Iceland
Explore Iceland’s three botanic gardens within the land of ice, fire, flowers and geological wonders.
Itinerary
29th June - 6th July 2025
Small Group. Maximum of 14 places.
Minimum of 12 people required.
Day 1 Sunday 29 June
Arrive in Reykjavik, on a flight to suit yourself and take the airport transfer bus (inc) to Hotel Midgardur.
Remainder of the day at leisure to explore the harbour front and concert hall, the maritime museum, the shops, and cafes or maybe take a walking tour of the towns historic centre.
Meet for dinner at 6.30 (inc) at Reykjavik Kitchen opposite our hotel.
Day 2 Monday 30 June
A leisurely start before setting off to Reykjavik Botanic Garden, Grasagardour. A landscaped park of mature and ornamental trees, streams and pools, flowering shrubs and roses, rhododendron and herbaceous perennials plus Order Beds of Icelandic plants and herbs.
We will be met by the Education Officer who will briefly guide us through the flora of Iceland after which there will be ample time to wander at leisure and enjoy lunch in their splendid Café Florian.
Following on we travel northwards via Meltunga Arboretum and the Rose Gardens of the Icelandic Rose Society before continuing to Barnafoss waterfall and to Hotel “A”, Kirkjubol for D, B & B.
Day 3 Tuesday 1 July
Depart promptly. Our first stop today is Vidgelmir Lava Tunnel for a fascinating 1.5 hr expertly guided tour.
Next stop, Borganes at the Icelandic Settlement Centre; lunch and two exhibitions (inc) offering an insight into the birth of this island nation with an account of Egils Saga.
We continue our journey west to Stykkisholmur across the Snaesfell Peninsular, stopping to walk along the base, or the top, of the Gerðuberg Cliffs; towering columns of Dolerite apparently stranded, in the middle of a field, amongst old lava outpourings.
Arrive Hotel Fransiskus, B & B, in the picturesque, harbourside village of Stykkisholmur. Dinner in restaurant Narfeyrarstofaout (inc).
Day 4 Wednesday 2 July
Immediately after breakfast we take a five-minute walk, downhill, to Stykkisholmur harbour and sail with Einskip on ferry Baldur via Flatey to Brjánslækur.
Westfjord Adventures will meet our ferry and drive us through dramatic landscape to Dynjandi waterfall and on to Gemlufall Café for lunch (inc) before crossing the Svalvogar Peninsular and descending, through hillsides covered in wild lupins, to Skrudur Botanic Garden, the most westerly Botanic Garden in Europe.
Skrudur is an absolute delight, a small oasis of flowering perennials with Meconopsis of such an electric blue they have to be seen to be believed, Alder hedges, vegetable garden, flowering Rowan and mini-museum/greenhouse set amidst a landscape of moss-covered boulder fields, sparse grassland and mountains.
I have visited on two beautiful sunny afternoons and was spellbound by the vision and courage of those original gardeners who created this award-winning garden.
Continue to Isafjordur airport for a private, scenic air-transfer to Akureyri. Private transfer to restaurant Bryggjan for dinner (inc) and afterwards to Hotel North for two nights B & B.
Day 5 Thursday 3 July
Today, explore the north coast of Iceland; visiting Godafoss and Dettifoss waterfalls; Dimmuborgir lava towers….walk in the footsteps of “Game of Thrones”; Hverir sulphur mud-pools & hissing geysers; Myvatn hot baths to swim, relax and enjoy, and Grjotgja tectonic plate divide.
Return to Akureyri for dinner (inc) and to Hotel North.
Day 6 Friday 4 July
Depart our hotel for Akureyri Botanic Garden. I have visited in pouring rain and under blue skies, on both occasions the cakes were delicious.
Order beds of Meconopsis, Iris, and Poppies; rockeries bursting with colour….Lewisia thrive here; tree-lined sinuous pathways, decorative grasses and native flowers, yet all whilst realising you are only 60 miles from the Arctic Circle.
Though smaller than any of the RHS gardens in England I consider Akureyri Botanic Garden to be of an equal standard.
If you wish to, walk downhill from the Gardens to Akureyri Cathedral and continue downhill to the centre of town for a little shopping.
After this floral treat we start driving south to Glaumbær turf-roofed village & rural museum, continuing to Hotel Varmaland D, B & B.
Their top-floor restaurant offers views over the most unusual of landscapes and whilst here do try a Blue Lagoon Cocktail.
Day 7 Saturday 5 July
Depart Hotel Varmalanda promptly and travel to Fridheimer Tomato Farm and restaurant for a brief introductory talk covering their work and then enjoy lunch (inc) – you may not believe how many recipes include tomatoes, nor their amazing presentation.
Depart Fridheimer and travel to Perlan, a very much hands-on and live-experience Natural History Museum just outside Reykjavik.
Including: An “ice-cave” walk-through. The Forces of Nature Exhibition where guests experience the power of volcanoes, earthquakes and geothermal energy; Enjoy the planetarium’s Northern Lights show and relax in the roof-top tea-room.
Arrive Hotel Midgardur for our last evening and dinner in the Reykjavik Kitchen.
Day 8 Sunday 6 July
Unless staying on to continue your holiday independently, depart Reykjavik returning to the airport for your homeward flight. The airport transfer bus stops outside of Hotel Midgardur (inc).
