over 1000 years, the Icelandic horse is unique in many respects. They are notably well-tempered and relatively small (you shouldn’t fall off but even if you do, you won’t fall far), though they are probably most famous for their unusual fifth gait : the tölt. Tölt is a way of walking unique to the Icelandic horse, which keeps the rider stable while manoeuvring easily over Iceland’s uneven landscape.

ATVs in All Terrains!

ATVs, four wheelers, quad bikes… whatever you call them, they’re always a fund ride. Just a stone’s throw outside Reykjavík, you can take your road-rage to the lava fields where tense powerful machines eat up the terrain. Quad bikes open another world normally hidden from the average traveller; driving along a black sand beach or on a seldom travelled mountain road is an unforgettable experience.

Geysers approaching. Photo by Olga

Caving

Underneath the mountains and laval fields is an incredible subterranean realm that just begs to be explored. Iceland has 500 known lava caves, but that’s a mere 5% of the estimated total of 10.000. Navigating these caves is a great way to experience first-hand how the land formed from the molten lava, cooling and freezing time forever. It’s a great adventure and everyone should try it.

Whales, Puffins and Sea Angling

The ocean surrounding Iceland is a fantastic place to go whale watching. The most frequently seen cetaceans are minke and humback whales and seeing these giants of the ocean in the wild is an unforgettable experience. You can also take a dedicated puffin watching tour, which takes you out to the puffin colonies on the islands outside Reykjavík in the season, from mid-May to mid-August. Finally, if you’d rather taste the sea’s creatures than look at them, sea angling boat tours from the Old Harbour let you catch your own fish and have it cooked for you right there on the boat!

Iceland’s Volcanoes

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active places on earth with more than 30 active volcanoes. The most famous one is probably Mt. Eyjafjallajökull, which temporarily halted Europe’s air trafic in 2010. Other notable volcanoes include Hekla, widely considered to be the entrance to Hell in the middle ages, and Bardarbunga, which erupted in 2014. Several Super Jeep excursions, scenic flight tours and helicopter tours will take travellers out to these wonders of nature to enjoy their raw power and grotesque beauty. If seeing the volcanoes isn’t enough for you, there is always Prihnukagigur, the only place on earth where you can go inside an empty volcano.

Geothermal Powerplants

The columns of steam rising from the geothermal plants at Nesjavellir and Hellisheidi are a magnificent sight. You can take a tour of the Geothermal Energy Exhibition of Hellisheidi, a state-of-the-art geothermal power plant. The plant shows how geothermal energy is harnessed in a sustainable manner in Iceland, s showcase for the rest of the world. The area is also an excellent hiking and outdoor destination with trails which vary in length and difficulty, and trail maps in place on-site.

Iceland’s Glaciers

Glaciers cover about 11% of Iceland’s surface. Iceland is home to the largest ice cap in Europe, Vatnajökull, in addition to other formidable ones such as Longjökull, Myrdalsjökull and Snaefellsjökull. You can barely go anywhere in Iceland without spotting anywhere in Iceland without spotting one of these ivory behemoths in the distance, but if you want to get up close and personal, take a guided glacier hiker tour, go ice climbing or snowmobiling or even go on a unique tour Into the Glacier, into a man-made tunnel at the heart of the glacier. Don’t try to go on a glacier without a certified guide.

Food & Culture Tours

Iceland’s cuisine is unique and fascinating. Smoked, cured, dried, salted – meat, fish or bread, there are many unusual and delicious combinations to choose from. Take a guided food tour which samples the different flavours of the local cuisine in chosen locations. Smoked lamb is delicious and dried fish chips will surprise you, but the fermented shark and accompanying shot of Brennevin schnapps are an acquired taste. You can also visit one of Iceland’s many microbreweries and have a tasting session.

City Tours

Reykjavík is a fantastic little city, different from other capitals of Europe. Guided tours focus on major sights, culture and history, the city’s less-knows secrets or even good places to party, depending on each tour. There are tours on foot, bike or Segway, to name just a few. Keep your eyes peeled for the tour that appeals to you.

Jeep Tours

Iceland’s rugged and untamed nature can be hard to navigate in a regular vehicle. This is why you will see so many modified Super Jeeps around, capable of traversing unbridged rivers, drive up on mountains and generally get around on rocky mountain roads. It’s easy to take such a tour up onto volcanoes and glaciers, into the untouched wilderness of the highlands, or to caves, waterfalls and other inaccessible natural phenomena.

Scenic Flight Tours

There’s nothing like taking scenic flights by plane or helicopter over the grand vistas of Icelandic nature. You get to experience natural wonders that aren’t easily accessible by land, get the bird’s-eye view of mountains, glaciers and waterfalls, all in just a fraction of the time it would take you to make the trip by car. Whether you take a scenic flight or a helicopter tour, it’s going to give you a unique sense of the scale and power of this wild and untamed land.

Snowmobilling

For those who aren’t content to just look at this island’s magnificent nature, one of the most exciting ways you can experience it first-hand is snowmobiling on a glacier. These adventure excursions will take you on an adrenaline-filled ride while allowing you to experience the glacier landscapes in a unique and wonderful way