Loading search...
Tour was called "Undiscovered Iceland" and enabled me the opportunity to visit parts of Iceland I have not seen before in the East of Iceland. We had small groups with two guides who were knowledgeable and informative. I enjoyed seeing all the wildlife and enjoyed the scenery and the experiences. We enjoyed stays in good hotels so this holiday was a very special one. I thought everything was very well organised from booking and making enquiries in the office, during my holiday and during my return trip home. The hotels were comfortable and well appointed, we had two great guides who had good knowledge.
L.B. East Sussex, May 22
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Undiscovered Iceland
Tour Code: ISL05A 9-day tour of lesser-known eastern Iceland focusing on the stunning scenery, breeding birds and other wildlife of this geologically active island.
9 days
from
£3,495 (Inc flights)
£3,495 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£3,195
£3,195
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
Can I help you?
Summary
A land of steaming vents, hot springs, ice-caps and active volcanoes, Iceland is a world away from the Europe that is familiar to us. This tour explores the wildlife and scenic treasures of Iceland’s rugged southern and eastern edges. After a flight to Keflavik, we overnight at a hotel near Reykjavik before heading east to Vatnajokull National Park, enjoying some of Iceland’s most spectacular scenery en route. We’ll take a cruise into the Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon, accompanied by noisy mobs of Arctic Terns. On another day we’ll look for Puffin, Great Skua and Brunnich’s Guillemot in Ingolfshofdi nature reserve before driving to Djupivogur, where we’ll look for waterbirds such as Slavonian Grebe and Red-throated Diver. Next we head to one of the world’s greatest birdwatching sites, the internationally acclaimed Lake Myvatn. From our base on the shores of the lake we join a whale-watching excursion from the coastal town of Husavik.
- Two full days to explore Vatnajokull National Park
- Skogafoss waterfall & Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon among scenic highlights
- Stay for 3 nights at Lake Myvatn looking for Harlequin & Long-tailed Ducks plus Barrow’s Goldeneye & Red-necked Phalarope
- Gyrfalcon & Ptarmigan both possible
- Whale-watching excursion from Husavik
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
Grading
Grade A. Easy day walks only, though occasionally on rough terrain.
Forged by a series of volcanic eruptions along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge around 20 million years ago, Iceland may only be a few hours away from the United Kingdom by air but, with landscapes awash with moss-covered lava, steaming vents, hot springs, ice-caps and active volcanoes, it is a world away from the Europe with which we are familiar. However, although Iceland’s geology bubbles and steams all year round, its wildlife only erupts into life in the spring, as breeding birds arrive from the south and a colourful flora bursts forth with the lengthening days and warming sun. The majority of this life is concentrated around Iceland’s intricate coastline; the centre of the island is largely comprised of barren lava-fields, stony deserts and rugged volcanoes. Four ice-caps dot the interior, but the largest by far is Vatnajökull (Europe’s largest glacier), which dominates the south-eastern corner of the island, its glacial fingers stretching southward towards the coast. This will be one of the many highlights of this tour which explores both the wildlife and scenic treasures of Iceland’s rugged southern and eastern edges.
We begin our holiday with a direct flight to Keflavik, Iceland’s international gateway. From there, we will head to our first hotel on the edge of a lake near the capital, which will provide an opportunity to see our first breeding birds. Great Northern Divers are perhaps the most spectacular birds that are seen and heard through the evening. We will then head east, to Vatnajökull National Park, enjoying some of Iceland’s spectacular landmarks en route, amongst them the mighty Skogafoss waterfall and the vast coastal outwash plain of Skeidararsandur, the scene of a violent volcanic eruption in 1996. In the early evening we will arrive at our base for the next three nights, which is located just south of the mighty Vatnajökull ice cap and conveniently placed for our exploration of this area.
We have two full days to explore this extraordinary national park and to enjoy its stunning landscape of glaciers and snowcovered mountains. On one of these days we will visit the Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon, in which float the huge icebergs sired by the glacier above. To fully appreciate the beauty and scale of these icebergs, we will take a cruise amongst them, no doubt accompanied by noisy mobs of Arctic Terns! On our second day, we will leave our minibus and cross the marshlands and wet sand by tractor and trailer to reach the small island nature reserve of Ingolfshofdi. A gentle walk here should reward us with a variety of nesting seabirds, including Puffin, Great Skua and, with a bit of luck, Brünnich’s Guillemot. We will also spend more time exploring Vatnajökull National Park, in particular its wooded regions — so rare in Iceland — and the impressive Svartifoss waterfall.
Driving further east, we reach the pretty little fishing community of Djupivogur where we will look for Slavonian Grebe and Red-throated Diver and spend the night. Next, our journey takes us past the many steep-sided fjords which characterise the coastline of eastern Iceland. We will find ourselves driving through long, deep valleys, where we will look for the island’s only semi-wild herd of Reindeer. Then, we will turn westward, crossing desolate deserts of stone and sand, to the internationally acclaimed wetland of Lake Mývatn.
Mývatn is Iceland’s top birding location, home to a wealth of breeding waterfowl and waders. Harlequin Duck, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Whooper Swan and Red-necked Phalarope are amongst them! We will also look out for the magnificent Gyrfalcon and, in the surrounding birch woods, Ptarmigan. The geothermal activity around the lake first presents itself to us at Namafjall, where we will stop to view the bubbling mudpools and steaming fumeroles. During our 3-night stay at Lake Mývatn we will also visit Husavík, on the north coast, from where we will embark on a morning’s whale-watching cruise in search of Minke and Humpback Whales.
With so much to see and so many places to explore, we will be reluctant to leave, but, after our stay on the shores of Lake Mývatn, we must now drive to the northern town of Akureyri for the short flight to Reykjavík then our homeward flight from Keflavik.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly to Keflavik.
Day 2/4
Vatnajokull National Park.
Day 5
Djupivogur.
Day 6/8
Myvatn
Day 9
Fly London via Reykjavik.
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Comfortable hotels throughout, all rooms with private facilities.
- Food:
All food included in the price except for evening meals. Allow about £30 - £40 per day for these.
Reviews
-
-
This was a memorable holiday - food, scenery, birds, local people - for me it was perfect and at the age of 83 yrs I couldn't have asked for more. I have always found Iceland to be a calming experience and came back refreshed and energised. The weather was chilly but we had plenty of sunshine-a bit of misty fog which didn't stop us from doing anything. The birding was excellent.
M.P. Oxfordshire -
Many waders in summer plumage were a pleasure to see. We enjoyed the whale watching trip and the scenery was fantastic. A trip we would like to do again.
N.R. Suffolk -
The scenery and birdlife were spectacular, as a keen photographer I found it a wonderful place for photography.
J.L. Hertfordshire
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Thu 15th May – Fri 23rd May
SPACES
£3,495
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£3,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£350
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
David Jackson
Tour Leader: David Jackson
Dave has been fascinated by the natural world from an early age when his dad used to take him fishing at a local lake in Hertfordshire, however, he didn’t have the concentration to sit still for long unless trying to encourage a Robin to feed from his hand!
In adult life, he has been a long-serving committee member of the local RSPB Members’ Group and took part in the charity’s fund-raising bike rides from London to Oxford, ‘Pedal for Puffins’ and ‘Pedal for Parrots’.
Dave is also a serving committee member of the Northamptonshire Bird Club and, although birds are his first love, he has an interest in all natural history and gives illustrated talks to groups and societies from his travels to Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, The Gambia and more.
After a career in financial services, David took early retirement and finally found “his true vocation” - leading for Naturetrek. He has now led multiple tours to countries including Iceland, Scotland, St. Lucia and The Gambia. He also leads tours in our portfolio of Vegetarian and Vegan Wildlife Holidays.
When not touring, he volunteers for Wildlife Trust BCN at Pitsford Nature Reserve SSSI where he is involved in many aspects of conservation, maintenance and survey work.
He also runs Naturetrek’s 'Introduction to Macro Photography at Pitsford SSSI' Day Trip, where a number of Dave’s photos are displayed to commemorate the Trust’s 50-year anniversary and he is always pleased to assist those on his tours in improving their photography skills
A selection of Dave’s images (including his Eurasian Sparrowhawk voted Birdguides Photo of the Year 2022) can be viewed here: Birdguides Portfolio.
Array
(
[172] => stdClass Object
(
[id] => 172
[parent_id] => 165
[level] => 2
[path] => tour-focus/whales
[title] => Whale Watching
[alias] => whales
[description] => Whale Watching Cruises – See Whales in their Wild Habitat
Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions.
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?
- Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
- Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
- Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
- A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
- A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
- A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
- A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s
Our specialist recommends...
"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!"
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
[params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/RlWlvE3qiKAS/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg [image_alt] => Bird Watching ) [metakey] => Birds [note] => 02 [parent] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 165 [parent_id] => 1 [level] => 1 [path] => tour-focus [title] => Tour Focus [alias] => tour-focus [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => [note] => ) ) [192] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 192 [parent_id] => 165 [level] => 2 [path] => tour-focus/general-natural-history [title] => General natural history [alias] => general-natural-history [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => https://i.assetzen.net/i/RlWlvE3qiKAS/w:500/h:500/q:70.jpg [image_alt] => Bird Watching ) [metakey] => General natural history [note] => 26 [parent] => stdClass Object ( [id] => 165 [parent_id] => 1 [level] => 1 [path] => tour-focus [title] => Tour Focus [alias] => tour-focus [description] => [params] => stdClass Object ( [category_layout] => [image_az] => [image_alt] => ) [metakey] => [note] => ) ) )
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
Related articles
In this article, we bring you some of our favourite tours to discover the delights of spring...
Episode 1 of the BBC’s wonderful new series, A Perfect Planet, portrayed a series of amazing natural history stories, connected by volcanic activity. In this article, read about the tours which can take you in search of the amazing species featured in this episode, to such places as The Galápagos, Tanzania, Yellowstone and Kamchatka.
Video
