ICELAND YOGA + ADVENTURE RETREAT 2024
ITINERARY
AUGUST 6, 2024
DAY 1
Arrival in Keflavík International Airport
– drive to Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Group Arrives at Keflavík International Airport. Marisa will greet you upon arrival and you will head for a welcome breakfast in the town of Keflavík. After breakfast you will hit the road to your first destination – FossHotel Hellnar on Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
Stop for lunch / snacks along the way.
Get settled into your room and have a nice group dinner. After dinner enjoy an evening walk along the shores towards Arnarstapi.
Group breakfast in Keflavik and 3 course welcome dinner at 7:00pm is included on this day.
Accommodations at FossHotel Hellnar.
Total Driving time from Keflavík Airport to Hotel 3 hours (239 km)
Driving times may vary based on if the group wants to stop anywhere along the way.
Breakfast and dinner included, snack/lunch at own expense.
DAY 2
AUGUST 7, 2024
Snæfellsnes Peninsula
8:00 – 09:00AM – Morning Yoga Practice
Breakfast is buffet style and can be eaten after yoga.
Explore Snæfellsjökull National Park and head to the Black Sand Lava Beach - Dritvík & Djúpalón and Skarðsvík.
Picnic lunch.
2 course dinner served at the Hotel at 7:00PM
Breakfast, box lunch, and dinner included.
DAY 3
AUGUST 8, 2024
Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Reykholt
8:00 – 09:00AM – Morning Yoga Practice
Breakfast is buffet style and can be eaten after yoga.
Depart Fosshotel Hellnar and start journey towards Fosshotel Reykholt.
On route explore more of the peninsula heading to Kirkjufell to see the large mountain one of the most photographed spots in Iceland. Kirkjufell is backed by the roaring waterfalls, Kirkjufellsfoss.
Additional stops along the way:
Raudfeldsgjá Gorge (the crevasse)
Budakirkja Church – picturesque black church along the coast https://www.west.is/en/place/budakirkja-church
Picnic lunch
Arrive and check-in to the Fosshotel Reykholt. Head to Krauma Geothermal baths and spa for a late afternoon soak followed by dinner.
Breakfast, box lunch, and dinner included.
Accommodations at Fosshotel Reykholt.
Driving time from Hellnar which includes stopping at Kirkjufell is about 2.5 hours (203 km).
DAY 4
AUGUST 9, 2024
Reykholt to Hveragerdi
8:00 – 09:00AM – Morning Yoga Practice
Breakfast is buffet style and can be eaten after yoga.
After breakfast drive to your next destination in south Iceland – Hveragerði – home to hot boiling rivers, geothermal power, and the gateway to some of the famous sights in the south. Stop at some interesting sites and for a picnic lunch along the way.
Thingvellir National Park - In recent decades, research has shown that Thingvellir National Park is a natural wonder of the world where the geology and ecosystem of Thingvallavatn form a unique whole. Thingvellir National Park area is part of the Atlantic Ocean ridge that runs through Iceland. There you can see the consequences of the erosion of the earth's crust in the gorges and cracks in the area.
Stay at the Greenhouse Hotel.
Total Driving time from FossHotel Reykholt to The Greenhouse Hotel with a detour to Thingvellir is about 2 hours (140 km).
Breakfast, box lunch (from Fosshotel Reykholt) are included.
Dinner at own expense.
DAY 5
AUGUST 10, 2024
Hveragerdi
Early breakfast at 7AM.
Depending on group consensus, venture to the boiling river either early morning (bring snacks and water, breakfast upon your return) or in the evening after dinner. This is a busy site in Iceland so to avoid crowds it is best to go either early morning or in the evening.
Free day to reflect, partake in an activity such as horseback riding, or just relax. Picnic lunch.
Optional activities (at own expense):
Sólhestar Horse Rental - https://solhestar.is
Visit the secret lagoon – one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland – it’s about 45 minutes from the Hotel - https://secretlagoon.is
Visit the geysir
Meet for dinner at the Hotel at 7:00PM
Breakfast included. Box lunch and dinner not included on this day.
DAY 6
AUGUST 11, 2024
Hveragerdi to Vik
Morning yoga or mediation (based on availability of space and weather).
Breakfast at Hotel at the Greenhouse Café and Juicebar.
Drive towards Vík.
Stop at Skógafoss - one of Iceland’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls with an astounding width of 25 meters (82 feet) and a drop of 60 meters (197 feet). Again, easily accessible just off of the main road. https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/skogafoss
Enjoy an evening beach stroll / meditation.
Breakfast included (Greehouse Café).
Lunch & dinner at own expense.
Total drive from Hjarðarból to Vik time 2 hours (142 km)
Accommodations at the Puffin Hotel in Vík.
DAY 7
AUGUST 12, 2024
Vík to Fosshotel Nupar
Breakfast at the Hotel.
After breakfast you will visit Reynisdrangar, the black sand beach to see the 3 trolls.
Lunch out in Vík or picnic on the beach.
Settle into your accommodations at the FossHotel Núpar (2 nights)
Dinner buffet at FossHotel Núpar (included).
Enjoy an evening hike to Svartifoss, perhaps the signature attraction of Skaftafell National Park. The reason why we made this claim was that it possessed pronounced hanging hexagonal basalt columns beneath a 20m tall waterfall.
Although this combination of basalt columns and a waterfall was not unique, this waterfall seemed to get the lion's share of the popularity and fame. We suspect this might be because the basalt columns had an obvious geometrical shape, the falls was relatively easy to access and admire from up close and the falls possessed a year-round flow in a landscape that contained glaciers, volcanoes, and large tracts of black sand (i.e. it was quintessential raw Icelandic scenery).
Travel Time from Vík to Fosshotel Núpar is 1 hour & 45 mins (108 km). Roundtrip drive from Hotel to Skaftafell is about 1 hour (91 km).
Breakfast and dinner included. Box lunch not included on this day.
DAY 8
AUGUST 13, 2024
Glacier Lagoons
Morning yoga or meditation (based on availability of space and weather).
Breakfast at the Hotel. Box lunches arranged and included in price.
Today will be all about visiting the glacier lagoons - Fjallsárlón & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoons. Arriving to the lagoons is like stepping into a dreamlike world that offers spectacular sights. Iceland's tallest volcano, the Öræfajökull glacier, looms above the lagoon and reaches down to the water where icebergs break off into the lake and drift serenely around before melting. Fjallsárlón is located just before Jökulsárlón and is a little less touristy whereas Jökulsárlón is more touristy but you will find out why since it is home to some amazing ice sculptures that break off the glacier and then get carried out to sea.
From there you can take a hike to one of the black sand beaches referred to as diamond beach where you can find ice crystals that resemble diamonds on the beach. You’ll have fun exploring this unique display of mother nature. Be sure to be on the look out for seals – they are usually out playing amongst the floating ice sculptures.
Included is a glacier boat tour at Fjallsárlón.
Buffet dinner at FossHotel Núpar.
Breakfast, box lunch, and dinner included.
Total driving time is about 2 hours and 45 minutes (198 km) total for the day - roundtrip. Overnight at the FossHotel Núpar.
DAY 9
AUGUST 14, 2024
Fosshotel Nupar to Reykjavík
Morning yoga or meditation (based on availability of space and weather).
Breakfast at the Hotel.
After breakfast, you will head back to experience Reykjavík with interesting stops along the way.
Options for interesting stops:
For those up for an adventure to a hidden “laug” or hot pool on your way back towards Reykjavik, they can head to the Seljavallalaug. Seljavallalaug is a protected 25-metre outdoor pool in southern Iceland. The pool is one of the oldest swimming pools in Iceland and was built in 1923. Stop for a picnic lunch after the hike and a soak.
Seljalandsfoss - a waterfall that can be fully encircled, situated on the South Coast of Iceland with a drop of 60 meters (200 feet) – easily accessible right off the main road. https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/seljalandsfoss
You will arrive in Reykjavik early evening just in time to explore what the city has to offer, do some shopping, and have an amazing dinner.
Accommodations: Fosshotel Rauðará
Breakfast and box lunch included. Dinner at own expense.
Total Driving time: 3 hours and 35 mins (280 km)
DAY 10
AUGUST 15, 2024
Blue Lagoon
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and some time to explore more of Reykjavík.
Depart early afternoon for an experience at the Blue Lagoon. Enjoy a group dinner at the Blue Lagoon. And then depart back to your Hotel in Reykjavik for one last evening.
Blue Lagoon Premium package included.
Breakfast included. Lunch and dinner at own expense.
DAY 11
AUGUST 16, 2024
Head Home
Enjoy breakfast at the Hotel and some time to explore more of Reykjavik. Recommended to have an early lunch prior to heading to the airport or pick up some food to go. It is recommended to arrive 3 hours prior to the flight.
Leave for the airport around 12:30pm / 1:00pm.
Total driving time: 40 minutes (48 km)
*Additional nights in Reykjavik or near the airport can be accommodated upon request.
