a phenomenal iceland itinerary

We've been talking to friends about the most incredible vacations they've taken recently, and one of the places that we continue to hear about is Iceland.  One friend remarked that having been to Iceland in the summer, he really wants to return in the winter to see the Northern Lights.  That inspired us to start looking at some of the incredible itineraries to Iceland.  

This is just about the right time to start planning a summer trip, and this nine-day group tour has loads of activities that sound fantastic to us. The trip has lots of time to explore the quirky capital of Iceland, Reykjavík, as well as excursions to some of the best of Iceland's fascinating natural sights. The trip includes whale-watching in Akureyri, the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the stunning fjords and glaciers near Höfn, and the hot springs and waterfalls of the Golden Circle, just to name a few. We love how much potential there is, here, for an incredible travel experience!

Day 1 Reykjavík
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting, so you can explore the capital a bit, or just relax!

Day 2 Reykjavík/Akureyri
You can explore the town in the afternoon before an included whale watching tour in the evening. Eyjafjörður is a scenic spot to enjoy the local wildlife and small villages in the area. 

Day 3 Akureyri/Borgarfjörður
You'll head to Mývatn Lake, stopping en route at Goðafoss Waterfall. In Mývatn, explore lava fields of Dimmuborgir and the geothermal area of Námaskarð.  You'll also visit Dettifoss Waterfall, which is one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe. Then you'll head to Borgarfjörður in the East Fjords region for a night in a local guesthouse.

Day 4 Borgarfjörður/Höfn
Höfn is known as the lobster capital of Iceland, so, um,  guess what I'd be eating, there?

Day 5 Höfn/Vík í Mýrdal
You might see seals sunbathing on the bright blue ice at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where massive icebergs tower over you while floating towards the shore . You might opt to check out the lagoon by boat. Then, you'll cntinue on to Skaftafell National Park to go hiking on a glacier (!!) before continuing on in the evening to the small town of Vík.

Day 6 Vík í Mýrdal/Reykjavík
Just outside of Vík, visit Reynisfjara Beach. Its black sand and ominous rock formations offshore make for stunning photos. Continue to travel along the Golden Circle to Drumbo, and stop at Seljalandsfoss Waterfall for the opportunity to walk behind the large falls.  You'll stop at Skógafoss Waterfall, and explore the majestic Gullfoss Waterfall, Geysir Hot Springs and Þingvellir National Park.  That's a lot to pack into one day, but you'll still arrive in Reykjavík in the early evening.

Day 7 - 10 Reykjavík The last three days of the trip in Reykyavik are unescorted, so as if you haven't already seen a little bit of everything, you could book some additional excursions, or just explore the capital some more.

It looks like an amazing, jam-packed itinerary, with culture, light adventure, amazing food and gorgeous scenery.  I think I need to move Iceland up toward the top of my 'must-visit' list.